Yunjian Temple, Miss Xia'er

"These are the bank notes exchanged from Jile Tower last night. Take a look, they're all brand new."

Inside Six Doors.

Lu Xiaofeng handed a stack of bank notes to Jiang Long and Luo Ma.

Jiang Long grabbed a few and examined them, saying, "They are indeed brand new. And I've seen the serial numbers on these before. Clearly, they are all counterfeit bank notes."

Luo Ma stated, "If that's the case, then Jile Tower is the source of the counterfeit notes! Lu Xiaofeng, where is this tower located? We'll send people to raid it immediately!"

Lu Xiaofeng pouted and led the two outside the city to the place where he had entered a coffin the previous night.

However, no matter how they searched the vicinity, they couldn't find any clues or traces.

Luo Ma's expression turned grim, "Get two squads of constables over here to search thoroughly!"

Lu Xiaofeng didn't think a forceful search like that would yield any clues.

After thinking about what happened last night, he turned and left, heading to Yunjian Temple.

Yunjian Temple wasn't a famous large temple, but surviving near the Imperial City clearly meant it had its own methods.

At the entrance of Yunjian Temple, an old woman had set up a stall, selling various Buddhist prayer beads and bracelets.

Seeing this, Lu Xiaofeng took out the bracelet he had obtained the previous night and stepped forward, asking, "Old woman, have you seen any bracelets like this one?"

The old woman glanced at it and said, "Your bracelet is too common. There are identical ones everywhere."

"Oh?"

Lu Xiaofeng took back his bracelet and looked inside the temple. He saw a serene and quiet scene with very few people, which made him frown. "Although Yunjian Temple isn't a famous large temple, I've heard of it. Why are there so few monks in the temple?"

The old woman replied, "Yesterday was the Lantern Festival, and too many people came to the temple to burn incense and pray. All the monks in the temple were exhausted, so the abbot gave them a few days off?"

"Ah?" Lu Xiaofeng exclaimed, "Monks get days off?"

The old woman immediately fell silent.

In fact, Yunjian Temple, while called a temple, was more like a business establishment, and the monks there were essentially shop assistants.

The Lantern Festival was a good time for business, and many shops did not allow their employees to go home and rest on this day.

To compensate, they would usually give them a few days off afterward.

Yunjian Temple had also followed this tradition.

However, such matters were best kept to oneself; it wasn't appropriate to speak of them.

Moreover, the old woman was setting up her stall right at the temple's entrance, making it even more inappropriate to say anything.

Lu Xiaofeng's mind raced, and he understood the reason behind it, shaking his head.

"Yo, Lu Xiaofeng!"

Someone called out from behind him. Lu Xiaofeng turned around and saw Hua Manlou and Zhou Ming approaching together.

"Why are you two here? Investigating a case too?"

"No," Zhou Ming replied, "Old Hua is here to see a friend of his, and I came along to meet Old Hua's friend. But, investigating a case? Is this place related to the case? Oh, right, Yue Qing's ashes are enshrined here!"

Damn it!

Lu Xiaofeng lightly slapped himself. "Serves you right for being so nosy!"

"Heh heh, come on, tell us, are there any clues here?"

"No, figure it out yourselves! Why don't you tell me the clues you have in your hands?"

Lu Xiaofeng flatly refused and then changed the subject, "Old Hua, I'd like to meet your friend too. Let's go!"

Hua Manlou said, "You two behave yourselves and don't startle Miss Xia'er."

"Xia'er?"

"Miss?"

Upon hearing this, the two immediately became very interested.

The two who had been bickering moments ago now tacitly placed their hands on Hua Manlou's shoulders.

"Good for you, Hua Manlou, having friends like this and not even telling us?"

"Yeah, it's like you don't consider us friends!"

Hua Manlou quickly said, "Don't talk nonsense and tarnish their reputation. Xia'er is a good girl, pure and filial."

It turned out this Miss Xia'er was the daughter of Boss Qian.

Boss Qian was the chief manager of Datong Money House and had lived in the Imperial City for a long time. Years ago, he brought his wife and daughter to the Imperial City.

Unexpectedly, Madam Qian contracted leprosy, so Boss Qian arranged for her to stay in a secluded room at Yunjian Temple.

This was partly to prevent contagion and partly to seek the Buddha's blessings.

Xia'er, in order to take care of her mother, stayed with her in Yunjian Temple, and had been living there for many years.

Given Boss Qian's status, Xia'er could have enjoyed many privileges of a young lady, but she endured this hardship for her mother.

She was truly filial.

Hua Manlou's father, Hua Rulin, had visited the Imperial City before and specifically came to Yunjian Temple to see Madam Qian.

At that time, Hua Manlou, following behind his father, also got to know Xia'er.

Given Hua Manlou's status, his entourage was always filled with sycophants, constantly finding new ways to curry favor. However, Hua Manlou, though blind, was not foolish; he could see through their true intentions.

Xia'er was different. She was gentle but not fawning, and approached him without any ulterior motives.

After all, to care for her mother, she rarely left Yunjian Temple and didn't have much desire for wealth or status.

She hadn't even spoken a single good word about her father, Boss Qian, in front of Hua Manlou.

It was precisely because of this that Hua Manlou came to regard her as a friend.

The Hua family of Jiangnan naturally had their roots in Jiangnan.

After Hua Rulin returned to Jiangnan, Hua Manlou took his father's place, overseeing affairs in the Imperial City, and frequently visited Yunjian Temple.

"Sigh!"

Zhou Ming sighed and said, "Old Hua, I understand! For people like us, making a truly sincere friend is incredibly difficult! Unlike some people, who have friends all over the world – it's truly enviable!"

Lu Xiaofeng retorted angrily, "What's wrong with me having many friends? How does it affect you?!"

Zhou Ming replied, "Don't misunderstand me. What I mean is, you've made so many friends, but not one of them covets your wealth or relies on your influence... After all, if you have nothing, how can anyone covet or rely on you?"

Seeing the two about to get into another verbal spat, Hua Manlou shook his head helplessly.

Fortunately, the three soon arrived at a corner of the temple.

There stood three rooms: a kitchen on the left, a living room in the middle, and a bedroom on the right.

Xia'er was drying scriptures in front of the house. Her appearance wasn't stunningly beautiful, but she was refined and lovely. Despite being Boss Qian's daughter, she was dressed plainly.

"Miss Xia'er."

Hua Manlou called out.

The woman's body trembled. Realizing something, she turned around, her face now beaming, "Young Master Hua, you've come again..."

She started to walk towards them, but upon seeing the two people beside Hua Manlou, she halted her steps, and her smile faded considerably.

Zhou Ming and Lu Xiaofeng exchanged a glance.

It was confirmed.

It was hard to say what Hua Manlou's feelings were for this young lady, but this young lady certainly had him in her heart.

Honestly, given Hua Manlou's circumstances, his appearance was secondary. Even his family background wasn't important.

After all, he was the seventh son of the Hua family, with six older brothers ahead of him. Whether it was inheriting the family fortune or a political marriage, he wasn't essential.

Instead, qualities like gentleness, attentiveness, and patience were more important.

Miss Xia'er had been able to care for her mother in the temple for years, was not swayed by vanity or wealth, and her patience was undoubtedly more than enough.

As for gentleness and attentiveness, it was likely she possessed those as well.

Thinking this way, Miss Xia'er seemed like a fitting match for Hua Manlou.