When the two of them arrived at the gate of Qingyun Monastery, Qing Xuzi and A’Han were just coming out, with the little acolyte Fuyuan trailing behind them.

At the sight of Qin Yao and Lin Xiao, Qing Xuzi immediately stopped in his tracks. A’Han’s face broke into a bright grin and he came striding over in welcome. “A’Yao! Your Highness!”

Seeing the carriage loaded with all manner of things, he knew these were the Mid-Autumn gifts Qin Yao had brought for her master. Without waiting for Qin Yao to say a word, he stepped forward and took up several large packages in his arms of his own accord.

Fuyuan, guessing there had to be something delicious inside, came up beaming to help carry the bundles.

“Master estimated you’d be arriving soon, and was just coming out to receive you.” A’Han said cheerfully, walking back toward the monastery while turning to speak over his shoulder.

Qing Xuzi stood at the gate, looking at Qin Yao and Lin Xiao. His expression gave nothing away — no pleasure, no displeasure — and with the gravity of his bearing he said only one thing: “Come in.” Then he clasped his hands behind his back and turned back inside.

The words were ambiguous, but they carried no intention of leaving Lin Xiao out. Qin Yao was mildly surprised, and in an instant her eyes lit up. She responded eagerly and pulled Lin Xiao along. “Let’s go.”

The two of them went in, and Lin Xiao could not help glancing around at the surroundings of the monastery, thinking of Qin Yao growing up here as a child. Every blade of grass and every tree within the monastery felt strangely close and familiar to him.

The group made their way to the rear courtyard. A’Han and Fuyuan carried the gifts directly into Qing Xuzi’s bedchamber, then busied themselves brewing tea and arranging refreshments for Lin Xiao, occupied and cheerful in their industry.

Qin Yao was equally occupied. She unwrapped the cloth around the gift boxes and presented the contents one by one for her master’s inspection.

“These are southern tangerines distributed at my brother’s yamen a couple of days ago. I tried one — sweet with a bit of tartness, absolutely delicious. So I brought two baskets over.”

“These are the wheat cakes Mother made the day before yesterday. I remember you and my senior brother both said they were delicious last year.”

“And here is the roasted venison and frosted purple pastries from Aunt Yelu — she knew they were being sent to a monastery and made them with vegetarian fillings especially.”

“This basket has Korean ginseng and snow ear mushrooms. Perfect for simmering into a soup this season…”

Finally she produced a small, exquisitely made food box. “Osmanthus cakes from Bao Rong Zhai — their newest offering. A classmate at my academy said they were wonderful, so I bought several boxes extra and wanted you to try some too.”

As she spoke, she casually reached into the box and took out a piece, which she offered to little Fuyuan, who was standing to one side looking as though he were suffering from a terrible craving.

Lin Xiao sat nearby watching and listening. He thought of Siruzhai, which had grown so desolate and quiet ever since his mother’s passing. With Qin Yao’s incessantly busy temperament, once she married him, Siruzhai would likely have a vivid, lively current flowing through it once more. As these thoughts took shape, he found himself filled with a great deal of quiet anticipation.

Qing Xuzi had been giving occasional sounds of acknowledgment in response to Qin Yao, but all the while his peripheral gaze had remained fixed on Lin Xiao. He observed that Lin Xiao sat quietly by the window in his chair — back straight, shoulders even, bearing unhurried and composed. His upbringing was truly beyond reproach.

By contrast, A’Han’s rough-mannered, artless air seemed all the more apparent, and Qing Xuzi’s heart quietly ached.

Qin Yao finished reporting each item to her master, then began to put the food boxes into the large cabinet beside the bed. She opened the cabinet door, rummaged around for a while, and suddenly noticed a brocade box about a foot square on the topmost shelf, tucked behind a cluster of other boxes and very easy to overlook.

Qin Yao recognized this brocade box — she seemed to recall having seen it somewhere in the monastery before. Curious, she took it down and opened it, finding inside some strange herbs she did not recognize. She thought she knew well enough what they were: her master had a habit of purchasing herbs like these from foreign traders, apparently once a year. She had never seen them used in any elixir-making, and had no idea what they were for.

Qing Xuzi had just pulled his gaze — which had been carrying a faint, hard-to-read weight — away from A’Han. When he looked up and saw that Qin Yao was holding the brocade box and examining it carefully, his expression shifted slightly. He rose promptly and snatched the box out of her hands, saying, “This is not something you can play with — if you damage it, there’s nowhere to find a replacement for a whole year.”

Qin Yao knew her master treasured this thing, and so she was not particularly startled. She simply pouted and said, “I was only looking. Was that really so serious?”

Qing Xuzi did not respond to that. He personally put the box away in a small cabinet behind his bed, carefully pocketed the key, and then, afraid that Qin Yao might press the matter further, quickly changed the subject as he sat back down: “The wandering soul you sent over last time — this master has already had a look at it —”

Qin Yao was, of course, far more curious about the half-headed ghost, and she immediately took over the conversation. “You’ve already looked at it? Was the way that person died somewhat unusual?”

