Chapter 44 (1/2)

Chapter 44 Rising Wind: Findings

“Can you go ahead by yourself first? I have something urgent to discuss with the Administrator.” Feng Luodi shook her head as they stood outside Dream Mirrors, pulling her arm out of Qi Jianqiu’s grip.

Qi Jianqiu was confused by her sudden change, the anger she had for Gan Qingjia suddenly disappearing from her face. “Didn’t you say that you had to look for Situ?”

“Change of plans.” Feng Luodi smiled, and pushed Qi Jianqiu towards the zither parlour. “Go on ahead without me.”

Qi Jianqiu’s face fell. “I guess I’m not going in either, it won't be any fun without you. I’ll accompany you to the yamen then.”

“Oh, really?” Feng Luodi raised an eyebrow. “You’re prepared to miss Emerald’s dance and the chorus of the zither artistes?” She had barely finished her sentence when Qi Jianqiu grabbed onto her arm again.

“Hnnnngghhhhh…let me see the dance of Emerald, Luodi.”

Although the streets were deserted, it was business as usual for Dream Mirrors.  Many patrons walked by the duo as they headed into the zither parlour, casting weird looks their way. After all, Qi Jianqiu was obviously a lady dressed in men’s clothing, and her tight hug around Feng Luodi’s arm raised a lot of questions.

“Alright, alright. Let’s go on in.” Feng Luodi sighed at her friend’s antics. How can she do this in public? Qi Jianqiu nearly jumped in joy when Feng Luodi’s agreed, and tightly clung onto her arm tightly as they walked into Dream Mirrors. Naturally, her actions drew the attention of many who stopped and gaped in shock, but Qi Jianqiu remained oblivious. At a table on the far side of the hall, Gan Qingjia and the rest turned to look at the commotion. Gan Qingjia’s eyes lit up.

“Hey look! The cute girl is back again!”

Xue Yiqi saw the two girls entering the hall and turned to Gan Qingjia. “You already had your fun last time, please don't start teasing here again… Seems like she just invited Miss Feng to support her today.”

Hearing that familiar surname, Situ raised an eyebrow and looked over. It really is her. Feng Luodi was dressed in a high skirt the colour of primrose today, a beige shawl draped over her shoulders. The skirt accentuated her curves, and the dark green earrings she wore contrasted sharply against her milky skin.

“No matter; I can handle any number of girls at the same time.” Gan Qingjia took a swig of wine, and walked towards the two girls with a smile on his face. Xue Yiqi quickly followed, with Situ walking slowly behind them.

Qi Jianqiu sat down by her table and looked up to see Gan Qingjia walking towards her. “Why? I haven’t lost yet! Just wait and see!”

“Of course, I’m waiting for you to lose.” Gan Qingjia smiled, and blew a kiss at the dancers on the stage. A chorus of sharp intakes of breaths could be heard around them.

Qi Jianqiu glared at him, her cheeks puffed in annoyance. Xue Yiqi stood awkwardly between Gan Qingjia and Qi Jianqiu, unsure of what to do. Situ ignored the few of them and looked at Feng Luodi.

“What brings you here? Weren’t you accompanying Moyin?”

How did you know that I was with Moyin? The words almost slipped out of Feng Luodi’s mouth, but she caught them in time. “I have something very important thing to discuss with you. Can you spare me the time?” She looked around the hall, filled with merrymaking and laughter. “Or are you too enticed by the dancers here?”

“Wow! Do you smell that? Did someone just spill a vat of vinegar1 somewhere?” Gan Qingjia overheard their conversation and leaned in, with a teasing look on his face.

Qi Jianqiu heard his comment, and sniffed the air around her, completely clueless. “Where? Where is the spilled vinegar? I don’t smell anything.”

Gan Qingjia looked at her confused face and burst out in laughter, quickly joined by Xue Yiqi. Situ ignored the few of them. “Let’s go somewhere quiet, then. It’s too noisy here.”

Feng Luodi nodded, and looked at Qi Jianqiu. “I’ll leave Fei here to support you. He’ll know where to find me if anything happens.” She quickly abandoned her friend and followed Situ out of the parlour, leaving Gan Qingjia and Qi Jianqiu locked in a staring contest, with Xue Yiqi watching on from the sidelines.

They exited Dream Mirrors and walked along the street. The sky had cleared up, and Situ spoke expressionlessly. “It’s much quieter now. What did you want to tell me that was so urgent?”

Feng Luodi slid her hands into the sleeves of her outer robe, her words concise and clear. “I walked with Moyin to the North Plaza just now, and Moyin felt very ill when we pa.s.sed the statue in the plaza. I suspect that the statue is the source of the poison.”

Situ stopped and turned to look at Feng Luodi. “That’s not enough evidence to prove that the statue is the source of the poison. I had expected something more from you.”

Feng Luodi raised her head to look at him, her face composed and blank. “Calm down, of course I have other findings.”

She continued before Situ could speak. “Red-coloured water puddles around the base of the statue, water I believe to be a mixture of rainwater and whatever poison that is afflicting the city. The statue was built for the crowning of the First Emperor, and if this phenomenon has persisted ever since the statue was erected, it would not have fallen through the cracks of the stringent quality checks for the ceremony. That’s why an investigation of the statue is warranted: regardless of its involvement in the current epidemic, it is an important symbol of our kingdom and we cannot let it reputation be unnecessarily tarnished.”

“Moreover, besides Moyin’s reaction, I also felt a little nauseous as we approached the statue. Luckily, I had caught a minor cold a few days ago, and my nose is still blocked. I must have inhaled much less of the pathogen than Moyin had.”

Feng Luodi looked Situ directly in the eye. “Are these reasons sufficient for the Duke of Anping to order an investigation of the statue and prepare an evacuation of the street?”

Situ looked at her expressionlessly for a long while. Feng Luodi was beginning to feel a little uneasy when Situ snapped his fingers at the attendants behind them. “Yes, it is.”

He turned to the attendants. “Summon the physicians, and ready the Imperial Army for deployment.”

“Yes, General.” The attendants quickly left to relay his order, while Situ and Feng Luodi made their way towards the North Plaza. The silence between them was stifling.

A while later, Situ broke the silence and turned to Feng Luodi. “Are you angry?”

“No? Why should I be?” Feng Luodi retorted immediately.

Situ glanced at her but did not say anything else. The rest of the journey was spent in silence, both of them looking straight ahead.

They reached the North Avenue soon enough, and they could make out the silhouette of the statue in the plaza from a distance away. Feng Luodi pa.s.sed a handkerchief to Situ without looking at him.

“Cover your nose and mouth.”

Situ looked at it and pa.s.sed it back to her. “Keep it for yourself. I can hold my breath for the duration.”

Feng Luodi ignored his hand, and casually took out another handkerchief. Covering her nose and mouth tightly, she approached the statue. Situ shrugged, covered his face with the handkerchief, and followed after her.

When the Imperial Army and the physician returned with the attendants, they saw their fierce and strict General Situ covering his face with a feminine handkerchief that was obviously too small for him. Holding back his laughter, the physician quickly approached the statue, joining Situ and Feng Luodi in the investigation. He was still a distance away from the statue when he stopped and fanned his nose.

“Why is there such a strong smell of oleander?”