In the dense fog, no figures could be seen.

The lantern in Lu Huating’s hand floated in the white mist like an amber, eerily glowing eye.

The lamplight pierced through the thick fog, sweeping across the hall and illuminating the rough walls of the prison cell.

A minor official led him to the cells of the Court of Judicial Review where suspects were detained, using a bronze key to unlock the door.

Before even entering, Cui Shi’s voice carried outside: “This little bit of charcoal—are you trying to freeze me to death? The windows shut so tightly—are you trying to suffocate me with smoke? The Siye Building in Pingkang Ward, over a hundred clothing shops throughout the North—all belong to my eldest brother. Speaking frankly, even through dynastic changes, nothing can shake the foundation of our Cui family.”

“Imprisoned yet still living so comfortably?” Lu Huating asked the minor official.

“The Cui Shi detained inside is the illegitimate younger brother of Cui Zhu, master of Siye Building. His status is extraordinary,” said the official opening the door. “Everyone knows the Cui family maintains good relations with many officials. Their family is vast and powerful—not easily offended. Who would dare interrogate him harshly?”

Lu Huating’s well-defined fingers rested on the door bolt, pushing it gently open: “I dare.”

Cui Shi’s complaints stopped abruptly. The door opened, and someone entered.

This person brought with him a faint scent of citrus. Cui Shi turned around to see an extremely young man, not wearing official robes, his rank unclear. In Lu Huating’s right hand, he dragged the bound and gagged Madam Liu the brothel keeper, tossing her onto the ground before sitting in the straw. His upturned eyes held an icy smile, black as a deep pool in the shifting light and shadow.

“Who are you?” Cui Shi asked. “What rank official? Who told you to come in?”

Lu Huating had someone remove the charcoal brazier and bring in a basin of ice water instead. In his hand, he held something long resembling straw, focusing intently on weaving it as he casually asked the scribe: “Has he been in before?”

“I’ve been in three times, and each time you people invited me out,” Cui Shi answered himself. “I say, you two—how much salary do you earn each month? Combined, you couldn’t even afford a pair of my household slave’s stinking shoes. Why make things difficult for me? Better to show some consideration, leave some face. Your official career will go more smoothly in the future.”

“Shut your mouth!” The scribe’s face flushed red with anger. “I ask you—why did you chase Chun Niang that day, causing her to fall from the second floor to her death?”

“I was drunk, playing a game with her. Who knew she would suddenly jump down herself?” Cui Shi repeated the same story. Suddenly, a minor official beside him scooped up a ladle of ice water and splashed it on his face, leaving Cui Shi stunned. “Have you all gone mad today? You dare splash me?”

“Wait a moment.” Lu Huating stopped them, standing up with an amused expression.

He dragged something heavy in his hand, causing the light and shadows in the cell to shift. “You don’t seem very skilled at interrogation. Step aside, let me teach you.”

Cui Shi’s heart trembled. He watched as two minor officials followed orders and covered the windows with black paper. In the sudden darkness, he finally saw clearly what Lu Huating held in his hand—that was no straw at all!

It was clearly a whip woven from thorns and silver thread, trailing like a snake’s tail.

The whip soaked in the ice water, splashing with crisp sounds.

Lu Huating walked forward to examine him, his eyes no longer smiling but filled entirely with ink-black darkness: “Strip off his upper garments.”

Muffled thuds, the sharp cries of a person, and the brothel keeper’s muted wails mixed together, surging against the door, nearly shaking the entire prison.

Xiao Jingxing rushed over from the duty room, his face grave. He tried to push the door open but was blocked by two minor officials: “Who let you allow him inside! If something happens…”

“The Chief Clerk said the person won’t die—external injuries light, internal injuries severe—impossible to verify!” The two minor officials had their own calculations. “Lord Xiao, the case has remained unsolved for so long, we’ll all be held accountable and punished. If anything happens, the Chief Clerk and the Princess Consort of Yan will bear responsibility. We’re backed by a great tree—we just need to pretend we don’t know!”

Xiao Jingxing stood in place, his heart gnawed by ants: “Are you trying to destroy him? Let me in!”

But at that moment, another minor official came to report that the Cui family had brought money to ransom their man: “The Cui family’s servants are causing a disturbance at the gate, saying it’s been two months without obtaining a confession. In ten more days, the detention period will be exceeded. If you don’t release him, someone will go to His Majesty and impeach you for using public office to settle private grudges.”

