The next day, Jiang Li decided to go to the Duke’s Manor.

The Jiang family assumed she was going to see Ye Mingyu and let her go quite easily. Jiang Li did indeed first visit the Ye family to see Ye Mingyu and Ye Shijie, and to visit Xue Huaiyuan. Xue Huaiyuan had improved somewhat compared to the previous days. Unlike when he had first arrived in Yanjing City, constantly gesticulating like a child, these days he looked more like an adult, only often sitting to one side in a daze, not knowing what he was thinking about.

If what Situ Jiuyue said was true and Xue Huaiyuan was gradually improving, perhaps one day while lost in thought, he would remember the past. For the arrival of this day, Jiang Li felt both joy and fear—joy because it would mean she could reunite with her father, fear because her father was advanced in years and how could he bear the disasters the Xue family had suffered over the past half year?

After leaving the Ye family, Jiang Li had the carriage driven to the vicinity of the Duke’s Manor, arriving at the Duke’s Manor entrance. Last night she had already arranged with Ji Heng that she would come today to see Haitang.

The handsome young servant at the Duke’s Manor entrance, upon seeing Jiang Li arrive, opened the main gate to welcome her without a word. Both Tong’er and Baixue were surprised in their hearts, wondering when their young lady had become an honored guest at the Duke’s Manor, or whether the relationship had become as familiar as entering the Ye family.

Jiang Li didn’t think too much about it and directly stepped inside.

She had an excellent memory—paths she had walked once didn’t require reminders to walk a second time. Therefore, she easily navigated through the Duke’s Manor’s complex corridors and reached the courtyard in front of Ji Heng’s study. Whenever she and Ji Heng met indoors, it was in this study.

She originally wanted to first see Ji Heng and tell him she had arrived. Unexpectedly, only Wen Ji was outside. Wen Ji looked at her and said, “Master went out today and won’t return until evening. Before leaving, he instructed this subordinate that if Second Miss Jiang came, she should go directly to the western rooms—that’s where Miss Haitang resides. Today Miss September is also at the manor. After Second Miss Jiang sees Miss Haitang, if she still wishes to see Miss September, come back here to find this subordinate, and I will take Miss to see Miss September.”

Jiang Li was slightly surprised, not expecting Ji Heng to be absent. However, though he wasn’t here, he had already arranged everything—truly thoughtful. Jiang Li said, “Then I thank Brother Wen Ji.”

Wen Ji repeatedly said he didn’t dare, then led Jiang Li to the entrance of the western rooms. “This is the western rooms.”

Jiang Li nodded, had Tong’er and Baixue stand guard outside the door, and pushed the door open herself to enter.

Inside the room, Haitang was sitting at the table wiping it down. She felt very uncomfortable staying at the Duke’s Manor—she had always served others, when had others ever served her? Moreover, most people in the Duke’s Manor were young male servants, truly unsuitable to attend to her personally. So she had politely declined the assigned servants and took care of herself alone.

Only she didn’t usually know what to do, much less what she could do. With no one to talk to, she could only find chores to keep herself busy.

Hearing movement outside, Haitang suddenly turned around. Seeing Jiang Li, she was also startled. She still remembered Jiang Li’s status and quickly stood up to pay respects. “Second Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Li carefully examined Haitang’s face. Although Situ Jiuyue repeatedly said she was a person who used poison and wasn’t skilled at healing people, the two terrifying scars on Haitang’s face now showed not a trace. Her skin was smooth and delicate, overlapping with the image of that refined young lady in Jiang Li’s memory from the past.

Haitang also sensed Jiang Li was scrutinizing her face and couldn’t help reaching up to touch it. She smiled at Jiang Li. “The scars on this servant’s face have completely healed, thanks to Miss September’s medical skill. It’s exactly the same as before.”

“Yes,” Jiang Li sighed. “Not a bit different.”

Hearing this, Haitang felt somewhat strange. The tone in Jiang Li’s words seemed as if she had seen her before. This was impossible. However, she thought Jiang Li was speaking emotionally and didn’t think much of it.

