The speaker’s voice was low and deep, yet had the warmth of a spring breeze. Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but lift her eyelids and quickly glance at the man speaking.

That man had a refined scholarly appearance and wore a stone-blue fine kudzu cloth straight robe with a cloth belt at his waist and his hair fastened with a bamboo pin. He looked about the same age as the man in the indigo Taoist robe. Although his temperament was warm, a divine light flickered between his eyes.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart trembled. She quickly lowered her head to attend to the stove fire.

The man across from her laughed loudly: “Jiunie has guessed wrong this time! That Wang Gang is probably too busy taking care of himself now to have any leisure to keep an eye on Wan Tong!”

His tone seemed somewhat gloating, as if this person called Wang Gang having bad luck made him very happy.

“Oh!” Hearing this, Bieyun said, “There’s such a thing? How did I not know about this? Pengju, quickly tell us what exactly happened?”

The man called “Pengju” smiled and said, “A few days ago, His Majesty promoted Liu Yong from the Wine and Vinegar Bureau to be the Chief Eunuch Scribe of the Ceremonial Directorate. Wang Gang’s calculations fell through!”

“There’s such a thing?” Bieyun laughed heartily, joy overflowing in his expression. “Isn’t Wang Gang the most favored adopted son of Chen Li, the head eunuch of Qianqing Palace? How come Chen Li didn’t stand up for him this time?”

Pengju smiled dismissively: “These rootless things—can you really expect them to know about loyalty, filial piety, integrity and righteousness? It’s just that Wang Gang, having been poor for so long then suddenly wealthy, got carried away with success—no matter how Wan Tong and Chen Li fight, they both served His Majesty together in the hidden residence. For him to pull Wan Tong down with one stroke, using such ruthless methods, how could Chen Li not feel the sorrow of lips gone and teeth cold?”

He spoke unscrupulously about court politics.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded like a drum, her eyes glancing over from the corner.

On the dark green grass mat was a full-length robe of purple-red brocade with plum blossom and double-victory工字 patterns. A flawless white jade pendant of a crane holding vermillion fruit gleamed with warm luster. The crane with wide-spread wings was lifelike, head raised in flight, as if about to burst forth from the jade pendant. The bright yellow ribbons wrapped around the moon-white fine kudzu summer socks beneath the robe made her even more terrified.

Since the founding of this dynasty, there had been strict regulations on clothing. But the Jiangnan region was prosperous, and after Emperor Xiaozong, customs gradually became more extravagant. Common people sometimes wore gold, silver and precious gems, dressed in silk and satin. Officials couldn’t punish everyone, so they turned a blind eye. This trend intensified, yet no one dared use bright yellow—the exclusive color of the imperial family.

In Jinling City, only one household had the qualification to use this color.

The Duke Liangguo’s mansion!

This person must be Zhu Kun, the heir of Duke Liangguo’s mansion, Zhu Pengju.

Zhou Shaojin lifted her head to look at the man in the indigo Taoist robe.

He leaned leisurely against the large welcoming pillow, smiling without speaking, as if Zhu Pengju were merely a neighbor next door, not worth paying too much attention to.

Zhou Shaojin was bewildered.

“Bieyun” slapped his thigh and laughed: “‘Rootless things—can you really expect them to know about loyalty, filial piety, integrity and righteousness’—I love that line! We should drink three large cups for it!” As he spoke, as if remembering something, his face showed regret as he sighed, “Unfortunately Jiunie cannot drink alcohol, otherwise we could get drunk together again.”

Was it really okay to speak about the head eunuchs of the inner palace this way?

Zhou Shaojin looked again toward the man in the indigo Taoist robe.

This time the man in the indigo Taoist robe seemed to sense something and turned his head with a slight smile.

Zhou Shaojin’s face burned hotly. She quickly lowered her head, but by her ears she seemed to hear the Taoist-robed man’s soft laugh.

She wanted to hear clearly whether he had actually laughed, but Jiunie had already begun laughing somewhat helplessly and said, “Next time then! Next time you come to Jinling, I’ll definitely accompany you in getting drunk for three days.”

