Fang Tong had a dark complexion and was quite short in stature, but he was a very cheerful person.

With an outgoing personality, he loved making friends wherever he went.

He said, “So Brother Song is from Yiwu! I visited Yiwu some years ago, though I didn’t stay long. The place has clear mountains and beautiful waters—absolutely stunning! And the people there are all very kind. I can tell that Brother Song, you’re a good person.”

“You’re too kind, too kind.”

Calling him a good person after just meeting—wasn’t his guard a bit too low?

Fang Tong said, “By the way, Brother Song, since we’ve met by fate, there’s a poetry gathering at Tongyu Pavilion on East Street later. It’s all scholars like us who are here for the metropolitan examination. I noticed you seemed about to leave too, so… why don’t you come along with me? Everyone can meet, discuss academic matters—what do you say?”

Such an earnest invitation!

Song Zhi happened to be looking for just such an opportunity.

He’d been in Gaoding for several days now and hadn’t yet attended such a gathering.

So without a second thought, he agreed.

The two left the bookshop together and headed toward Tongyu Pavilion.

Along the way, since Fang Tong had just met a friend, he talked nonstop with him.

“Brother Song, I imagine you’re also someone who loves books.”

“Books are like gold and jade—naturally I treasure them.”

“I love books too, so I go to bookshops every day. But my family is poor, and some books are too expensive to buy, so I can only read them inside the shop.”

“Same here.”

The two finally found common ground.

Both were poor.

And because of this, their conversation grew more animated.

Fang Tong asked, “Brother Song, where are you staying now?”

“At a friend’s home.”

“To have a place to stay in Gaoding—that’s really fortunate.” Fang Tong was quite envious.

Song Zhi asked him, “Where are you staying, Brother Fang?”

“The Scholar’s Lodge!”

Uh!

Song Zhi was shocked.

His steps inevitably slowed somewhat.

He thought perhaps he’d heard wrong.

So he asked again, “Do you mean… that haunted Scholar’s Lodge?”

At this question, Fang Tong laughed. “Brother Song, you must have heard those rumors, haven’t you?”

“Rumors?”

“Of course they’re rumors! Rumors passed from person to person, getting more exaggerated with each telling!” Fang Tong said.

Though Song Zhi wasn’t particularly curious by nature, since they’d already broached the topic, he couldn’t help wanting to understand and see what was really going on.

Full of confusion, he pressed on, “What’s really happening? Right now, everyone in Gaoding is talking about it.”

As Fang Tong walked, he glanced around, then lowered his voice to tell him, “Brother Song, you don’t know this, but the metropolitan examination happens once every three years, and every time this season comes around, such strange stories spread about the Scholar’s Lodge. There’s no need to take them seriously!”

“They spread every time? Why?”

“Now this you wouldn’t know! Because every year when scholars come to Gaoding for the examination, many inns start raising their prices, and quite a few people can’t afford to stay there. But the Scholar’s Lodge doesn’t cost a single coin and even provides three meals a day. Many people from humble circumstances are desperate to move in, as it would save them quite a sum of money. So many people exhaust every effort trying to get in, but there are only so many rooms—there’s no way to accommodate too many people. So some people deliberately spread such stories to discourage those desperate folks from trying to move in.”

There was additional meaning between his words.

Song Zhi caught on and said, “According to what you’re saying, these stories are spread by the people living in the Scholar’s Lodge?”

“Brother Song, I didn’t say that—you guessed it yourself.”

“…” Song Zhi asked again, “Then what about that person this morning who was supposedly frightened by a ghost?”

“He merely caught a cold! Who knows who spread such absurd tales—it’s truly laughable.”

“I see.” Song Zhi remained doubtful. “There really are no ghosts?”

Fang Tong laughed again, looking rather sheepish as he said, “Actually, to be honest, I’ve already taken the examination twice. I came to Gaoding three years ago and also stayed at the Scholar’s Lodge. Back then such stories also spread, saying many people had seen things, but I never saw anything! Several people I knew didn’t see anything either.”

“Oh!”

“Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore.”

Song Zhi also found it inappropriate to continue asking!

The two walked on.

They saw a crowd of people gathered together.

Curious, the two walked over to look.

Only then did they discover a portrait posted on the wall.

It was the portrait of the deceased that Ji Yunshu had drawn, though this one was a copy.

That artist’s skills weren’t as good as Ji Yunshu’s—the painting was quite simple, some of the colors weren’t pure, but one could still make out the deceased’s features.

Common folk gathered before the painting, pointing and commenting.

“Who is this person?”

“Don’t recognize them.”

“Is this really the portrait of that skull found at the city gate?”

“Seems like it.”

“How can you draw a portrait from a skull?”

“I heard the authorities invited an expert. This expert can touch bones and draw portraits—this painting is what she drew.”

“There are such people?”

“My cousin works at the City Guard Bureau. He told me himself.”

“Truly impressive.”

…

Discussions buzzed.

But regarding who was in the portrait, no one knew.

Song Zhi looked at the portrait, admiring Ji Yunshu from the bottom of his heart.

That young master was truly remarkable!

In just three days’ time, he’d drawn the portrait.

Fang Tong asked him, “Brother Song, have you heard about that case?”

“I have.”

“It’s truly shocking—a skull inside a stone. Just thinking about it is frightening.”

It was quite shocking indeed.

Song Zhi smiled slightly.

He said nothing.

The two didn’t linger—they had a poetry gathering to attend, so they left.

Meanwhile, in the crowd was a young maidservant. She wore the clothing of a servant from a wealthy household and carried a basket in her hand, as if she’d come out to shop.

She stared at the person in the portrait for a long while, her curved eyebrows knitting together.

She pondered for quite some time.

Murmuring to herself, “This… isn’t this Su Qiao?”

She was shocked beyond measure.

But she didn’t dare speak out.

She quickly pushed through the crowd and hurried back to the residence.

…

By the time Fang Tong and Song Zhi arrived at Tongyu Pavilion, the sky had already darkened.

Tongyu Pavilion was a place where literati and talented scholars gathered. Supposedly, a personage of great importance had organized this poetry gathering today, so many scholars had come here to exchange academic knowledge with one another.

Inside was quite lively.

Some were engaged in poetry competitions.

Fang Tong pulled Song Zhi to sit down in an empty seat and ordered a pot of tea.

Just as they took a sip—

“Fang Tong, why are you only just arriving?” A man in blue robes came over to greet them.

Fang Tong stood up. “Jiang Wen, you’re really inconsiderate. We agreed to come together, but you didn’t wait for me.”

The man in blue called Jiang Wen said, “You insisted on browsing the bookshop yourself, so I came ahead.”

“By the way, let me introduce someone to you.” Fang Tong pointed at Song Zhi. “This is Song Zhi. I just met him at the bookshop. Like us, he’s here to take the metropolitan examination. Seeing he was alone, I brought him along. Let’s all get to know each other.” Then turning to introduce, “Brother Song, this is Jiang Wen, my fellow townsman.”

Song Zhi smiled warmly and cupped his hands. “Greetings, Brother Jiang.”

Jiang Wen also quickly cupped his hands in return. “Brother Song, no need to be so formal. Everyone here is a friend—no need to be so reserved. Over there they’re having a poetry competition. Brother Song, would you like to give it a try?”