“What…..what did you say?” Stunned, Song Xingmu looked at Liu Zhenqing in complete disbelief.

“I said, you don’t have to come take care of my body, but do you intend to fulfill your other promises?”

It was the first time Liu Zhenqing had taken the initiative to admit his identity to someone. He was really embarrassed and uncomfortable beyond words.

Liu Zhenqing believed that Song Xingmu should remember this, just as Liu Zhenqing remembered it, but what if he didn’t believe him? After all, he was cautious by nature, and rebirth was too bizarre.

“I….” Liu Zhenqing was a bit powerless. Just as he was thinking about what to add, Song Xingmu’s eyes seemed to gleam with moisture as he looked at him. 

But he said: “Who is this young master, ah? Why are you talking nonsense to me? When did I make such a promise to you?”

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s mouth twitched. He suddenly pointed at Yi Chuan beside him and said: “Then what is the reason for keeping him by your side? You remember, right? Do you need me to remind you? You said that his waist…..”

The expression on Song Xingmu’s face was confused for a moment, but the instant Liu Zhenqing opened his mouth, he immediately rushed forward to cover it.

Liu Zhenqing glanced at him sideways: Don’t force me to reveal your old ways.

Song Xingmu looked back with wide eyes: Do you intend to expose the truth now and let me die?

However, when the two exchanged glances, their deep friendship surfaced. They stared at each other speechlessly, but the other two couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Hey!” Yi Chuan shouted in confusion. “What’s going on? Do you know each other?”

Huo Fenglie naturally understood that they had recognized each other, but the way the two of them were so close right now was really an eyesore.

Song Xingmu withdrew his gaze and said anxiously: “Release him. Both of you go out and stay there. Me and this…..little friend have something to talk about.” When Song Xingmu finished speaking, he looked at Liu Zhenqing, who was clearly ten years younger, and suddenly felt awkward.

Although Yi Chuan was puzzled as he put down his swords and wanted to say something, he was pushed out by Song Xingmu.

Liu Zhenqing nodded toward Huo Fenglie, who had no choice but to go out and close the door for them.

When the room became quiet, Song Xingmu found it difficult to look back at Liu Zhenqing.

It was Liu Zhenqing who stepped forward and patted Song Xingmu on the shoulder. The force and feel were the same as before.

Song Xingmu choked and said with difficulty: “Would you like to give me some more evidence to prove it? I really can’t recognize you.”

Liu Zhenqing smiled and said: “Okay, ah. Let’s talk about Yi Chuan. He was once a young pirate captain, but we used a marriage “honey trap” to get onto the ship. At that time, he was very young, and was encouraged by his companions to make us become ship wives. We had to go to the worship hall to be married on the spot. At that time, he liked you more in women’s clothing than he liked me in mine. He said he wanted you to be his legal wife, and even kissed you. When he found out you were a man, he immediately retched in disgust and was captured by Huo Feihan’s troops before he could even hold his sword properly.”

Although Song Xingmu did not look back, his entire body began to tremble slightly. There were many details back then that only the two of them on the pirate ship knew.

“As I just said, I asked why you wanted to keep Yi Chuan to train him personally.” Liu Zhenqing slowly recalled, “You didn’t praise him for being good on the water and suitable for learning naval warfare, or that his character was not bad. Instead, you said: The waist is thin, the legs are long, and the butt is upturned, a feast for the eyes. If I keep him next to me, I can touch him from time to time.”

“Enough…..enough. What the hell is this…..” Song Xingmu rubbed his head in vexation, obviously finding it difficult to accept. “I used to think you were different from others. How could something like this happen to you? This….can you look at the sun? Do you need to replenish your yang energy through intercourse?”

Liu Zhenqing smacked Song Xingmu on the back of the head. “You’re sick, go see a doctor!”

Song Xingmu then turned around and looked at Liu Zhenqing without words. Upon closer inspection, he looked a bit similar. Especially the look in his eyes, which was almost exactly the same as Liu Zhenqing’s.

“Your body is…..”

“Liu Xiaozhu, a member of the same clan. He was kidnapped and died accidentally a few months ago, and I just woke up after nine years.” Liu Zhenqing shrugged and sat down to pour tea.

Song Xingmu also sat down quickly. He still couldn’t help but reach out and poke Liu Zhenqing’s cheek, then feel for a pulse.

“This is truly mysterious.” Song Xingmu sighed and said: “Sure enough, the gods also cried out against injustice and gave you a chance to be reborn, so that you could come back to clear your name and take revenge.”

When Song Xingmu finished speaking, Liu Zhenqing had frozen and looked unresponsive.

