When he reached Qin Yao’s side, Lin Xiao’s expression had returned to its earlier calm. He glanced at Wang Yingning and Qin Yuan standing beside Qin Yao, then said to Qin Yao, “Miss Qu, I just ran into your brother outside the garden. He was looking everywhere for you — it seems there’s something urgent. He’s over that way. Shall I lead you to him?”

Qin Yao looked at Lin Xiao with suspicion. She hesitated a moment, then nodded. “All right. Thank you for showing the way, my lord.”

As she spoke, she shot a quick glance at Wang Yingning and Qin Yuan. She saw Wang Yingning tilt her head slightly, her gaze drifting to some unseen corner of the garden, her expression serene and distant. Qin Yuan, meanwhile, had flushed scarlet, her head drooping so far it nearly touched her chest.

Lin Xiao gave Qin Yao no time to linger. He turned and walked briskly out of the garden. Qin Yao had no choice but to quickly say her farewells to Wang and Qin and follow along behind him.

They exited the garden and arrived at a secluded spot. Qin Yao looked left and right — there was no sign of her brother anywhere.

“My lord, has there been a development in the Dali Court case?” Qin Yao asked, suspecting nothing and speaking up directly.

Lin Xiao had no mind for any Dali Court case. He went straight to the point. “Did Xia Di bully you just now?”

Had he not run into Jiang Sanlang at the banquet earlier, he would never have known Qin Yao was at the Wei Duke’s estate tonight, let alone that she had been harassed by Xia Di.

Qin Yao’s expression cooled. She said flatly, “I had always thought the Wei Duke’s estate — a great household of a hundred years’ standing — would produce sons and daughters who are all well-read and well-mannered. I never expected Young Master Xia to be such a tiresome and presumptuous person. I’ve already taught him a lesson. He most likely won’t dare to trouble me again.”

Although Lin Xiao had already more or less pieced together what had happened, hearing it confirmed from Qin Yao’s own lips still left him stifling a surge of irritation. He was quiet for a long moment, then said in a low voice, “Don’t worry. Something like this will never happen again.”

The moment Qin Yao heard these words — this near-promise — she was caught off guard. The sounds of the world around her seemed suddenly to be shut out by some invisible force, and in that instant, everything went silent.

Lin Xiao saw the startled look on her face and felt a flush of heat in his own. But the words were already out — what use was there in hedging now? He decided to simply follow his own heart. Using the lantern light from the garden, he let his gaze travel over her unhurriedly.

He rarely saw her dressed in finery, especially in a color as soft and alluring as apricot blossom pink. He found it indescribably refreshing, the kind of sight one never tired of. The style was the fashionable court lady’s skirt, its chest-high bodice tied close, showing only the delicate, fine collarbone beneath. The fabric of the skirt clung to her figure as it fell, hinting at the gentle curves of a young woman’s form.

A sound like a clap of thunder rang through Lin Xiao’s mind. He swiftly looked away. The dynasty’s customs were open — many women considered it a point of pride to display their charms, the palace ladies especially — and in his years he had seen no shortage of alluring sights. Yet not a single one had ever affected him the way Qin Yao did, with that quality of hers that was at once tender and green, yet stirring to the imagination.

Qin Yao was still quietly flustered by Lin Xiao’s earlier words and hadn’t noticed the frankness of his gaze. In that moment, one of them was lost in wandering thoughts, the other sunk in private conjecture, and together they fell into a brief silence.

Just as neither of them knew how to break the awkwardness, the sound of quick, pattering footsteps came from nearby, and a voice called out in their direction: “Eleventh Brother! Eleventh Brother! Where are you?”

The instant Lin Xiao heard that voice, a pained look came over his face. He glanced around quickly, then grabbed Qin Yao by the arm and pulled her back toward the flowerbeds behind them. The bushes stood about the height of a person, their leaves thick and full — just enough to conceal them both.

Qin Yao’s eyes went wide with surprise. Lin Xiao quickly made a hushing gesture at her. She had no choice but to follow Lin Xiao obediently into hiding behind the shrubbery, all the while consumed with curiosity — who on earth could make Lin Xiao so wary?

Holding her breath, she peered out through the gaps in the foliage and saw a young girl running toward them from a distance. When the girl drew near, she let out a puzzled “Hmm?” and looked around in all directions. “Has Eleventh Brother left this spot?” It was none other than the haughty Princess Kangping.

Before long, another young woman came walking slowly behind her, equally puzzled, yet without Kangping’s dramatic flair — she simply furrowed her brow and looked around carefully.

