In the Carved Railing Pavilion of the Hua clan’s ninety-nine-room mansion, the atmosphere was exceedingly heavy.

Lin Sui’an and Jin Ruo were wedged together on the same seat — one holding a cup of tea, one chewing white sugar cakes — both pairs of eyes rolling slowly left, then right, then right, then left. They scratched their heads at the same time.

A quarter of an hour ago, everyone had exchanged the intelligence gathered from their respective investigations. The situation was far from encouraging — to put it simply in one sentence: the case was not yet solved, and everyone still needed to keep at it.

And then, Hua Yitang and Ling Zhiyan had entered a peculiar state.

Ling Zhiyan had buried his head in a pile of dossiers and was flipping through them at a rapid pace, showing nothing above the table but the top of his forehead — covered in a thin sheen of sweat that gleamed faintly, his hairline visibly two millimeters further back than it had been in Yangdu.

Lin Sui’an: “What’s gotten into Director Ling?”

Jin Ruo sighed. “Most likely he’s still stinging from the humiliation at Hongxiang Quarter and can’t let it go.”

Lin Sui’an’s eyes immediately lit up. “Tell me the details!”

Jin Ruo swallowed the last two bites of white sugar cake, sat up very straight, and launched into the story: “Hongxiang Quarter was closed for rest today. All the ladies were soaking in the hot spring in the back garden.”

Lin Sui’an: “Oh ho!”

“Duan Hongning specifically invited Director Ling to come in and meet face to face.”

“Oh ho ho!”

“And do you know what happened? That block of wood Ling the Sixth chickened out — asked a few hasty questions, then bolted as if his pants were on fire. Didn’t even get a glimpse of so much as a strand of those ladies’ hair.”

“What a waste!” Lin Sui’an slapped her knee. “Such an opportunity, squandered!”

Had she known such a fine opportunity would present itself, she would have gone herself! What a shame to miss a glorious chance to get up close with those beautiful young ladies!

“Couldn’t agree more!” Jin Ruo clapped his thigh. “There was a whole big plate of hot spring eggs — I only got through four of them before we had to leave everything behind. Such a terrible waste!”

Lin Sui’an looked into her disciple’s wide, earnest eyes and saw five words written plainly there: crystalline, transparent stupidity.

She turned to look at Hua Yitang on the right. He was slouched sideways into the cushion of a grand armchair, with a towering mountain of scroll-books piled on the desk before him. He pulled one out, scanned it with a few rapid flicks of the eye, then tossed it aside. Pulled out another, scanned it in three quick sweeps, tossed it again. On the floor, the discarded scroll-books had also formed a mountain. Mu Xia crouched beside him, picking them up and sighing, occasionally glancing over at Lin Sui’an with an expression of profound sadness.

What was strangest of all were the titles of those scroll-books — things like: Willow Tips at Moonrise, Southern Butterfly Dream; Petals Drifting, Teardrops Cascading; A Beauty Glances Back, Fate Blooms and Fades; A Heart Yearning in the Boudoir, a Wolf-Hearted Man; The Flower Falls Willingly, the Stream Flows Indifferent; Blossoms and Full Moon, Wind Through the Roses…

“Why has that man surnamed Hua suddenly started reading popular romance stories?” Jin Ruo was bewildered. “And every single one of them is about love between men and women.”

Lin Sui’an covered her mouth and said quietly, “Most likely he got some kind of shock on the way back.”

Jin Ruo’s eyes lit up. “Details, please!”

“On our way back, we passed Feihong Bridge over the Jade River. The whole bridge was full of couples — men and women being quite intimate with one another. Hua Yitang happens to be turning seventeen before long. He probably saw the scene and started thinking about spring. That sort of thing, you know,” Lin Sui’an’s eyebrows nearly shot to the top of her head, “a man’s heart, at the right age. Understandable.”

Fangke, dozing in a grand armchair with his eyes closed, gave a disdainful snort and said two words: “Obviously.”

Jin Ruo: “…”

If he remembered correctly, Feihong Bridge was Yidu’s famous spot for romantic pledges. That man surnamed Hua had taken Master there — could it be, could it possibly be — but looking at Master’s expression and demeanor — there was probably, no, there was a ninety-nine percent chance she hadn’t noticed a thing.

Jin Ruo sighed quietly inside. Too tragic. He almost felt sorry for Hua Yitang.

“The case of Qu Hui has been won in full — everyone here deserves full credit. We should drink a proper toast!” Hua Yimeng swept in, her crimson skirt swirling like a red rambling rose blooming beneath the moon, a wine jar in her hand. “Drinks are on me — hm?”

The atmosphere in the room was so heavy it immediately extinguished her mood on arrival.

Lin Sui’an quickly beckoned Hua Yimeng over. Hua Yimeng squeezed in and sat between Lin Sui’an and Jin Ruo, looking puzzled. “What’s this? Is the investigation not going well?”

