At midnight on the first day of the Lunar New Year, gifts of every kind filled an entire flower hall. Xu Huan took one look and frowned. “Who sent such an ostentatious pile?”
From behind the screen, Xu Xinqiao stepped out with a broad grin. “Second Uncle, it was me! I just got back from Jizhou—came specially to show my filial piety to you.”
Xu Huan’s face didn’t soften in the least. Upon seeing him, he immediately snapped in a stern voice, “You little b*stard! What do you take this place for? Who do you think you are? The post of Surveillance Censor is conspicuous as h*ll—do you not realize how many eyes are on you? Are you trying to let the whole world know how corrupt you are?!”
Xu Xinqiao pouted, playing the wronged victim. “Uncle, at least take a look at what I brought! Jizhou may not have much, but it’s got plenty of animal furs. Your nephew just wanted to bring some gifts back for Auntie and the kids. That’s totally reasonable, right? Who’s going to nitpick that?”
He leaned in, smiling cheekily. “Besides, Uncle, let’s not kid ourselves. This is all because you pulled the strings and got me a perfect scapegoat, right? Of course I should show my thanks!”
There had been someone selling iron goods to the Oirats—but it wasn’t the Qi family. It was him, Xu Xinqiao.
When the Ministry of War first noticed something was off at the end of the year and began investigating, he’d panicked. But once the imperial inspector arrived in Jizhou, he’d stopped panicking—because his uncle had already figured everything out for him.
Xu Huan’s elder brother had died early, and Xu Xinqiao was his only posthumous child. Xu Huan had raised him like his own. Seeing his shameless grin, Xu Huan couldn’t stay angry. He only frowned and scolded, “There are too many eyes and ears around these days. The matter hasn’t been settled yet. Keep a low profile! Don’t go anywhere for now—just lie low!”
Xu Xinqiao had grown up in his uncle’s household. Of course he knew his uncle’s temper. From the tone alone, he knew it meant things were under control.
He immediately beamed, turning to leave. “Got it, Uncle! I just wanted to come pay my New Year respects. May you live a long life, and be appointed Minister of War next year—and maybe even enter the Cabinet!”
Now that he was connected with the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, those things didn’t seem far off at all.
Xu Xinqiao was thrilled.
Can you just say things like that out loud?! Xu Huan wanted to rebuke him, but Xu Xinqiao was already gone. He could only shake his head and instruct the steward to have the gifts put away.
No sooner had he returned to his room than Madam Xu said, “So many people came with gifts today—countless, really. But just like you said, we didn’t accept anything inappropriate—only gifts from relatives. But that Xinqiao kid, he sent over several carriages full of goods. Nearly gave me a heart attack!”
“I already know.” Xu Huan patted her hand. “Keep it. It’s just furs. You’re always cold in the winter. And those girls—Little Ba, Little San—they’re always begging for fur-lined cloaks. Use this to make them some.”
Madam Xu was delighted, but she still looked a bit uneasy. “You’ve always been honest and careful, never letting yourself be tainted. Are you sure this is okay?”
Every time she thought about it, Madam Xu felt wronged.
It’s not like their family lacked silver!
He’d risen to be Shilang of the Ministry of War, and he oversaw the entire military arsenal of the nation—a position as lucrative as a gold mine.
Yet the more lucrative the post, the more cautious Xu Huan had become.
There were never any banquets or parties in their home. Even the old matriarch’s birthday had just been a family dinner and nothing more.
They had piles of silver, bolts of silk and satin, enough to overflow a warehouse—yet they never used them. Couldn’t even touch them. That was the most frustrating thing!
She thought this would be their life forever. Who would’ve thought her husband suddenly seemed to have changed his mind?
Xu Huan smiled meaningfully. “We couldn’t use it before. But from now on—we can.”
Madam Xu didn’t really understand what he meant, but she was overjoyed. She immediately opened the storehouse and gave all the kids new fur-lined clothes.
Everyone here was happy.
Xu Xinqiao, too, was full of joy as he left the Xu estate.
Of course he was thrilled!
He knew what he had done was a crime punishable by execution and extermination of his entire clan. But now, there was no need to worry—because the Qi family was taking the fall for him.
It was the first day of the new year, an occasion for celebration. He happily entered the most popular brothel in the capital—Hongfen Jinlou—and without hesitation, requested the top courtesan.
He paid 10,000 taels of silver to buy her first night, and naturally, his private room was the best of the best: luxurious bedding, silken cushions, everything extravagant.
Xu Xinqiao lifted a cup of wine, took a sip, savoring the taste. Just as he set it down—
Creaaaak.
The door opened.
Then, the lantern by the doorway was quietly extinguished.
By the light of a single horn-lantern left burning on the table, he could see the silhouette of a slender, graceful beauty entering the room. Especially when she bent slightly, her figure was reflected on the paper window—delicate features, fan-like lashes, a picture of elegance.
As expected of a capital courtesan! So much better than anything in Jizhou! That godforsaken place—he had all the money in the world but nowhere to spend it!
Laughing, he rushed forward. “Beauty! Come here—!”
What greeted him wasn’t the warm softness of a beauty’s embrace— It was a cold blade.
The dagger stabbed into his chest, one-third of its length buried, the rest gleaming outside.
Xu Xinqiao’s eyes widened. Just as he was about to scream, a wad of cloth was shoved into his mouth.
Qi Yuan kicked him hard, knocking him to the ground. Then she knelt beside him and pulled off her mask.
The masks these courtesans wore were made of pure gold, with fine strands of gold hanging down—adding elegance and mystery.
But right now, Xu Xinqiao couldn’t feel any mystery—only pain.
Qi Yuan tossed the mask aside, abandoning the dagger in his chest. She pulled the sharpened golden hairpin from her bun and pressed it against his throat. Her voice was soft: “Lord Xu, if I push just a little harder, that artery of yours will go pop like a firecracker.”
……
The imagery was too vivid. Xu Xinqiao began to tremble.
He stared at the girl before him, eyes wide with sheer terror.
Qi Yuan dragged the pin down slightly—it nearly broke the skin—then smiled and said: “I’ll pull the cloth from your mouth so you can talk. But no barking like a dog. If you do, this hairpin will go straight through your throat. Understand?”
Xu Xinqiao nodded furiously.
