The Tang Dynasty had many courier stations, averaging one station every thirty li.

Courier stations were generally located on either side of official roads or postal roads, established and operated by the government. Their purposes were twofold: first, to relay official documents such as imperial edicts and rescripts issued by the court, and memorials and petitions submitted by local governments to the court; second, to provide arriving and departing official personnel with a full range of services covering meals, lodging, and transportation. In other words, only officials appointed by the imperial court were eligible to stay at courier stations — accompanying family members, if any, were responsible for their own expenses.

Chuting Station, located ten li outside Guangdu City, was the only route into the city. Guangdu City was the transportation hub of Qingzhou — one of the five great cities of the Tang Dynasty, thriving with trade, and home to a permanent resident population of over five hundred thousand, with a constant flow of officials and commoners passing through. Situated at such a prime transportation crossroads, Chuting Station was a rare first-class facility — comprehensive in infrastructure, with gardens, multi-story buildings, horse paddocks, parking areas, a main hall for wine, tea, and meals, hot spring baths with natural springs, wine cellars, tea storerooms, preserved vegetable cellars, cold storage, and everything else one could need. Guest rooms were divided into five tiers and assigned according to official rank.

Hua Yitang’s official rank was County Lieutenant of Chengxian County in Qingzhou — the lowest rank of the ninth grade, lower subsection. The very lowest.

So when Mu Xia went ahead to the front desk of Chuting Station’s main hall to register using Hua Yitang’s travel permit, the station attendant immediately assigned him the lowest tier: a fifth-grade room.

Mu Xia was taken aback. “My master is a graduate of the imperial examination by special decree.”

The attendant’s hand paused mid-reach for the key. “Second tier of the rankings, or third?”

“First tier, third place.”

“My apologies.” The attendant switched to a fourth-grade room, then asked a follow-up question: “Does he come from one of the great clans?”

“The Five Surnames, Seven Clans.”

“Which surname?”

“The Hua Clan of Yangdu.”

The attendant’s eyes went wide. He said, “Please wait a moment,” then scurried off at a run. Moments later, he returned leading the station master of Chuting Station — and behind the station master came four station officials and six station attendants. The entire party swept out through the main entrance in a grand and imposing procession to welcome the guests.

The officials enjoying tea and wine inside the main hall were all there to stay the night. Upon witnessing such a spectacle, they grew curious — whoever could mobilize the entire staff of Chuting Station for a reception must surely be a high official of the third rank or above. One by one, they craned their necks to watch the commotion.

A double-horse carriage rolled up to the front gate. Behind the carriage trailed a dozen men who looked like bandits — faces bruised and swollen, both thumbs of each man bound together with thin hemp rope, strung together like quails about to be skewered for roasting.

Driving the lead carriage was a young man dressed in a black short-hemmed jacket. He was quite sharp in appearance. He leaped down from the carriage, looped the hemp rope around the silver-sheathed short blade in his hand, and gave a single pull — the string of men cried out and toppled over one after another beside the horse post, piling into a heap.

On the second carriage, a Persian youth with golden hair and green eyes, wearing a sour expression, hauled down a fat man whose clothing looked as though it had been salvaged from the roadside — ill-fitting in every way, the front flap failing to cover even his belly.

The driver of the third carriage was a young woman with a short blade at her hip. From her carriage descended first a man carrying a large chest on his back — his face as pale as if he had just crawled out of a grave, yet oddly dressed in a striking red robe that billowed in the wind like a splash of blood.

Last to step down from the carriage was a young man.

All eyes lit up at once. This young man was strikingly beautiful — his temples dark as a raven’s feathers, his skin like congealed jade, his features handsome and radiant. His snow-white robe caught the wind and danced and swirled like a blooming peony.

The station master led the station officials forward in a deep, ceremonious bow. “The staff of Chuting Station greets the Fourth Young Master of the Hua Family!”

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. So this was the notorious young wastrel of the Hua Clan of Yangdu — no wonder the station master had made such a solemn occasion of it.

Although Chuting Station was an official government courier post, its grain, wine, tea, spices, and other supplies were all sourced from Hua Family merchant convoys, and the station master himself had been recommended into his post by the Hua Family — making him, in essence, half a Hua Family man.

