Changling was quite perplexed.

She had infiltrated the Jing mansion intending to follow the lead of Jing Wuwei to trace things back to the source. First, to understand the full details of the Yue Family Army’s betrayal back then; second, to investigate the current status of all participants and assess the possibility of wiping out this entire group; third, to clarify the martial world rumors about Fu Liujing and that half-folded fan… If she could somehow get into the palace to see Shen Yao face-to-face, that would be even better.

Unfortunately, after wandering around this General’s mansion for several days, exploring every place that was easy to explore and those that weren’t, even opening the secret cabinet in Jing Wuwei’s study—aside from some embezzled funds and letters of factional collusion, there were no more useful items.

It was as if… all traces related to the Yue family from eleven years ago had been severed.

The more Changling pondered it, the more certain she became that this was a manifestation of a guilty conscience.

Counting it all up, the only person with any connection to the past was Jing Wuwei’s wife, Xue Ningyu.

Compared to Jing Wuwei’s devious unpredictability, Xue Ningyu seemed like a traditional woman. In the past, whenever there was a campaign, Madam Xue would stay in the countryside giving birth and raising children. Although Changling had no direct dealings with her, this Madam Xue would always bring baskets of rice dumplings and other food to visit during festivals. In her memory, she was a woman who revered her husband as heaven—and at least through these past few days of interaction, this had been confirmed.

When her husband brought back an illegitimate daughter he’d had with another woman, not only did Xue Ningyu show no displeasure whatsoever, she even diligently attended to everything. When Jing Wuwei said he wanted to host a banquet for his daughter, with just one word from him, she busied herself back and forth, practically renovating the entire General’s mansion. The next evening when Changling returned to her room, she discovered not only had the wardrobe been replaced, but opening the cabinet doors revealed it was filled entirely with finely tailored brocade robes and luxurious garments. The newly placed vanity table was covered with cosmetics and jewelry.

Changling felt that this Madam Xue either cultivated the Way of “Forbearance” or was genuinely simple-minded to be able to shower such care and concern on this daughter of a mistress as if she were her own—but she leaned more toward the former. After all, snakes and rats nest together; only thus could they be denmates.

It was unfortunate that the Jing family’s only son, Jing Can, was still at the West Pass military camp. If he could return to the mansion, even just eavesdropping at walls more often, she didn’t believe she wouldn’t overhear some private conversation.

Changling had spent these several days without achievement or fault—neither uncovering any clues nor encountering the imagined perils on all sides. If she had to say who had caused her any trouble… it would probably be that lingering ghost Fu Yanyang.

Ever since that encounter with Fang Zhuyi at Kaiyun Tower, Fu Yanyang seemed to have decided that Changling was a hidden master who could save him from dire straits. In just five days, he had come to the door three times, shamelessly clinging to Changling to learn martial skills.

“Sister Nanxu, you clearly promised to help me pass the test…” Fu Yanyang sat on the courtyard threshold, gnawing on chestnuts while wailing. “Now there are less than ten days until the Scholar Academy assessment, and you still haven’t taught me even a single move…”

Changling looked at the chestnut shells he’d spat all over the ground and immediately felt a headache coming on—it wasn’t that she was unwilling to teach, but with this kid’s foundation, forget ten days, even three times ten days might not be enough.

“That Wang Xun does have some real skill…” Changling said. “Even if I teach you a move or two, you still won’t pass.”

Fu Yanyang sprang to his feet, patting the chestnut bits off his clothes. “How could that be? Don’t you know that Lingue Fist thing? That day Zhuyi was about to lose too, but with just a whoosh of palms and fists, you completely subdued Young Master Wang… My requirements aren’t high—I just need to last ten moves…”

“That day, Wang Xun was going easy on Fang Zhuyi.” Changling interrupted Fu Yanyang. “On the day of the formal assessment, Fang Zhuyi won’t be able to withstand even thirty moves.”

Fu Yanyang froze. “No… that can’t be…”

“If you really want to pass, on the day of the assessment, find a way to bring me along. I’ll see if there’s an opportunity to trip him up.”

“No need, no need. If my brother finds out, he’ll righteously disown me…”

Changling saw Fu Yanyang’s changed expression, and her eyes shifted. “You mentioned before that your elder brother doesn’t want you to enter Qingcheng Academy. Is there a reason?”

“It’s very complicated to explain…”

“I have time.”

Fu Yanyang coughed lightly. “Simply put, my brother has doubts about Qingcheng Academy…”

“Doubts?”

“This really… if you stay in Jinling City for a while longer, you’ll naturally understand. But it’s best not to ask me…” Fu Yanyang scratched his head in distress. “My position is very awkward, okay?”

Changling stopped asking. “If that’s the case, then why must you enter Qingcheng Academy?”

“Because I like it.” Fu Yanyang said matter-of-factly. “Besides, my brother’s thoughts aren’t necessarily my thoughts…”

As soon as these words left his mouth, Changling’s thoughts couldn’t help but stir.

“Forget it, forget it. I know I’m not skilled enough—I’m asking the impossible…” He waved his hand and was about to leave dejectedly. Seeing his pitiful appearance of utter discouragement, Changling couldn’t help but sigh and called out to stop him. “Fu Yanyang.”

Fu Yanyang turned his head. Changling said, “Come back in three days. I’ll find a way to help you pass.”

“Really?”

“Only you must promise me that you won’t tell anyone that I’m teaching you martial arts, including your elder brother.”

“If I told him, wouldn’t I be asking for a scolding?” Fu Yanyang agreed without hesitation. “Absolutely won’t tell. I’ll guard the secret with my life!”

