Qin Yao’s eyes shifted slightly, and she smiled. “It looks lovely.”

Xia Yan watched Qin Yao smile more brightly than the summer sun outside, showing not the slightest trace of disappointment or anger. It was like throwing a punch into cotton — she didn’t know how to react at all.

She stared at Qin Yao with puzzlement, peering deep into those clear, undisturbed eyes, as though searching for some telling sign that would confirm the suspicions in her heart.

Yet Qin Yao’s gaze was open and unguarded, composed and serene as she let herself be scrutinized. After a time, it even made Xia Yan begin to feel as though she herself were the one being petty and narrow-minded.

Finally, Xia Yan tugged the corner of her lips into a smile and nodded at Qin Yao. “My hairpin is beautiful, and yours isn’t bad either. I was being presumptuous just now — come, let me put the hairpin in for you.” With that, she leaned toward Qin Yao, making to insert the butterfly-and-flower hairpin into her bun.

Without leaving any trace of her movement, Qin Yao took the hairpin out of her hand and inserted it into her own hair herself. “No need to trouble yourself, Your Highness,” she said with a smile. “I’ll do it myself.”

Xia Yan’s hand was still frozen in mid-air, a flicker of bewilderment crossing her eyes. The hairpin had clearly been in her hand just moments ago — how had Qin Yao taken it in the blink of an eye?

Xia Di stood to the side watching with perfect clarity, looking at Qin Yao with a smile that was not quite a smile. “Miss Qu is being mischievous again,” he said.

Qin Yao acted as though she hadn’t heard Xia Di’s words, picked up the teacup from the table, and lowered her head to drink.

Every time Xia Di saw Qin Yao, he invariably received a cold reception from her, yet he found it oddly amusing and couldn’t help wanting to tease her.

Just now, seeing Qin Yao content to play the fool, he was about to make another remark with a gloating smile — when suddenly Chen Yuqi lowered her voice and said: “Hey, have you all heard? The Marquis of Jinghai passed away suddenly not long ago, and now the entire Jinghai Marquis Estate is left with only Miss Qin alone. It’s pitiful, really. I heard that His Majesty intends to confer upon her the title of County Princess and bring her into the palace to be personally mentored by Consort Yi.”

Qin Yao paused in her tea-drinking and quickly perked up her ears to listen.

Xia Di said: “I heard that His Majesty was moved by the memory of how Marquis Qin spent his life fighting countless battles, repelling innumerable enemies, and amassing great merit in service of the empire. Feeling pity for his young orphaned daughter, he decided to place Miss Qin under Consort Yi’s care — both to comfort the soul of the late Marquis in the afterworld, and as an acknowledgment to the many soldiers who have fought for years.”

Qin Yao lowered her eyes. That day, after Lin Xiao had returned, he would surely have already reported the several cases from Pingkang Ward to His Majesty. Yet even though the Emperor was fully aware of what Qin Cheng had done, he still intended to uphold the image of a hero for him — which showed clearly that in His Majesty’s eyes, the deaths of several women of the lowest social caste were of no consequence at all. He would never allow their lives to taint Qin Cheng’s reputation.

As for His Majesty’s arrangements for Qin Yuan, those could be considered rather generous and compassionate. Qin Yuan now had someone to rely on and was no longer utterly alone — that, at least, was not a bad thing.

Even so, Qin Yao still felt a vague unease in her heart, a lingering sense that something wasn’t quite right.

Just as she was mulling this over, she suddenly heard Kangping thrust her head out the window and shout down to the street below: “Eleventh Brother! Eleventh Brother!”

The window was quite wide open, giving a broad view, and everyone could see what was happening below without needing to stand. Looking down, they caught sight of Lin Xiao emerging from an alley across the street.

He wore a bamboo-green round-collar brocade robe today, with no cap on his head — just a mutton-fat jade hairpin, looking remarkably clean and unadorned. His hand rested on the sword at his hip as he walked and spoke with two attendants behind him, apparently occupied with official business.

Hearing Kangping’s call, Lin Xiao looked up and saw that the voice was coming from the second floor of the restaurant across the way, where quite a few people were gathered by the window.

Kangping called again: “Eleventh Brother! Come up and have a cup of tea before you go!”

