The two returned to the room together. Hu Xiaotian took out a map of the Wan Residence that Wan Changchun had just provided him, then drew a writing brush from the brush holder and pointed at the map. "I've placed my incense burners in these nine locations. Tonight, we'll divide the work. You handle these eight, and I'll handle this one." He tapped the courtyard where the young widow Le Yao lived.
"You certainly know how to pick your jobs-dodging the heavy lifting and taking the easy work," Murong Feiyan said. Le Yao's courtyard was separated from Green Bamboo Garden, where they were staying that night, by only a single wall. Besides slacking off, was this rascal plotting something else?
"The capable shoulder more work," Hu Xiaotian said with a grin. "If nothing happens, we can sleep straight through till morning."
"You're you, and I'm me. I'm a government constable, not some wealthy landlord's household guard. What you choose to do is your business. I'm going to bed." Murong Feiyan left as soon as she finished speaking. Although they were staying in the same courtyard, they each had their own room.
Hu Xiaotian sighed. "Hey! Didn't we agree to catch ghosts?" Watching the door close behind Murong Feiyan, he shook his head and muttered, "Fine, go to sleep. You think I've never slept before?"
In the middle of the night, Hu Xiaotian was awakened by knocking. Rubbing his bleary eyes, he instinctively reached for the bedside lamp switch, only to find nothing. Then he remembered that such things did not exist in this era. He got out of bed in the dark and shuffled to the door in his cloth shoes. Peering through the crack, he saw Murong Feiyan standing outside, a lovely figure dressed entirely in black.
He opened