Qing Xuzi bowed his head, stroking his beard, and after a long pause said, “This individual died as the result of having the top of his skull sliced away by a bladed implement. Before his death, he had for some unknown reason been separated from his wife, and a deep resentment had accumulated within him, which is why after death he continued to linger and would not depart. When I saw the state of this ghost’s death, I could not puzzle out what kind of malevolent entity might possess a weapon capable of shearing through bone as if it were clay. But then yesterday, that old bald monk Yuan Jue came looking for me. He said that something strange had occurred on Green Bamboo Lane — you had asked him to go there and deal with the malevolent presence. When I heard him describe the appearance of that evil thing, it suddenly occurred to me: could it be that this half-headed ghost was killed by the Ghost Swordsman?”

“Killed by the Ghost Swordsman?” Qin Yao had not considered this angle. “That day Elder Brother Feng mentioned that the bodies of these people were found in the outskirts of Chang’an. Could it be that after the Ghost Swordsman killed them, he slipped into Chang’an to continue his haunting? But then where did the half-headed ghost’s wife go?”

“The half-headed ghost died in the outskirts of Chang’an?” Qing Xuzi was greatly taken aback. “Then how did he come to be drifting around your academy?”

“I don’t know either.” Qin Yao shook her head. This was the one point that had puzzled her most over these past several days. A wandering soul as newly dead as the half-headed ghost, though filled with a belly of resentment, had not yet cultivated the baleful energy needed to move freely — most such souls could only drift near the place where they had died, lacking the ability to travel far and wide. Yet this half-headed ghost had somehow managed to make his way all the way from the outskirts of the city to the Yunyin Academy, which was remarkable enough to think about.

After a moment’s consideration, Qing Xuzi arrived at a possible explanation and asked Qin Yao, “Have there been any strange occurrences at your academy recently?”

Qin Yao searched her memory carefully. “I brought my compass to class, but the needle has never moved, and I have detected no yin cold aura whatsoever.”

Qing Xuzi frowned. “Could it be that someone deliberately led him to the academy?”

Lin Xiao, who had been listening from the side, recalled that at Qin Yao’s request, he had looked into some of the details of this case through Liu Zan a couple of days ago. He had not wanted to dampen the mood on the way here, but now that Qing Xuzi had opened the subject, he reached into his robe and produced a folded note. “The bodies of these individuals whose skulls had been removed were found at the foot of Qianren Mountain. Those who died were an entire family — seven people in all, young and old, with only the mistress of the household unaccounted for. The head of the family was a man called Zhou Heng, a cloth merchant from Qingzhou. Because his wife was exceptionally beautiful, a newly appointed prefect’s son — a Prefect Li — had taken notice of her, and thereafter this young man of the Li family kept coming to his shop looking for trouble. Unable to endure it, Zhou Heng took his entire family and relocated to Chang’an. But they were set upon during the journey. Liu Zan and his people searched the area around Qianren Mountain thoroughly, but found no body belonging to Madam Zhou. They have now dispatched men to Qingzhou to bring in that young Master Li.”

Qing Xuzi and Qin Yao exchanged a glance. Abducting the person one wanted to abduct, and killing those who were incidental — by any reading, this pointed to the young man of the Li family as the culprit. Had they not seen the victim’s spirit for themselves and known that this case was linked to a malevolent entity, they might well have suspected him without hesitation.

Lin Xiao thought for a moment and then said, “Even if there truly is a malevolent entity at work in this case, we cannot simply rule out the young man of the Li family in Qingzhou as a suspect on that basis. The most pressing matters are to determine whether he had any involvement, to find out what has become of Madam Zhou, and to establish whether she is alive or dead.”

Qing Xuzi agreed thoroughly and added, “Yuan Jue has been investigating this matter these past few days — there may be some findings by now. I will need to make a trip to Dayin Temple tomorrow.”

Just then, Fuyuan came running in and said, “Daoist, there’s a visitor at the front — they’re asking urgently for you to come out.”

Qing Xuzi was somewhat reluctant and asked lazily, “Did they say what the matter was?” Though he was perfectly willing for the monastery to receive more business, he had no desire to be running around on such a holiday.

“They say their young mistress has disappeared in a most mysterious way, and they are asking you to help find her.”

Everyone in the room gave a start. “What?”

Qing Xuzi immediately rose to his feet. “I’ll be right there.”

He gathered himself and called for A’Han to accompany him outside.

Qin Yao hurried to follow. “I’ll come too.”

Qing Xuzi had already reached the doorway. Hearing this, he turned and looked at Qin Yao. “Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and your parents are at home waiting to have dinner with you. Don’t go getting involved — let your master and your senior brother go first and assess the situation. It’s getting late. You go back with the heir apparent.”

And without another word, he led A’Han away.

Qin Yao hesitated for a while. Thinking of how her mother had gotten up early that morning to busy herself preparing the midday meal, she knew it would truly be disappointing if she did not return, and so she relented and let it go.