“How have you been spending these days here?” Jiang Li asked. “Are you comfortable living here?”

“Everything at the Duke’s Manor is good,” Haitang lowered her head. “Only this servant isn’t accustomed to days of idleness. Second Miss Jiang,” she suddenly raised her head, looking at Jiang Li with determined eyes, “that day Second Miss Jiang said that as long as this servant lives, she can become evidence to help Miss seek revenge. This servant boldly guesses that Second Miss Jiang wants to clear Miss of false charges and expose the true culprit to the public. This servant hopes to contribute. I wonder when Second Miss Jiang plans to act?”

Her tone was calm, yet her eyes revealed barely suppressed urgency. Jiang Li sighed inwardly. Haitang was most loyal, rational, and intelligent. Having just survived this calamity not long ago, she still thought about her own matters.

“There’s no rush for this,” Jiang Li said. “I’m already making preparations. When I need you, you’ll naturally be able to appear.”

“This servant… in this world now, doesn’t know whom to trust or whom to talk to.” Haitang said somewhat bewildered. “When the Xue family still existed, the master, young master, and miss were everything to this servant. But now, the master has gone mad, the young master and miss are dead, and those sister servants of mine are also dead or scattered. In this vast world, there’s no place for this servant.” She smiled self-deprecatingly. “This servant has been sold as a maid since age five and long ago lost contact with my family. Later when I returned to Zaohua Village, although I have two younger brothers, we’re truly not close. Moreover, I can’t tell them about these matters.”

Jiang Li could empathize. For Haitang, everything from the past no longer existed. Even if she wanted to start over, she didn’t know how to begin. To Yanjing City she was almost a stranger, with no friends or family, and no Xue Fangfei.

“Haitang,” Jiang Li said softly, “after Xue Fangfei’s case is concluded and the culprit is brought to justice, you won’t need to fear someone recognizing your identity and silencing you. At that time, I’ll send you to the Ye family. You can serve County Magistrate Xue.”

Hearing this, Haitang said, “Really?”

“Really.” Jiang Li said. Someone should care for County Magistrate Xue. But Jiang Li currently trusted no one. Ye Mingyu could care for him, but after all he was a rough man and not meticulous. If Haitang stayed by Xue Huaiyuan’s side, she could naturally care for him attentively. And for Haitang, Xue Huaiyuan was a close person who could make her feel she wasn’t so alone and useless.

Haitang said, “Second Miss Jiang, I, I truly have no way to repay you.” She was somewhat incoherent.

Jiang Li patted her hand and said warmly, “Don’t be like this. I’m not doing these things to have you repay me. If you ask what I want to gain, it’s nothing more than having the culprit receive full punishment. If you feel bad about it or think you owe me greatly, you might think of it this way: my enemies are the same as yours. Helping you is just for my own sake. Thinking this way, doesn’t it feel much lighter?” She smiled.

Haitang stared blankly at the young lady before her. The young lady was still very young, her skin white as snow. Speaking of it, though she was also graceful and lovely, she wasn’t as captivating in appearance as her own miss. But Haitang also felt that this young lady’s every gesture and movement seemed to carry Xue Fangfei’s shadow.

Especially her smile—it seemed able to comfort everything, making people feel at ease.

Just like her miss.

Inexplicably, Haitang grew close to this young lady before her.

Jiang Li again instructed her, “These days just don’t think about anything. Although you can’t leave the manor, it’s also for your safety. If Princess Yongning’s people see you’re still alive in this world, they’ll probably try every means to harm you. If there’s definitely something you must go out for, please have Wen Ji accompany you, but it’s best not to.” Speaking to this point, she also seemed somewhat embarrassed. “The Duke and I aren’t as familiar as you might imagine. During this period I’ve also shamelessly troubled him greatly, so…”

Haitang was a clever girl and immediately said, “This servant understands. This servant won’t make things difficult for Second Miss.”

