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Hu Fu leaned in a bit closer, lowering his voice even further: "On the night when matters were being handled at the residence, the master went out for drinks but returned later than usual."
Hu Er glanced at Hu Fu with impatience: "Isn't that just an ordinary occurrence? His temperament has always been like this; it's not the first time, so it hardly counts as anything unusual."
"But this time is different from before. According to the servants at the door, the master suddenly appeared on the main road in front of the gate, and it seemed like something was following him when he came back. However, it was already late at night, and they couldn't see clearly. Later, when the master entered, they took a closer look and saw nothing out of the ordinary, so they didn't report it. You know how those servants are; if there's nothing going on, they tend to gossip together. After the master's incident came to light, I happened to overhear them while passing by and decided to ask more about it."
"You've heard quite a lot!"
"Since I'm working closely with both of you gentlemen, I should have some ability to gather information." Hu Fu noticed Hu Er's displeasure and quickly added: "On the day of the master's incident, he wasn't alone; there was also a servant responsible for fetching water. That servant loves to spread gossip and has shared quite a bit privately. If you think such a chatterbox isn't suitable to be around you gentlemen, perhaps you could arrange for him to do some rough work elsewhere."
"Isn't it usually you who arranges these matters in the household?" Hu Er shot another glance at Hu Fu before turning back toward his room.
Hu Fu forced an awkward smile: "You're joking, Second Master. I'm just a servant running errands for both of you; occasionally making personnel changes is something I dare to do only upon the master's orders."
"What you say behind my back doesn't matter as much as ensuring it doesn't reach my ears. Now that our Hu Family is considered a prominent household, we must establish rules within the inner residence. You're clever, Ming Ren, so you naturally know which words should be spoken and which should remain unspoken."
While Hu Er's words seemed harmless on the surface, they sent a chill down Hu Fu's spine upon reflection. He realized that this Second Master was not as easily fooled as the First Master. Although the First Master appeared fierce and rough around the edges, as long as he heard a few flattering words he liked, even major issues could be brushed aside. The Second Master, while appearing amiable and easier to deal with than the First Master, could be harsh when provoked; punishment could range from beatings to severe consequences.
Feeling a prickling sensation at the back of his head, Hu Fu quickly lowered his head: "I've taken your words to heart; from now on, I'll keep my mouth shut."
Hu Er grunted in acknowledgment as he entered his room. Before reaching his bed, he asked Hu Da: "On the night when matters were being handled at home, did you go out at all?"
"Isn't that obvious? My most beloved woman has died; do you think I wouldn't go out for drinks to drown my sorrows? Are you going to meddle in your brother's affairs?"
"Brother misunderstood; I don't wish to interfere in your personal matters. I just wanted to ask if anything unusual happened that night—perhaps something you overlooked is related to your hair."
"My hair?" Hu Da touched his balding head, his expression shifting: "If that's the case, then indeed something strange occurred that night. However, I was drunk at the time and can't tell if it really happened or if it was just an illusion brought on by my intoxication."
"So there really was something that happened that night?"
"Maybe so!" Hu Da said, feeling frustrated as he rubbed his head. "I wasn't in a good mood, so I didn't let Hu Fu and the others follow me when I went out. I went to that tavern I often visit. I can't remember how much I drank, but when I left, my head was still relatively clear. It was only halfway through my walk that I seemed to encounter a wall of confusion, wandering around in circles for a long time without finding my way out.
To be honest, I was really annoyed at that time. If it weren't for the cold ground, I would have just wanted to lie down and sleep right there. Later, I don't know how, but an old man appeared. He asked for a strand of my hair and then pointed me a way home, and that's how I got back."
"You gave someone your hair?" Hu Er asked, his face looking even worse than Hu Da's.
"It was just a strand of hair. The old man is still a respected elder of the Hu Family; I couldn't refuse him. Since he wanted my hair, I let him take it himself. You see, the old man was quite sensible; he didn't dare to pull it from my head while I was drunk but took one or two strands from my shoulder instead. At that time, being drunk, I didn't really notice it clearly. But the path he pointed out was correct; with just one turn, I found my way out. As for what happened afterward, you can ask Hu Fu; I can't remember."
Seeing his brother like this made Hu Er feel a surge of anger rising within him. He held it in but still tried hard to suppress it. Turning to Hu Fu, he said, "Help the elder get ready and take him to that new Rouge shop to have a look."
Hu Fu understood and nodded. As for Hu Da, although he didn't quite grasp the meaning behind Hu Er's words, upon hearing they were going to the Ruyi Rouge shop, he didn't object and instead cooperatively allowed Hu Fu to take care of him.
