Seeing Yi Yaofeng looking so guilty that he didn't know where to put his hands and feet, Ye Xi felt a softness in her heart.
She squatted down and stroked Yi Yaofeng's little head, smiling gently.
"It's okay, Yaofeng. You didn't do it on purpose. Sister Xi believes in you and Lian Yi. Anyway, this identity can't be hidden forever. Sooner or later, people will find out."
Afraid that Yi Yaofeng would get tangled up again, Ye Xi quickly asked,
"Have you talked it over with Lian Yi?"
"Yeah, yeah."
Yi Yaofeng nodded like a pounding garlic, his big eyes shining again. He told them again how he and Lian Yi had pretended to be ghosts, which made everyone laugh.
After the laughter and fun, Yi Yuan told Hun Yuan what he had heard Shen Zhou say. He asked,
"When Master Qingyi was still alive, you and he traveled around the capital, telling fortunes and predicting blessings for people. Have you ever seen or heard of a woman with the surname 'Xi'? She was probably working in a wealthy family."
"Well..."
Hun Yuan pondered for a while, then spread his hands helplessly.
"I really can't remember for the moment. The main thing is that both my master and I are men, and we have to avoid women as much as possible. Unless it's someone who needs my master to tell their fortune, we won't ask about others."
"That's true."
Ye Xi nodded slightly.
"We really can't rush this matter. It happened more than a decade ago, and now the woman has been silenced. It will be extremely difficult to find out."
"A Yuan,"
Ye Xi gently tugged at Yi Yuan's sleeve.
"The Ye family hasn't sent any news for such a long time. How about calling Yan Xuan back first and focusing on investigating the woman with the surname Xi. It's inconvenient for senior brother as a man, but now I have the identity of Man Ping. I can enter the inner quarters of each family under the pretext of 'telling fortunes'. It will be much more convenient if we cooperate."
Yi Yuan held Ye Xi's fair hand and smiled softly.
"My little Xi is really smart. Let's do it this way."
After they had made the decision and rested for a while, Ye Xi took Sai Xing and the others to the cloth shop to find Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning was busy in full swing.
She was researching a new kind of light silk, and she was already halfway through. The silk was as soft as the morning mist and as ethereal as the clouds. When it was made into clothes and worn, one would look like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world.
At this speed, it would probably be completed around the time of the Qingyun Competition.
Jiang Ning's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Little Xi, this spinning wheel is really useful. It spins the silk quickly and well. I'm really satisfied."
"I'm glad you like it."
Ye Xi smiled with curved lips.
"The shop is all ready. I'm thinking of stocking some ordinary fabrics first and spreading the word about this silk. By the time you finish spinning it, our publicity will be enough. Coupled with my reputation as Man Ping, we're sure to attract a large number of customers."
"I don't understand these things,"
Jiang Ning waved her hand.
"You can decide. But this silk is very difficult to spin. I'm afraid we won't be able to produce many bolts of it."
"It doesn't matter."
Ye Xi smiled charmingly.
"We want it to be rare. Otherwise, how can we say that rarity makes the heart grow fonder?"
After they had talked for a while, Jiang Ning was very busy, so Ye Xi went to practice her horseback riding and archery.
As the sun gradually set in the west, its afterglow shone on the forest path, gilding it with a bright warm light.
Just as everyone was about to pack up and go back, Mian Xiao leaped over.
"Miss Xi, the prince said that Yan Yifan has made a move. He asks you to go over."
On Chixing Road, at the Drunken Moon Tower—
The pedestrians were bustling, the voices of laughter and chatter were noisy, and the lights were gradually brightening. The busty madam in colorful clothes waved the gorgeous silk handkerchief in her hand to greet the passing guests. The charming beauties with graceful figures and exposed skin were smiling and chatting. With a flutter of their eyelids, they could steal people's souls away.
Ye Xi covered her face with a light veil and stood gracefully outside the door with a tray of fine wine and snacks.
"Come on, A Yuan. We're already here. We can't go back now. Let go."
Yi Yuan's thin lips were stubbornly pursed into a straight line, but his hands didn't move at all.
He was extremely regretful now. He shouldn't have let Ye Xi come to this filthy place and do such a dangerous thing. But apart from Ye Xi, no one else had the ability to tell fortunes. If they wanted to find out what was going on behind the scenes without alerting the enemy, there really wasn't a better way.
"Ling Yan is with me. I'll be fine."
Ye Xi helplessly pulled out her hand and patted Yi Yuan's big hand that was tightly holding hers.
Yi Yuan's dark eyes were as cold and sharp as a deep pool. Finally, he compromised and said,
"Then... you must be extra careful. Yan Yifan is already seven or eight parts drunk. Remember to ask quickly and leave quickly. If you really can't find out anything useful, come out immediately. I'll think of another way."
"I know."
Ye Xi smiled faintly, gently broke free from his hand, and motioned for Ling Yan to open the door.
Inside the room, Yan Yifan was lying sprawled on the couch. The prostitute was serving him beside him. They were snuggling up to each other, with their chests and breasts exposed. It was really an unbearable sight.
Seeing the door suddenly open and two graceful women enter. Although their faces were covered with light veils and their looks couldn't be seen clearly, it added a touch of charming charm.
"Who are you two?!"
The prostitute was also a bit drunk. Seeing someone come in to compete with her for the guest, she immediately frowned and scolded angrily,
"Don't you know the rules? This is my benefactor. He's still in my room, and you're so blatant to..."
"Zhi Jiao,"
Yan Yifan's voice was hoarse. He interrupted her unfinished words. His lecherous eyes sized up Ye Xi and Ling Yan from head to toe. He let out a lewd laugh and said,
"They're just here to serve some wine. Let them come. They're just two inexperienced girls. How can they compare to your skills? Let them..."
"Sister Zhi Jiao, please forgive us,"
Seeing that Yan Yifan was saying more and more vulgar things, Ye Xi quickly interrupted him. She endured the nausea and walked to his side to pour wine for him.
"We're new to the Drunken Moon Tower. We heard from the madam that your benefactor is the most considerate and generous among all the guests. We sisters admire him very much, so we dared to disturb you, Sister Zhi Jiao. This pot of wine and a few dishes of snacks are our apology. Please forgive us, Sister Zhi Jiao. We hope that when you have good benefactors, you can think of us sisters more."
Saying that, the two of them simultaneously offered a cup of mellow wine to Yan Yifan and the unhappy Zhi Jiao respectively.
Yan Yifan burst into laughter. The pride on his face was completely unhidden. Without thinking, he took the wine that Ling Yan offered and drank it in one gulp. Finally, he didn't forget to grope Ling Yan's hand. Ling Yan was so disgusted that she almost couldn't help but attack.
Although Zhi Jiao was reluctant, since Yan Yifan had drunk it, she had no choice but to drink it too.
In a short while, both of them felt light all over their bodies, as if they were floating in a fairyland.
Seeing that both of them were drowsy, Ling Yan picked up the wine pot beside her and scrubbed her hand hard. Ye Xi took the opportunity to squat down and start asking questions.
She asked about the whereabouts of the stolen money, the account books, and whether there was a mastermind behind it. Then she pulled Ling Yan, who was eager to attack, and quickly retreated.
Yi Yuan was waiting anxiously outside the door. When he saw Ye Xi come out, he quickly greeted her.
"I've finished asking. I found something. I'm okay."
Ye Xi said briefly.
"But Yan Yifan touched Ling Yan's hand."
Mian Xiao immediately rushed in.