“No need.” Lin Xiao recognized that it was Kangping speaking, lowered his head to say something to Wei Bo, waited for Wei Bo to leave, then raised his head again. “I have matters to attend to. Enjoy yourself.”

With that he walked toward the shops along the street, his gaze sweeping around as though searching for someone.

Kangping pouted and was about to say something more, when another head suddenly appeared from behind her — it was Xia Di. He looked at Lin Xiao with a grin: “Eleventh Brother, it’s been a long time. Are you really not going to come up and say a few words to us?”

Upon seeing Xia Di, Lin Xiao’s expression instantly turned exceedingly unpleasant, as though he had been reminded of something deeply disagreeable. He stared at Xia Di for a good while before saying flatly: “You all enjoy yourselves. I’m afraid I cannot join you.”

Having said this, he turned to leave — then suddenly stopped, looked back, and noticed a gleaming black lacquered carriage parked in front of the restaurant. On the carriage sat an old man with a ruddy, weathered complexion: the coachman from the Qu household.

He paused, looked up toward the second-floor window, and through the shifting figures, it appeared there were quite a few people inside. He immediately changed his mind and led Chang Rong up the stairs.

Qin Yao had assumed that Lin Xiao was leaving to handle official matters and would not be coming up for tea. She was surprised, therefore, to see his figure appear in the doorway, and her face lit up with delight. “Young Master,” she greeted him with a warm smile.

Because she had come to know and trust Lin Xiao more, and felt far less reserve toward him, the greeting came entirely naturally.

In Xia Yan’s eyes, however, it was plain that Qin Yao treated Lin Xiao differently from everyone else. She gave Qin Yao a long look, then rose and smiled at Lin Xiao. “Eleventh Brother, come sit and have a cup of tea.”

Lin Xiao smiled at Qin Yao first, then glanced around at the others present. Upon noticing that Feng Boyu and Feng Chuyue were also among the gathering, his expression returned to its composed calm.

After sitting down, Xia Di asked Lin Xiao curiously: “Eleventh Brother, what official matter are you handling? Why do you have only a few attendants with you?”

Lin Xiao had an unresolved grievance in his heart and was very reluctant to look at Xia Di’s face, yet he could not behave rudely, so he simply said: “Today I am searching for someone in this area. Since that person’s movements are unpredictable, it would not do to make a great commotion.”

He had a mind to speak privately with Qin Yao, but with so many people around, he couldn’t act as he wished. He picked up his tea and took a sip, then, as if absently, drummed his long, fair fingers on the table and glanced at Chang Rong.

Chang Rong understood. After standing there a moment, he waited until no one was paying attention, then slipped quietly away.

Kangping moved away from Xia Di’s side and sat down next to Lin Xiao, pulling him into a conversation about the Imperial Hunt. Over these past days, Lin Xiao had been keeping himself so busy that, though he resided in the palace, he seemed perpetually elusive.

“Who will Father invite? Will it still be to Yutang Mountain, like in previous years?”

Qin Yao listened quietly from nearby. She knew that Yutang Mountain was a famous mountain outside Chang’an, renowned for its beautiful scenery and a natural spring whose waters, it was said, flowed ceaselessly year-round and possessed health-giving properties. Since the current dynasty, the imperial family had laid exclusive claim to it, and the Emperor went to Yutang Mountain every year to soak in its hot springs.

“Why don’t you go back and ask the Emperor yourself?” Lin Xiao frowned. Matters concerning the Emperor’s outings were highly confidential — how could they be casually spoken of here?

Kangping immediately realized she’d misspoken and stuck out her tongue. “Father has been busy with court matters these days. He’s terribly occupied, and every time Father returns to Mother’s chambers at night, I’ve already fallen asleep.”

Feng Boyu heard this and swept a quiet glance at Kangping, thinking to himself: he had long heard that Consort Yi was the Emperor’s most cherished woman, and that for over ten years her favor had never wavered, not once having incurred the Emperor’s disfavor. Her two children — Prince Wu and Kangping — were also deeply beloved by the Emperor.

Now that Consort Yi was growing older in years, the Emperor had not filled the harem with new consorts but still often slept in her chambers — that spoke volumes about how great her weight was in the Emperor’s heart.

By contrast, the Crown Prince — his birth mother long dead, with no one to rely upon — cut such an isolated and vulnerable figure at court.

