At that moment, a yamen runner came to report that after questioning customers from nearby shops, no one had seen a short, thin man matching Zhuang Mu’s description. They had turned half of the West Market upside down but still found no trace of the infant. Lin Chengyou glanced outside – the sky was already filled with sunset clouds. He had no choice but to say, “Let’s withdraw. We’ve questioned all the shop customers, they can go now.”

Teng Yuyi looked at Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi. She had promised them a good meal at noon, but with everything that happened and nightfall approaching, it seemed she would have to fulfill that promise tomorrow instead.

She said to them, “I need to return to the manor now, so I can’t treat you to good food today. If you’re free tomorrow, come to the Teng Manor early.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi glanced furtively at their senior brother. Seeing no objection from him, they quickly replied, “Alright, we’ll visit Young Master Wang tomorrow.”

Lin Chengyou finished half a cup of tea and then got up to visit the neighboring spice shop with Yan Shizhi. Another yamen runner blocked the doorway: “Evaluator Lin, there are twin young ladies across the street who fainted after hearing about the death of the Rong’an Marquis’s heir’s wife. They reportedly encountered a ghost at Yu Su Creek before, and have been extremely timid since. I just checked on them – their faces were as white as paper. Evaluator Lin, since you know the Dao arts, perhaps you could examine them personally.”

Hearing this description, Teng Yuyi knew it was the Peng sisters, Hua Yue and Jin Xiu. Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi hurriedly said, “This must be from shock. Senior Brother, you go handle other matters, we’ll go check on them.”

After they left, Teng Yuyi had Duan Fu hire an ox cart. When she came out, she went straight into the cart. Many people at the Mo Zhai shop across the street knew Duan Fu, but with her sitting in the cart, they wouldn’t realize that the yellow-faced youth from earlier was Teng Yuyi.

As she lowered the curtain on this side, the ladies and young masters from Mo Zhai across the street also began coming out, surrounded by guards from various manors who had rushed over after hearing the news. A group of people stood before the ox cart, holding onto Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi and refusing to let go. Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi scratched their heads, appearing somewhat troubled.

Just as Teng Yuyi was growing curious, Lin Chengyou emerged from the spice shop. Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi seemed to have found their savior, running through the crowd to him and saying in low voices, “Senior Brother, those young ladies insist we escort them home.”

But they wanted to return together with Miss Teng’s ox cart.

Hearing this, Teng Yuyi lifted the window screen to look outside.

Lin Chengyou glanced at Wu Si and the others across the street, then mounted his horse saying, “Things have been rather unsafe lately. They’re all this frightened – if anything startles them on the way, they might become ill from fear. It’s fine if you escort them since it’s on your way.”

Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi asked, “But what about Young Master Wang?”

“Don’t we still have Daoist Jian Tian and Jian Xi?”

Jian Tian and Jian Xi happened to be coming out of the tavern. Hearing this, they said with broad grins, “It’s getting late, and we old Daoists are hungry. Young Master Wang, we’ll escort you back – surely treating us to an evening meal at your manor wouldn’t be too much?”

Teng Yuyi earnestly replied, “Oh, Daoist Masters, why such formality? Wang has long wished to properly host you. How could I not eagerly seize such an opportunity for generous entertainment? I only fear you’ll find my humble manor’s wine and dishes too crude.”

Reassured, Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi returned to escort the other group as they set out.

Teng Yuyi’s ox cart officially started moving, with Jian Tian and Jian Xi each riding a small donkey alongside. The donkeys were short and thin, moving as slowly as possible.

Teng Yuyi looked toward the horizon through the window – it was getting darker. At Jian Tian and Jian Xi’s leisurely pace, they probably wouldn’t reach home until nightfall. She wasn’t worried about other things, only that she had seen the murderer just that afternoon, and the murderer knew evil arts. What if something happened on the way?

Duan Fu seemed worried too, silently watching Jian Tian and Jian Xi’s donkeys for a while before breaking his usual silence: “This humble one will go get some fine horses for the Daoist Masters.”

But Jian Tian and Jian Xi waved their hands: “No need, no need! These little donkeys of ours were raised at the temple – they’re quite clever. We’re used to riding them, we don’t want any stupid horses.”