Jiang Li breathed a sigh of relief, spoke with Haitang a bit more, comforted her for a while, then left the room.

Wen Ji was still standing guard outside. Jiang Li walked forward. “I’d like to see Miss September. Could Brother Wen Ji introduce me?”

Wen Ji agreed and led her in another direction.

Situ Jiuyue was in the room refining medicine—probably refining medicine. She should still be using local materials. In the silver bucket beside her was a large bunch of fresh flowers. They looked very familiar. Jiang Li remembered—weren’t these flowers from the Duke’s Manor flower beds?

Those flowers were all highly poisonous, perfect for Situ Jiuyue to use in making medicine. Her black clothing amid the room full of colorful flowers didn’t seem strange at all.

Jiang Li said, “Miss September.”

Situ Jiuyue turned her head. Seeing it was her, she set down what she was holding. “You’ve come.”

From her appearance, she seemed to have known Jiang Li would come all along.

“I just went to see Haitang. Her face has completely healed. I thank Miss September for her medical skill—it’s truly remarkable.” Jiang Li smiled her thanks.

“I told you, I’m not a physician. Treating her face, I also used the method of fighting poison with poison.” Situ Jiuyue spoke carelessly. “That was also her own effort. A small maid could actually endure it—I was also quite surprised.”

In any case, she was unwilling to easily accept others’ goodwill. Even having done a good deed, she had to act as if it were done in passing. Jiang Li smiled. The princess of Molan had experienced great upheaval and been displaced—if she still easily gave her heart to others, that would be strange. Protecting herself with such a cold attitude was perhaps Situ Jiuyue’s way of life.

Situ Jiuyue looked at Jiang Li and asked, “I heard from Ji Heng that you’re looking for medicine to induce false pregnancy?”

“Exactly.” Jiang Li answered. “Can Miss September make it?”

“Of course.” Speaking of this aspect, Situ Jiuyue was always confident. She said, “Fifteen days. Within fifteen days I can refine it. After this medicine is refined and given to someone to take, it will be no different from an ordinary woman being pregnant. Even if imperial physicians from the palace take the pulse, they won’t see any problem.”

Jiang Li’s heart leaped with joy. “If so, that would be best.”

“However, this medicine only works for three months. After three months, all the signs will vanish into thin air. If someone takes the pulse again, they’ll discover there are no pregnancy signs at all. You must consider this when doing things.”

Situ Jiuyue didn’t inquire about whom Jiang Li would use this medicine on or why. This was probably related to Situ Jiuyue’s indifferent nature. However, this way also saved Jiang Li the effort of explaining to her.

“Three months is enough.” Jiang Li smiled. “Once again I must trouble Miss September.”

“It’s not really trouble. Ji Heng paid me silver, so naturally I’ll get things done well.” Situ Jiuyue glanced at Jiang Li. “You’re the truly formidable one, able to get Ji Heng to help like this.”

Jiang Li was surprised. “Paid silver?”

She had never known about this, but after Situ Jiuyue said this sentence, she turned around and continued refining medicine. Jiang Li didn’t want to disturb her, so she withdrew from the room and gently closed the door.

Today’s purpose in coming to the Duke’s Manor had been achieved. Ji Heng also wasn’t here—staying longer served no purpose. Jiang Li spoke a few words with Wen Ji, and Wen Ji led her out of the manor.

Passing through the courtyard, suddenly a black thing flashed by. There was only the sound of flapping wings as that thing landed on top of a lantern under the eaves, looked at Jiang Li, and immediately called out, “Fangfei, Fangfei!”

Jiang Li’s heart jumped in shock. Following the sound, she saw the myna from the Shen Manor facing her, calling out with incomparable enthusiasm and joy.

For a moment, Jiang Li didn’t even think about the myna calling her “Fangfei,” but was surprised to say, “How is it here?”

“This is a bird Master keeps, called Little Red.” Wen Ji said.

Jiang Li: “Little Red?”

