Chapter 9 The world is boundless and delusional

With the painting fan blowing the brocade handkerchief, she walked over slowly and asked, "Why did my sister call me here?" I called her to sit down at the table. At this time, Hong Jian had already poured tea for us, and said: "Miss, you can talk slowly, I will go to the kitchen to make some snacks." Go out together. The red sun was already slanting outside the window, and the white paper on the table was also dyed a hazy color, as if stained with faint blood.I have always liked dusk, I like this bleak and desolate artistic conception, as if it can precipitate all frivolous objects.And I am waiting for the arrival of that round of crescent moon in the background color of this glow.My mother said that when she saw me for the first time, the crescent moon outside the window was slenderly curved, like my eyebrows, so my name is Meiwan, Shenmeiwan.I've loved this name for as long as I can remember, and it was meant to be with me for the rest of my life.

"Sister...sister..." The painting fan called me softly. I came back to my senses, looked at her with a smile, and said: "Sister, I love the sunset very much, because when the sun goes down, I can see the moonlight, and in the dark night, only the moon is the most warm. " The painting fan looked out of the window and smiled faintly: "Sister, the sunset is dusk. At your age, you shouldn't like such a heavy tone. Just look at the spring scenery, soft green and fresh, it should be our state of mind." I smiled and said: "Sister, let's not talk about this for now, I came to you today to ask you something."

"What's the matter? I just wanted to ask you, how did Yanping get here in Miyuedu." "What I want to talk about is the same. I received a note last night asking me to go to the yamen to pick up the smoke screen today. I thought it was weird at the time, and I didn't inform you. I will go to the yamen this morning to pick her up." I said. Eloquently. "Oh, there is such a thing?" she asked in surprise. At this moment, I can conclude that yesterday's note has nothing to do with the painting fan.So he asked: "Have you mentioned to Mr. Yue what I entrusted to you that day?"

Hua Fan shook his head, and said: "No, because we received an official document from the government yesterday, all our places here will be closed for seven days, and it is inconvenient to send someone to find Mr. Yue." "Well. It's really puzzling who did this, but I finally rescued the smoke screen. I don't want to ask more about other things." I said lightly. "What did they say when you went to the yamen?" Hua Fan continued to ask. "He Yamen chief told me that Fu Yin had found out that Yin Xianxian's death was a suicide, so Yanping was acquitted." I said.

"Since this is the case, then we will not guess anything. There is no need for us to uncover the hidden things behind. There are many things in the world that are more secure if they are obscured than transparent." Huafan said solemnly. I saw the wisdom in her eyes, and I admired the tranquility of the painting fan even more in my heart. I can see the world so clearly, but I am not as good as her root of wisdom. Sit upright and drink tea, see the clouds gradually receding, the twilight is coming slowly, there is a cool breeze blowing slowly from the window, carrying a few wisps of quiet moonlight.Seeing the painting fan lowering his eyebrows and meditating, but at the moment I don't think about anything.

There was a knock on the door, only to hear Hong Jian calling: "Miss, the dessert is ready, I'm bringing it in." "Ok." Pushing the door open, I saw Hongjian entering the room with Yanping and Xiangqin, holding some red and green pastries, the colors are very attractive.Putting it on the table, I saw a few plain flowers printed on the plate, and inside the plate were soft rose cakes, mung bean cakes, crispy sesame seeds, emerald fruits... Huafan smiled and said: "Hongjian's craftsmanship is better, Xiangqin, you should also learn more, and the girl with curved eyebrows is very lucky."

Xiangqin lowered her head shyly, and said with a smile, "Yes, I obey." Hong Jian said: "I think the painting fan girl should not make fun of me. This little skill is not elegant. It's just that she can make a few small snacks that the lady likes to eat on weekdays." While talking, she fetched ivory chopsticks, He took a piece of rose soft cake and handed it to the fan's plate. I looked at the painting fan with a smile and said, "Eat it, this one is soft and fragrant, I like it very much." I ordered Hongjian, Yanping, and Xiangqin to also sit around the table and enjoy dim sum together.