He furrowed his brow in thought. He had heard that the Crown Prince’s birth mother was Consort Hui, who had once enjoyed the greatest favor in the inner palace — but sadly, she had not been granted long life, passing away at a young age. It was said the Emperor had been devastated at Consort Hui’s death and had grieved deeply for quite some time. Yet what could distant longing compare to the warmth of one always present? With Consort Yi accompanying him these many years without separation, the Emperor had surely long since let go of Consort Hui.

Qin Yao had no interest in palace gossip. Seeing that all the princesses and royal ladies had once again turned their attention to Lin Xiao, excitedly discussing the Imperial Hunt, she began to find the conversation tedious and started thinking of some excuse to slip away.

Just as this thought was forming in her mind, unexpectedly, Luda arrived as if out of nowhere — like a heavenly soldier descended from the skies — appearing in the doorway to say: “Miss, something urgent has come up at home. Madam asks you to return at once.”

Qin Yao had no time to wonder what the matter at home might be. She hastily rose to her feet as if granted a reprieve, smiled her farewells, and took her leave.

Downstairs, as Qin Yao climbed into the carriage, she asked Luda: “What’s happened at home?”

Seeing Luda hem and haw without answering, Qin Yao was thoroughly puzzled and was just about to press for a proper explanation when she heard someone laughing behind her: “Miss Qu, it’s our Young Master who sent for you — he wishes to speak with you for a moment.”

Qin Yao turned in surprise and saw Chang Rong standing behind her, holding a horse by its reins, looking at her with a broad smile.

Seeing that he spoke with such vigor and that his eyes were bright and full of vitality — clearly unaffected by the Luo Cha’s illusory realm — she said: “Have you recovered?”

Chang Rong smiled, showing a row of white teeth. “Thanks to Senior Brother A’Han casting his spell on me that day and rousing me from the illusion in time, I came through without lasting harm. I’m perfectly well now.”

Qin Yao smiled and nodded, then asked Chang Rong: “Does the Young Master need something? Where are we to speak?”

Chang Rong swung himself up onto the horse and gestured forward. “Miss Qu, please follow me.” He then told Luda to drive the carriage behind him.

Seeing that Qin Yao had no objection, Luda did as he was told.

After they had traveled a short while, Qin Yao lifted the curtain, idly looking out at the street scenery, when someone passed close by the side of the carriage.

It was only a fleeting glimpse, but Qin Yao had sharp eyes and recognized the person clearly: heavy brows and large eyes, wearing a dusty gray Daoist robe — it was her Senior Brother, A’Han.

“Senior Brother.” Qin Yao hastily stopped the carriage and called out to him.

A’Han turned and, seeing who it was, ran to the front of the carriage and grinned. “A’Yao.”

Qin Yao invited A’Han into the carriage and asked: “Why are you alone? Where is Master?”

A’Han showed signs of fatigue on his face. “Master and I just got back from performing an exorcism outside the city walls. He was exhausted and returned to the temple first to rest. As he left, he mentioned he wanted to refine some elixirs and asked me to go to the Eastern Market to buy some medicinal herbs.”

Qin Yao was about to ask A’Han what sort of evil he had exorcised, when the carriage suddenly came to a halt, and Chang Rong called from outside: “Miss Qu, we’ve arrived.”

Qin Yao and A’Han stepped out of the carriage to find themselves before a small and remarkably tranquil courtyard. Standing at the gate was a middle-aged man with a warm and genial face. Upon seeing Chang Rong, he hurried forward. “Everything has been prepared as the Young Master instructed.”

With a respectful manner, he led Qin Yao and A’Han inside.

Qin Yao noticed that the courtyard was filled with lush and flourishing trees at every turn; nothing could be heard but birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, not a single discordant sound. It was serene and elegantly pleasant. She walked along, quietly wondering to herself what this courtyard was used for.

Guided by the middle-aged man, Qin Yao and A’Han entered a side chamber. Raising her eyes, she saw a round table in the center of the room, with a row of spring benches on either side. The vermillion windows stood wide open, and just outside them bloomed great clusters of camellia flowers, their subtle fragrance drifting gently in — a sight most pleasing to the eye.

“Please wait a moment, the Young Master will be here shortly.” The middle-aged man invited Qin Yao and A’Han to take their seats on the benches, then withdrew with light steps.

