Teng Yu’yi’s eyes shifted slightly as she felt the numbness in her chest begin to fade. She struggled to move and slowly opened her eyes.

“Lady Teng, are you feeling better?” Qi Zhi asked joyfully.

His injured right finger was wrapped in cloth – presumably, Lin Chengyou had already found a physician to tend to him.

“What happened to me?” Teng Yu’yi propped herself up on her arms.

“You were poisoned by demonic toxins, but don’t worry. Senior Brother gave you a Heart-Clearing Pill, so you’re out of danger now.”

Teng Yu’yi froze. “I was poisoned by demonic toxins?”

“Lady Teng, don’t you remember? Earlier when you saved me on the second floor, that demon tried to bewitch you from behind. Perhaps that’s when you were contaminated.”

Teng Yu’yi rubbed her throbbing temples. She vaguely recalled the Hairpin Gentleman breathing on her neck, his breath icy cold, making her whole body shiver. She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but that must have been when she was poisoned.

Suddenly remembering what happened before she lost consciousness, she sat up and looked around. “Where are we? Where’s Huo Qiu?”

“This is Madame E’s room. Huo Qiu is standing guard outside. Senior Brother just finished checking everywhere inside and out – the demon has already slipped away. Juan’er Li took a Heart-Clearing Pill and woke up earlier. Senior Brother is having people question her now.”

Teng Yu’yi instinctively reached for the belt at her waist. Qi Zhi coughed and said, “Lady Teng, are you looking for your hidden weapons? Senior Brother confiscated all of them.”

Teng Yu’yi was startled. Jue Sheng quickly explained, “Lady Teng, please don’t misunderstand. Senior Brother didn’t search you himself – he had Madame E and the others do it. You stabbed him with a hairpin before you fainted. Only after he realized he was poisoned did he order someone to search you.”

Teng Yu’yi feigned surprise. “I-I did such a thing? This demonic poison is truly potent to be able to corrupt one’s mind. Please don’t misunderstand, honored Daoists. I must have been too deeply poisoned and became confused. I had no intention of harming anyone. By the way, how is your Senior Brother now?”

“Besides being unable to speak and feeling dizzy and nauseous, he’s fine otherwise.”

Just that? Teng Yu’yi felt somewhat disappointed. This poison was one she had obtained from Uncle Cheng. It was supposed to not only paralyze the tongue but also cause unconsciousness for three days and nights. Yet when used on Lin Chengyou, it only rendered him speechless.

Qi Zhi asked anxiously, “Lady Teng, where did you hide the antidote? Please quickly give it to Senior Brother!”

Teng Yu’yi stood up. “First we need to find my hairpin – the antidote is inside it.”

“Ah?! Senior Brother couldn’t find your antidote, so he simply confiscated all your belongings.”

Anger flared in Teng Yu’yi’s heart, but she only sighed outwardly. “What are we to do? The antidote is at the other end of that hairpin.”

Qi Zhi jumped up. “I’ll tell Senior Brother right away!”

Shortly after, Qi Zhi ran back carrying a pile of items – they were indeed Teng Yu’yi’s belongings.

“Lady Teng, look – is this the hairpin?”

After examining everything, Teng Yu’yi found all her items were there. She had no choice but to ask, “Where is the Young Lord?”

“In the neighboring room.”

“I’ll go give the Young Lord the antidote now.” She struggled to get off the bed and stumbled a few steps before suddenly clutching her forehead. “…My head is so dizzy…”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi said worriedly, “Is there still poison in your system? Lady Teng, why don’t you rest here while we go give Senior Brother the antidote?”

Teng Yu’yi shook her head. “There’s a unique mechanism from our manor on this – I can’t let outsiders know its workings.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi could only wait patiently. “Then Lady Teng should rest a bit more.”

After resting for quite a while, Teng Yu’yi estimated the time was right and slowly shuffled toward the door. “I still feel weak all over, but I’ll be fine. Giving His Highness the antidote is more urgent.”

Jue Sheng hurried to follow her while Qi Zhi nodded repeatedly. “I knew Lady Teng had a kind heart.”