Hua Yitang glanced at the station master with a smile. “Why, it’s Station Master Xu. It has been years — you look as distinguished as ever.”

Station Master Xu was greatly surprised. “Has the Fourth Young Master met me before?”

“Has Station Master Xu forgotten? When I was seven, we met in Mu Zhong’s merchant convoy — you were the deputy convoy leader at the time,” said Hua Yitang. “Qingzhou’s climate is warm and moist. I trust it has done your rheumatic leg some good?”

Station Master Xu’s eyes reddened. “Many thanks for the Fourth Young Master’s kind concern — much better, much better indeed!”

“I shall have to impose on Station Master Xu’s hospitality during this visit.”

“The Fourth Young Master speaks as if this were not his own home. Please, come inside.”

Station Master Xu led Hua Yitang and his party into the main hall, then said with an apologetic look, “By the Fourth Young Master’s family standing, you would normally be entitled to a first-grade room. However, the official courier station has its regulations — official rank takes precedence over family background. I can only prepare a third-grade room for the Fourth Young Master.”

Hua Yitang said, “It’s of no consequence. We are only staying one night — as long as it is clean and comfortable.”

Station Master Xu glanced at the people in the courtyard. “And those outside are — ?”

“Mountain bandits I happened to apprehend on the road. I must trouble Station Master Xu to send word to the Prefect’s Office in Guangdu City, asking them to dispatch officers to come and take these bandits away.”

“M-mountain bandits?!” Station Master Xu said urgently, “Old Li, go have a look at once!”

A station official past fifty ran outside, circled the bandits twice, then came dashing back with a face full of excitement, shouting, “That’s right, that’s right — it’s Xiong Lao’er! Identical to the portrait on the wanted notice!”

The hall erupted in astonishment.

Jin Ruo rushed over with an expression of barely contained excitement. “They’re wanted criminals? Is there a reward for capturing them?”

The station official replied: “There is, there is! These bandits have been terrorizing the area around Chuting Station for more than half a year — elusive and difficult to handle. The agents from Guangdu City searched the mountains five or six times and never caught a single one. It infuriated them to no end, so they issued a bounty notice: twenty strings of cash for Xiong Lao’er, and ten strings of cash each for the rest of the bandit crew.”

“Master, we’ve struck it rich!” Jin Ruo shouted.

Lin Sui’an walked over carrying the station’s menu and patted Jin Ruo on the shoulder. “All the reward money goes to you.”

Station Master Xu’s gaze traveled over Lin Sui’an with gleaming eyes, and he offered her an even more respectful bow. “Greetings to Lin Niangzi.”

Lin Sui’an was somewhat surprised and looked toward Hua Yitang with a questioning glance. Hua Yitang raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“This one doesn’t look well,” said Yita, dragging Bai Xiang over. Bai Xiang stumbled along unsteadily, his face flushed red, hunched over with a hand pressed to his belly, moaning softly.

Jin Ruo poked Bai Xiang in the stomach. Bai Xiang groaned twice. Jin Ruo rolled his eyes. “Told you not to eat so much. Look at you — indigestion and a fever.”

Bai Xiang wore a pained expression, thinking to himself: It’s not that I overate. It was clearly that boy Yita — there was something in his tea.

It was only then that Station Master Xu caught a clear look at Bai Xiang’s face, and his expression shifted to one of alarm. “Is — is this not Bai Third Young Master of the Bai Clan of Qingzhou? How did he end up in such a state?”

Hua Yitang sighed. “It is a long story. I must also trouble Station Master Xu to send word to the Bai Family patriarch — tell him that —”

Yita: “His son is in the hands of our Hua Family!”

Station Master Xu drew a sharp breath.

Hua Yitang: “No, that is not — what I meant was —”

Jin Ruo: “Tell the Bai Family to hurry up and send money!”

This little fatty is not going to eat for free!

Station Master Xu: “Wha?!”

Hua Yitang: “…”

Fang Ke: “Quickly! Otherwise, their son won’t survive!”

Hurry and get this glutton out of here — he actually drank all the tea Yita cooked for me. He’s asking for death.