Song Xingmu could only reach out and flick Liu Zhenqing’s forehead. “You…..were really reborn in vain. Are you worthy of the gods?”

“I feel that it is not what the gods let me be reborn for.”

“Then for what?”

“To…..” Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but glance at the door. “To let me live a simpler and happier life.”

When Song Xingmu saw Liu Zhenqing looking toward the door, he said curiously: “Then why are you with that kid Huo Fenglie…..”

“Er-gou is very good, extremely good. Don’t misunderstand him,” Liu Zhenqing said seriously.

“Since you yourself approve of him, what can I say? I remember hearing news before that he came south to investigate the Imperial Examination case. It seems that your Liu family was also involved in it, and there were two more major cases. But isn’t the case over? Why did you come here to me?” Song Xingmu asked.

Speaking of the key point, Liu Zhenqing said directly: “Then let’s ask the others to come in and discuss it together.”

Song Xingmu nodded, opened the door, and called the two of them in. Yi Chuan could be seen playing with his blades in boredom at the door, while a silent Huo Fenglie held his sword at the side. The two stood quietly in the corridor, and people who were nervous about the previous arrests were even more afraid to approach.

When they were called in to sit down, Yi Chuan couldn’t help but pull Song Xingmu aside and say: “What the hell is going on?”

Song Xingmu returned to his relaxed and insouciant appearance. “Aiya, I am old and have a bad memory. I forgot, they are both friends, friends. Let me introduce you: this is Liu Xiaozhu.”

Yi Chuan was surprised. “His surname is Liu?”

Liu Zhenqing hadn’t expected that Yi Chuan would react so much to his surname. Except for when he was captured in the first place, Liu Zhenqing was not familiar with Yi Chuan. Even when he went south to deploy troops for the second time, Yi Chuan was still learning martial arts from Song Xingmu’s master in the mountains and did not come down.

“Cough, cough. Yes, he is my good brother’s distant cousin, so he is one of our own. The misunderstanding with General Huo just now has been cleared up. Sit down.” Song Xingmu took a seat next to Yi Chuan.

Although Yi Chuan appeared puzzled, he cooperated.

Sitting next to Liu Zhenqing, Huo Fenglie looked over at him. Liu Zhenqing smiled at him and then said: “Not long ago, although we handled and concluded the disaster relief funds and tax fraud cases, the money vanished. We followed it all the way and found that the money was used for ore, the ore was turned into weapons, and the weapons were transported to the port here via the Liu River transport to go to sea.”

“What!” Song Xingmu was shocked. “Making weapons privately and transporting them out, isn’t this an attempt to rebel against the country? Who is it?”

Yi Chuan also looked over with a frown.

“We don’t know.” Liu Zhenqing shook his head. “We went all the way south to investigate privately, and encountered assassins on the way. We have two companions following them secretly, but there has been no news yet.”

Song Xingmu soon came to a realization. “So you are following Wang Qi. Wait, there are…..pirates among them. Could it be…..”

Liu Zhenqing did not fully disclose Huo Fenglie’s mission and Imperial edict. After all, it was Huo Fenglie’s. He only gave the information currently available, but Song Xingmu knew close to eighty percent of the truth.

“We don’t know everything yet. Why did you arrest them?” Liu Zhenqing asked.

Song Xingmu said with a frown: “There are three reasons. First, we have found that the pirates attack ships in a regular pattern. Commonly, this sort of situation proves that there are local profiteers colluding with the pirates, which is strictly prohibited by law. Secondly, the few times I went to sea to meet the enemy were very strange. It seemed like the pirates had a purpose, but they would not target my uncle’s ships. Thirdly, there is a problem with the port entry and exit records. That military official is also my uncle’s subordinate, and is specifically responsible for this matter. I initially thought that they were colluding with the pirates for profit, not that they were transporting weapons by ship. Could it be that my uncle…..”

When Song Xingmu said this, his expression became extremely ugly.

“Let’s go back and interrogate those three people,” Song Xingmu said.

“I’m afraid interrogation won’t work,” Liu Zhenqing said. “The two of us came in earlier and eavesdropped, and it seems they only took money to perform services. We don’t dare question them in detail.”

Liu Zhenqing repeated what they had overheard, and Song Xingmu couldn’t help becoming agitated.

Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly heard the silent Huo Fenglie tap the table, interrupting the conversation. He looked toward the door.

Yi Chuan, who was closest to the door, instantly slapped it with wind from his palm.

It opened at once, and a figure stood outside the door. Before he could react, he was rolled up by the bead curtain Yi Chuan casually threw out and reeled in.

