Lang Jiuchuan had no particular interest in the dark inner workings of the Earl’s household. Her business here was now, for all intents and purposes, concluded. The new bone-setting physician arrived at just the right moment, and confirmed everything she had said — after which he began the work of properly resetting the bone. She took the opportunity to bid her farewells.

Xiao Zheng Shi had no desire to stay and watch Tang Bozhen’s pitiful performance. She walked Lang Jiuchuan out herself. As they went, Lang Jiuchuan pointed out several adjustments to be made to the courtyard’s geomantic arrangement. The name “Falling Blossom Courtyard” was inauspicious and would certainly need to be changed. The position of the side kitchen would need to be moved as well. The willow trees and the pond would have to be filled in and cleared away, replaced with a pomegranate tree — a symbol of abundant descendants — while the flying eaves along the outer wall would need to be repaired and restructured.

Xiao Zheng Shi remarked that if she truly remained, she would simply move to a different courtyard entirely, as she had no desire to go on feeling unsettled in her own home. Then she added, “The way things have blown up today, who knows if this marriage can even be salvaged.”

“Although all of this has certainly been galling,” Lang Jiuchuan said in an unhurried tone, “he is in fact your destined partner. Once you pass through this trial, you will be able to grow old together. His character will also settle and mature somewhat after this. People are often prone to the feeling of once bitten, twice shy — but no irreversible mistake has yet been made. It may be worth giving each other a chance.”

Xiao Zheng Shi fell into quiet thought.

Lang Jiuchuan gave her a safety talisman to wear close to her body, and instructed her to spend more time in sunlight to help dispel the excess yin energy that had accumulated within her. Then she took her leave.

Xiao Zheng Shi had Nanny Wang see her out. Before she went, she had the incense burner tripod wrapped in red silk and given to Lang Jiuchuan along with a sum of gold as payment. “I do not dare touch that incense burner in the slightest,” she said. “Little Master, please take it with you. Once I am fully recovered, I will come to your door in person to pay my proper respects and thanks.”

Lang Jiuchuan accepted it without ceremony. As she was leaving through the inner gate, she happened to encounter Tang Bohong. He walked toward her and said he wanted a word in private.

“Who exactly are you? Do you not know that some things are better left alone?” Tang Bohong’s venomous serpent eyes fixed on her with a cold and sinister light.

Lang Jiuchuan did not yield an inch, and her voice was even colder than his. “Is that a threat? What — have your good days finally run out, that you’ve come to bare your teeth at me? And do you truly think you have the ability to touch a hair on my head?”

“You —!”

“If I were you, I’d spend more time playing the pitiful victim in front of your father. That way, when the whole family gets sent back to their ancestral home, there might at least be a little more money in the bag for the road.” Lang Jiuchuan gave a contemptuous laugh. “On the way back to your hometown, you had best accumulate some good deeds. Otherwise, mind yourself — there may be blood and disaster waiting for you on that road. This reading — I give it to you for free. No need to thank me.”

With that, she brushed past him and walked away.

Tang Bohong was both shaken and furious — though fear overwhelmed everything else. She had said he would be sent back to his ancestral home. That meant everything he had done in the shadows would ultimately be dragged into the light and settled against him.

Tang Bohong’s legs gave way beneath him, and he sank down where he stood, his expression blank and vacant. From somewhere came the sound of a voice saying drawing water with a bamboo basket — all effort, nothing gained. His face twisted into a smile more wretched than weeping.

Everything was finished.

Ten Thousand Affairs Shop.

Shen Qinghe had already drunk two cups of tea and could not help glancing toward the door every few moments. Why was this child taking so long?

Sitting beside him was a man of similar age — stern-faced, radiating authority. Watching Shen Qinghe squirm and fidget as if there were nails in his seat, the man said, “The person won’t vanish. If she doesn’t return today, she’ll be here tomorrow. What are you so anxious about?”

Shen Qinghe shot him a glare. “And who’s all of this for? I’m only managing to bring you here now because I haven’t yet reported to the Surveillance Division — otherwise you’d be lucky to find me with any spare time at all. Zeng Jichuan, have a conscience.”

