Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 126 The Doted Genius
In Chunfenglou, Jinzixiang, Miss Yuyao is about to release a new song!
As the news came out, guests came in droves to book private rooms and individual seats at the "Chunfeng Tower".

Shen He from Guoxin Institute also heard the news and couldn't help but feel secretly proud. Fortunately, he chose "Zhiweitang".

Being able to stand side by side with "Chunfenglou" in the prime location of Jinzi Lane, "Zhiweilou" is certainly also an extremely high-end place.

However, the two places have different focuses. "Chunfenglou" focuses on sensual pleasures, while "Zhiweitang" focuses on fine wine and delicious food.

The expenses for sensual pleasures are much more expensive than a good banquet. If he had chosen "Chunfenglou" at the beginning, I am afraid that the gifts he received would not be enough to cover the expenses.

And now, on the seventh day of July, he was holding a birthday banquet in "Zhiweitang", and the jade-waisted girl from the nearby "Chunfenglou" was singing a new song, which added some liveliness to his place.

……

Song's Snack Shop should now be called Song's Flavor Restaurant.

There were building materials piled up in front of the door and in the yard.

Fengweilou is temporarily closed and is currently undergoing expansion.

Ever since Old Man Song hired a cook, a kitchen helper and a waiter, not only did he have some free time, but Luxi was also less busy.

Luxi has always liked studying food. Now that he has freed up some time, he can devote more time and energy to studying food.

Yang Yuan had introduced many "exotic delicacies" to her, so Luxi tried to imitate a few of them and tried them out at "Song Family Flavor House", and they were really popular.

This inspired Lu Xi, and he tried to research new dishes every day. Once he had developed one, he would launch it at home to see the results.

The Song Dynasty was an era of explosive growth in food culture. But is there any famous chef like Lu Xi who was influenced by the food culture of a thousand years later and had a counter-effect on this era?
Therefore, Songjia Flavor House launches new dishes one after another at the rate of one every three days, and almost every new dish is recognized by gourmets.

This has made "Song's Snack Shop" the most famous restaurant in Qingshi Lane and even Houshi Street. Now, reservations are required to dine here.

Seeing this, Old Man Song discussed it with Old Man Ji, found Old Man Ji's landlord, and bought the small house next door.

In this way, the two sides were merged, and the original second-floor attic was rebuilt larger, forming a two-story building with a larger area.

Uncle Ji moved into the Fengwei Building and from then on he was responsible for braised food in the Song Family Fengwei Building.

At this time, "Song Family Flavor Restaurant" was closed for renovation, and only the left wing where Old Man Song and his daughter lived remained untouched.

Even so, the room was filled with miscellaneous items moved from the right wing where Yang Yuan originally lived.

Uncle Ji, Uncle Qu and Old Man Song were sitting among these sundries, talking.

Father Song said, "That person is now in Chunfeng Tower."

He didn't mention any names, his daughter was in the attic. Although his daughter wouldn't care about the content of the three old people's conversation, what if she heard a word or two?

Lao Qu asked, "What does he want to do?"

Father Song said, "The Lu family kid is his errand boy, helping him keep an eye on the National Information Institute."

Old Qu frowned: "Could it be that he suspected that the people at Guoxin Institute were related to his eldest brother's death?"

When he said this, he deliberately lowered his voice.

Father Song added: "I also discovered that the people from the Imperial City Bureau are also keeping an eye on the National Information Office."

How can the secret agents of the Imperial City Bureau compare to elite scouts on the battlefield like Old Man Song?
Even if the secret agents of the Imperial City Bureau fail in their missions, most of the time their lives will not be in danger.

But on the battlefield, exposure means death.

Old Man Song was a man who had been trained on the battlefield, and many of the tactics used by the secret agents of the Imperial City Bureau seemed childish to him.

Lao Ji said "Hey" and said slowly: "So, there may be something wrong with Guoxin Institute. After all, they are the minions of the long-legged man!"

The Imperial City Division was under the Imperial Army, and the Three Yamen Imperial Army was composed of the Yue Family Army and the Han Family Army. As veterans of the Yue Family Army, these old brothers would naturally stand on the side of the Imperial City Division.

After thinking for a long time, Lao Qu looked up and said, "He hid himself, obviously intending to do something big. What do you think, shall we help him?"

Old Man Song pouted at the people upstairs and lowered his voice, "He doesn't want to implicate my Lu Xi. He still has a conscience and is responsible!"

Lao Ji said impatiently: "Don't beat around the bush, is that helping?"

Qu Jianlei glared at him and said, "Keep your voice down."

