A red mark appeared on Xia Xiuyan’s right palm, slightly swollen with some broken skin. The injury wasn’t serious, but it looked rather alarming. Qiu Xinran took the medicinal ointment and sat down on the cushioned couch beside him, dipped a fingertip into the ointment, and gently applied a bit to his palm.

This touch was like a cat’s paw scratching—it didn’t hurt when it touched the wound, but it itched, itching so much that he couldn’t help curling his fingers. Qiu Xinran thought her clumsy hands had applied it incorrectly and couldn’t help wanting to retreat: “How about we call a servant in to help?”

Xia Xiuyan said nothing and reached out to take the ointment from her hand. Qiu Xinran quickly dodged protectively like guarding a cub, surrendering: “Alright, alright, I’ll do it, I’ll do it, I… I’ll try again.”

Holding her breath, she carefully spread the ointment again. It still itched. Xia Xiuyan endured it without moving. Seeing her lower her head with complete concentration, not daring to breathe too heavily, anyone who didn’t know better would think she was doing some extremely delicate work. The corner of his mouth twitched as he felt the wound in his palm growing hot again.

“Are you planning to stay in Chang’an for a long time this time you’ve come down from the mountain?” he suddenly asked.

Qiu Xinran didn’t know his purpose in asking this and lowered her head, choosing her words carefully: “I came down from the mountain seeking the Way. Wherever the Way is, there I shall be.”

Xia Xiuyan gave a light scoff: “You’re quite good at verbal sparring.”

Qiu Xinran thickened her face and took this as a compliment: “Does the Marquis plan to stay long in the capital this time upon entering the city?”

Xia Xiuyan didn’t answer directly but asked instead: “You don’t wish for me to remain in the capital?”

“The Marquis jests. I naturally wouldn’t think such a thing.”

So Xia Xiuyan asked again: “Then do you wish for me to remain in the capital?”

Qiu Xinran choked for a moment, feeling that though several years had passed, his skill at setting traps for people remained consistent as ever. She could only steel herself and answer: “If the Marquis stays long in the capital, it is the fortune of Chang’an’s common people; if the Marquis has military duties and cannot stay long, it is the fortune of the frontier’s common people.”

Hearing this smooth answer, Xia Xiuyan’s thoughts were unclear. He only glanced at her with a half-smile, noncommittal. Sunlight from outside shone in, falling inside the room. A faint scent of plants and trees could still be detected in the air. The woman’s plain hands passed over his palm as if tracing the lines there. He had never believed in such things, but at this moment he couldn’t help suddenly asking: “Can you read palms?”

The woman was startled by his question: “I can…” She looked up at him. “Does the Marquis want me to read your palm for you?”

“Can you really see such things?” Xia Xiuyan stared fixedly at her, speaking as if casually: “How many years one will live, in what year one will die, when one will marry, when one will have children, who one’s marriage partner will be?”

“Though one can see some things, it certainly cannot be this detailed. Moreover, matters of fate and destiny are not unchangeable.” Qiu Xinran hesitated, looking at his somewhat strange expression. After quite a while, she still couldn’t help advising: “The Marquis need not suddenly become so convinced of the art of fortune-telling because of my divination from years ago.” She earnestly counseled: “Success depends on human effort. If one becomes superstitious about heavenly fate, I fear things may go to extremes.”

“…” Xia Xiuyan didn’t respond for a long while. After a long silence, he finally said: “Well spoken.”

Qiu Xinran saw his expression looked somewhat stifled and suspected she had said something wrong somewhere. After reflecting for a long time, she suddenly understood: “Is the Marquis worried that this injury interrupted the palm lines and will affect your fortune?” She said warmly: “I see that Miss Gao’s whip wasn’t heavy. Once the wound scabs over and heals, there should be no major problem.”

Having said this, she felt she was truly very considerate. Looking at the well-applied ointment on the wound, she was also very satisfied, as if completing some major task. Before bandaging with gauze, she checked carefully once more. Seeing a speck of fine dust on the creamy white ointment, she flicked it away with her fingertip, tilted her head with satisfaction, smiled showing a dimple on one side, and couldn’t help lowering her head to gently blow on the wound.

Xia Xiuyan started and reflexively grabbed the hand she was holding his with. Both of them froze in place. After staring at each other for a while, Qiu Xinran finally realized what she had done. Her body leaned back as she frantically pulled her hand away: “Mar-Marquis, forgive me…”

With a “thwack,” the back of Xia Xiuyan’s hand hit the corner of the wooden table. He suspected a bruise might have formed right then and couldn’t help frowning and drawing in a sharp breath. Qiu Xinran’s heart filled with despair. Since coming down from the mountain and encountering Xia Xiuyan, she felt that every meeting only deepened the offense she’d given him.

