Teng Yuyi froze in surprise.

What a strange question.

Could it be that Lin Chengyou wanted to know everyone’s thoughts about him breaking free from the curse?

Come to think of it, this was no small matter for the Imperial Family. Seeing Lin Chengyou’s solemn demeanor, she assumed it must involve some crucial matters, so she answered seriously: “I share the same opinion as my fellow students – I think you and Lady Deng make a good match— Young Master, when did you break free from the curse poison?”

Lin Chengyou stared at Teng Yuyi.

Her gaze was calm, without even a hint of jealousy in her tone.

No, this wasn’t right. He couldn’t believe it.

“Wait a moment.”

As he spoke, he pulled out the Soul-Binding Chain from his sleeve and cast a spell to wrap it around Teng Yuyi’s wrist.

“Alright, now we can continue talking.”

Perhaps she was hiding her true feelings – only by monitoring her pulse could he understand if Teng Yuyi’s heart was truly undisturbed.

Teng Yuyi looked questioningly at the silver chain on her hand.

Lin Chengyou pointed to the river’s surface: “The Chi Kuo hasn’t shown itself for many days. This place is near the water, and if that creature emerges from below, with this binding I can rescue you in time.”

Teng Yuyi suddenly understood, nodding solemnly: “The Young Master is indeed thoughtful.”

Lin Chengyou deliberately reminded her: “Where were we just now… oh yes, so you saw Lady Deng holding the jewelry box from the Star-Plucking Tower?”

While asking casually, he secretly focused on the pulse transmitted through the silver chain, so intent that he even held his breath.

Teng Yuyi was stunned: “Of course I saw it, the words ‘Star-Plucking Tower’ were quite eye-catching, hard to miss really.”

As she spoke, Lin Chengyou concentrated fully on the silver chain, but throughout her entire response, neither her pulse nor breathing showed any irregularity.

This was maddening.

Heh, surely his questioning approach was wrong.

Then he would try a different method.

Looking at her, he smiled and said: “That’s right, I did go to Star-Plucking Tower to buy jewelry. I bought the most beautiful pair of buyao hair ornaments there, planning to give them away tonight.”

Teng Yuyi merely gave a light “oh” in response.

It seemed he had already given them to Deng Weili. The candy in her mouth suddenly tasted strange, not as sweet anymore. She frowned and handed the candy to Jun Nu. More than caring about what jewelry Lin Chengyou had given to Deng Weili, she was more curious about how the curse was broken. Could it be that Master Qingxu brought back a method to break the curse this time, which was why Lin Chengyou had developed feelings for Deng Weili?

Before her eyes flashed Deng Weili’s charming demeanor – Deng Weili must have been very pleased with Lin Chengyou’s gift, otherwise she wouldn’t have looked so happy. Lin Chengyou was devoted to solving cases and had few playboy tendencies, but unexpectedly, once freed from the curse, he proved quite skilled at pleasing his beloved.

She was somewhat curious about what jewelry he had given, but this was ultimately a private matter between him and Deng Weili. Besides, if she were Deng Weili, she wouldn’t want others knowing about such things either.

She gave a simple laugh and rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the glittering river surface. Not only did she not respond to Lin Chengyou’s words, she showed no intention of speaking at all.

Lin Chengyou discreetly counted Teng Yuyi’s pulsebeats, his heart nearly jumping out of his throat, yet she remained as calm as still water.

Very well, this was what you called “unmoved by even a breath of wind” – tonight he had certainly experienced it thoroughly.

No matter how unwilling, he had to admit that Teng Yuyi currently had no such feelings for him.

Continuing would only make her truly misunderstand that he had feelings for Deng Weili.

With a flick of his wrist, he sullenly withdrew the silver chain into his sleeve.

After a moment of silence, he picked up a stone from the edge of his robe and casually threw it toward the water’s surface. This was a game he had loved since childhood. The stone fell lightly onto the water, creating more than twenty ripples.

In the instant the ripples spread out, he understood.

