Although Qin Yao sensed something was off about Mount Shouhuai, even after they had entered the mountain, the compass in her sleeve gave no reaction at all.

With her hand resting on the edge of the carriage window, she kept her focus fixed outside the whole way. The baleful energy did not grow heavier as they went deeper into the mountain — if anything, it seemed to gradually weaken. After watching for a long while, she began to doubt her earlier suspicions. Perhaps there was no fully formed evil spirit in the mountain at all, only some cold yin energy that had accumulated over the years, a subtlety that Yuan Jue, more skilled than her at discerning such fine differences, must have been able to tell apart — which was why he had told her master that there was nothing wrong with Mount Shouhuai.

Qin Yao gradually let her guard down. Though she still kept an occasional eye on the compass, she was at last able to relax and chat and laugh with Pei Min and the others again.

This year’s autumn hunt drew a great many people. Besides the young nobles skilled in riding and archery, there were officers from the Office of the Military Inspector and Chang’an Prefecture, and even no small number of idle members of the imperial clan. The road up the mountain wound on and on, an endless procession of carriages and mounted soldiers.

The broadest, most level stretch of the valley served as the hunting ground. Ever since the founding of the dynasty, the imperial family had held the autumn hunt at Mount Shouhuai every year, and since it was meant purely for hunting, no separate detached palace had been specially built here as at Mount Yuquan.

When Qin Yao and the others arrived at the campsite, soldiers of the Imperial Guard from Lin Xiao’s retinue led her to the tent where she would sleep that night. Since the tents for the students of Yunyin Academy had been set up some distance away to the west, Qin Yao had no choice but to part ways with Wang Yingning and the others for the time being.

Once inside the tent, Qin Yao had Cai Ping help her arrange and put away hers and Lin Xiao’s belongings piece by piece, while Chang Rong and the others stood guard outside without straying a single step. With so many people taking part in this year’s hunt, Lin Xiao and his men had not had a moment’s rest since leaving Chang’an that morning, and once in the mountains he had been patrolling all around the hunting grounds, not daring to let his guard down for an instant — and so he had not yet found any time to come find Qin Yao.

Once everything was settled, Qin Yao washed up and changed into fresh clothes, preparing to go find Pei Min and the others.

The moment she stepped out of the tent, she happened upon Consort Yi and Kangping passing by, surrounded by a crowd of palace attendants.

Qin Yao quickly stopped and bowed in greeting to Consort Yi.

Consort Yi paused at the sight of her and asked with a smile, “What have you been doing at home these past few days? Weijin is in the palace all day long — if you have nothing pressing, do come sit with me more often. Kangping loves a lively atmosphere, and I myself am not one for dull company.”

Qin Yao smilingly agreed. “I will come pay my respects to Your Highness more often from now on.”

Kangping spoke up brashly. “Eleventh Sister-in-law, in a little while Seventh Brother is going out to bag some roe deer and muntjac. Tonight we’re roasting muntjac meat over at the Sun-Shooting Terrace — you should come join us, Sister-in-law.”

Ever since Qin Yao had been betrothed to Lin Xiao, Kangping’s attitude toward her had grown considerably warmer than before, and the title “Eleventh Sister-in-law” rolled off her tongue with perfect ease. Over the past year, Qin Yao had dealt with enough members of the imperial family to know that no matter what any of them truly thought of a person on the inside, the courtesy shown on the surface was always flawless enough that no fault could be found with it.

Kangping, having perhaps been doted on by the Emperor since childhood, was something of an exception among them, but when she truly set her mind to winning someone over, she proved every bit as capable at it as any other member of the imperial family.

Qin Yao smiled faintly. “How wonderful — roasted roe deer is best of all, and even better with some wine to go with it.”

Seeing Qin Yao so agreeable, Kangping grew even more delighted. “I brought plenty of wine with me — there’ll definitely be a share for you tonight.”

As Qin Yao spoke, someone nearby had been watching her the whole while with a friendly gaze.

Glancing over without thinking, Qin Yao saw it was a court lady official.

