The carriage traveled through the streets and alleys of the capital.

Lu Tong and Pei Yunying sat facing each other.

Pei Yunying seemed to have also considered that their outing today shouldn’t be ostentatious, so he had chosen the most ordinary carriage. Thus the interior wasn’t spacious, and with two people sitting there, the distance between them was quite close.

Whenever Lu Tong looked up, she could see the person across from her.

Today was a rest day, so he wasn’t wearing his usual crimson official robes, only a pear blossom white narrow-sleeved round-collared brocade robe, with the waist gathered by a jade belt, making him appear extremely neat and crisp. His high-bound hair fell over his shoulders, and despite his cool expression, he still radiated elegant refinement.

Lin Danqing had said that the selection of Palace Guard personal attendants not only examined martial abilities but also appearance and bearing. Lu Tong thought that perhaps Pei Yunying’s ability to sit in the position of Palace Guard Commander at such a young age truly wasn’t due to his relationship with Duke Zhaoning Pei Di.

It might be because of his face.

As she was thinking these malicious thoughts, Pei Yunying noticed her gaze and looked up, raising an eyebrow.

He asked: “What are you looking at me for, Doctor Lu?”

Lu Tong shifted her gaze away: “I was just wondering how much longer until we reach the tea garden.”

To get to Tuoluo Mountain required leaving the city – quite a long journey. Going there and back, they’d probably return by evening.

He smiled: “Still early. The mountain roads are bumpy – Doctor Lu can sleep in the carriage first. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

This was quite considerate of her.

Lu Tong thought it made sense. Though she wouldn’t actually sleep, the journey was long, so closing her eyes to rest in the carriage would be good. She accordingly closed her eyes.

But as soon as she closed them, the carriage passed through a narrow alley where the dirt road was uneven. A child came running toward them, and Qing Feng hastily reined in the horse to avoid him. The commotion was too great, causing the carriage to sway to one side. Lu Tong’s body tilted, and she unexpectedly fell forward.

A long shout of “Whoa—”

Lu Tong’s head struck against soft robes.

The clothing was warm and fragrant, but the chest beneath was firm, like wearing a thin layer of armor that made her ache slightly from the impact.

An extremely faint orchid and musk fragrance wafted toward her.

She looked up to meet Pei Yunying’s dark black eyes.

The young man’s hand was supporting her arm – apparently an instinctive reaction when she had tumbled toward him. He looked somewhat surprised, gazing down at her with furrowed brows: “Are you alright?”

His eyes were very beautiful, but because they were too bright and black, sometimes it was difficult to discern the true emotions within them. However, at this moment there was no mockery, no distance or coldness – his gaze toward her was concerned, like the rippling spring water under Luoyue Bridge, warm and gentle, shimmering and captivating.

Qing Feng’s voice came from outside the window: “Master, someone just passed by.”

Lu Tong suddenly came to her senses and sat up straight, hearing Pei Yunying say: “It’s fine, let’s continue.”

The carriage began moving again.

The atmosphere inside was somewhat delicate.

To dispel this unfamiliar emotion, Lu Tong initiated conversation: “Master Pei.”

“What?”

“Could you let me see your fragrance pouch?”

At these words, Pei Yunying paused, apparently not expecting her to suddenly make this request.

But soon he smiled and readily untied the pouch from his waist and handed it over.

Lu Tong reached out to receive it.

It was a white jade openwork lotus-patterned sachet, carved very exquisitely. As soon as she brought it close, a faint medicinal fragrance immediately emanated from within.

Lu Tong’s heart stirred.

Since that time at Wan’en Temple, Lu Tong had already noticed the fragrance on his body.

People of this era loved to wear fragrance pouches, men included. Unlike Du Changqing’s thoroughly permeating strong fragrance, the scent on Pei Yunying was very light, barely perceptible, carrying a crisp clarity.

She had made medicines with Yunniang on the mountain, and Yunniang also made fragrances. Ordinary fragrances could be identified by components just by smelling. However, Pei Yunying’s fragrance was different. At first it seemed like orchid and musk, but upon careful consideration it was different. Just now when she had fallen and Pei Yunying had reached out to steady her, Lu Tong had again caught that elusive fragrance.

It seemed to contain some other spices or medicinal materials that cleared the mind and settled the spirit, surpassing even Qi Yutai’s Lingxi fragrance.

Such a fragrance pouch should have been specially blended for Pei Yunying by someone. Since she couldn’t distinguish each individual fragrance component, it would be better to ask Pei Yunying directly.