What else could he do? It was his choice to love her. Isn’t this exactly what “patience” was meant for? Thinking about all the secrets she carried, though his heart remained frustrated, he gradually came to terms with it.

Teng Yuyi had been preparing to take her leave, but seeing this, she also picked up a stone and created a beautiful splash, then patted her robes: “Young Master, I must go.”

Suddenly something appeared before her – Lin Chengyou handed her an object wrapped in floral brocade: “See if you like it.”

Teng Yuyi was startled, curiously opening the brocade wrapper. Her eyes suddenly brightened – it was a pair of buyao hair ornaments with flower branches adorned with precious jade. The leaves and flower stamens were carved lifelike, and the hanging precious jade pieces were exceptionally elegant. When they swayed gently, the flowers and leaves gleamed crystalline, truly a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

Teng Yuyi was stunned. Even though she had grown up surrounded by silks and treasures, she had rarely seen such exquisite ornaments.

“This is—” she looked up, meeting Lin Chengyou’s deep black eyes.

Lin Chengyou turned his head away, looking straight ahead as he spoke: “I don’t know any Deng Weili, much less have I given her any jewelry. I did visit Star-Plucking Tower recently, but only bought this pair of buyao, which I’ve been wanting to give to you but never had the chance. Ah, don’t overthink it – didn’t you lose a buyao in the underground palace at Yuzhen Taoist Temple last time? This can only be considered compensation.”

He deliberately emphasized the last sentence. Teng Yuyi showed no signs of having feelings for him; if she knew his true intention in giving the gift, she would surely refuse to accept it.

But if he didn’t present it now, Teng Yuyi might believe he had bought jewelry for Deng Weili, which would be an enormous problem for him.

He certainly didn’t want Teng Yuyi to think he was fickle in his affections.

Teng Yuyi stared at the buyao in apparent bewilderment.

Lin Chengyou said casually: “I originally didn’t want to compensate you, but I heard it was your mother’s keepsake. Since it was accidentally lost that time, I bear some responsibility. The Yuzhen Taoist Temple still can’t be entered freely, so I can only compensate you with a pair. Also, the purple jade saddle you gave last time was too precious – this can only be considered a small gesture in return.”

Teng Yuyi finally came to her senses, looking up to glance at the back of his neck. Only a shadow of Lin Chengyou’s collar was visible, but after careful observation, she felt relieved – she hadn’t been mistaken, the curse mark was still there. If the curse had been broken, logically the mark would have disappeared.

She had thought so – in his previous life he never managed to break the curse, how could it be broken so easily in this life?

So what was the situation with Deng Weili about?

As if guessing her doubts, Lin Chengyou rubbed his chin and said: “Tonight’s events were a scheme within a scheme. I was on the bridge to shake off someone tailing me, not to meet with some young lady. Moreover, when Kuan Nu and I came around through the back alley, we didn’t see anyone. I suspect someone deliberately tried to set me up with Lady Deng. This matter is very suspicious – I will investigate it thoroughly.”

Teng Yuyi finally moved, one hand clutching the brocade pouch while the other lifted one of the buyao ornaments and gently turned it, its brilliant light reflecting in her autumn-pool eyes.

Lin Chengyou waited a while, and seeing she still wouldn’t respond, he smirked and deliberately provoked her: “Teng Yuyi, don’t tell me you look down on this buyao. You’re right – compared to priceless treasures like the purple jade saddle, these things are indeed unremarkable. Alright, Teng Yuyi, give them back to me, I’ll compensate you with something more valuable later.”

Teng Yuyi instinctively pulled her hand back: “Who said I look down on them? I just think—”

Lin Chengyou had spoken so clearly, merely afraid she would read too much into it. However close they were, there were still proper boundaries between men and women. Accepting such a valuable compensation gift seemed somewhat improper.

But then she thought, given Lin Chengyou’s determination to keep his word if she didn’t accept these, he might come up with something even more valuable next time.

It should be fine to accept them, right?