The minor official added: “It’s been like this the previous two times. Those we arrest know the Cui family’s power and find ways to save themselves. They refuse to confess no matter what, so we have no choice but to release them after arrest, arrest them after release.”

“Using public office for revenge… I’ll go meet with them.” Xiao Jingxing trembled with rage all over, turning and striding toward the front gate.

After an unknown length of time, Lu Huating emerged. His temples were damp with sweat, his back garments entirely soaked through, yet he maintained that same indifferent expression. He raised his hand, fingers clutching two confessions bearing vivid red fingerprints.

The two minor officials received the confessions with immense joy, but Xiao Jingxing, waiting at the door, looked grave. He glanced into the cell—the person inside was barely breathing, more air going in than coming out. He pulled Lu Huating aside: “I’m going back to the Prince of Yan’s mansion with you. I have something I want to say to Elder Sister.”

The two walked side by side.

Xiao Jingxing said: “I can only detain him for ten days, drag it out ten days at most. You’ve left him in that condition—if you release him back to the Cui family before you’re certain you can bring them down, you’ll have formed an irreconcilable enmity with them.”

For a long while, he heard no response from Lu Huating.

Xiao Jingxing turned his head. Lu Huating was staring absently at the back of his hand, using a silk handkerchief to carefully wipe away a speck of blood splattered there. Then he discovered bloodstains on his sleeve as well—more than one spot. He could only roll up his sleeve and lower his hand, feeling very unclean inside.

It had been a long time since he’d personally administered torture.

“Aren’t you curious about the result?” Lu Huating said to himself. “Cui Shi chased Chun Niang on Cui Zhu’s orders to capture her.”

He continued: “That Chun Niang became Cui Zhu’s lover to find the account book. She secretly copied one and hid it, then notified the Court of Judicial Review, but Cui Zhu discovered this. That day they wanted to capture Chun Niang first and interrogate her about where she’d hidden the copied version. With no way out, Chun Niang climbed over the railing and leaped from the second floor herself.”

In his mind, Xiao Jingxing slowly pieced together and reconstructed the events of that day: The Court of Judicial Review received intelligence and came to search for the account book. Cui Zhu ordered people to capture Chun Niang. Chun Niang leaped from the second floor, crashing onto a table of nobles on the first floor, frightening the feasting nobles into scattering in all directions.

Among those who fled that night was Meng Guanlou, whose carriage carried him to a private residence. Lu Huating had dispatched several people from the Court of Judicial Review to follow him. Following that thread, they discovered he was keeping a mistress, subsequently alarming Princess Danyang in the palace, causing the princess to break off the engagement.

“Last time we failed to act decisively, alerting Cui Zhu. He’ll only hide the account book more carefully now.” Xiao Jingxing furrowed his brow. “The best hope for finding it is the copied version, but Chun Niang committed suicide. No one knows where she hid the copy she made.”

“Not necessarily. Madam Liu the brothel keeper said that in Siye Building, Chun Niang had no other close relationships, only sharing a room with a dancing girl called Yu Nu, calling each other sisters. The two used to often perform ‘Song of the Pipa’ together.” Lu Huating said, “If we’re talking about whom Chun Niang might have revealed clues to while alive, it would probably be this Yu Nu.”

“Yu Nu, Yu Nu…” Xiao Jingxing felt the name was familiar, as if he’d seen it in case files. “Isn’t this Yu Nu Meng Guanlou’s mistress!”

He continued: “She’s Meng Guanlou’s pillow companion—she may not help us. Moreover, it’s too late to find her now. Two months—even if she knew something, that’s enough time for Meng Guanlou to find the copied version first and destroy all evidence.”

“Not quite. Have you forgotten?” Lu Huating plucked a leaf, lowering his eyes to wipe the bloodstains from his hand. “This Yu Nu—on the day of the incident, she was seized by Princess Danyang’s palace maids. According to the laws of Great Chen, she should now be enslaved in the Lateral Courts.”

“Palace rules are strict. Yu Nu hasn’t had time to coordinate with Meng Guanlou? As long as we question her, we should be able to obtain clues.” The situation suddenly reversed. Xiao Jingxing breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ll go to the Lateral Courts to find Yu Nu in the coming days!”

As Xiao Jingxing was speaking, Lu Huating suddenly grabbed him and pulled him behind some ornamental rocks to hide.

