In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 1229 - 1141: Familiar Figure

Chapter 1229: Chapter 1141: Familiar Figure

Although Qin Hui hemmed and hawed, Su Ke was no fool.

He had been able to thrive at a prestigious institution like Yingtian Academy, even successfully securing a recommendation from an academician to participate in the Imperial Examination. In his early years, he had even acted as Su Pan’er’s little informant in Shengjing; such petty tricks naturally couldn’t deceive him.

A flash of realization crossed his mind.

Judging by the friends Qin Hui usually associated with, the identity of this friend was probably not as he had previously claimed, merely coming to the Capital City to participate in the Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination. It seemed likely that these two had formed a "friendship of like minds."

"All are examinees who have come to the Capital City? Or are there others?"

"There are a few more..."

Qin Hui was evasive and quickly added, "However, those three to five others are peers from the same cohort of examinees. They haven’t participated this year, they’re just here to observe and will try their luck next year. I think, since they are friends, one shouldn’t judge by their background. Although they haven’t yet competed, they do possess some insights. Especially towards you, Su Ke, they hold you in high regard. Especially today, they even invited the top courtesan from Wentao Pavilion to play the zither to add to the ambiance..."

"What, really?"

Su Ke had his doubts, "Didn’t I hear that the girls from Wentao Pavilion didn’t come out on top? Someone else threw a spanner in the works. How come a top courtesan still emerged from Wentao Pavilion?"

Although Su Ke had missed the actual event, he had heard quite a lot about the lively competition for the top courtesan at Wentao Pavilion.

With Xue Qian gabbing all day long about how the contest for top courtesan was progressing, it was hard for him not to pay attention.

"You only know part of the story, Ke’er."

Qin Hua also chimed in: "Although the young lady from Wentao Pavilion did not come out on top, Really, the four ladies promoted by Wentao Pavilion—Hanmei, Lan Xiu, Juxiang, Ya Zhu, collectively known as ’The Four Gentlemen’—are all incomparably beautiful and proficient in all instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In particular, Hanmei, who was named the foremost among Wentao Pavilion’s courtesans, is so stunningly gorgeous that she makes men’s hearts tremble..."

"Alright, alright, let’s say they’re ’The Four Gentlemen.’"

Su Ke waved his sleeve impatiently to interrupt: "Are you saying we’re going to discuss poetry over drinks? If that’s the case, let’s hurry along, so we don’t spoil everyone’s fun."

Su Ke wasn’t surprised that the literati of Great Zhou enjoyed such enhancements as adding fragrance with red sleeves. However, the fact that they could invite a courtesan from Wentao Pavilion was impressive—even if she was self-proclaimed by Wentao Pavilion.

One should know how difficult it is to gain entry into Wentao Pavilion; to bring one of its girls out would cost twice the usual price.

"Alright, alright, come this way."

Qin Hui led the way with a smile, urging his horse forward frequently.

The group followed the riverbank, turning east and west, until the four riders entered a narrow alley. The street suddenly narrowed, as if it had lost its glamour overnight, making one feel uncomfortable. However, the flow of people on the road visibly increased, and their attire seemed slightly shabbier.

Just as Su Ke was pondering, Qin Hui suddenly stopped his horse.

"This is the place."

After saying that, he swung down from the horse.

Su Ke lifted his head and realized that the four of them had arrived at a tavern. Tall signs flanked the tavern, each bearing the large character for "alcohol," while the placard in the middle read "Lui’s Tavern!"

Su Ke suddenly understood! So, this tavern was a property of the Lui Family, established in partnership with the Qin Family.

Lui Muyi was truly impressive, having established a tavern even in such a corner of Capital City.

He looked closely and realized, though it could not compare with the scenery east of the city, this location by the riverbank, essential for crossing between the east and west of the city, was bustling with people—a great place for a tavern!

It made him profoundly impressed, no wonder his fourth sister trusted him so much!

"What’s wrong? Why haven’t you dismounted yet? Let’s go in together," Qin Hui said urgently, seeing that he remained motionless.

Su Ke didn’t say much. He dismounted, handed his horse over to a nodding and bowing waiter, and followed the steps of the others into the tavern.

By this time, dusk had gradually fallen, and people hurried along the road, but for the sons of wealthy families, night life was just beginning.

The waiter seemed very familiar with Qin Hui and directly led the group up to the third floor.

As Su Ke stepped up, a faint fragrance wafted past his nose, causing him to instinctively stop and look back.

He saw a flurry of shadows outside the tavern; unable to discern clearly, he felt a graceful figure flash past.

Although it was only a fleeting moment, it gave Su Ke a strangely familiar feeling, as if he had seen her somewhere before, yet he couldn’t quite place the odd sensation that lingered in his mind. He instinctively turned to chase after her.

"Ke’er, come this way," Qin Hui called out, standing at the entrance to the second floor and waving at him.

Su Ke’s steps halted again. After a brief pause, he gave up on continuing the pursuit and turned to walk upstairs. Given the bustling crowd outside, even if he ran after her, he wouldn’t find her.

Just after the group had gone upstairs, another charming figure appeared in front of the tavern, peering carefully inside.

Seeing nothing unusual, she furrowed her brows curiously.

"Strange, did I see wrongly? It shouldn’t be!"

"Miss, I’ve bought the Oil Fruits!"

A plump maidservant ran over, suddenly speaking from behind her, which really startled Miss Lei!

She quickly patted her chest to calm herself while reprimanding, "You damn girl, how can you be so reckless? What if you had bumped into me? Could you afford the consequences?"

"Yes, miss, your servant acknowledges her fault," the plump maidservant admitted her mistake promptly and bowed her head.

"It’s always you making trouble."

Even though Miss Lei was still upset, she had nowhere to vent her frustration. She turned back again, frequently glancing into the tavern.

Seeing that her mistress did not blame her, the plump maidservant naturally felt relieved and became cheerful, stuffing the Oil Fruits into her mouth and eating messily, with greasy lips, "Miss, what exactly are you...looking at?"

"I saw a figure earlier that resembled someone I once knew," Miss Lei hesitated.

She had inadvertently noticed a familiar figure when she was passing by the tavern. Perhaps because she had grown up in the atmosphere of Yingtian Academy, she was not very strict about the separation between men and women.

But that figure earlier...

The more she thought about it, the more she felt it resembled someone.

"Miss, should your servant go in and have a look?"

The plump maidservant continued to shove food into her mouth as she spoke, munching deliciously.

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