More than ten days passed, and winter arrived.

The capital was located in the north. Buckets filled with water left in the courtyard would form a thin layer of ice overnight. The previous season’s clothing could no longer be worn. Yin Zheng went to Tailor Ge’s shop across the street to select several pieces of fabric, planning to make new winter clothes for Lu Tong and herself.

Due to the sudden overnight cold, Lu Tong also caught a cold. With continuous rain for days, Du Changqing saw Lu Tong’s sickly appearance and made a grand gesture, deciding to close Renxin Medical Hall for two days so Lu Tong could recover properly at home.

Winter days grew dark early. Heavy rain poured down torrentially, and West Street vendors almost all closed their doors. A row of lanterns under the eaves swayed violently in the storm, their weak light also obscured by the winter rain.

The plum tree at Renxin Medical Hall’s entrance was reduced to a desolate shadow, surrounding the small medical hall, standing silently in the night.

“Creak—”

The black shadow showed a small gap, and a line of dim yellow light leaked through.

Someone pushed open the door and walked out of Renxin Medical Hall’s main entrance.

Heavy rain continued falling, washing away the voices in front of the door.

“Let’s go.”

…

Rainwater rushed down with a “whooshing” sound, falling into the river and creating rippling brightness.

After days of wind and rain, the river under Luoyue Bridge surged violently. The higher the river rose, the brighter the wind lanterns tied to the bridge railings became. Looking down from the high vermillion towers, they appeared like a thousand pearls scattered across a vast ocean.

Yuxian Tower was always lively.

The winter rain’s cold was shut out of the tavern. In the colorful pleasure quarters and song towers, silk and fragrant breezes never ceased, with pursuit of pleasure and purchased laughter everywhere. On the high platform in front of the main hall’s guest seats, pearl lamps were magnificent, covered with gold-painted bead curtains. In the center of the platform stood a tree made of gold and jade—a plum tree with graceful, stark branches. On the emerald branches, clusters of red plum blossoms were carved from rubies. Below the red plums sat a performer in flowing azure robes wearing an immortal crown, her face rivaling smooth jade, her hair like dense clouds, singing “Spring Chamber Dreams”—

“When I left, roadside flowers bloomed like brocade; today atop the tower, willows are green again. Pitifully I wait in deep chambers, thinking of you from when crabapple bloomed until now…”

Her voice was tender and trembling, each word like threaded pearls, earning applause from all the guests in their seats.

Amid the hall full of red makeup and green sleeves, laughter and conversation among the guests, a man in wide-sleeved oriole-yellow silk robes walked past embracing a dancing girl. Recently, Yuxian Tower had welcomed a group of young dancing girls—beautiful and charming, all covering their faces with veils, wearing light dance costumes, deeply pursued by young masters and drunken guests.

The silk-robed man was in a drunken haze, pot-bellied. When he turned his head sideways, his eyes held a trace of barely perceptible tension. In contrast, the dancing girl in his embrace wore brilliant peacock-blue thin gauze dance costume, her face covered with silk, revealing only a pair of beautiful eyes with charming ripples.

The brilliant light of precious pearls was dazzling. Yin Zheng looked at the wealth and luxury throughout the tower, suppressing her inner amazement.

She had spent many years in pleasure quarters in southern Su, thinking herself experienced in brocade cities and flower camps, accustomed to seeing colorful prosperity, yet she was still significantly shocked by the capital’s affluence. Despite the heavy winter rain, Yuxian Tower was like a bright fairy paradise, with orchestral joy seemingly destined to continue forever.

Her “beloved” whispered a reminder: “Go upstairs.”

Yin Zheng came to her senses and responded with an “mm.”

Lu Tong tightened her arms around her, intimately leaning against her. Her eyes visible above the face veil lifted slightly, discreetly observing the people around them.

Today was the birthday of Grand Tutor Manor’s young master, Qi Yutai.