Lin Sui’an and Jin Ruo both wore expressions of considerable difficulty.

Hua Yimeng smiled, eyes curving. “No matter — as they say, one good drink dissolves a thousand sorrows. This is a White Fragrance wine a friend gave me. Come, let me pour everyone a glass!”

Oh, for goodness’ sake — please don’t add to the chaos!

Lin Sui’an was alarmed enough to instantly snatch the wine jar from Hua Yimeng’s hands and fling it at Jin Ruo, who threw it to Yita, who swiftly swapped it out for a teapot. Yita said coolly: “Third Sister. Wine. Bad. Tea. Good.”

Hua Yimeng laughed helplessly. “All right, all right — tea in place of wine. That works too.”

She poured herself a cup of tea, stood, and drifted over to Ling Zhiyan’s table. Her slender, delicate fingers offered the cup to him. “Sixth Brother, have some tea and take a rest.”

Ling Zhiyan’s shoulders jumped. He looked up at Hua Yimeng for one fleeting instant, then immediately dropped his head. “Thank you for the kind thought — I have no need.”

The sweat on his forehead had grown heavier, his gleaming brow now flushed a deep peach-rose — a perfect complement to Hua Yimeng’s crimson skirt.

Lin Sui’an: “Hopeless — this just made things worse.”

Jin Ruo: “Ling the Sixth is already beyond saving…”

Hua Yimeng tilted her head to observe, then curved her lips and set the teacup on the desk, giving it a gentle push forward before floating gracefully to sit beside Hua Yitang.

Ling Zhiyan let out a long, relieved breath. He darted a glance at the teacup, shifted slightly away from it, and didn’t dare touch it — as if the tea contained some great lurking terror. After a while, seemingly feeling uneasy, he darted a second glance — and then froze. His brow furrowed. He seized one of the embroidery shop ledgers and flipped through it furiously, eyes darting and flashing rapidly. He then spread all three embroidery shop ledgers out side by side and plunged his head straight into them.

“Worthy of Sixth Young Master Ling — exactly like the rumors describe. Stubbornly single-minded,” Hua Yimeng remarked, nudging Hua Yitang. “Fourth Brother, do you two really have anything in common to talk about?”

Hua Yitang didn’t answer her. He was staring blankly at a scroll titled Ten Years Apart, Life and Death Drift into Mist.

Hua Yimeng blinked in surprise and quickly glanced at Mu Xia.

Mu Xia’s gaze traveled from Hua Yitang to Lin Sui’an, then sighed, and traveled back from Lin Sui’an to Hua Yitang. His brow creased into a knot.

Hua Yimeng was even more puzzled. Her eyes darted up, down, left, and right.

Mu Xia’s face was that of a bitter melon, his eyes going left, right, up, and down.

Hua Yimeng let out an “Ah” and covered her mouth. Mu Xia sighed in the world-weary manner of someone much older.

Lin Sui’an and Jin Ruo were completely dumbfounded.

Jin Ruo: “Master, the people of the Hua clan can have entire conversations with their faces.”

Lin Sui’an: “Simply astounding!”

Hua Yimeng shook her head, patted Hua Yitang on the shoulder, and murmured low: “Fourth Brother, your approach is wrong.”

Hua Yitang lifted his head. His eyes were slightly red at the rims. “Does Third Sister have any advice to offer?”

Hua Yimeng sighed helplessly, motioned for Hua Yitang to walk with her to the window away from the others, and at the same time tossed Mu Xia a meaningful glance. Mu Xia understood at once — he immediately called Yita over, moved close to Lin Sui’an and Jin Ruo, and began chattering idly about nothing in particular.

Hua Yimeng gazed out the window at Lake Mochou, her eyes shimmering. The lake lay still as a mirror, reflecting the silver crescent moon — like another sky altogether.

“A woman’s heart is as vast as a boundless sea, but for a man, there is perhaps only a tiny needle resting at the bottom of that ocean. The chance to see that needle is rare — fleeting — and if the feeling is not sincere, it can never be found. Fourth Brother, your life has been full of hardship — you grew up mature and sensible far too young. In every other respect you are wonderful, except — you are too sensible.” Hua Yimeng sighed. “Elder Brother, Second Sister, and I have all been worried about you. We fear that your nature is too kind, your heart too soft — that you may blur your own true feelings and mistake friendship for love…”

Hua Yitang was silent for a moment. “It isn’t that.”

Hua Yimeng: “Hm?”

“What I feel for Lin Sui’an is not that kind of feeling.” The moonlight reflected in the lake shone in Hua Yitang’s eyes — like another deep and devoted sea. “It is an unwavering devotion. A feeling that will not accept anyone but her.”

Hua Yimeng blinked. “You’re that certain?”

Hua Yitang nodded. “Certain.”

Hua Yimeng gave a long “Oh,” and raised her eyebrows high. “How are you certain?”