Thinking of this, Lu Tong asked: “Master Pei’s fragrance pouch is different from market incenses and seems to be specially blended by someone. Could you give me a copy of the formula?”

She suffered from chronic insomnia. It had been better at Renxin Medical Hall, but since arriving at the Hanlin Imperial Medical Academy, she could only fall asleep late into the night.

She had prepared countless sleep-inducing medicines herself, but having used too many medicines during her years on Luomei Peak, ordinary medicines were difficult for her body to respond to. However, every time she smelled the fragrance on Pei Yunying, she immediately felt her mind becoming peaceful. If she could obtain such a fragrance formula, it might help with falling asleep at night.

Although some fragrance formulas were precious, Pei Yunying had always been generous with material possessions, so he shouldn’t make things too difficult.

This was what Lu Tong thought, but upon hearing her words, Pei Yunying paused and didn’t immediately agree, only asking: “What do you want this for?”

Lu Tong casually made up a reason: “I find the fragrance Master Pei uses serene and crisp, quite appealing. I plan to make one according to this formula to wear myself.”

“Make one to wear yourself?” He slowly repeated the question.

Lu Tong nodded.

Pei Yunying’s expression was strange.

It was true that men and women of the capital era loved to wear fragrance pouches, with the perfume shops constantly introducing new varieties of incenses. However, incenses that everyone could buy from perfume shops were different from privately blended fragrances. Noble men and women were unwilling to use ordinary incenses that everyone could buy from perfume shops, often seeking fragrance masters to blend unique scents for them to display their noble status.

Since it was unique, there was no precedent for two people using identical fragrances. Only if the two users were husband and wife or lovers would they use the same fragrance formula to show intimacy.

His “Xiaoguang Leng” had originally been specially blended by an expert… Lu Tong’s words just now implied the same thing. Knowing this was a fragrance unavailable in perfume shops, his own unique scent, she still said she wanted to make an identical one to wear herself?

Did she have no idea what this meant?

Lu Tong naturally had no idea.

She had grown up on Luomei Peak and understood little of social customs. She had never paid much attention to proprieties between men and women to begin with. Moreover, her former Changwu County had been a small place where she’d rarely seen anyone wear fragrance pouches, let alone knowing about “lover’s fragrance.” She only wondered in her heart – it was just a fragrance formula, so why did Pei Yunying seem reluctant?

After a moment of silence, Lu Tong looked at him inquiringly: “Is it inconvenient for Master Pei?”

She felt that even when asking him to betray the Grand Tutor’s residence last night, he hadn’t been this hesitant.

“It is rather inconvenient.” Pei Yunying looked away and spoke indifferently: “I don’t know the specific fragrance formula. We’ll discuss it later.”

Such perfunctory words… it seemed he truly was unwilling.

Lu Tong felt regretful. Perhaps this formula was indeed very expensive, but there was no reason to force someone. If he was unwilling, then so be it.

She didn’t continue the conversation.

…

After the matter of the fragrance formula, the earlier subtlety in the carriage dissipated considerably. The carriage traveled swiftly, soon exiting the city gates and heading toward Tuoluo Mountain.

Tuoluo Mountain was located outside the capital’s outer city. The mountain was narrow at the top and broad at the bottom, the entire peak like a massive inverted spinning top. It was spring, with the whole mountain lush and green. Looking through the carriage window, everything was vibrantly verdant.

After an unknown amount of time, the bumping on the road gradually subsided, and through the fluttering gaps in the carriage curtains came waves of rich, clear fragrance. Outside came the sound of Qing Feng reining in the horse to stop.

“Master, Miss Lu, we’ve arrived at the tea garden.”

They had reached the tea garden.

Pei Yunying lifted the carriage curtain and was first to dismount, then extended his hand to help Lu Tong down.

Lu Tong stood steady and looked around.

This was a tea garden, or rather a tea mountain.

Large expanses of tea trees grew on the high mountain, with dense mountain forests. Golden sunlight poured directly down from overhead, illuminating the layered peaks like jade, thousands of acres of blue-green waves.

This was the largest tea garden in Mangming Township on Tuoluo Mountain – Cuiwei Tea Garden.

It was currently the season, and many tea farmers were picking tea in the tea groves. Seeing a carriage pass, some stopped their work to look in this direction.

Lu Tong reached into her sleeve to produce a light-colored gauze veil and put it on. Looking up, she met Pei Yunying’s strange gaze.

He asked: “Why wear a veil?”

“To avoid damaging Master Pei’s reputation,” Lu Tong replied without changing expression.

Actually, she was just worried that if there were Qi family spies here, if the matter came to light in the future and someone recognized her face, it would cause endless trouble. Better to be cautious.