Dragging along like this, the sky was nearly dark by the time they left the West Market. Teng Yuyi chatted intermittently with the two Daoists while secretly growing anxious. Last night when Lin Chengyou set up formations at the manor, he had warned her not to go out at night, yet today she encountered such a situation. Last night it was Shu Liniang – surely there wouldn’t be another fierce ghost this time? Her sister was still waiting for her at the manor, who knew how worried she must be.

Just then, the sound of approaching hoofbeats came from behind.

Teng Yuyi remained cautious, quietly lifting the window screen to see who it was. She heard Jian Tian and Jian Xi exclaim, “Young Master!”

Lin Chengyou reined in his horse and smiled, “The two seniors are moving quite slowly.”

“What’s the rush? Yan Shou Ward isn’t far from the West Market anyway – just two main streets over. Oh Young Master, weren’t you heading to the Court of Judicial Review? That’s not in this direction.”

Lin Chengyou said, “As it happens, I need to handle something in the Administrative Ward.”

Jian Tian and Jian Xi clapped their hands: “Then isn’t this perfectly on your way!”

Teng Yuyi’s anxious heart finally settled – Lin Chengyou was far more reliable than Jian Tian and Jian Xi.

Jian Tian and Jian Xi were already talkative, and with Lin Chengyou joining them, they became even more unstoppable: “Young Master Wang was just telling us that their manor’s cook has exceptional knife skills – she can slice meat so thin it’s like snowflakes, melting as soon as it touches your mouth.”

Lin Chengyou gave a noncommittal “oh.”

The palace and Prince Cheng’s manor had at least a dozen such skilled cooks, but he remembered eating pastries made by the Teng family’s cook that night – the culinary skills were indeed impressive.

“Speaking of which, while Jiangnan’s fish and meat are fresh and rich, their pastries are also made more delicately than those in the North. But Young Master Wang said the best pastries in all of Jiangnan are the ones she makes herself – flower cakes. This poor Daoist found that hard to believe. Young Master, you probably don’t believe Young Master Wang makes pastries either, right?”

Lin Chengyou didn’t respond. Teng Yuyi making pastries? Probably not. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe she could learn, but rather that he doubted she had the patience. Yet thinking of her serene and elegant “Moon on the Pool,” he became less certain. If she had the patience to give the little red horse so many names, making pastries in her spare time wouldn’t be strange. He just wondered who had tasted her pastries – probably only her father and aunt.

Teng Yuyi had already dozed off in the cart. She hadn’t slept well last night, and today she’d had quite a fright. Though they’d left the West Market, she still kept herself alert, finding Jian Tian and Jian Xi unreliable. But now, listening to the voices outside, that taut string in her mind unconsciously began to relax.

Once she let her guard down, she quickly fell asleep.

Who knows how long she slept before vaguely hearing someone knocking “tok tok tok” on the window. Teng Yuyi startled awake, eyes flying open.

Someone outside said, “Young Master, are you awake?”

It was Steward Cheng’s voice.

They must be home. Teng Yuyi sighed in relief, rubbed her eyes, and sat up to adjust her headwrap and robes.

Stepping down from the cart and looking around, she saw Lin Chengyou leaning against his horse with folded arms, as if he’d been waiting for a while.

Jian Tian and Jian Xi grinned, “Did Young Master Wang fall asleep in the cart?”

Teng Yuyi cleared her throat awkwardly and said to Steward Cheng, “We have honored guests tonight – quickly prepare a feast.”

Steward Cheng acknowledged.

Teng Yuyi then walked to Lin Chengyou, smiling and cupping her hands: “Young Master, please honor us by staying for a meal.”

Lin Chengyou looked at her. The dust on her face had been rubbed clean during the journey, leaving her cheeks pink. Her eyes were clear as freshly washed grapes – she’d slept well in the cart. Strangely, though he hadn’t been hungry before, hearing Teng Yuyi’s words made his stomach suddenly growl. The Teng manor’s food wasn’t bad – staying for a casual meal wouldn’t be amiss, but unfortunately, he had too many urgent matters tonight.

“Thank you, but I have pressing duties.” He mounted his horse. “Remember what I said – don’t wander around at night.”