“Qin Yuan?” Qin Yao recognized her, mildly surprised.

Qin Yuan hurried forward, her face flushing, and bowed to Qin Yao. “Consort, it has been a long time.”

Qin Yao studied her quietly for a long moment before a smile spread across her face. “It really has been a long time. Have you been well lately?”

“Very well. I’ve learned a great deal serving at Consort Yi’s side, and the princesses have all treated me very kindly,” Qin Yuan answered obediently, glancing with a smile at Consort Yi and Kangping.

Perhaps from having been tempered by some time in the palace, her skill at social courtesies had improved considerably.

Consort Yi watched Qin Yuan’s every word and gesture beside her with a smile, growing more pleased by how composed and well-ordered her answers were. She said to Qin Yuan with a smile, “You’re about the same age as Weijin’s wife and Xia Yuan and the others — when you have nothing else to do, you’re welcome to spend more time with them. There are also a good number of Kangping’s schoolmates here this time; I find Miss Wang and a few others to be exceptionally fine girls. When they go to the roast later, you should join in and have some fun too.”

These few words plainly carried the kind of expectation and care an elder shows toward a junior. Qin Yao took note of it, recalling how, at the time the marriage had been bestowed, Qin Yuan had stood nervously behind Consort Yi awaiting orders — their relationship back then had clearly been far more distant than it was now, and she could not help feeling a flicker of puzzlement.

Qin Yuan’s cheeks flushed red, and she lowered her head in acknowledgment.

With the pleasantries concluded, Qin Yao took Cai Ping and went to find Wang Yingning and the others.

By evening, Kangping had indeed taken the lead in setting up a grill atop the spacious Zhuliao Terrace. It happened that Prince Wu, Xia Lan, and the others had bagged a dozen or so animals while entering the mountain that afternoon, and now had them brought out to be roasted.

Qin Yao sat together with Wang Yingning and the others, while Xia Yuan, Chen Yuqi, Qin Yuan and the rest gathered around Kangping.

Jiang Sanlang and the other young nobles sat drinking and chatting on the opposite side.

The mountain night air was cold, and with autumn deepening, sitting for long inevitably brought a chill, but with so many people gathered, the laughter and chatter soon warmed the mood into a lively gathering. Before long, the Crown Prince and Prince Wu arrived as well, and everyone rose smiling to greet them.

Qin Yao sat in an inconspicuous corner, turning to look back at the valley behind her, so dark its depths could not be seen. Remembering the sight she had glimpsed on entering the mountain, she still felt a trace of unease, and quietly kept watch over the compass tucked in her robe.

When she finally drew her gaze back from the valley, she noticed a stare fixed on her face. Lifting her head to meet it, she found that Xia Di had at some point also come up to Zhuliao Terrace, seated beside Prince Wu, a wine cup in hand, his eyes fixed on her.

A wave of irritation rose in Qin Yao’s heart. Thinking that there was no telling when Lin Xiao would finish with his duties, she considered it might be better to simply return to the tent and rest early.

Yet remembering how brazen Xia Di was being, she felt a flicker of stubborn resentment, and hesitated over whether to teach him a lesson right there in front of everyone.

After waiting a while longer, seeing that Xia Di’s gaze showed no sign of restraint, Qin Yao could no longer hold back her anger. She secretly clasped a talisman in her hand, preparing to cast an Insect-Summoning Technique on him — in mountains this deep, there was no telling how many venomous insects and snakes might be lurking, and a single casting would be more than enough to make Xia Di suffer.

Just as she was about to cast the spell, someone suddenly came striding toward Zhuliao Terrace. Kangping, seated up high, spotted him at once and jumped up, calling out, “Eleventh Brother!”

Jiang Sanlang and Prince Wu turned at the sound and likewise called out with smiles, “Weijin, come have some roast venison — Kangping grilled it herself.”

Lin Xiao approached, his eyes searching through the crowd on the terrace for a moment before settling on Qin Yao in the corner. His expression eased, and he climbed the steps and walked toward her.

Qin Yao quickly stood up.

