After the Qingming Festival, the rainfall became increasingly frequent.

After a night of rising waters, half of the ox-horn lanterns tied to the railings of Luo Yueqiao Bridge were submerged. Day after day of overcast skies and rain left the spring embankment covered in mud. As carriages passed along the road, they kicked up waves of muddy water.

In the main hall of the Ministry of Rites, Jin Xianrong sat in his chair reviewing household registration records from the Ministry of Revenue.

Jin Xianrong was in quite a good mood.

Ever since the Imperial Medical Academy had assigned that Lu physician to treat him, Jin Xianrong’s emotional state had stabilized considerably.

The external symptoms of his scrotal carbuncle had healed about seventy to eighty percent. He faithfully took the medicine according to Lu Tong’s prescription, diligently applied topical treatments daily, and with Lu Tong coming to perform acupuncture every few days, whether it was Jin Xianrong’s imagination or not, that area was gradually showing signs of improvement. It was no longer like stagnant water – there was finally some sensation returning.

He thought that in a few more months, he would surely regain his former vigor.

Jin Xianrong picked up his teacup and took a satisfied sip.

A carriage stopped at the entrance of the Ministry of Rites.

It was a carriage with vermillion wheels and ornate canopy, more than twice the size of ordinary carriages, appearing extremely luxurious. The carriage curtain was lifted, and out stepped a young man wearing a dark blue silk robe. This man was of medium build, not particularly tall, with a fair, clean face that appeared quite refined at first glance. However, his cheekbones showed some pallor with a bluish tint, his eyes were bloodshot, and upon closer inspection, he bore several signs of fatigue.

Jin Xianrong set down his teacup, squinting his eyes with a smile: “Yutai has arrived.”

The visitor was Young Master Qi Yutai from the Grand Tutor Manor, son of the current Grand Tutor.

The current Grand Tutor Qi Qing had one son and one daughter. His legitimate daughter Qi Huaying was a famous young lady of the capital, beautiful in appearance and outstanding in talent. His eldest son Qi Yutai, though not possessing Qi Huaying’s extraordinary beauty, was also well-versed in poetry, books, and etiquette, with upright character. He was especially known for his excellent calligraphy, praised by everyone in the capital, and unlike other noble young men, he had none of their bad temperaments, being as obedient as a daughter.

Of course, this was only on the surface.

Qi Yutai entered the hall and bowed respectfully to Jin Xianrong: “Minister Jin.”

Jin Xianrong stood up from his chair, putting his arm around Qi Yutai’s shoulder as they walked inside, speaking intimately: “A few days ago your household said you had caught a cold, and I was quite worried for a while. Without you at the Ministry of Rites, I’m all alone here. I can’t handle all the official business by myself, and the servants don’t know anything – when the tea jar runs empty, they don’t even think to refill it. It’s good that you’re back…”

“I’ll immediately send someone to add tea…”

“Ah, the way you talk, as if I’m waiting for your tea…”

“…”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries and dismissing Jin Xianrong, Qi Yutai entered his own room, closed the door, and sat down in a chair.

On the desk lay some scattered official documents.

These had accumulated during his absence, though there weren’t many in total. The Ministry of Revenue had no real power nowadays, and his position as Assistant Secretary was merely nominal. At the Ministry of Revenue, he was just passing time drawing his salary – whether he was there or not made no difference.

Looking at those paper scrolls, Qi Yutai felt somewhat irritated.

This position at the Ministry of Revenue had been arranged for him by his father, Qi Qing.

Qi Yutai did not like this job.

As the only legitimate son of the Grand Tutor Manor, with his father holding a position second only to the emperor, what official post couldn’t be obtained? Those sons of officials with backgrounds inferior to his could rise rapidly through their family connections, yet his father had arranged such a position for him.

An idle post, boring, with no prospects in sight – no future to speak of.

And he had to endure the annoying colleague who loved taking advantage.

He had once expressed his dissatisfaction to his father, hoping he could arrange a more respectable official position. Given His Majesty’s reliance on his father, this wouldn’t be difficult at all.

But Qi Qing seemed blind to his complaints and firmly refused.

So he could only remain at the Ministry of Rites.