This left Zhou Shaojin no leisure to distinguish, and the heat in her face lingered for a long time.

“No, no, no!” Bieyun said repeatedly, “Not to mention that you’re now in mourning, even if you weren’t in mourning, the banquets at your Gu family have never been easy to swallow. I’d rather go mooch meals at Pengju’s place. Not to mention anything else, just that little opera performer Pengju keeps—when his voice goes high it’s like splitting clouds, when low it’s like a fine trickle, when urgent it’s like bursting beans, when slow it’s like a dripping leak… His movements and singing are all excellent!” He savored the memory with relish. “How can those centuries-old plum trees at your house compare?”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Zhou Shaojin was astonished.

Surname Gu, centuries-old plum trees, strict family traditions, courtesy name “Jiunie”—this should be a descendant of Gu Qinghong from Plum Blossom Lane in Jinling City, who later rose to be Vice Minister of Works and ranked among the minor nine ministers—Gu Yunhe, Gu Jiunie.

He was Cheng Xu’s cousin.

However, looking at Gu Jiunie’s manner, he didn’t seem like someone who would fool around with Cheng Xu. Could there be some complications involved?

Zhou Shaojin looked toward the path entrance.

Cheng Xu was pacing under that large banyan tree at the path entrance thick enough to require two people’s arms to encircle, looking as if he wanted to come over but didn’t dare.

Pan Zhuo stood staring blankly in this direction, dumbfounded like a wooden chicken.

Zhou Shaojin was stunned and also somewhat uneasy.

What if Cheng Xu charged over?

She shifted uneasily.

The man in the indigo Taoist robe suddenly said, “Qingfeng, go ask that young master what he’s doing here instead of receiving guests in the outer courtyard?”

The young Taoist acolyte drawing water had at some point placed his bamboo tube on a nearby stone stump and was standing with hands at his sides beside the thin man who looked like dried bamboo. Hearing the instruction, he responded and left.

The air froze, then quickly dispersed.

The people present acted as if they hadn’t seen Qingfeng’s departure and continued talking.

And Cheng Xu, who had been hovering in the distance, after hearing the acolyte’s message, surprisingly glanced this way, but actually did nothing and obediently pulled Pan Zhuo away with him.

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief and glanced gratefully at the man beside her.

But Zhou Shaojin’s confusion deepened.

Who exactly was this person?

The man seemed not to notice her actions and smiled while listening to Gu Jiunie tease Bieyun: “How can your sister-in-law tolerate your reckless temperament?”

“You’ve got it wrong!” Bieyun said proudly, shaking his head. “Among the eighteen sons of the Yuan family, your sister-in-law chose only me! Tell me, is your sister-in-law the kind of person who can’t distinguish fish eyes from pearls?”

Everyone laughed again.

Yuan—Yuan Bieyun?

Cheng Xu’s maternal family was surnamed Yuan!

For Cheng Xu’s grand birthday celebration, the current Chief Minister, Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, and Minister of Personnel Yuan Weichang had sent his eldest son to offer congratulations.

Yuan Weichang was Yuan Shi’s clan uncle.

Could this person be Yuan Weichang’s eldest son?

Shouldn’t he be at Jifu Hall? How could he be drinking tea here?

Who exactly was the man who had helped her out of that awkward situation?

Zhou Shaojin felt like a piece of rough pottery that had fallen into cloisonné enamel, somewhat at a loss.

But the water on the small red clay stove began bubbling and steaming.

She quickly collected her thoughts and carefully tended to the stove fire.

Zhu Pengju said, “Zichuan, now that Wan Tong is about to come garrison Jinling, what do you plan to do?”

Everyone’s gaze fell on the man in the indigo Taoist robe.

So his courtesy name was “Zichuan”!

Zhou Shaojin looked at the man beside her.

She saw him still in that lazy manner, using his thumb to rub the rim of the purple clay cup as he smiled: “Me? What ideas could I have? I’m merely a merchant. Naturally, however he says it, I’ll do it.”

