At one quarter past the hour of Xu, everyone, exhausted from a full day of work, dragged their weary bodies onto Mu Xia’s carriage.

Before coming to Yidu, Lin Sui’an had believed the words of the sage and thought that coming to Yidu City truly meant a comfortable vacation. Looking back on it now, she had been far too young and naïve —

This was only the second day since their arrival in Yidu, and she was already as tired as a dog. How were they going to get through the days ahead?!

The lanterns outside the carriage lit up, the shadows on the streets dappled and broken. Lin Sui’an listened to the cries of night market vendors. Fangke was asleep hugging his large wooden box, snoring softly, hoo hoo hoo — Hua Yitang rested with eyes closed, his fan swaying at irregular intervals, plap plap — Ling Zhiyan was still going through case dossiers, rustle rustle — the carriage wheels crunched over small stones on the road, rumble rumble —

Lin Sui’an yawned and gradually let her eyelids fall.

The carriage suddenly swayed. The carriage door creaked open, then shut. A damp wind blew in from the opposite side. Lin Sui’an was too lazy to open her eyes, and had already guessed who it was.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” Lin Sui’an asked.

“Found it. The abortion medicine was dispensed thirty-three days ago from Huixun Hall on Huixiang Street in the Southern Market. The proprietor checked the medicine sales record, and the buyer was a petite woman. I showed him a portrait of Lian Xiaoshuang, and he confirmed it was Lian Xiaoshuang herself.” Jin Ruo said.

Hua Yitang: “Was she alone at the time?”

Jin Ruo: “She was alone.”

Ling Zhiyan: “What was Lian Xiaoshuang’s condition at the time?”

Jin Ruo hesitated a moment. “…She seemed to be in very good spirits.”

Hm?

Lin Sui’an and Hua Yitang both opened their eyes at once. Fangke cracked open his eyelids a sliver. Ling Zhiyan raised his head.

Jin Ruo scratched her head. “The proprietor’s exact words were: the woman arrived in a great hurry, apparently very anxious, but after receiving her medicine, she suddenly seemed no longer in any hurry. She walked to the doorway, stood watching a large locust tree by the roadside for a good while, then hummed a little tune as she walked away. Women who come in to buy abortion medicine usually look furious, or miserable, or furtive. Someone like Lian Xiaoshuang was a genuine rarity, which is why the proprietor remembered her so clearly.”

Hua Yitang pressed his fan against his forehead. “How very strange…”

Ling Zhiyan: “Did you find out which embroidery workshops Lian Xiaoshuang frequented?”

Jin Ruo nodded and passed over a sheet of paper on which were written the addresses and names of three embroidery workshops:

Number 67 Huamao Lane, Eastern Market — Xichun Embroidery Workshop.

Number 13 Yuanxi Street, Northern Market — Yueliu Embroidery Workshop.

Number 39 Jinting Road, Western Market — Fangyu Embroidery Workshop.

“This information was given by the Pure Gate; I haven’t had time to verify it yet. I’ll go and have a look tomorrow.” Jin Ruo said.

Ling Zhiyan nodded. “I will go with you tomorrow.”

Jin Ruo: “How did your investigation go?”

Lin Sui’an sighed. “It is hard to say in a few words — a tangled skein, utterly vexing, not a single piece of good news.”

“Master, I beg to differ — there is still good news,” said Jin Ruo, fishing out a white sugar cake and pushing it into her mouth. “At the very least, only one person has died so far.”

Everyone: “…”

Jin Ruo: “Every other place we’ve gone to, people die in strings. Coming to Yidu, our luck has finally turned.”

Everyone: “…”

Lin Sui’an pressed a hand to her forehead: Heavens, what a dreadful flag to raise!

Fangke rolled his eyes. Hua Yitang rapped his fan against Jin Ruo’s head. “Ptui ptui ptui, children say foolish things!”

Jin Ruo was greatly displeased. “You little pipsqueak calling me a pipsqueak!”

“I am your great-great-great-grandfather generation!”

“A great-great-great-grandfather is still a pipsqueak!”

Ling Zhiyan shook his head in resignation, his eyes drifting back down to the case dossier, and in no time at all he had sunk entirely into his own world, completely impervious to the deafening argument between Hua Yitang and Jin Ruo.

Lin Sui’an watched, equal parts admiring and worried.

Judicial Inspector Ling’s superhuman powers of concentration and self-discipline were all well and good, but working at this intense level of sustained mental exertion — would he not work himself to death?

That evening’s supper was again set in the Carved Balcony Pavilion.

Lights blazed, incense drifted lightly.