As Lin Xiao drew near and saw that she wore only a thin cloak, he could not help reaching out to tighten the collar around her neck, looking at her as he spoke. “You’re dressed so lightly — you might catch a chill. Better to head back to the tent and rest early.”

Qin Yao’s face reddened, and she mumbled some vague reply.

Prince Wu let out a low chuckle he could not suppress. “Weijin, it seems you can’t bear to be apart from your new bride even for a moment.”

Various expressions crossed the faces around them as everyone turned to look at Qin Yao and Lin Xiao.

Jiang Sanlang laughed as well. “Weijin, we haven’t seen you all day — you can’t just show up and immediately whisk your wife away. Sit down, have a cup of wine, and talk a while first.”

Lin Xiao gave Xia Di, not far off, an unreadable glance, his eyes turning cold, then said to Jiang Sanlang and the others, “She’s dressed too thin — let me see her back first, and I’ll come drink with you all afterward.”

Qin Yao murmured a quiet farewell to Wang Yingning and the others, then followed Lin Xiao out without another word. As she passed Xia Di, she used her sleeve as cover and discreetly flicked something at him with a crook of her finger.

Though Xia Di had been pouring and drinking his own wine, the corner of his eye had never strayed far from Qin Yao, and having practiced martial arts since childhood, his eyesight was sharp enough to catch her small motion clearly. Seeing something streak toward him like a falling star, his instincts nearly made him dodge aside at once — but after a moment’s hesitation, a faint, bitter smile touched the corner of his mouth, and he let the object strike him without resistance.

Qin Yao returned with Lin Xiao to the tent, where she called for Cai Ping to bring in water and attended to him as he washed his hands and face, asking, “Have you eaten?”

Looking weary, Lin Xiao took the cloth Qin Yao handed him and wiped his face. “I had a few bites in the Emperor’s tent while we were discussing matters earlier.”

Turning to see Qin Yao’s delicate, picture-perfect features in the lamplight, he spun around and pulled her into his arms, burying his face in the curve of her neck and drawing in a deep breath of her sweet scent. “I’ve been thinking of you all day,” he murmured with a smile.

Without waiting for her to reply, he scooped her up around the waist, set her down on the thick bedding, then lowered himself over her, cupping her face and kissing her without pause.

Qin Yao, weak and ticklish all over, kept trying to dodge away, catching the faint scent of wine on his breath. “Didn’t you promise Jiang Sanlang you’d drink with them?” she said with a laugh. “Better go early and come back early — I’ll wait up for you and sleep once you’re back.”

Lin Xiao showed not the slightest intention of stopping. He pulled the folded quilt over the two of them, his hand sliding in beneath the hem of Qin Yao’s robe, wandering freely, and said with a low laugh, “I’m only kissing you — I never said I’d do anything more. Why bring up going early and coming back early out of nowhere?”

Mortified, Qin Yao tried hard to hold his hand still, refusing to let him misbehave, and said crossly, “Fine then, go early and come back late!”

Lin Xiao nipped gently at her red lips, laughing. “Silly girl. With you here, how could your husband bear to go early and come back late? I don’t want to leave you even for a moment.”

Even as he spoke, his hand had already crept down to the hollow of her knee, hitching her skirt upward along the way.

Seeing he meant to take things further, Qin Yao quickly pushed at him. “People are coming and going at this hour — if anyone finds out, I won’t be able to show my face again.”

Lin Xiao silenced her with his lips, coaxing, “Chang Rong and the others won’t let anyone come in. Just don’t hold back your voice in a while.”

Qin Yao shook her head desperately. “No, no, absolutely not.”

Then, remembering what had happened on the way into the mountain, her eyes lit up and she said quickly, “Oh, that’s right — there’s something I need to tell you. When we entered the mountain, I saw baleful energy coming off it.”

Lin Xiao’s hand stilled. He looked down at Qin Yao for a moment, and seeing she did not seem to be joking, his brow furrowed. He turned to glance at Chixiao resting beside the bed and said, “But ever since we entered the mountain, Chixiao has never once given a warning. Could you have been mistaken?”