Li Haotian had been uneasy the entire journey. Fortunately, Jin Shan assured him that their Young Master would certainly speak up for him before Colonel Li, and this put him somewhat at ease.

Even so, when he thought of all his reckless behavior in the past and the lesson he had learned this time, Li Haotian could not help but heave a long sigh.

Upon arriving at the Li Mansion, Deputy Aide Dai led the group into the Li family residence. Li Haotian, usually the master of his own domain, felt out of place and hovered close to Shi Ting’s side, cautious and subdued.

Yan Qing watched him, looking every bit like a small bird seeking shelter beneath an eagle’s wings, and could not help but laugh inwardly.

“Colonel Li is inside. Please, this way.” Deputy Aide Dai stepped forward and pushed open the carved wooden doors of the main hall. A warm aroma of food and wine wafted out.

Li Yongqi was dressed in a deep navy long robe, holding a white jade and gold-mounted wine vessel, standing at the edge of the table and pouring wine.

The great Eight Immortals table was already laden with exquisite dishes — counted carefully, there were eight cold plates and sixteen hot dishes. By local Taishan standards, this was the proper reception for esteemed guests.

Seeing his guests arrive, Li Yongqi immediately set down the wine vessel and strode forward. “Honored guests have come from afar. Please forgive me for not meeting you sooner.”

Both Wen Xu and Wen Yan were meeting Colonel Li for the first time. He was nothing like they had imagined on the way over. He was dressed simply and plainly, looking like an ordinary middle-aged elder — even carrying a certain air of gentle warmth.

“You must be Mr. Wen and Miss Wen?” Li Yongqi smiled and shook hands with Wen Xu. “I’ve caused you trouble.”

Wen Xu was flattered beyond words. “No trouble at all, not at all.”

“Director Shi, Miss Yan, please be seated.” Li Yongqi welcomed the guests to the table, yet throughout all of this, he made no acknowledgment of his own son Li Haotian.

With Li Yongqi giving no word, Li Haotian dared not sit down on his own. He could only stand there awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

“Young Master Li, what dish is this? I’ve never seen it in Shun Cheng.” Shi Ting suddenly spoke up.

Li Haotian first glanced at his father, then quickly replied: “This is one of Taishan’s seafood specialties. It’s called a sea anemone. Though it looks rather ugly, its flavor is exceptionally delicious.”

Shi Ting said: “Taishan truly has an abundance of produce. If it’s not too much trouble, Young Master Li, please sit and introduce each dish to me — let this outsider broaden his horizons a little.”

Li Haotian again glanced at Li Yongqi, who was pouring wine, eyes not lifting. Though he said nothing in agreement, he said nothing against it either. Li Haotian gathered his courage and sat down beside Shi Ting.

“This is a sea intestine, also a local specialty. Like the sea anemone, it looks rather alarming. Sea intestines can be stir-fried or grilled, and sea intestine rice is our signature dish.”

Yan Qing said fondly: “Last time at the military camp, I had the good fortune of trying the sea intestine rice. It truly was a remarkable delicacy.”

Li Haotian smiled: “Next time Director Shi and Miss Yan visit Taishan, I’ll personally treat you both to a proper tasting.”

Li Yongqi, seated across from them, let out a cold laugh. “Why would Director Shi and Miss Yan come looking for you when they visit Taishan? Would you take them to those dens of indulgence and vice?”

Li Haotian’s expression became awkward. He lowered his head and dared not speak further.

Still, from the moment he had walked in, Li Yongqi had refused to acknowledge him. Now, even though the words were a reprimand, at least they were words directed at him — and that was a promising start.

“Please, everyone, help yourselves.” Li Yongqi paid no further attention to Li Haotian and urged the rest of the guests to eat.

Taishan was rich in seafood. Of the sixteen hot dishes at the banquet, ten were seafood, and they were all remarkably fresh, prepared with great skill. The whole party ate with great enjoyment.

After dinner, Li Yongqi had Deputy Aide Dai escort the guests to the side hall for tea, while he invited Shi Ting into the study at the back.

“You come in too.” Li Yongqi caught sight of Li Haotian hovering behind Shi Ting and gave the order in a flat tone.

Li Haotian’s heart leapt with joy at the words. He cast Shi Ting a glance full of silent gratitude.

Yan Qing, Wen Xu, and Wen Yan sat in the side hall over tea. Worried the guests might be bored, Deputy Aide Dai also brought out a chess set, and Yan Qing and Wen Yan set up the board and began to play.

Yan Qing had no familiarity with this era’s style of chess and could only draw on some hazy impressions from the memories of the body she now inhabited. In consequence, she lost every round, one complete defeat after another.

Wen Xu grew a little exasperated watching. “Ayan, this isn’t right of you — how can you not let Qingqing win even once?”

Wen Yan laughed and gave Yan Qing a wink. “If I lose to such a terrible player, wouldn’t that just embarrass me?”

“You little—”

Yan Qing huffed. “You can only win against me. Just wait, I’ll find someone to team up with.”

“Oh? If you’re going to recruit Director Shi, then I graciously admit defeat.” Wen Yan grinned. “Father, if those two team up against me, you can’t just stand by and watch.”

Wen Xu was about to laugh and scold her when a sound of something hitting the floor rang out — loud and sharp, followed by the faint thud of a muffled groan.

The three exchanged a look but said nothing.

After a moment, Wen Xu spoke: “Keep playing, keep playing. Other people’s family business is none of ours.”

Wen Yan snorted softly. “I’d wager that if Director Shi weren’t here today, Young Master Li would be getting beaten half to death by his father.”