“A’Yan, why did you come too? Didn’t you say you had something to attend to and send me alone to look for Eleventh Brother?” Kangping said, visibly surprised when she suddenly spotted Xia Yan behind her.

A flicker of discomfort passed across Xia Yan’s face. She said softly, “I was worried about you — afraid you’d go and get lost by yourself again — so I had to follow you. Well? Did you see Eleventh Brother?”

“No sign of him. He must have gone elsewhere. Let’s look somewhere else.”

“That can’t be right. I clearly saw Eleventh Brother come this way just now.” Xia Yan looked puzzled and showed no intention of giving up.

Qin Yao raised an eyebrow. What a piece of work, this Miss Xia — it was obviously she who wanted to find this so-called “Eleventh Brother,” yet she had pushed someone else out in front to do it for her. And that Princess Kangping was no less strange: she had a perfectly lovely face, yet was so thoroughly guileless, not even realizing she was being used. Hmm, wait — this “Eleventh Brother” they kept mentioning couldn’t actually be Lin Xiao, could it?

She turned to look at Lin Xiao, only to find him gazing at Xia Yan with a thoughtful expression.

At long last the two girls moved on. Qin Yao was just about to speak when she happened to lower her head and noticed that Lin Xiao was still holding her hand. Her face instantly went red. She quickly withdrew her hand.

Lin Xiao was more embarrassed than he had ever been in his life. He wanted to explain himself, but felt that would only make things worse. So he simply brazened it out and said, “Kangping has a reckless nature. I was afraid that if she saw us together, she would trumpet it everywhere and harm your reputation.”

Not a single word about his own impropriety.

Qin Yao gave an uneasy little cough. After a moment’s silence, she thought of something and rose on her toes to peer outside. “It’s getting late. The poetry gathering in the garden has most likely already begun. If you have no further business, my lord, I’ll take my leave now.” She smiled at Lin Xiao, then turned and walked around the shrubs and away.

Without thinking, Lin Xiao followed Qin Yao two steps, still wanting to find some excuse to say a few more words to her. Then he reconsidered — this place was busy with people coming and going, and if anyone saw the two of them leaving together, it could bring Qin Yao unnecessary trouble. He could only stop himself.

Qin Yao hurried out to the small path before the garden, where she happened to run into Qu Ziyu and Feng Boyu, who had entered the garden together. Beside the two of them stood a young man with a broad, square face and wide lips — who seemed, vaguely, to be the Young Master Wang who had been falsely accused of being a killer at Pingkang Lane the last time.

“Brother, Elder Brother Feng.” Qin Yao stopped and greeted her brother and Feng Boyu.

Qu Ziyu saw the distracted look on his sister’s face and cast a puzzled glance behind her. “Why are you coming from that direction?”

“There were too many people in the garden — it was stuffy. I came out for a little walk.” Qin Yao had nearly forgotten that her brother was not easy to fool, and she hurriedly pulled herself together to answer carefully.

Feng Boyu always found his spirits inexplicably lifted whenever he saw Qu Ziyu’s younger sister. Tonight she had her hair up in a pair of round, looping buns, like something carved of pink jade — utterly adorable. He couldn’t help himself and laughed, “A’Yao, your brother was looking for you all over the evening banquet just now. Unfortunately, there were too many people and he couldn’t find you. All your favorite dishes were on the banquet table tonight — did you get to eat them? That roasted venison was truly exceptional.”

At the mention of food, the turbulent emotions swirling in Qin Yao’s heart seemed to dissipate considerably. She nodded with great gravity. “The meat was reasonably tender and juicy, but it still fell a little short of Fuchun House’s roasted venison — lacked a bit more time over the fire.”

“Oh? Fuchun House’s venison is really that remarkable? I’ll have to go see for myself next time I have the chance.” Feng Boyu had only recently arrived in Chang’an and had not yet visited many places. Hearing this from Qin Yao, he couldn’t help but grow a little curious.

Wang Yikun, who was generally easygoing by nature, chimed in from the side. “Indeed! And never mind Fuchun House’s roasted venison — the real treasure is their Lingsha braised meat. Now that is something truly rare in this world.”

“Exactly, exactly!” Qin Yao clapped her hands and laughed. “Every time I go to Fuchun House, I must order the Lingsha braised meat. The pity of it is that the proprietor doesn’t light the stove on the third, fifth, or seventh of each month, so you can’t always get it.”