Huo Qiu had been guarding the door the whole time. When Teng Yu’yi looked up at him, her brows furrowed. Huo Qiu’s face was bruised – for someone to get the better of Huo Qiu like this, their martial arts must be formidable.

Huo Qiu asked, “Miss, are you alright?”

Teng Yu’yi examined his injuries. “Who did this?”

Huo Qiu replied sheepishly, “The Crown Prince of Cheng. When you were unconscious, the Crown Prince ordered people to search you. This lowly one refused, so he exchanged a few moves with me. The Crown Prince’s techniques were tricky, and this lowly one… this lowly one carelessly took some injury.”

Teng Yu’yi suppressed her anger. “Very well.”

She entered the neighboring room, which was full of people.

Lin Chengyou had been splattered with demon blood and presumably couldn’t find clean Daoist robes in time. He now wore a round-collared robe in frost-green silk, and his disguise had been removed, revealing his true appearance.

He sat behind a table, clearly in a poor mood. Usually wearing a smile, his face was now stern.

Juan’er Li sat across from him, appearing terrified as she huddled next to E Ji, trembling as she answered questions.

Next to E Ji sat the proprietor called He Mingsheng. There were also many beautiful courtesans, presumably all prominent entertainers from the Colored Phoenix Tower, their attire no less magnificent than E Ji’s.

E Ji turned her head and saw Teng Yu’yi. “Ah, Young Master Wang, you’re awake!”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi pushed past the crowd and excitedly approached the table. “Master, Lady Teng has come to give you the antidote!”

Lin Chengyou stared expressionlessly at Teng Yu’yi. If not for his inability to speak, he surely would have had plenty to say to her.

Teng Yu’yi touched her forehead, appearing to be in severe pain, and slowly walked to the table. She apologetically said, “Master, it’s all because this demonic poison was too powerful. This humble one doesn’t even remember using a hidden weapon to stab you. I unintentionally caused you to be poisoned – I truly feel terrible about it.”

Lin Chengyou looked at Teng Yu’yi mockingly, then suddenly raised his hand. His meaning was clear – hurry up with the antidote, no need for more words.

Teng Yu’yi bowed slightly. “Just a moment, this humble one will give Master the antidote right away.”

As she spoke, she took out the hairpin and felt for the mechanism. Aiming at Lin Chengyou’s uninjured left arm, she prepared to stab down without hesitation.

Lin Chengyou’s expression changed. He swiftly grabbed Teng Yu’yi’s wrist and stared at her intently, his ink-black eyes unreadable. This was even more unsettling than his previous expressionless face.

Teng Yu’yi looked at him and patiently explained: “The white powder is the poison, the red powder is the antidote. The poison is hidden in the hairpin’s tip, as is the antidote, separated by a pearl disk. Only by triggering the mechanism can they be switched. Moreover, the antidote cannot be taken orally – it must pierce the skin to enter the body.”

Lin Chengyou gave a silent laugh. Though he couldn’t make a sound, it didn’t stop him from mouthing words. He pushed away Teng Yu’yi’s hand and coldly formed the words: “Had enough fun? Keep playing and I’ll play with you.”

Teng Yu’yi sighed. “Has Master misunderstood? This is a hidden weapon from my manor for self-defense. To guard against evil-doers, it inevitably has some ruthless aspects. This poison won’t take a life. If Master insists on not using this method for the antidote, you need only wait three days. After three days, the poison will naturally dissipate, and you’ll be able to speak again.”

This was the truth.

Lin Chengyou stared at Teng Yu’yi without blinking. Very well, now she was threatening him? So what if he couldn’t speak for three days – fine, he wouldn’t take the antidote then.

“Leave,” he mouthed the two words, pointing at the door.

Teng Yu’yi understood his meaning and said helplessly, “It seems Master is unwilling to take the antidote. This humble one is powerless to help and can only take my leave.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi were anxiously scratching their heads. Three days without speaking – just thinking about it was unbearable. The demon in the cellar was of unknown origin, and Senior Brother urgently needed to inquire at various Daoist temples. If he encountered anything unclear while asking questions, he surely couldn’t rely solely on mouthing words and hand gestures.

But given their Senior Brother’s personality, how could he willingly let Lady Teng stab him with another hairpin?

