Chapter 106: Xia Yu Learns of the Misunderstanding, Osmanthus Cakes Accompany Tea Before the Buddha

Early in the morning, horse-drawn hearses lined up in front of the mortuary. The impatient coachmen flicked their whips against nearby hitching posts, idly chatting with the donkey cart drivers beside them. The donkey drivers, accustomed to the weariness of their trade, showed far more patience.

Since the fifth watch, Song Mo had tossed and turned sleeplessly, images of that Spring Palace Ladies painting haunting his mind. He knew the Soul-Calling Record did not reveal ordinary things. Those girls clad in sheer silk, each a vision of beauty and charm, stirred no desire in him at all.

This was because the method he cultivated was meant to tame the restless heart, a path known to all Taoist practitioners—supreme detachment mirrored the way of Heaven. Yet Song Mo, who could resist all temptations, found himself undone by one person—Tang Yi.

“What’s wrong with me?” Song Mo slapped his own face irritably, listening to the clamor outside: the creaking of the carriage shafts, the grating of the donkey carts over cobblestones. He waved his hand impatiently and rolled out of bed.

Unnoticed by him, a formless sword qi shot from his fingertips, striking the window frame. In an instant, a crack spiderwebbed across the glass.

...

By late morning, Song Mo and Xia Yu wandered through an alley in the southern part of the city. Thinking of the revolving lantern images he had seen the day before, Song Mo hesitated before speaking, “About that carriage accident you mentioned yesterday—I happened to catch some clues.”

Xia Yu’s interest piqued immediately. “How so?”

Song Mo casually lied, “Last night I overheard some idle talk. The woman who was hit was named Liu Yao’er, a promiscuous woman.”

Xia Yu nodded in agreement. “That’s right, she was definitely no good.”

Lowering her voice mysteriously, she added, “You probably don’t know, but Liu Yao’er used to work as a courtesan in Brocade Alley.”

Song Mo, though well aware, feigned ignorance. “Is that so? What a pity.”

Xia Yu smirked. “Don’t get any bad ideas, Jade doesn’t like men who frequent brothels.”

Song Mo chuckled, “Back in Changning County, you were the one who wanted to take me to the pleasure quarters.”

Xia Yu smiled awkwardly, “I was only joking. I’ve never actually been.”

Song Mo laughed softly and said no more. Xia Yu changed the subject. “So, what’s the clue about that case?”

Nodding, Song Mo explained, “Last night at the teahouse, an older man mentioned that when Liu Yao’er was in Brocade Alley, he often looked after her business. By chance, he saw her at the West Market just as she left the tailor’s shop. He intended to greet her, maybe rekindle a brief affair, but unexpectedly, an old blind man and a young boy stopped her.

“The man was curious and hid nearby, overhearing that these two were actually con artists tricking Liu Yao’er out of money.”

Xia Yu’s tone turned grave. “So the whole thing was just a coincidence?”

Song Mo nodded. “That seems to be the case.”

Xia Yu sighed, “It’s a shame my first case turned out to be such aI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.