The three of them began chatting back and forth.

Qu Ziyu stood to one side, rubbing his chin in bewilderment, wondering how the conversation had veered all the way to Chang’an’s finest foods.

Xia Yan was just walking toward the gate with Kangping when she unexpectedly saw Qin Yao entering with Qu Ziyu and the others. She immediately and unobtrusively looked past Qin Yao at those behind her. Seeing no sign of Lin Xiao, the tension in her expression involuntarily eased.

Kangping, however, stared wide-eyed at Feng Boyu. “You — you — you, why are you here?!”

Feng Boyu’s smile faded. He said evenly, “That’s a strange thing to say, Your Highness. Naturally, I received an invitation from the Wei Duke’s estate.”

Xia Yan noticed that Kangping’s manner was strangely flustered — far from her usual ease — and so she gave Feng Boyu a curious look of appraisal. Though his clothes were simple, he had the bearing and looks of a fine piece of jade — a man of uncommon distinction, a rare beauty among men. In an instant, she understood something of the situation.

At this moment, the Xia brothers, Xia Lan and Xia Di, also came out from the garden together. Seeing Qu Ziyu and the others, Xia Lan smiled and said, “What a rare occasion — all three prize-winners are here together. The poetry competition tonight ought to be lively indeed. Please, come into the garden.”

Qu Ziyu and the others laughed and exchanged modest salutes with Xia Lan.

Xia Di let his gaze slide discreetly over Qin Yao. Seeing her cold and frost-like expression, not even deigning to glance his way, he felt embarrassed and rubbed his nose, smiling, as he ushered the group into the garden.

The garden was tremendously lively.

Xia Yan had shown remarkable creativity, having the servants set out chairs early, arranging two rows of seats in the middle of the garden. Before each guest was placed a small plum-blossom table with sweets and fruits, along with a jug of fine wine and a small cup so everyone could pour for themselves. Young men and women sat down without regard to the distance or closeness of their relationships, which made it easy for people to get to know one another.

By now quite a few guests had already taken their seats under the servants’ guidance. In the center stood a person reciting something with great dramatic flair, now and again drawing smothered giggles from the young ladies.

Qin Yao looked more carefully and saw that this person had a plump, stocky build, his flesh jiggling with every movement — none other than the Young Master Kong who had scalded his hand in the pavilion earlier.

His chubby face was covered in an oily sheen of sweat. Holding a sheet of snowy white writing paper, he declaimed grandly: “I ask where the bright moon can be found — it dwells in solitude over the Wei Duke’s estate. The tree peony and the Chinese peony both lose their color, for the finest beauty holds sway above all.”

When he had finished, he gave a deep bow toward the Miss Chen whose dress had been soaked earlier and announced, “An impromptu composition, offered to the beauty I hold in my heart. I humbly solicit everyone’s correction.”

Miss Chen’s face turned iron-gray. Everyone else was suppressing laughter. Someone called out encouragingly, “A masterwork! A masterwork! Young Master Kong the Second truly lives up to his fame — what a splendid poem! You’ve truly left us all astonished!”

“You flatter me! You flatter me! In everything else I am thoroughly average, but when it comes to composing poetry and rhymes, I suppose I do have some modest insight.” Kong Weide accepted this graciously and without the slightest awareness that his admirer was being sarcastic.

Xia Di, laughing with barely concealed amusement, led Qu Ziyu and the others to their seats. He said to Kong Weide with a smile, “Brother Kong, some of your kindred spirits have just arrived here. One is this year’s top scholar Qu Ziyu, one is the second-place graduate Feng Boyu, and the third, Young Master Wang Yikun of the Wang family — I’m sure you know him already. What a fine opportunity tonight — why don’t you all show each other your mettle?”

Kong Weide cast a haughty glance at Qu Ziyu and the others, casually exchanging a brief salute. “Dare not, dare not. Poetry and verse are by nature the most refined and unhurried of pursuits. To compete for the satisfaction of worldly vanity would reduce them to something common. I have never cared for such empty fame, and tonight shall be no different.”

Xia Lan smiled. “Well said, Young Master Kong. Tonight’s gathering is about friendship through poetry — the verse is secondary, and having a good time is what truly matters.”

Someone said mischievously, “Could it be that Young Master Kong simply doesn’t dare to compete now that the top three graduates are here — afraid of losing face if he loses?”

“Nonsense! Sheer nonsense!” Kong Weide was furious. “I have never been afraid to lose in poetry, I simply consider it beneath me!”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Just as Qin Yao’s party were about to take their seats, someone walked over from the seating area and called out to Wang Yikun: “Brother.”

