After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 38

Inside the side room, Qun Qing looked through the carved window, overlooking a pool of water in the inner courtyard.

On the water platform, dancers swayed their waists, their skirts blooming like pomegranate flowers. The surrounding colorful lanterns were bewitching and dazzling, making the moon’s reflection in the water appear pale and lackluster.

This window filtered the noisy music into faint and distant sounds. Thinking the outside crowd wouldn’t hear the conversation inside, Qun Qing asked, “What is the item the advisor seeks?”

Lu Huating brewed tea. The sound of water hitting the bottom of the cup rang crisply as he idly responded, 

“What does Miss Qing think of the furnishings in Siye Tower?”

“Extravagant beyond measure.” Qun Qing replied, turning to survey the purple jade inkstone, the incense beast burner, and the jadeite cup in Lu Huating’s hand. She noted the room’s seemingly simple decor, yet every item was worth a fortune.

“I’ve heard that the Cui family amassed their fortune by hoarding supplies and raising prices during the chaos, exploiting the common people. I never thought it was to this extent.”

“The common people don’t have much money,” Lu Huating remarked with a laugh. “Even if they had drained the people of Chang’an dry, it wouldn’t be enough to build a grand establishment like this within a year.”

“Are you suggesting that the money came from other sources?” Qun Qing inquired.

“When His Majesty took the throne, the court officials were all on edge, unsure of the new ruler’s temperament. Outwardly, they professed loyalty, but behind the scenes, they secretly transferred their family fortunes, leaving behind only their titles and empty pockets. That way, even if they incurred the emperor’s wrath and faced execution or confiscation, their wives, concubines, and children could still live freely off that hidden wealth.”

Lu Huating continued, “If you look across Chang’an, where else could money flow in and out without arousing suspicion? Only businesses like taverns.”

“So the Cui family became the designated vault for their wealth,” Qun Qing concluded. “They must have charged a share of the profits to take on such risks, and that’s how they really built their fortune.”

Her earlier confusion over how Cui Zhu, a mere merchant, managed to connect with so many officials suddenly cleared up.

“To hold wealth in trust and ensure it could be accounted for later, they must have kept an original ledger detailing how much each household deposited,” Qun Qing ventured.

“You’re quite right. That ledger is exactly what I’m after,” Lu Huating confirmed.

What a coincidence—Qun Qing was also after that ledger.

“Does the advisor’s name appear in that ledger?” Qun Qing sipped her tea, masking her expression. It was rare for powerful officials to be incorruptible, and she was curious.

Lu Huating paused, his dark eyes flashing as he smirked. 

“If Miss Qing thinks so, then perhaps it does.”

As he spoke, he poured the tea from his cup into a pot of bamboo on the table. It turned out the first brew was to rinse the cup, but Lu Huating hadn’t warned her, letting her take a sip instead. Judging by his reaction, he harbored disdain for Cui Zhu and any assumptions of mutual benefit.

“Then how does the advisor maintain such a close relationship with Cui Zhu, even today, along with that procuress…” Qun Qing asked, feigning innocence.

Was she trying to collect evidence of his misdeeds?

Lu Huating merely smiled. “Aside from being on the same rope, could it not also be that Cui Zhu simply enjoys entertaining big-spending patrons? Siye Tower differs from other pleasure houses. Its private rooms are not rotated among patrons. Those who spend enough can privately own a room, hold the key, and even the maids of Siye Tower are forbidden from entering.”

No wonder the decor in this room was elegantly refined, distinct from the glamorous exterior. It turned out to be Lu Huating’s private room.

Qun Qing’s gaze wandered. The room was small, with just enough space for the two of them to sit. There wasn’t even a bed. If Lu Huating were to invite a courtesan in…

“You’re the first guest in this room,” Lu Huating remarked. Noticing her wandering thoughts, he smiled warmly, though his eyes were cold and dark.

The tightly sealed windows and doors demonstrated how pristine this place was, but Qun Qing felt an unfamiliar atmosphere creeping in from all sides, as if she were intruding into someone’s private domain. Blurted out, she said, 

“It’s a bit small.”