Lao Ji lowered his voice and said, "Lao Qu, among us brothers, you are the most educated and good at calculating, so you should be the one to plan it."

"to make!"

Lao Qu readily agreed: "Lao Song, you keep watching. I'll go find someone and order some handy equipment from him."

……

In the attic, Luxi, barefoot, knocked a bowl of water on the floor, and listened with his ear pressed to the bottom of the bowl.

When she heard the sound of someone walking and scraping against something downstairs, she let out a light breath, then relaxed her body and lay down on the floor with her chin resting on her forearms.

She didn't hear the last conversation between her father and Uncle Qu in the lobby.

But the resentment and unwillingness would make her repeatedly recall every little detail between her and her second brother.

Then, she realized that something was wrong.

The change in my second brother began after the burial of my eldest brother Yang.

It was only a few days ago, and his dearest brother had just passed away.
It would not be unreasonable to say that he went there to drown his sorrows in alcohol and met some singing girls and barmaids who took advantage of the situation and were good at asking about people's well-being and making them happy.

But...a noble lady from the Jin Kingdom?
How did he get to know her and quickly develop feelings for her in such a short time and in such a mood?

When Brother Ya came to get things for him, he also helped him brag that the noble lady from the Jin Kingdom was an important figure in the Jin Kingdom's delegation and would soon take his second brother to the North.

This is even more wrong. How could my second brother enter the gate of the yamen where the Jin troops were stationed as if there was no one there?

It’s probably not that easy for them to see each other on a daily basis, right?

Also, my father's abnormal behavior...

Before, when she was complaining about her second brother not liking to talk to her, her father suddenly became impatient and scolded her for meddling in men's affairs.

When did Dad become on the side of the second brother? How could he possibly speak in his favor?
At that time, she had a strange feeling.

And what about after my second brother broke off the engagement? Given my father's usual temper, wouldn't he have rushed to my second brother and chopped him to pieces? How could my father be so calm?
Dad is more than calm. Ever since the store hired a new cook and a kitchen assistant, he has been elusive and doesn't care much about me.

He said that he had some free time, so he went to meet some old friends...

Do you think your daughter is a six-year-old kid who can be easily fooled?

After so many years, how many old friends do you have that you hang out with regularly, and I don’t know them?
There were so many anomalies that Lu Xi gradually became suspicious.

So, today, my father asked Uncle Qu to help plan the renovation of the "Flavor Building". When the three of them gathered downstairs to chat, she drank the water in the bowl, put the bowl on the ground, and eavesdropped on their conversation.

Although they spoke vaguely, Luxi still tasted the flavor.

The second brother found the murderer who killed Brother Yang, and he wants to take revenge?
But why did he pretend to break up the engagement with me?
This can only be done for two reasons:

One possibility is that his enemy is very powerful, and he will be in danger of death if he goes there.

If he died, I would become a widow, and might even be branded as a woman who brings bad luck to her husband, which would have a huge impact on my life.

The other is... If I were his wife, would I be implicated? Could it be that my second brother's enemy is someone in the government?
The more Lu Xi thought about it, the more anxious he became.

Previously, because of Yang Yuan's betrayal, she was filled with resentment, anger and humiliation.

But at this moment, when she understood Yang Yuan's painstaking efforts, she only felt a moment of relief and joy.

Then she fell into extreme anxiety and fear.

She was afraid that her second brother would really die and never come back.

Dad, Uncle Ji, and Uncle Qu are considering helping him, but some of them are lame, some are sick, some are injured, and they are all old people who should not use their muscles and bones for their own good. Will they also...

Luxi didn't dare to imagine the terrible consequences of her father and second brother, two of her closest relatives, leaving her one after another, but the thought lingered in her mind and could not be shaken off.

However, she was completely powerless in such matters.

She could do nothing but feel anxious, worried and scared.

"Brother Yang, please bless them from the heavens and keep them safe!"

Lu Xi's palms were already sweating. She could only silently pray to Yang Che's spirit in heaven, praying that the scene that made her despair would not happen again...

……

The news that Miss Yuyaonu was going to release a new song spread so widely that even Uncle Liu, who was very busy, heard about it.

These days, Liu Shangqiu has not been to "Chunfeng Tower".

From the day he realized he was a man, he had always wanted to prove himself, but he never had the chance.

At home, he is a child who never grows up and always will be.

Everyone in the family surrounded him and did everything for him. He wanted to grow up, but no one paid attention to his thoughts.

After several struggles, he finally got his wish and joined the Imperial City Division.

Liu Shangqiu thought that this time he could finally show his talents.

As a result, he became a decoration in the Imperial City Department.

