Chen Qushui sat in the home of his old friend, Wu Zhipeng. Wu was five years his senior, and they had passed the provincial examinations together. Despite repeated failures in the imperial exams, Wu’s wealthy family continued to support him until he finally passed at the age of fifty-one. By then, he had lost interest in an official career. With both his sons having passed the imperial exams, Wu was content to live as a retired gentleman at home.

Years ago, when Chen’s family fortunes declined, he had come to the capital seeking Wu’s help.

Seeing Chen, Wu sighed with emotion. “If you were still alive, why didn’t you come to me? When I heard Duke Ding had killed Zhang Kai to appease the city god, I thought you had perished too.” He continued, “Had I known, I shouldn’t have recommended you to Zhang Kai. Lord Ye had also appreciated your talents. If you had stayed with the Ye family, even if you couldn’t pass the exams, you could have easily secured a position as an instructor in a prefecture or county. It was just your bad luck—shortly after you left the Ye household, Lord Ye was appointed Grand Secretary!”

The Lord Ye he referred to was Ye Shipei, a former Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet.

“How could this be your fault?” Chen felt embarrassed recalling the past. “If anyone’s to blame, it’s my youthful arrogance. When I heard Zhang Kai was guarding Fujian, I was eager to join the fight against the Japanese pirates. But at Zhang’s residence, I couldn’t help but flaunt the fact that Lord Ye had once favored me. This irritated Zhang, and instead of being valued, I was marginalized. Over the years, whenever I thought of this, I felt I had let you down and was too ashamed to face you.”

“We’re old friends. There’s no need for such formality,” Wu said, observing Chen closely. He noticed that while Chen’s clothes weren’t extravagant, they were neat and made of fine material. A white jade pendant from Hotan hung at his waist, its luster suggesting it was no ordinary piece. Wu surmised that Chen must have been doing well these past few years. Cutting to the chase, he asked, “Have you come to me because you’re facing some difficulty?”

As a Beijing native known for his generosity, Wu had extensive connections. One son was a prefect in Jingzhou, Huguang, while the other was a county magistrate in Tongxiang, Zhejiang. With three generations of jinshi degree holders in the family, they had numerous friends and fellow graduates. Many out-of-towners sought Wu’s help when they encountered problems in the capital.

Chen, having come prepared to ask for help, didn’t hide anything. He recounted how he had returned home from Fujian, met Dou Zhao, gained her favor, and became her advisor. He then explained how Dou Zhao was betrothed to Yi Jia and engaged to Song Yantang, the heir of Duke Ying’s family.

Wu had heard of the Dou family from North Tower, though he had no direct dealings with them.

Shocked, Wu exclaimed, “How could Lord Dou be so careless? Even so, he shouldn’t have hastily married off his daughter!” He continued, “Since you work for the Dou family, you must have inquired about the heir of Duke Ying’s family. How could he have killed all his guards for no reason, especially so soon after his mother’s death? Something unspeakable happened in that household, and they’re silencing witnesses.

How could the Dou family bear to marry their daughter into the Song family?” He advised, “Why don’t you take this opportunity to resign? Though I’m just a country gentleman, I can still provide for you. If you’re uncomfortable staying here, I could recommend you as a tutor to Grand Secretary Yao Shizhong’s household. Yao is from Jingzhou, Huguang, where my son is posted. I’m close with the chief steward of Yao’s household, and they happen to need a tutor. It’s just teaching a few young masters, light work with generous pay. Yao’s family would surely grant me this small favor.”

Chen was deeply grateful.

Although he knew the truth behind Song Mo’s killings, it was too sensitive to share with Wu. Instead, he said, “The fourth young lady of the Dou family has shown me great kindness. If she were to marry well, I could consider resigning, but it wouldn’t be right to say such things now.” He politely declined Wu’s offer.

“You!” Wu shook his head, both disappointed and admiring. “Still the same temperament as before, not changed a bit.”

Chen smiled sheepishly and said, “I’ve come to you precisely about the matter of Duke Ying’s heir!”

“Oh?” Wu looked at him, puzzled.

Chen explained, “Three men make a tiger. I also find the heir’s killing of his guards suspicious. I was hoping you could help me inquire about the heir’s childhood from his wet nurse.”

“That’s easy enough,” Wu smiled. “For powerful noble families like Duke Ying’s, wet nurses are often chosen from the Wet Nurse Bureau. A quick inquiry in Daxing or Wanping counties should suffice. But what exactly do you want to know?”

Chen realized he had come to the right person.

The Wet Nurse Bureau often selected nurses from Daxing and Wanping counties. Chen had already found out who Song Mo’s wet nurse was. However, given his sensitive position and the fact that his associates were familiar with Song Mo’s subordinates, he feared that sending someone to inquire might arouse Song Mo’s suspicion. Song Mo might think it was Dou Zhao’s idea, which could backfire.