She suddenly remembered that last night when Ji Heng was leaving, he had told her “you can also see Little Red.” At the time she had wondered who Little Red was, but before she could ask, Ji Heng had already left. She thought Little Red was someone she knew—she hadn’t expected it was actually this myna!

Wait, hadn’t it already been crushed to death by Ji Heng?

At the Shen Manor, this myna had been too noisy, leading Ji Heng to conceive the thought of killing it to silence it. Jiang Li had indeed watched him catch the myna in his palm and slowly tighten his grip. She had thought he killed it and felt quite sad about it for a while. Looking now, Ji Heng had actually not taken the bird’s life but had brought this bird back to the Duke’s Manor and given it a completely unrelated name—Little Red?

This was clearly a black myna!

Jiang Li raised her head to look at Wen Ji. Wen Ji still had his cold as ice appearance. At this moment, Little Red again cheerfully called to her twice: “Fangfei, Fangfei!”

Jiang Li: “…” She still found it somewhat unbelievable. How exactly did this bird recognize her?

But no matter what, she couldn’t linger here long. She stopped looking at Little Red. “I’ll take my leave now.” She left the Duke’s Manor.

Sitting in the carriage, Jiang Li thought about everything she had encountered at the Duke’s Manor today, only feeling it was somewhat absurd.

What on earth was this situation? Even she was confused.

…

In Yanjing City’s Wangxian Tower, a room by the window had been reserved early as usual.

Kong Liu had just returned from outside, terribly thirsty. He grabbed the teapot on the table and gulped down a mouthful. That small pot of tea was quite precious, worth several hundred taels of silver, and he had drunk it like a cow chewing peonies. Lu Ji’s eyelid twitched watching—truly helpless.

“I say, news from Yuzhou has already come through.” Kong Liu looked at the young man in red. “That Prince Cheng fellow is probably about to make his move. We need to be ready at all times. What did the Emperor say?”

“Act according to the original plan.” Lu Ji replied. “The key is exactly when Prince Cheng will act, and what method he’ll use.”

“The altar.” Ji Heng said. “On May 18th when the Emperor ascends the mountain to worship Heaven—that’s a good opportunity.”

“Prince Cheng wants to—on the mountain—the Emperor—” Kong Liu made a throat-slitting gesture. “Not bad, ruthless enough, just like Prince Cheng’s style!”

“How about I go back and divine whether May 18th has a bloody disaster?” Wenren Yao interjected.

“Fortune-tellers should stay out of this. Everyone knows your predictions aren’t accurate.” Kong Liu said disdainfully. “No use at all. Better to rely on ourselves.”

“In any case, all forces are now on stage,” Lu Ji tapped the table. “But if the Emperor settles accounts with Prince Cheng this time, will he next settle accounts with the Jiang family?”

“He won’t.” Ji Heng’s tone was very certain.

Everyone in the room looked at him.

His lips curved. “The big one hasn’t been dealt with yet. How can he worry about the small one?”

Everyone silently mulled over his words but couldn’t figure out the meaning, all somewhat confused. Just then, a guard walked in from outside and said to Ji Heng, “Ye Mingyu sent people to stand guard outside Xiao Deyin’s manor. From the looks of it, they’ll act within the next day or two.”

“Eh? Eh? Eh?” Wenren Yao couldn’t help saying. “Isn’t Ye Mingyu Second Miss Jiang’s uncle? Why are they watching Xiao Deyin?”

“Xiao Deyin seems to be the qin teacher at Mingyi Hall,” Kong Liu stroked his chin. “Is there some grievance?”

Lu Ji chuckled lightly. “Ye Mingyu and Xiao Deyin have no enmity or grievance—where would a grudge come from? Needless to say, it must be Second Miss Jiang’s idea. Ye Mingyu obeys Second Miss Jiang’s every word. I just don’t know what happened between Second Miss Jiang and Xiao Deyin.” He looked at Ji Heng. Among them, the one with the closest relationship to Second Miss Jiang was only Ji Heng.