The two were secretly worried and about to persuade him again when Lin Chengyou, staring at Teng Yu’yi’s retreating figure, angrily slapped the table.

Teng Yu’yi turned back with feigned surprise. Lin Chengyou looked at her and crooked his finger, beckoning her.

Teng Yu’yi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly walked back. “Has Master reconsidered? It’s just one quick stab – this humble one guarantees it won’t hurt much.”

Lin Chengyou remained silent, his face clearly showing his displeasure. Teng Yu’yi smiled at him, aimed at his other arm, and stabbed down sharply.

Lin Chengyou’s brows furrowed slightly as he endured the hairpin.

Teng Yu’yi hadn’t lied – as soon as the hairpin pierced him, he could feel sensation returning to his numbed throat. The weakness and soreness in his limbs also instantly began to ease.

Teng Yu’yi looked at him. “How is it?”

Lin Chengyou moved his mouth, able to form words now: “Very good.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi were overjoyed. “It worked, it worked! He can speak!”

Teng Yu’yi smiled sweetly. “Now that Master is better, this humble one can rest easy.”

Lin Chengyou laughed coldly. “Young Master Wang, you have quite the skill.”

Teng Yu’yi appeared very modest. “Master flatters me.”

Lin Chengyou stared at Teng Yu’yi and pushed away from the table to stand when suddenly he felt a piercing pain. He realized Teng Yu’yi’s hairpin was still embedded in his right arm. Teng Yu’yi followed his gaze and apologetically pulled it out: “So sorry, so sorry – this humble one’s mind was muddled from the demonic poison and forgot to remove it for Master.”

She pulled it out slowly and messily. Lin Chengyou clenched his jaw as his arm throbbed with pain and swelling. This was a sensation he would likely never forget for the rest of his life.

He gritted his teeth but deliberately showed a carefree smile. “Young Master Wang, your technique needs work. You stabbed so shallowly, it merely tickled.”

His expression remained unchanged, his words carrying a teasing tone. Teng Yu’yi almost believed him. She’d heard Lin Chengyou had practiced martial arts since childhood – perhaps for someone like him, this small injury was just a tickle.

She felt somewhat dejected – if she’d known, she would have stabbed deeper.

But just then, Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi looked at Lin Chengyou’s arm in panic. “Blood! Senior Brother, your arm is bleeding!”

Blood was gushing out, instantly staining Lin Chengyou’s newly changed brocade robe. He glared at Teng Yu’yi without a word. Teng Yu’yi pretended to be alarmed: “Your Highness, are you alright? This is bad – we must quickly call for a physician!”

The room erupted in chaos. Fortunately, the physician hadn’t left yet. Qi Zhi called him from the next room to bandage Lin Chengyou’s wound. The poisoned wound on the left had already scabbed over, but the right side was deeper than the left, with blood flowing out copiously.

Luckily the physician was swift and skilled, quickly binding the wound with cloth.

The physician still needed to check Lin Chengyou’s pulse, but Lin Chengyou said impatiently, “Enough. It’s just a flesh wound – why make such a fuss?”

Just then, a temple servant peeked timidly through the doorway. He Mingsheng glared and demanded, “Who’s there? What are you skulking about for?”

The temple servant entered with a grin. “Master, we’ve finished pasting talismans on every door and window. We came to report back to you.”

He Mingsheng put on a smile and asked Lin Chengyou, “Master Daoist, is there anything else you need this humble one to do?”

Lin Chengyou waved for the physician to leave. “That demon has vanished without a trace. Let’s first clarify what happened earlier.”

He continued questioning Juan’er Li: “Where were you in your story?”

Now that he could ask questions directly instead of having to write them down for others to relay, things were much more convenient.

Juan’er Li still showed some fear in her eyes. “I just remember being in the second-floor corridor, then somehow I was back at my childhood home. My father had been dead for many years, yet there he was, pacing in front of the flatbread shop. Father had always been cruel to Mother. I was worried about Mother’s illness and hazily wanted to go inside. When I next awoke, I found myself lying on a stone slab in a damp, dark place that seemed like a cellar. I was terrified out of my wits. When I tried to run, there was something slick and greasy on the stone – I slipped and fell, then knew nothing more.”