Everyone stared blankly when they saw that it was a petite woman.

Yi Chuan, the first to react, quickly let her go and said: “Madam Xi Ran’s servant. What are you doing here?”

“This slave is here to deliver a message. The Madam says, if the Captain is done with his work, why doesn’t he go back and listen to the music? Don’t continue to stay in this room, it will scare the guests.”

This was meant to drive them out, but Song Xingmu said with a smile: “We can’t leave yet, my uncle will be anxious, ah. But it is really no longer suitable to stay here. Let’s go back and listen to the Madam play the pipa.”

When Song Xingmu finished speaking, he called for everyone to follow.

The young girl was quite surprised to see this, and wanted to stop them, but Song Xingmu frivolously embraced her and hooked her chin, saying: “Don’t worry, if your family’s Madam doesn’t agree, I promise to take the guests away and not embarrass Meimei.”

The young girl was dazzled by Song Xingmu’s charming eyes. She could only nod blankly and step forward to escort the guests.

Song Xingmu turned around to look at them. Yi Chuan was already happily following the young girl, but the other two had stopped.

“Come on.”

Huo Fenglie frowned slightly, and Liu Zhenqing looked hesitant. “How about…..”

Song Xingmu suddenly smiled and stepped forward to put an arm around Liu Zhenqing, saying: “You can’t neglect Xi Ran, your old lover, ah. In any case, she won’t recognize you now.”

Although it was a whisper, Huo Fenglie heard it clearly, especially the words “old lover.”

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s mouth twitched. “What old lover, don’t talk nonsense.” He and Xi Ran had only met each other a few times.

Song Xingmu didn’t see anything wrong at all, and said directly: “Still shy? Sure enough, even if you are flooded with peach blossoms, there is still a place for her in your heart. After all, she was your first taste of love.”

Liu Zhenqing’s face was full of black lines. As expected, this Song Xingmu didn’t believe what he had said at the outset.

As soon as Song Xingmu finished speaking, he heard a crack, and turned around to see that there was a fissure in the table top by Huo Fenglie’s hand.

“This table was also broken just now. How much more money will I have to pay because of that prodigal Yi Chuan?” Song Xingmu clicked his tongue.

Liu Zhenqing raised his eyebrows and looked at Huo Fenglie. He thought, Er-gou heard the rumors from back then and got jealous just now? Since this was the case, Liu Zhenqing suddenly became interested and said: “Let’s go and see Madam Xi Ran.”

The three of them hastened after Yi Chuan and followed the maid to the chamber in the center of the painted boat. 

The shutter opened, and the maid went in to announce them.

“Captain Song is embarrassing this one. But since General Song is a guest, I have no reason not to entertain him. Please come in and listen to me play a song.”

She was far away before and difficult to hear, but now that they were at the door, Xi Ran’s voice sounded better than a pipa, as if it was reluctant to leave her lips.

Stepping in, they saw a beauty who was still hiding half her face behind the pipa in her arms, but this could not conceal her stunning beauty. Liu Zhenqing had to sigh, her beauty had never languished.

She was like a fresh and delicate flower back then, but now she was like a rose in full bloom. Each had its own beauty.

As Liu Zhenqing gazed at the beauty, the beauty naturally looked at the two strangers. Although among them, Huo Fenglie was the one whom a woman would never forget regardless of appearance and temperament, Xi Ran’s eyes could not help but linger on Liu Zhenqing.

Xi Ran put down her pipa and stepped forward to greet them. “The two guests are strangers to me, ah. I wonder who…..”

“There is no need to inquire about their identities. It is not convenient to reveal them,” Song Xingmu said at once with a smile. “We’ll stay here with you for a while and then leave.”

“Captain Song actually regards my Fragrance Pavilion, which everyone wishes to enter, as a tea house,” Xi Ran said with a faint smile.

“I am here to see Madam Xi Ran,” Yi Chuan said as he stepped forward proactively.

Xi Ran gave a charming smile.

Song Xingmu’s mouth twitched and he pulled this person to sit down.

Xi Ran seemed to be accustomed to this, and asked the attendant to step aside as she took the initiative to pour tea for the four of them.

“I thought Captain Song would leave right away after finishing his work.”

“Xi Ran wishes to drive me away?”

“This one is only worried that outsiders will say I colluded with Captain Song, and it is not safe to come to my place and spend money.”

“Xi Ran, don’t worry. I will deal with the aftermath well.” Song Xingmu smiled and said promptly: “I haven’t thanked Madam Xi Ran for the information.”

