Du Tinglan gazed out the window. It was getting late, and Hongnü had been gone for over half an hour with still no sign of return.

She wondered if her maid had managed to see Lu Zhao’an. The Jinshi Banquet would begin soon, and if things dragged on any longer, not only would she be unable to confront Lu Zhao’an face-to-face, but even seeing him once would become a mere fantasy.

The mere thought of Lu Zhao’an made Du Tinglan’s heartache as if it were being fried in oil. For half a month, he had avoided her, causing her to fall ill with anxiety. Even if he intended to break their sworn oath, he should at least tell her so to her face.

She couldn’t wait idly any longer. Rising, she quietly surveyed her surroundings. Her mother was watching performances at the Western Court theater, and most of the ladies had gone to the garden to admire flowers. With no one around, it was the perfect opportunity to leave the temple.

Just as she was about to set down her embroidery scissors, laughter suddenly echoed from the corridor.

“This year, over a hundred scholars passed the Mingjing examination, yet only twenty passed the Jinshi examination. They’re all quite mature in age, and most are already married. The oldest is said to be over fifty, with children older than Young Lady Wan,” one lady remarked.

“Indeed,” another lady chuckled. “Who would have thought the Wang family would set their sights on such elderly gentlemen in their search for a son-in-law?”

“Well, you can’t blame the Wang family for being so eager this year. Since you were in the Eastern Capital these past few days, you wouldn’t know that this year’s top Jinshi scholar is barely over twenty. His name is Lu Zhao’an, and not only is he talented in poetry and prose, but he’s also quite handsome. It’s not just the Wang family interested in marriage – many noble families are inquiring about this young scholar.”

Through the half-rolled pearl curtain, the name “Lu Zhao’an” struck like a knife, stirring turbulent waves in Du Tinglan’s heart. She forgot she was still holding the embroidery scissors.

“But last night, my second son told me that when the Department of State Affairs announced the results, Deputy Director Zheng learned Lu Zhao’an was from Yangzhou. He immediately summoned him for questioning, asking about everything from his ancestry to his extended family. He intends to arrange a marriage with his daughter. If Lu isn’t already married in Yangzhou, Deputy Director Zheng will likely send a matchmaker soon.”

This news shocked the others. Another lady said, “Young Master Lu has become famous overnight, and the Zheng family of Yingyang is a centuries-old noble house. It would indeed be a fine match. Since the Chancellor himself inquired, how did Lu respond?”

“Lu said he lost his father at a young age, and in his efforts to restore his family’s honor, he had devoted himself entirely to studying these past years and hadn’t married.”

The color drained instantly from Du Tinglan’s face. Suspecting something was one thing, but hearing it firsthand was another. In just a few months, this man had completely erased her existence.

Their oath was sworn under the bright sun still echoed in her ears. The more it had once stirred her heart and soul, the more bitter it felt now.

The pearl curtain tinkled as someone was about to enter. Du Tinglan tried to support herself on her arm to stand when suddenly her palm felt wet and hot. Looking down, she discovered the scissors had cut a gash, with drops of blood welling up, shockingly bright red.

She stared numbly at the blur of red, now regretting why she had ever gone spring-walking outside Yangzhou city. If not for that chance encounter in the peach blossom grove, how could she face such humiliation today?

“My lady!” The wound was pressed firmly with a handkerchief. Du Tinglan looked up woodenly to see Hongnü gazing at her in alarm. Earlier, she had only hoped this maid would deliver her message to Lu Zhao’an; now, even thinking of that man made her nauseated.

After hastily examining the wound, Hongnü took out an object and whispered, “Young Master Lu asked me to bring this to you. He wants to meet you in the bamboo grove outside the Moon Lantern Pavilion.”

Du Tinglan gave a cold laugh and snatched the ornament, intending to tear it to pieces. But her trembling fingers failed her – one attempt couldn’t destroy it, and instead reopened the wound on her palm.