She thought about it and couldn’t help but laugh. “Young Master Li looks just like a little wife seeking protection when he’s in front of Director Shi. If he were a woman, he’d absolutely refuse to marry anyone but Director Shi.”

Yan Qing laughed too. “Colonel Li chose this moment to invite us over precisely because he didn’t want to actually kill his own son by accident. Given his temperament, it’s something he’s fully capable of doing.”

When the conversation in the study had concluded, Deputy Aide Dai came in to say that Shi Ting was ready to leave and everyone should prepare to go.

Li Yongqi personally saw the group to the front gate, with Li Haotian standing beside him, hands at his sides.

Li Haotian’s head was now wrapped in a band of gauze, with faint red marks visible beneath it. The sound that had been heard from the study earlier — something striking something — had apparently made contact with his head.

Still, with that blow, Li Yongqi’s anger had largely subsided. Combined with Shi Ting’s thorough account of the case and the few good words he had put in on Li Haotian’s behalf, the Li Mansion should not be in turmoil for much longer.

Li Haotian walked to Shi Ting’s side and cupped his fists in a bow. “I owe you my deepest gratitude for everything, Director Shi. This kindness is one Li Haotian will carry to his grave. If the opportunity ever arises, I will repay it with everything I have.”

Shi Ting returned the bow: “This falls within the duties of the Military Police Division. There is no need for such ceremony, Young Master Li. What are your plans going forward?”

Li Haotian replied sincerely: “I have decided to return to the military and study military strategy under my father’s guidance.”

Upon hearing this, Shi Ting’s lips curved slightly. “As it happens, I have a few rare editions of military texts. If Young Master Li doesn’t mind, I’ll have someone bring them over.”

Li Haotian was delighted. “Then many thanks to Director Shi.”

Li Yongqi glanced at his son, then at Shi Ting, and let out a long, deeply contented sigh.

When everyone returned to the Wen Mansion, the evening was already growing late.

Half an hour after Shi Ting and Yan Qing parted ways at the courtyard gate, there came a knock at her back window.

She had just washed her face and was applying moisturizing cream. The northern winter was terribly dry, and without something on the skin, it would turn red and even crack.

Yan Qing stepped away from her wheelchair and walked steadily to the window. When there were no outsiders around, she never relied on the wheelchair to move. As time had passed, apart from being slightly slower than a normal person, her gait had grown largely indistinguishable from one.

She opened the window, and sure enough found Shi Ting standing outside — though he was not alone. Held in his hand was a small, fluffy creature.

A cat?

Yan Qing instinctively recoiled in alarm, then caught herself. Shi Ting knew she was afraid of cats — he would never bring one to her.

She steadied herself and looked more carefully. The small white fluffy creature did look very much like a cat, but it was not. It was a… baby tiger.

“A baby tiger?” she said in surprise, and couldn’t help extending both arms to take it from him. It wasn’t that she had no fear of tigers — it was that this one was so small and soft and utterly unthreatening.

Shi Ting climbed through the window, turned back, and closed it behind him. “It came from the branch office. There was a case earlier — the victim was an animal trainer at a circus. This little tiger was found in his room. No one at the office dared to keep it, so they asked me to bring it home.”

Yan Qing gave an exasperated roll of her eyes. In all of Shun Cheng, only he would dare keep a tiger.

Shi Ting’s lips twitched with undisguised distaste. “There was another reason — it’s quite ugly.”

Yan Qing looked at the baby tiger’s eyes, clear and bright as flowing water, its appearance carrying a certain endearing quality. It wasn’t that ugly at all.

“It just hasn’t grown into itself yet. It’ll be fine when it’s bigger.” She cradled the small tiger carefully.

Yan Qing knew Shi Ting liked keeping animals — birds, fish, insects, small cats and dogs of all kinds. According to Jin Shan, there had once been a long-haired white cat in his courtyard. When he found out Yan Qing was afraid of cats, he sent it to stay with a friend.

“Little one, what’s your name?” Yan Qing wiggled one of its paws.

“No name yet. You give it one,” Shi Ting said, his gaze resting on her with quiet warmth as he draped his coat over to one side.

Yan Qing thought carefully. “Then let’s call it Erdan.”

Shi Ting was taken aback, then broke into laughter. “Miss Yan names things so carelessly? I expected something grand and imposing.”

“I don’t care, it’s called Erdan.” Yan Qing held firm.

“Alright, alright, Erdan it is. It’s yours anyway — you have the final say.” Shi Ting laughed helplessly. For all that Yan Qing could quote poetry and verse at a moment’s notice, her talent for naming things was genuinely lacking. This must be what people meant by someone who was hopeless at giving names.

“You’re giving it to me?” Yan Qing said, surprised. “But I’ve never kept an animal before, apart from the big tiger — and even then, that’s a real tiger. Can I manage it?”

The big tiger surely never imagined that a real tiger would one day move into her courtyard.

“Keep it for now. Once you’ve married into my home, I’ll help you look after it together. I’m leaving it here for now because I’m afraid Jiangguo will bully it.”

Yan Qing thought of Jiangguo and smiled.

“Alright then, Erdan. I’ll be your keeper from now on. This is my first time raising a tiger, and it’s your first time being raised by someone. Let’s be patient with each other, shall we?”

Erdan blinked those wide eyes, seeming to understand and yet not, and then closed them and fell asleep.

Watching the little creature sleep, Yan Qing couldn’t help but smile.

“By the way, have they traced the person behind Baofu?”

A mere attendant like Baofu would not have had the ability to frame someone like Li Haotian on his own. The idea of him acting alone was simply not realistic.

—