Time slipped away gently in the chat, and when it quieted down, outside the window was the slanting willow moon, full of jade souls, hanging in the middle of the sky, looking at the circle of the world with a round and short attitude.The wind and the moon are boundless, leaving only a dense face.Knowing and staying is limited, empty and misty clouds. Hua Fan looked at the moonlight outside the window, got up and said, "Sister, I should go back." "The night is getting dark, so I won't keep my sister any longer." I ordered Hongjian to take out my pink brocade cloak from the closet, and put it on the fan's shoulders.

"Sister, there's no need, it's only a few steps away." Hua Fan shrugged. I helped her fasten the strap of the cloak around her neck, and said, "The night is cold and the dew is heavy, so don't catch a cold." Huafan and Xiangqin walked towards the door, saying: "Sister, don't give it away, and meet again some other day." I walked to the door and held her hand: "I won't see them off, I don't want to go downstairs to see them." "Sister, you must remember what I just said. It is better not to know many things than to know them." She told me.

"I remember, it's hard for my sister to care so much." Looking at the back of the painting fan drifting away, at that moment, I actually felt reluctance, a lot of reluctance.It seems that in the dark, I have already had an inexplicable entanglement with her, but I don't know how long this entanglement can last.Perhaps it was because she had no bosom friend around her, but she was able to be so heart-to-heart. The flickering red candles illuminated the entire room, but the red body was covered with mottled tears.I don't know whether they are crying for themselves or for others.

