CUI BUQU'S ACCUSATIONS trailed off as he covered his mouth to cough. One cough followed another, each more punishing than the last. He was forced to double over, coughing until his body trembled, like frost-rimed bamboo struggling in the wind.
In the past two months, Zixia Monastery's reputation in Liugong City had soared. Though not all of those present were locals, there were plenty who recognized Cui Buqu. They called out, "Abbot Cui, what's wrong? Do you need help?"
"To think someone would commit such filthy and despicable acts in broad daylight! Abbot Cui, come downstairs quick! We'll report it to the county magistrate this instant!" someone else chimed in.
Cui Buqu coughed a few times, then smiled bitterly. "This is Feng-langjun from the Jiejian Bureau. He has been ordered to investigate the Khotanese envoy's murder case. He insists I'm related to the case and has detained me against my will; going to the county magistrate would be pointless. Thank you, everyone, for your kindness. I just…really can't bear it!"
His eyes were watering with how violently he'd been coughing, but no one cared about the reason. All they saw was Cui Buqu's wan complexion and his piteous appearance, tears clinging to his eyelashes. Even Lin Yong, who thought highly of Feng Xiao, couldn't help wondering if Feng Xiao only looked like he had high standards and in fact had some peculiar fetishes. Not only did he pay no mind to gender, he had specifically gone for a barely breathing invalid.
If that was the way of it, Feng Xiao's rejection of him made sense too.
Lin Yong had begun to seriously contemplate whether he should start acting like an ailing beauty when Cui Buqu revealed Feng Xiao's background and gave him yet another shock. The Lin family had connections in the palace; Lin Yong was far better informed than the average member of the jianghu. He was therefore aware of the significance of the name Jiejian Bureau. To think—he'd known nothing of Feng Xiao's identity yet had held such improper intentions toward him. On reflection, he couldn't help finding his own bloated self-confidence rather laughable.
The Linlang Pavilion auction had been brought to a halt. Even the auctioneer, a capable man prepared for all sorts of contingencies, found himself stunned and unsure what to do.
That is, until Feng Xiao laughed.
"Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too. Your little sister is a fair and lovely thing, and you're a brilliant man. What's wrong with having both of you? The Jiejian Bureau's status under the emperor is high enough that I can do as I please! Why call on the law for something so trivial. A-Cui, I've already trained your sister. Now it's your turn. If you come with me willingly, I guarantee that from now on you'll live a life of luxury and never suffer the slightest indignity!"
He smiled evilly at Cui Buqu, as if Cui Buqu really did have a sister Feng Xiao had abducted and kept as his personal property. You have your schemes, but I have my countermeasures. Aren't we both tearing each other down? Who's afraid of you?
Cui Buqu sneered. "But is this the proper way to court someone? My sister told me that when she was with you, you had strange, secret hobbies. Not only did you enjoy stripping down and letting her whip you, you wanted the whipping to be as painful as possible. If it wasn't painful enough, you'd torment her to within an inch of her life in bed. Aren't you afraid outsiders will find out about that?"
The hall erupted.
Pei Jingzhe was completely numb, watching without expression as these two engaged in public mutilation of each other's reputations.
Lin Yong's mouth was agape; he looked utterly dumbfounded. Never had he expected Feng Xiao, with his dignified air and lofty demeanor, to have such private hobbies. Lin Yong considered his own situation. While being a cut-sleeve wasn't something he could openly tell others, at least he was more normal in other areas…
Feng Xiao's mouth twitched. He'd thought his reflexes fast, his willingness to debase himself strong. Yet now he realized there was always a higher mountain, always a greater man. This Cui Buqu had appeared like a bolt from the blue, and he was somehow even readier to debase himself than Feng Xiao.
The two stared at each other, locked in a stalemate. Finally, Feng Xiao decided to call a temporary truce—they must first deal with the business at hand. He flicked his sleeves and said to the auctioneer, "These are my private affairs; no one else need concern themselves. If anyone has doubts they'd like to air, they may come to the Jiejian Bureau. Today's auction is not over yet. Surely it can't end here, in such disarray?"
