Minglong

Chapter 25: The Iceberg Beauty with a Firm Heart

The sky was getting light in the east, and the people in the city started to get up. Shouts could be heard from the streets and alleys:

"steamed stuffed bun……"

"Candied Haw Lu..."

……

In the mansion behind the Lin family clinic, the maids have already started working, and Jia is preparing the carriage frame in the stable.

The main courtyard was still quiet. In the boudoir, Lin Wanyi was lying on the bed in only a bellyband and thin pants. The plump half of her ribs was visible. Her beautiful face was trembling with eyelashes, and she was blushing. No one knew what she was dreaming about.

Behind him, Lin Zisu, who had a well-developed figure, was lying flat on her back. Her chest could be seen slightly spread out under her bellyband. She was still fast asleep until the first rays of dawn shone through the window. She opened her eyes blankly, looked around, and then suddenly turned over.

"Oops, oops..."

slap~
The crisp sound of slaps fell on the round full moon beside her body, causing surging waves of buttocks.

Lin Wanyi was hit by Xie Jinhuan in her dream. She shuddered with fright, opened her eyes blankly and looked around, then said angrily:

"Shiso! What are you crazy about?"

Lin Zisu hurriedly got out of bed, looking for shoes and clothes:
"It's over. I'm late. Why didn't you call me, aunt?"

"what?"

Lin Wanyi also realized at this time that the sun had come out and sat up:
"Who told you to keep talking last night? And making jokes..."

Lin Zisu found her aunt taking a bath in Xie Jinhuan's room yesterday, so she must ask her about it.

Seeing that she was late for school, Lin Zisu was afraid of being punished, so she pulled Lin Wanyi's arm and shook it:
"Aunt, come with me and tell me I went to the doctor with you last night and came back late."

This was obviously not the first time that Lin Wanyi was pushed out as a shield. Considering that Zi Su still had to help with the alchemy, she said helplessly:

"Okay, okay, get dressed first, and I'll go with you later."

"Hee~"

Lin Zisu finally breathed a sigh of relief and took the skirt and put it on.

While Lin Wanyi was talking, she also stood up and dressed, but after opening the wardrobe, the small purse containing the "criminal excitement clothes" came into view.

She was obviously embarrassed to wear such sexy-looking clothes.

But after all, it was bought with a huge sum of thirty taels of silver. She couldn't bear to give it to a maid, and it wouldn't be suitable for Zi Su to wear. She couldn't just leave it here...

Lin Wanyi hesitated for a moment, thinking that no one would know if she wore it underneath. However, she couldn't suppress her curiosity, so she picked up her purse, secretly ran behind the screen, and put on her undershirt.

dong dong~
Because the pantyhose were too tight, it was difficult to pull them up, and I even had to tiptoe and bump a few times.

After getting dressed, Lin Wanyi, wearing a water-green waist-length skirt, walked out from behind the screen and looked at herself in the mirror. Her graceful figure had not changed and nothing could be seen from the outside, except that her legs felt a little tight and uncomfortable.

Lin Wanyi shook her feet again and found that the collar of the dress was well supported and did not shake too much. It was very comfortable to wear. She nodded secretly and felt that the thirty taels of silver were well worth it...
-
On the other side, the Princess's Mansion.

In the early morning, maids came in and out of Yanshan Lake, delivering various delicacies to the lakeside attic.

There was a plan placed in the huge hall, with two cushions on the left and right, a bronze crane incense burner at the back, and maids serving on the side.

Linghu Qingmo had been working non-stop for the past two days, not even getting any sleep. He looked quite sleepy, and now he was eating breakfast with a troubled look on his face:
"Li Zixian is quite stubborn. He refuses to confess no matter how hard we ask him. The government doesn't dare to punish him. The county magistrate hasn't found any clues about the evil bandits behind this. It seems the case is at a standstill again..."

Opposite the long desk, Princess Changning sat at the desk, dressed quite gorgeously, wearing a chest-length skirt and a light yellow wide-sleeved shirt. Her belt and the edge of the shirt were bright yellow, embroidered with cloud patterns, and a peacock was also embroidered on her bodice.

As for her cheeks, her lips were as red as roses, her almond eyes were full of charm, and she and Linghu Qingmo sat together, like two sisters with completely opposite personalities. At this moment, she was holding a wine glass and shaking:
"You're just coming down the mountain to gain experience, but you really think you're some 'Iceberg Lady Detective'? If you can't find anything, let the government handle it. The Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival is about to begin. Come with me to the Peony Pond."

With so many things going on right now, Linghu Qingmo has no time to go to the Mid-Autumn Festival.

"It's the same every year. There's nothing interesting to see."

"Ah~"

Princess Changning sighed helplessly, thought for a moment and asked again:
"I heard that when you went to investigate a case yesterday, there was a man named Xie Jinhuan with you. He's very skilled in martial arts and handsome..."

