Yan Qing thought of Zhang Sao and said, “Ting, I suddenly thought of something. Even though the Marshal has deep affection for Huiyuan, Qian Lan is ultimately not Huiyuan. No matter how much the Marshal dotes on her, he would not become so completely enthralled — to the point of neglecting his duties entirely.”

“I find it strange as well. It is as though this Qian Lan possesses some extraordinary charm. But aside from a beautiful face and exceptionally skilled piano playing, she does not seem to have any other remarkable qualities. Even the Huiyuan of old was the same, yet the Marshal was never so muddled-headed over her.”

Yan Qing said, “The Chen family’s main business was fragrances. When I encountered Qian Lan’s former wet nurse, she was someone who could conceal drugs inside a sachet to harm people. Do you think it is possible that Qian Lan has placed some kind of drug inside a sachet — a drug capable of bewitching a person’s mind, making whoever wears it become dependent on her to the point of being unable to part?”

“You are a doctor. Do you know of any such drug?”

“In theory it is possible, but I have never heard of such a drug in our own country.”

Shi Ting thought for a moment, then his eyes suddenly brightened. “I recall now — the Military Police Bureau once arrested a man from the Di Kingdom. This man had seven or eight young women around him. When the Di Kingdom man was brought to the Military Police Bureau, these women all followed him there. Some sat in prison with him, and some even wanted to die alongside him. Bai Jin was curious about what appeal this man had. The Di Kingdom man said that a person’s own charm is limited, but he had a method to make these women absolutely obedient to him — only, the reason behind it, he refused to say.”

“Can you still find this Di Kingdom man?”

“I would need to go back to the Military Police Bureau and look through the files. I recall he was arrested for beating someone so severely that the victim sustained serious injuries. Eventually he paid a large sum in compensation and the other party chose to let the matter drop.”

“If the Di Kingdom truly has such a thing, how did Qian Lan obtain it?”

Shi Ting tapped lightly on the table. “Qian Lan couldn’t have obtained it on her own — but Shi Guang could. Ever since Shi Guang returned from his time in the mining region, he has maintained very close ties with Di Kingdom people. It is not out of the question that he has privately colluded with them.”

“The last time I saw the Marshal, he was wearing a sachet. I believe the problem may lie within it.” Yan Qing thought for a moment. “If we could obtain that sachet from the Marshal, perhaps we could unravel the secret inside. But Qian Lan currently forbids anyone from seeing the Marshal, so we have no way to get close to him… And if we were to insist on seeing the Marshal by force, it would alert Qian Lan and stir the grass to startle the snake. This is truly difficult.”

“No — there is one person who can see him,” Shi Ting said, flicking her lightly on the forehead, his eyes full of tender indulgence. “The Marshal’s physician.”

“You mean Doctor Zhang?”

“Doctor Zhang has been treating the Shi family since the time of my grandfather. That is already several decades. His relationship with the Shi family is a deep and familiar one. During the New Year and other festivals, my grandmother still invites him to bring his family to the Shi family home as guests. Doctor Zhang’s medical skill is exceptional — that goes without saying — and his character is also upright and honest. I believe that if we were to ask for his help, he would not refuse.”

“And you’re not afraid he may have been bought over by Qian Lan?”

“If Qian Lan could have bought him, the matter of the medicinal soup last time would not have been so unfavorable to her. And Doctor Zhang has been treating people at the Shi family home for many years — many have tried to buy him. The twists and turns involved, I won’t spell out, but you should understand.”

Yan Qing naturally understood what role a physician could play in a household — he could save a life, or he could take one. Sometimes a single word from him could determine a person’s fate.

“But after so many years, I have never heard of Doctor Zhang being bought by anyone.”

“My only concern is that Qian Lan may no longer be using him to treat the Marshal.”

Shi Ting said, “Qian Lan needs to keep up appearances. She would not simply stop having the Marshal seen by a doctor. If she claims the Marshal is ill, a doctor is absolutely necessary. The current question is — if the doctor successfully obtains the Marshal’s sachet, he would need to find an identical one to replace it. Otherwise, if Qian Lan notices, it would alert her all the same.”

“I have a candidate in mind.” Yan Qing blinked playfully. “That Zhang Sao is currently staying at Long Yunxiao’s place. I have seen the sachet work she does. Qian Lan should have learned from her when she was young. As long as Zhang Sao has one look at it, she should be able to remember the pattern and produce a replica.”

“Will she help us?”

“She already knows that Qian Lan has killed so many people in the name of revenge, and she is deeply heartbroken over it. And Qian Lan also killed her son’s entire family. Even if she would not take revenge on Qian Lan herself, she should not want to watch Qian Lan make one mistake after another. I believe she will help us.”

“Then the matter of Zhang Sao is left to you. If she agrees, I’ll make the arrangements.”

Both Shi Ting and Yan Qing understood that in order to bring Qian Lan down, the most crucial element was the Marshal. Only by restoring the Marshal to his senses could Qian Lan be made to show her true face. Otherwise, as long as the Marshal stood in front of her as a shield, no one could touch her.

“We’ve been talking all this time — have you had enough to eat?” Shi Ting picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped the corner of her mouth.

“I wasn’t very hungry to begin with. I just hadn’t eaten with you for so long.”

“While I was over there, what I missed most was the food you make.”

“When we go home, I’ll cook for you every day.”

