TSWRLM -Chapter 300 Half a Month Until Delivery

In the past few days, Lanshu had been following the list Chun Xi had made, sending someone to buy meals from several shops.

As A-Li had said, the food from these shops was indeed delicious, and the portions were generous.

Lanshu didn’t mention Chun Xi’s name, and the meals were more than enough.

Today, Lanshu planned to buy yam and pork rib soup along with steamed egg custard. When Chun Xi arrived, the servant who had helped him buy the food had just left.

The severed finger had already formed a scab; the bones had been itching a bit these past few days, but he couldn’t scratch them. It was quite uncomfortable. Everyone in the establishment knew Lanshu had been in a bad mood lately, but when he saw Chun Xi, he immediately put on a smile and greeted her: “Madam Shěn, your presence honors us. Please forgive my humble reception.”

He bowed with a flattering air.

Chun Xi looked at his hand for a moment and asked, “Has your injury been healing well?”

“Thank you for your concern, Madam. My injury has fully healed.”

With that, Lanshu led Chun Xi up to the second-floor private room.

Like other brothels, Wú Yōu Gé was lively at night but quiet during the day. At this moment, the establishment was very calm.

As soon as they entered, Lanshu started to prepare the stove to boil tea, but Chun Xi stopped him: “No need to bother, sir. I just have a few questions.”

Lanshu continued searching for the tea leaves without missing a beat and said readily, “Madam, ask anything. I will answer truthfully and completely.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Chun Xi got straight to the point: “Princess Baohua is dead. I want to know whether her death is related to the ‘Xiāo Hún Xiāng’ incense from Wú Yōu Gé.”

Lanshu had just found the tea Chun Xi had previously asked A-Li to deliver. Upon hearing her, he paused, looked at her in surprise, and after a moment asked curiously, “Who is Princess Baohua?”

Chun Xi placed a 100 tael silver note on the tea table: “Princess Baohua publicly revealed at a banquet in the Grand Tutor’s residence that she had seen me at Wú Yōu Gé. Now that this is no longer a secret, sir, there’s no need to pretend not to know.”

Chun Xi had no intention of beating around the bush. Lanshu stared at the note for a moment, sighed, and said, “Indeed, Madam Shen, you are not easily deceived. This Princess Baohua was indeed a frequent visitor to Wú Yōu Gé. She also bought some Xiāo Hún Xiāng incense, but aside from its peculiar aroma, it is harmless to the body and certainly could not have caused her death.”

As he spoke, he skillfully prepared the stove and boiled the tea. Even though his left pinky was missing, his movements were smooth and natural, his expression calm and untroubled.

After a moment of thought, Chun Xi spoke again: “I went to see Princess Baohua at her residence. She bought the Xiāo Hún Xiāng because it allowed her to dream of the Prince who had passed years ago. While the incense doesn’t harm people, it amplifies one’s desires and causes illusions, correct?”

Although Chun Xi hadn’t met Princess Baohua often, from their previous encounter, she could tell the princess wasn’t a person driven by lust. If it weren’t for the hallucinatory effects of the incense, the princess wouldn’t have gotten involved with a stableman, much less died together with him while sober.

A spark of realization flashed in Lanshu’s eyes, impressed by Chun Xi’s insight. He nodded: “Our clients enjoy stimulation. Using a little incense to enhance excitement is common. This Xiāo Hún Xiāng does indeed heighten excitement.”

“Just excitement?”

Chun Xi felt it wasn’t so simple, but for now, it was only her suspicion—she had no proof and no authority to press Lanshu further.

She pursed her lips and placed two more silver notes on the table: “I have two more questions.”

“What are they?”

“First, Princess Baohua claimed to have seen me at Wú Yōu Gé. I want to know who leaked this information. Second, regarding my inquiries about my father and his mistress, besides the proprietor, did you tell anyone else?”

She asked both questions, staring straight into Lanshu’s eyes.

Lanshu sighed inwardly but smiled outwardly as usual: “Although Wú Yōu Gé protects its clients’ privacy, it is still a business. For someone like Madam Shěn, willing to spend lavishly just for information, we would certainly comply.”

“I understand. I want to know whether this was solicited by someone else or if you voluntarily disclosed it.”

For a transaction to happen, one side must take the initiative. Chun Xi was determined to get to the bottom, so Lanshu admitted: “Since Madam Shen already suspects, you should know I am not an honorable person.”

He was admitting that both pieces of information were leaked by him.

Although Chun Xi had anticipated this, hearing it confirmed still stung. She clenched her fists and said, “I truly considered you a friend.”

Lanshu’s eyes curved into a deeper smile: “In our line of work, our status is low; showing genuine feelings to clients is the worst mistake. Madam Shen has overestimated me.”

In other words, he had never considered her a friend.

Chun Xi’s eyes flashed with irritation. Lanshu expected her to throw a teacup, but after a while, she calmed down and placed a gold bar on the table: “You’re right. I overthought it before. Business is business. I want to buy one dose of Xiāo Hún Xiāng.”

Lanshu noticed her slightly protruding belly and asked, “Madam, you are pregnant. You’re not planning to test the incense on yourself, are you?”

“You said it’s harmless. Why shouldn’t I use it?”

“Of course you may,” he nodded without hesitation. “However, this incense is rare. The current stock has sold out. The next batch won’t arrive for half a month. Madam Shen should come back then.”

“I can pay extra.”

Chun Xi didn’t hesitate. Lanshu shook his head: “There really is no stock. Even if you gave me this entire gold bar, I couldn’t deliver it.”

He returned the gold bar, keeping only the 300 tael silver as payment for the previous information and as a deposit. “Once the next batch arrives in half a month, I’ll immediately send it to Madam Shen.”

Since he had said this, Chun Xi didn’t push further and left with the receipt.

The stove’s water had long since boiled, steaming softly. Lanshu packed away the tea leaves, extinguished the fire, and felt his injury begin to itch maddeningly again.

As soon as Shen Qingyuan returned home, Chun Xi told him about her visit to Wú Yōu Gé to see Lanshu.

“I still think Princess Baohua’s death is related to that Xiāo Hún Xiāng incense. Unfortunately, there’s no stock now. We’ll only get it in half a month.”

Chun Xi focused on the incense; Shen Qingyuan focused on the half-month wait.

In half a month, the first convoy escorting grain to Wēngzhōu should also return.

Coincidence, or is there some connection between these two matters?