Gasping in a cold breath!
Perhaps it's because he runs his own inn, but he always has a bit of occupational disease, given that his inn doesn't offer any special services, yet this place...
"Young Master, Su Yi has never heard of any brothel in Firework Alley that merely lodges guests."
This statement brought Jiang Feng, who had just risen from his seat intending to find another establishment, to an immediate halt.
He sat back down obediently.
What it implied was that, how could they offer him a room if he doesn't bring a girl with him?
How would they charge him? Did he come here just for a tea? Even if the old woman here were to take him for a decent man, no other brothels would let him stay either.
Rules are rules; if they made an exception for him, what would they do if other customers started treating brothels like inns?
Lifting his tea for a sip, Mr. Jiang could only cover up the embarrassment with this gesture. It wasn't that he was embarrassed about spending the night in a brothel—he was an adult after all—nor was it about whether he should really bring a girl to his room.
Rather, it was about whether or not to spread word of this affair.
He noticed that ever since he entered this hall, Su Yi had stopped calling him "Young Master Jiang" and simply used "Young Master," obviously to help him conceal his identity.
But... he was here tonight seeking refuge.
If that assassin did indeed go to his home tonight, the commotion there might have already been discovered, along with the fact that he wasn't at home.
Should he pretend nothing happened and return home in the morning, he would likely be greeted by a group of Government Officials, inevitably to be questioned, since the route home would unavoidably take him past the two corpses.
He could feign ignorance, but suspicion would linger, and future trouble was sure to follow. The other concern was Mr. Xue, who had been cut off from future generations—if he found a reason to cause trouble, it would be endless.
To cover up the tracks of tonight's murder, Jiang Feng had made many preparations, such as frequently visiting Firework Alley these past days to become a familiar face. Even though they didn't know his name, should anyone ask why he hadn't returned home at night, he could respond with chest puffed out rather proudly,
"I've been coming here every day recently. Last night, the rain was too heavy to go back, so I stayed overnight at the Ethereal Violet Pavilion; you can ask around Firework Alley if you don't believe me."
Well, his reputation might stink, but at least it was a plausible cover, except he was still concerned about Yan Yurou.
He was thick-skinned, but if his fiancée became unhappy because of this or if it led to any negative public opinion towards her, Jiang Feng would find it unacceptable. After all, he could not tell his fiancée about these dirty deeds he was doing.
Murder is murder. No matter the justification, his hands were stained with blood, and he didn't want the girl to know. It might be right in his own heart, but he definitely didn't want his fiancée to find out.
His fingers gently rubbed the edge of the teacup, perhaps even Jiang Feng himself hadn't realized he made such a subconscious gesture when pondering issues.
Su Yi did not continue persuading gently, nor did she urge him, as the night was deep and there wouldn't be many guests. She moved closer to the young man, and as those full, rounded peaks were about to touch his arm, Jiang Feng subconsciously pulled away.
"If the young master continues to hesitate, I fear your left arm might give you away tomorrow."
Cold sweat broke out from his forehead and back in an instant, shocking him awake as if he had been splashed with cold water!
Her expression was gentle and full of charm, uttering words in an exceedingly tender voice that almost scared Jiang Feng to death. He looked at the woman with suspicion and uncertainty, even glimpsing an almost imperceptible flash of ferocity in his eyes, but it quickly retracted.
He wasn't in a position to threaten anyone on their turf; he was well aware of how much weight he carried.
And her expression remained serene and graceful throughout the conversation, as if she had merely mentioned something trivial.
If it were someone else, perhaps they would feign ignorance or lunacy and adamantly deny it, but he wasn't foolish. Her words were so clear; by tomorrow, with Xue Wuwei's body discovered, they would be hunting for the murderer, and his own arm with a knife wound would definitely fall under suspicion.
"Young Master is truly decisive; I thought you wouldn't admit it."
The beautiful woman merely cast her gaze towards the girls frolicking with the guests in the distance and did not directly reply to the young man's question. Instead, she slowly said, "With the Young Master's distinguished status, naturally, nobody would take the initiative to search your body." Chapters first released on novel⚑fire.net
"But, Young Master, consider this: if such a wound is not treated promptly, it is likely to fester within a few days."
"By then, if it's discovered by others, I'm afraid you still won't be able to escape this disaster."
Taking a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, he glanced at his left forearm. He had indeed killed that master-servant duo in the fight with Wang Qi, but also took a blade himself.
The wound was not deep, but in this era, it was never about the depth of the wound, but rather the problems of disinfection and infection. This is why in ancient times "poison" was corresponded with "metal" in the Five Elements.
Before coming to the Ethereal Violet Pavilion, he had merely applied some golden sore medicine to stop the bleeding and then bandaged it; however, the risk of infection was still significant. That was why Su Yi said he was gambling.
But how exactly was he discovered?
Jiang Feng didn't say a word but tried hard to recall the fight with Wang Qi; he had checked that there were no people within at least a hundred meters around him.
Moreover, he was always meticulous with his actions. After deliberately "letting" Mr. Xue have a slim chance to live, he even hid in a corner and secretly watched for a while, leaving only after making sure that no one came to rescue him.
And before leaving, he went back to the damaged carriage and searched around, only to find nothing... Wait a minute.
He suddenly thought of something.
"It was you who took the silver notes!?"
The tone carried an imperceptible hint of surprise, but this, in turn, dumbfounded Su Yi.
Silver notes? What silver notes?
Innocently blinking her eyes, she met the equally clueless gaze of Jiang Feng.
Indeed, after the fight to the death between that master and servant, Mr. Xue, in a bid to save his own life, personally said there were several hundred taels worth of silver notes in the carriage and told me to take them and spare him. With Jiang Feng's character, how could it waver because of this, so...
He still turned back to fetch them, though having already walked hundreds of meters away.
Cough, not because of greed.
A few hundred taels of silver was nothing for the little rich lady back at his house, and besides, silver notes were usually issued by specific banks, so if you use them, it's easy to trace back to which family's notes they are. Taking those things would only bring trouble.
What made Jiang Feng turn back was merely to act out the whole performance.
If the dead's possessions are untouched, it's easy for people to surmise vendetta, but taking the valuables would be assumed as murder for loot, just a robbery; he could always burn the evidence later. But when he turned back and returned, he found the carriage to be completely empty.
At first, he didn't think much of it, perhaps the young master, driven to desperation, lied to sway him. Now, reflecting on it, something seemed amiss.
Given Xue Wuwei's arrogant and ostentatious nature, how could he possibly leave the house without a penny, unless he had spent it all in the brothel.
"Silver notes, silver notes..."
The two locked eyes for a few seconds; Su Yi seemed to suddenly remember something. She murmured to herself a few times, and a realization slowly dawned in her eyes.
That puzzled expression instantly changed, looking as if she was struggling to hold back a laugh.
She probably guessed who it was.
"It wasn't Su Yi, but there seems to be some leads. How about..."
"Tonight, I'll have her accompany you?"