Chapter 268: Shanhe Si Solved the Case (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Xu Yuan arrived outside the bamboo cottage and heard a burst of hearty laughter from within; immediately following, Miao Yu stepped out with a look of "eagerly seeking talent," striding forward to welcome him.

Bai Hu accompanied him, her jade hands clasping Miao Yu's arm.

But Miao Yu seemed focused solely on welcoming Xu Yuan, walking so fast that Bai Hu couldn't keep up and was nearly dragged to a fall.

Thus her delicate brows furrowed slightly, yet she immediately replaced the expression with a smile.

This play was acted quite well; Xu Yuan nodded inwardly and still clasped his fist to pay respects: "My lord Miao."

Miao Yu waved a hand, feigning displeasure as he said: "Within the White Moon Pavilion, there is only Miao Yu and Xu Yuan; there is no Miao Chief of Laws or Xu Patrol Inspector.

I invite you in the name of friendship; you attend in the capacity of a friend. With such beautiful wind and moon, would bringing up official business not spoil the scenery?"

Xu Yuan gave a sheepish smile: "Brother Miao speaks correctly."

"Hahaha!" Miao Yu laughed heartily, then took Xu Yuan with one hand and held Bai Hu with the other, walking together into the bamboo cottage.

"You take the upper seat." Miao Yu pointed to a spot, the seat of honor for the guest, which was also... the position Zhang Laoya had occupied before.

Xu Yuan quickly waved his hands, feeling that only a fool would sit there.

"Absolutely not!" Xu Yuan simply found a seat and sat down; no matter how Miao Yu urged him, he refused to take the main seat.

Miao Yu did not force the issue and sat there himself.

In his heart, he felt a bit more approval for Xu Yuan: he did not become arrogant in success and understood propriety well.

Miao Yu had used this set of tactics on others before.

Especially those of humble birth; once praised, they would often become dizzy with pride and lose all sense of heaven and earth.

Miao Yu signaled Bai Hu again, and the latter sat down affectionately beside Xu Yuan.

As if struck by lightning, Xu Yuan bounced and moved three feet away.

"Hahaha!" Miao Yu, unaware of the reason, found it amusing: "Could it be that my younger brother is still a virgin?"

Xu Yuan forced his qi, causing his face to flush red; he stammered and refused to answer, instead saying repeatedly: "Miss Bai belongs to Brother Miao; how could I steal what another cherishes?"

Bai Hu was secretly furious.

Behind Miao Yu, her eyes could shoot daggers, slicing at Xu Yuan with a whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Xu Yuan knew her background; this was clearly her despising me for being old!

Miao Yu laughed again, but unexpectedly, Xu Yuan immediately said: "I just... saw two young ladies outside..."

Miao Yu felt again that Xu Yuan suited his tastes perfectly.

What he liked, he liked; he asked for it directly.

Since I invited you, I will certainly arrange for your satisfaction.

If you are coy, wanting something but not saying it, and not wanting something but not refusing it, forcing me to guess your thoughts—guys who act like that, whether male or female, Miao Yu finds very annoying.

Bai Hu rose gracefully and spoke softly: "I will go ask those two little girls."

Thus, not long after, she brought the Fox Sisters in.

The two little ones looked awkward and resistant.

They sat down on Xu Yuan's left and right.

Seeing their appearance, Miao Yu thought they were just new and inexperienced, but seeing that Xu Yuan seemed truly satisfied with the two of them, he secretly curled his lip: Virgins like virgins.

Everyone lacked experience; it was a match of evenly matched opponents.

Bai Hu asked Xu Yuan again on Miao Yu's behalf what wine he preferred.

Xu Yuan was not polite at all, requesting ten taels of aged wine from the Lotus Wine Shop.

Miao Yu waved a hand: "Ten years is too heavy with off-flavors and lacks the aged character." He patted Bai Hu's TUN: "Go fetch the thirty-year-old."