“I’ll dispatch someone at once!” Station Master Xu bolted off as if his bottom were on fire.

Hua Yitang watched Station Master Xu’s retreating figure, stewing in troubled contemplation for a long moment. “…The Bai Family patriarch will surely understand what I meant… right…?”

Lin Sui’an burst out laughing.

In Lin Sui’an’s imagination, a third-grade room should have been something like a three-star hotel — probably a standard single room. She had not expected it to be a suite at all: an enormous bed fitted with freshly changed bedding of brocade on the outside and cotton within, soft and fluffy, still carrying the scent of new cotton. She had every reason to suspect that Station Master Xu had simply switched the placard on a first-grade room by the entrance to read “third-grade.”

After more than half a month on the road, she could finally get a proper night’s rest. Lin Sui’an washed up simply, climbed into the soft cotton bedding, and fell into a contented sleep.

She dreamed of nothing that night. When she rose, her mind was clear and refreshed. Lin Sui’an first went next door to drag Jin Ruo through a half-hour of horse stance training, then strolled in the morning light to the main hall. Mu Xia had personally prepared breakfast, Yita had brewed fresh tea, and Hua Yitang sat yawning at the table. When Mu Xia saw Lin Sui’an and Jin Ruo arrive, he ladled out two more bowls of chicken soup.

Fang Ke was not there — he had certainly not woken up yet. Bai Xiang was absent too; word was that he had soaked in the hot springs for half the night and was probably still sleeping in.

“Never mind him. Once Brother Fang is up, we leave immediately,” said Hua Yitang. “This place is only half a day’s journey from Guangdu — he won’t starve.”

“I reckon the people from Guangdu City’s government office should be arriving soon,” said Jin Ruo, stretching his neck to look outside. “I’m still waiting to collect my reward money.”

Before the words had fully left his mouth, the sound of hoofbeats came from outside the gate. A squad of black-clad agents swept into the courier station at full gallop. Their leader was a man of over forty — long-faced, with downturned eyebrows, a broad and stocky build, and an iron rod at his hip. His movements were agile and practiced, and upon dismounting he first swept a glance over the bandits in the courtyard. He took a quick survey, left one of his agents to check on the bandits’ condition, then led the rest of his men directly inside.

Station Master Xu hurried forward to meet him, addressing him as “Chief Zhao,” then introduced him to Hua Yitang and the others at the table. “Fourth Young Master, this is the Chief of Agents for Guangdu City — Zhao Zhengzhi.”

“Zhao Zhengzhi greets the Fourth Young Master of the Hua Family.” Zhao Zhengzhi’s gaze paused for a moment on Qian Jing at Lin Sui’an’s waist. “Might I ask — is this lady Lin Sui’an, Lin Niangzi?”

Lin Sui’an nodded. “That’s right.”

“Were the bandits Xiong Lao’er and his crew captured by Lin Niangzi yesterday?”

Jin Ruo grew anxious. “Hey, hey — I captured them!”

Zhao Zhengzhi looked toward Jin Ruo, his gaze resting briefly on Ruo Jing, and he gave a slight frown. “And this is — ?”

Lin Sui’an: “My disciple, Jin Ruo.”

Zhao Zhengzhi’s subordinate ran over and murmured something in his ear. Zhao Zhengzhi’s expression eased somewhat, and he gave a few murmured instructions in reply. The subordinate ran back out.

From the moment these agents entered the courier station, their words and manner had been peculiar — as if they were guarding against something, or investigating something. Lin Sui’an felt a familiar and unpleasant sensation — as though they were being treated as suspects.

Lin Sui’an shot Hua Yitang a sideways glance: Great. The message sent to the Bai Clan of Qingzhou yesterday must have made the Bai Family patriarch think we were the ones who kidnapped Bai Xiang.

Hua Yitang hid his forehead behind his fan, eyes rolling up and down: Surely not.

As if on cue, Zhao Zhengzhi’s next words were: “Where is Bai Xiang?”