Think about it – if she had damaged something precious of his, she would also try every way to make it up to him.

That’s how she convinced herself.

“Alright then.” Teng Yuyi nodded with a smile, “But let’s be clear – losing the buyao in the underground palace wasn’t Young Master’s fault. However, since Young Master is so courteous, I’ll reluctantly accept them. I’m already very satisfied with this buyao, please don’t spend any more money.”

Lin Chengyou smiled brilliantly, but fearing she would notice something amiss, quickly suppressed his smile and said casually: “Then put them away. It’s getting late, let me escort you back.”

“Very well.” Teng Yuyi couldn’t bear to part with them, carefully playing with them for a moment before solemnly wrapping up the brocade pouch.

At this moment, Kuan Nu appeared with several wishing lanterns from somewhere: “Young Master, the lanterns at Qinglong Temple are very efficacious. Why don’t we release some wishing lanterns before leaving?”

Teng Yuyi became interested, taking one of the lanterns: “Whether they’re efficacious or not, it sounds fun. Where do we make the wish? Do we write it inside the lantern?”

Kuan Nu smiled and said: “There’s a bamboo slip inside the lantern – you can write on it with either water or ink. This humble servant has an ink stick here, Young Miss can use it to write. Remember to be sincere when making your wish – just write down the names of those you wish to bless.”

Teng Yuyi carried the lantern to one side, crouched down and moistened the ink stick with some water, took out the bamboo slip from inside the lantern, and carefully wrote her wish: “Safe passage through adversity.”

After thinking for a moment, she added the names of her father, aunt, cousin sister, cousin brother, and others to the blessing section below. Though Duan Fu wasn’t a relative, she solemnly wrote his name as well. Just as she was about to stand up, she inadvertently glanced at Lin Chengyou nearby and suddenly remembered how in his previous life he had been ambushed with poisoned arrows. He was eighteen this year – if he couldn’t be saved, counting up the years, he would have only lived to twenty-one.

A thought flashed through her mind, but she hesitated, unsure if blessings from an outsider like her would be effective…

Nevertheless, considering how many times he had saved her, out of gratitude, she should at least try to bless him. So she turned and reverently wrote down Lin Chengyou’s name.

Meanwhile, Kuan Nu handed a lantern to Lin Chengyou as well.

Lin Chengyou was reluctant to take it. Recalling the earlier scene, where even getting Teng Yuyi to accept a gift had required such effort, he was feeling quite vexed. But then he heard Kuan Nu say: “Young Master should release one too, it can ensure safety.”

Lin Chengyou glanced at Teng Yuyi’s profile – she was bowing her head, devoutly writing something on the bamboo slip.

Tonight was the Buddha’s Bathing Festival. Any other young lady in Chang’an would be enjoying herself without a care, but only Teng Yuyi was still exhausting herself thinking about catching the criminals.

So he changed his mind, silently taking the lantern and ink stick, wrote a line on the bamboo slip, and walked to the water’s edge to place the lantern on the water.

At this moment, Teng Yuyi came over after releasing her lantern and happened to witness this scene.

“What did Young Master wish for?”

Lin Chengyou smiled but didn’t answer: “Let’s go.”

Kuan Nu used a bamboo pole to push both lanterns as far out as possible. As the lanterns lit up, the bamboo slips inside also became visible. He accidentally caught a glimpse – on the Young Master’s slip was only one line:

May Teng Yuyi live a long and prosperous life.

***

On the way back, Teng Yuyi was busy discussing with Lin Chengyou methods to lure out the criminals. When they returned to the narrow alley from before, Teng Yuyi took off her gray cloak and handed it to Kuan Nu.

Lin Chengyou glanced at Teng Yuyi’s veiled hat: “Earlier when you left, I had someone say you went to the jewelry shop to pick up something. Now when you return, it wouldn’t look right to be empty-handed. Since you’re wearing a veiled hat, why not put on the buyao? I’ve already spoken with the jewelry shop owner – if anyone asks later, there won’t be any discrepancies.”