In casual conversation, Du Changqing had mentioned that every October first was Qi Yutai’s birthday. This Grand Tutor Manor young master would hold grand banquets at the capital’s Yuxian Tower, inviting friends to celebrate together. He never held banquets at his manor because his ascetic Grand Tutor father preferred quiet and disliked noise.

Lu Tong could not approach the Grand Tutor Manor.

Forget the Grand Tutor Manor—she couldn’t even approach the Grand Tutor Manor’s servants. As Du Changqing said, people of their status were separated from even the Grand Tutor Manor’s servants by a barrier. She could make “Spring Water Life” to approach the Ke family, could make “Xianxian” to approach Fan Zhenglian, but couldn’t use such methods on the Grand Tutor Manor.

Because she had no idea what illnesses people in the Grand Tutor Manor suffered from.

Days passed one by one, and the person she wanted revenge on still lived well in this world. When she heard Du Changqing mention that Qi Yutai would come to Yuxian Tower on October first, Lu Tong was almost immediately tempted.

She couldn’t learn when Qi Yutai traveled or where he went, but on October first, he would be there.

Lu Tong wanted to approach Qi Yutai.

So she spent silver to bribe people at Yuxian Tower to sneak in, changing into dancing girl costumes. She originally planned to go alone, but since Yin Zheng had been thrown into mass graves by a madam after falling ill years ago, Lu Tong didn’t want to bring up her painful memories. However, Yin Zheng insisted on accompanying her. So Yin Zheng disguised herself as a customer, and they infiltrated Yuxian Tower together.

Two people acting together was indeed much smoother than one. At least when others saw the dancing girl had a patron, they wouldn’t try to drag her away to accompany them. Yin Zheng’s disguise as a drunk customer was flawless—her padded belly and dark circles under her eyes made her look exactly like a wealthy merchant whose body had been hollowed out by wine and women.

“Beauty, let’s go… go upstairs…” she spoke unclearly while embracing Lu Tong and heading upstairs.

Lu Tong gracefully supported Yin Zheng’s arm, and the two stumbled up to the second floor.

Qi Yutai was holding a banquet in Yuxian Tower’s private rooms. It was now late at night, and the banquet was nearly over. With today’s torrential rain, Qi Yutai would most likely stay at Yuxian Tower tonight.

The upper floors were warm chambers, used for these royal descendants, young masters, and wealthy guests to spend the night. The prices were not cheap. Back when Du Changqing’s father was still alive and the Du family hadn’t yet fallen, even Young Master Du didn’t dare spend the night here, fearing being cheated of large sums. For this trip, Yin Zheng and Lu Tong had emptied all the consultation fees previously sent by Princess Wen.

Yin Zheng embraced Lu Tong as they headed to the second floor. At the entrance sat a drinking man who appeared to be a pimp. Seeing them, he grinned and approached. Yin Zheng understood, pulling out a silver note and slapping it into his hand. The man then stepped aside to let them pass: “Young master, please enter! Please enter!”

The entire second floor was decorated like a young lady’s embroidery chamber, with a row of carved bamboo windows. From inside came coquettish laughter and flirtation that made one’s ears burn.

Yin Zheng didn’t feel her ears burn—she only felt heartache for the silver just given away, complaining in a low voice: “Just to stay here one night, the lodging fee alone costs a hundred taels. No wonder the saying goes ‘A shipload of gold and silver cannot fill the debt of pleasure quarters.'” She sighed again: “But if it’s this expensive here, the redemption fee must be even more.”

Yin Zheng had always dreamed of saving enough redemption money to return home, but before that day came, she was thrown into a mass grave. Returning to such a place now inevitably made her melancholy.

In front of the carved windows upstairs, some doors had flower crowns hanging, indicating occupancy, while those without flower crowns were vacant.

Lu Tong looked back and saw the pimp had disappeared, then turned and forcefully pushed open a door with a flower crown in front of it.

“Ah—”

A sudden scream rang out from the room. A man and woman at the table were half-undressed, in the midst of passion, when they were coldly interrupted. The man angrily demanded: “Who goes there?”