***

Teng Yuyi lifted the curtain and entered the room, exclaiming, “Oh? My cousin isn’t here?”

The young Buddhist nun was also surprised. Earlier, when the noble ladies went to watch performances at the Western Court, the young lady of the Du family had volunteered to stay behind to cut ornaments. Several cut gold foil pieces still lay on the table, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Still, this wasn’t unusual. Today was the Shangsi Festival when common people went outside the city for the purification ceremony. Their Jingfu Temple, being close to the Qujiang Pool, had been crowded with carriages since early morning. The temple was so large, it was impossible to keep track of everyone everywhere.

“This humble nun doesn’t know where Benefactor Du has gone. However, the foreign performers have begun their show at the front. Perhaps Benefactor Du went to the performance hall? Would Benefactor Teng like this humble nun to show you the way?”

As she spoke, the young nun observed Teng Yuyi, who wore a face covering, with fair wrists visible beneath the black gauze. Though her face couldn’t be seen clearly, her graceful manner marked her as a beauty. The temple was full of noble ladies today, but few were as outstanding as her. She was said to be maternal cousins with Benefactor Du and must have urgent business to seek the Du family immediately upon entering the temple.

Teng Yuyi smiled, “No need. My cousin doesn’t enjoy performances. She might be in the garden admiring flowers. Please stay here, Master. I’ll find her myself.”

After a few steps, Teng Yuyi suddenly turned back and pointed at the table: “Master, did my cousin cut these ornaments?”

The young nun hesitated: “Yes.”

“Since I’m going to find my cousin, would you mind if I take these ornaments with me?”

It was just a recreational craft, and they hadn’t even used the temple’s gold foil and jade pieces. The young nun quickly said, “Please, go ahead.”

At that moment, another young nun came looking for her: “The Emperor wishes to watch the grand festivities. Tonight, the capital’s curfew is lifted, and the Jinshi Banquet will be held at the Moon Lantern Pavilion by the river. The Abbess wants us to watch over the nuns and ensure none go near the Moon Lantern Pavilion.”

The young nun listened respectfully. No wonder so many young lords on silver saddles and white horses had passed by the temple gate earlier – they were coming for the annual Jinshi Banquet.

“This disciple understands.” When she turned back, she found Teng Yuyi had already collected the ornaments and left.

As Teng Yuyi walked, she observed the Moon Lantern Pavilion in the distance. Its vermillion beams and azure tiles were shrouded in the thin dusk, with colored glass lanterns glowing beneath the eaves.

In her previous life, Cousin Du had died on this very night of the Shangsi Festival, along with her maid Hongnü. They had been properly paying respects to Buddha at Jingfu Temple with her aunt, but for unknown reasons had left the temple. When they were found, the mistress and maid lay dead in the bamboo grove not far from the Moon Lantern Pavilion.

Teng Yuyi had been in Yangzhou at the time but knew her cousin’s death was mysterious.

Her cousin had always been filial and steady. Even if she disliked crowds, she would stay by her mother’s side to serve her. Why had she remained in the secluded Cloud Assembly Hall when her mother went to watch performances at the Western Court?

These ornaments were equally puzzling. Today wasn’t the “People’s Day” festival – why had her cousin suddenly decided to cut these? If her cousin had intended to arrange time alone, for whom was she cutting these ornaments to send a message?

Teng Yuyi quickly flipped through the gold foil pieces but found no written messages. This wasn’t surprising – though her cousin was gentle by nature, she was meticulous in her actions. In her previous life, despite her uncle and aunt’s lengthy investigation, they never discovered who had lured her cousin outside the temple.

Remembering her cousin’s horrific state after being strangled to death, Teng Yuyi looked up at the sky with hatred. It was getting late. She had planned to search for her cousin with her aunt, but there might not be enough time.

“Biluo, you and Qinggui quickly find my aunt at the Western Court. I’ll take Baizhi to the bamboo grove outside the temple. If my aunt comes and neither I nor my cousin have returned, have her bring people to search for us in the bamboo grove outside the Moon Lantern Pavilion. Remember to hurry.”

