Yan Ling was jolted by Guo Yanrong’s nudge and immediately turned toward Yan Qing. “Sixth Sister, I let greed cloud my judgment and was led astray by others. I was wrong. I was truly wrong.”

“Enough!” Master Yan cut off Yan Ling’s words with a sharp rebuke. “Now you think to admit your fault — but when you were conspiring with Yan Qin to frame Sixth Sister, did you stop to think what position you would be putting her in?”

When Master Yan recalled what had happened the previous day, blood rushed straight to his head in fury. If not for Sixth Sister’s quick wits, had the label of seducing her own brother-in-law truly been pinned on her, forget marrying into the Shi family — her reputation would have been utterly destroyed, and even marrying into an ordinary household would have become an impossible dream.

“Master…” Guo Yanrong was about to say more, but a single sharp look from Master Yan silenced her.

“Yan Ling, starting today, you will go to the elder Madam’s South Courtyard and keep her company in her prayers and vegetarian meals.”

Guo Yanrong was startled. “Master, please reconsider — Yan Ling is of marriageable age, and suitors will soon be coming to call. To confine her to the South Courtyard at this time, what are we to do?”

“My purpose in sending her to the South Courtyard is to cultivate her character and let her learn the ways of goodness from the elder Madam. She spends her days scheming to harm others — she needs to mend her ways before the subject of marriage can even be raised. Otherwise, even if she does marry, she will end up like Yan Qin — nothing but an embarrassment.”

“Master…”

“There is nothing more to say.” Master Yan’s expression was severe. “And as for you — I entrusted you with overseeing the inner household, yet you allowed Yan Ling to do as she pleased. From today, you are relieved of that duty. Go back to your own quarters and reflect on your conduct in seclusion.”

Guo Yanrong felt as though she had been struck by thunder.

She had only managed to seize this opportunity because Yan Furen was confined to punishment, and now all her painstaking efforts had come to nothing.

Just at that moment, Yan Qing, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. “Father, since Er Yitai took over the management of the inner household, things have been running in good order. She has also put her heart and soul into the arrangements for my wedding, and the two wedding gowns she had made for me are of exceptional quality. Now that the First Wife is in the Citang and Si Yitai has no interest in managing the household, if Er Yitai is made to withdraw in seclusion at this time, the inner household will inevitably fall into disarray. Yan Ling may have erred, but her error is not Er Yitai’s fault. I ask Father to reconsider.”

Guo Yanrong had not expected Yan Qing to speak up on her behalf, and was overcome with gratitude.

Master Yan considered the matter. What Yan Qing said did make sense — the affairs of the inner household were complex, and without someone managing them, things would surely descend into chaos. And with Yan Qing’s wedding approaching, someone was needed to oversee preparations.

“In view of Sixth Sister’s words, I will let this matter go.” Master Yan relented at last. “You may continue to oversee the inner household. Should anything of this nature occur again, there will be no need for seclusion — you will simply take your belongings and leave the Yan household.”

“Yes, yes, of course.” Guo Yanrong prostrated herself, giving repeated assurances. “Master, rest assured — should there be a next time, I will answer for it with my life.”

“Very well, all of you may go. I’m tired.” Master Yan rose and retired to his own room.

Guo Yanrong helped Yan Ling to her feet. As Yan Qing passed by her side, she hurried to call out gratefully, “Thank you, Sixth Miss.”

“Er Yitai need not thank me. Simply do your part well.”

Watching the direction in which Yan Qing departed, Yan Ling bit down hard on her teeth and squeezed two words through them: “Hypocrite.”

“Hold your tongue.” Guo Yanrong rebuked her sharply. “All of this is because you wouldn’t listen to me, and insisted on getting close with that Yan Qin. Yan Qin is neither favored at the Shi household nor well-regarded by Master here at the Yan household. If you were going to choose an ally, you should have chosen your Sixth Sister. I think what you said earlier was entirely true — you let greed cloud your judgment.”

Yan Ling, thoroughly scolded, bowed her head and dared not speak.

“Stay in the South Courtyard and properly attend the elder Madam in her prayers. I’ll do what I can to have you come out sooner. And from now on, you are not to provoke Sixth Miss without cause. Otherwise, even I won’t be able to save you.”

“I understand, Mother.” Yan Ling gave her obedient assent.

Guo Yanrong watched the direction in which Yan Qing had departed and let out a long, heavy sigh. It seemed that everyone in this Yan household had underestimated this daughter born of a concubine who happened to be physically disabled.

Jing Zhi pushed Yan Qing’s wheelchair along, and couldn’t help feeling puzzled. After holding it in for a few steps, she finally spoke up. “Miss, why did you speak up for Er Yitai? Fourth Miss framed you — I don’t believe Er Yitai didn’t know about it.”

Yan Qing gently massaged her legs through the blanket. At the question, she smiled. “As the saying goes, it is better to gain one more friend than one more enemy.”

“But Fourth Miss was punished so severely — Er Yitai might still blame you. Speaking up for her doesn’t mean she’ll be grateful.”

“She will be.” Yan Qing gazed at the layered eaves not far ahead, which pressed down over the courtyard like a cage, confining the freedom and thoughts of the women within. “When you reach out to someone at their most desperate moment, they will not forget the kindness.”