While everyone was busy with the questioning, Teng Yu’yi quietly tried to leave, but Lin Chengyou looked up at her. “Wait.”

Again? Teng Yu’yi asked in surprise, “Master Daoist, surely there’s nothing more for me here?”

Lin Chengyou gave a slight laugh. “Young Master Wang was the first to see the demon tonight and later witnessed one of the illusions. You could say you’re the key figure – how can you just leave? You saw what happened in the small shrine. If this great demon isn’t eliminated soon, who knows how many will suffer? With your kind heart, you surely won’t turn a blind eye?”

Everyone in the room turned to look at Teng Yu’yi as if refusing would make her as detestable as the demon.

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi pulled Teng Yu’yi to sit down nearby. “Young Master Wang, don’t be hasty. The master will question you after he finishes with Juan’er Li.”

Caught between the two, Teng Yu’yi found herself unable to escape. “Master’s words make sense, but it’s already the hour of the Ox (1-3 AM). I must return home first, or my aunt and cousin will worry.”

Of course, once she left, she had no intention of returning.

Lin Chengyou said casually, “No rush – I’ve already arranged everything for Young Master Wang.”

Teng Yu’yi froze. “Arranged everything?”

“I had someone send word to the Du residence that you’re drinking at the Colored Phoenix Tower in Pingkang Ward. Being new to Chang’an and eager for novelty, you refused to leave. You’re having a wonderful time and will return to the Du residence at dawn – there’s no need for Master Du and Madam Du to worry.”

Several beautiful courtesans in the room covered their red lips with fans, giggling softly. Not only was he staying out all night, but the pleasure-seeking was made to sound perfectly natural. When this Young Master Wang returned home in the morning, he would surely face a lecture from his elders.

Teng Yu’yi’s eye twitched as she forced out through gritted teeth: “Master is so thoughtful – it would be discourteous of this humble one to decline.”

Lin Chengyou smiled. “Young Master Wang’s chivalrous spirit deserves such courtesy. Why are you all standing there? Quickly, give Young Master Wang a seat.”

Teng Yu’yi lifted her robe and forced herself to sit down. Lin Chengyou continued questioning Juan’er Li: “When you woke up on that stone, did you feel any writing on it?”

Juan’er Li thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. There was dense writing, quite a lot of it, but I was so terrified then that I didn’t pay attention to what it said.”

Qi Zhi asked curiously, “Senior Brother, didn’t you sneak down into the cellar? Shouldn’t you have seen it more clearly than Juan’er Li?”

Jue Sheng said, “Don’t remind me. When we went down, the stone tablet was still there. Just as we rescued Juan’er Li, the demon appeared. While pursuing us, it thoroughly destroyed that stone tablet. Senior Brother tried everything to stop it, but there was no room to maneuver in the cellar. By the time we managed to get back to the original spot, the tablet had been ground to powder.”

Everyone shuddered. After breaking through the formation, the demon had feared the tablet would reveal its secrets and had planned this step. Such a cunning strategy was beyond what ordinary people could conceive.

Lin Chengyou asked a few more questions, but Juan’er Li knew nothing. He turned to Teng Yu’yi: “Young Master Wang, I heard the illusion you saw on the second floor was different from what Qi Zhi saw?”

“Yes.” Teng Yu’yi thought carefully before speaking. “Master Qi Zhi said he saw a flatbread shop, but I saw an abandoned courtyard. It seemed to have been deserted for a long time, with a well in the center.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi were puzzled. “Senior Brother, why did we see different illusions in the same place?”

Teng Yu’yi pondered. “I remember the two Masters mentioned that the Colored Phoenix Tower was previously a silk shop, and its owner had taken a concubine who jumped into a well because she couldn’t bear the wife’s abuse. Could that well be related to this incident?”

The room’s occupants showed various expressions. The silk shop’s owner and his wife had died mysteriously, and the tower’s residents were tight-lipped about it. With strange occurrences continuing, they had long suspected a connection.