Xu Yuan then looked at Miao Yu with new respect; this fellow's wealth was no less than Fu Jingyu's.

When the wine and dishes arrived, Xu Yuan and the two little foxes still appeared very restrained.

The sisters dared not move recklessly.

Miao Yu and Bai Hu gradually became unrestrained.

They played and frolicked for two shichen; Miao Yu was already drunk, holding Bai Hu as he staggered off to sleep.

"Xu, Xu younger brother, make yourself at home, hahaha..."

Miao Yu pointed at the sisters beside Xu Yuan and chuckled, hehehe.

Then, suddenly making a move, he pushed the two women into Xu Yuan's arms; the two little foxes cried out in surprise.

Miao Yu had already left, laughing wickedly.

The night was already deep; clearly, they could not return.

Xu Yuan also spent the night at the White Moon Pavilion.

The two little foxes escorted him to his room, yet they were more nervous than he was.

Xu Yuan waved his hand: "Withdraw; do not forget to take me to find those things tomorrow."

The next day, waking up and eating breakfast, Miao Yu drank white porridge, suffering somewhat from a hangover; rubbing his temples, he mentioned casually: "Younger brother, do you want to come help me at Shanhe Si?"

Xu Yuan said nothing.

Miao Yu drank a bowl of porridge; Bai Hu wanted to refill it for him, but he waved his hand to decline.

Bai Hu then handed over a Bai Bu towel; Miao Yu wiped his mouth and continued: "I am an outsider, so I will not hide it from you; the people of Shanhe Si are all useless!

You come help me and remain a Patrol Inspector, but as soon as you solve one case, I can promote you to Deputy Chief of Laws.

With us brothers working together, I am confident that within three years, I can rise to Commander, and you will be at least a Chief of Laws.

Leading under He Youxing is meaningless; I know that man; he is someone without responsibility.

Hmph, yesterday I went to the Purification Bureau, and he didn't even dare show his face."

Seeing Xu Yuan with his head down and silent, Miao Yu said: "This matter does not need an immediate decision; think it over carefully."

Before Xu Yuan could answer, a hurried set of footsteps sounded outside, and Wu Qingzhao's voice rang from the door: "My lord, we've found the thief who stole from the treasury!"

The young maid finally caught up, panting, and complained: "What's wrong with you people? Bursting in here first thing in the morning…"

Bai Hu subtly waved a hand, and the maid pouted and withdrew.

Wu Qingzhao glanced at Xu Yuan, her eyes tinged with a hint of triumph and defiance.

We of Shanhe Office can get things done too!

While the Head of Law was here recruiting Xu Yuan, we seized the chance and solved the case.

Wu Qingzhao felt vindicated—her subordinates had truly given their all, and everyone's honor was restored.

Behind Miao Yu immediately rose: "Let's go see."

He turned to Xu Yuan: "Xu Police Inspector, give serious thought to my offer."

Xu Yuan nodded: "Alright."

Wu Qingzhao wanted to invite Xu Yuan to come along.

A perfect chance to show off before the rival.

The excuse was ready: the several wealthy merchants in the city had all filed reports with Quhui Office.

Now that we've found the criminal, requesting Quhui Office's assistance in apprehending and interrogating him—isn't that reasonable?

But she felt doing so… would displease the Head of Law, so she could only cast a regretful glance at Xu Yuan and let it go.

After they left, Bai Hu dropped the act entirely, slumping lifelessly into her chair: "Erniu, bring me a bowl—lots of fish slices and ham. Tending to people is exhausting."

The fox sisters' nicknames were "Dayou" and "Erniu."

But when facing lost scholars in the mountains, their names became "Bai Yuexin" and "Bai Yueyan."

Bai Hu lifted her porridge and tilted her chin at Xu Yuan: "Behind Miao Yu wants to recruit you, but now his men have solved the case—your value has dropped sharply."

Xu Yuan didn't mention the recruitment, but stated firmly: "The criminal Wu Qingzhao found isn't the real one."

(End of Chapter)