Daqi, on the southwest border, has a town of Qingsha.

On West Street in Qingsha Town, there is a shop.

Huarongtang is the name of the shop.

In the early morning, the cold wind of early spring mixed with the fragrance lingers around the flower hall.

Shen Youqing pushed the door of the Huarong Hall and looked up at the sky, it was about to be midnight.

On weekdays, her shop had already opened before this, but today she got up early to go to the mountains to pick some herbs, which delayed the time.

In the early morning, most of the business came to the door, taking advantage of this time she picked the herbs to spread out on the dustpan, after doing this, she walked out of the small courtyard, went to the front shop to see the business.

There are all kinds of incense in the shop, including incense for worshiping Buddha, incense for soothing the nerves, and rouge incense powder for women.

Shen Youqing has been in charge of Huarong Hall for some days, probably because she doesn't talk to the guests who come to buy incense, so the people on West Street are not very close to her; But there are also people who are exceptions, such as the son of the Li family's winery, who is obviously a person who blushes when he talks to people, but he has to come to talk to Shen Youqing for a while every morning, and then run away......

"Is Mrs. Shen here?"

A voice came from outside the door, which was familiar to Shen Youqing.

She walked out of the door, it was a little cold today, so she put on the plain velvet cloak given by her grandfather, the snow-white color was not suitable for her, her complexion was dark, and it was even more dull and dull with this white, even if the facial features were outstanding, they could not be highlighted.

But she just wants to do it according to her own preferences, so that she looks extremely ordinary and ordinary; Therefore, all the young men around him went to the girl on East Street, leaving her with such a delicate flower that was not delicate at all.

"Li Gongzi, what more incense do you want today?"

Shen Youqing stood on the top of the steps, leaned over slightly, and smiled lightly.

The young man was far away, basically about to stand on the street, when he heard Shen Youqing's words, his face turned red to the root of his ears, and he hurriedly bent down and waved his hands, "I...... I think...... Dragon, ambergris ......"

Before he finished his words, a woman passing by next to him teased: "The little brother of the Li family stuttered again, this is not good, how can a beauty chaser stutter......

Shen Youqing's face also turned red, after all, she had always known the intentions of the Li family, but she couldn't respond so lightly.

"I want ambergris."

Looking at the young man's sluggish expression and wood-like movements, Shen Youqing felt a little powerless, turned around and took out a box of incense and handed it to him.

"Li Gongzi still has to be bold."

The woman who made fun of the Li family's son just now didn't leave, and stood aside to watch the excitement: "Yes, little brother of the Li family, other girls are bolder than you, and you don't say ......."

Shen Youqing felt that the implication of her words just now was too obvious, and glared at the woman, she had no intention of causing that kind of misunderstanding.

"Shen Niangzi, I ......"

"Li Gongzi often takes care of Huarongtang's business, this box of incense should be regarded as a thank you gift to Li Gongzi, Li Gongzi, please go back."

Shen Youqing put away her smile, and after saying this, she turned around and went back.

After that, Shen Youqing never saw him again, which was very good, and it also settled one of her thoughts......

But after that, matchmakers kept coming to the door, and without thinking that Shen Youqing knew whose idea it was, she had to refuse one after another.

On this day, as soon as she sent away the matchmaker, Aunt Lian came over, leading a little girl with a double bun behind her.

Aunt Lian is her neighbor, handsome in her early twenties, and she lives alone with her little daughter Niuniu. She takes good care of Shen Youqing, and she is also the only woman in the town who is willing to be close to her.

Shen Youqing smiled at Niu Niu, Niu Niu was introverted and didn't talk much, and when she saw Shen Youqing, she was also timid, grabbing Aunt Lian's clothes and refusing to let go.

Aunt Lian patted her lightly twice: "You girl, it's been so long, why are you still so raw?" ”

The little girl looked at her mother with bright eyes, looked at Shen Youqing again, shouted at her a little reluctantly, and then turned her head and walked away.

"Niu Niu ......"

Aunt Lian gave Shen Youqing an apologetic look.

Shen Youqing didn't take it to heart, "It's okay, children can't help it, their hearts are the purest, why force it." ”

She turned around and took down a paper bag from the shelf and handed it to Aunt Lian: "This is the osmanthus candy that someone sent two days ago, and I can't eat it sweet, so let's take it to Niuniu." ”

It is not difficult to hear that her tone is light, but it reveals so much concern.

"Thank you, young lady."

Shen Youqing shook her head, she didn't think that she should thank her for this little thing, but she didn't want to say more. Aunt Lian is a typical kind woman who reciprocates the grace of dripping water, so she is very grateful to Shen Youqing, who did not speak ill of her mouth at the beginning, and is very polite.

"Aunt Lian, is Qingsha Town close to the capital?"

"The capital...... The capital seems to be quite far away from our Qingsha Town, and I heard that it seems to take ten days to travel by carriage, what's wrong? Aunt Lian had a trace of doubt, is the young lady leaving?

Shen Youqing shook her head and said that it was okay, but Aunt Lian opened her mouth again: "Isn't it good to live here all the time?" Anyway, the neighbors are used to coming here to buy some fragrant powder and spices, and the son of the Li family is also ...... to you."

Aunt Lian's words came to an abrupt end, and although Shen Youqing didn't blush because of this, she felt that she shouldn't talk too much.

Shen Youqing thought for a moment and smiled at Aunt Lian: "I naturally know this, but ...... I'm always leaving, Li Gongzi is very good, but I ......"

Aunt Lian could see that Shen Youqing had something unspeakable, so she didn't ask any more, chatted for a while, and then got up with Niuniu and left......

In early spring, even if the weather is sunny, it is difficult to have heat, the room is still shady, only the light spilling in through the pane can make people feel a trace of warmth, Shen Youqing sat in front of the hall, there were fewer visitors, and she was a little bored.

There is a plan in the house, there is a porcelain lotus leaf incense burner on the case, lifelike, there are two drops of water on the lotus leaf, and even the lines of the water droplets walking on the lotus leaf are depicted very vividly.

The incense burner burns incense, and a wisp of light smoke emits from it, which is elegant and quiet, refreshing, and makes the whole room full of luxury.

Bang Dang!

Shen Youqing was fiddling with the incense block in the incense burner, the movement at the door made her put down the stick in her hand, got up and walked to the door, there were not many people on the street, in early spring, there was a snowfall, after the snow melted, the bluestone road was as clean as new.

She squinted, a flash of surprise. A blood-stained hand grasped the doorframe, and the man was lying on the ground like a corpse, his face covered by his hair, unable to see his appearance, and only vaguely recognizable as a man.

His breath was very unsteady, sometimes faint and sometimes rapid, a dying man.

Leaning weakly against the door frame, there were two deep wounds on his chest, red blood gushing out, and his body was stained with mud, and the blood mixed with the mud fell, staining the steps at the door of the shop.

Shen Youqing frowned, staring at the dirt on the ground, not knowing what to think.

"Help—save my ......"

The man spoke suddenly, staccatoly, in a faint voice, but in an unusually calm tone; The slightly open eyes did not panic, nor did they deliberately please.

Shen Youqing frowned, turned around and wanted to leave, but his eyes stayed on the man's body and sighed......