When the book-traveling little detective meets the two-faced prince

Over time, the handwriting of Zhao Tinglan became more and more like Xing Haocang's.

Zhao Tinglan thought that the orchid ink mixed by Xing Haocang smelled very good, so she asked Xing Haocang for the recipe for mixing ink, but the fragrance of the ink she mixed was always stronger than that of Xing Haocang.

Xing Haocang was not always available and could only appear in Chunhua Tower four times a month at most, but he managed to protect Zhao Tinglan.

Waiting for Xing Haocang to appear in Chunhua Tower every day has become Zhao Tinglan's expectation. She really wants Xing Haocang to see her progress.

Zhao Tinglan understood that Xing Haocang only felt pity for her and that he loved his wife very much, and there was nothing else to it. Or maybe he was helping Mo Youke through her.

A year later, Xing Haocang and his wife gave birth to a son named Xing Tianqi.

Xing Haocang loves reading and quietness the most. He hopes that Xing Tianqi can choose every step in his life according to his own wishes, without having to do the same as himself. Therefore, he only teaches Xing Tianqi his lifelong knowledge and is never strict with him.

However, after having a child, Xing Haocang came to Chunhua Tower less and less frequently, from four times a month to three times and then to two times.

That year, Zhao Tinglan had just turned seventeen, which was the age of a flower, with fair skin and a pretty face, so many men coveted Zhao Tinglan.

Although Xing Haocang had never treated Zhao Tinglan unfairly when it came to paying money, and the mother of Chunhualou asked for more money, Xing Haocang agreed to all of them, but the madam was still not satisfied.

I think Zhao Tinglan is at the peak of her beauty, and it would be a waste if she doesn't use her free time to make money.

Anyway, the man named Mo Youke didn't come often and was not a clean person, so he mixed drugs into Zhao Tinglan's tea to make it easier for other rich men to do it.

It was not until that day that the madam found out that Zhao Tinglan was still a virgin.

Because of this, the customer who took advantage of Zhao Tinglan that day was surprisingly happy and gave the madam twice as much money.

After the man went out, he felt that he had gotten the upper hand and boasted about it to everyone he met. He also said that Mo Youke might not be a man but a eunuch because he ignored the beauty.

When Zhao Tinglan woke up and found out that she had lost her virginity, she wanted to end her life. However, when she picked up the red hairpin in her hand that was trembling from crying, she remembered what Xing Haocang had said to her.

"There are more options in life than just running away. Staying may not be a bad thing. It all depends on how you think."

"The world is bustling with people, and no one will go without profit. If you can master the way, you may be able to win a piece of pure land for yourself."

Xing Haocang’s words are still ringing in my ears.

The eyes filled with tears gradually became sharp.

That’s right, she can’t just give up like that. If she wants to find a piece of pure land, she must fight for it!

There's nothing to lose anyway.

Zhao Tinglan's attitude changed drastically, and she even took the initiative to ask to receive customers, which was something the madam had never expected. However, as long as she was obedient and could make money, it made sense to stay in Chunhualou.

Whenever Zhao Tinglan found out she was pregnant, she would take abortion pills without mercy.

After that, you don’t have to worry about this problem anymore.

Relying on what Xing Haocang taught her, she was able to control the men who loved her. If a customer offered to redeem her, she would skillfully change the subject.

Not only did she secretly accumulate money for herself, the madam liked money, so Zhao Tinglan would use more money to please her and keep her happy.

However, when Xing Haocang came, Zhao Tinglan would become the naive little girl again, and she had never told Xing Haocang what happened to her.

Ten years passed in a flash, and the once beautiful girl became even more beautiful.

During the ten years, the madam gradually grew old. One year on her birthday, she received a gift and liked it very much. She often used it in the house, so the house was often filled with the scent of different flowers, mixed with a different aroma.

At the beginning, the madam was very happy, but as time went on, she started talking nonsense and walking unsteadily. She didn't smell of alcohol but looked like she was drunk. She also said that she saw the ghosts of countless women she had forced to death, and that she didn't want to go to the underworld.

While comforting the madam, Zhao Tinglan took the opportunity to take control of all of her property and command the servants under her.

Xing Haocang no longer has the look of his youth. He looks as if he has integrated into the secular world. He is very comfortable with the business of the village. Although he is only middle-aged, he already looks old.

The only thing left is the elegance, which has never changed.

Afterwards, the madam fell seriously ill and could not survive. Chunhua Tower was thus controlled by Zhao Tinglan. After ten years of enduring humiliation, she finally found a piece of pure land for herself and no longer had to do things she didn't want to do.

When Zhao Tinglan took over Chunhualou, he was only 27 years old. Chunhualou held a grand ceremony. Chunhualou was a major taxpayer, and Yan Jingyi, the magistrate of Changluan County, also came to attend the ceremony.