Shi Ting suddenly leaned in close, his breath carrying a hint of restrained want. “I’m afraid I can’t wait until we go home. I want to eat right now.”

“Right now? Didn’t you just finish eating?”

“Who said I’m full? I’m absolutely starving.”

Yan Qing had only just caught on when she was already swept off her feet in his arms. She let out a low cry: “Hey —”

The rest of her words were sealed back into her by his lips. His kiss was scorching, carrying an energy that could overturn heaven and earth yet was tender beyond measure — domineering and yet careful, enclosing her entirely within himself.

That night was brief, yet felt endlessly long.

~

After Yan Madam was laid to rest, the Yan family returned to calm. Guo Yanrong and her daughter both remained in custody awaiting the verdict. The Yan family was led by Yan Qi, who at this time demonstrated the bearing and capability befitting the eldest son. Not only did he carry out the funeral with dignity and ceremony, but all the family’s affairs were also handled with thorough orderliness.

Every day Yan Qi would go to Old Master Yan’s room to report on the family’s various matters, large and small, and Old Master Yan trusted him completely.

On this particular day, when Yan Qi came by, Yan Qing happened to be there as well. She was wiping Old Master Yan’s hands and face, attending to him with meticulous care.

Seeing Yan Qing, and then thinking of what his own younger sister had done, Yan Qi could not help but furrow his brows.

Every day, Yan Qing remained here tending to Old Master Yan without fear of contagion, genuinely and wholeheartedly hoping for his recovery. But Yan Qin would only come — when Yan Qi urged her — to call out a greeting from behind the door. Old Master Yan loved Yan Qing, and not without reason.

Yan Qi sighed inwardly. Yan Qin had few real skills, only the ability to pester him daily and stir up trouble, urging him to drive out the household of Guo Yanrong.

Yan Sheng and Yan Yong were both descendants of the Yan family. How could he possibly let them drift homeless? Their names were recorded in the ancestral genealogy. If they were to come to nothing, it would be the Yan family’s reputation that suffered.

Moreover, he had made a promise to Old Master Yan — that after his passing, he would take good care of this family and look after his brothers and sisters.

“Elder Brother.” When Yan Qing saw Yan Qi come in, she went to greet him.

Yan Qi gave a cool, neutral sound of acknowledgment. With Old Master Yan present, he added a word: “Thank you for your hard work.”

Yan Qing smiled.

Yan Qi sat down and said, “Father, I’d like to discuss Yan Qin’s marriage with you.”

Yan Qin’s marriage was something Old Master Yan had long been unable to set aside. Though he was thoroughly disappointed in his daughter, she was still a member of the Yan family. He could not simply let her stay idle at home indefinitely without marrying — as the years passed, she would only become harder to marry off, and in the end she would be reduced to a spinster everyone mocked.

Seeing Old Master Yan try to sit up, Yan Qing quickly helped him lean upright against the headboard.

Old Master Yan said, “Have you found a suitable family?”

“I’ve been fretting over this matter for some time as well. I’ve entrusted several matchmakers to keep an eye out. But given Yan Qin’s situation, there are not many families of comparable standing — those we would consider suitable tend not to consider us suitable in return.”

“Ah, indeed. After all, she is a divorced woman — one who was sent back from the Shi family home, no less. Finding a suitable match again is no easy matter.” Old Master Yan sighed. “If nothing else works out, then we lower our expectations. In any case, the betrothal gifts from our side — the Yan family will certainly not stint.”

Yan Qi made a sound of agreement. “Yesterday a matchmaker named Liu came to find me. She said she has found a family for Yan Qin. The man is also recently widowed, with two sons and a daughter — the eldest is ten years old and the youngest is three. The man runs a fabric business with more than a dozen shops in Shun Cheng. Though his business is nothing close to the scale of ours, he is hardworking and faithful. He has only ever had one wife all his life. If she hadn’t died of illness, he would not have remarried.”

“How old is he?”

“Thirty-six.”

Old Master Yan considered this. “The age is a little on the older side, but it is suitable. A man of thirty-plus has generally matured and steadied himself. His state of mind is also more settled. With Yan Qin’s temper — well — if she doesn’t find someone who can tolerate her and give way to her, there will be endless quarreling again.”

Yan Qi said, “I had the matchmaker look into it. She says the man is decent in every regard. Yan Qin would not be mistreated if she married into that household.”

“And the children?”

“The children all have wet nurses to look after them. Yan Qin won’t be worn out by them.” Yan Qi continued, “What matters most is that the man is not put off by Yan Qin being a divorced woman, and he is willing to come with six proper wedding rites to marry her. Most divorced women end up either growing old alone or taking the vows of a nun. Those who do remarry cannot marry well — their weddings are hurriedly thrown together over a simple shared meal. For a woman in Yan Qin’s position to be married so grandly is exceptionally rare.”

Old Master Yan nodded. “You make a fair point.”

“Father, if you agree, I’ll have the matchmaker go and make further arrangements.”

“Good. Tell them that on the matter of betrothal gifts, our Yan family will absolutely not let them down. Let them rest assured.”

“What does Yan Qing think?” Yan Qi said, suddenly looking toward Yan Qing’s direction.

Yan Qing was momentarily surprised, but quickly smiled. “With Father and Elder Brother here, I defer entirely to your judgment.”

Yan Qi nodded. “Good. Then I’ll have someone go and see to this right away.”

~