“Ahem — did the Bai Family patriarch send you all here to escort Bai Third Young Master home?” Hua Yitang cleared his throat. “Bai Third Young Master was waylaid by mountain bandits along the road — it was only because he encountered us that he kept his life. He had quite a fright, and is likely still sleeping —”

“Have him up and ready to return to Guangdu City with us immediately,” said Zhao Zhengzhi. “Something has happened to the Bai Clan of Qingzhou.”

Everyone froze.

Station Master Xu: “The Bai Clan of Qingzhou is one of the foremost great families of Guangdu City — what could possibly have happened?”

Zhao Zhengzhi frowned, paused, and then said, “Bai Rong, patriarch of the Bai Clan, has gone mad. He hacked the physician Iron from Qiumen Ward into pulp.”

The freshly steamed meat bun Jin Ruo had just stuffed into his mouth came flying back out. Yita’s hand jerked as he was ladling tea, nearly spilling it all over Mu Xia. Lin Sui’an sucked in a sharp breath. Hua Yitang raised his fan to cover his mouth.

From the direction of the corridor came a thud — Bai Xiang had collapsed to the floor where he sat. Judging by his position, he had just come in from the rear courtyard. His complexion had gone a ghastly green, his eyes bulging from their sockets. “You — you, you, you, you — what did you just say?!”

Zhao Zhengzhi was about to answer when a flash of blood-red swooped past him, and before his eyes appeared a gaunt, pallid face set with a pair of eyes as still and deep as an ancient well. The voice, too, was dry and hollow — yet, inexplicably, Zhao Zhengzhi detected in it a faint note of delight.

“Where is the body? Is it still fresh?”

Zhao Zhengzhi seized his iron rod and retreated three full steps in alarm, the hair on his back standing on end.

What in the world is that? Man or ghost?!

Only then did he see clearly: it was a white-faced man in red robes. Turning back to look at Hua Yitang and Lin Sui’an, he found those two even stranger.

Lin Sui’an had her hand propped against her forehead and was murmuring to herself: “This doesn’t follow any normal pattern at all. We haven’t even entered Guangdu City yet — don’t tell me this cursed constitution of mine can actually level up?”

Hua Yitang wore a distant expression. He lifted his teacup and took a sip, and his handsome features instantly crumpled into a blossom of melancholy. “How bitter.”

Two hours later, Lin Sui’an felt as though she were about to drown in Bai Xiang’s tears.

The journey from Chuting Station to Guangdu City was three hours. For the first two hours, Bai Xiang had apparently been too deeply shocked to do anything but drift in a daze. Then, quite abruptly — she could not say what had set him off — he came to his senses, and began to wail.

Lin Sui’an had not known until that moment that there existed a man in this world so extraordinarily capable of crying — when Bai Xiang wept, his voice was loud and rough, bellowing and braying like a donkey, tears and snot streaming indiscriminately all over Hua Yitang’s hem…

Indeed, from the moment he recovered his wits, Bai Xiang had not let go of Hua Yitang’s leg.

“A’Ye — A’Ye — my A’Ye couldn’t have killed anyone! A’Ye must have been wronged! Hua Fourth Young Master, you must help me, you must, you must! A’Ye — A’Ye — Hua Fourth Young Master, I know you’re the best at solving cases — help me, please help my A’Ye —”

The veins on Hua Yitang’s forehead were throbbing. The fist clenching his little fan tensed as if to strike, several times, and several times restrained itself — presumably out of revulsion for the slick layer of snot coating Bai Xiang’s face. Even through the hem of his robes, the rigid tension in his leg muscles was visible. Lin Sui’an suspected that, were they not aboard a speeding carriage, he would very likely have launched Bai Xiang back to the Eastern Capital with one kick.

“I am only the County Lieutenant of Chengxian County in Qingzhou — I have no jurisdiction over cases in Guangdu City!” Hua Yitang said through clenched teeth. “You had better go clutch the leg of the Prefect of the Eastern Capital!”

“I don’t trust those incompetent officials! I only trust you! Hua Fourth Young Master, you must save me, save my A’Ye, save my Bai Clan! We are both of the Five Surnames and Seven Clans, after all — bones broken but sinew still connected, lotus root severed but threads remain —”

“Eat dog dung! Who has lotus threads connected to you! How revolting!”