Xi Ran’s expression changed, and she instantly looked toward the two strangers, Liu Zhenqing and Huo Fenglie.

“They are our own,” Song Xingmu whispered.

At once, Xi Ran did not conceal her displeasure: “Song Xingmu, you paid me to provide information. The money was paid and the goods delivered, so do not cause trouble for me.”

Song Xingmu did not answer, but looked at Yi Chuan and said: “Do you see? This is her true face.”

Yi Chuan rolled his eyes and ignored him. Then he said flatteringly: “Madam Xi Ran, don’t be angry.”

Xi Ran’s expression looked a little better, and her eyes turned again to those two people.

She was obviously still cautious. Even if Song Xingmu said they were their own people, she was still a little anxious. “Captain Song, don’t cause me harm. I can’t afford it.”

If ordinary people saw her changes in mood before and after, they would not believe it.

“Then let me tell you…..they are friends of Liu Zhenqing.”

Upon hearing this, Xi Ran instantly widened her eyes. Ordinary people were forbidden to speak of Liu Zhenqing, so for Song Xingmu to say this, it proved that the two people before her were indeed…..Xi Ran’s eyes shimmered slightly. “You are truly…..fortunate. Young Master Liu had very few friends in this world. What was your relationship with him?”

Liu Zhenqing was a little taken aback to see that Xi Ran really missed him, and said promptly: “To be honest, Madam Xi Ran, we were still young at the time. We treated him as an older brother and cannot say that we had too many interactions with him.”

“Is that so? He liked to play with little children. He had the same mentality as a child, always causing mischief.” Xi Ran’s eyes revealed nostalgia, and the corners of her mouth rose uncontrollably as she sat down slowly. A pair of clear dimples could be seen, and she couldn’t help but raise her hands to touch them, recalling the time when Liu Zhenqing praised her for having fine wine in her dimples, which made him drunk. But in fact, she was drunk and he was not.

So she pretended she was not drunk on him. In any case, such a person could never belong to her, and could only be a friend and confidant. Now that she saw someone related to Liu Zhenqing, she felt it was hard to control herself. Her hand instinctively touched her neck.

There was no beaded necklace around the beauty’s neck, only a simple red string. What hung on the red string was hidden under the neckline of her clothes, but a slight protrusion of green jade could be seen.

Liu Zhenqing scanned over it by chance and was startled. That was his gift from back then…..a jade willow leaf pendant?

How could Xi Ran…..

Huo Fenglie naturally noticed Xi Ran’s movements, and his face darkened at once.

And Song Xingmu, who was very familiar with Xi Ran, looked back and forth between her and Liu Zhenqing as if watching a good show.

Yi Chuan had seen the courtesan side of Xi Ran, as well as her irritable side, but he had never witnessed such genuine feelings. Because Song Xingmu usually met Xi Ran alone and didn’t take him along, he had never learned that Xi Ran had known Liu Zhenqing.

At this moment, he couldn’t help but ask curiously: “Xi Ran, you actually knew Liu Zhenqing?”

Xi Ran nodded gently. “We were both young when we met. Time flies.”

Song Xingmu smiled and said: “Yes, ah, but I have a question. Did I really lose to Liu Zhenqing like that back then? In those days, Xi Ran took the initiative to select someone to join her in Fragrance Pavilion. Why did she choose Liu Zhenqing and not me?”

Smiling, Xi Ran said: “Because I liked his appearance better.”

Song Xingmu raised his eyebrows in dissatisfaction. Then he glanced at the obviously embarrassed Liu Zhenqing and said: “What good are looks? Good health is everything. Back then, Liu Zhenqing stayed in your Fragrance Pavilion for three days and three nights before coming out. I remember that when Huo Feihan picked him up, his steps were sloppy and he had a pair of dark circles under his eyes. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Having said this, he gave Liu Zhenqing a teasingly disgusted look.

And Liu Zhenqing was about to choke to death on his tea. He didn’t know Xi Ran’s thoughts before, so he didn’t think there was a problem, but now he seemed to see something. In this situation, Liu Zhenqing had no wish to use Xi Ran to stimulate Er-gou, and felt extremely bad.

But Song Xingmu spared no effort and would make fun of anything. He waited for Xi Ran to explain.

But in the next second, Xi Ran covered her smiling lips and said: “It is my fault for being greedy. That was my most glorious time, so how could I be willing to waste time letting him rest? Naturally, every moment must be cherished.”

Liu Zhenqing took a sharp breath, and suddenly, Huo Fenglie stood up sharply next to him and startled everybody.

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Chapter Seventy-Eight << Table of Contents >> Chapter Eighty