novelhk Chapter 485: The Man in Black Breaks In at Night
Chapter 485: The Man in Black Breaks In at Night
The meal ended quickly, and Jin San Niang bid farewell to Madam Lin before leaving. Fang Xiaoxiao and her two companions also intended to leave, but Madam Lin persuaded them to stay.
Madam Lin led Fang Xiaoxiao and the other two to the small study in the backyard. As soon as they entered, Madam Lin changed her gentle demeanor and her tone became cold.
"Let me ask you, how much do you know about the two geishas who have died in Fuxiang Pavilion in such a short time?" Madam Lin stared at them sharply.
Fang Xiaoxiao and the others shook their heads in surprise, indicating that they did not know.
Madam Lin snorted coldly: "You really don't know?"
Fang Xiaoxiao composed herself and said, "Madam, we really don't know. We just find these two things very strange."
Li Wan'er quickly added, "Madam, we have always done things in a proper and orderly manner, and we really don't know the inside story."
Madam Lin paced back and forth, her eyes filled with suspicion: "This Floating Fragrance Pavilion has always been peaceful, so how come there have been one death after another lately? I don't think you are completely unaware of this."
Hongxiu was a little scared, and said in a trembling voice, "Madam, we really don't know anything."
Madam Lin stopped and stared at Fang Xiaoxiao, saying, "Fang Xiaoxiao, I heard you've been secretly investigating this matter. Have you found anything?"
Fang Xiao was startled, but she still tried to remain calm: "Madam, I'm just curious and want to find out the truth. I haven't made any substantial discoveries yet."
Madam Lin was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "This Floating Fragrance Pavilion cannot afford any more trouble. If you know anything, you'd better tell me the truth, otherwise..."
Fang Xiaoxiao said, "Madam, we would have told you if we knew, but we really have no clue at the moment."
Madam Lin waved her hand: "Alright, you can go back now. But remember, report to me if anything happens."
Fang Xiaoxiao and the other two felt as if they had been granted a pardon and quickly left the study.
Stepping out of the study, Li Wan'er patted her chest, still shaken, and said, "Why has Madam Lin suddenly become so fierce?"
Fang Xiaoxiao frowned: "It seems she cares a lot about these two things, and is also very nervous."
Back in the cabin, Fang Xiaoxiao and the other two had just fallen asleep when they heard the door being pushed open. Fang Xiaoxiao woke up instantly and quickly and quietly woke the other two, telling them to find a place to hide. She then took out the sleeping powder she had prepared earlier from her pouch, held it tightly in her hand, and stared intently at the doorway.
Just then, the man in black who had entered suddenly appeared in front of her, his speed startling Fang Xiao. However, she reacted quickly, swiftly releasing a bewitching powder. The man in black had no time to react and collapsed to the ground.
Fang Xiaoxiao and her two companions lit candles in the room and found ropes to tie the man to a chair. Then, Fang Xiaoxiao took a deep breath, tore off the black-clad man's veil, and discovered that it was actually the scholar she had met at Madam Lin's door.
Fang Xiaoxiao frowned, scooped up a basin of cold water, and woke the person up.
The scholar slowly awoke and found himself bound. He panicked and cried out in fear, "Girl, spare my life! I came here to ask for your help!"
Fang Xiaoxiao snorted coldly: "Help? Is it proper for you to sneak in here asking for help like this?"
The scholar looked distressed: "I really have no other choice. There are too many people around during the day, and I'm afraid of being discovered."
Li Wan'er emerged from her hiding place and asked, "What exactly do you want?"
The scholar said urgently, "Liu Mei's death was not an accident. I know some inside information, but I am weak and dare not speak out. I can only come to you."
Hongxiu also leaned over: "Tell me quickly, what exactly happened?"
The scholar lowered his voice: "I discovered that Liu Mei had frequent contact with a mysterious person before her death. That person seems to be a subordinate of a powerful official in the imperial court."
Fang Xiao's heart skipped a beat: "Powerful figures? Do you know which powerful figures you mean?"
The scholar shook his head: "I don't know exactly who it is, but I heard them mention some confidential matters, which seemed to be related to the business of Fuxiang Pavilion."
Fang Xiaoxiao pondered for a moment: "Then why do you think Liu Mei's death was not an accidental drowning?"
The scholar said, "Liu Mei once told me that she had discovered a secret of Fuxiang Pavilion and was worried about danger. But she died a few days later. What a coincidence."
Fang Xiaoxiao and the other two exchanged glances, all feeling that the matter was becoming increasingly complicated.
Just then, a faint sound came from outside the window.