“Hua Fourth Young Master! Ahhhhh —”

“Eat dog dung! Let go, let go, let go!”

Lin Sui’an sighed and turned her gaze to another anomaly within the carriage.

Fang Ke was pinching a small square of white cotton, taking out his autopsy forceps, clamps, tongs, forks, spoons, small blades, mallets, and pestles one by one, wiping each one meticulously clean. The light in his deep pupils was radiant — unsettling to a degree that could not be overstated.

It seemed that having traveled all this way without encountering a single corpse had left Brother Fang in a state of profound deprivation.

Hua Yitang had clearly noticed Fang Ke’s state as well. He fanned himself at a furious pace. “Brother Fang, this case is not ours to handle —”

Fang Ke lifted his eyes and gazed at Hua Yitang with a long, meaningful look, saying everything without saying a word.

Hua Yitang’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. Lin Sui’an sighed again. “Bai Xiang, if you keep crying, we won’t help you.”

Hua Yitang: “Hey!”

Bai Xiang’s wailing cut off abruptly. He whipped his head around, a pair of half-translucent swollen eyes swinging and wobbling. “Lin Niangzi, you’re willing to help me?”

Lin Sui’an nodded.

Bai Xiang let out a single sob and started crying again — then, remembering that Lin Sui’an had forbidden it, he forced the sound back down, choking on it so badly that he broke into repeated hiccups. He turned to grab Lin Sui’an’s leg, but Hua Yitang seized him and yanked him back.

“Don’t you dare!” Hua Yitang’s eyes were like a murderous cleaver.

Bai Xiang took the opportunity to throw his arms back around Hua Yitang’s leg. “I knew you were both good people. Hua Fourth Young Master, as long as my A’Ye survives this calamity, the Bai Clan of Qingzhou will henceforth bury the hatchet with the Hua Clan of Yangdu and remain on friendly terms for a hundred years!”

Hua Yitang gave a cold snort. “I am only here to uncover the truth. If your A’Ye truly is the killer, no one can help him.”

Bai Xiang wiped his face and said with sudden gravity, “I swear on my own head — my A’Ye could not possibly be the killer.”

Hua Yitang narrowed his eyes. “What makes you so certain?”

“Because my A’Ye —” Bai Xiang lowered his voice. “Faints at the sight of blood.”

Guangdu City was built along the contours of its surrounding mountains and rivers, structured in three nested rings: the Inner City, the Middle City, and the Outer City. The Inner City occupied the highest ground, housing the Prefect’s Office, official residences, courier stations, and storehouses. The Middle City was the main urban district — the western portion of the Middle City formed the Foreign Quarter, primarily inhabited by foreign merchants, with smaller wards connected into larger ones, free of the curfew, and devoted mainly to the trade of exotic foreign goods, with merchants from the Great Arabia in the largest numbers, most of them clustered in the Great Marketplace Ward. The southern portion of the Middle City was the residential district for the Tang Dynasty’s own people, with thirty-six wards where shops and residences stood intermingled without any particular demarcation — the curfew barely existed in name, and commerce was everywhere.

The Outer City was crisscrossed with waterways and dotted with wharves. Waterways within the city connected directly to the Pearl River, making water transport extraordinarily well-developed. Guangdu was the Tang Dynasty’s second-largest port city and commercial metropolis, second only to Yangdu.

Entering Guangdu City from the North Gate and following the central north-south axis through the Outer City and the Middle City, one could see the magnificent and towering Sea God Temple along the way. Upon entering the Inner City and heading straight for the Central Ward, the moment the Lingguang Pagoda at the foot of the mountain came into view, one had arrived at the Guangdu City Government Office.

Guangdu City and Yangdu City were of equivalent administrative standing. Guangdu’s Prefect was surnamed Che and given the name Ting — born of common origins, only forty-three years old, having risen to this position, he was nothing short of an elite among elites.

“Among the Tang Dynasty’s five great cities, Guangdu has the largest foreign population. Rumor has it that this Prefect Che is fluent in five languages and has a particular talent for governing the Foreign Quarter. Only time will tell whether his talents extend to solving crimes and catching culprits.” Hua Yitang stood before the gate of the Prefect’s Office, fanning himself against the fierce sunlight. “This sun in Qingzhou really is too harsh.”