All the floor cushions had been replaced with the new taishi chairs, and the dining tables had been exchanged for solid, tall-legged wide wooden boards — six chi long, four chi wide, more than three chi high, with seating for over a dozen people.

The Tang Kingdom followed the custom of separate tables and individual servings, with the Hua Family’s rules being the exception. In Lin Sui’an’s memory, the very first breakfast she had eaten with the Hua Family had been at this kind of long wooden table you could gather around. Lin Sui’an found it most agreeable — everyone sitting together, lively and warm.

The supper dishes were lavishly varied, with each person’s favorites within reach. Jin Ruo’s were mostly sweets, Fangke’s were heavy in flavoring and spice along with Yita’s specially made hellish-intensity tea broth, Lin Sui’an had several plates of fresh sliced raw meats, Hua Yitang ate without discrimination and everything, while Ling Zhiyan simply preferred whatever was most expensive.

As the master of the Hua residence, Hua Yitang naturally sat at the head, with Lin Sui’an and Ling Zhiyan seated to the left and right respectively — they ended up directly across from each other, and every time they reached for food, they could see Judicial Inspector Ling distractedly gnawing on the same steamed bun.

Though he had put down the dossier in his hands, the dossier in his mind was still running.

Lin Sui’an watched his expression — the look of someone tasting nothing — and felt her own bowl of rice had gone bland too. Hua Yitang had also noticed, and surreptitiously slipped the steamed bun out of Ling Zhiyan’s hand. Ling Zhiyan noticed nothing at all and bit at the empty air, then continued chewing.

Lin Sui’an: “…”

Absolutely beyond saving!

Just at that moment, a clear, melodious woman’s voice came from outside the door. “Oh my, I’ve come back late — Mu Xia, what are we eating tonight?”

Miraculously, the deeply absorbed Ling Zhiyan startled to attention, the light returned to his eyes, and he spun his head around to look at the door.

Hua Yimeng came floating in with her crimson sash trailing behind her, followed by the travel-worn Yita. Ling Zhiyan’s gaze flicked about rapidly, then snapped back. Hua Yimeng walked around the dinner table, signaled to a servant to add a chair beside Hua Yitang, elbowed Lin Sui’an out of her spot, and sat herself down in Lin Sui’an’s place, directly opposite Ling Zhiyan.

Ling Zhiyan sat rigidly upright, as though facing a great enemy, his face white, his forehead tinged with blue-green, his ears flushed scarlet — quite how such bizarre colors came to be distributed across one face was difficult to explain. Lin Sui’an and Hua Yitang squeezed together, gnawing on their chopstick ends, both pairs of eyes rolling over to this side, then rolling back to that side. Jin Ruo had both cheeks stuffed with sugar cakes, Fangke raised his cup of dark black smoked tea, Yita’s blue eyes sparkled with delight, and Mu Xia quickly secured an excellent vantage point.

Heh heh, now there was a show to watch!

Four tall candle stands were positioned at the four corners of the Carved Balcony Pavilion, burning over a hundred candles — the primary source of illumination — and in addition more than a dozen luminous night pearls were arranged around the periphery as supplemental lighting. Behind Hua Yimeng sat one pearl the size of a fist, lustrous and round, its cool light like flowing water, shining upon Hua Yimeng’s feather-soft sideburns.

Hua Yimeng’s eyes drifted in flowing ripples, her peerless smile without flaw or weakness. “The荥阳 Ling Clan — a hundred-year old family, established by martial arts, distinguished and exceptional. Meeting the sixth young master of the Ling Family today, I find the reputation is well deserved — unyielding and incorruptible, a young hero of talent.”

Ling Zhiyan lowered his eyelids. “Third Young Lady Hua is too kind.”

“The sixth young master of the Ling Family holds the position of Judicial Inspector at the Court of Judicial Review — a newly risen figure at court, with a promising official career. My fourth brother is merely an insignificant junior seventh-rank military advisor posted to the provinces. For Sixth Young Master Ling to condescend to associate with my fourth brother truly surprises me.”

Ling Zhiyan frowned. “Ling and Fourth Young Master serve the same court. Though our official ranks differ, we are both in service to the state. I would say that neither of us condescends, nor does either attach himself to the other.”

“The Hua Family of Yangdu established itself through commerce, and has long been looked down upon by the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Houses. Is Sixth Young Master Ling not afraid that associating so closely with our Hua Family will invite gossip?”