Lu Huating paused. “My monthly stipend isn’t much.”

“When did the advisor begin spending at Siye Tower?”

“A year ago.”

A year ago, Emperor Chenming hadn’t even ascended the throne yet. Lu Huating had planted his roots that early, which explained why Cui Zhu wasn’t wary of him. At that time, few would have considered the possibility of officials transferring their wealth. How did Lu Huating possess such sharp insight? Could he see the future?

Qun Qing couldn’t figure it out.

She had never been to Siyan Tower before. Initially, she had planned to part ways with Lu Huating once familiar with the location. However, since their goals aligned, she wasn’t in a hurry to leave. Her eyes wandered again. 

“Has the advisor ever been a disciple of Buddhism?”

Lu Huating looked up. “How did you know?”

“I guessed. The prayer beads on your wrist are a dharma artifact, and the gold ribbons on the bamboo here are engraved with Sanskrit,” Qun Qing observed the verdant bamboo and casually asked, “I’ve heard there’s a flower in the Glass Kingdom called Udumbara. Has the advisor ever seen one?”

“The sacred flower of the Glass Kingdom…” Candlelight illuminated the contours of Lu Huating’s wrist, elegant and distinct. Something crossed his mind, dark and fluid like ink, as he replied, 

“I’ve seen one.”

Then, Qun Qing rummaged in her sleeve, pulling out a plain handkerchief. Inside was a single green seed.

“…I’ve only seen it; I’ve never grown it,” Lu Huating said, surprised by the seed she presented.

Qun Qing persisted. “I just want the advisor to identify it. Is this seed truly Udumbara?”

Lu Huating pinched a corner of the handkerchief, dragging it closer. Then, with a flash of silver, he had already drawn a silver dagger from his waist and split the seed in half.

“Who told you to cut it?” Qun Qing’s eyes widened as a mix of anger and cold surged through her.

Seeing her flustered, Lu Huating’s face showed an innocent smile. 

“How else could I confirm it without cutting it open?”

Qun Qing noticed the seed’s cross-section. The crescent-shaped embryo had already turned gray.

“It is indeed Udumbara,” Lu Huating said, lowering his eyes. “But it’s a stone seed.”

“What’s a stone seed?”

“It’s a seed placed on an altar, exposed to incense smoke for over a decade. The smoke damaged the embryo, making it incapable of germination, as hard as a stone,” Lu Huating explained.

Hearing this, Qun Qing silently collected the two halves of the seed and carefully stored them away. There was no longer a need to plant it.

“Is it very important?” Lu Huating observed her expression closely, his eyes glinting. 

“An imperial gift?”

Qun Qing suddenly looked up, her gaze clear and free of anger beneath her long lashes. 

“If it were to bloom, what would it look like?”

“The flower is white…” Lu Huating suddenly realized the significance of this information to her. Leaning back against the low cabinet, he gazed at her with an upward glance and a smile. 

“As for the rest, I don’t remember.”

“Single-petaled or double-petaled?” Qun Qing pressed.

“I can’t recall.”

A cold smile appeared at the corners of Qun Qing’s lips. Since he was her opponent, Lu Huating naturally wouldn’t help her. Information beneficial to her was not something he’d readily reveal.

At that moment, a knock came at the door. A flower girl entered, holding a wooden tray with four exquisite dishes emitting a rich aroma.

“Have you had your meal?” Lu Huating, seemingly unsurprised, asked. It appeared the meal had been ordered by him. 

“The crispy roast duck here is worth a try.”

Lu Huating was courteous in his demeanor. Collaborating to retrieve the item, he even offered her a meal.

“Please select some wine, my lady.” the flower girl said, handing Qun Qing a menu.

Following the flower girl was Madam Liu, who had been knocked unconscious earlier by the guards while out shopping. She was later brought to the Dali Court prison by Lu Huating and witnessed the entire process of Cui Shi being tortured. Terrified to the core, she not only confessed but also agreed to act as an informant in exchange for leniency.

Madame Liu exchanged a conflicted glance with Lu Huating and gestured at Qun Qing. Lu Huating’s expression froze briefly before he motioned for her to leave.