Xiao Jingxing saw clearly—ahead in the corridor was a palace maid.

A fine misty rain drifted down from the sky.

With no one around, she lifted her skirt, carrying a lantern as she walked back and forth. In the rain and mist, the exposed section of her calf above her cloth socks was occasionally illuminated by the lantern in a dazzling color.

As male officials from outside, they indeed should show some discretion. Xiao Jingxing, being a gentleman, pulled his head back behind the rocks.

But after waiting a while, she still didn’t leave. In an instant, the raindrops became dense and heavy, pouring down in sheets. Xiao Jingxing was caught completely off guard, drenched from head to face. He turned around, glaring at Lu Huating who was equally soaked like a drowned rat: “You did that on purpose?”

The artificial mountain had no roof.

Lu Huating opened his eyes wide at these words. Rainwater flowed down his cheeks, further washing out a face of red lips and white teeth: “Can I predict when it’s going to rain?”

Xiao Jingxing peered out at the palace maid.

Rain splashed into the covered corridor. She actually continued squatting in the grass searching, completely disregarding the mud beneath her feet and her garments being soaked by the pelting rain. Xiao Jingxing pulled his head back in: “Seems like she’s looking for something. Could it be some lady dropped a hairpin or pendant again, and she’ll be punished if she can’t find it?”

Lu Huating’s smile faded slightly, his gaze deepening as he looked toward that figure.

Rain slanted into his collar. Water droplets flowed down his fingertips. He even felt somewhat exhilarated, as if this rain had come at just the right time, as though it could wash away the bloodstains he’d gotten on himself.

This pavilion corridor, that location… he knew what she was looking for.

Qun Qing was looking for his lost seventeenth sandalwood bead.

That day Qun Qing had broken the string of beads and promised to help him find it. He’d only thought it was empty words, never imagining she would actually be seriously searching. A layer of water mist covered her hair bun. Viewed from afar, it sparkled brilliantly like a kingfisher among lotus flowers—its feathers wet, yet becoming even more vivid.

Lu Huating’s fingertips reached into his soaked sleeve, grasping that cool sandalwood bead in his hand, gazing at that figure.

That day, he had done exactly this—gripped the seventeenth bead in his palm.

If she couldn’t find it, would she still keep searching?

He didn’t know how long he’d been watching when Xiao Jingxing seemed to be speaking to him.

Xiao Jingxing said: “Look at that person—why doesn’t he take shelter?”

Then Lu Huating saw a man in dark green official robes walking directly into the corridor. He held an umbrella in his hand, holding it over Qun Qing’s head.

Through the rain and mist, this figure blocked his line of sight, so abrupt.

Lu Huating’s mind suddenly flashed with this person’s expression and voice: “Qing Qing, have you forgotten the Weishui riverside? We two grew up together. You’re someone with a marriage engagement…”

It was that person who called Qun Qing “Qing Qing”—her childhood sweetheart.

Lin Yujia stood behind Qun Qing. Qun Qing stood up and familiarly took his umbrella, as if she’d originally been waiting for him.

“Why arrange to meet here today?” Lin Yujia surveyed the surroundings alertly. “There’s no one now, but to exit through the Cheng’an Gate, you must pass through here. It’s still rather conspicuous.”

“I saw minor eunuchs loitering around the old place. I was worried someone had already noticed the area by the Taiji Hall, so I changed locations. A civil official occasionally asking a palace maid for directions should be harmless.”

Qun Qing lowered the umbrella’s surface, covering her face completely. From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed Lin Yujia turning this way and that—his face was probably completely exposed.

Lin Yujia had no more objections and cut to the main point: “I didn’t expect that in such a short time, you could work your way to the Crown Prince’s side and gain his trust. Liu Niang is so capable—not only rising high in Great Chen, but in Nan Chu you’d probably leap above me as well.”

“Just say whatever you want to say.” Qun Qing said.

Lin Yujia’s face held suppressed anger: “You were present when His Majesty issued the decree. You should have been the first to obtain the route. Why did ‘Heaven’ outside the palace learn the news first?”

Oh.

That was naturally because Qun Qing had passed the information to An Lin first.

“I don’t know about that.” Qun Qing’s tone was soft and sincere. “‘Heaven’ outside the palace—there may well be ‘Assassins’ inside the palace too.”

