Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 3: Pharmacy (Thanks to the leader of "Nie Ma")

Fengcai Building.

A Yuan excitedly pushed open the door of the private room, but unexpectedly found someone sitting inside. She was stunned and turned to look at Shen Lingshu.

"Girl, Miss Pei is here."

"Don't call her a girl, she wants to be a boy."

Shen Lingshu walked into the private room, slightly adjusted her straight-hem gown, and, imitating the etiquette of a scholar, bowed to the person sitting on the seat.

"Brother Pei, you are polite."

The girl sitting there was not actually dressed as a man on purpose. She had clear eyes and eyebrows, and a heroic look with a cool temperament. She had her hair tied up and wore a crown. She was wearing a black brocade robe with a cross-lapel and arrow sleeves. The collar was embroidered with beautiful and intricate unicorn patterns.

This is the official robe of the Kaiping Division, which is the intelligence agency personally headed by the Emperor of Rui. It investigates crimes at home and spy on enemy countries abroad. Its power is so great that all officials and ministers try to avoid it as much as possible.

On the right shoulder of the girl's brocade robe was embroidered a ferocious-looking Gu eagle, representing that she was a sixth-rank investigator in the Kaiping Division.

Her name was Pei Nian, the daughter of Pei Wugui, the Junior Minister of Rites.

Pei Wujiu once served in the army of Marquis Wuding as a censor. At that time, the Pei father and daughter were in some difficulties in life, and the Marquis's Mansion took good care of them, so Pei Nian played with Shen Lingshu since he was a child.

Later, when they were five or six years old, their preferences began to differ. Shen Lingshu liked all kinds of beautiful and quiet things, while Pei Nian was fond of archery, horsemanship, military books and strategies, and was very diligent, immersing himself in them all day long.

Gradually, the two of them interacted less and less. Although they were still friends, their relationship was dull, not as close as that between Shen Lingshu and Princess Yushu.

After not seeing each other for a long time, Pei Nian still had that unapproachable look on his face. He did not show any joy when he saw Shen Lingshu. His expression was indifferent, and when he spoke, he spoke in a tone of questioning.

"You are dressed like this, did you sneak into Chongjing Academy to meet your fiancé?"

"He's not my fiancé anymore." Shen Lingshu said hurriedly, "He broke off the engagement. I went to ask for clarification and put an end to it."

Pei Nian asked, "Then why did he cancel the engagement?"

"Hey, are you concerned about me?"

Without waiting for Pei Nian to answer, Shen Lingshu said in a nonchalant tone: "He has not even met me yet, but he already has someone in his heart."

"Oh?" Pei Nian asked, "Who does your heart belong to?"

"As a woman, she should be considered to have some charm." Shen Lingshu said, "He likes older ones. You know, some men are like that."

Pei Nian asked casually: "Have you seen that woman?"

"I……"

Shen Lingshu was about to speak when he suddenly became alert, stood up and put his hands on his hips.

"Hook, are you here to interrogate me?!"

The word "hook" was a derogatory term used by people at the time to refer to the messengers of the Kaiping Division behind their backs. It originated from the fact that the emperor once pointed out various details of a private banquet of a senior official during a concert. The senior official was still frightened and sighed after leaving the palace, "I thought it was a hook hanging outside the window."

Only Shen Lingshu dared to speak so bluntly in front of the Kaiping police.

Pei Nian did not comment on this and continued to ask, "Did you bring Gu Jingnian out of Chongjing Academy?"

"Are you checking me?"

"How could I investigate you?" Pei Nian said, "It's just a question between friends out of concern."

As if inadvertently, she said to herself doubtfully, "But as far as I know, Gu Jingnian usually keeps to himself, and it doesn't seem like he has a lover."

Shen Lingshu's eyes rolled and she realized that Pei Nian was probably investigating Gu Jingnian.

Therefore, Gu Jingnian left under her cover in order to get rid of Kai Pingsi's pursuit, and he was not going to meet his lover at all.

Thinking back, the woman just now did not admit that she was Gu Jingnian's lover.

But she was taken advantage of by that lunatic.

Pei Nian knew the answer as soon as he saw Shen Lingshu's expression, and asked again: "Where did Gu Jingnian go?"