The auctioneer came to his senses and hastily said, "Of course! We still have no idea to which family this beautiful jade will go! Please take your seats, honored guests!"
Cui Buqu sat down once more, his expression serene. Falling into Feng Xiao's hands had been unexpected, but the plan he'd laid was still in play. He, too, was a pawn in this game; he couldn't extricate himself too early. Still, getting under Feng Xiao's skin in the process wasn't a bad deal at all.
At the auctioneer's reminder, the crowd finally settled. No one made a higher bid for the jade, so Feng Xiao won it without further disruption. Several more treasures were unveiled, and the crowd began vying for them, but Feng Xiao no longer participated—he waited for the auction to end, then swept out of Linlang Pavilion's auction hall and returned to Qiushan Manor with Pei Jingzhe and Cui Buqu trailing behind him.
"Abbot Cui's tongue is too sharp! You ruined my lord's reputation with that little speech!" Pei Jingzhe recalled the scene at the table and felt a wave of frustration. His tongue wasn't so quick as Feng Xiao's, and at the time, he hadn't managed to think of anything impactful to say. And if he'd struck Cui Buqu, it would only have reinforced his claims.
"My body is still full of the incense of helplessness you drugged me with. Am I not permitted to vent my anger? I could have vomited blood back there to substantiate my words—that I didn't was already showing you more respect than you deserve."
Cui Buqu's expression was mild, without the rancor he'd previously affected. He sat there, all his previous intensity extinguished, as tranquil as the distant, misty mountains.
Pei Jingzhe was deeply unhappy. "Then go ahead and vomit some blood; let's see it!"
As soon as he said it, Cui Buqu opened his mouth and coughed. Red seeped between his lips and splattered over his clothes. Pei Jingzhe practically leapt three feet into the air, ready to run up to Cui Buqu and check his vitals.
Feng Xiao's voice drifted over. "Fool, it's just mulberry juice."
Getting ahold of himself, Pei Jingzhe examined it: the color was indeed not the dark crimson of blood, but instead a purplish red.
Pei Jingzhe was silent.
Cui Buqu raised his sleeve and calmly wiped the juice from his lips. He didn't seem the slightest bit embarrassed at being exposed. "Pardon, I choked."
Pei Jingzhe's eye twitched uncontrollably as he remembered that, back at Linlang Pavilion, the maid had brought out several fruit drinks. Cui Buqu had asked for mulberry juice. But to keep the juice in his mouth for that long, only to spit it out now… Who would do such a thing?
Feng Xiao only smiled. "Oh, Ququ. I find you more and more pleasing to the eye. You really won't consider joining the Jiejian Bureau? The position of fourth chief is waiting for you. The words of an upright gentleman are like swift horses—once released, they can't be taken back."
"Upright gentleman? Are you one?"
"All right," said Feng Xiao. "Even if I'm not an upright gentleman, the words of a scoundrel are surely worth a horse or two, no? Or is your standing within the Zuoyue Bureau higher than I'd imagined?"
"I've already said I've never heard of any Zuoyue Bureau."
"Then let's talk about the jade."
Feng Xiao gestured for Pei Jingzhe to place the jade he'd bought on the table. It shimmered in the sunlight, scattering rays in all directions. They could almost see their own reflections in the jade's lustrous surface.
"Earlier, six people joined the bidding, including me. Do you know who they were?"
Cui Buqu hummed in affirmation. "Lin Yong from Yandang Mountain Estate. Zhou Pei, a wealthy merchant from Khotan. Cui Hao from the Cui family of Boling. Go Nyeong, a Goguryeon. Zhang Yingshui from the Zhang family of Anlu."
He'd clearly expected the question and reported each person's name and background without a moment's hesitation.
"Whom among them do you find most suspicious?"
Pei Jingzhe had thought Cui Buqu would retort with something like, How should I know? But for once, he cooperated.
"Zhou Pei. His father is a Göktürk, and they say he's the younger cousin of Fo'er, the foremost martial artist under Ishbara Khagan. He's the most suspicious, along with the martial artist from Goguryeo, Go Nyeong."