For Er Yitai, Yan Ling being sent to the South Courtyard and losing her own authority over the inner household — that was her most desperate moment. Yan Qing had chosen to speak at precisely that juncture.

“As for my wedding, Er Yitai has indeed been devoted. Even if she was only trying to impress Father, after this incident, she must be even more careful and thorough than before. Where she used to do seven parts of a good job, she will now have to do nine — after all, the whole mansion’s eyes are on her.” Yan Qing kneaded her legs gently to ease the tension. “Whether Yan Ling resents me or not is beside the point, but Er Yitai will keep a close watch on her. With Er Yitai as a check on her, anything Yan Ling might want to do will have to be weighed carefully. Rather than letting the two of them join forces against me, it is better to have one of them work in my favor. Is that not the right way of thinking?”

After hearing Yan Qing’s explanation, Jing Zhi couldn’t help but marvel. “My dear Miss — how do you manage to think of all that? I didn’t consider a single bit of it.”

Yan Qing smiled. “Use your head more, and it will come naturally.”

“Miss, you’re making fun of me.”

“Am I?”

“Hmph, Miss is terrible.”

The mistress and maid chatted and laughed their way into the courtyard. Mu Rong stood in the center of the yard holding a letter. “Miss, there’s a letter for you.”

Yan Qing took it and carefully unfolded it. The letter paper, with a faint blush of pink, gave off a light, sweet fragrance.

“Is it another letter from Director Shi?” Jing Zhi teased.

Yan Qing said, “It’s from Yiran. She’s inviting me to go and have fun at Malan Bridge.”

Anyone who hadn’t been there might imagine from the name that Malan Bridge was some scenic landmark arching over a river. Only the locals of Shun Cheng knew it was nothing more than a six-arch stone bridge spanning a drainage ditch.

Around this stone bridge, many reed awning stalls had been set up, and the goods sold there were a curiosity of all kinds.

Alongside everyday necessities, there were also many food stalls — selling braised meats, pork offal, smoked chicken, smoked duck, and all manner of small pastries and sugar figurines to delight children.

Some street performers sat playing the erhu, their bows drawing out a wavering melody, a battered bowl placed before them. Those who felt the music was good might drop in a coin or two, and the performers would offer up a string of blessings in their warmest, most grateful tones.

“Yan Qing, look at this — it’s so fun.” Qiao Yiran waved a donkey-hide shadow puppet in her hand. It was a prop used in shadow puppet performances, and by gently pulling the strings at the back, one could bring the colorful characters to life.

“If you like it, buy it.” Yan Qing smiled.

“Never mind — if Father finds out I’ve bought more strange odds and ends like this, he’ll break my hands.” Qiao Yiran put the shadow puppet prop back and cheerfully pushed Yan Qing onward.

“There’s a park up ahead. Let’s go have a look.” When the two of them had tired themselves out with wandering, Qiao Yiran steered Yan Qing through the marketplace, leaving the bustle behind.

Beside the water sat a small park. Its paths were paved with red brick, and beneath an enormous banyan tree stood a set of parallel bars. The bars had clearly gone unused for a long time, and a thick layer of dust had settled on their surface.

“The scenery here is really quite pleasant.” Yan Qing looked out over the wide stretch of water and felt her spirits lift.

“Yan Qing, would you like something to drink? There’s a place nearby that sells longan and red date tea — it’s supposed to be especially good.” Qiao Yiran suggested. “It’s getting cold. A hot drink would warm you up.”

“I’d love that.” Yan Qing was genuinely looking forward to it.

“Then wait for me a moment — I’ll be right back.”

After Qiao Yiran left, Yan Qing sat alone gazing at the river in a reverie. Occasionally the calls of street vendors drifted to her ears, only to be carried away again by the wind.

“Yan Qing?” A voice sounded from behind her, with an uncertain, rising lilt.

Yan Qing turned around, and saw a figure in pure white.

“Long Yue?” She was somewhat surprised. “What are you doing here? Did you come to browse Malan Bridge too?”

“I came to buy something.”

Long Yue walked toward her. “Are you alone?”

“My friend went to buy longan tea. She said there’s a place here that sells particularly good longan and red date tea.”

Long Yue smiled. “If I’d known, I could have gone to get it and brought it back for you both.”

“How is business at your detective agency?”

“Same as always.” He spread his hands. “Not a single client.”

Yan Qing suppressed a smile but refrained from encouraging him to change careers again.

“Yan Qing, I want to ask you something.” Long Yue still had his usual carefree manner, yet whenever Yan Qing’s gaze reached the depths of his eyes, she sensed something was different now.

“Go ahead.”

“How did Shu Banxue die?” His eyes drifted toward her, carrying a depth that made her heart skip.

“Shu Banxue?”

Long Yue looked at her. “The body my brother kept submerged in formaldehyde — the one hidden in his basement. Isn’t she Shu Banxue? Was she not?”

He blinked. “Shu Banxue was my sister-in-law. All the paintings in my detective agency were done by her.”

Yan Qing looked at him steadily. “What are you trying to say?”

“My question has already been asked.” He curved his lips and repeated it patiently. “How did Shu Banxue die?”

The surface of the river was calm and unruffled. The calls of the vendors had gradually faded into the distance. The park, already quiet, suddenly fell as still as death.

—