Chapter 188 - Clue (Part One)

The noise was so loud that it gave Jingmo a headache, and she was unintentionally awakened from her slumber.
Her mood was not good, and it added a bit more strength to her struggle against the heavy pressure on her eyes.
"Stop arguing!"
At least this angry shout was effective, and the noise around quieted down. Jingmo tried to open his eyes, feeling them still a bit heavy, and couldn't help but raise his hand to rub them.
Jingmo only just realized that the almost invisible feeling of confinement had disappeared. She rubbed her eyes and opened them to survey her surroundings.
What met her gaze was an extremely familiar location. She thought for a moment and gradually remembered that this place was the south bank of the river.
Before leaving, everything was pitch black around. Now, with the light returning, it is discovered that the original layout has changed.
The previously neat and tidy desks and chairs have shifted slightly. Jingmo carefully looked around and indeed noticed traces of splicing on the floor. These traces extended in all directions and eventually formed a rectangle, enclosing the slightly higher tables and chairs in the center.
These traces are extremely subtle, if you don't look closely, you would mistake them for tiny dust marks.
Now that Chunniang is not here, even if she wants to study it carefully, she can't directly lean on the ground and observe in front of so many people.
Sighing, she looked around and realized that the surrounding had quieted down due to her previous outburst.
Jing Mo could vaguely feel the probing gaze coming her way, but she didn't have time to pay attention to it. She rubbed her slightly aching temples.
"White Shi?"
A man's voice came out from the crowd, and it was Bai Shi.
His face was gloomy, and his eyes carried a slight fierceness. Even when facing Jing Mo, this trace of fierceness did not entirely dissipate.
"Are you alright? They didn't do anything to you, right?"
"I didn't ask where Jingmo went just now. Baishi only cares if Jingmo is injured now." Seeing him ask, Jingmo got up and turned around to let him confirm that he was still intact."
Bai Shi nodded and finally stopped.
"If they have done anything to you, I will make sure they can't walk away."
With a threatening glance at the surrounding crowd, Bai Shi snorted and turned to support Jing Mo, wanting to leave.
"Can you still move? Let's go back first. We can talk about anything when we get back. If we say it here, hmph!"
He didn't finish his sentence, but it already showed his disdain for this southern bank of the river.
There was someone in the distance with a look of indignation on their face, but in front of this group of imposing people, they held back what they originally wanted to say.
This is definitely not the right place to talk, Jingmo nodded and followed along with Baishi's movements, ready to leave.
"Wait, since the guest is leaving, of course we should see them off."
It's Chunniang.
Her voice, even if you only hear it once, it will be forever unforgettable.
Following the sound, I saw a very enchanting figure slowly descending the stairs, twisting her waist. Chunniang carried a flirtatious demeanor, just going down the stairs, it evoked admiration from many people.
If it were placed on the south bank when she first arrived, Jing Mo might have exclaimed at her beauty. But looking at Chunniang, who has now returned to her earliest appearance, she couldn't help but feel a little fearful.
Who is this Chunniang and why is she so mysterious.
"What? Do you guests not need us to send you away?"
Seeing Jingmo not reacting, Chunniang just smiled lightly with a hint of playfulness, swaying her posture, and slowly approaching Jingmo.
"Is my hospitality not good enough for you? Why are you so afraid of me now? Are you afraid that I will devour you?"
As soon as Chunjuan approached Jingmo, she couldn't resist the urge to touch and play with her. She lightly hooked her index finger, lifting a strand of her scattered long hair.
"Your hair is messy, do you want to come with me and fix it?"
京墨并没有忘记从前关于春娘的传闻，她对男人没有兴趣，反而对女子十分和善。现在看她暧昧的态度，不由的警惕的后退了一步。
"No, I'm fine like this."
"But it's really messy. It's so inappropriate for people on the street to see you like this."
Chunniang wanted to persuade a few more words, but she was interrupted by Bai Shi.
"Since she doesn't want to change, there is no need for you to persuade any further. Unless there is something else, please leave us alone and let us go."
Although his wording was very polite, the implied meaning was definitely threatening. Chunniang couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, showing a hint of disdain.
"Why is everyone daring to interrupt now? Jingmo, the people you brought are so impolite."
"Whether I am impolite or not, I don't think it's something you can casually judge, right?"
A confident response from Bai Shi.
"Even if I am impolite, it is the responsibility of my master to educate me, not an unrelated person like you to criticize me. Moreover, there is nothing wrong with my choice of words, tone, or manner, right? Where does your lack of manners come from?"
Spring Girl just listened quietly, with no change in the curve of her mouth as a result of White Shi's answer.
"Maybe. But let me remind you, with your attitude, you won't be the only one harmed in the end."
What does this malicious mean again?
Bai Shila's face sank, even in the face of such a mysterious woman like Chunniang, he couldn't suppress the anger in his heart.
"Boss, if you don't know what to say, just don't say it randomly. Otherwise, if it's said out loud, it will be considered ominous, which is very inappropriate."
Seeing the two of them confronting each other and about to argue at any moment, Jing Mo quickly intervened to mediate.
"Alright, alright, it's getting late. Innkeeper, we will leave for now."
She avoided the sight of Chunniang, and it's uncertain whether she was too afraid to look or simply didn't want to look.
With a cold snort, Baishi wanted to say something more, but was pulled forcefully by Jingmo, who dragged him away.
"Since you want to leave, I will not force you to stay."
Spring Nymph's voice came from behind, but she did not ask the few people to stay longer.
"Since that's the case, how about I give you a gift as a way to apologize for my nonsense earlier?"
Although no trace of remorse can be heard from her tone, Jing Mo still turns around to wait for Chun Nuan's next move.
I don't know where she pulled out something, Chun Nuan raised her hand and shook it, and that object made a crisp sound. Gradually, the whole room echoed with the sound of clear bells, covering the sound originally made by the object in Chun Nuan's hand.
Jingmo widened her eyes in astonishment, feeling utterly shaken. Before she could even exclaim in surprise, a row of maids slowly descended from the attic above, holding jade square plates in their hands and moving gracefully, as if celestial fairy maidens had descended to the mortal realm.
"... What is this?"
"This is a gift."
Chunniang smiled, and her hand movements changed again. The women who looked like fairies stopped and lined up in front of Jingmo, handing the square plates forward.
“这、这些东西看着都价值不菲，应该不是我能享用的起的，您还是是拿回去吧。”
Flattering for no reason, either a rogue or a thief.
尤其是像春娘这样的人，平白无故给的好处，总要在其他地方拿回来的。
见京墨不愿意收下，春娘也只是微微一笑，自顾自的开了口。
“我当然不会全部都给你的，对你来说，这应该算是一个选择题。”
She pointed to the table next to her.
"If you can tell me how far this table moved within the time it takes for a joss stick to burn, you can choose anything here to take away. Of course, if you give up, you can leave now. But I don't think you're the kind of person who doesn't even try."
Spring's smile carried a few temptations: "How about it, do you want to give it a try?"
Jingmo's originally firm choice to refuse was slightly wavering. Spring was just too good at capturing her thoughts. If she forcefully handed it to her, she would be rejected instead.
Just like now, giving a condition, and adding a few vague hints, is enough to deceive Jingmo into the trap.
"Then I'll give it a try."