I don't know if the women in Firework Lane can get used to such a quiet night. quiet. All of a sudden, many footsteps hurried upstairs and loud shouts were heard. I ordered Hongjian to go out and find out what happened.After a while, she came in with a panicked expression, and said, "Miss, Miss Yaomu has had a miscarriage." I was shocked and said, "Is she in the room?" "Yes..." Hong Jian nodded quickly, her expression still panicked. "Follow me to have a look." Hong Jian and Yan Ping accompanied me and walked towards Yao Mu's room. Walking to the door of the room, I saw Bihen, Yaomu's maid, hurried out with a basin of bloody water, and almost collided with us head-on.Looking at the scarlet blood, I was dizzy for a while, Yanping and Hongjian quickly supported me from left to right. Yaomu's room was crowded with sisters who came to visit. Through the gaps in the crowd, I saw her lying on the bed in pain, her face was as pale as paper, and her temples were wet with sweat.Such a painful expression, such a weak struggle. Mom sat on the edge of the bed, wiped her sweat, and yelled: "Which god did this to make you like this. In our Miyue Ferry, you and Meiwan are the only ones who are performing arts and not selling themselves." , tell me, what is going on here!" "Hurry up and bring the special medicine to stop bleeding and calm the nerves." Mother shouted to her little maid, Ling'er. Ling'er took out a few small black pills and brought water.Mom personally fed the medicine to Yao Mu, and gently let her lie flat on the bed. "Sister Yaomu is too careless..." "Yeah... even if you take medicine, you have to be careful." "I heard from Bihen that she fried several servings of saffron and drank them all." All the sisters gathered around Yao Mu's bed and said. Looking at Yao Mu in pain on the bed, thinking of her usual smile at me, I couldn't bear it.So he shouted: "You all go away, let sister Yaomu have a quiet meeting, she needs to rest." Everyone's eyes looked at me, and I looked serious.They looked at Yao Mu who was dying on the bed, finally gave up, flicked their handkerchiefs, and left with a cold snort. "Wait!" Mom's voice was so powerful that they were all shocked. "No one is allowed to make any noise about what happened tonight. If I find out who is gossiping, I will definitely take her skin off." Mom said word by word. They said in unison: "Yes." They turned and walked out the door. Only me, the servant girl, my mother, and Bihen, who just came in, were left in the room. I don't want to ask anything, looking at her bloodless face, I think Yao Mu at this moment must not want to hear anyone bring up what happened just now. I just sat by her bed, held her hand lightly, it was cold to the bone, and I said in a low voice, "You have a rest, don't think too much about it. No matter how much unhappiness you have, it will pass." Her lips were pale, and she wanted to say something, but she was powerless to stop. I saw the mother next to me holding her other hand, with a lot of pity in her eyes. This is the first time I have seen such an expression from her.I am used to seeing her indifference and anger on weekdays, and this little tenderness makes people feel precious.I think she takes extra care of Yao Mu on weekdays, and Yao Mu has always been our number one in Miyuedu, maybe they also have some inseparable fate. I sighed and got up to leave.Looking at Bihen, I told him, "I'd like to take care of your girl." After walking out of the room, the strong smell of blood gradually dissipated.Ever since I saw the blooming flowers that day, coupled with the scene in the dream, I seem to be particularly sensitive to blood.That eye-catching red makes me feel uneasy, as if it has a dash of tragic murderous intent and sharp light and shadow.So many people have to pay the price in blood. Back in the room, I was a little dazed.Hong Jian closed the door and said softly to me: "Miss, there is something I have kept in my heart for several months, I don't know whether I should say it or not." I saw that her expression was still mysterious, and I wondered in my heart: "What is it, just tell me." "It happened in the winter of last year. That day you brought some plum blossoms from Cuimei Temple and asked me to send them to the girls who walked a little closer upstairs. When I sent them to Miss Yaomu's door, I saw On the door sign outside the room was "Hospitality, please do not disturb." Then I turned to leave, but I heard a strange noise coming from inside the house. Out of curiosity, I poked the window paper with my fingers, and saw a shocking scene .” Hong Jian said in detail, seeing her complexion red hot at this moment. I already guessed a bit in my heart, but I still asked: "What's the matter?" "I... saw... I saw Miss Yaomu and a man rolling on the bed naked. Although the white gauze curtain is down, I can see clearly through the thin gauze." Hong Jian's expression became more and more serious. more red. My face was very calm, and I said, "Who is that man?" "Yes...it's Yue Chenghuang...Master Yue." Hong Jian stammered. "Why didn't you say that before?" I asked. "It's very embarrassing to say such things, miss, you are pure and innocent, how can I tell you these things." "Forget it, don't mention this to anyone in the future." I looked serious. "Yes, I know." She bowed her head in response. Yan Ping, who was standing by the side, also had a very weird expression, she said to me in a low voice: "Girl, I actually have something, I didn't intend to say it, but today, I feel uneasy when I hear sister Hongjian say that." "Just tell me." I wondered in my heart, could it be related to Yue Chenghuang. I looked at the smoke screen and recalled: "Just a week before the oiran election, I overheard a conversation between our young lady and Mr. Yue. At that time, through a door, I vaguely heard Mr. Yue say to my young lady:' Don't worry, I will try my best to fight for you this year's oiran, but you must not reveal a word of this secret, otherwise I will not let you go lightly." Then I heard the lady say: "As long as the adults keep their word , I must be a trustworthy person.” After that, I didn’t dare to listen any more, and left in a hurry.” It's Yue Chenghuang again, "secret", what secrets does Yin Xianxian know about him?Yue Chenghuang actually agreed to help her win the oiran, no wonder Yin Xianxian seemed to have a plan in mind that day, it turned out that she already had the answer in her heart.But how could she die for no reason during the election?Fu Yin said that it was suicide, but it was obviously just prevarication.Could it be that Yue Chenghuang is the murderer behind it?In order not to be threatened by Yin Xianxian, he killed her?Is the fetus in Yin Xianxian's womb also his?But who was the person who passed the note from the window that day?If it was really Yue Chenghuang who killed someone, why didn't he simply let Yanping be the scapegoat instead of letting her go?What is the origin of this Yue Chenghuang? Everyone knows that he is obsessed with the place of fireworks, and loves love and romance.This thing is really getting more and more blurred. "Miss...Miss..." Hong Jian pushed me lightly, and I finally came to my senses.He whispered to the smoke screen: "Just pretend you didn't say this today, and don't mention it to anyone in the future." Seeing my serious expression, she nodded and said, "Yes... yes..." I remembered what Huafan told me before leaving, it is better not to know many things than to know.It seems that I have to hide these things in my heart, and I can't bring them up. Besides, I don't know the reasons for them, and I can't make arbitrary judgments based on my own guesses. I reminded Hongjian and Yanping again, they also knew that this matter was of great importance, so they would definitely not dare to mention it again. The night outside the window is like ink, only the faint moonlight slantingly illuminates the faint halo.The wind is blowing, and through the layers of night, it seems that there are too many unknown secrets hidden. But I remembered the words of the painting fan: we don't need to uncover the hidden things behind.There are many things in the world, it is safer to be vague than transparent. It seems that Huafan is the one who really understands, and why should I bother with others.