Teng Yuyi considered this – as long as she didn’t remove the veiled hat, no one would notice she had added a pair of buyao, and besides, with the crowds tonight, she had been worried about breaking them while they were only wrapped in the brocade pouch.

“Alright then.” Teng Yuyi took out the pair of buyao and felt her way to secure them in her hair.

Lin Chengyou tilted his head to look, but unfortunately, the alley was too dark to see how she looked wearing the buyao.

After Teng Yuyi carefully felt multiple times to ensure the buyao were firmly in place, Kuan Nu came over saying: “Young Master, Director Yan is waiting for you over there.”

Seeing Lin Chengyou was busy, Teng Yuyi quickly said goodbye and left, using the cover of the crowds and darkness to blend into the throng. Unexpectedly, she encountered Lady Wu’s group halfway.

Wu Xian seemed to have been enjoying the festivities nearby, holding several small trinkets. Upon seeing Teng Yuyi, she stopped and said with a smile: “Your sister said you went to Linshui Studio to pick up some reserved jewelry. After waiting quite a while without seeing you return, she couldn’t help but go looking for you just now. She probably hasn’t gone far. I’m going to release wishing lanterns – I’ll come back to join you all later.”

Her features were very similar to her younger sister Wu Qi, but her bearing was more dignified, her skin as white as jade, and her way of speaking more gentle.

Teng Yuyi parted from Wu Xian and returned to Chrysanthemum Frost Studio, finding that half of her fellow students were gone.

Her sister and cousin weren’t there, and looking outside, even Huo Qiu was nowhere to be seen.

At the table remained only Deng Weili, Miss Liu Si, Wu Qi, and others – all cheerful and talkative people, making it particularly lively.

Teng Yuyi caught Duan Fu’s eye outside, gesturing for him to send Chang Geng to find her sister and the others. As she sat down, she looked around and asked with a smile: “Did everyone go to release wishing lanterns?”

“Indeed, they’ll all be back shortly.” Liu Si looked at the jewelry in Deng Weili’s brocade box, “Yuyi, look – these are gifts Weili just received, along with a letter expressing admiration, specifically meant for her. Unfortunately, there was no signature. We’re all trying to guess which young gentleman sent them.”

Deng Weili said with a bright smile: “Though these items are nice, coming without any explanation, I certainly won’t accept them. Tomorrow I’ll give them to my grandfather to find who sent them and return them.”

Teng Yuyi glanced at the brocade box – it contained a pair of moon-reflecting pearl earrings.

Wu Qi and Liu Si exchanged knowing looks, saying: “Weili, you must have already guessed who sent them, right?”

Deng Weili replied frankly: “I truly don’t know.”

Wu Qi teased: “Though there are countless young gentlemen who admire you, those who could afford such jewelry in all of Chang’an are few. I don’t believe you have any idea.”

“They’re from Star-Plucking Tower,” Liu Si smiled, taking a sip of tea. “We all saw earlier.”

Deng Weili didn’t respond, only smiling dreamily, but from her expression, she seemed to tacitly accept this answer.

Teng Yuyi gave Deng Weili a long look, couldn’t help removing her veiled hat, and rested her chin on her hand while turning her head, fingers occasionally tapping her cheek.

As she moved, the buyao in her hair also swayed.

At first, no one noticed, but when Liu Si happened to turn her head, her eyes immediately brightened: “Yuyi, are these buyao newly made?”

Wu Qi and Deng Weili also showed admiring expressions: “Oh, they’re beautiful!”

Teng Yuyi smiled, revealing two deep dimples, her eyes looking directly at Deng Weili as she said casually: “I had them made at Linshui Studio. Since it’s the festival tonight, I picked them up on the way to wear.”

Deng Weili didn’t suspect anything, examining them while saying with a smile: “This is the first time I’ve seen such an extraordinary buyao design. Yuyi, did you draw the design yourself? Using jadeite for the flower branches is quite innovative.”