“Zichuan, is there any point in you saying this?” Zhu Pengju frowned with displeasure. “I came to ask your advice, yet you avoid the topic. Is this the proper stance a good friend should have?” Then he complained, “I’ve noticed you’ve become increasingly strange these years. You don’t marry, don’t take concubines, don’t frequent pleasure quarters or race horses and hunt with falcons. What exactly do you want to do?”

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but prick up her ears to listen.

“Me…” Zichuan smiled, his voice sounding somewhat casual. “What should I do? Just do what needs to be done. What do you all think I can do?”

Hearing this, Yuan Bieyun and Gu Jiunie exchanged a glance, then said seriously, “Zichuan, I heard from Shiming that on the ninth day, you burned the first incense stick at the Great Xiangguo Temple…”

Zhou Shaojin’s heart skipped a beat.

Buddhism cultivates the next life, Taoism cultivates this life. Few people have both fortune and status in this life, so most cultivate for the next life, and believers in Buddhism are many.

But before Yuan Bieyun could finish his words, Zichuan interrupted with a “pfft” laugh. He said teasingly, “Don’t you know? This year at Longhu Mountain, I also burned the first incense stick!”

Yuan Bieyun was speechless.

Gu Jiunie said, “How come everyone outside is saying you want to transfer the Cheng family’s salt certificates to Du Xingtong? Does Old Ze know about this?”

Cheng Xu’s courtesy name was “Chunze Jushi.” Outsiders often respectfully called him “Old Ze.”

“You already know—how could he not know?” Zichuan smiled, his tone carrying some mischief, but still said nothing more.

“Zichuan.” Yuan Bieyun couldn’t help but cover his forehead. “We’re all very worried about you. Otherwise I wouldn’t have rushed here from the capital. Although Old Ze has great influence, it’s not enough to make me personally make the trip. If you’re going to play tai chi even with us old friends, then consider us dogs chasing rats, meddling in others’ business. We’ll eat and drink well in Jinling City for a few days, then slap our butts and each go home.” By the end of his speech, his brows were furrowed in anger, his face red as crimson.

“So that’s why you all arrived together today?” Zichuan smiled. “It turns out you had planned this all along—you’re forcing me to take a stand! Fine! Tell me, what do you want me to do? I’ll obey completely!”

Gu Jiunie said nothing.

But Zhu Pengju suddenly stood up, his face cold: “Zichuan, friends are precious for mutual understanding. You know perfectly well we’re not making groundless accusations, yet you keep putting us off like this. I don’t have Brother Bieyun’s good temper. I can’t listen to this anymore. I’m leaving!”

Though his mouth said “leaving,” his feet didn’t lift up.

Zichuan leisurely changed his position and pointed to the purple clay pot on the stove, reminding Zhou Shaojin: “The water has boiled three times already.”

Zhou Shaojin hurriedly went to lift the pot but was burned by the handle. She recoiled instantly and frantically reached for a cloth.

“You…” Zhu Pengju’s face couldn’t hold on anymore. He lifted his leg to leave.

Yuan Bieyun stood up and grabbed Zhu Pengju, persuading: “Don’t you know Zichuan’s temperament? If he doesn’t want to talk, he won’t no matter what. As friends, we shouldn’t worry about these things. Sit down and drink tea!”

“According to what you’re saying, this is my fault then!” Zhu Pengju said coldly with a laugh, but sat down angrily.

Zichuan acted as if he hadn’t seen anything and slowly warmed the cups, saying, “I heard this tea grows in ghost caves and can cure epidemics. I don’t know if it’s true or not. But its fragrance is rich and lasting, and its taste is mellow, smooth, and sweet—that much is true. Try some!” He personally held the pot and poured a cup of tea.

Zhu Pengju didn’t take it.

Zichuan smiled and raised the cup in his hand.

Zhu Pengju turned his head away.

Zichuan’s smile gradually faded.

The atmosphere immediately became somewhat stagnant.

Yuan Bieyun’s brow twitched. Just as he stood up, a young Taoist acolyte came running over.

He bowed to Zichuan and presented a large red visiting card, saying, “Master, Regional Investigating Censor of Zhejiang Circuit, Lord Hong, requests an audience!”