After pausing, Lu Tong spoke again: “Should Master Pei also wear a hat with curtains?”

He served in court alongside Qi Qing. Though this person always acted without restraint, today’s reason was ultimately that she had dragged Pei Yunying here.

“No need,” Pei Yunying’s gaze swept over the white gauze on her face, tugging at the corner of his mouth: “I don’t have a fiancée anyway.”

Lu Tong: “…”

Qing Feng walked up to a tea farmer carrying a load of tea leaves. The farmer was an elderly man who, seeing them, set down his load and began chatting with Qing Feng.

They spoke intensely. Lu Tong vaguely saw Qing Feng show the farmer a waist token and hand him a thick ingot of silver.

She looked at Pei Yunying.

As if understanding Lu Tong’s confusion, Pei Yunying smiled: “All the tea gardens on Tuoluo Mountain are planted by tea farmers from Mangming Township. The owner of Cuiwei Tea Garden is a wealthy merchant, difficult for outsiders to enter.”

Lu Tong nodded.

Outsiders found it difficult to enter, but Pei Yunying could. Money and power were truly the most useful passes in this world.

“You’re not cursing me in your heart, are you?” Pei Yunying’s suspicious voice came from beside her.

He looked at her with raised eyebrows, his tone somewhat inexplicable: “I never usually do this.”

Lu Tong smiled: “Master Pei is willing to make an exception for me – I’m grateful beyond words. How could I curse you in my heart? You’re overthinking.”

He scoffed: “Your praise lacks sincerity.”

Lu Tong nodded: “Master is too suspicious.”

Pei Yunying: “…”

After this round of verbal sparring, Qing Feng had finished talking with the farmer and returned to them, saying to Pei Yunying: “Sir, we can go in now.”

Pei Yunying nodded.

Qing Feng didn’t follow, driving the carriage to the horse-tethering area while Lu Tong and Pei Yunying walked side by side.

Though there were tea gardens on Tuoluo Mountain, the path was easy to find. Between the forests and fields was a clear wild path with human footprints and wheel tracks, extending from the tea garden forest area all the way inward, probably toward the direction of inhabited villages.

Though this forest path wasn’t as rugged as the earlier mountain road, it still had protruding rocks and potholes, hardly easy to walk. Pei Yunying walked behind Lu Tong in case she slipped and needed assistance, but when he looked up, he saw the woman holding her skirt with both hands, walking very quickly on this mountain path, needing no help at all.

She usually appeared delicate and weak, as if taking a few more steps would leave her breathless, like a pale, sickly beauty. Yet here she encountered no obstacles whatsoever, like one accustomed to walking in mountains for years – an agile little deer moving lightly through the mountain forests.

He suddenly had a strange feeling, as if the person before him had been familiar with such environments for many years.

Not sensing his following footsteps, Lu Tong walking ahead turned around, her face covered by the veil showing questioning eyes.

He then lowered his head with a smile and followed.

After walking for about half an incense stick’s time, the tea gardens gradually decreased and the trees weren’t as dense as before. Passing through the last tea garden area, dwellings gradually appeared.

The forest path became a wide dirt road, with red mud houses on both sides. Several villagers dressed as tea farmers sat by the roadside with winnowing baskets selecting fresh tea leaves. Seeing the two of them, their gazes circled around them.

This was Mangming Township, where almost all the tea farmers who grew tea on Tuoluo Mountain lived.

It was currently daytime, with few villagers idle at home – most had gone to work in the tea gardens.

Pei Yunying walked to a house near the entrance where a middle-aged woman with a head scarf sat under the eaves sorting tea. He approached with a smile: “Auntie, could you tell me how to get to Old Yang’s house?” While speaking, he inconspicuously passed over a piece of silver.

The woman looked up and, seeing his handsome appearance and kind, approachable manner, accepted the silver and looked at him with a beaming smile, enthusiastically pointing toward the end of the street: “Old Yang? Just walk to the end of this street, turn right and keep going straight until you see the burned house – that’s it.” At this point, she suddenly looked somewhat suspicious, staring at Pei Yunying: “Their whole family is gone. What are you looking for him for?”

“We once bought tea from Old Yang’s tea garden. After returning to the capital and learning of his family’s misfortune, we came specially to take a look,” Pei Yunying replied naturally.

Upon hearing this, the woman said: “I see.” Her expression showed some wistfulness. “Ah, what a sin.” She then advised him: “That house and its surroundings are now desolate and eerie. You young master and miss shouldn’t stay too long… Usually no one’s allowed to go there either.”