Wu Qi simply sat down beside Teng Yuyi, lifting her face to look closely. At this moment, several other classmates came in, and upon seeing the “Star-Plucking Tower” brocade box on the table, they quietly teased Deng Weili: “Was it sent by the Crown Prince of Cheng?”

Deng Weili started: “Who?”

Liu Si pretended to be angry: “Stop pretending. We’ve been close friends since childhood – you wouldn’t keep secrets even from me, would you? We all saw earlier, you were admiring the scenery on the bridge with the Crown Prince of Cheng.”

Deng Weili raised her hand in confusion: “Wait, wait, the reason I was waiting on the bridge earlier was because a classmate asked me to wait by the seventh bridge pier.”

Teng Yuyi looked at Deng Weili with slight surprise. She had thought someone had used Lin Chengyou’s name to arrange a meeting with Deng Weili on the bridge, and that Deng Weili had believed it was Lin Chengyou who had arranged to meet her, but seeing Deng Weili’s reaction, it seemed this wasn’t the case.

“Which classmate?” Wu Qi and the others were naturally skeptical.

“Lady Wu!” Deng Weili looked around. “She was the one who asked me to wait by the seventh bridge pier.”

Everyone grew more surprised – Wu Xian was steady and kind-hearted, not the type to play pranks on people.

Deng Weili looked out the window: “Lady Wu just passed by the building earlier. This won’t do – I need to find her and clear this up.”

“No need to look – my brother must have taken her to release wishing lanterns,” Wu Qi pouted. “The whole family favors my sister – my mother does, and so does my brother. He came to visit us tonight but didn’t offer to take me out to play.”

Liu Si and Deng Weili sympathetically patted Wu Qi’s hand.

Teng Yuyi casually glanced outside and saw a familiar figure.

Lu Zhao’an? Why would Lu Zhao’an be here? Then she thought of her sister nearby, and her heart skipped a beat – could Lu Zhao’an be here for her sister?

Just as she was about to go out to investigate, a piercing scream suddenly came from the street.

“What happened?” someone at the shop entrance asked in shock.

“A young lady over there is in trouble.”

“From her dress, she appears to be a noble lady.”

The people in the shop looked at each other in alarm, worried it might be one of their classmates. After a moment of silence, they all rushed out of the shop.

They saw that the area under the nearby arch bridge was crowded with people, but the crowd was quickly being dispersed.

Fearing something had happened to her sister, Teng Yuyi, protected by Duan Fu, desperately pushed through the crowd. When they got close, they saw a young lady in a turmeric-yellow dress lying on the ground.

Teng Yuyi recognized her at a glance and exclaimed in shock: “Lady Wu!”

Wu Xian’s originally beautiful features were now distorted, her eye sockets showing only whites, her legs rigid, her whole body convulsing.

Wu Yuanluo knelt beside his sister, his face as white as paper, trying to hold her down while afraid of triggering an even stronger reaction.

“Quickly fetch the Imperial Physician!” Large beads of sweat dripped from Wu Yuanluo’s temples as he turned to berate Wu Xian’s maids, “What are you standing there for? Quickly cover the lady’s face with a handkerchief!”

As the maids were frantically about to cover her with handkerchiefs, the crowd parted on both sides as Lin Chengyou arrived. He crouched down to look, placed a talisman on Wu Xian’s forehead, and her back arched once before finally stopping its convulsions.

Wu Yuanluo wiped his sweat with his sleeve and said: “Young Master, my sister is—”

Lin Chengyou lifted Wu Qi’s eyelids, his expression immediately turning grim. Director Yan and others were with him, and seeing this, they exclaimed in surprise: “Evaluator Lin, this lady appears to be…”

“The perpetrator probably hasn’t gone far,” Lin Chengyou said expressionlessly. “She just had one hun soul and one po soul taken.”

As he spoke, he raised his head to look at the crowd, his gaze sweeping from left to right, clearly intending to burn the expression of every person in the crowd into his memory.