"No, he came out after I asked him questions. The lunatic is still studying in the academy."

"is it?"

"If you have the guts, try me and torture me."

Shen Lingshu did not betray Gu Jingnian.

A small part of the reason was that she had promised him that she would not tell anyone else what happened today.

More importantly, her father and Gu Beiming were comrades who shared life and death and were also close friends, which was why she and Gu Jingnian got married.

Gu Beiming's character is admired by people inside and outside the court. Now the evil ones are trying to persecute loyal people again. Who knows if her father will be implicated.

After all, she would not help the hook, and even decided to remind the Gu family a thing or two.

"Why? Why do you want to investigate Gu Jingnian? He is a student of the academy who has never entered the government. What is there to investigate? Is it related to his father, General Gu? You hooks are persecuting loyal people again. Who spread the rumors?"

After saying a lot in one breath, Shen Lingshu took a breath, and seeing Pei Nian was about to speak, she hurriedly continued to chatter.

"Pei Qi, you are old enough to get married, but you are still hanging out with a bunch of bloodthirsty thugs. Do you know that everyone says you are a lackey? Who will dare to marry you in the future?"

"..."

After a lot of endless chatter, Pei Nian was finally driven away.

Shen Lingshu let out a long sigh.

"I'm so tired."

Although she was tired, she picked up A Yuan who was "tasting the food" and said, "Let's go."

"The girl is finally willing to return home."

"No, I have something important to do..."

--------

Pei Nian left Fengcai Tower and walked into a nearby alley.

There were many people standing in the alley, including an old woman and a child, who walked up quickly, bowed and said, "To investigate the matter."

When the two of them spoke, they were both men's voices.

The old woman's back was no longer hunched, and her legs and feet no longer trembled; the innocence and childishness on the young child's face also disappeared, revealing that he had become a grown dwarf.

"Gu Jingnian has indeed gotten rid of you and left Chongjing Academy." Pei Nian said, "He found out you were following him. What's going on? Have you been slacking off for so long that you don't even know how to follow him anymore?"

"I am incompetent."

The policeman disguised as an old woman was named Luo Quan, a thin man who admitted his mistake in fear when he was taught a lesson.

The dwarf had no name and was called Tingqiao Bing. He was sure that it was Luo Quan who revealed the flaw, otherwise Gu Jingnian would not have thought that a young child was following him. But in front of Pei Nian, he did not dare to defend himself and honestly admitted his mistake.

Both of them were in awe of Pei Nian.

"When you return to the government office, go and accept the punishment." Pei Nian was not lenient with his subordinates and was quite strict. He ordered, "I will send someone else to keep an eye on Gu Jingnian, and you two will keep an eye on Shen Lingshu. I have set a trap for her, and she might go to Gu Jingnian again."

"Investigating the matter, the Shen family guards have seen me..."

"Then change your outfit."

"Yes!"

Luo Quan and Tingqiao Bing quickly agreed and left quickly.

Pei Nian then arranged for people to go to various brothels to look for Gu Jingnian and find out who his slightly charming lover was.

After the assignment was completed, she looked at the busy streets and suddenly remembered that there was a charming woman nearby, so she went to Taipei City in person.

The theater is still bustling with activity.

Pei Nian ignored the performances, walked straight into the back hall and climbed up to the small pavilion.

Her brocade robe was so eye-catching that no one dared to stop her.

In the attic, Feng Niang was sitting lazily by the window, reading a book in her hand. When she saw Pei Nian, she immediately stood up.

"Have we met this detective before? I remember the clues I provided to you in the case of Imperial Physician Liu half a year ago. At that time..."

Her eyes fell on the Gu carving embroidered on Pei Nian's shoulder, and she smiled and said, "Congratulations on your promotion."

"Yes, I was a police lieutenant at that time." Pei Nian said, "I have something to ask you."

"I am here to gather intelligence for the Kaiping Division, so I will tell you everything I know."

This is an exaggeration. She is not a subordinate of Kaiping Division, nor does she hold such an official position.

To make a living in the capital, one must rely on a big tree. If an intelligence dealer wants to survive, he must first provide intelligence to the Kaiping Division.