Qin Yao turned to look and saw Wang Yingning. She was a little surprised. She looked from Wang Yikun’s dark, broad, square face to Wang Yingning’s fair, smooth, oval face, and felt it was truly hard to believe — not every pair of siblings in the world resembled each other the way she and her own brother did.

“Third Sister.” Wang Yikun rose quickly and made introductions for Wang Yingning. “These are two of my fellow students: Young Master Qu Ziyu and Young Master Feng Boyu. And this is Miss Qu, Young Master Qu’s sister.”

Wang Yingning greeted Qu Ziyu and Feng Boyu, then took Qin Yao’s arm and smiled warmly. “Miss Qu and I already met at the evening banquet earlier.”

The five of them settled in together nearby.

Nearby, someone was whispering: “Oh? The Crown Prince and Prince Wu have come as well? The Wei Duke’s estate is truly bustling tonight.”

Qin Yao and the others looked around, and sure enough, they saw a group of people ushering in two handsomely dressed, strikingly good-looking young men.

Qin Yao recognized the pair as the two young men who had been drinking with Lin Xiao at Donglai House last time. The older of the two was presumably the Crown Prince — he had a warm, jade-like appearance with a scholar’s bearing. The younger must be Prince Wu — his build was lean and tall, his features fine and handsome, but his bearing carried a hint of proud aloofness. He was turning to say something to Xia Yan.

Before long, Kangping and Lin Xiao entered as well. Lin Xiao was tall with long legs and walked at a swift pace; Kangping was nearly running just to keep up. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she stopped in place, stamped her foot, and shouted, “Eleventh Brother!”

Only then did Lin Xiao stop and wait for her, a faint trace of resignation in his expression.

The party came forward, and everyone rose to greet them.

After the exchange of greetings, Xia Yan pulled them all up to the empty seats at the head of the arrangement and smiled. “Our estate has no distinctions of rank tonight. Don’t think that because you’re Kangping and Eleventh Brother, or even Crown Prince Brother, you get to sit apart from the rest of us. When the drum-passing game reaches you, you’ll have to recite poetry just like everyone else.”

The Crown Prince was in high spirits and laughed. “Of course. Though since I’ve always been quite mediocre at poetry, if I truly can’t produce anything — might I be permitted to substitute a cup of wine instead?”

“You still have to drink the wine, but Crown Prince Brother plays the flute so beautifully — you’ll also have to play a piece of ‘Plum Blossom Introduction’ as an additional forfeit.” Xia Yan spoke with a playful pout, her smile lovely and gentle.

Prince Wu gazed at her without looking away, and laughed. “So tonight is a banquet with a hidden trap. What am I to do — Seventh Brother here can neither write poetry nor play an instrument, so I’m bound to make a spectacle of myself.”

“But Seventh Brother’s calligraphy and painting are so outstanding — wouldn’t it be elegant to create a piece of ink-and-wash painting right here on the spot?” Xia Yan smiled sweetly.

The group laughed and chatted as they settled down.

Everyone in the garden was at the age for youth and high spirits. Even those of a quieter, more reserved nature found themselves livened up by the warm, animated atmosphere around them. The whole garden filled with a buzzing chorus of chatter and laughter.

Qin Yao caught the fragrant scent of the wine on the plum-blossom table before her, and her craving got the better of her. She quietly poured herself a cup and sipped it. The taste was rich, smooth, and fragrant — more enticing than any wine she had tasted before. She sighed in pleasure and murmured under her breath with a satisfied smile, “Excellent wine! Excellent wine!”

Feng Boyu saw this and, without noticing it himself, a smile spread across his face.

Qu Ziyu frowned and cautioned Qin Yao: “Drink less. Tomorrow morning you’ll be wailing that your head aches.”

“I know, I know.” Qin Yao winked at Wang Yingning. “My brother is wonderful in every way, but his habit of managing everyone is a bit much. Sometimes he’s even more nagging than my mother — I’ve started to wonder if he got his top scholar title by out-nagging everyone else.”

Wang Yingning smiled, pressing her lips together. She glanced sideways at Qu Ziyu, and at that same moment Qu Ziyu looked helplessly toward Qin Yao. Their gazes met by accident. Both were a little awkward. They gave each other a brief nod, then calmly looked away.

At this moment, a rapid drumbeat sounded — the first round of the drum-and-flower-passing game had begun.