The official documents on the desk became increasingly irritating to look at. Qi Yutai swept them aside, picked up an incense pill from a jar nearby, lit it, and dropped it into the gold-inlaid twin-moth floral pattern incense burner on the desk.

The incense pill was made of the finest rhinoceros horn incense. Since Qi Yutai came of age, this had been the fragrance burned in their manor. After he came to the Ministry of Revenue, his father had many prepared for him to burn at the Ministry of Rites.

However, when he left last time, the jar of rhinoceros horn incense was still quite full, but now only one pill remained. It seemed Jin Xianrong had helped himself to some – Jin Xianrong always loved taking such small advantages.

Blue smoke gradually rose from the incense burner, and the familiar fragrance entered his nostrils, soothing his earlier agitation.

He took a deep breath, immediately feeling calm and peaceful, and simply leaned back, closing his eyes to rest.

…

“Young Master Qi.”

“Young Master Qi…”

It seemed someone was speaking near his ear.

Who was calling him?

Qi Yutai wanted to open his eyes, but found his eyelids heavy, unable to lift them no matter how hard he tried.

Was he dreaming?

That voice continued calling him: “Young Master Qi…”

It seemed vaguely like a woman.

The woman appeared to press close from behind, whispering in his ear in a gentle, ethereal voice, like a broken, intermittent dream: “…Do you still remember Fengle Tower?”

Fengle Tower?

While he was still puzzled, he suddenly felt something cold pressed against his neck.

Qi Yutai instinctively sensed danger and wanted to shout, wanted to sit up, but realized his entire body felt bound by invisible ropes, without any strength to struggle. Even the words that came from his mouth were weak and soft. He said: “…Who are you?”

The cold sensation moved along his neck, but the other person didn’t answer.

“Young Master Qi,” that person asked again, “do you still remember Fengle Tower?”

As these words fell, the cold sensation at his neck deepened.

Qi Yutai began to convulse.

He didn’t remember any Fengle Tower at all.

He wanted to leave, wanted to wake up from this inexplicable nightmare, but when he opened his mouth, he could only let out a weak “Help me—”

That person’s movements stopped.

After a while, Qi Yutai heard her speak. She said: “Young Master Qi, don’t you remember?”

“In the thirty-seventh year of Yongchang, you encountered a woman at Fengle Tower…”

“You killed her.”

What was she talking about?

What woman, what about killing her – he understood none of it and could only struggle weakly.

That voice slowly continued: “On the day of Awakening of Insects in the thirty-seventh year of Yongchang, you were enjoying yourself at Fengle Tower when you encountered a married woman.”

“The woman had come to bring sobering soup to her husband. You saw her beautiful appearance and forcibly took her…”

“Later the woman became pregnant, and to destroy evidence, you exterminated her entire family of four…”

“Young Master Qi…”

That voice was gentle and soft, like a thin needle dipped in poison, suddenly piercing into the secret depths of his heart.

“Do you really not remember?”

Qi Yutai stiffened.

All around was deathly silent, as if there were no other sounds left between heaven and earth. Suddenly bustling voices arose, and he looked up to meet a warm atmosphere filled with fragrant breezes.

It was a woman wearing a peach blossom cloud-mist silk shirt, her hair arranged in a flying immortal bun, dressed particularly seductively. She reached out to take his arm, smiling as she said: “Is this the young master’s first time at Fengle Tower? What a fresh face – you must have a wonderful time tonight…”

Fengle Tower…

He suddenly remembered – today was his first day coming to Fengle Tower.

His father always kept him confined and wouldn’t let him go out.

The finest establishment in the capital was Yuxian Tower, but it was full of his father’s acquaintances. Normally when he held birthday banquets and such at Yuxian Tower it was fine, but whenever he wanted to do anything else, someone would immediately report back to his family.

As the Grand Tutor’s son, he had to watch his behavior and speech everywhere – there was no freedom at all.

Fengle Tower was a wine house he had newly discovered. Though it couldn’t match Yuxian Tower’s luxury, it was passable, and best of all, his father had no people there. Whatever he wanted to do, no one would spy on him, giving him rare freedom.

He followed this seductively dressed woman upstairs to the private room, entering the inner chamber of the pavilion. Someone of his status naturally couldn’t enjoy himself in the main hall like those common people.

