Chapter 2 Handkerchief The Male Protagonist Who Received Favor
"If Qiu Niang has nothing to do tonight, why don't we go have some fun together?" The golden hairpin in Jiang Si's hair glinted brightly, the smile in her eyes speaking volumes.
Qiu Shuzhi's hand tightened on the reins: "I won't join in this excitement."
Jiang Si said languidly: "Qiu Niang isn't even interested in young gentlemen? Could it be you're hiding a beautiful young man at home?"
"What beautiful young man, there's only me and my cousin at home. I'm worried about him, a man alone, it's not safe."
Qin Shu rode up on horseback, impatiently saying: "Jiang Si, why are you wasting time with her? She can come if she wants."
Jiang Si lowered her eyes, hooking the corner of her mouth: "Fine then, I won't force you. I'll treat you to drinks another day."
The two rode off on horseback, while Qiu Shuzhi slowly rode back to the small courtyard she rented in the capital.
Qiu Shuzhi was originally the daughter of a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan. Later, the family fortunes declined and her parents died of depression, leaving her and her cousin to rely on each other. Fortunately, the family still had some banknotes left for them to live and study.
Although she was now a fifth-rank official, housing prices in the capital were exorbitant. With her salary, she couldn't afford to buy a house and could only barely rent a small courtyard.
As soon as she stepped through the door, she smelled the fragrance of delicious food.
"Brother, what tasty dish are you making?" She entered the kitchen, where the smoke and fire outlined a slender dark figure, the gentle profile even more mild and elegant in the misty smoke.
Seeing her enter the kitchen, Qiu Qiushuang quickly put down what he was holding and shooed her out, his long-sleeved fingers gesturing.
He was saying: A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen.
Her cousin, who had sought refuge with the Qiu family as a child due to family turmoil. At that time, the Qiu family was well-off and adopted him.
It was said that his voice was like a yellow oriole's, but unfortunately, due to childhood trauma, he lost his voice and could no longer speak.
Qiu Shuzhi smiled: "You never let me into the kitchen. You toil with housework every day, I want to help you too."
Qiu Qiushuang shook his head and set the dishes on the table. Being able to serve Qiu Shuzhi was his blessing.
After dinner, Qiu Shuzhi took Qiu Qiushuang to visit the night market. The ancient night market was already bustling with activity, moonlight and lanterns illuminating the entire capital's night scene. Songs, dances, and opera intoxicated the senses, while street vendors hawked various foods and trinkets.
Qiu Shuzhi bought a lot of small items for Qiu Qiushuang, such as sweet preserved fruits, seasonal fruits, and colorful shadow flower fans.
The two walked east and west, not knowing where they had wandered, when they suddenly smelled a strange fragrance.
Qiu Qiushuang grabbed her hand, and Qiu Shuzhi looked up to see that they had actually walked into Flower Willow Lane, where the brothels were filled with the sounds of debauchery.
Even aging male courtesans set up small tents by the roadside to receive clients, their calls becoming more and more wanton, the sound even reaching where they stood.
Qiu Qiushuang was shy, and the lewd voices of the male courtesans made the tips of his ears bright red.
Suddenly, a piercing scream came from the Drunk Heart Pavilion nearby.
The crowd immediately gathered in front of the Drunk Heart Pavilion, and a terrified madam stumbled out, shouting in panic: "Murder! Murder!"
Seeing the situation wasn't right, Qiu Shuzhi quickly pulled Qiu Qiushuang to leave. As they turned around, they saw a large group of people approaching fiercely, surrounding Flower Willow Street.
The woman leading the group glared: "From now on, no one is allowed to enter or leave."
As soon as Qiu Qiushuang saw that woman, he was terrified, clutching Qiu Shuzhi's sleeve, with half his face almost buried in her bosom.
Qiu Shuzhi patted his back: "It's alright, don't be afraid."
The panicked crowd huddled together, Qiu Qiushuang trembling in her arms. Suddenly, there was a commotion from the Drunk Heart Pavilion, and a woman was brought out by the guards, cursing and swearing: "You have some nerve! Do you know who I am? How dare you arrest me!"
"Behave yourself, you killed the top courtesan Dream Lang, the evidence is conclusive. You're coming with me to the government office right now."
Qiu Shuzhi looked closely and saw it was actually Qin Shu!
Today, the new scholars had paraded through the streets, and many people recognized Qin Shu, shouting: "It's the Top Scholar's wife! The Top Scholar's wife has committed murder!"
Waves of controversy crashed one after another, and the crowd was in an uproar.
Qin Shu, her eyes bloodshot, struggled: "Let me go, when my mother finds out, she'll definitely wipe out your entire family!"
"The Top Scholar's wife has quite the official authority!"
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