Qun Qing was keenly aware of the subtle interaction between them. It seemed she had caught the attention of Cui Zhu. The way he had looked at her earlier was like a hawk eyeing a rabbit. Yet, she remained calm, quietly turning the page of the menu. As a spy, escaping danger was second nature to her.

“What wine does the advisor usually drink? I’ll have the same,” Qun Qing handed the menu back to the attendant. She rarely drank outside and couldn’t decipher the elaborate names on the list.

Lu Huating raised his gaze at her request.

“Lord Lu must frequently order wine,” Qun Qing smiled back at him. “After all, the wine here is far more expensive than the dishes. To truly indulge, one couldn’t just order a thousand plates of crispy duck.”

“Floating Grove Reflecting Snow, one pot,” the attendant returned with a wine pot and locked the door behind her.

The wine’s fragrance, reminiscent of blooming flowers, wafted from the pot. When poured into cups, its aroma filled the air, as if standing in a sea of blossoms.

Curious about the wine, Qun Qing waited for Lu Huating to fill her cup and took a sip.

The taste hit her like a blade, burning its way down her throat and igniting a fiery heat that surged upwards to her cheeks.

Surprised by the intensity, Qun Qing paused. She hadn’t expected Lu Huating, who didn’t seem like someone overly fond of drinking, to enjoy such a strong liquor. All she could taste was its spiciness. As she raised the cup for another sip, Lu Huating pressed her hand down, a faint absurdity in his tension-filled smile. 

“Could it be that you are not used to drinking?”

Unbeknownst to her, a faint blush had already crept across her cheeks. Sensing his worry, clearly over the potential impact on their mission, Qun Qing said coldly, 

“Even if I’m drunk, it won’t affect you.”

Yet no sooner had she spoken than another fiery surge rose from her stomach, bursting in her chest. Her gaze flickered as the flush spread down her neck and collarbone, leaving her skin a faint crimson under her white outer garment. Grabbing a fan, she quickly fanned herself. Lu Huating averted his eyes, noticing how her red teardrop-shaped earring swayed wildly.

He remained silent, raising his sleeve to shield his face as he downed his own cup of wine in one go. Rising, he pushed the window open.

A cool breeze brushed against his face, the music from outside suddenly becoming clearer.

Qun Qing, too, felt the wind and suppressed the heat in her body. 

“It’s fine. I’m perfectly sober.”

She glanced at Lu Huating. Despite finishing his drink, his pale complexion showed no change. Only his lips, moistened by the wine, appeared redder, emitting a subtle fragrance from the Floating Grove Reflecting Snow.

They each took a few bites of the food before Lu Huating suggested they leave. He seemed concerned that the strong wine might eventually overwhelm her and jeopardize their plans. As they walked, he took out several diagrams from his robe and handed them to Qun Qing.

“These are the layouts of the fourth floor of Siye Tower. I’ve marked the private rooms with names.”

Qun Qing studied the papers, her long lashes concealing her thoughts.

“Now, can you explain the riddle for me?” Lu Huating asked.

“September hibiscus flowers, eighteen brides for four families.”

In Nanchu’s espionage cipher, the word “bride” corresponded to “coordinates,” and double-digit numbers required summation. Thus, “eighteen” became “nine.”

Eighteen brides for four families translated to “count nine horizontally from the left, and four vertically from the top.”

However, as Qun Qing examined the diagrams, she realized that none of the floors had nine rooms in either direction.

She had no choice but to come clean. Raising her gaze from the papers, she admitted, 

“I only know the meaning of the second line, not the first.”

Lu Huating halted in his tracks.

It was clear he hadn’t expected her to deceive him in such a critical matter. A cold aura radiated from him. 

“Why didn’t you say so before?”

Sensing his growing anger, Qun Qing felt slightly apprehensive. But without her earlier actions, how could she have leveraged her position? 

“Had I told you then, would the advisor have allowed me to come along?”

“If you had told me then, I could’ve started working on it two days earlier,” Lu Huating replied coolly, brushing past her.

Now, with just over two hours until midnight, Lu Huating faced the pressure of unraveling the riddle in time. Qun Qing followed close behind.

