A raincoat wind and snow to the small garden

Chapter 5: The Strange Story of Hai Niang (Part )

chapter Five

After everyone was on board, the ferry lowered anchor and headed towards the deep sea.

It was just after the Lunar New Year, and spring hadn't arrived yet. Snowflakes like shattered jade were still drifting across the sky. It was freezing outside, and these pampered children of wealthy families couldn't stand the cold. They urged Fusheng to get a room so they could go inside and sleep.

However, when they got their room numbers and entered the room, they were hit by another cruel reality: there was no floor heating in the room, not even a charcoal brazier for making a fire. The quilt was wet and muddy from the sea tide. People who slept here would definitely grow wild mushrooms!
Lin Qing had never endured such an insult before. She refused to comply and, on the deck, she cursed the boatman for his poor hospitality, using subtle innuendos to criticize him: "If I had known your boat was so rundown, I would have hired a boat to the capital myself! We are all children of distinguished families, yet we have to share a boat and a room with a butcher's daughter from the lowest class. It's truly despicable."

Lin Qing scolded the eunuch Fusheng for his inappropriate arrangement, and also scolded Xiang Xiaoyuan for his low status. Lin Qing also felt ashamed of sitting on an equal footing with her and eating at the same table.

Yan Yun couldn't stand Lin Qing's arrogance. Lin Qing's words were like scolding Yan Yun, whose ancestors came from the countryside. The martial arts-savvy young woman suddenly drew her sword and pretended to support Xiang Xiaoyuan.

Instead, Xiang Xiaoyuan pulled her back and said to her, "I am originally from a poor family. There is nothing wrong with what Miss Lin said. I don't care. Sister Yan doesn't have to stand up for me."

Xiang Xiaoyuan didn't show the slightest bit of helplessness or disappointment on her face; she truly didn't mind. Yan Yun was surprised, but also admired Xiang Xiaoyuan's good temper, which was unfazed by praise or criticism.

After a while, Huai Yu appeared in front of the crowd like a ghost. When everyone saw the head of Xuanqisi coming, no one dared to complain. Even Lin Qing restrained his arrogant temper and quickly stopped talking.

After the chaotic farce ended, everyone went back to their rooms in shame.

Xiang Xiaoyuan saw the number plate hanging from Huaiyu's belt and compared it with the number of the room next to hers. She was surprised and tried to get closer to Huaiyu, saying, "Your Excellency lives next door to me. What a coincidence."

Behind Xiang Xiaoyuan is the coroner from Xuanqisi. Logically speaking, he is indeed Huaiyu's subordinate.

The young man's eyes were cold. He glanced at Xiaoyuan and said nothing like a mute person, not wanting to pay any attention to the flattering girl.

The first time Xiang Xiaoyuan took the initiative to talk to her, she was turned away. However, she did not get angry. Instead, she happily pushed the door open and left to put her luggage.

The cabin, which was extremely uncomfortable for children from wealthy families, was indeed the best for her.

The table has no shaky legs, so it won't shake when you drink tea.

The bed is also padded with a soft quilt, so my back doesn't hurt when I sleep.

Xiang Xiaoyuan was very satisfied.

Before going to bed, she brought two buckets of hot water into the house to wash up. Just as she changed her clothes, there was a slow knock on the door.

When Xiang Xiaoyuan opened the door, she was greeted by a young woman who looked extremely thin and haggard. She was about the same height as Xiang Xiaoyuan, with delicate features, but her face was pale, perhaps from the cold. She was also wearing a fox fur cloak, the fluffy white fur wrapped around her neck, even hiding half of her face.

She handed a box of cakes to the garden and said apologetically, "I've had a cough since I was a child, so I might be a little noisy at night. If I disturb you from your sleep, I hope you won't blame me."

Xiang Xiaoyuan understood that this person was the girl who lived in the room to her right. She was afraid that she would disturb Xiang Xiaoyuan, so she specially sent food to apologize.

Xiang Xiaoyuan was surprised by the young lady's kindness. She said repeatedly, "No need, no need. I'm a very deep sleeper. Even thunder wouldn't wake me up. You can't wake me!"

The young lady curled her eyes, but still handed the box of cakes to him firmly, "Eat it, no need to be so polite."

Xiang Xiaoyuan couldn't refuse the girl's kindness, so he had to accept the snacks.

She wanted to make friends with the young lady and asked her, "My name is Xiang Xiaoyuan, what's your name?"

The girl still had a gentle smile on her face. Perhaps because she had been taking medicine for many years, her voice was a little hoarse, and her sleeves were stained with the bitter taste of the medicine.

"Xiaoyuan, my name is Ni Miaoyi."

"It's a very nice name." Xiang Xiaoyuan praised sincerely.

Ni Miaoyi just smiled and said nothing. She was a very kind person. After delivering the food, she returned to her room.

Late at night, Xiang Xiaoyuan heard occasional coughing sounds in the room, and she finally understood why Ni Miaoyi gave her a gift... It did disturb her sleep.

Before Xiang Xiaoyuan could fall asleep again, a shrill scream suddenly came from a distance.

Following that cry, everyone in the cabin started moving, their footsteps shaking the heavens and the earth, as they headed straight for the other end of the ferry.

Xiang Xiaoyuan couldn't sleep anymore, so she could only crawl out of the quilt with messy hair.

As soon as she opened the door, Yan Yun grabbed her wrist and asked anxiously, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Xiang Xiaoyuan also looked confused and said, "I don't know either. I just heard a scream..."

