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As soon as Xing Ruyi finished speaking, she saw Madam Ma's face turn pale, while Jade Pearl merely sobbed quietly without saying a word.
Later, Shengzi informed Xing Ruyi that after Ma Guangmo got up, he first went to the concubine's room for some intimacy, then instructed her to prepare some dishes for him. He himself went to the Li Family Tavern to buy wine and even flirted with Li Siniang. Upon returning with the wine, Madam Ma learned about the morning's events, and to appease her, Ma Guangmo had no choice but to be intimate with his wife again, during which they also drank together. As for the concubine's unstable condition, it was also related to Ma Guangmo's usual lack of restraint. However, the various incidents happening in the Ma family seemed to be influenced by something. According to Ma Guangmo's wife, before moving into this residence, he was very restrained in matters between them and their relationship was quite good. Ever since they moved into this house, various issues arose, leading to the current situation.
Shengzi also told Xing Ruyi that after she left, Madam Ma and Jade Pearl moved out of the residence. They even sent someone to apologize at the Li Family Tavern. Thus, this bizarre case of death in the Ma family seemed to have reached an understanding. However, what surprised Xing Ruyi was that before dawn the next day, Li Siniang came knocking on her door with a request for help in checking the feng shui.
"Si Niang, it's not that I don't want to help you; it's just that I can't assist you with this matter," Xing Ruyi said lazily as she leaned on the counter at Rouge.
"I heard from Shengzi at the yamen that Boss Ma's strange death is related to the house. Fox Demon, I beg you. My husband died early, and my in-laws have passed away as well. Now only my sister-in-law is left from the Li family line. If anything were to happen to her too, how would I face my husband and my in-laws in the afterlife?"
"I'm just someone who sells rouge and some homemade skincare products. If you need me to help your sister-in-law with her skin care, I'm obliged to do so. But when it comes to diagnosing illnesses or checking feng shui, I truly can't be of any help."
"I've already consulted Liu Zhanggui from Jishengtang; perhaps only one person can cure Lingzhang's illness, and that person is you. Also, Fox Demon, your ability to read feng shui has spread throughout Luoyang City. Can you really bear to refuse me?" Si Niang said as she prepared to kneel before Fox Demon.
"Si Niang, what are you doing?" Xing Ruyi exclaimed in surprise and quickly stood up, shaking off her drowsiness.
"If it’s truly an illness, I might be able to take a look at it. But I'm not the one who can read feng shui; it's my shop assistant and bodyguard. Look over there—standing in the yard and gazing up—is that handsome man in white with a slightly absent-minded expression? His name is Yin Chensi; I call him Fox. He can read feng shui."
Li Siniang glanced outside and indeed saw a man in white looking up at the sky. Although she couldn't see him clearly, she could tell he had an extraordinary demeanor. Hearing Fox Demon call him "Fox" along with her earlier tone made it clear he must be Fox Demon's beloved. She bit her lip lightly and said, "If that's the case, please help me say a few good words for Mr. Yin; no matter how much it costs, I can pay."
"Are you serious?" Xing Ruyi blinked in surprise. "What if I wanted your entire Li Family Tavern?"
Li Siniang's eyes turned slightly red as she bit her lip and replied softly, "If you can truly cure Lingzhang’s illness, then whether it's the entire Li Family Tavern or even if you want me to serve as your maid or servant, I'd be more than willing."
"I only need one fox here; I don't require any servants. How about this: if I agree to go see, regardless of whether it's good or bad, you must give me the recipe for Peach Blossom Wine. What do you say?"
"The recipe for Peach Blossom Wine?" Si Niang slowly raised her head.
"Yes, the recipe for Peach Blossom Wine." Xing Ruyi played with her fingers. "Though we are friends, we are also merchants. As merchants, we must always seek some benefit for ourselves in whatever we do. I have no interest in your Li Family Tavern, but I do love drinking Peach Blossom Wine. If I agree to treat Lingling and advise the fox to consult you about feng shui for the Li Family, then you will give me the recipe for Peach Blossom Wine. How does that sound?"
Li Siniang hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded lightly, biting her lip.
The journey from Rouge to Li Family Tavern took no more than half a tea time. With the new carriage the fox had acquired, the trip was quite comfortable, and they enjoyed many sights along the way in Luoyang. Although it was still chilly, there were many people doing business on the streets. Whenever they passed a candy vendor or a jewelry stall, Xing Ruyi would always insist that the fox buy something, but in the end, it was Li Siniang who paid.
At that moment, the Fox Demon was playing with an intricately carved wooden bracelet. The rough texture was etched with several scattered peach blossoms—one fully bloomed, one half-opened, and the rest were just fragments.
"How unusual! I've seen peach wood carvings and peach wood swords before, but this is the first time I've seen a bracelet made from peach wood."
"It's not just bracelets; peach wood can be used to make many other things," Si Niang said, instinctively brushing her fingers over the wooden hairpin that was tucked into her hair.
"Peach Wood Hairpin?" Xing Ruyi glanced over and noticed that the top of the hairpin was also carved into the shape of a peach blossom, but it was crafted with great detail.
"Yes, Peach Wood Hairpin," Si Niang replied, her face slightly reddening as she shifted her gaze elsewhere. "When my husband was alive, he loved to do two things: brew Peach Blossom Wine and make various items from peach wood. This hairpin was a gift he gave me on our wedding night; it's a pity he never saw me wear it."
"Perhaps he has seen it before; you just didn't know," Xing Ruyi said softly as she looked down at her wrist where she wore the peach wood bracelet and turned her gaze out of the window.
In the crowd, a peddler carrying a shoulder pole followed closely behind their carriage, his steps hurried as the peach wood ornaments on his cart swayed gently in the cold wind.
The sister-in-law of Si Niang is named Bell, likely because she herself has two bells hanging from her. She is also round in shape, but her voice is extremely crisp. Earlier, when she came to buy wine, one could always see Bell bustling about, her voice ringing out clearly: "One jar of Peach Blossom Wine, and Ruyi from Ruyi Workshop." But now, the Li Family Tavern stands cold and empty, with only a flag fluttering in the wind.
Pushing open the slightly ajar courtyard door, I saw several Peach Trees, some branches already budding with flowers. The Li Family's courtyard is a single entrance; upon entering, one can see a Main Hall and a Side Room. Next to the Side Room is a Wine Stove made of thick thatch, and beside the stove are many Clay Pots covered with burlap, on which are embroidered several peach blossoms.
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