Pei Yunying smiled in acknowledgment before rising and indicating to Lu Tong to continue forward with him.

When she’d heard the word “burned” from this woman’s mouth, Lu Tong had felt puzzled and moved her lips, but ultimately said nothing.

They would arrive soon anyway.

Indeed, as the woman had said, walking to the end of this street and turning right into a small path, after walking for about one incense stick’s time, a patch of overgrown fields appeared before them. The fields had been barren for a long time, with weeds half a person’s height growing everywhere, almost burying the houses behind them. And behind that patch of weeds, a house burned black stood abruptly before them.

The sudden appearance of such a burned house among the verdant mountains and emerald ridges was like a wound suddenly appearing in a crowd. The house’s blackened walls had large patches of skin peeling off, like torn scars dripping dried, dark blood.

Shocking to behold.

Lu Tong’s gaze fixed: “This is…”

“This is the Yang family’s house,” came Pei Yunying’s voice from beside her.

Lu Tong frowned: “The Yang family?”

Pei Yunying walked forward two steps.

The chaotic weeds were behind him, his pale white robes reflecting against this patch of green. Though it was clearly spring, it still felt somewhat desolate.

He said: “Do you know that Qi Qing loves birds?”

Lu Tong remained silent.

She naturally knew this.

The Liang Dynasty nobility loved raising cranes, especially civil officials. Because white cranes danced gracefully with transcendent bearing, perfectly matching civil officials’ pursuit of pure and lofty realms, noble courtyards always kept several for viewing.

The Grand Tutor’s residence had also kept them before.

Not just cranes – he had also raised peacocks, mandarin ducks, parrots…

But what Qi Qing loved most were thrushes.

As the saying went, “civil officials prefer larks, military officials prefer thrushes.”

Though Qi Qing was a civil official, he particularly loved thrush birds. His residence had once kept several thrushes, each expensive, with special people hired to maintain aviaries and care for these thrushes.

He also enjoyed “bird fighting,” often carrying birdcages to stage competitions. Officials wanting to curry favor with the Grand Tutor’s residence would spend heavily to buy fine thrushes and present them to the Grand Tutor’s residence, hoping to build good relations.

When Lin Danqing had told Lu Tong about these matters, Lu Tong had been very puzzled.

The Grand Tutor’s residence had kept birds year-round, and Qi Yutai had been accustomed to these songbirds since childhood. Why had he developed such aversion to thrushes overnight, causing the entire Grand Tutor’s residence to have no trace of birds for years afterward?

Very abnormal.

“The Yang family were tea farmers – a family of four all growing tea in Cuiwei Tea Garden,” Pei Yunying’s voice interrupted Lu Tong’s thoughts.

“The household head Old Yang died five years ago, just past sixty when he passed. During his lifetime he had one hobby – he liked to take morning walks with his bird in the tea groves.”

He walked to a charred dead tree in front of the house.

This tree had been burned beyond recognition by a great fire, leaving only black branches reaching upward in chaotic struggle. From a distance, it looked like a burned human figure writhing in agony, adding several degrees of sinister ghostliness to this desolation.

Pei Yunying gazed at those solitary withered branches, his voice flat: “Old Yang once kept a thrush.”

In an instant the mountain wind blew bleakly, and Lu Tong suddenly opened her eyes wide.

She suddenly realized something and looked at Pei Yunying.

He lowered his eyes: “It was quite a fine thrush.”

When people of this era selected songbirds, the conditions were quite demanding. Old Yang’s thrush was famously excellent in the area – not only elegant in appearance and pleasant in song, but also lively, combative, and entertaining.

More importantly, this thrush had been the favorite bird of Old Yang’s daughter during her lifetime.

Young Miss Yang had died of illness several years ago. When she was alive, she had personally cared for this thrush. After she passed away, Old Yang raised the bird even more meticulously, as if this way his daughter’s warmth still remained beside him.

Somehow the bird’s reputation spread farther and farther. Bird enthusiasts from teahouses heard this news and came specially to Mangming Township to find Old Yang, wanting to pay handsomely for this bird, but Old Yang refused them all.

The Yang family didn’t want to sell this thrush.

Pei Yunying said: “Five years ago, for Qi Qing’s sixtieth birthday, Qi Yutai wanted to find the finest thrush in the capital as a birthday gift. Hearing of a thrush in Mangming Township, he specially brought sufficient silver and people to visit.”

Lu Tong asked: “Old Yang didn’t agree?”

Pei Yunying made no answer.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“On the day Qi Yutai left, the Yang family’s house caught fire that night. All four family members, including the Yang family’s simple-minded son, perished in the flames.”