Qin Yao nodded and, after looking around at the landscape paintings on the walls, settled down next to A’Han to wait quietly for Lin Xiao.

After a short while, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door. Qin Yao and A’Han rose together, looked out, and sure enough, the one arriving was Lin Xiao.

Catching sight of A’Han, Lin Xiao showed no surprise on his face — just greeted him with a smile, unclasped his sword from his waist and handed it to Chang Rong behind him, then walked to the table and sat down.

Seeing that Lin Xiao seemed relaxed and at ease, not as though he had any urgent matter to discuss, Qin Yao asked: “Young Master, don’t you need to attend to your duties?”

Lin Xiao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. “I’ve been handling official matters all morning — I’m famished by now. Let’s eat first; I’ll carry on with my duties afterward.”

He then added: “The vegetarian dishes here are quite excellent, but the proprietor has an eccentric temperament and few people in Chang’an know of this place. I imagine you’ve never been. When the dishes come, you and Senior Brother A’Han give them a try — see if they suit your palate.”

So they had gone through all that trouble, and it turned out he simply wanted to treat them to a meal. Qin Yao laughed with relief and patted her stomach. “Indeed — I drank so much tea at that teahouse earlier, and now I’m hungry.”

Her words had barely left her mouth when the chamber door swung open and a group of attendants filed in one after another, each carrying a platter of vegetarian dishes. They entered the room and arranged the plates on the table in an orderly fashion, then withdrew as silently as they had come.

Lin Xiao saw Qin Yao and A’Han staring dazedly at the table full of fine dishes, and his eyes filled with amusement. “Go ahead and eat,” he said.

Hearing this, A’Han immediately set to with great abandon, and Qin Yao was no less enthusiastic.

Goodness knows what evil A’Han had been dealing with out beyond the city walls — he ate like a man who hadn’t had a meal in days, sweeping through the dishes like a whirlwind. It was less like eating and more like he wanted to tip the plates directly into his stomach. Qin Yao naturally couldn’t keep pace with him. Occasionally, when Lin Xiao found a particular dish to his liking and reached out with his chopsticks to take some, he found the plate already scraped clean — A’Han had gotten there first.

Lin Xiao paused, then simply set down his chopsticks and called Chang Rong in, instructing him to bring several additional dishes for A’Han, along with a few extra bowls of rice.

Chang Rong entered to find A’Han in this state and stood gaping for a good while. As he left, he thought to himself: this impressive fellow of a Senior Daoist really did possess remarkable gifts — he could eat more than several of his own brothers combined.

Qin Yao, a little embarrassed on A’Han’s behalf, offered an apologetic explanation: “Senior Brother isn’t usually like this. He must have been terribly hungry today.”

“It’s no matter.” Lin Xiao smiled slightly, his gaze settling on Qin Yao’s face. She wore no powder or rouge, yet her skin was exceptionally clear and luminous like fine jade, and her eyes were vivid and lively as flowing water — so beautiful that he could not look away.

He had rarely thought to appraise a woman’s appearance, yet now he found that there was not a single feature of Qin Yao that was anything less than perfect, not one thing that did not suit his heart’s desire.

His face flushed faintly. He remembered the hairpin he had carried close to his chest for so long, and looked toward Qin Yao’s hair. He noticed that the butterfly-and-flower hairpin at her temple was sitting slightly askew, as though it had been worn for a while and had worked itself loose. His heart stirred, and he thought quietly to himself: this might be a good opportunity. He could take out the hairpin later, coax Qin Yao into accepting it.

But just then, Qin Yao turned to look at A’Han with a skeptical expression and said: “Senior Brother, what kind of evil did you and Master go out to the outskirts to deal with? How did you end up in such a sorry state?”

A’Han, now full and content, scratched his head with a sheepish expression. “Master and I got stuck on the mountain dealing with jiangshi — we couldn’t get out for several days. We hadn’t brought much dried food, and I was worried Master’s health wouldn’t hold up, so I gave him all the provisions. I went hungry for several meals myself.”

“Jiangshi?” Qin Yao asked in astonishment. “How could there be jiangshi in such a peaceful and prosperous time?”

Before she finished speaking, she suddenly recalled the Luo Cha from a few days ago, and her heart gave a jolt — a strong, undeniable sense of unease began to rise within her.