That day, Xing Haocang also came after the ceremony and asked Zhao Tinglan with a smile what she wanted. Zhao Tinglan was silent for a while, looked at the blank wall beside her and smiled and said, "She said that her wall was missing a painting."

Xing Haocang smiled knowingly, took out the orchid painting with the missing stroke from his backpack, and pushed it in front of Zhao Tinglan.

After knowing each other for eleven years, the two are like friends, and many things do not require too many words.

A rare look of joy appeared in Zhao Tinglan's eyes.

"Besides this, is there anything else you want?"

Zhao Tinglan shook her head, smiled contentedly and said, "This is enough."

That night, Zhao Tinglan used a brush dipped in purple paint and practiced the final stroke countless times on other papers as if possessed, but she could not learn even a little bit of Xing Haocang's charm.

After finally getting close to the desired effect, Zhao Tinglan picked up her brush and walked to the orchid painting. She carefully dipped the brush into the paint and added the final stroke.

But I was nervous and my hands shook so that the brush accidentally got too much paint, resulting in the final stroke being a little too dark, and the painting wasn't entirely satisfactory.

For some reason, looking at this last stroke, all thoughts flooded into her heart in an instant: sadness, loneliness, and resentment. Zhao Tinglan couldn't hold back any longer and sat on the ground and cried, but she could only cry silently.

The paint-dipped brush in his hand rolled to the ground, and the purple paint splashed on the floor like gorgeous fireworks.

Ultimately, the painting was ruined, just like the orchid ink that I had been trying to learn, which always had a heavier flavor.

This heavy final stroke can never be erased.

However, when Xing Haocang came back, he looked at the stroke and said with a smile: "This stroke is very well added. The orchid should be so bright and colorful."

Xing Haocang's words relieved some of the sadness that had been weighing on Zhao Tinglan's heart for the past few months.

Seven years passed in a flash, and there were a few more orchid paintings in Zhao Tinglan's room. Some were painted by herself, and some were given by Xing Haocang. If you didn't look carefully, you couldn't tell which one was from Xing Haocang.

On a snowy day after the Spring Festival, Xing Haocang made a rare visit to Zhao Tinglan's place. Because there was a charcoal fire in the house to keep it warm, Xing Haocang took off his cloak.

The 34-year-old Zhao Tinglan not only does not look old, but becomes more and more beautiful, exuding a mature and intellectual beauty.

On the other hand, the child is already seventeen years old, and Xing Haocang, who is forty-one years old, is the only one seen, Xing Haocang, not Mo Youke.

Perhaps because he came in a hurry that day, Xing Haocang forgot to take off the Xing family seal on his waist. Zhao Tinglan saw it and said with a smile: "The last time I saw it was eighteen years ago."

Xing Haocang was not in the right state of mind and didn't understand what it meant for a moment. When he followed Zhao Tinglan's gaze, he realized that it was the jade seal on his waist.

Xing Haocang said "Oh", then smiled calmly and said, "I came here in a hurry and forgot to pick it."

Xing Haocang was stunned for a while, and didn't even touch the tea that Zhao Tinglan poured for him. Suddenly he said to himself, "I plan to move my family to the town to live."

Hearing this, Zhao Tinglan's eyes lit up and she blurted out, "Really?"

Xing Haocang's expression paused slightly, then he nodded, with a hint of sadness in his eyes.

Zhao Tinglan noticed that something was wrong with Xing Haocang and asked, "But what happened in the village?"

Xing Haocang shook his head, then smiled gently and said, "Nothing, I just came to tell you this and come to see you. I'm leaving first and will come to see you when I have time."

Zhao Tinglan felt that Xing Haocang was very different today. She stretched out her hand to keep him for a moment, but she put her slightly raised hand down and said with a smile, "Well, the road is slippery, remember to be careful."

"it is good."

After saying that, Xing Haocang picked up his cloak and walked away.

When Xing Haocang walked to the entrance of Chunhua Tower, he looked up at the snowflakes falling from the sky and was absent-minded for a while until a snowflake fell into his eyes, and then he came back to his senses.

Xing Haocang lowered his eyes, his gaze moving slightly, then he put on his cloak and left.

Just then, a carriage stopped in front of Chunhua Tower. The curtain was only lifted a corner, and only a pair of old hands could be seen. The curtain fell again, and a rough voice slowly said to the driver outside the sedan: "It's too cold today. Forget it today and take me back."

The carriage left, leaving countless tracks on the snow.

Half a year later in the summer, Zhao Tinglan learned from his servant that a family whose name was unknown had bought the mansion in the town and the family treated others very kindly.

The host had a son who had a very good character and treated even homeless beggars with sincerity.

Just from the servant's description, Zhao Tinglan could tell that Xing Haocang's family had moved in. After the servant left, there was a barely perceptible loneliness in Zhao Tinglan's eyes.