Whenever there is any task to be done, there will always be people above, below, left and right to help him take it over.

He was like a porcelain doll, and everyone was afraid of bumping into him.

Now, twenty-one secret agents of the Imperial City Division have been sacrificed at once. Such a heavy loss is unprecedented for a secret agent organization.

As the deputy commander of the next command post, Liu Shangqiu was completely unaware of the matter from beginning to end. The Imperial City Envoy and Commander Cao were in the wrong.

Liu Shangqiu took advantage of this opportunity to launch a rebellion, and finally he got a job: monitoring the National Information Institute.

Liu Shangqiu was like a child who finally got his favorite toy, and he devoted himself to his task.

He didn't go back home or to Chunfeng Tower. He just kept an eye on Guoxin's every move.

When the Jin Dynasty delegation sent by Guo Xin was returning north, he took his men to hide at the dock and saw everything clearly.

Yang Yuan followed Wugu Lun Yingge to the North Country, and he also saw this scene.

Deputy Captain Yang's brother turned out to be such a shameless and unjust person, which made Liu Shangqiu despise him greatly.

He also heard that Shen He, the official in charge of the Guoxin Office, was going to hold a banquet at the "Zhiweilou" and invite his friends to celebrate his birthday.

He felt that this was an opportunity. When everyone was drunk and excited, and everyone was around him, this was the time when it was easiest to let something slip.

The problem is, in a place where everyone is among the same people, how can he, an outsider, find out the news?
At this time, the news that Yuyaonu would sing a new song on the night of July 7th reached his ears.

July 7th is the Chinese Valentine's Day, when people pray for cleverness and girls worship the moon.

Ever since Bai Juyi wrote "On the seventh day of the seventh month in the Changsheng Palace, when no one is whispering in the middle of the night. I wish to be a pair of wings in the sky and a pair of branches on the ground", this day has become especially romantic.

Miss Yuyao chose a good day and a good place.

Liu Shangqiu smiled. Of course he knew that "Zhiweitang" was right next to "Chunfenglou".

He could select a few brothers, ask them to pretend to be bartenders, waiters, or even servants, and sneak into "Zhiweitang".

He himself went to "Chunfeng Tower".

On the one hand, it would be unreasonable for him not to support Miss Yuyao in such a big event as releasing a new song.

On the other hand, he could learn about everything that was happening in the nearby "Zhiweilou" and respond in a timely manner.

"Yuan Chengju..."

Thinking of this, Liu Shangqiu called out.

After he assumed the responsibility of monitoring the National Information Office, he immediately promoted and employed several of his most capable subordinates.

The selection criteria for these capable personnel are:

Since he came to the Imperial City Bureau, no one had ever felt that he came here through nepotism, and therefore had never shown contempt and disdain towards him.

If you think highly of me, I will use you. I want you to know that you have not chosen the wrong person!

This is how Liu Guojiu repays a favor.

Yuan Chengju stepped out of the line and crossed his arms as required.

Liu Shangqiu was very satisfied with his attitude: "Take a few people with you and go to the 'Zhiweitang' in Jinzi Lane immediately. No matter if you are dressed as waiters, bartenders, tea doctors, kitchen helpers, or firemen, you should lurk in the 'Zhiweitang' from now on.

"On the seventh day of the seventh month, Shen He will host a banquet at Zhiwei Hall to entertain his colleagues. You should get as close to them as possible and take advantage of them being drunk to get information."

"I accept my order from my humble position!"

Yuan Chengju is in his early twenties and has a handsome face.

This is normal. The people in the Imperial City Bureau are also the royal guard. The selection criteria are stricter than those of the Imperial Guard. Their height and appearance are all selected from thousands of people.

Although he could not compare with the "beauties" of the two beauties in the imperial city, especially the androgynous face of the "imperial city enchanting concubine" in front of him, he was also a young man with vigor and vitality.

"Guo Xuzhi!"

"The humble position is here!"

Another soldier from the imperial city stepped out and clasped his fists.

Liu Shangqiu said: "Take some people with you, wear the uniforms of the Imperial City officials, and on the night of the seventh, we will go to the 'Spring Breeze Tower' to secretly coordinate the actions of Yuan Chengju.

"The reason for making it public... There were a lot of people in Chunfeng Tower that day, so I led some people to protect Miss Yuyao to prevent anyone from trampling on her in the chaos."

Guo Xuzhi smiled knowingly and said in a deep voice, "I understand."

Liu Shangqiu also smiled slightly.

Suitable for both public and private use, killing two birds with one stone!
Young Master Liu felt that he was a genius, a genius who was buried by overindulgence!

(End of this chapter)