After Fu Yanyang left, Changling sat back on the stone bench, recalling every move and stance Wang Xun had used on the platform that day. If it were her, without using internal force, she wasn’t confident she could beat him flat within twenty moves.

She dipped her fingertip in some tea and drew horizontal and vertical strokes on the stone table. Ten or eight different fist and palm techniques passed through her mind, but none were quick to learn. Sword techniques were even more out of the question—Fu Yanyang couldn’t even perform the most basic eighty-one forms of the Taixu Sword smoothly. How could he possibly learn a decent set in just a few days?

Changling pondered from early morning until evening, and from midnight until dawn’s first light. Seeing that half the time limit had passed, she barely managed to custom-make a set of sword techniques for Fu Yanyang that looked thoroughly intimidating—still without much confidence.

After all, Fu Yanyang was the person with the worst aptitude for martial arts she’d ever seen, and this fellow was cramming way too late, wasn’t he?

Thinking that the matter might not succeed, Changling felt quite displeased. Just as she was hesitating whether to drag this guy over for emergency boot camp-style training, Xue Ningyu arrived at the north wing with great fanfare, leading a group of servants.

Changling had pulled an all-nighter, so her complexion was naturally not very good. As soon as Xue Ningyu saw her, she exclaimed, “Oh my! Look at this beautiful little face—how did it become so pale after just half a day?” Then she sternly scolded the serving maid behind her. “Have you been negligent in your care, making the young miss work herself to exhaustion?”

Hearing this, the maid immediately knelt to beg forgiveness. Changling stood up and looked at Xue Ningyu. “Why has Madam come?”

Seeing her plain attire, Xue Ningyu said in surprise, “Nanxu, why haven’t you started preparing yet?”

Changling frowned. “Preparing for what?”

“Today is the day the master is hosting a banquet for you. Don’t tell me you forgot?”

Changling actually hadn’t forgotten.

She had thought this sort of superficial occasion was just Jing Wuwei’s excuse to win people over and had nothing to do with her. At most, she’d make a token appearance for a round. She hadn’t expected that she’d need to be present at the banquet.

She naturally didn’t want to.

But on second thought, those invited to the General’s mansion would mostly be Jinling’s nobility. Perhaps at the banquet she might even encounter old acquaintances or enemies—who could say?

Xue Ningyu saw there was less than an hour until the banquet began. She quickly pushed Changling into the room and summoned a group of serving maids. Just as she was preparing to roll up her sleeves to arrange an elaborate Cloud-Startling Phoenix Bun, she heard Changling demur, “I didn’t sleep well last night. I have a stiff neck—if there are too many things weighing on my head, my neck can’t support it.”

Madam Xue had no choice but to settle for second best, letting her hair hang down, merely tying it in a swallow-tail bun. Even such simple adornment was already sufficiently refined. After applying powder and lip rouge, even the maids stealing glances at her blushed.

Originally, Madam Xue had wanted to select jade bracelets and pearl chains, but looking up to see this beauty surpassing flowers, she felt there was no need for further embellishment. She picked up a light gauze veil and smiled. “The guests are mostly men. Since you’re an unmarried young lady, it’s more appropriate to wear a face veil.”

Changling: “…”

If the face veil was already prepared, what was the point of all that makeup application? And wearing this to the banquet… did they mean for her to just sit there without picking up her chopsticks?

Changling silently recited “if one cannot forbear small matters, great plans will be disrupted,” calmly took the face veil, and asked, “When does the banquet begin?”

Household banquets like this usually began before noon.

In the garden, green willows hung all around, vines trailed and twined. Seated along the pond, drinking wine and chatting on one side while enjoying lotus flowers and listening to music on the other, it perfectly suited those nobles’ pretentious elegance. Before everyone had arrived, the atmosphere was already lively.

Changling sat at a side table, her gaze rising and falling. After staring for quite a while without seeing a single familiar face, she also had to endure guests coming forward to observe her. It was truly unbearably annoying.

The sound of strings and bamboo instruments was incessant. Jing Wuwei walked around holding his cup, appearing to converse cheerfully but actually just exchanging superficial pleasantries. Changling watched, feeling bored, and was just about to rise and leave when she suddenly heard a servant at the front gate call out loudly, “The Marquis has arrived—”

She saw a tall and slender figure enter the garden at a leisurely pace. The man wore snow-white straight-collared robes with golden cloud-and-auspicious-pattern embroidery at the cuffs. He appeared as fresh as new snow meeting clear skies, his elegant bearing also revealing several parts noble air.

When the various nobles at the banquet saw who had arrived, they all rose to greet him with great enthusiasm. He merely smiled politely, his eyes carrying a sense of distance. Though everyone stepped forward to flatter him, none dared overstep too much.

Changling gazed from afar at the noble young master surrounded at the center of the crowd, slightly stunned.

Although she had always known that Ye Qi was handsome, this image with his hair bound by a golden crown was quite different from his previous unrestrained demeanor. Not only did he appear more dignified, his commanding presence made him seem like a completely different person—

For a moment, the focus of the gathering seemed to have quietly shifted.

Seeing a distinguished guest had arrived, Jing Wuwei immediately went forward to greet him. After exchanging a few polite words, he led Ye Qi toward where Changling sat.

“Come quickly to meet Marquis He.” Jing Wuwei gestured toward Changling. “Marquis, this is my daughter.”

Changling slowly stood up. The light veil couldn’t conceal her splendor. She didn’t bow in courtesy, but instead met his eyes and spoke coolly, “Oh, I’ve met Marquis He.”