Lin Chengyou tapped the table. “The silk shop owner died of illness on the seventh day of the twelfth month the year before last. His wife hanged herself on the tenth. The concubine had jumped into the well on the second day of the eighth month, over a year ago. If she had lingering regrets when she died, those could certainly be used to create illusions to bewitch people’s minds. However, tonight’s illusions don’t quite seem like a dead person’s memories.”

He Mingsheng, though a grown man, was more timid than the courtesans beside him. After listening this long, his teeth were chattering with fear. “M-Master Daoist, are you suggesting these are a living person’s memories?”

“Juan’er Li is a perfect example. The illusion Qi Zhi saw was from her childhood memories. Interestingly, though Juan’er Li was abducted by the demon, and despite the frequent strange occurrences in your tower, no one had ever lost their way in the second-floor corridor before. Therefore, I suspect the demon only recently broke through the formation, with Qi Zhi and Young Master Wang being the first to encounter its illusions.”

Jue Sheng exclaimed, “Ah! Qi Zhi saw the flatbread shop, and Young Master Wang saw a well. If they’re both living people’s memories, what does that well signify? Could it be another person’s obsession with the tower?”

“But only Juan’er Li went missing tonight, and we rescued her. Where is this other person?”

Lin Chengyou suddenly said, “Proprietor, gather everyone from the tower – entertainers, madams, temple servants, not one missing.”

He Mingsheng, face pale, hurriedly instructed his people: “Quickly, quickly, do as Master Daoist says.”

“Young Master Wang, are you skilled with brush and ink?” Lin Chengyou turned to Teng Yu’yi.

Teng Yu’yi had already guessed his intention. “You want me to draw that courtyard and well?”

Lin Chengyou walked to the writing desk, took up a brush, and said, “Since you’ve guessed it, please proceed, Young Master Wang.”

Teng Yu’yi went to his side, took the brush, and slowly recalled. She had only glimpsed it briefly and hadn’t seen it clearly. She remembered that though the courtyard was dilapidated, it still retained a sense of ancient elegance. There was a tree by the well, nearly dead from age, surrounded by mist – she couldn’t tell if it was a peach or plum tree.

The area around the well was filthy, as if it had just rained, with mud a foot deep. She couldn’t remember anything else.

She drew it accordingly. Lin Chengyou looked at it – surprisingly, Teng Yu’yi’s drawing skills weren’t bad. With just a few strokes, she had captured all the essential details.

By now, everyone from the tower had been summoned and was crowding at the doorway. He Mingsheng shouted, “Don’t push! Only enter when I call your name. Those not called, wait quietly outside.”

Teng Yu’yi returned to her seat. Though He Mingsheng seemed as timid as a mouse, he was quite skilled at managing his subordinates. After his shout, not a single person outside dared to move.

Lin Chengyou told He Mingsheng, “Call them in one by one to look at the drawing. If anyone recognizes this well, they must tell me immediately, as they might be the demon’s next target and could be in danger at any moment.”

He Mingsheng agreed and went outside to explain the situation. When he returned, he pointed to the beautiful courtesans in the room and said to Lin Chengyou, “Master Daoist, there are too many people outside. Why don’t we start with these few in here?”

Teng Yu’yi looked at them one by one. Including E Ji and Juan’er Li, there were nine strikingly beautiful courtesans in the room, each with alluring eyes.

Having heard He Mingsheng’s words, E Ji cast a flirtatious glance at Teng Yu’yi. “This servant is the eldest, and already acquainted with Young Master Wang. Since the drawing is by Young Master Wang’s hand, why not let this servant be the first to appreciate it?”

As she spoke, she rose and went to look, then shook her head. “I’ve never seen such a well.”

Lin Chengyou reminded her, “Look carefully.”

E Ji smiled brightly. “This servant has looked carefully – truly, I’ve never seen it.”

Her attitude became notably more serious when facing Lin Chengyou. Firstly, Lin Chengyou was a tall, imposing man, unlike Teng Yu’yi who was a young woman disguised as a foreigner. E Ji had always treated men and women differently. Secondly, Lin Chengyou was one of the most prestigious nobles in Chang’an. She had long hoped to present Juan’er Li to him – if she could connect with such an outstanding young lord, even she as a madam would rise to glory along with him.