“Then why haven’t you replied to the letters I sent you?” Lin Yujia’s eyes held even greater resentment. “Could it be you’ve been so busy rising through the ranks in Great Chen that you’ve forgotten our lord’s mission?”

“Li Huan departed that night with light cavalry and minimal escort, riding relay horses with golden bells. He changes horses at every relay station, galloping day and night westward.” Qun Qing said, “Accounting for three days of rain within five days making the roads muddy, today he should be between Shun’an Station and Qian’an Station.”

Lin Yujia’s expression condensed slightly: “You knew all this, so why didn’t you tell me?”

“If you want to report back to our lord, you can do so now. I didn’t send word only because…” Qun Qing paused slightly. “Previously, I didn’t want our lord to take action. The Prince of Yan is going to the battlefield—why not wait until he returns in triumph before ambushing him? Otherwise, when the Western Barbarian nation invades, it will be our people who are killed, our cities that are occupied.”

This was also why she chose to inform An Lin. An Lin considered the bigger picture, his eyes still saw innocent common people, whereas Lin Yujia did not.

After hearing her reasoning, Lin Yujia’s face fluctuated between pale and flushed. Only after a long while did he say: “I’m not someone who doesn’t consider things thoroughly. You could have discussed it with me rather than acting on your own! When in a certain position, think about matters appropriate to that position. Whether to act or not, we will decide—this isn’t for you to think about!”

He was certain Qun Qing was simply too opinionated to work well with him. But she’d been opinionated for more than just a day or two, so he could only suppress his anger.

“Forget it. I understand your meaning. I’ll report back to our lord. I called you here today to tell you that for the great matter to be accomplished, I’ve already made plans in the Ministry of Rites and need you to cooperate with me to complete it.”

Qun Qing’s long lashes trembled. The matter recently handled by the Ministry of Rites was only the welcoming ceremony for the Buddha bone.

Such an important ceremony, one that also involved her leaving the palace—could Nan Chu be planning sabotage?

“What do you want me to do?” Qun Qing’s heart beat slightly faster as she asked nonchalantly.

“The Ministry of Rites has drafted a detailed list. Specific items like prayer banners, carpets, prayer robes for the nobles and so forth—all are prepared by the Six Bureaus.” Lin Yujia said, “You now outrank seventh-rank female officials. You should be able to find excuses to access these items from the Bureau of Apparel. If you can’t access them, the Princess Consort of Yan is currently selecting palace staff. I’m sure with your cleverness, you can test into the Bureau of Apparel…”

Before he finished speaking, a pebble flew through the air, striking Lin Yujia’s back, causing his expression to change drastically.

In that instant, Qun Qing turned the umbrella’s surface, and water droplets flew from it like sharp blades, striking the approaching person’s face.

Xiao Jingxing got splashed with water all over his face. He raised his sleeve to wipe it off. By the time he opened his eyes, that sixth-rank official had already vanished without a trace. Before him stood only a lady holding an umbrella, looking at him with concern.

Water had gotten in his eyes. Xiao Jingxing’s eyes were bloodshot. He blinked again and shouted: “You—yes, you—what are you doing here in the rain?”

Qun Qing’s expression became inexplicable: a gentleman who’d gotten himself drenched like a drowned dog charging over to scold her was somewhat comical, when at least her clothes weren’t soaked through.

Could it be he wanted to claim this corridor pavilion to shelter from the rain but was too embarrassed to say so?

This face—it looked somewhat familiar. She gazed at him. It was the person she’d mistaken for Lu Huating in her previous life…

“Xiao Er’lang?” Qun Qing blurted out.

Xiao Jingxing choked. He wanted to die.

Earlier, Lu Huating had insisted on playing rock-paper-scissors with him. The loser had to do one thing for the winner.

Palace maids and male officials should not have private interactions. Lu Huating told him to go disrupt this pair’s private meeting. He considered it a good deed and didn’t resist.

He dared cause trouble because he thought he was a stranger. He never expected this young lady would actually recognize him!

Lord Xiao’s stern and proper image in public was shattered.

But Qun Qing was surveying the surroundings.

In her previous life, this Xiao Er’lang had been on very good private terms with Lu Huating, even sitting together at palace banquets. Could he also be here today? At this thought, she gripped the umbrella handle tightly, her heartbeat quickening.

Sure enough, Xiao Jingxing felt embarrassed and kept turning to look toward the artificial mountain. Qun Qing followed his gaze and saw only towering, craggy rocks. The other person was hidden extremely well—not even a single hair was visible.