Mu Xia understood at once and immediately produced a veil hat, draping it to envelop Hua Yitang entirely. He then moved to offer one to Lin Sui’an as well, but Lin Sui’an firmly refused.

Zhao Zhengzhi stared at this entire party with the look of a man watching madmen. “Hua Fourth Young Master, Prefect Che wishes to see Bai Tenth Young Master of the Bai Clan. What are the rest of you here for?”

Bai Xiang shot over in an instant, nearly knocking Hua Yitang’s veil hat askew, and shouted, “I live and die alongside the Fourth Young Master!”

Zhao Zhengzhi: “…”

Hua Yitang said helplessly, “I must also trouble Chief Zhao to announce us. Hua Yitang, newly appointed County Lieutenant of Chengxian County in Qingzhou, and Bai Xiang of Qingzhou seek an audience.”

Zhao Zhengzhi had no choice but to send someone to announce them. Shortly after, a person came out to invite the group inside. Passing through the main gate, they first encountered an enormous spirit wall, and rounding it they entered a garden lush with flowers and plants — the layout quite unlike that of an ordinary official residence. The garden led to a covered walkway; following the walkway through two stretches of rockery and woodland, they finally arrived at the main reception hall.

A man was waiting at the entrance to the hall, dressed in a scarlet official robe. He was lean in build, roughly the same height as Lin Sui’an, with a short, well-trimmed beard, dark skin, and a broad nose bridge — the typical features of a native Qingzhou man.

Hua Yitang removed his veil hat and handed it to Bai Xiang, who received it quite naturally. Hua Yitang smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. “Prefect Che, Fourth Young Master Hua extends his respects.”

“Fourth Young Master of the Hua Family — your reputation precedes you.” Prefect Che smiled. “I have heard that the Fourth Young Master of the Hua Family placed first tier in the special imperial examination, having been deeply favored by His Majesty, and was granted the important post of County Lieutenant of Chengxian County in Qingzhou. Your future career prospects are surely brilliant — rising in the ranks will come as easily as stepping on flat ground. Since the Fourth Young Master has already arrived, why not stay in Guangdu City for a few more days? I will dispatch someone to accompany you and show you the famous sights of the city. It would be a shame to come all this way for nothing.”

On the surface, this man was polite and courteous; in truth, his smile never reached his eyes. His words sounded complimentary at first hearing, yet were laced with concealed barbs — subtly mocking Hua Yitang for being nothing but a ninth-grade, unclassified official.

Lin Sui’an found it somewhat strange. Guangdu City was an international trading hub, and the Hua Family was the foremost merchant house of the Tang Dynasty — commercial ties between the two ought to have been extensive. By any account, he should have shown the Hua Family at least a modicum of courtesy. Could it be that this man had some old grudge with the Hua Family?

Hua Yitang maintained his smile. “I will not conceal it — I and Bai Third Young Master hit it off from the moment we met, and upon hearing that a great calamity had befallen his family, I could not bear to leave him to face it alone. And so I have accompanied him here, hoping to inquire into the case of Bai Clan patriarch Bai Rong.”

“County Lieutenant Hua speaks in jest. This case occurred within Guangdu City — it falls outside Chengxian County’s jurisdiction, and there is no need to trouble the County Lieutenant.” Prefect Che’s smile remained unchanged. “Prefect Che has served in Guangdu for many years, and has gathered some modest experience in investigating cases. As for the details of the case, it would be truly inconvenient to discuss with outsiders.”

Hua Yitang clicked his tongue and tilted his chin toward Bai Xiang.

Bai Xiang was on the verge of tears again. “Hua Yitang! You can’t just leave me to die here!”

Hua Yitang sighed, stepped back half a pace, and said — “Lin Sui’an —”

At those words, every agent present jolted in alarm, immediately drawing their iron rods and positioning themselves in front of Prefect Che.

“Lin Niangzi, this is the Guangdu Prefect’s Office — you cannot cause a disturbance here!” Zhao Zhengzhi bellowed.