There was a burst of laughter in the courtyard.

Zhao Tinglan looked in the direction of the voice and saw Su Li and Sun Wan'er catching butterflies on the flowers in the yard. They were both in their prime years, and even if they fell into the mud, they still retained their pure friendship.

Noticing Zhao Tinglan's gaze, Su Li hurriedly apologized, "I'm sorry, Mother Zhao, I...we'll leave now, don't be angry."

After saying this, without waiting for Zhao Tinglan's response, he pulled Sun Wan'er away.

Zhao Tinglan touched her face and her expression darkened.

Did I look too fierce?

Zhao Tinglan stared at the gate of Chunhua Tower and gradually became distracted. This was the gate that she had tried her best to run out of when she was sixteen years old, but she hadn't stepped out of it in eighteen years.

After being trapped in this small space for a long time, I gradually got used to it.

Zhao Tinglan suddenly felt nauseous and wondered why she felt so used to it.

Zhao Tinglan specially made a beautiful dress that was similar in color to the orchid. She sat upstairs, looking out the window. Her eyes always inadvertently swept towards the gate of Chunhua Tower, but she could never see the familiar figure.

The last time you came, you clearly said you would come to see me again.

But Zhao Tinglan never waited for Xing Haocang, but waited for a servant to tell her that all the people in the nameless mansion disappeared inexplicably one night, and now the mansion was surrounded by people watching the fun.

Zhao Tinglan suddenly felt panicky for no reason and almost fell down. The servant wanted to support her, but she just said that she was a little tired and went back to her room to rest for a while.

After returning to the room, Zhao Tinglan changed into inconspicuous clothes and, while no one was paying attention, mustered up the courage to step out of the side door of Chunhua Building. She just wanted to take a look.

Just take a look and come back.

When they arrived in front of the nameless mansion, they found that it was indeed surrounded by people. Among the crowd stood an executioner. The executioner was easy to spot because of his tall stature, and there was blood on his long sword.

At this time, a boy with long hair covering his left eye squeezed into the mansion from the crowd with uncoordinated movements. He seemed to be avoiding something, looking at the crowd close to him from time to time, looking very panicked.

According to gossip on the street, the servants in the mansion colluded with the outsiders to kill all the good people in this family, and now the young man has died under the executioner's knife.

Zhao Tinglan looked in the direction of the voice, wanting to find out more information, but as soon as she raised her eyes, she saw two young men hiding nearby.

Even though Zhao Tinglan had never seen Xing Tianqi before, she recognized him at the first sight.

Because he looks very similar to Xing Haocang when he was young, especially his peach blossom eyes, which are very beautiful.

Zhao Tinglan was delighted and was about to go over to find out what was going on when the two teenagers started running. The executioner with the knife also noticed them, put away the knife and chased after them.

Zhao Tinglan didn't know what was going on and kept silent, but she knew something must have happened to the Xing family. Reason told her that she had to follow.

His legs, which had not been used for many years, could no longer run after only three miles and collapsed to the ground. Someone passed by and Zhao Tinglan asked, only then did she know that the two teenagers were running towards Yulong Village.

Not long after that, it started to rain heavily and it took two full days before the sky cleared up.

After that, Zhao Tinglan sent a servant to Yulong Village to inquire, saying that a girl from Yulong Village did save a 17-year-old boy under Yulong Waterfall, but the boy's name was Li Weisheng.

When Zhao Tinglan received the news, it was like a bolt from the blue. She sent people to secretly search for Xing Tianqi's body under the Yulong Waterfall, but they found nothing.

The entire Xing family was wiped out.

Zhao Tinglan pretended nothing happened, took out the reward money to reward the servant, and then said with a smile: "Thank you, you have worked hard."

"Mother Zhao supports all of us, so please don't be polite to us. Just make arrangements if you have anything to do."

"it is good."

Zhao Tinglan finally dragged her body back to the room. As soon as she closed the door, she felt like she had lost her soul. She slid down to the ground against the door and her breathing was short and rapid, as if she had forgotten to breathe.

Tears as big as beans fell uncontrollably from her eyes like beads, and a large area of ​​her beautiful clothes was lost, turning dark purple.

Zhao Tinglan realized belatedly that Xing Haocang was her benefactor and benefactor, but she had never said a word of thanks to him.

Looking at the orchid painting hanging on the wall with red eyes, Zhao Tinglan pulled out the red hairpin on her head with trembling hands and stabbed it into her thigh fiercely. The blood stained the floor and the purple velvet flower.

But he didn't feel the pain, so he stabbed her twice more, each time heavier than the last.

She hated her legs. Why couldn't she run that day?

She might have had a chance to save his child.

Should have had a chance...

From that day on, Zhao Tinglan secretly swore in her heart that even if she had to sacrifice her own life, she would find out the murderer behind the destruction of the Xing family.