Yin Zheng staggered and hiccupped: “…Are we here?”

Lu Tong supported her and apologetically addressed the two in the room: “The young master is drunk and entered the wrong room. Our apologies.” After speaking, she quickly helped Yin Zheng exit the room.

The door was closed, unable to block the cursing from inside and the woman’s soft consolation. Lu Tong glanced at the flower crown in front of the door, her eyes flickering.

“Not this room.”

Qi Yutai’s people had disappeared quickly—there was no sign of them in Yuxian Tower’s main hall. The second floor’s embroidery chambers all looked identical, with no way to distinguish which room Qi Yutai was in.

She could only use the stupid method—searching room by room.

Before coming, Lu Tong had already inquired about Qi Yutai’s appearance and seen his portrait. That man just now was not him.

She took Yin Zheng’s arm and adjusted her veil: “To the next room.”

The embroidery chambers were larger than imagined.

Lu Tong and Yin Zheng deliberately chose warm rooms with flower crowns to “accidentally intrude” into. By the time they finished checking the last room, more than half a shichen had passed.

They entered quickly and exited just as fast. With Yin Zheng in a drunken state, although they interrupted many intimate moments along the way, because the people inside were busy continuing their activities, no one chased them out to cause trouble, and they weren’t discovered.

Yin Zheng grasped Lu Tong’s hand and whispered: “Miss, why isn’t he anywhere? Could he have already left?”

They had searched the entire embroidery chamber area without seeing Qi Yutai. It was now late at night, and walking in the corridors any longer might attract attention.

Lu Tong shook her head: “No, he must be here.”

“But…”

Lu Tong looked up toward the higher areas above the embroidery chambers. There, curved eaves jutted out like demon wings in the rainy night—eerily magnificent.

“Isn’t there another floor?” Lu Tong said. “I want to go up.”

The third floor seemed deserted—at least since entering Yuxian Tower, Lu Tong hadn’t seen anyone go upstairs.

But if the upstairs was empty, why build an additional floor? For those girls and performers to live? It didn’t seem likely.

She took Yin Zheng’s arm: “I’ll try going up.”

That was Lu Tong’s plan, but when they were only halfway up the stairs to the third floor, the drinking pimp from earlier appeared from somewhere, blocking their path and preventing them from proceeding.

Yin Zheng breathed alcohol fumes and handed out a silver note: “Young master… young master has plenty of silver!”

“Oh my,” the pimp stared intently at the silver note in Yin Zheng’s hand, smiling apologetically: “This isn’t about money—you can’t go up there!”

“Hic, what’s off-limits?”

The pimp leaned closer: “I’ll tell you the truth—upstairs is where official dignitaries rest. We small business people can’t afford to offend them. Young master should choose another room.”

Official dignitaries…

Lu Tong’s heart stirred slightly. She then smiled and clung to Yin Zheng, bidding farewell to this pimp and heading in another direction.

After walking several steps, Yin Zheng stopped and asked Lu Tong: “Miss, what do we do now?”

From this man’s words, Qi Yutai was most likely upstairs. But currently, even silver couldn’t buy a way upstairs—they needed to find another approach.

Lu Tong thought for a moment: “Find a place to hide, and I’ll sneak up.”

Yin Zheng was startled: “No!” She added: “He’s guarding the stairway—how can Miss sneak in… How about,” her eyes lit up, “I pretend to be drunk and lure him away while you take the chance to go upstairs? Would that work?”

Lu Tong frowned: “That’s too dangerous for you.”

“Don’t worry,” Yin Zheng patted her chest, “Don’t forget where I came from—I know best how to deal with them. This floor is fine, but upstairs is more dangerous. Miss, do you really want to go?”

Lu Tong nodded.

She had no way to approach Qi Yutai. As long as she could get close to Qi Yutai, with just one opportunity, she could act.

