The academy’s holiday lasted only three days in total, and they slipped by in the blink of an eye.

During that time, Feng Baiyu came by once, bringing a great many festival gifts for the Qu couple, staying to chat at length. He had originally intended to go to the inner courtyard to see Qin Yao, but was pulled aside by Qu Ziyu, and the two of them spent an entire afternoon talking in the study. When he left, Feng Baiyu’s face was ashen, as though he had suffered through a grave illness — he could barely stand upright, and nearly tumbled down the steps at the foot of the study corridor. It was only when Qu Ziyu noticed that something was amiss and quickly had Luda bring the carriage around, personally escorting Feng Baiyu back to the Feng residence.

Qu Ziyu was deeply protective of his younger sister, and because of this, he kept the entire matter hidden from Qin Yao.

During the remaining two days of the holiday, aside from that one trip to Qingyun Temple, Qin Yao went nowhere at all. Under Qu Chen Shi’s guidance, she threw herself into studying needlework with great diligence. Unfortunately, the time was far too short, her foundational skills were lacking, and she stubbornly refused to let Qu Chen Shi lend a hand, insisting that every single stitch come from her own fingers. In the end, she only managed to secretly produce a rough, unfinished sachet — just one round of outline stitching along the edge — before she was obliged to return to the academy.

When she returned, she brought along some pastries her mother and Lady Yelu had made, thinking to share them with Pei Min and the others. But to her surprise, when she arrived, she discovered that all four of them had had the same idea, each having brought home quite a fine selection of food.

Wang Yingning had brought fresh flower cakes. Pei Min had brought milk curd pastries. Liu Bingyu had brought the most — everything from sweets to dried meats, all sorts. Among her offerings, a packet of dried venison was the finest: the meat was crisp and tender to chew, dusted with pepper, both spicy and wonderfully chewy. It was a rare thing that all of them loved it, so Liu Bingyu wrapped up a generous extra portion and told Qin Yao and Pei Min to take some back to their dormitory to enjoy at their leisure.

That afternoon, when there were no lessons, Feng Chuyue arrived uninvited, also bearing quite a spread of food for Qin Yao — all sorts of noodle pastries from Yuanzhou, made by Feng Chuyue’s mother. Sitting down, she smiled and invited Qin Yao to try her mother’s cooking.

Qin Yao was pleasantly surprised and quickly wrapped up a portion of her own things to give in return — a portion that was a full double the amount Feng Chuyue had brought, which in turn made Feng Chuyue rather embarrassed. She laughed and said: “Why are you being so generous, A’Yao? You’re making me feel like I came here to mooch off you.”

After Feng Chuyue left, Pei Min hesitated for a moment, but ultimately could not hold back and said: “A’Yao, when she arrived just now, I saw that Feng Chuyue gave pastries to Kangping, Xia Yan, and the others too — not even Chen Yuqi was left out. She may seem warm and friendly on the surface, but I always feel she is far too skilled at currying favor. Her conduct is not in keeping with the ways of a person of upright character. She is not someone to be trusted too closely.”

Qin Yao understood Feng Chuyue’s nature perfectly well, yet when she thought of all the hardships Brother Feng had endured over the years, she could not bring herself to speak ill of Feng Chuyue in front of others.

Knowing that Pei Min was the type who could not abide the slightest grain of sand in her eye, Qin Yao simply smiled and said: “You bookworm. She is nothing but a young girl who has just come of age — where does the question of righteous conduct even enter into it? Besides, every person under heaven has their own nature. How could everyone possibly be as clear and upright as you? Stop talking about her. Try some of my mother’s crab roe pastry — I think it is absolutely delicious.”

And with that, she steered the conversation elsewhere.

That evening, the two of them washed up and retired. Pei Min still slept beside Qin Yao, and as Qin Yao glanced over, she noticed a small jade pendant hanging around Pei Min’s neck. She leaned in for a closer look and said: “Oh, I’ve never seen you wear that jade pendant before. It’s really lovely — did you just get it these past few days?”

Two patches of red flew up to Pei Min’s cheeks. She quickly tucked the pendant away into her collar without making it obvious, and murmured vaguely: “Mm.”

Qin Yao read her expression at once and immediately understood. She grinned mischievously and said: “I know who gave it to you. Was it Xu Shenming?”

Pei Min had never truly intended to hide it from Qin Yao. Seeing that she had already guessed, she blushed and answered: “Mm.”

That was as much as an admission.

“Have the two of you made up?” Qin Yao was genuinely happy for her.

Pei Min buried her face in the pillow and gave a small nod, then added in a muffled voice: “I had already made up my mind not to speak to him anymore — but this person is far too good at wearing you down.”