When Jin San Niang's voice came, Fang Xiao and the others quickly untied the scholar and took him into the inner room, hiding him in a cabinet.
Jin Sanniang shouted loudly in the courtyard, sending people to wake everyone up, and claiming that outsiders had broken into the courtyard.
Fang Xiaoxiao and the other two whispered among themselves, but on the surface they pretended that nothing had happened.
At this moment, Jin Sanniang came to Fang Xiaoxiao's room and asked, "Fang Xiaoxiao, have you seen any suspicious people?"
The three of them quickly shook their heads, indicating that they had never seen it before.
Jin Sanniang looked at them suspiciously and began to ask questions step by step: "Really not? This is a very important matter. If you know something but don't report it, you will bear the consequences."
Fang Xiaozhen replied firmly, "Third Sister, we really didn't see anyone suspicious. It's the middle of the night, and we were all sleeping."
Jin Sanniang snorted and said disbelievingly, "It had better be that way. Men, search them!"
His men immediately began a thorough search of every room in the courtyard.
Fang Xiaoxiao was extremely nervous, worried that the scholar in the closet would be discovered. She secretly prayed that she could escape this predicament.
Li Wan'er and Hongxiu also looked nervous, their palms sweating.
The searchers ransacked the room, and the sounds of things being moved could be heard intermittently.
"Reporting to Third Sister, nothing was found!" The search team members returned one after another to report.
Jin Sanniang frowned, looked Fang Xiaoxiao and the other two over again, and said, "If I find out you're lying, you'll be in big trouble!"
After saying that, he left the room with his men.
Fang Xiaoxiao and the other two breathed a sigh of relief.
However, before they could even feel relieved, they heard a scream from outside.
They were startled, wondering what had happened again.
Fang Xiaoxiao cautiously opened the door and looked outside. She saw a maid lying on the ground, already lifeless.
A commotion broke out among the crowd.
"What on earth is going on?" someone shouted in terror.
Jin Sanniang's face was grim as she shouted, "Don't panic!"
A mysterious figure flashed across the rooftop, and Jin Sanniang quickly sent people to chase after him. Fang Xiaoxiao and her two companions took advantage of the chaos to run back to their room and quickly closed the door.
Fang Xiaoxiao patted her chest to calm her nerves, then looked at the cabinet and saw that the scholar was still hiding inside, which put her at ease. She opened the cabinet and brought the scholar out.
"Scholar, things are in complete chaos outside. What do you plan to do next?" Fang Xiaoxiao asked anxiously.
The scholar said firmly, "I'm going to report this to the authorities! We can't let these people's evil deeds continue."
Li Wan'er said worriedly, "But will reporting to the authorities really be of any use? What if the officials protect each other? Wouldn't we be in even more danger then?"
The scholar gritted his teeth and said, "Even if there is danger, I have to try. I can't let Liu Mei and the others die in vain."
Hongxiu hesitated and said, "But we have no evidence. Will the government believe us?"
Fang Xiaoxiao pondered for a moment and said, "We can find the evidence slowly, but if we don't report it to the authorities, we will never have a chance to get justice for them."
The scholar nodded and said, "That's right, I believe justice will eventually prevail."
Just then, there was a sudden and urgent knock on the door.
"Who?" Fang Xiaoxiao asked warily.
"It's me, Jin San Niang. Open the door quickly!" Jin San Niang's voice came from inside.
Fang Xiaoxiao and the others exchanged glances, their hearts tightening.
"What should we do? Should we open the door or not?" Li Wan'er nervously grabbed Fang Xiaoxiao's arm.
Fang Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and said, "Open it and see what she's up to."
Fang Xiaoxiao slowly opened the door, and Jin Sanniang walked in with several of her men.
"What were you all doing in the room when it was so chaotic?" Jin Sanniang's sharp eyes swept across the room.
Fang Xiaozhen replied firmly, "Third Aunt, we were terrified and have been staying inside the house without daring to go out."
Jin Sanniang snorted coldly: "Really? You all look flustered. Are you hiding something from me?"
Fang Xiaoxiao said, "Third Aunt, what could we possibly be hiding from you? What exactly has happened outside?"
Jin Sanniang frowned and said, "Don't ask any more questions. Stay in the house and don't run around."
After saying that, Jin San Niang left with her people.
Fang Xiaoxiao closed the door, leaned against it, and slowly slid down to sit on the floor.
"It seems that Jin San Niang has begun to suspect us," Hong Xiu said worriedly.
Fang Xiaoxiao stood up and said, "No matter what, scholar, you should go and report to the authorities first. We'll continue searching for evidence here."
The scholar nodded, climbed out the window, and disappeared into the night.