“Ah.” Teng Yuyi nodded.

Lin Chengyou rode out of Rongle Lane in front of the Teng manor, then turned his horse toward the Court of Judicial Review.

As Teng Yuyi led Jian Tian and Jian Xi into the manor, she suddenly heard a large group of horses approaching from the end of the lane. She turned back in surprise to see Teng Shao returning with his guards.

Steward Cheng exclaimed in shock and joy, “The Master has returned!”

Teng Yuyi looked at her father in confusion. This morning Steward Cheng had said Father wouldn’t return until midnight, yet he was back by dusk. Looking at her father’s appearance – his riding clothes covered in dust, the green mudguards beneath his mount filthy beyond recognition – she rarely saw Father rushing like this except for urgent military matters.

What could be so urgent…

She recalled learning about Wu Yingying’s return to Chang’an just that afternoon, and her expression grew complex. She stood motionless on the steps, watching her father approach.

Teng Shao had already spotted the old Daoist and young master at the gate. He’d met the old Daoist before – a priest from Dongming Temple. Though the young master’s appearance had changed, that proud bearing had remained unchanged since childhood.

Teng Shao knew something was amiss – if nothing else, his daughter’s attire was strange enough. Without showing his thoughts, he dismounted and tossed his riding crop to an attendant: “Honored ones, it’s been a while.”

Jian Tian and Jian Xi returned the greeting formally. Though Teng Shao might appear gentle, he was the renowned God of War – that killing aura about him could make one shiver even without cold.

“General Teng, we’ll be imposing on your manor for a meal tonight.”

“The honor is mine, please come in.” Teng Shao personally led Jian Tian and Jian Xi inside, while Teng Yuyi shook out her robes and followed.

Teng Shao entertained Jian Tian and Jian Xi in the main hall while Teng Yuyi returned to the inner courtyard to bathe and change.

By the time Jian Tian and Jian Xi had eaten and drunk their fill and departed, Teng Yuyi had already told Du Tinglan everything about the afternoon’s events.

“Specifically killing pregnant women?” Du Tinglan’s face turned pale hearing this.

Teng Yuyi nodded, finishing the jade paste soup in her bowl and having Chun Rong clear away the dishes.

“But we don’t know yet if it’s done by human or demon.”

“So last night’s fierce ghost wasn’t related to Lu Zhao’an?”

Teng Yuyi shook her head: “We don’t know yet. The real culprit hasn’t been caught – everything is just speculation.”

Just then Steward Cheng came over: “Young Miss, the Master asks you to meet him in the study.”

Teng Yuyi acknowledged and followed Steward Cheng to the study.

Servants led the way, lanterns moving slowly forward in the night. Their round, bright halos were like strings of pearls in a beauty’s hands. Teng Yuyi’s footsteps followed those strings of light, but her eyes were fixed on the back of Steward Cheng’s head. Of all the big and small matters in Chang’an, there was almost nothing Steward Cheng didn’t know. Wu Yingying was, after all, the consort of the Xinchang King of Nanzhao – there was no way Steward Cheng wouldn’t know about her return to Chang’an.

Steward Cheng must have told Father about this, which is why Father rushed back making double time.

Passing through the courtyard, Teng Yuyi peered through the open study window. Father stood at his desk, seemingly lost in thought, eyes on the official document in his hand but his gaze unmoving.

“Master, the Young Miss is here.”

Teng Yuyi entered: “Father.”

“Sit down, Father has something to ask you.” Though Teng Shao looked somewhat tired, his eyes still brightened seeing his daughter enter.

Teng Yuyi glanced at the sachet at her father’s waist. In her memory, Father had never removed this sachet, so by reason it shouldn’t have fallen into others’ hands. Yet this afternoon at Fendie Pavilion, she had personally witnessed Wu Yingying blend an identical “Rain Eaves Falling Flowers.” Such a complex formula could only be matched perfectly by someone who had seen the ingredients inside the sachet.

She quietly shifted her gaze away and sat down on the low couch as told.

“I heard the Prince of Cheng’s heir came to set up formations at the manor last night?”

Teng Yuyi paused, not expecting Father to ask about this first.