On the way back, Lin Xiao said to Qin Yao, “Not only are Liu Zan and his people working full-force on this case, but your master and Abbot Yuan Jue are already involved as well. If there truly is a malevolent entity at work, I imagine it will all come to light before too long. You might as well rest at home these next few days — all that rushing back and forth would only wear you out unnecessarily.”

Qin Yao nodded. After a moment, she felt that something was slightly off. Lin Xiao had always respected her wishes and rarely interfered in her movements. Yet here he was, seemingly anxious that she would exhaust herself over this matter. Could it be that he feared she would not be able to handle that malevolent entity, and might get herself into danger?

Lin Xiao saw the puzzled way Qin Yao was looking at him, and the tips of his ears grew warm. He gave a light cough. “In a little while, Kang Ping’s coming-of-age ceremony will be upon us. The emperor’s uncle will be hosting a banquet for the court, and it is very likely that on that day, the imperial marriage decree will be announced —”

The rest of what he had meant to say remained unspoken: after the betrothal decree, the wedding date would probably not be far off at all. It might be better if Qin Yao directed more of her attention toward… preparing for the marriage.

Qin Yao turned this over in her mind and gradually began to understand. She glanced at Lin Xiao with a pink face and said, “All right, then.”

Since it was Mid-Autumn, the palace banquet that evening was very well attended. Not only did Princess Derong’s entire household come, but even Prince Lan, who had only recently recovered from his serious illness, arrived early.

As the wine flowed and the atmosphere grew warm and merry, the emperor smiled and said to Prince Lan and the others around him, “Time passes so quickly — in the blink of an eye, even Kang Ping is about to come of age.”

Everyone paused mid-sip, and the table went quiet for a moment. They then eagerly followed the emperor’s lead and fell into animated discussion about Kang Ping’s coming-of-age ceremony — but in their hearts, each one of them understood perfectly well: with Kang Ping’s ceremony imminent, the marriage arrangements for several of the young people could not be far behind.

Prince Wu took a sip of wine and let his burning gaze drift to Xia Yuan. He saw her sitting upright, sipping her wine in an unhurried, measured manner, every gesture refined and serene — yet there was no happiness at all on her face. He was momentarily taken aback, then reconsidered: Xia Yuan had suffered that chest pain earlier in the day — could it be that the old ailment had flared up again?

Thinking this, his puzzlement immediately gave way to tender concern.

Princess Derong studied Xia Yuan’s expression carefully. She had noticed that ever since they returned from the academy, her daughter had been somewhat downcast, and right now her complexion was visibly poor. She leaned in and asked quietly, “What’s the matter? Is your body a little unwell?”

Xia Yuan covered her mouth and coughed softly. In a gentle tone she said, “I drank the wine a little too quickly just now. I’m better already. By the way, Mother, Kang Ping wants me to stay in the palace tonight to keep her company — I don’t know if you’ll agree.”

Princess Derong laughed in mild surprise. “You’re together at the academy every day as it is — what is there that can’t wait until tonight to be said?”

Her voice was not particularly low, and Kang Ping, sitting close by, happened to hear. She immediately left her seat and came rushing over. “Seventh Aunt, I have so much I want to say to A’Yuan — please, say yes.”

Princess Derong, unable to refuse her, laughed and relented. “Fine, fine! As you wish.”

When the banquet drew to a close, Lin Xiao went off to manage the soldiers under his command. Since it was a holiday, the night curfew had been lifted for the day, and the streets of Chang’an inside and outside the city walls were extremely festive. The imperial palace needed strengthened security — not only Lin Xiao, but Xu Shenming as well remained within the palace.

After completing one full circuit of inspection, Lin Xiao was about to head back to the duty room. As he came to the lotus pond, he spotted someone standing on the pavilion in the middle of the water — a slender figure, graceful and willowy, with a faint resemblance to Xia Yuan.

The only path back to the duty room led past the pavilion in the water. Lin Xiao slowed his pace and regarded the silhouette in the pavilion for a moment, then said quietly, “Make another round.”

He turned around and headed back the way he had come.

The several soldiers behind him all gave a start, stealing a glance toward the pavilion, then quickly followed along after Lin Xiao.

No sooner had Lin Xiao departed than a tall, slender figure came walking from the other side. At the sight of Xia Yuan in the pavilion, a smile broke out on his face and he quickened his steps to reach her. “A’Yuan.”

The corners of Xia Yuan’s mouth had already curved upward. She turned — and the smile froze solid on her face. “Seventh Elder Brother.”

Prince Wu felt a flicker of puzzlement, and smiled with some effort. “What’s that expression for? Weren’t you the one who asked me to meet you here?”

Xia Yuan’s mind turned over several times in rapid succession. She immediately realized she had been set up. She quickly composed herself and looked at Prince Wu with a gently reproachful expression. “Seventh Elder Brother, you came without making the slightest sound. You nearly frightened me to death.”

Prince Wu’s suspicion vanished at once, and he laughed quickly. “My fault, it’s entirely my fault! You have such a delicate constitution — I won’t do that again.”