“It wasn’t even his fault to begin with.” Qin Yao offered her opinion with complete fairness. “Having one’s soul seized by a malevolent spirit — there are very few people who can keep their wits about them in such a state. You’re one to talk — you’re so lenient with your own brother, and yet you’re this strict with Xu Shenming. Could it be that the deeper the love, the harsher the reproach?”

Pei Min rolled over and stared up at the bed canopy, grumbling: “If something like that ever happens again, I absolutely will not speak to him anymore. I’d sooner become a nun.”

“Stop talking nonsense. Oh — has he mentioned anything about your betrothal?”

The hands clutching the blanket tightened imperceptibly. Pei Min blushed and said: “Mm. He said that once he returns from the autumn hunt, he will petition the Emperor for an imperial decree.”

Hearing this, Qin Yao was suddenly reminded of something her brother had mentioned offhandedly a few days prior — that the reason she had been able to enter the academy and study there was entirely due to the efforts the Young Lord had made behind the scenes. She had been quite surprised at the time, but unfortunately had not seen the Young Lord since then and had had no opportunity to ask him to confirm it.

Thinking about it now, she found the idea increasingly plausible the more she considered it. Pei Min’s father was nothing more than a junior official in the Ministry of Finance, and looking across the entire academy, Pei Min and she were the two from the humblest family ranks. Was it possible that Pei Min’s admission had also been the result of Xu Shenming working behind the scenes?

The more she turned it over in her mind, the more likely it seemed. She recalled that Xu Shenming and Lin Xiao were colleagues, and Lin Xiao might well know something about the matter. She would have to find a chance to ask him some day.

After that, life at the academy continued as usual.

Feng Chuyue was smooth and skilled at social dealings, and adept at flattery. As time passed, even the students who had once harbored reservations about her gradually stopped keeping her at arm’s length the way they once had.

Kangping grew all the more warm toward Feng Chuyue, constantly drawing her along wherever she went, openly defending her at every turn in their conversations, and never failing to include her in anything good that came along.

Word had it that Feng Chuyue was applying herself with unusual diligence — every day after class, without fail, whether to her coursework or her lute practice, she would shut herself in her room and study and practice late into the night, only stopping when it was time for bed. She worked harder even than Qin Yao had when she first entered the academy.

Lin Xiao had not come to find Qin Yao for quite a number of days. She missed him, of course, but she also understood that he was likely occupied with preparations for the Emperor’s autumn hunt and could not spare the time. When she had a free moment, she would bury herself in embroidering the sachet. Her progress was painfully slow — she pricked her fingers several times — but because she had put such careful thought into it, the stitches were still fairly neat and close, and the colors she had chosen were fresh and pleasing. Even so, Qin Yao had no confidence in her needlework, and as she stitched, she kept wondering what Lin Xiao would think when he saw it — would he find it too crude?

After several more days had passed, Duke Lu’s birthday arrived. The families of most of the academy’s students had longstanding ties with the Duke Lu household and were all obliged to attend the banquet. Beyond these families, the Duchess of Lu had also sent invitations specifically to the other students of the academy, and Qin Yao was among those invited. Unable to decline, she had no choice but to go along with Wang Yingning and the others.

Qin Yao, Pei Min, and Liu Bingyu shared a carriage. When they stepped out, someone happened to be dismounting at just that moment — a dazzling, striking figure in fine clothes astride a magnificent horse, surrounded by a crowd of attendants. It was the two Xia brothers, Xia Lan and Xia Di.

Catching sight of Qin Yao, Xia Di inexplicably reddened and, in an uncharacteristic break from his usual habit, did not let his gaze linger on her as it always did. Instead, he tossed the reins in his hands to an attendant behind him and strode directly through the gates of Duke Lu’s residence.

Liu Bingyu looked puzzled. “Does Second Young Master Xia know you?”

“No,” Qin Yao said with perfect composure and a straight face, distancing herself from any connection.

The residence was wonderfully lively. Duke Lu held a distinguished reputation at court, and the prominent families of the entire capital had turned out almost without exception to pay their respects.

To accommodate the academy students, the Duchess of Lu had arranged three additional tables beyond the main ones, and the servants led Qin Yao and her companions to their seats.

As they made their way through, Qin Yao found herself thinking: Duke Lu was Lin Xiao’s maternal uncle. On the occasion of Duke Lu’s birthday, it would be difficult for Lin Xiao to be absent on any grounds — was it possible that he was already somewhere inside the residence?

The banquet was set in the garden. The moment they stepped through the garden gate, a wave of fragrant, rich roasted lamb drifted toward them.

Liu Bingyu clapped her hands in delight. “It looks like tonight will be a whole-lamb feast. I’ve heard that the chef at Duke Lu’s residence is remarkably skilled — we’re truly in for a treat tonight.”

“You and your appetite,” the others said, affecting expressions of disdain.

Liu Bingyu was just about to defend herself when the Duchess of Lu’s two daughters-in-law came forward with warm smiles, guiding the young women to their seats.

