Chapter 36: Ashamed of Myself (Requesting Follow Reads or 2)

Night fell.

Clip-clop, clip-clop…

The sound of hooves occasionally galloped past the street, drawing curious glances from passersby unaware of the cause.

Princess Changning, dressed in an opulent palace gown, sat within a luxurious carriage and asked upon seeing the large number of Wu Zu and government office runners who had left the city days ago now return in unison:

“Has something happened at the Wang Fu?”

Hou Guanxia, Princess Changning’s trusted lieutenant, walked beside the carriage, stroking his mustache as he replied:

“It seems they’ve located the source of the demonic aura from Zihui Mountain. You’d need to ask Old Zhu about it.”

Princess Changning nodded slightly: “Having a lead is good. Go invite Miss Wang and the others over—let’s hold a banquet tonight to celebrate.”

?

Duo Duo, sitting beside her, thought the princess could invent any excuse just to get drunk.

As a loyal lackey, Hou Guanxia would normally have turned on his heel to send out invitations the moment he received the order—but today, unusually, he didn’t move, instead showing a hint of confusion:

“Your Highness has already seen Xie Jin, yet you still want to invite the young ladies for drinks? What’s a girl compared to the wildflowers down the back alley~”

Princess Changning leaned against the carriage window, gently fanning herself with a landscape-patterned silk fan, admiring the osmanthus trees along the street:

“Such fine flowers grow in the back courtyard, yet you kept them hidden from me—now they’re taken. Am I supposed to go dig up someone else’s flowers?”

“Taken? Your Highness means Dr. Lin?”

Hou Guanxia raised an eyebrow: “Dr. Lin does have some charm, but compared to Your Highness, she’s like Xie Jin compared to me. Though each has their own merits and it’s hard to say which is better, I at least have a touch more depth and fragrance…”

“Puh~ Hahaha…”

Duo Duo could no longer hold back and burst into laughter, then quickly covered her mouth, turning it into:

“Puh-puh-puh…”

Even Princess Changning, weathered by countless storms, felt her usually serene face darken.

But as a trusted general, she didn’t reprimand him—only explained:

“Qingmo knew her first. They’re still working together on cases every day. If I were to steal her away, wouldn’t that damage our sisterly bond?”

Hou Guanxia fanned himself, his eyes darting slyly:

“Your Highness and Lady Linghu are like sisters, and Your Highness values loyalty and sentiment. When you eventually find a good husband, if you can still call each other sisters and remain close day and night, it would make a fine tale…”

Duo Duo interrupted: “You mean marrying one man? That’s far too generous to men.”

Princess Changning was about to reply when she noticed three figures in crimson qilin robes standing at the mouth of Qingquan Alley, speaking quietly.

The Chi Lin Guard were the Emperor’s personal enforcers, with authority to investigate officials and execute first, report later. Though officially they dared not offend princes, the princes themselves were clearly within the Chi Lin Guard’s surveillance.

Seeing three crimson-robed demons lurking near her home, Princess Changning frowned inwardly:

“Go summon those three.”

Hou Guanxia, receiving the order, didn’t run over—he merely glared:

“You three up front—get over here right now!”

The three Chi Lin Guards, mid-conversation on the side street, immediately gripped their waist blades and turned with angry stares.

But upon recognizing Princess Changning’s procession, they froze in shock, then hurried forward, lifting their robes to kneel on one knee:

“Chi Lin Guard Company Commander Zhou He, pays homage to Your Highness!”

Princess Changning didn’t ask them to rise. Leaning against the carriage window, she asked:

“Commander Zhou, why have you come all the way from the capital to Qingquan Alley in such a busy time? Is there a rebel hiding here?”

Zhou He looked down at the street, his tone calm:

“Your Highness misunderstands. I came today to handle the Sanhe Building case. I heard the night view along Chongming River is lovely, so after work I came to take a look.”

With the princess’s backing, Hou Guanxia spoke without restraint:

“If you want to enjoy yourself at night, you should go to Taoxian Fang’s brothel street. Qingquan Alley is all Princess’s property—there are no secret dens here. Commander Zhou, don’t get lost.”