Qun Qing looked again at Xiao Jingxing, water streaming down his body.

Quite bedraggled, wasn’t he? Lu Huating would never present himself in such a sorry state.

“This servant is looking for something here…” Qun Qing relaxed and had just begun to speak when Xiao Jingxing also hastily spoke up: “You’ve recognized the wrong person. I’m not surnamed Xiao.”

In all his years, Xiao Jingxing had no experience communicating with strange young ladies. He could only put on a stern face, repeating Lu Huating’s words: “Looking for what in this pouring rain? Can’t you come back when it clears? Someone told you to return to the palace immediately. Go, go, go!”

With him being so fierce, Qun Qing could only leave. After walking two steps, she turned back and bent down to place the umbrella on the ground. Lin Yujia’s umbrella was too inauspicious—she didn’t want to take it.

She glanced at the artificial mountain through the rain and mist, looking with pity at Xiao Jingxing desperately wiping his face: “Looks like you have farther to go. How about taking the umbrella?”

Xiao Jingxing: “…”

—

Qun Qing returned to the hall and changed out of her underskirt. While drying her hair, Lan Yue followed behind her like a tail: “Today was a rest day. Chief Clerk Lu didn’t attend court but went to the Court of Judicial Review early in the morning. I told you this morning—do you remember?”

“Mm, I remember.” Qun Qing said.

“Just now, the Chief Clerk and the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review—I forgot his name—left through Cheng’an Gate together heading to the Prince of Yan’s mansion.” Lan Yue showed off her well-informed intelligence proudly.

Qun Qing made a sound of acknowledgment and continued drying her hair.

Having confirmed it was Lu Huating accompanying Xiao Jingxing, then he should have seen Lin Yujia. It wasn’t in vain that she’d stood in the rain waiting for so long.

In her previous life, Lu Huating had arrested Lin Yujia—he should have some impression of him. Since Lu Huating knew she was a Nan Chu spy, she feared he might forget Lin Yujia was also a spy, so she made a point of reminding him.

According to An Lin, Crown Prince Zhao of Nan Chu had already promised Lin Yujia the position of Chancellor, even having his official robes embroidered. Lin Yujia was merely a sixth-rank minor official in Great Chen, but in Nan Chu he would be Chancellor. Naturally he’d go mad easily, unable to restrain himself, which would implicate her.

Now that Lin Yujia pressed her day and night and wanted to make moves during the Buddha bone welcoming ceremony, Qun Qing had no choice but to find a way to eliminate this “Heaven” weighing over her head.

Rather than letting someone else capture Lin Yujia, better to borrow Lu Huating’s hand. After all, he already knew she was Lin Yujia’s subordinate.

This counted as putting herself at risk, but she had one matter she wanted to verify that hadn’t yet yielded results. She still had a chance to win the gamble…

After changing clothes, Qun Qing hesitated no longer and picked up the string of sandalwood beads.

“Elder Sister still hasn’t found it?” Ruo Chan sat by the window embroidering. She saw over twenty colorful knotted cords neatly arranged on the windowsill, all woven by Qun Qing.

The first few were still loose and shapeless, but the farther right, the better they were woven. The rightmost one was already exquisite, tight, and perfectly flawless.

When Qun Qing wanted to do something, she could always find a way to do it well.

“Not looking anymore.” With the matter accomplished, Qun Qing was unwilling to waste time. She directly took the best-woven one and threaded it through, tying a knot. She used a clean silk handkerchief to wipe each bead once, then handed the sandalwood beads to Ruo Chan. “Ruo Chan, pray for his blessing and conclude this matter.”

“Pray for blessing?” Ruo Chan, as a female Daoist, had become Qun Qing’s dedicated ritual practitioner, making vows morning and night to protect Qun Qing’s safety.

“That’s right. It broke once and had a bead replaced—it should be properly consecrated again.” Ruo Chan accepted it dazedly, feeling that Qun Qing thought more thoroughly about these matters than she, a female Daoist, did. “Elder Sister, what vow should I make?”

Qun Qing thought for a moment. This was a protective amulet that had saved her life as a child. She imagined that when Master Zengjia consecrated it that day, he must have used similar blessings. She leaned against the desk, her fingers bathed in the window light, saying casually: “Wish him long life and a hundred years.”