After Biluo and Qinggui acknowledged her orders, Teng Yuyi touched the invitation card in her sleeve. Fortunately, she had come fully prepared.

The temple entrance was quieter than before. Visitors had all flocked to the neighboring Western Court to watch the performances. On the high stage, a Brahmin performer was demonstrating magic tricks. As the music changed, a Kangju dancer began swaying her hips in an alluring Dance of the Zhezhi.

With the sounds of instruments filling her ears, Teng Yuyi sat in a small carriage and lifted the window curtain to look outside. It was already the Shangsi Festival, and with the curfew lifted, not only commoners but even nobles had come to enjoy themselves.

Along the waterfront toward the Moon Lantern Pavilion, finely dressed young lords and beauties could be seen everywhere.

Teng Yuyi and Baizhi scanned the crowds but couldn’t find Du Tinglan.

Halfway there, the carriage suddenly stopped. A servant named Duanfu blocked their way: “There are too many people here. I’ve asked around, and only a sweet soup vendor saw Lady Du. He said she and her maid went southeast toward the riverbank.”

Teng Yuyi looked in that direction – it was the bamboo grove. She quickly told Duanfu: “Follow behind the carriage.”

It was already late, and tragedies often struck in an instant. The driver cracked his whip to speed up.

This was the largest bamboo grove in Chang’an, stretching for hundreds of meters. Once inside, it was easy to lose one’s way. That’s why in her previous life, someone had been able to silently kill her cousin and Hongnü there, then vanish without a trace.

In her previous life, when Teng Yuyi arrived in Chang’an, Du Tinglan was already in her coffin. While helping her aunt sort through the belongings amid bitter tears, she learned that her cousin had been wearing a saffron-colored dress that day – the very birthday gift Teng Yuyi had given her.

The dress had cost a fortune, made stitch by stitch by Yangzhou embroiderers. Its color was like warm gold, as magnificent as a rainbow, rare even in prosperous Chang’an.

Today she came prepared. Her first action upon reaching Jingfu Temple was to send Duanfu to search for her cousin, using the saffron dress as a clue. Sure enough, they quickly learned of her cousin’s whereabouts.

The bamboo grove wasn’t far, and the crowd thinned as they approached.

***

Teng Yuyi’s face darkened as she pulled something from her bosom. Her maid Baizhi sighed worriedly beside her.

Days ago, on their journey from Yangzhou to Chang’an, the young lady had fallen into the water and fallen seriously ill. Upon waking, she began playing with this strange sword.

It was a jade sword, completely emerald green and about a foot long. Baizhi didn’t know where her mistress had obtained it, but she found it odd that her lady kept handling it these past few days. Swords were meant to be the hardest objects in the world – who would make one from jade?

Moreover, since her mother’s death, the young lady had never touched the weapons in their mansion. Though a general’s daughter, she had been raised more delicately than any official’s daughter. This time, not only had she rushed straight to Jingfu Temple upon disembarking, but she had also hidden this jade sword in her sleeve.

Baizhi had served Teng Yuyi since childhood and knew well that behind her mistress’s sweet facade lay a mind full of schemes. The noble young ladies who associated with the Teng family had all suffered at her hands, openly or secretly.

With her father long stationed at the border and unable to discipline his daughter, and seeing the young lady’s increasingly difficult temperament, he had sent her to the Du family in Yangzhou, where her aunt Lady Du could oversee her upbringing.

The Du family maintained strict moral standards, and Lady Du treated the young lady like her own daughter. The Du family’s eldest daughter, Du Tinglan, always put her cousin’s needs first.

Over the years, the young lady had come to view her aunt and cousin as closest kin, though her personality was far more complicated than most people’s. She wouldn’t say it aloud, but in this world, the people she cared about most were Lady Du and the young Miss Du.