“Yes. We were just discussing where to go. We didn’t notice Your Highness’s procession—please forgive our oversight.”

Princess Changning fell silent for a moment. Seeing their answers were flawless, she asked no more:

“Go.”

“Yes.”

The three Chi Lin Guards rose at once and vanished into the street.

Princess Changning frowned, staring into the depths of the alley:

“Is someone in the alley causing trouble, drawing the Chi Lin Guard?”

Qingquan Alley was mostly inhabited by minor officials. If the Chi Lin Guard came knocking, death was usually near. Hou Guanxia thought for a moment:

“Probably not. Maybe they were just deciding where to find girls.”

“Hmph. These demons never come without reason. Keep a closer eye on them in the coming days.”

“Yes…”

…

—

Lin Family Clinic, Alchemy Chamber.

A bronze alchemy furnace, taller than a man, stood in the center of the room, emitting faint white mist from its top, with golden flames visible below.

Beside the alchemy chamber stood a hundred-compartment medicine cabinet, each drawer labeled with herbal names. In the corner was a small table holding a daily alchemy schedule and a notebook recording furnace temperatures, ingredient quantities, and other details.

Lin Zisu, dressed in a white dress, pinned the alchemy progress chart to the wall. Her long black hair cascaded like a waterfall down her back. The fitted dress accentuated her figure, causing her chest to swell slightly, her pale face serene and composed—she looked every bit the untainted golden branch and jade leaf.

Yet her composed demeanor didn’t mean she was well-behaved. While busy, she hummed a tune she’d apparently picked up somewhere:

“Long wan wan, two delicate eyebrows curved~ Trembling, a slender willow waist held tight…”

Her clear, melodic voice was sweetly alluring—any man listening would feel his bones soften.

But Xie Jin, standing beside the furnace, felt his scalp crawl!

After returning from outside the city, Xie Jin had come straight to the clinic to meet Lin Wanyi.

But he hadn’t expected to hear the same lewd song again.

Do all the girls in Danyang sing this?

Aside from Mo Mo, the most low-maintenance vehicle turned out to be the witch cult’s demon girl…

Lin Wanyi was used to it. Now, she stood before the furnace, bowing respectfully, then circling left three times, right three times, muttering incantations under her breath.

Meiqiu, as an unrelated outsider, had been banished outside and could only peer through the window.

Xie Jin watched Lin Wanyi spinning around, puzzled:

“Does spinning like this help with alchemy?”

Lin Wanyi, wearing golden-rimmed glasses, wore a serious expression on her stunning face. Only after finishing her circles did she reply:

“All things have spirit. In alchemy, even if your master bows three times to the furnace while brewing, you’d better do the same.

“I’m still normal. You haven’t seen Zisu—she has to coax the furnace first, saying things like ‘Good furnace, furnace is great!’—like she’s possessed.”

Xie Jin asked skeptically: “Does that actually work?”

Lin Wanyi, recalling her painful childhood alchemy training, believed it utterly:

“It works. Otherwise, the furnace explodes!”

Xie Jin thought this was unscientific.

But if he’d blown up a furnace ten times in a row, and after randomly slapping himself once, the elixir finally succeeded—he’d probably spend the rest of his life slapping himself before every alchemy session, just in case.

After the ritual ended, Lin Wanyi crouched beside the furnace, tilting her head to inspect its interior.

Due to her exceptionally graceful figure and the fitted work dress she wore, the moment she crouched, her waist and rounded buttocks formed a heavy, lush curve—the white fabric of her pants had an astonishing texture.

Lin Zisu had just pinned the paper to the most visible board and turned to see Lin Wanyi’s posture. She couldn’t help but exclaim:

“Wow~ Little Aunt, your butt is so round!”

?

Lin Wanyi stumbled, blushing furiously as she stood up and snatched up a ruler:

“You little brat—don’t you see we have guests?”

“Hehe~ Just joking!”

…

Xie Jin, facing both the elder and the younger, found it awkward to look at either. He didn’t know alchemy, so he took his leave:

“It’s late. I’ll head back.”

“Hey—wait! I prepared something for you.”