After she finished speaking, she glanced to the side and met a pair of clear and cold phoenix eyes.

At some point, Huai Yu had already dressed up and appeared in front of people.

He had clearly not slept all night. His long, dark hair was bound up by a jade crown, his temples meticulously combed, without a single strand out of place. His brows and eyes were like knives, sharp and bright. Anyone who met his gaze would be frightened away by the coldness in his eyes.

Huaiyu treats everyone so coldly, but he is not targeting Xiaoyuan on purpose.

Xiang Xiaoyuan didn't look at him again.

She was pushed forward by the bustling crowd and finally arrived in front of a room. The door was wide open and a stiff body lay on the ground.

The timid Zhu Fangfei pointed at Xiang Xiaoyuan and said, "I remember you're the coroner from the Xuanqi Division. Aren't you good at autopsies? Hurry up!"

Xiang Xiaoyuan rubbed his ears and said, "I am an official of the Xuanqi Division. Naturally, only the superiors of the Xuanqi Division can send me."

She looked at Huaiyu, her lips curled up slightly: "Sir, can you give me some instructions?"

Huai Yu watched from the sidelines, sword in hand. Suddenly, everyone's eyes were focused on him. The young man frowned, but nodded: "Go ahead and check it out."

"Yes."

Xiang Xiaoyuan deliberately said these words in front of others, actually she wanted to let people know that she was Huaiyu's subordinate. As the saying goes, when beating a dog, you have to look at the owner. After becoming related to Huaiyu, others would not dare to provoke her.

Xiang Xiaoyuan has not made any small moves in the past two days, allowing herself to be suppressed and bullied. In fact, she is deliberately analyzing the situation. She has realized that if she wants to stay in Xuanqisi for a long time, she must find a backer.

And Huai Yu, the leader of the Twelve Secret Guards, who is feared even by children of aristocratic families, is her best choice.

Xiang Xiaoyuan took out the cloth covering her face and sealed her mouth and nose. Then she carefully turned over the body on the ground and checked the wounds.

Xiang Xiaoyuan: "The deceased's face was purple, with white foam at the corners of her mouth. There were scratches on her neck, and her fingernails were embedded with flesh. It was obvious that the poison had taken effect, and her throat was choking, and she subconsciously scratched her neck with her hands..."

Xiang Xiaoyuan straightened the dead person's face and was about to flip up her eyelids, only then did he discover that the dead person was actually the arrogant and domineering Lin Qing.

Xiang Xiaoyuan suddenly froze in place.

Not to mention Xiang Xiaoyuan, even the children of wealthy families who were watching gasped when they saw the dead man's face.

"Why is it Lin Qing?"

"She is the daughter of Youzhou Jiezhen, who dares to kill her?"

"It's over, then aren't we in trouble too?"

Everyone was talking about it, and their expressions of fear were evident.

At this moment, the sound of flapping wings came to Xiang Xiaoyuan's ears.

Her finger bones froze in place.

Several butterflies that died beside the corpse suddenly flapped their wings and fluttered into the air.

Beautiful butterflies dancing around the corpse...

This scene was so strange, as if Lin Qing's ghost had entered the body of a butterfly, danced quietly with it, flew across the vast ocean, and returned to Youzhou.

Not to mention the onlookers, even Xiang Xiaoyuan was confused.

Soon, the captain and his crew rushed in, shouting in despair, "It's the Sea Goddess! This young woman previously interrupted the ritual, angering the gods, and the Sea Goddess has come aboard with her! The butterfly is the best evidence. Whenever the Sea Goddess injures someone, she uses the dead butterfly as a magical instrument to carry their soul. Now the dead butterfly has resurrected, safely crossed the sea, and brought the soul to the Sea Goddess... This is a complete human sacrifice!"

The boatman believed in the legend of the Sea Goddess without a doubt. He looked extremely remorseful, with tears streaming down his face, as if he was going to die tonight.

Everyone was frightened by the boatman. They looked at each other and finally turned their eyes to Xiang Xiaoyuan.

Zhu Fangfei couldn't stand the sight of her friend's tragic death. She stepped forward, shoved Xiang Xiaoyuan, who was examining the body, away, and cursed, "It's all your fault, you unlucky star! You killed Lin Qing! If you hadn't stopped the witch, how could we have gotten into trouble with Queen Hai? It's better to believe it than not. What's wrong with doing a ritual to calm our nerves? Now, everyone is going to be killed by Queen Hai!"

Zhu Fangfei's words made sense. The cowardly children of the aristocratic families immediately turned their hateful gazes towards Xiang Xiaoyuan.

Before Yan Yun could step forward to protect the person, a cold light flashed in the eyes.

The long sword came rushing over and brushed past Zhu Fangfei's arm as she pushed the person. With a rustling sound, a piece of her sleeve was cut off.

Zhu Fangfei screamed in fright and fell to the ground.

The sword that came across did not fall to the ground, but was held firmly in the palm of someone's hand.

He looked up at Xiaoyuan and saw the person coming.

She wore a pitch-black dress, had a narrow waist, and her hair was as sharp as needles.

The young man, skilled in Qinggong, spun around and came. He was known for his unruly demeanor, not fearing the powerful families at all. He raised his leg and stepped heavily on Zhu Fangfei's shoulder, pushing the young lady down an inch.

Huai Yu bent down, resting his elbow on his bent knees, and spoke condescendingly to Zhu Fangfei.

"You guys are really disobedient."

"I've said before that bullying a colleague is a capital offense."

(End of this chapter)