“Perhaps in the past Xiao Deyin was too strict with Second Miss Jiang, so Second Miss Jiang holds a grudge. But that’s not right—Second Miss Jiang isn’t such a petty person. Moreover, she got first place in the Six Arts examination. Her qin playing isn’t bad either—even that old man Mian Ju praised her, so clearly it’s not bad. What’s the problem here?”

Ji Heng didn’t bother with them, only instructing the guard, “Find a few people to watch those Ye Mingyu sent. Don’t let them cause trouble.”

This meant helping Ye Mingyu clean up afterward.

The guard acknowledged the order and left. The several people looked at each other. Kong Liu asked, “Duke, what does this mean? Do you have some secret deal with them?”

Ji Heng glanced at him and said lightly, “Drink your tea.” In his heart, however, he pondered that Jiang Li’s movements were quite fast. Regarding Xiao Deyin, she hadn’t given the other party even a moment’s time. Her rushing so hastily, impatiently doing these things, was nothing more than to bring down Shen Yurun and Yongning.

But why such urgency? What reason could make her so anxious?

His thin lips were rosy. He picked up his tea to drink a sip. His lowered eyes concealed the deep thought in them, unnoticed by anyone.

…

The sky darkened.

Xiao Deyin sat in her room, watching the gradually lighting lanterns outside, her heart full of melancholy.

The more one feared something, the less one could let it go. Ever since seeing people discussing “Guan Shan Yue” at her door, she kept thinking of Xue Fangfei. Even though she had worked very hard to stop herself from recalling what happened in the past, nightmares followed like a shadow. She had even had nightmares where Xue Fangfei stood beside her, looking at her mockingly, dressed in white, slowly walking toward her.

As if to drag her together into a sunless, dayless hell.

Xiao Deyin woke with a start, covered in cold sweat, startling her maids who thought her chill had worsened. The room was filled with the bitter taste of medicine.

Sitting on the bed, Xiao Deyin couldn’t help thinking that back then after Xue Fangfei’s incident, when she never went out again and was confined to her sickbed, it probably wasn’t much different from her current state. She just didn’t know what was going through Xue Fangfei’s mind at that time. Perhaps wondering exactly what had happened, perhaps ashen-hearted, or perhaps thinking about who the true culprit was and then thinking of her.

She couldn’t help but shiver.

Xiao Deyin called a maid over. “I want to go out for a walk.”

The maid said, “Teacher, your body hasn’t recovered yet. You can’t move about everywhere.”

“It’s fine,” Xiao Deyin answered. “I’ll just walk nearby, I won’t go far. You’ll accompany me. I really feel stifled staying in the room.”

She thought she couldn’t keep staying in the room. Staying in the room always made her think wildly, recalling those heart-palpitating memories from the past. This room also seemed to have Xue Fangfei’s ghost—she feared being haunted by a wronged spirit, also feared Xue Fangfei would come for her.

She needed to go where there were many people, absorb the living vitality of people, watch the vivid marketplace, then tell herself that everything from the past had already passed, no one would discover what she had done, everything would get better.

The maid couldn’t dissuade her and could only find a thick cloak to wrap Xiao Deyin up tightly, then stuff a hand warmer into Xiao Deyin’s hands before helping her out the door.

The moment Xiao Deyin stepped out the door, she was still very nervous, fearing she would again hear that lingering “Guan Shan Yue,” that she still hadn’t escaped Xue Fangfei’s shadow. But fortunately, this time going out, no one played “Guan Shan Yue” not far away, nor did anyone discuss Yanjing’s First Qin Master at her door.

Xiao Deyin walked with her maid toward the outside of the alley.

The street was full of playing children. Though it was already evening, the liveliness on the street hadn’t diminished at all. Instead, there were sugar figurine sellers and street performers everywhere. Lanterns lit up one after another, dyeing all of Yanjing City red and bright.