But Juan’er Li was too frightened, and with such an unambitious girl, even the madam dared not be presumptuous.

Lin Chengyou indeed didn’t even look at her, simply saying, “Next.”

This time Wei Zi rose. She had a voluptuous figure and exquisite makeup. Her forehead was adorned with pink flower patterns, while her lips were painted with deep crimson rouge.

Lin Chengyou pointed to the drawing and asked her, “Have you seen this?”

Wei Zi was much more thorough than E Ji in her examination. Holding her fan against her full bosom, she bent down to look left and right, finally circling the table, “accidentally” dropping her fan at Lin Chengyou’s feet.

“Oh my~” She bit her crimson lips coquettishly and bent down to retrieve it, but Lin Chengyou gave a derisive laugh and stepped on the fan.

Wei Zi covered her mouth and laughed. This young man was not only handsome but had an arrogant beauty about him. She had long wanted to flirt with him but never found the chance. Now that she was close, how could she not take the opportunity to test him?

She hadn’t expected this young lord to be so playful. Her eyelashes fluttered as she gently tried to pull the fan out, but Lin Chengyou pressed down harder with his foot, crushing the fan and its ribs into fragments – no, into powder.

Her heart instantly turned cold. Then she heard Lin Chengyou say with a laugh, “Have you seen clearly? If you can’t even understand such a large drawing, in my opinion, you needn’t stay in Pingkang Ward anymore.”

Wei Zi nodded trembling, “I-I-I see clearly.”

“Have you seen it before or not?”

“This servant has never seen it.”

Lin Chengyou said, “If you haven’t seen it, why are you still here?”

Wei Zi returned to her place, soul-stricken. Someone outside seemed to snicker, but her legs were so weak she couldn’t be bothered to investigate who it was.

Next were Yao Huang and Hong Ge. One was gracefully slender with a waist so thin it couldn’t be grasped in one hand.

The other was sweetly charming, with the proud bearing of a noble family’s daughter.

Teng Yu’yi watched from the side, secretly thinking that the Colored Phoenix Tower indeed had its distinctions. Just these four uniquely beautiful women were enough to attract swarms of admirers from across the city.

With Wei Zi as a warning example, the two women dared not provoke Lin Chengyou. They looked at the drawing honestly and quickly withdrew, thus saving considerable time.

After everyone in the room had looked, He Mingsheng urged those outside to enter. Half an hour passed, yet not one person had seen the scene in the drawing.

He Mingsheng went outside to check. Those who had already viewed the drawing, regardless of gender, were all gathered in the main hall downstairs awaiting orders. Only one person remained in the corridor.

He Mingsheng couldn’t recall that person’s name, but E Ji called out, “Qing Zhi, come in quickly, you’re the last one.”

She then explained to Lin Chengyou, “Last month, a courtesan in our tower named Ge Jin had her face ruined by a fierce ghost. This Qing Zhi is Ge Jin’s maid. Since Ge Jin’s injury requires constant attendance, that’s why Qing Zhi came late.”

As she spoke, the maid called Qing Zhi entered. She was about fifteen or sixteen, with dark skin and a somewhat simple appearance. She gave Lin Chengyou a slight bow and walked to the writing desk with a dull expression.

Teng Yu’yi watched her without blinking. This was the last person in the tower – if even Qing Zhi hadn’t seen this well, Lin Chengyou’s guess might be wrong.

However, Lin Chengyou had never doubted his abilities. He looked at Qing Zhi and said with certainty, “Where have you seen this well?”

Qing Zhi looked for a while, then said cheerfully, “This servant has never seen it.”

Lin Chengyou’s smile froze. “Look more carefully.”

Qing Zhi waved her hand. “This servant truly hasn’t seen it.”

Lin Chengyou fell silent. Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi asked in surprise, “Proprietor, Madam E, has everyone from the tower come?”

He Mingsheng and E Ji exclaimed in confusion, “They’re all here – even the kitchen cook was called.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi looked at each other. Could their Senior Brother have guessed wrong? Perhaps the demon hadn’t targeted another person, and the well in the illusion wasn’t from any living person’s obsession.

Teng Yu’yi suddenly said, “No, we’re missing someone.”