Today was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Yin Zheng turned and left immediately. Before Lu Tong could grab her, she saw Yin Zheng stumbling toward where the pimp was, shouting: “Wretch! How dare you not know what’s good for you—get me someone else!”

Then came the sound of cups and dishes falling to the floor, accompanied by the pimp’s startled cries and apologetic laughter. Yin Zheng grabbed the man’s clothing relentlessly. After some unknown conversation between them, the pimp led Yin Zheng downstairs.

The stairway was unguarded.

Lu Tong seized the opportunity to go up.

The stairs between the second and third floors were few, spiraling upward. One side of the entire Yuxian Tower’s embroidery chambers adjoined the main hall, where the sound of performers singing downstairs could be heard. The other side bordered a large courtyard, where the sound of heavy rain washing the courtyard could be heard.

Lu Tong stopped at the third floor entrance.

This floor was very quiet.

No sounds of men and women flirting and amusing themselves, no colorful flower crowns hanging in front of doors. This floor looked more cold and remote. Cold lamps illuminated the dim corridor, appearing serene at first glance, but upon closer inspection, a row of vermillion railings were carved with phoenix heads, red silk and gold flower lanterns hung in front of rooms. The heavier the rain, the more the jade tower’s brilliant lamps flickered.

No one was in the corridor outside the doors. The performers’ singing from downstairs was distant and clear in this quiet space. Lu Tong, wearing bright dance costume, her long skirt dragging across the corridor floor, made rustling sounds of fabric.

Since no flower crowns hung in front of doors, there was no way to tell which of these chambers had occupants.

Lu Tong paused, her fingertips touching something in her sleeve, and suddenly stopped.

As long as she could get close to Qi Yutai, she could find an opportunity to kill him.

Dim lamplight leaked through a door crack—this room had someone inside, yet there was no sound.

This was quite strange. The pimp said the third floor was where high officials and nobles slept, but the entire corridor had neither guards nor serving servants. If not for the lamplight before her eyes, it would seem like an empty building.

The torrential rain continued endlessly, falling from the eaves into the courtyard. Lu Tong hesitated, then reached out to push open the door.

There was no one in the room.

The floor was covered with gold silk brocade coral carpet, soft and silent underfoot. On the incense table by the door sat an ornate pearl lamp decorated mostly with peonies and covered with ice silk gauze. The pearl lamp’s light was dim, illuminating the peonies on the lampshade in brilliant profusion like smoke. Not far away stood a qin, and further back was a large nanmu wood cherry-colored carved silk glass screen. What lay behind the screen was invisible.

Lu Tong’s gaze fell on the ebony-edged rosewood center table in the room.

On the table sat several blue-white jade openwork chi-pattern cups—empty—and a wine pot, whether used or not was unclear.

She looked again at the coral flower stool.

A cloak was casually draped over the stool.

Lu Tong walked over. The black cloak before her looked extremely luxurious, with silver threads outlining clusters of cloud patterns pressed onto black brocade satin, shimmering under the silver candlelight.

Not something ordinary households could afford.

She stood in the room, hesitating for a moment.

She couldn’t see anyone here, and the room appeared inactive. All her previously conceived plans couldn’t be implemented. She didn’t even know where Qi Yutai was.

On the nearby table was a mandarin duck incense burner with burning incense. Lu Tong picked up the incense burner—if she could confirm Qi Yutai was in this room, she could tamper with the incense. Nothing today, nothing tomorrow, but by the third day, the Grand Tutor Manor would have problems.

She was looking down pensively when suddenly a voice came from behind her.

“What are you doing?”

Caught off guard, Lu Tong’s grip loosened and she spun around abruptly.

“Bang—”

A muffled sound as the incense burner crashed, covering the coral carpet with ash.

Under the beaded pearl lamp, a young man stood before the screen, wearing black gold-woven brocade robes and holding a silver blade. The glass screen behind him reflected brilliant colors, making the person in front appear even more strikingly handsome.

Lu Tong’s heart shook.

How could it be him?