At the Ruyi Rouge shop, business was rather slow since it was newly opened. Even though there were curious onlookers outside, very few actually came in to make purchases. Xing Ruyi didn’t mind; she chose to open a Rouge shop in Yun Family Gathering not for profit but to observe those hidden figures who might want to use her and the fox for their own purposes. As for the fox side of things, if she accompanied them on their journey, there would inevitably be some concerns along the way. Leaving her and Yin Yuan and Li Mao at Yun Family Gathering while acting independently was currently the best choice.
When Hu Da and Hu Fu entered, Xing Ruyi was playing chess with Yin Yuan—not Go as favored by scholars of the Golden Tang Dynasty but rather a simpler form of black-and-white chess from later generations. Li Mao was serving tea and water nearby and occasionally chimed in with a comment or two. If he guessed correctly, he would earn praise from Xing Ruyi for being unique; however, if he interrupted incorrectly, he would inevitably receive a scolding from her, adding much joy and liveliness to the shop.
"This must be the manager of the Rouge shop? I'm Hu Fu, a servant of the Hu Family. This is our esteemed elder who has come today to disturb you."
Just as Xing Ruyi was about to make her move, she heard Hu Fu's voice and lifted her head while still holding onto that black chess piece.
Hu Fu maintained his usual expression towards his master—a smile that seemed flattering yet held a hint of disdain in his eyes. Hu Da had worn a thick leather hat due to his baldness and wrapped his neck tightly so that only his eyes were visible. Upon seeing Xing Ruyi, those eyes shone with a wolf-like gleam.
Xing Ruyi was no stranger to such gazes. In Luoyang City, when she went out with Si Niang, she often encountered similar looks; however, since there were many beauties in Luoyang City and Si Niang had an overwhelming charm herself, those gazes usually directed toward Si Niang instead.
"So it's an esteemed elder from the Hu Family; no wonder you exude such nobility," Xing Ruyi remarked as she stood up while still holding onto that black chess piece. "Did you come today to buy Rouge and Face Powder? Although this shop is newly opened, our Rouge and Face Powder are top-notch quality. For those who visit in these few days, we have special offers."
"What kind of offers? It’s not buy Rouge get a beauty free or something like that?" Hu Da laughed as he took the opportunity to move closer to Xing Ruyi in an attempt to touch her hand.
Xing Ruyi stepped back while Li Mao timely approached them. "Please have a seat here! Sir Hu is one of our prominent patrons at Yun Family Gathering; since you've come to our Rouge shop today, you should certainly enjoy yourself. Our manager is also very hospitable; we have some fine Longjing tea here that we must serve you."
Hu Da originally wanted to take advantage of the situation, but Li Mao kept blocking him, forcing him to the table where tea was served.
"Of course, since I, Hu, have set my sights on it, I won't be stingy. Hu Fu, bring the silver notes and buy a set of Rouge and Face Powder from this counter for the young lady."
"Master Hu is truly generous. However, with so much Rouge and Face Powder bought back, I fear it might not be used up," Xing Ruyi said as she walked back to the chessboard and placed a black piece on it, giving Yin Yuan a knowing glance. Yin Yuan pouted and took the chessboard away. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they disappeared, leaving only the chessboard with its distinct black and white pieces resting on the nearby bluestone tiles.
"The young lady can sell without worry; since I've bought it, I certainly won't waste it. Moreover, as you just mentioned, these Rouge and Face Powder are all top quality. If they were wasted, wouldn't that hurt your feelings?" Hu Da smiled and continued, "You may not know this, but although I seem like a rough man, I do have a heart that cherishes beauty. The girls in places like Cuihong Tower and Baihua Tower are often shortchanged by their madams and end up using coarse products that ruin their beautiful faces. It pains me to see that."
"Though I have the heart to help them, I'm not very knowledgeable about these things. Today is just right; buying these Rouge and Face Powder serves both to show compassion for those unfortunate souls and to support you."
"In that case, thank you very much, Master Hu." Xing Ruyi gave a slight bow as a gesture of gratitude. "Li Mao, pack everything Master Hu wants carefully; after all, it's for the young ladies. If we don't do it well, it might reflect poorly on our Rouge shop. Who knows, these young ladies might become our regular customers in the future."
"Rest assured, shopkeeper; my work is absolutely reliable!"
Li Mao responded and went inside with Hu Fu to select various types of Rouge and Face Powder.
Xing Ruyi glanced at Hu Da's thick hat and said, "My Rouge shop naturally can't be as extravagant as you are, Master Hu; buying Rouge could even get you a beauty in return. While I can't offer you a beauty, I still want to express my goodwill."
With that, Xing Ruyi took something out from her waist sash and placed it on the tea table. "This is our shop's exclusive Prescription, which I present to you now; it seems quite fitting."
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