The room was filled with a strange, mysterious fragrance. On the low couch inside, two singers were bowing their heads playing the qin, their music melodious and pleasing, intoxicating to hear.

Qi Yutai walked in and sat down in front of the low couch.

On the table sat a blue and white jade pot, two white jade lotus-petal patterned bowls, and a small oil paper package.

He picked up the wine pot and poured a full bowl of rice wine. The wine was still warm, with a rich and intense aroma. He then opened the oil paper package beside him, and with the hot wine, tilted his head back to consume what was in the oil paper package. The fiery hot wine flowed down his throat, gradually spreading a burning heat through his abdomen.

Qi Yutai closed his eyes and sighed comfortably.

This substance was cold food powder.

Cold food powder was miraculous – after taking it, one became spirited with a radiant complexion, and could experience sensations impossible to feel normally, making one feel as if floating among immortals.

However, cold food powder was poisonous. Long-term use caused much harm to the human body. When the previous emperor was alive, he had issued an imperial edict banning its use throughout the realm. But many noble children still secretly used it behind others’ backs.

Qi Yutai was one of them.

He had become addicted to this substance in his youth and couldn’t control himself. Later when Qi Qing discovered it, his father dismissed all the servants around him and confined him in the manor for a full six months, forcibly making him quit the substance.

But addiction was something where you could cut off the head but not the root.

Every year Qi Yutai would find a few opportunities to secretly use cold food powder behind Qi Qing’s back.

He loved that floating, immortal-like feeling – no longer the rule-abiding Grand Tutor’s son in everyone’s eyes, but as if transformed into a bird flying freely through the forest, escaping his father’s shadow and grasping the freedom he sought but could never obtain.

It was his outlet for others’ behind-the-scenes mockery of his “obedience.”

It was his silent rebellion against his father.

His body gradually became hot and restless as the cold food powder began to take effect.

Qi Yutai removed his outer garments and walked naked around the room.

If Qi Qing saw this scene, he would surely punish him severely again. The Grand Tutor Manor valued rules and propriety above all – from childhood to adulthood, he could not make a single mistake in public.

Qi Yutai felt a strange satisfaction, as if deliberately retaliating against that bright, rigid facade. He shouted loudly while walking around the private room, his heart seeming to burst into flames. This fire was trapped in his abdomen, difficult to dispel. The comfort in his heart and the suffocation in his body couldn’t be reconciled. In that frenzied state, he suddenly threw open the door of the private room.

A cry of alarm came from outside the door.

It was a young woman with a maid behind her, holding a red wooden food basket in her hands. She seemed unprepared for someone to suddenly open the door. When the two turned around and saw his completely naked appearance, the maid screamed in fright, and the woman’s face flushed red as she pulled the maid to flee.

His head heated up, and he grabbed the woman and dragged her into the room.

The maid shouted for help, reaching out to pull the woman, but was also dragged inside.

Qi Yutai felt his body become very light. Faint screams and crying reached his ears, but these sounds made him feel even more comfortable, like a bloodthirsty beast tasting its first bite of flesh and blood. He became frenzied, omnipotent, relying only on instinct to devour weak prey, everything around him becoming very distant.

He couldn’t see the other party’s face clearly. The cold food powder had begun to take effect, and he only felt extreme pleasure, the freedom gained through this brutal plundering.

As for crying and tears, struggling and pain…

What did that have to do with him?

He didn’t care – he had done such things many times before.

Not worth mentioning.

In the private room, the jade incense burner burned with a dreamlike fragrance. Through the hazy smoke, someone sighed.

This sigh was long and loud, soul-shattering, causing Qi Yutai to suddenly come to his senses.

“You killed her…”

That voice said this.

“No… I didn’t…” Qi Yutai protested: “I only…”

The words in his mouth suddenly froze.

Only what?

He had never killed anyone, because it was never necessary.

No matter what he did outside, no matter how great his mistakes, someone would clean up after him, handling everything cleanly.

The incident at Fengle Tower had never weighed on his mind – it was just a woman of low status whose name he didn’t even need to know.

He didn’t even remember her appearance, only knowing that when his steward found him, he drowsily opened his eyes to see a scene of complete chaos. That woman lay on the couch – he had no interest in looking. At the entrance of the pavilion, soup and water were spilled everywhere, a red wooden food basket was trampled beyond recognition, mixed with the dead maid’s skirt hem, particularly dirty and messy.