“Even if you had no time, I could come on my own.” Zeng Jichuan picked up the teapot to refill his cup. The spout tilted off-center. Shen Qinghe quickly shifted the cup into alignment. His expression was not pleasant — he pressed his lips into a flat line. The man was going so blind, and yet he still insisted on being stubborn about it.

Even with someone’s help repositioning the cup, Zeng Jichuan still managed to overfill it. Tea sloshed over the rim.

Shen Qinghe could not help himself. “We really cannot put this off any longer.”

“Am I the one who has been putting it off?” Zeng Jichuan gave a wry smile. “The only physician willing to operate on these eyes is Director Ou, and even his own son doesn’t have the skill for it. As for other physicians — I don’t dare risk it. In truth, you need not be so fixated on this. Everyone has their own heaven-appointed fate. If heaven truly intends for me to go blind — then so be it. When the time comes, I’ll retire from office. That’s all.”

Shen Qinghe snorted coldly. “Ask your own conscience — do you really feel at peace with that? You are barely fifty years old. What is this talk of retirement? And it’s only because you haven’t yet accumulated enough seniority — otherwise, when our teacher retired back then, why would it have fallen to that Chen fellow to —”

“Cough, cough, cough.” Zeng Jichuan cut him off with a cough. “Watch your words.”

Shen Qinghe fell silent. Then he said, “The point is — don’t mention retirement. I’m still counting on you to make it to Minister one day and promote me a few ranks.”

Zeng Jichuan looked toward him. He could still make out a rough shape — not entirely blind yet — and said, “If you truly don’t want to go to that Surveillance Division, while I still hold this position, I can still help you maneuver around it somewhat. I say — you should never have raised that matter in the first place. Now you’ve gone and trapped yourself, and from here on you’ll have no end of dealings with those Daoist practitioners.”

Shen Qinghe immediately said, “When you meet our young friend Lang a moment from now, you absolutely cannot speak of her like that. She is different — and if you insult her, I’m taking her side regardless.”

Even with his failing eyesight, Zeng Jichuan could read Shen Qinghe’s face well enough. He gave a scornful laugh. “Look how worked up you are — anyone who didn’t know better would think she was your own daughter.”

“I’d be glad of it — I’m just not so fortunate.” Shen Qinghe said, disgruntled. “And you needn’t pity me either. I’m willing enough to go to the Surveillance Division. It is still investigating cases, still serving the people’s cause — just the ones I’ll be facing from here on might not be human, that’s all.”

Zeng Jichuan’s eyelid twitched. “You genuinely dare to do this? Is it true, then, that this world has demons and ghosts that harm people?”

Shen Qinghe said lightly, “Why would I not dare? If I hadn’t experienced it firsthand, how would I still be sitting here talking to you? It was precisely because I witnessed it myself that I know — the world is vast, and nothing in it is beyond the realm of possibility. And some practitioners of the occult arts are not entirely upright — they use their knowledge to do things that harm others, damage the natural order, and accumulate grave wrongs.”

“So that’s why you’ve taken to weeping at the drop of a hat these days — whimpering and sniffling like a woman — it’s all because that unusual experience changed your temperament.” Zeng Jichuan deliberately put on a mocking smile.

“What would you know about it!” That experience had hollowed out his spine — otherwise, he too would have been a man who bled without shedding tears.

The two of them were still squabbling back and forth when the burly yet somewhat world-weary shop manager, Fu, walked to the doorway. “The proprietor has returned.”

Shen Qinghe rose at once and followed him to the entrance. Sure enough, he saw Lang Jiuchuan walking toward them. The expression on his face softened into something like that of a doting father.

Lang Jiuchuan saw him and gave a slight nod. Once she stepped through the door of the Ten Thousand Affairs Shop, she caught sight of a middle-aged man sitting inside, and smiled. “On my way back, I drew a hexagram — it said an honored guest had come to call. And indeed, that proves true. My greetings to you, sir.”

Zeng Jichuan’s eyes were failing him, and he could only see Lang Jiuchuan from a distance, the shape of her offering a cupped-hand salute. He raised a hand in return, making a great effort to focus his gaze in her direction. “This old man has certain inconveniences — I hope our young friend will not take offense.”

He had been sufficiently gracious, surely. That ought to be enough to shut Shen Qinghe’s mouth.

Lang Jiuchuan noticed his condition, and raised an eyebrow slightly. An eye ailment?