Ling Zhiyan finally raised his eyelids and gazed steadily at Hua Yimeng. “Ling has never, in forming friendships, looked at family background or status. Fourth Young Master is Fourth Young Master. Whether he is the Fourth Young Master of the Hua Family of Yangdu or the Fourth Young Master of some mountain wilderness peasant family, to me, it makes no difference.”

Wow! Lin Sui’an could not help poking Hua Yitang’s arm — who would have thought Judicial Inspector Ling rated you so highly!

Hua Yitang snapped open his fan with a click and fanned away the heat rising to his face with some urgency.

Hua Yimeng tilted her head and studied Ling Zhiyan for a moment, then suddenly smiled sweetly. “Sixth Young Master Ling, am I not attractive?”

Ling Zhiyan’s pupils contracted sharply. His ears reddened; the color crept down his neck. He quickly lowered his head. “Third Young Lady of the Hua Family is famously said to be of unrivaled beauty in all of the Tang Kingdom.”

“Oh?” Hua Yimeng propped her cheek in her hand. “Then why is it, when you look at me, that you always have that expression on your face, as though I were ugly?”

“Ling was born with this face.” Ling Zhiyan’s temple twitched. “You — are not ugly.”

Hua Yitang covered his face with his fan in utter dismay.

Lin Sui’an could not hold back and let out a “pfft,” then quickly covered her mouth.

Hua Yimeng’s water-ripple eyes drifted languidly over to Lin Sui’an, the corners of her lips curving upward. “But I notice that you are always chatting and laughing with little An. Could it be that you find little An more attractive?”

Hua Yitang’s gaze sliced over in an instant, and Lin Sui’an’s smile froze on her face.

Hey hey hey, she was just an innocent bystander eating her melon, please do not let these two’s battle drag her in!

Ling Zhiyan raised his head, his brows slightly knitted, seemingly a little perplexed. “Lin Niangzi is naturally different!”

Lin Sui’an: Huh —?!

Hua Yitang’s cheeks puffed out as his fingernails began to scrape quietly at the fan.

Hua Yimeng clearly had not anticipated Ling Zhiyan’s response. Her smiling face shifted into one of startlement.

Ling Zhiyan’s gaze turned toward Lin Sui’an. He suddenly smiled — like spring wind sweeping across a field, peach and plum blossoms fragrant in the air.

“Lin Niangzi is a friend.”

Lin Sui’an let out an “oh wow!” of pure delight, and nearly started drooling.

Judicial Inspector Ling’s smile — it was far, far too beautiful!

“Ahem ahem!” Hua Yitang swiftly swung his little fan and forcibly wedged his head into the space between them. “What about Hua?”

Ling Zhiyan looked puzzled. “Of course Fourth Young Master is also a friend. I already said so a moment ago.”

Hua Yitang immediately beamed from ear to ear, fanning with unbridled smugness. “You still have some conscience after all.”

Hua Yimeng stared at Ling Zhiyan in a daze for a while, cleared her throat, and raised an eyebrow. “Does that mean I am not Sixth Young Master Ling’s friend?”

Ling Zhiyan’s brow furrowed again. “Ling and Third Young Lady Hua have only met twice, and have barely spoken. How can friendship be spoken of?”

Hua Yimeng bent her smiling eyes. “Sixth Young Master Ling, you are mistaken. We have clearly met three times. Have you forgotten — when you were a child, I held you in my arms, and you wet my clothes through?”

These words were like a detonation. They left Ling Zhiyan’s face blazing crimson. His tightly pressed lips twitched for a long while without producing a single word. He then flew into mortified fury, slapped the table, and fled the scene.

A dead silence fell over the Carved Balcony Pavilion.

Then suddenly, everyone “pfft”-ed out laughing.

Hua Yitang was at a loss between laughter and dismay. “Third Sister, Sixth Young Master is a genuine, earnest soul. Do not tease him.”

Hua Yimeng gave a “hmph.” “Fourth Brother, you are still too young — you do not understand. Teasing this kind of straightforward person is the most fun of all. Right, little An?”

Hua Yitang puffed out his cheeks again and shot a fierce sideways glare at Lin Sui’an.

Lin Sui’an quickly shoved a piece of sliced raw meat into her mouth. “Ahem, I do not quite understand this either.”

Skit:

Judicial Inspector Ling, a man who must dig to the bottom of everything, upon returning to his room, the first thing he did was pen a letter home to his grandfather, wishing to verify whether the embarrassing childhood episode Hua Yimeng had spoken of was true or false. But with brush raised several times, the brush truly, truly would not come down —

A matter this mortifying was something he simply, simply could not bring himself to write!

Come, come, let’s take a breath and enjoy shipping a couple