Linghu Qingmo felt that her bestie had something else in mind and quickly clarified:
"Xie Jinhuan is Yang Dabiao's friend. He just came here to help."

Princess Changning was skeptical, because she knew her bestie's personality, so she warned her earnestly:
"Qing Mo, you are honest and straightforward, without any ulterior motives. When making friends outside, you must be careful not to be fooled by those seemingly decent playboys."

Although Linghu Qingmo had no regrets about being knocked unconscious by Xie Jinhuan, having her breasts touched, and having to do housework, she considered herself an iceberg beauty with a firm heart and would not be easily manipulated by a playboy:

"How is that possible? I know my limits. Besides, Xie Jinhuan is a very upright person. His martial arts skills may be comparable to yours. He is definitely not a playboy."

Princess Changning, as the daughter of the Daqian royal family and a prince, had obvious conditions since childhood and was not bad in talent. Although she seemed to be enjoying herself all day, she also practiced when she needed to. She was half-believing and half-doubting when she heard the voice:

"I don't believe it. Call him over to fight me."

Linghu Qingmo had suffered before and didn't want to let her best friend get wet in the rain again.

If Xie Jinhuan suddenly gets distracted and uses the "Dragon Claw" to grab the wrong person, I'm afraid the prince will chop off his hands:
"The government office is so busy, there's no time for sparring and playing around. We'll talk next time if there's a chance. You eat first, I'm going to the government office now."

Princess Changning had no choice but to deal with her workaholic bestie. After dinner, she also began to prepare for her autumn outing to the Peony Pond...
-
Shortly after.

Linghu Qingmo left the Princess Mansion alone. Seeing that no one was paying attention, he turned around and headed towards Qingquan Lane!
It was early morning and the side streets were crowded with people, most of whom were servants from the surrounding families, buying wine, vegetables and fruits. The breakfast shops on the street were also steaming hot, with people coming in and out from time to time.

Linghu Qingmo hadn't paid attention to the street, but when he passed a butcher's shop, he suddenly heard a familiar voice:
"Half a pound of lean meat, finely cut into dices, one inch long and one inch wide, no more, no less, and no fat at all..."

"Sir, I'm afraid your request is..."

"Can't cut it?"

"Uh……"

"If you can't cut it, I'll do it..."

?

Linghu Qingmo turned his head and saw a nobleman with two weapons hanging from his waist and a white brocade robe standing in front of the meat stall, taking the boning knife from the butcher.

The pitch-black coal ball squatted on the shoulder, staring straight at the meat on the chopping board, and then said:

Whistle rustle~
The young man in white robe wielded his knife like the wind, cutting horizontally and vertically. In the blink of an eye, he had cut more than ten times, and the meat was divided into square pieces of even size. When he was done, he stuck the knife on the chopping board and said:
"The knife is a bit dull and needs sharpening. It weighs exactly half a pound. How much is it?"

The butcher was stunned, staring at the chopping board with his head tilted, and said after a while:
"Uh... sixteen cents. With your knife skills, does your son really need to go out and buy groceries?"

"In the Jianghu, if one person is full, the whole family will not be hungry. We are used to it."

"Oh……"

... Linghu Qingmo hadn't expected that Xie Jinhuan could come up with such a trick just to buy bird food, so he quickly came up to him:

"Xie Jinhuan?"

"Guji~"

Coal Ball, who was looking forward to it, turned his head 180 degrees when he heard the sound.

Xie Jinhuan ordered a lotus leaf to hold the meat cubes, and smiled back:
"Good morning, Miss Momo."

Linghu Qingmo hadn't noticed it just now, but when he looked at it face to face, he found that the robe on Xie Jinhuan was quite exquisite. The fabric was of good texture and was edged with silver thread. The belt was embroidered with cloud patterns and a warm jade was inlaid in the middle.

His long, jet-black hair was neatly combed, and coupled with his handsome features and those cold, lust-free eyes, the visual impact was quite strong...

Linghu Qingmo was caught off guard and was shocked by this 'smile'. He looked at it carefully before realizing:
"Why are you dressed so handsomely?"

Xie Jinhuan just wanted to make himself look like a righteous and harmless young man, so as not to be suspected of being a living ancestor who dug graves. Facing Miss Mo Mo's naked compliment, he looked down:

"My sleeves got dirty yesterday, so I just bought this random piece. Does it look good?"

You call this casual?

Linghu Qingmo felt that Xie Jinhuan, in this attire, could make a fortune as a concubine. She was not good at complimenting people, so she just responded:

"Hmm...it looks good. But it doesn't go with the coal briquettes in this outfit."

"It's okay, I'll dye its hair white next time."

"Ah?! (Gurgle?)"

"just kidding."