After much consideration, he decided to ask for Wu’s help.

“As the saying goes, a child’s character is set by age three. I’d like to know if anything unusual happened during the heir’s early years. How did Lady Jiang treat the heir after his birth? How did Duke Ying treat him? Why was the heir sent to the Jiang family to learn martial arts at such a young age? Was it because he was too mischievous and needed Duke Ding’s discipline? How did the heir treat those around him…”

“Wait, wait,” Wu interrupted with a laugh. “This isn’t just a few questions; you’re practically investigating their entire family history! I’m getting on in years and can’t remember all this. I’ll call for Wu Sheng. You can give him your instructions directly!”

Wu Sheng was Wu Zhipeng’s attendant, known for his intelligence and reliability. He handled all important matters for the Wu family. Chen, of course, knew of him and quickly expressed his thanks.

“When did you become so fussy?” Wu teased. “If you keep this up, I’ll throw you out!”

Chen apologized again, his manner becoming more relaxed and less formal.

After giving Wu Sheng the details of what to inquire about, Wu Zhipeng said, “Do you remember Xiao Shuqin? He’s now working as an advisor for the Marquis of Changxing. After you left Beijing, he often came to visit. Since you’re here, why don’t we invite him over for a drink?”

Chen had met Xiao Shuqin when he was working as an advisor in Beijing, and they hadn’t seen each other for over twenty years.

Hearing that Xiao was working for the Marquis of Changxing, Chen’s interest was piqued. He eagerly agreed and urged Wu to extend the invitation.

As Wu made arrangements, he told Chen about Xiao: “…He’s not as talented as you. After seven or eight years with the Marquis of Changxing, he’s still just writing elegies and invitations. He’s never managed to get close to the Marquis himself. He’s just getting by, I suppose!”

Chen smiled, “Noble households are different from official families. Even officials sometimes struggle to secure positions for themselves, let alone for their advisors. It seems Brother Shuqin has grown tired of working for official families and is content to retire in the Marquis’s household.”

Wu pondered this and laughed, “You have a point. He does seem quite leisurely and carefree these days.”

Chen then steered the conversation towards the noble families in Beijing, eventually circling back to Duke Ying, Song Yichun: “…I hear he holds a xiucai degree and was given command of the Front Army of the Five Military Commissions just after turning thirty. He must be quite talented!”

While civilian officials appointed generals, military officials commanded troops. Although the Minister of War was a civilian, troop movements had to go through the Five Military Commissions, with five Commanding Marshals holding tiger tallies appointed by the Emperor as his true confidants.

“He can write a couple of mediocre poems, that’s true,” Wu’s assessment of Song Yichun wasn’t high. “His appointment as Commanding Marshal is more due to his mild temperament and his family’s generations of loyalty.”

“Oh?” Chen’s interest was piqued. “What do you mean by that?”

Realizing that Chen might be joining Duke Ying’s household with the Dou family’s fourth daughter, Wu understood his curiosity.

He smiled and began, “Well, to explain that we need to start with the origins of Duke Ying’s family…”

As they chatted over tea, which was refilled several times, Xiao Shuqin arrived. The joy of old friends reuniting in their twilight years overshadowed any talk of Duke Ying’s family.

Chen drank himself into a stupor and slept at Wu’s house until well past noon the next day.

Nursing a hangover, he was rubbing his temples when Wu entered with a beaming smile: “Qushui, Spring Lin, and the others are overjoyed to hear you’re alive. They’re rushing over now. Liang Zhu has even booked a private room at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant for your welcome feast. Hurry and get ready; Spring Lin and the others will be here soon.”

Chen could only smile wryly.

Unable to refuse such hospitality, they drank heavily at the Drunken Immortal that night.

The next morning, as Chen was about to take his leave, Wu Sheng returned with the information he had gathered.

After downing two cups of cold tea, Chen spoke with Wu Sheng in the guest room.

It wasn’t until sunset that Wu Sheng emerged from the guest room.

Wu Zhipeng didn’t ask what they had discussed. He and Xiao Shuqin, who had come over, warmly hosted Chen for dinner. Only after Chen’s repeated insistence on leaving did Wu arrange for a sedan chair to take him to the stationery shop on Drum Tower Street.

Su Lan had been waiting there for a day.

Seeing Chen, she pouted adorably, “Uncle Chen! You didn’t leave any word about where you were going. The young lady has been waiting!”

Chen suddenly realized it was already the sixteenth day of the eighth month, just eight days before Dou Zhao’s wedding.

He apologized profusely, “What did the young lady need me for?”

“I’m not sure,” Su Lan smiled. “But it’s urgent. I came yesterday too, but you weren’t here.”

Despite the late hour, Chen quickly changed his clothes and followed Su Lan to Jing’an Temple Alley.