Water Margin: Did we kill Zheng Tu today?

After Zheng Tu finished speaking seriously and warning them, Ximen Qing and Ying Bojue wisely stopped talking about matters of love and romance.

The three drank a few more cups, and the conversation gradually turned to martial arts and their experiences in the martial arts world. Ying Bojue occasionally cracked a joke, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Qiao Yun, who was eavesdropping outside the door, overheard a huge secret. His face turned red and his heart pounded like a drum. Although he was still young, he had been hanging out on the streets for a long time and knew a lot.

He knew Wu Dalang, didn't he? They did business together on the same street every day; Wu Dalang sold steamed buns, and Qiao Yunge sold pears.

That woman from Wuda... is truly charming and lovely. Even when Qiao Yunge sees her from afar, he can't help but take a second look, and just looking at her makes him feel hot all over.

She was like a goddess in his heart.

"I never thought... that wild man surnamed Zheng would get his hands on me!" Thinking of this, he felt a strange mix of jealousy and excitement.

Seeing that there was nothing more erotic talk to be heard in the room, Yun Ge patted his buttocks, quietly got up, and tiptoed downstairs.

As I walked, my heart was still surging with emotion, my hands and feet trembled uncontrollably, and I almost missed a step on the stairs.

After descending the stairs, he quickly left the Lion Tower, wanting to find a place to calm his mind.

He hadn't gone far when a thin man blocked his way.

"Please wait, sir."

Yun Ge turned around and saw a thin man, about thirty years old, dressed in worn clothes, looking like a carpenter. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were very bright.

Qiao Yunge, on guard, asked, "What do you want?"

The man forced a smile at Qiao Yunge, but he clearly didn't smile often; the smile looked extremely stiff and strange, like a mask stuck to his face.

"Young man, were you just... delivering pears to Master Ximen?"

Qiao Yunge nodded: "Yeah, so what?"

"Did Master Ximen... host a distinguished guest surnamed Zheng?"

Yun Ge nodded again: "Yeah, so what?"

The stern-faced man tried his best to appear amiable and said, "Could you please tell me about their conversation during the meal?"

Yun Ge sized him up, and seeing that his clothes didn't resemble those of a wealthy family, he said impatiently, "I won't talk! What's wrong?"

The man wasn't annoyed. He took out a large coin from his sleeve, stuffed it into Yun Ge's hand, and whispered, "Please help me, brother. I just... want to find out some information."

Yun Ge weighed the money in his hand, immediately dropping his previous smirk and grinning, "Of course, of course! Where shall we talk?"

The man looked around and pointed to a quiet alley not far away: "Over there."

The two walked into the alley, and Qiao Yunge then recounted everything he had overheard.

But when he got to the part about Pan Jinlian, he blushed and started to stammer.

The man listened quietly, his face expressionless, only a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

After Qiao Yunge finished speaking, the man nodded and said, "Thank you, sir." He then took out several dozen coins from his pocket and handed them to him, saying, "Don't mention this to anyone else."

Qiao Yunge took the money and said repeatedly, "I know, I know!" Clutching the two large coins, he was overjoyed and didn't have time to think much about it. He went off to stroll around the street.

.........

Inside the Lion Tower's private room, after several rounds of drinks...

To express his apology for his earlier slip of the tongue and to show his closeness to Ximen Qing, he drank the most and was already seven or eight parts drunk.

He patted Zheng Tu on the shoulder and slurred, "Brother Zheng! We hit it off immediately! You must come to my house today... for a chat, a cup of tea to sober up! I'll also teach you the way, so you can visit often!"

Zheng Tu readily agreed, cupping his hands and saying, "I would be most honored to accept your offer."

Seeing that there was nothing interesting to see, and seeing Ximen Qing and Zheng Tu chatting happily, Ying Bojue was secretly pleased: the matter of the introduction was more than half done.

He was a restless person, so he found an excuse to "go to a brothel to meet his lover," and left with a smile to find some fun.

So only Zheng Tu remained, and he followed Ximen Qing to the Ximen residence.

Upon arriving at the mansion, Zheng Tu looked up and, even though he was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but gasp in shock!

But we see:

The gate tower stands tall, its ridge beasts majestic. The vermilion gate is studded with gold nails, and the blue stone steps pave the jade-like steps. Stone lions guard the house on the left and right, and lanterns hang high above and below.

The plaque above the gate reads "Ximen Mansion" in gold lettering. The gate has five rooms, and looking inside, it seems to be bottomless. It is indeed a large mansion with seven courtyards!

Servants were already waiting at the door. Seeing Ximen Qing return, they hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, saying, "My lord is back!"

Ximen Qing waved his hand: "No need to help him. This is Master Zheng, my distinguished guest. Take good care of him."

The servant hurriedly bowed to Zheng Tu, saying, "May you be blessed, Lord Zheng."

Zheng Tu nodded in return.

Ximen Qing, drunk, led Zheng Tu through the hanging flower gate, across the covered corridor, through the passageway, around the artificial hill and fish pond, making many turns until they arrived at a secluded courtyard at the back.

The Buddhist hall inside was exquisitely built, with green tiles and white walls, carved window frames, and several clumps of green bamboo planted in front of the door.

Ximen Qing walked to the front of the hall and mumbled, "Yue Niang..." Before he could finish speaking, the alcohol hit him hard, his body went limp, and he almost collapsed!

Zheng Tu rushed forward to help him up, calling out twice, "My lord? My lord?"

Ximen Qing only gave a vague reply, but he was very drunk.

Helpless, Zheng Tu had no choice but to carry him and look into the Buddhist hall. He saw that the hall was quiet and solemn, with a white jade Guanyin statue in the center. Sandalwood incense was burning in the incense burner in front of the statue, and the smoke was curling up.

On the prayer cushion, a woman was kneeling with her back to the door, worshipping Buddha.

The woman wore a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her black hair was loosely tied up, and she only had a silver hairpin inserted in her hair.

She was kneeling in prayer, her posture still upright. However, her dress was stretched taut due to the kneeling position, perfectly outlining her graceful curves.

Her waist was slender and her hips were like a full moon.

Especially her waist and hips, which were as round and full as ripe peaches, almost completely covering the cushion beneath her.

This scene, where dignity and charm coexist, creates a strange and beautiful aesthetic in this solemn Buddhist hall.

The more devoutly the woman worshipped Buddha, the more... alluring her taut curves became.

There was no one around, except for a maidservant dressed in the same simple attire standing quietly behind her with her hands at her sides.

Zheng Tu's Adam's apple bobbed as he watched, and he quickly looked away.

Just then, the woman finished her prayers, slowly stood up, and turned around.

She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with almond-shaped eyes and a faint beauty mark at the corner of her eye, adding to her charm; her face was bare of makeup, yet her skin was fair and translucent like fine jade; her lips were full and moist, naturally red without any lipstick.

Her entire outfit was adorned only by that silver hairpin, with no other trace of jewels or luxury.

The air in the Buddhist hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, which, combined with her moon-white dress and simple face, made Wu Yueniang, the mistress of the Ximen Mansion, appear even more dignified, gentle, and graceful.

Compared to her usual capable demeanor in managing household affairs and business, she now exudes a gentler, more ethereal air.

However... the magnificent scene he had just witnessed contrasted sharply with the dignified and elegant appearance before him, leaving Zheng Tu with a lingering sense of unease.

This woman was none other than Ximen Qing's legal wife, Wu Yueniang.

Wu Yueniang looked up and saw her husband, drunk and being supported by a strange, burly man. She paused for a moment, then slowly walked over and said softly:

"And who is this gentleman...?"