Lin Wanyi put down the ruler and hurried to the front clinic.

Xie Jin, now alone with Miss Zisu, remembered something and turned back:

“Miss Zisu, that potion you gave me—the Dao Progress Elixir…”

Lin Zisu peeked out, confirmed her aunt wasn’t nearby, then tiptoed up to him and pulled out a small vial from her bosom:

“Here.”

Xie Jin quickly tucked it into his sleeve, then took out the silver notes donated by Fu Dongping and handed them to Lin Zisu:

“I don’t have much cash. If this isn’t enough, I’ll owe you—pay you back in a few days.”

Lin Zisu took it, saw it was one hundred taels, and immediately returned it:

“That’s too much. One tael is enough.”

“One tael?”

Xie Jin had expected a thousand—he found it hard to believe.

“Such a powerful elixir, and it’s only one tael of silver?”

“Cheap goods are never good—this pill scrambles the mind, and the strength boost is only temporary. Even if you gave it away for free, few would dare take it.”

Lin Zisu slipped the silver fragments into her sleeve, returned to the table, and whispered a reminder:

“Young Master Xie, don’t eat it recklessly—and whatever you do, don’t tell Auntie.”

Xie Jinhuan had originally planned to use this pill as a last-ditch gamble in desperation, but upon learning it cost only one tael, he recalled the dilapidated house he’d rented for one tael and seven copper coins…

Though slightly cheaper than expected, Xie Jinhuan still tucked it into his robe and bowed in thanks.

After a short wait, Lin Wanyi returned from the front, holding a small box and a bottle of wine:

“Zisu retrieved the leftover Dragon’s Blood Pills from the Imperial Academy. Take one daily when you return. If you feel unwell, tell me immediately so I can adjust the formula.”

“This wine greatly replenishes qi, blood, and essence. Drink it, and you’ll be vigorous again by tomorrow. I’ve also prepared a medicinal bath formula—soak in it tonight to relax…”

Xie Jinhuan had lost a great deal of blood today and indeed appeared somewhat weak.

But his blood loss came from “sacrificing himself and framing a fellow cultivator,” and he’d even borrowed Lin Wanyi’s body—now to take her gifts for free felt truly shameless. He held up the wine bottle and studied it:

“This wine is so potent—how much silver?”

“Not expensive—just a few dozen taels.”

“?”

Xie Jinhuan was about to pull out his money when he was stunned by her answer:

“So expensive? Where’s it from?”

Lin Wanyi declared proudly: “It’s a medicinal wine steeped in ‘Hero’s Tears.’ You’ve probably never tasted it—don’t drink too much.”

“Hero’s Tears?”

Xie Jinhuan had heard the name thunderously—it was the second greatest masterpiece of the former dynasty’s Wine Saint, Fan Li. His first was the legendary ‘Number One Under Heaven,’ which no one had ever seen.

The names of both wines carried clear symbolism—the glory behind ‘Number One Under Heaven’ was built upon countless unspoken tears of heroes.

This wine was fiercely sought after; without status or wealth, you simply couldn’t buy it. His father had drunk a few cups when the County Magistrate was promoted, and he’d bragged about it to his colleagues for years afterward.

Xie Jinhuan didn’t know if his father had drunk any in recent years, but in his own memory, he’d never even smelled it—and now he was genuinely craving it. He reluctantly pulled out the silver notes he’d taken from Fu Dongping:

“We fought demons together at noon—losing a bit of blood is nothing; a couple days’ rest will fix it. How could I let Miss Lin spend so much? I’ll buy this wine myself. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Huh?”

Lin Wanyi had been saved by Xie Jinhuan today—how could she possibly accept silver? She was about to refuse when she saw his figure flicker, and he vanished out the door, clutching Meiqiu.

She rushed outside but found the courtyard bathed in moonlight empty of Xie Jinhuan’s trace. She could only mutter:

“So young, yet more upright than any academy master—hating evil, unshaken by temptation, virtuous as a horse that drops coins into a well… How can such a righteous man exist in this world…?”

Thinking of her own identity as a witch cult demoness, Lin Wanyi felt a pang of shame…

…

—

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(End of Chapter)