He only glanced once before averting his eyes in disgust, stepping around the winding bloodstains on the ground to avoid soiling the silk shoes on his feet.

The steward followed behind him, somewhat troubled: “Young master, that woman was from a good family.”

He was unconcerned: “Give some silver to send them away.”

Everyone in this world was measured by price.

One tael of silver couldn’t buy a cup of fine wine at Yuxian Tower, but it could buy a servant of humble birth.

They were very cheap.

So he straightened his clothes and returned to the manor.

Later he vaguely heard that the woman had become pregnant, but he didn’t really take it to heart. The woman’s husband desperately hoped to curry favor with the Grand Tutor Manor and would practically lick the mud from his shoes – that insignificant anger really couldn’t stir up any waves.

What truly made him panic was the woman’s brother.

News came from the Ministry of Justice that the woman’s brother had somehow learned the truth and had submitted a petition to the reviewing official. Only then did Qi Yutai become frightened.

It wasn’t fear of the dynasty’s laws or the other party’s hatred.

He was only afraid his father would find out.

Qi Qing valued reputation above all. If this matter went through official channels and caused a big commotion, his father would never forgive him.

So Qi Yutai had his steward negotiate with the Ministry of Justice, and they agreed to handle the matter cleanly. Later he heard that all four members of the woman’s family were no longer around, and only then did he relax.

However…

His father still found out.

Learning of this incident, Qi Qing confined him to house arrest in the manor, not allowed to go out. His father’s disappointed gaze simply became his nightmare, keeping him tossing and turning sleeplessly for quite some time. Fortunately, those rhinoceros horn incenses helped soothe his emotions.

He thought this matter had passed. In his more than twenty years, such things had happened countless times, and he never expected it would be brought up today.

The voice by his ear was cold as smoke: “Young Master Qi, you killed someone…”

He instinctively refuted: “No, no, I didn’t kill anyone…”

“You dismissed your servants and went to Fengle Tower specifically to kill…”

Dismissed servants?

Qi Yutai was stunned, instinctively saying: “No, I just didn’t want father to know I was taking the powder… she came in herself…”

“I didn’t… I didn’t mean to kill anyone!”

The surroundings quieted.

Lu Tong lowered her eyes, looking down at Qi Yutai sitting in the chair with a dazed expression, her gaze cooling bit by bit.

On the purple sandalwood inlaid gemstone screen by the door, brilliant rubies tinted even the blue smoke from the incense burner with a layer of pale, vivid red. Those swirling wisps of smoke seemed like gray, hazy shadows, vaguely existing before quickly dissipating, leaving no trace behind.

Taking powder.

Lu Tong silently repeated these two words.

Qi Yutai in the chair had his eyes closed, muttering something under his breath, appearing to be asleep. Only by getting close could one hear what he was saying.

Lu Tong’s gaze fell on him.

The red fang catkins from the Red Fang Garden in the Imperial Pharmacy were originally medicinal materials specifically for treating Consort Rou’s insomnia, but the raw materials were poisonous. Prolonged exposure caused dizziness and nosebleeds.

She had gone to the Imperial Pharmacy to ask He Xiu for some remaining scraps of red fang catkin branches and leaves. When He Xiu heard she needed them, she didn’t even ask what they were for and sent half a bundle overnight.

She processed those remnant branches slightly, soaked and crushed them in a silver jar, boiled them with other medicinal materials, and finally kneaded them into the incense pills Jin Xianrong had given her.

Rhinoceros horn incense could calm the spirit and tranquilize the mind, but with just slight modification, it could make people speak deliriously, unable to distinguish between dreams and reality…

Sweet dreams became nightmares.

The person in the chair remained immersed in his dream. Lu Tong looked down at him from above, took two steps closer, the silver needle in her hand sliding from his neck gradually across his cheek, finally stopping at his less-than-full temple.

Piercing from here, driving it completely in, he would die immediately.

Qi Yutai continued muttering: “It wasn’t me… I didn’t…”

Lu Tong reached out.

The needle point pressed against skin, slowly pushing inward.

Qi Yutai seemed to sense something, showing an expression of pain.

“Creak—”

Just then, a sudden sound came from behind her.