“Who?”

Lin Chengyou had thought of this too. “Wasn’t there mention of a Miss Ge Jin whose face was ruined by a fierce ghost? Where does she stay? Why haven’t we seen her? What are you standing there for? Quickly, show me the way!”

***

Ge Jin held a book, gazing dejectedly out the window. Chang’an’s moon cast no light into her dark window.

Once her door had been crowded with carriages and horses; now she sat alone through the nights. Since her injury had ruined her face, her fortunes had plummeted. Tonight the tower was in an uproar – something must have happened, yet after more than an hour, no one had told her what was going on.

She still remembered the Lantern Festival, when noble young lords had taken her on outings, sharing tender moments and festivities until dawn. At banquets, she had exchanged poems, amazing all present. Looking back on those days, she had been so glorious. Yet all of this had turned to nothing because of a “female ghost” who had suddenly burst into her room.

She touched her face half-covered by gauze, her beautiful eyes blazing with intense hatred. How could she accept this? Her beautiful face had been ruined by a so-called “fierce ghost.” How she wished this was just a nightmare. No, this must be a nightmare – after enduring so long, she should have awakened by now.

She pushed aside her quilt and ran barefoot to the mirror stand. After much hesitation, she finally trembled as she pulled away the gauze from her face. Seeing the crimson wounds in the mirror, her heart shattered into a thousand pieces. Talk of ghosts harming people might fool others but not her. She wouldn’t let this rest – she must find out who that poisonous woman was.

As she wept bitterly, suddenly footsteps sounded in the silent corridor outside.

The person walked straight to her door and knocked: “tap, tap, tap.”

Ge Jin wiped away her tears and cleared her throat. “Who is it?”

A flat voice answered from outside, “It’s me, E Ji. I heard you hadn’t eaten dinner, so I came to check on you.”

Ge Jin felt confused. Just half an hour ago, someone had come to her door to paste something up, saying it was a talisman from the Qingyun Temple Daoist that had to be put up immediately.

That person had also said things weren’t peaceful outside, and everyone had to stay in their rooms tonight, not moving about freely.

She had been resting after crying herself out and hadn’t listened carefully in her daze. If everyone had to stay in their rooms, why could E Ji come to see her alone?

She tilted her head to listen carefully. E Ji was unusually quiet, not speaking again after knocking.

Ge Jin coughed and said, “I’m not feeling well and have already retired. Sister E, let’s talk tomorrow.”

E Ji lowered her voice: “Ge Jin, I came to see you secretly. Marquis Xu sent someone to check on you – they’re right here beside me. If you don’t believe me, open the door and see for yourself.”

Ge Jin’s heart stirred. Since her disfigurement, she had been in a state of semi-confinement. She had gone to great lengths to send messages to those young noble admirers, doing so privately with no one in the tower knowing. Could E Ji be telling the truth about Marquis Xu sending someone?

She asked cautiously, “Has the proprietor not questioned this?”

E Ji didn’t reply, but a man’s voice spoke instead: “Miss Ge Jin, the Marquis sent this humble one to bring you some medicine for your wounds. If Miss applies this medicine daily to the injured area, it will help regenerate flesh and stop the itching. The Marquis also said to please rest assured – whether the one who harmed you was human or ghost, he will investigate until the truth comes to light.”

Ge Jin’s heart pounded as she rushed to open the door. Her hand was already on the latch when she suddenly drew back. Though it wasn’t strange for the Marquis to thoughtfully send medicine, this hour was rather late.

The person sensed her hesitation and whispered something to E Ji, then spoke again: “Perhaps Miss is not convenient to open the door. How about this – this humble one will leave the items at your door, and Miss can retrieve them yourself.”

E Ji added, “Ge Jin, we’ll leave now. Rest well.”

Footsteps sounded outside as the two left.

Ge Jin pressed herself against the door, feeling regretful. Why had she been so suspicious? She should have opened the door earlier – seeing that person’s face would have allowed her to send a message back to the Marquis.

But they probably hadn’t gone far; perhaps she could still catch up. Thinking this, she hurriedly opened the door. Glimpsing the scene outside, she screamed in terror.