Xie Jinhuan walked with the coal ball on his arm. He took a quick look and found the cold and beautiful woman in front of him. She had big watery eyes with two dark circles under her eyes. He asked:
"Miss Momo didn't sleep last night?"

Linghu Qingmo rubbed the coal briquettes. "There's no time for sleep. The Li family insists they knew nothing about the Sanhe Building incident. It's said the capital even sent someone to serve as a jury. The government is at its wit's end. As for the evil bandit behind the scenes, we haven't even found a trace of him."

"The palace has issued a death order. Everyone must prioritize the search for the demonic energy on Zihui Mountain. If no clues are found today, we will report to Luojing and have the Supervisor personally investigate. I'll be happy to make an introduction for you then."

?

Xie Jinhuan staggered secretly. The director of the Imperial Observatory was the nuclear weapon of Daqian. If he really came to investigate the evil spirit of Zihui Mountain, he would not have enough time to run away, let alone dare to go to his house to pay a visit.

Realizing that divine punishment was truly imminent, Xie Jinhuan naturally looked solemn:

"The evil aura of Zihui Mountain is most likely the work of the demonic bandits behind the scenes. Is it really true that we can't find any clues?"

Linghu Qingmo shook his head: "All the evidence points to Li Shizhong and the Li family, but there are no living witnesses. The doubts are the three points you mentioned yesterday, but there is no evidence to prove that the demon bandits framed them."

What Xie Jinhuan said yesterday was not nonsense. They got the evidence inexplicably, and as soon as they arrived at Sanhe Building, the mastermind went crazy and the accounting lawyer died. How could there be such a coincidence in the world?

He secretly pondered his recent experiences and suddenly asked:
"By the way, didn't you go back to perform an autopsy the night before last? What exactly happened?"

"Nothing was found. It was so rotten it was full of maggots, just like..."

Linghu Qingmo wanted to use a metaphor, but he couldn't describe the disgusting scene, so he tilted his head to indicate:

"The county magistrate is right here, would you like to see it for yourself?"

If Xie Jinhuan didn't find out something about the demon bandits and the Li family, Lu Wuzhen would come to investigate him. He immediately walked towards Wencheng Street with the coal briquettes in his hands:

"Go and have a look."

Linghu Qingmo led the way. After taking a few steps, he looked at the sword at Xie Jinhuan's waist.
"Your sword is also of the Zihuishan standard. Where did you get it?"

Xie Jinhuan hadn't dared to show his sword in front of Mo Mo for the past two days, but as long as he made contact, he would definitely be unable to hide it. He had already thought of an excuse for this. At this moment, he flicked his fingers and revealed the two characters "Zheng Lun" on the sword:

"The magic sword of Zihui Mountain is world-renowned. I've heard about it for a long time, so I bought a replica at a high price. Do you think it looks like the real thing?"

All the magic swords of Zihui Mountain look the same, except for slightly different inscriptions. The Zhenglun Sword has been lost for a hundred years, and no contemporary disciple has actually seen the original one.

Linghu Qingmo obviously didn't think that this was a real heirloom. He glanced at it briefly:

"The material is good, so the cost should be quite high. How much did you pay for it?"

Xie Jinhuan felt relieved and took back his sword:
"Fifty taels is worth a hundred coal briquettes!"

"what?!"

Linghu Qingmo lifted the coal ball and looked around:

“Is it so cheap?”

"Guji~"

"Ha ha……"

The two chatted as usual and soon walked out of the intersection. In a blink of an eye, they saw a luxurious car parked outside the magnificent gate of the Princess's Mansion.

Several pretty maids were waiting, and around them were royal guards in bright armor. Liu Qingzhi was among them, probably serving as a ceremonial guard.

The great steward Hou, whose appearance was so shocking that it could make the world weep for ghosts, stood on the steps, waving a fan and loudly demanding a bribe from a young man in a brocade robe:
"When you see the top prostitute in Brothel Street, you have to pay five taels of silver for tea. My mistress is worth more than the top prostitute, but Master Liu paid ten taels of silver. Do you want to pass on a message?"

"Hush, steward Hou, you can't say that. How can Her Highness be compared with a prostitute? If Her Highness hears..."

"Hearing that is contempt for the royal family! I am a servant of the Zhao family, and at most I will be slapped in the face. But Master Liu is different..."

"Okay, okay, I'll give you..."

"I've just asked, the princess doesn't see guests."

"you!"

……

Xie Jinhuan saw this bullying look and felt that he was truly worthy of the title of Butler Hou:
"What are you doing?"

Linghu Qingmo was used to it, and perhaps because she was afraid of being seen by her bestie, she turned into the alley on the side of the street:

"Princess Changning is a beautiful woman, and she holds a high position of power. She has many admirers, and people come to bother her every day. The princess has Butler Hou stop them outside."

"Oh."

……

(End of this chapter)