"Has a young man named Gu Jingnian been here?" Pei Nian asked.

"Please wait for the interrogation." Feng Niang said, "Can you let me see the badge of the inspector first?"

"it is good."

Pei Nian was also straightforward and took off his badge and threw it over.

Feng Niang took it with both hands, took a look at it, and handed it back respectfully.

"It turns out that the investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Southern Court."

"good."

The Kaiping Division was divided into the South and North Yamen. In terms of the scope of authority, the South Yamen was much larger. It served as the eyes, ears and minions of the emperor, investigating matters both inside and outside the country.

As for the Northern Yamen, it is only responsible for private matters such as collecting tributes for Your Majesty.

Even Pei Nian only knew that Bei Ya was mysterious and didn't know much about it.

"Can you answer my question now?"

"Yes, I have indeed met Master Gu."

Pei Nian asked: "Why did he come to see you?"

Feng Niang said, "He asked what General Gu had done to arouse the suspicion of the court, and I told him." "Anything else?"

"Nothing."

As she spoke, Feng Niang took out a pearl, placed it on the table, and said with a smile, "The young man was generous and gave this to me."

Pei Nian took it, glanced at it, and asked, "How did he know to come to you for information?"

"I don't know about this, I guess the general's son is well-informed."

"Do you know where he went?"

"I don't know."

Pei Nian asked some more details, and Feng Niang answered them one by one, but there was no more useful content.

After Pei Nian left, Feng Niang saw him off cordially, but she never mentioned Gu Jingnian's other two questions.

Although she was afraid of Kaipingsi, she knew that some things were not under the jurisdiction of Nan Ya.

Nan Ya only deals with mundane matters, but Gu Jingnian is not mundane...

--------

Sunset.

The water of Shuo River sparkled with golden light, and smoke rose from every household in Shuoyang City, creating a prosperous and peaceful scene.

In Tongluo Lane in South City, a few local dogs smelled the fragrance of food and barked anxiously.

Gu Jingnian raised his arm and smelled it. The servant's uniform on his body had been soaked with a smell of sweat since he first put it on, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.

After walking along the alley for a while, he saw a drugstore. It had a very small storefront and a faded sign. One could vaguely make out the words "Renxin Drugstore" were written on it.

Stepping over the worn-out threshold, I saw several ragged patients sitting or lying inside, and heavy coughs could be heard from time to time.

"Is the doctor here?"

There was not even anyone to greet guests here, and the air was filled with a sickly atmosphere.

Gu Jingnian asked twice before a sickly, skinny man with a pale face answered.

"The doctor is not here. He left in the afternoon."

"You all come to him for treatment?" Gu Jingnian asked, "Is he a good doctor?"

The sick man grinned, revealing only half of his rotten teeth, and shook his head, saying, "I don't have the money to see a doctor. I'll ask the doctor to let me bleed and get some money."

"what?"

Gu Jingnian didn't hear clearly.

The sick man pointed to his scarred wrist and said, "Change it for money."

"The doctor wants your blood? What for?"

"I don't understand."

The sick man curled up on the ground and stopped talking.

The sky was getting darker, there was no light in the hall, and everyone was half asleep, groggy, as if waiting to die.

Gu Jingnian checked the medicine cabinet and found that it was half empty, but there were some strange black things left in some bottles and jars.

He looked towards the backyard. It was a very small yard, with the inverted house on the south side as a shop front; there was a small door on the north side, and the stable next to it was empty; to the west was the kitchen; and to the east was the main house.

The door of the main room was closed, and I wondered if the "Fengwuzhi" was played inside.

Gu Jingnian was a little curious, but still waited patiently.

Finally, there was a noise in the backyard. The small door was opened, and a short man came back leading a mule and pulling a cart. He locked the door and carried an unconscious burly man down from the cart.

Gu Jingnian stepped forward and asked, "Excuse me, are you Doctor Ma?"

The short man turned his head. He had an ugly face, a cunning look in his small eyes, and two thin mustaches on his lips made him look like a mouse.

"Doctor Ma? Hehehe."

Master Ma seemed to find it funny, nodded, and said, "Yes, yes, my last name is Ma, and I am a doctor."