Baizhi couldn’t fathom why her mistress was so anxious, but from the murderous glint in Teng Yuyi’s eyes, she could tell that if they didn’t find Du Tinglan soon, Teng Yuyi would surely do something shocking and unexpected.

Baizhi looked out the window and froze: “My lady, look.”

Teng Yuyi tucked the jade sword back into her sleeve. At the entrance to the bamboo grove stood a carriage adorned with gold and jade.

It seemed to have arrived recently, with servants busy setting up screens around the grove’s perimeter. Given such an extravagant display, this must belong to no ordinary noble family.

While Baizhi showed hesitation, Teng Yuyi simply adjusted her face covering and descended from the carriage, ignoring the servants as she walked straight toward the bamboo grove.

Seeing Teng Yuyi, the servants immediately moved to block her: “Young lady, please stop.”

Teng Yuyi gave a formal curtsy and asked with a smile: “This isn’t the imperial garden, so why prevent entry?”

A servant replied: “Our young master is going to play polo by the river, so we’ve set up screens here. Once he leaves the grove, the passage will naturally be allowed.”

Baizhi’s expression changed slightly – such an arrogant statement! To block off such a large bamboo grove simply because they wished to.

Teng Yuyi remained composed, nodding and smiling: “What a coincidence, I also need to take a shortcut to the riverside for a banquet.”

The servants exchanged glances, showing surprise on their faces. There were multiple banquets by the river, all attended by officials and nobles. This woman traveled with minimal escort – they couldn’t determine her background.

“If you’re attending a banquet, surely you have an invitation.”

“Invitation?”

At this moment, a middle-aged female servant attending to the carriage said: “Tonight, besides the Jinshi Banquet, His Majesty will also watch the grand festivities at the Purple Cloud Tower. Many young nobles will be in attendance – news of this has drawn all sorts of foolish young ladies.”

Teng Yuyi looked over, inwardly sneering. What karma from her previous life, to encounter this pair of servants here.

The female servant was also studying Teng Yuyi. Though her face was hidden behind the covering, the servant was certain she had never seen this person in Chang’an before. She kept talking about taking a shortcut to the riverside but couldn’t produce an invitation. Though the servant considered herself too dignified to speak harshly, they had already turned away many such presumptuous young women along this road.

A look of contempt crossed the woman’s face as she told the other servants: “She’s probably here for your young master. Young lady, let me give you some advice – our young master isn’t someone to be trifled with. Better leave now and save yourself the embarrassment.”

These words directly classified Teng Yuyi among those seeking to climb the social ladder. Baizhi’s face flushed red – this woman was also waiting here because she couldn’t afford to offend whoever was in the grove, yet she turned around to cause them trouble.

“Is that so?” Teng Yuyi smiled coldly. “What if I insist on entering?”

She took something from her sleeve and addressed the servants blocking their way: “It’s getting late. Please ask your master to accommodate us.”

Everyone’s expression changed slightly. It was a yellow invitation card commonly used by the Prince’s mansion, addressed to Teng Shao, Military Governor of Huainan and Prefect of Yangzhou, and signed personally by the Prince of Chun’an.

They frequently dealt with the Prince of Chun’an and could recognize his handwriting at a glance.

The Prince of Chun’an was a member of the imperial family, the current Emperor’s cousin. Teng Shao was a renowned general of great reputation. It was said that years ago when the Prince of Chun’an had encountered danger while accompanying His Majesty to Mount Li, Teng Shao had saved him.

Both these figures were seniors to their young master, who would have to dismount and bow upon meeting them.

The servants dared not block her any longer, though they still kept the woman and her carriage outside the grove.

The middle-aged female servant stood with her mouth half-open when suddenly a severe cough came from inside the carriage – it sounded like a very young lady.

The woman came to her senses and hurriedly changed her attitude, putting on a respectful smile and apologizing to Teng Yuyi.

Teng Yuyi gave her a glance, then led Duanfu and Baizhi into the grove. As they walked, she told the elderly driver: “Wait here for news. If my aunt arrives, immediately bring them into the grove to find us.”