“For the Daoist to do such a thing is not at all unexpected,” Xia Xiuyan said through gritted teeth.

“It truly wasn’t intentional.” Qiu Xinran looked distressed and moved closer with concern: “Is the Marquis alright?” Seeing that though his expression wasn’t good, he didn’t look angry, she took the gauze and came to wrap it for him.

“Seven years ago…”

Xia Xiuyan hadn’t expected her to bring it up on her own initiative. He looked up, staring unblinkingly at the person across from him. Seeing her brow slightly furrowed with some hesitation in her expression, his heart suddenly felt a bit nervous too. But after a while, he saw her relax her brow and smile, shaking her head as if in self-mockery: “Seven years ago, I was young and ignorant, relying on my own talent to speak recklessly before the court. I’ve regretted it several times since. Fortunately, the Marquis returned with divine military victory, sparing me much self-reproach now.”

Qiu Xinran thought this speech was quite sincere. Only after finishing did she dare raise her head to look at the other person’s reaction. But whether it was her imagination or not, the man’s gaze seemed to dim with these words. She waited rather anxiously for a while. Seeing Xia Xiuyan turn his face away, his expression indifferent, he said: “You merely spoke according to the divination. What fault is there in that?”

Qiu Xinran was stunned, seemingly not expecting him to answer this way. She couldn’t help carefully observing his expression for a while. Seeing he truly didn’t look like he was lying, she finally felt a great weight lift from her heart and said sincerely: “The Marquis is magnanimous. I am ashamed to compare.”

But Xia Xiuyan seemed to have lost interest and said no more. Footsteps sounded outside. Zhao Rong entered to report that Lan Hui had brought Mei Que and was waiting outside the courtyard. Qiu Xinran quickly tied a knot in the gauze, stood up from the cushioned couch, and took her leave. She had come today to discuss the residence matter with Xia Xiuyan. Now that it was settled, she wouldn’t delay further.

Xia Xiuyan said nothing, only nodded slightly. Qiu Xinran withdrew from the study and indeed saw Lan Hui and Mei Que standing outside the courtyard. Lan Hui had now remembered where she’d seen her before. Seeing her come out, she smiled and curtsied to her. Qiu Xinran quickly returned the courtesy, but Mei Que looked at her with quite vigilant eyes, her expression seemingly displeased.

She clearly hadn’t offended her in the entrance hall earlier either. Qiu Xinran was completely baffled. Watching the two of them enter the study, Zhao Rong withdrew from inside.

“Is the Daoist about to return?”

Qiu Xinran hadn’t expected him to initiate conversation with her and quickly responded: “That’s right.”

“I’ll see you out.”

The entrance hall wasn’t far from here. Qiu Xinran had wanted to politely decline, but seeing his expression was quite insistent, she hesitated before nodding: “Thank you for the trouble.” The other person smiled lightly, took the lead walking ahead, and Qiu Xinran followed behind him as the two walked outward.

Zhao Rong didn’t seem like a talkative person. Only after leaving the courtyard did she hear him say: “Today Gao Yue was reckless and caused the Daoist to be frightened.”

“It was just an accident. I haven’t taken it to heart either.” Qiu Xinran joked: “I just regret that half-eaten steamed bun of mine.”

Zhao Rong smiled: “Then next time there’s an opportunity, I’ll treat the Daoist to a steamed bun as an apology.”

Qiu Xinran couldn’t tell if this was a joke or not, but either way it was just a steamed bun—nothing worth refusing. So she said generously: “Then I thank General Zhao in advance.”

She was cheerful. Though in her twenties, when she smiled she seemed no different from when she was sixteen or seventeen. The gaze beneath Zhao Rong’s mask softened somewhat as he softly agreed: “It’s settled then.”

After seeing Qiu Xinran off, he went to the back courtyard to check on He Zhong. The other man had taken ten lashes and lay in bed groaning. After delivering the medicine, when he returned to the study, Lan Hui and Mei Que were already gone. Xia Xiuyan stood before the writing desk, holding the medicine bottle used earlier with a thoughtful expression. Seeing him arrive, he put down the item and looked over: “Still not planning to tell Gao Yue about your situation?”

“I fear if she knew now, it would cause complications.”