"I think……"

"Come and lend a hand first, move faster, lift your feet."

Gu Jingnian then stepped forward to help carry the person.

The unconscious man was wearing deerskin combat boots. He was extremely tall and strong, taller than the cart board, and probably weighed three hundred kilograms.

Master Ma asked them to drag the man to the kitchen. Fortunately, there were no pots and pans in the kitchen, only bottles and jars, otherwise people would have thought that the big man was being dragged here to be cooked.

After finishing this, Master Ma sighed and went to unload the mule cart.

Feeling the young man following behind him, he asked without turning his head, "What's wrong with you?"

"I have some questions for you sir."

"ask."

"Sir, have you read Fengwuzhi?"

Master Ma turned around, looked Gu Jingnian up and down, and asked, "Who told you that?"

"North City Theater, Feng Niang."

“A bunch of scum.”

Gu Jingnian didn't know what this meant, so he asked, "Are there any foreign tribes in the Yihai mentioned in Fengwuzhi that are not included in other books?"

Master Ma suddenly narrowed his eyes in alertness and asked nervously, "Why are you asking this?"

At this moment, a dog barking suddenly sounded outside the door.

The dog was very excited and barked rapidly.

A woman's voice was also heard from the pharmacy.

"Right in here!"

Master Ma shuddered visibly and exclaimed, "So fast?!"

He leaned over and rushed out of the back door like a mouse, at an incredible speed.

Just as Gu Jingnian was about to catch up, he heard shouting from behind him.

"Got you!"

It was Shen Lingshu and A Yuan who came in with a hunting dog.

Looking out the back door, Master Ma had completely disappeared.

"You crazy bastard, even your reason for cancelling my engagement is fake."

Although Shen Lingshu was questioning, he was quite proud.

She was leading her father's hunting dog, which had a very sensitive nose and found the place by following the smell of sweat on the servant's uniform that Gu Jingnian was wearing.

Gu Jingnian was unhappy because she had delayed his work. He didn't bother to pay attention to her and turned around and walked into the main room in the east wing.

There was a foul smell in the room. There was a pile of dirty bedding on the couch. There was a table with various books and papers scattered on it.

Shen Lingshu pinched her nose and stood at the door and said, "You are a scholar after all, you went to someone else's house to look for something... Hey, what are you looking for?"

Gu Jingnian did not answer, but flipped through the papers on the table, and saw that most of them were prescriptions for patients.

"Ignore me? Don't regret it. Pei Nian has come to me. Are you in trouble?"

Shen Lingshu actually wanted to remind him that the General's Mansion might be the target.

Gu Jingnian finally asked, "Who is Pei Nian?"

"Kaiping Division, haven't you heard of her?"

"Why should I have heard of her?" Gu Jingnian continued the topic with a nonchalant attitude, "Why? Is she famous?"

"Of course, she was the one who handled the treason case six months ago. More than 230 members of the Liu family were executed, and the capital was shaken. Don't you know?"

"Did you tell her where I've been?"

"Are you scared? Don't worry, I promised you not to tell anyone, but you have to tell me, you broke off the engagement because something happened at home, right? What was it?"

Shen Lingshu asked questions to the end, thinking herself to be very smart, but unfortunately, Gu Jingnian didn't have the patience to explain much to her.

"No, it's because I think you're too noisy and I really don't want to marry you."

"Noisy?!"

Shen Lingshu was very annoyed.

She had been treated as the apple of her eye since she was little, how could she have ever heard such words? She wanted to rush in and beat Gu Jingnian.

"Hmph, I don't care whether you live or die."

The girl clenched her fists and waved them in the air, then stomped her feet in anger and turned away.

At this moment, a strange sound was heard in the kitchen.

It was a low roar, like some ferocious beast slowly waking up with a desire to eat.

Ah Yuan was glaring at Gu Jingnian angrily and didn't notice that the hunting dog she was holding was trembling and moving backwards. She didn't hold on tightly and the hunting dog ran away.

"what is that?"

Shen Lingshu had only taken a few steps when he stopped curiously and walked into the kitchen.

　The new book was released yesterday. Thank you to all my friends for your support~~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)