This was the Yanjing City she knew—lively, different from the cold gloom of the manor. She wanted to create her own legend in this prosperous place. At least in her lifetime, she hoped to retain the title of “First Qin Master.” After all, she truly loved the qin, and she truly loved the envious, jealous gazes of others.

Xiao Deyin didn’t walk far, only strolling the streets near home. Perhaps the many people on the street gave her a sense of security, or perhaps today when she came out she hadn’t encountered the persistent “Guan Shan Yue” again. Her complexion improved considerably. The maid beside her saw this and smiled. “Teacher looks much better now. The medicine must have taken effect.”

Xiao Deyin murmured agreement and continued strolling about. She had intended to inquire about that mysterious qin master who had appeared some days ago and played “Guan Shan Yue” extremely well, wanting to know whether the matter of Yanjing’s First Qin Master changing hands was now known to everyone. But after the maid who went to inquire returned, she told Xiao Deyin there was no such thing.

Although Xiao Deyin was puzzled, she also felt relieved. Though she didn’t know exactly what was going on, nothing bad had happened for now. She guessed perhaps she had been overthinking.

After walking a while, as the sky grew late, Xiao Deyin and the maid walked back toward the manor. When they reached the alley entrance, the maid suddenly remembered something. “Teacher mentioned a few days ago wanting to eat pastries from Xingde Studio. Right now there probably isn’t a long queue. It’s not far anyway. Teacher wait a moment for this servant—I’ll be back very quickly.”

Xiao Deyin nodded. “Go ahead.” She had indeed mentioned wanting to eat Xingde Studio pastries a few days ago, so she waited peacefully at the alley entrance.

The small alley had almost no people at night. Xiao Deyin stood in place as two pedestrians approached from the distance.

Because this alley was a dead end with a wall at the end of the path, they couldn’t be passersby. Most were people living in the alley or visiting relatives nearby. But at night, there generally weren’t many guests. Seeing these two unfamiliar people, Xiao Deyin couldn’t help looking at them a few more times.

Those two people were also staring at her.

Xiao Deyin was startled. When she went out, she wore a veil so others couldn’t recognize her. Even if they were lechers, they didn’t need to stare at her so directly. Moreover, these two people’s gazes were especially cold, like wolves and jackals eyeing prey. She involuntarily wanted to distance herself from these two, but saw them suddenly turn back toward her the moment they passed by.

Xiao Deyin was frightened and jumped, confirming these two were coming for her. She immediately turned to run. But she hadn’t run two steps before being caught. After all, she was an unarmed weak woman. She was about to cry out loudly when one person covered her mouth. Xiao Deyin thus couldn’t make any sound. She stared in terror with wide eyes, her expression growing desperate inch by inch.

She watched wide-eyed as one person drew a flash of blade light from his sleeve.

Just as that blade light was about to strike her face, suddenly one person pulled down Xiao Deyin’s veil. His eyes brightened. “Hey, this Teacher Xiao really is a beauty. To die so wastefully like this, wouldn’t it be a pity… how about?” He revealed a lascivious smile.

Hearing this, Xiao Deyin’s heart grew even more desolate. The other person said, “Stop wasting words. Just do what the Princess instructed properly. You still dare create complications?”

Princess? Xiao Deyin was stunned. What princess?

“But it really is too much of a pity,” the knife-wielding person still seemed unwilling, pinching Xiao Deyin’s cheek. “Look, so tender you could squeeze water out.”

A wave of humiliation rose in Xiao Deyin’s heart, but more was fear. She didn’t know whom she had offended, much less who had sent these two. Just when all hope seemed lost, the maid’s voice suddenly rang out from outside: “Teacher? Teacher!”

Hearing this, the two men instinctively loosened their grip. Xiao Deyin immediately pushed with all her might and opened her mouth to call, “Help! Help!”

In the quiet alley at night, such loud shouting immediately attracted attention. Several household gates opened as people followed the sound.

Xiao Deyin looked back—the two strangers had disappeared.