The corridor bustled with musicians, dancers, and drunken patrons, accompanied by the lively sounds of music. As they descended to the second-floor atrium, embroidered balls occasionally brushed past their sleeves, scattering petals into the air.

The space was filled with pots of blooming flowers, their vibrant reds and pinks forming a sea of blossoms.

Stopping before the floral display, Lu Huating instructed a servant, 

“Bring out the hibiscus pot in the second row.”

Occasionally, guests would make unconventional requests to bring flowers into their rooms. The servant complied, carefully retrieving the large pot of hibiscus.

Lu Huating didn’t accept it, seemingly aware of Qun Qing’s presence behind him. 

“It’s for you,” he said coldly. “Take it.”

The servant, panting from the effort, placed the heavy pot in Qun Qing’s arms. Though the weight would’ve been too much for most women, Qun Qing, trained in martial arts, managed with some effort.

Unbeknownst to her, Lin Yujia had ascended from the first floor. Spotting Lu Huating, he quickly ducked behind the railing.

Behind him followed a tall, slender attendant whose figure seemed strikingly familiar. Straining to see, Lin Yujia noticed the attendant’s face was obscured by the blooming hibiscus flowers, leaving their identity a mystery.

The two of them stepped behind the pillar. Lu Huating, who was walking ahead, turned around and looked down at her. Qun Qing averted her face, noticing that he suddenly reached out—not to strike but merely to take one of her hairpins.

Holding the hairpin, Lu Huating slowly pressed it into the soil of the hibiscus flower pot. The veins on the back of his pale hand became visible from the force.

Qun Qing had no doubt that he wished to stab her, the one holding the flower pot, instead. Watching his movements, she cautiously asked, 

“How many petals does the Udumbara flower have?”

Lu Huating stayed silent, pulling the hairpin out and jabbing it into another spot in the soil.

“Could it resemble the hibiscus flower here? Tell me, and I’ll help the advisor solve the puzzle. It might be faster that way,” Qun Qing said. “Judging by the looks of it, the ledger isn’t buried in this pot.”

Lu Huating, having confirmed this, tossed the dirt-covered hairpin to the ground with a clatter and walked away.

Though the hairpin belonged to Lu Huating, stored in his bundle as an accessory, discarding it seemed wasteful. Qun Qing placed the hibiscus pot by the pillar, picked up the hairpin, and followed him to the top floor.

Compared to the noise below, the fourth floor—the residence of the courtesans—was eerily quiet, with most wooden doors closed. The two walked in single file through the narrow passage divided by these wooden partitions.

At the end of the corridor, Lu Huating tugged on a red cord. A crimson silk curtain hanging there fell gracefully, revealing an entire wall adorned with jade plaques. Hundreds of thin jade plates swayed in the wind, trembling and emitting crisp sounds.

Qun Qing looked up at the plaques. Each one bore a flower name engraved on it. In Siye Tower, flowers could refer to actual blossoms or people.

“Take that jade plaque down,” Lu Huating instructed after observing the wall for a moment. He pointed to one marked with the words Jade Hibiscus in cinnabar.

“Sir, what a coincidence—Yunu hasn’t been in the building for a while. Her plaque was just never taken down. Perhaps you’d like to pick someone else?” the bawd apologized profusely, holding a long pole.

Qun Qing’s heart stirred. It turned out that Jade Hibiscus was Yunu’s flower name, but she kept her composure.

Lu Huating, feigning ignorance, asked, “If she’s not here, where is she?”

“Yunu was chosen last September by Lord Meng, an official in the court, to stay in his private residence. He grew fond of her and eventually bought her freedom. She’s now a concubine in a respectable household.”

September… hibiscus flowers…

If Lady Chun had hidden the ledger in the private room at Meng Guan Tower, Cui Zhu wouldn’t dare to enter carelessly. With Yunu residing there, she must have a key to the room, making such an arrangement plausible.

Qun Qing met Lu Huating’s dark gaze.

According to the layout in the diagram, Meng Guan Tower’s private room was located directly beneath Lu Huating’s quarters!