“Stand aside!” Prefect Che erupted in fury. “I want to see for myself exactly what a ninth-grade, lower-class County Lieutenant can do to me! Does she intend to cut me down in broad daylight?!”

Zhao Zhengzhi: “Your Excellency, you do not know — this woman is Lin Sui’an. The fierce tiger of Taiyuan Commandery and the golden-feathered guards of the Jiang Clan of Taiyuan were both defeated at her blade!”

Prefect Che shoved Zhao Zhengzhi aside and pushed forward, chin raised. “I am the august Prefect of Guangdu — why should I fear a little woman?!”

The agents rushed to pull him back. “Your Excellency! You mustn’t!”

“Step back!”

“Your Excellency, it’s too dangerous!”

Lin Sui’an: “…”

She hadn’t so much as moved a finger this entire time!

Hua Yitang burst out laughing. “Prefect Che, you’re being rather theatrical, aren’t you? When did my Lin Sui’an ever say she was going to cut you?”

Jin Ruo: “Not every stray cat and dog is worthy of having my master cut them, you know.”

Prefect Che: “What did you say —”

Lin Sui’an stepped forward. “If I may —”

The agents blanched in terror, dragging Prefect Che back at breakneck speed, raising their guards as if facing a deadly threat. Prefect Che’s face went pale and he struck an awkward, lopsided defensive posture.

Lin Sui’an scratched her forehead. Then, in a flash, her figure darted forward in a single bound directly in front of Zhao Zhengzhi. Zhao Zhengzhi paled in shock and swung his iron rod down — it sliced through empty air.

He had not seen a thing clearly. He only felt a sudden darkness, then a flash of light, and Lin Sui’an was gone. Then Zhao Zhengzhi heard a sharp cry from behind him — Prefect Che.

Lin Sui’an and Prefect Che were standing ten paces away. The two were roughly the same height, but at this moment Prefect Che was visibly shorter than Lin Sui’an by half a head, his color cycling through green and white, knees half-bent as though he wanted to kneel — but Lin Sui’an had a hold of his arm, and he couldn’t quite sink down.

“Lin Sui’an, what are you doing to Prefect Che?!”

Zhao Zhengzhi was about to charge forward when, unexpectedly, Prefect Che let out a sharp shout: “No one come closer!”

The voice was unnaturally shrill — as if he had seen something terrifying and cried out in overwhelming shock.

The agents stood frozen in confusion. Lin Sui’an raised an eyebrow. She turned over the covert imperial censor’s token in her palm and slipped it back into her lapel.

Prefect Che clenched his jaw and pressed his voice low with great effort. “I did not know it was an honored superior who had arrived. Prefect Che showed terrible discourtesy. Please, honored superior, do not hold it against me!”

Lin Sui’an: “I am merely passing through. I find this case rather suspicious and wished to look into it as I go — I wonder whether Prefect Che might see fit to grant me that convenience?”

Prefect Che bobbed his head like a pestle pounding garlic. “Of course, of course.”

Lin Sui’an raised a finger to her lips. “The Prefect understands my meaning?”

“Understood, understood.”

“In that case —”

Prefect Che quickly retreated a step, clasped his hands in a formal bow toward Lin Sui’an, then raised his voice and announced: “Someone come — bring the case file on the Bai Rong murder at once! Present it to — to —” He glanced at Lin Sui’an, then corrected himself, “Present it to County Lieutenant Hua for review!”

Side Scene

Zhao Zhengzhi: The rumors were absolutely true. The Prefect of Yangdu was scared to death by a single glare from Lin Sui’an — and my own Prefect had his head turned to mush by a single glance from her!

Note from the Author: After reading the comments, I corrected a small plot inconsistency. Woke up and found another one (tearing hair out).

The following is a note to myself, written in blood-and-tears:

Bai Clan of Qingzhou — Bai Xiang — Bai Third Young Master Bai Clan of Longxi — Bai Ruyi — Bai Thirteenth Young Master Su Clan of Suizhou — Su Yiyun — Su Tenth Young Master

Ahhh, this lesson tells me: when naming characters, never be lazy and just scribble down whatever comes to mind!

Look at this — even I’m getting them mixed up. Sobbing.