“Her current state is also because you and Gao Yang spoiled her.” Xia Xiuyan shook his head. After a while, he asked again: “Not planning to tell her either?” He didn’t specify who this “her” was, but Zhao Rong immediately understood his meaning. This time he was silent for a long while before answering: “Whether she knows or not doesn’t matter.” Having said this, after a moment he seemed to think of something and smiled lightly: “There will be opportunities in the future.”

Xia Xiuyan looked him over coldly. After a while, he turned his head and said indifferently: “As long as you know what you’re doing.”

Not long after Qiu Xinran returned to her residence, she requested a token to enter the palace and handed in the assignment from Emperor Xuande to survey the feng shui of Marquis Dingbei’s new residence. A few days later, word indeed spread that Marquis Dingbei planned to purchase that residence in Pingkang Ward.

After morning court, Zhou Xianyi came to He’s Restaurant and delivered an invitation to her.

“Inviting me?” Qiu Xinran opened it with surprise and found her name indeed written on it. Still somewhat disbelieving: “Why invite me?”

“This is a long story.” Zhou Xianyi picked up a teacup and took a sip. “Minister Fang’s residence is truly excellent. Wu Peng spent considerable effort to buy it from him back then. But recently he kept courtesans in that residence and was impeached by censors. The Left Prime Minister ordered him to sell the residence and return to live at his family home. Originally he was unwilling in his heart. But in all of Chang’an, who doesn’t know his character? That residence has been on the market for nearly two months with no one daring to truly inquire about the price. Who knew that as soon as Marquis Dingbei returned, he bought that residence.”

Qiu Xinran’s face showed understanding: “In that case, won’t he bear a grudge against Marquis Dingbei?”

Zhou Xianyi laughed twice: “Logically it should be so, but Marquis Dingbei is currently the most prominent figure in the capital without equal. You were a famous diviner back then, and now you’ve surveyed the feng shui of this residence and Marquis Dingbei has purchased it—spreading this news is also a fine thing.”

Qiu Xinran suddenly understood: “The residence hasn’t been transferred yet. Properly speaking, he’s still the owner of this residence, so he wants to take this opportunity to host a banquet and show off?”

“That’s one reason. The second is also to welcome the Heir Apparent Zheng.”

“Wait,” Qiu Xinran was completely confused, “What’s this about Heir Apparent Zheng?”

Zhou Xianyi said with surprise: “You don’t know?”

“Know what?”

“Yuan Wu has returned.”

Qiu Xinran was stunned—she truly didn’t know: “When did he return?”

“Two days ago. He returned to the capital to report on his father’s duties and will stay in the capital for some time.”

In these two years, Zheng Yuan Wu had gradually taken over his father Zheng Lu’s position in the military in the southwest. Though the southwest also occasionally had unrest, it was ultimately much more peaceful than the northwest. Speaking of it, Zheng Yuan Wu’s military achievements these years were absolutely outstanding among his peers, but unfortunately with Xia Xiuyan’s brilliance beside him, it inevitably overshadowed much of his glory. It must be said that life’s circumstances are unpredictable—seven years ago, who could have imagined today’s situation?

“That day when discussing welcoming Yuan Wu, Wu Peng took the initiative to propose hosting it himself. Marquis Dingbei has been staying frequently at Fragrant Pond Garden lately, so it was set to hold the banquet there. Both Yuan Wu and Xiuyan haven’t returned to the capital in a long time—perfect for a gathering.”

“Who all will be there?”

“Quite a lot. I heard several Imperial Princes are going privately, and Seventh Princess is going too.”

Seventh Princess Li Hanru was now twenty-four and still unmarried. Though she’d met many talented men over the years, none had been settled upon. There was much gossip about her circulating outside. Speaking of this, Qiu Xinran felt somewhat curious: “Is Heir Apparent Zheng married?”

Zhou Xianyi gave her a knowing look, saying meaningfully: “Not yet married.”

“Ahem, Wu Peng is hosting a banquet at Fragrant Pond Garden—the censors say nothing about it?”

“Fragrant Pond Garden is ultimately a music hall, not a brothel.” Zhou Xianyi criticized: “How can Xinran be so narrow-minded?”

Qiu Xinran laughed dryly twice: “I didn’t expect your Censorate to be so open-minded.” As she spoke, she stared at the invitation in her hand. She had been away from the palace for a long time. She hadn’t expected that upon returning, she’d be drawn into this again. Somewhat hesitant: “What if I claim illness and don’t go when the time comes?”

Zhou Xianyi said coolly: “If you don’t go, from now on in my heart you’ll be this.” He extended his hand and showed her a thumbs-up gesture. Qiu Xinran laughed once, sighed, and could only give up.