Kangping sat at the seat of honor, Xia Yan on her left. On her right — surprisingly, not Chen Yuqi for once — sat Feng Chuyue.

Kangping seemed to be in fine spirits, laughing and chatting with Xia Yan and the others. When she saw Qin Yao and her companions approaching, she called out cheerfully: “We’ve been waiting for you! Come, take your seats quickly.”

Qin Yao and the others found it strange — glancing at the adjacent tables, they saw that every seat was filled, while this particular table had exactly four seats left empty, as though they had been specifically reserved. A faint sense of unease stirred among them.

“Don’t dawdle,” Kangping said, seeing that Qin Yao and the others still hadn’t sat down, and urged them again: “Hurry and sit — we want to get in a round of drinks before the main feast begins.”

They had no choice but to take their seats.

Kangping then instructed a servant to pour wine for everyone.

Once every cup was full, Kangping was the first to raise hers and said: “Though we are all schoolmates, since entering the academy we have never once had a drink together. It is a rare occasion to have everyone gathered like this tonight. Let us share a cup in celebration of our friendship as classmates.”

Feng Chuyue and the others immediately smiled and agreed, each draining their cups in one go.

Qin Yao quietly raised her cup to her nose and sniffed. She detected nothing out of the ordinary. But to be safe, she still took advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention to use a sleight of hand, quietly pouring the contents of her cup onto the ground.

Seeing that Qin Yao and the others had all obediently drunk their wine, Kangping’s smile grew even more delighted. “Tonight we must enjoy ourselves properly — no one is allowed to leave early.”

Pei Min leaned in quietly and whispered to Qin Yao: “A’Yao, don’t you think Princess Kangping is acting a little strange tonight?”

“Mm.” Qin Yao pressed Pei Min’s hand under the table in reply. She could not yet tell what Princess Kangping was plotting, but it was obvious that tonight Kangping’s gaze had settled on her far more often than usual.

She lowered her voice and said to Pei Min: “Let’s not wander around later.”

Presently the main dishes arrived, and the young women ate and drank, gradually growing more animated and high-spirited.

After the dishes were cleared away, Xia Yan noticed that everyone was in excellent spirits and suggested a game of flower-passing verse recitation. “I’ll start with the opening line. Whoever the flower ball lands with must continue the poem from where it was left. The verses don’t have to be your own composition — you may draw from the poetry of previous or present dynasties — but tones must be balanced and the rhyme scheme must remain consistent.”

It was the sort of game that required no great skill, being purely for amusement. All the young women readily agreed to join in.

Under these circumstances, Pei Min and Qin Yao could find no reasonable pretext to slip away first, and were left with no choice but to sit down and participate.

The flower ball used for the game was exquisitely made, inlaid across its surface with soft pink and blue fresh blossoms — small and delicate, and carrying in one’s hand a faint, subtle fragrance.

They had gone around the circle once when the Duchess of Lu suddenly arrived, Jiang Sanlang and a number of the Jiang family members in tow behind her.

All the young women rose at once to pay their respects — all except Kangping.

The Duchess of Lu smiled warmly and said: “Thank you all for doing us the honor of coming to this banquet. I thank you in advance. Please enjoy yourselves — drink and make merry — and when you have had your fill, go back to the academy together.”

The young women all assented.

Jiang Sanlang’s gaze fell on the flower ball in Feng Chuyue’s hands. He looked at it for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward and snatched it away from her with an air of nonchalance, tossing it idly from hand to hand and smiling ambiguously. “What a finely made flower ball.”

Feng Chuyue was caught off guard and froze where she stood.

Xia Yan’s expression shifted subtly. She forced a smile and said: “Sanlang, you’ve always been so fond of swords and riding — why would you suddenly take an interest in trinkets from the inner quarters?” As she spoke, she rose and reached out to take the flower ball back from his hands.

Jiang Sanlang raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I’m only taking a look. What’s gotten into you? I’m not going to break it.”

With those words, he made a show of handing it back to Xia Yan, and it seemed as though he was about to place it right into her palm — but then his hand gave a small jolt, and the flower ball slipped from his grasp.

Just then, a gust of wind swept through. The flower ball was light, and it tumbled and rolled far away on the breeze.

Even Kangping could no longer stay seated. She shot to her feet and stamped, exclaiming in exasperation: “Jiang Sanlang!”

Jiang Sanlang let out an exaggerated sound of dismay and strode quickly after it, bending to pick it up. He smiled and said: “There we go — returning it to its rightful owner. I won’t dare meddle with any more of you young ladies’ precious playthings.”

Although he had moved to retrieve the ball with the speed of lightning, Qin Yao’s eyes were exceptionally sharp, and she caught the faintest impression that he had slipped something into his sleeve. But she was too far away, and his movements had been too quick — she could not make it out clearly.