“When she smiles, I’m happy. When she doesn’t, I’m troubled. When she’s hurt, my heart aches terribly. When she’s magnificent and unstoppable, I cheer her on with everything I have. And as for anything that belongs to her — no one else is allowed to touch it.”

Hua Yimeng’s eyebrows went higher still. “You’ve said she is your partner — isn’t all of that perfectly normal?”

Hua Yitang’s throat moved. His speech suddenly grew rapid. “When she laughs and chats with Ling the Sixth, I feel sour inside.”

“Oh?”

Hua Yitang puffed out his cheeks. “And it’s not only Ling the Sixth. There’s also Jin Ruo, Bai Ruyi, Bai Xiang — and especially that Yun Zhong Yue character, whom I find particularly grating!”

Hua Yimeng’s eyes went wide. She thought to herself — her Fourth Brother didn’t have a jar of vinegar inside him. He had an entire sea of it.

“When did this start?” Hua Yimeng asked. “I mean — when did Fourth Brother first notice these feelings growing for Lin Niangzi?”

Hua Yitang’s expression faltered. He turned his head stiffly, frame by frame, and said rigidly: “I forgot.”

Hua Yimeng burst out laughing.

Hua Yitang’s ears went red. He drew a deep breath. “So — what must I do to find that needle at the bottom of the sea?”

“As for that —” Hua Yimeng looked somewhat at a loss. “Shameful to say, but Third Sister has no experience in this either —”

This time it was Hua Yitang who was startled. “Third Sister has had so many failed suitors — and you say you have no experience?”

“You also said they were failed suitors. What use is that?”

“A woman’s heart can only be understood clearly by another woman.” Hua Yimeng patted Hua Yitang on the shoulder. “Perhaps you should ask a woman with experience — she might be able to give you some useful perspective.”

Hua Yitang furrowed his brow, looking deeply aggrieved, and returned to his pile of romance scrolls. Hua Yimeng glided over to sit beside Lin Sui’an, propped her chin in her hand, and studied her — the more she looked, the more pleased she was. This little young woman: skilled in martial arts, straightforward in nature, valiant and bright-eyed, her gaze clear and unguarded. Truly — her Fourth Brother had impeccable taste.

Lin Sui’an’s hairs were all standing on end. “Is Third Sister here for something?”

Hua Yimeng smiled beautifully. “All is very well.”

Lin Sui’an: “…”

What does that even mean?

At that very moment, Hua Yitang and Ling Zhiyan suddenly leapt to their feet simultaneously, both shouting: “I’ve got it!”

Lin Sui’an nearly jumped out of her skin. Jin Ruo almost choked to death on a white sugar cake — he pounded his chest repeatedly. “Good heavens, you nearly scared me to death!”

Hua Yitang: “We should go to Hongxiang Quarter — it has the greatest number of women!”

Ling Zhiyan: “There is one more name in the ledger — someone who, like Duan Hongning and Minian, frequently ordered Lian Xiaoshuang’s embroidery work.”

Hua Yitang: “The one with the richest experience in such matters is none other than Hongxiang Quarter’s foremost courtesan, Duan Hongning.”

Ling Zhiyan: “This person is the proprietress of a tea house — her name is Xue Qiu, and the tea house is called Qiuyue Tea House.”

Hua Yitang: “First thing tomorrow morning, Hua will go and pay Madam Duan a visit!”

Ling Zhiyan: “First thing tomorrow morning, I will go and pay Madam Xue a visit!”

Neither of them seemed to have heard the other at all. In any case, they fired off their declarations like strings of firecrackers — then immediately gathered up their dossiers and scrolls and swept out of the room in a gust of wind.

Everyone else: “…”

That was complete and utter nonsense on both sides. What on earth was any of that?

Hua Yimeng blinked. “Qiuyue House… what a coincidence…”

Jin Ruo: “Those two — they haven’t snapped from the pressure and gone off the deep end, have they?”

Lin Sui’an shrugged, as if to say: The hearts of men, needles at the bottom of the sea — utterly impossible to read.

Fangke yawned, swayed to his feet, and muttered as he shuffled off: “One who dares to teach, one who dares to learn — not surprising, both of the same Hua bloodline. Both equally unreliable.”

Mini Theater

“When did Fourth Brother first notice these feelings growing for Lin Niangzi?”

“I forgot.”

In truth, Hua Yitang remembered perfectly well.

It had been in Yangdu. After Lin Sui’an’s great battle with Dong Chao — covered in blood, no regard for her own life, she had saved him.

The night after, Hua Yitang dreamed of Lin Sui’an.

In the dream, he was tending to the wound on her shoulder.

In the dream, he saw the skin of her shoulder.

Then Hua Yitang woke up.

And discovered that beneath his quilt, his trousers had acquired a wet map…

That sort of thing — even someone as thick-skinned as Hua Yitang found it too embarrassing to ever speak aloud.