Above were densely packed ink marks—an urgent report transmitted from the border—yet at the end was affixed a vermilion imperial rescript in cinnabar!

The moment she finished reading through it, a boundless sense of absurdity engulfed her.

Jiang Xuening could hardly believe the few characters she saw at the end. Tears in her eyes mixed with hatred and unwillingness, suddenly streaming down and staining those already dried ink marks.

Wei Liang came down from upstairs, neither knowing the identity of the visitor nor understanding what relationship Jiang Xuening had with the person just now. However, that single address of “Teacher” heard in his ears was truly somewhat extraordinary.

When had he ever seen a young lady weep?

At this moment, he was utterly at a loss.

Yet Jiang Xuening’s fingers gripping that page of paper slowly tightened. She only said to Wei Liang: “Let’s go back.”

If he had heard this sentence moments ago, he would surely have been overjoyed.

After all, this meant he could secretly slip away.

However, at this moment, though Wei Liang agreed, he didn’t dare run off. He was worried that given her state, something might happen.

Jiang Xuening stood in place for a while, put away this page of letter paper, then summoned the people she had brought out with her. Leaving word for You Fangying who hadn’t yet finished the discussions in Qingyuan Garden, she returned first to Xiebai Residence.

You Fangying knew she had planned to meet Lu Xian today.

As soon as the discussions at Qingyuan Garden concluded, she came to Guanlan Teahouse but didn’t see anyone. After receiving the message, she hurriedly returned to Xiebai Residence, only to find Jiang Xuening had dismissed everyone and sat alone in the water pavilion staring blankly at the fishing rod propped on the railing.

Intuition told her that something she didn’t know about seemed to have occurred.

She hesitated for a moment before walking forward.

Already softening her voice, as if afraid of disturbing her, she only asked: “Miss guessed correctly. Though Lu Xian hasn’t been in Jinling these past days, the moment the government distributed salt monopoly rights, he immediately appeared at Qingyuan Garden, travel-worn. The discussions just concluded and he left. Did you not see him?”

Jiang Xuening turned to look at her, slowly saying: “No need to meet him.”

You Fangying froze.

Yet Jiang Xuening asked: “How did the matter of the salt monopoly rights go?”

You Fangying said: “Originally we had prepared a large sum of silver, but during the discussions at Qingyuan Garden, officials of the Two Huai Salt Distribution Commission said that since we came from Shu, we shouldn’t meddle in Jiangnan salt affairs. They didn’t even give us a chance to bid. Strangely enough, though Lu Xian went, he only joined in the excitement without bidding high prices for many salt monopoly rights.”

Jiang Xuening was not surprised.

That sentence Xie Wei had spoken below Guanlan Teahouse repeatedly echoed in her mind. Layer upon layer overlapping, like pulling silk from a cocoon, it slowly wove in her heart a near-mad speculation!

At this juncture, the political situation in the capital court teetered on the edge of turbulent change. The conflict between Celestial Teachings and Buddhism grew ever more intense. For Xie Wei to come to Jiangnan was one thing, but to also say that in three days he would go to the border…

If it were anyone else, Jiang Xuening wouldn’t dare even think it.

After all, what a terrifying speculation that was!

Yet it happened that the person saying these words was Xie Wei.

A wooden box with a lock clasp sat on the table beside her.

That page of paper also lay by the box’s edge.

Jiang Xuening turned her head, opened the lock clasp, and slowly pushed open the wooden box. Inside were neither bright pearls nor treasures, only a handful of aged, old yellow earth.

You Fangying suddenly realized something.

Yet Jiang Xuening smiled at her as if to comfort her, saying: “I must also trouble Fangying to tally up early the silver funds and properties we can mobilize. I fear if we plan too late, we won’t have time.”

You Fangying was silent for a long while before saying: “Yes.”

Jiang Xuening then held the box, collected that page of paper, and returned to her own room.

Though she had originally arranged to meet Lu Xian but didn’t go, Lu Xian also didn’t send anyone again to inquire.

On the afternoon of the third day, after You Fangying worked through the night to finish tallying numerous complex accounts, Jiang Xuening boarded a carriage and headed out toward the guest house where Lu Xian was staying, which had been investigated earlier.

The location could be considered tranquil within the bustle, in a small alley by the Qinhuai River.

When the carriage reached the alley entrance, she lifted the carriage curtain and saw sitting at the alley mouth a charcoal seller who looked like one of the group she had seen below the building that day.

The other person’s aura was restrained, his eyes bright with spirit.

Though he saw her at a glance, he showed no reaction, lowering his head and continuing his hawking calls.

Jiang Xuening knew she had come to the right place.

She descended from the carriage and walked into the alley.

After an autumn rain last night, the weather had turned cool. From within the courtyard walls along the alley came faint drifts of osmanthus fragrance, yet it was very quiet. At the end was a secluded courtyard with people guarding the entrance. When Jiang Xuening stopped her steps, she encountered an unexpected old acquaintance here.

She was a woman of tranquil and detached disposition.

Wearing a light blue pleated skirt with no superfluous ornaments, only two crescent-shaped white jade earrings hanging from her earlobes, with a jade belt at her waist, she had somewhat the bearing of a pine or cypress.

At this moment, holding a volume of poetry in her hands, she stood below the steps.

Jiang Xuening had seen her over these past two years.

The young lady from that minister’s household who had nearly become a companion reader at Yangzhi Studio—Fan Yilan.

When she first left the capital for Shu, Fan Yilan happened to be there as well, and they became nodding acquaintances. Her temperament was also detached. Though a woman, she had quite the manner of a lofty scholar. Jiang Xuening had rather favorable feelings toward her.

During that period in Shu, the two had traveled together to view mountains and waters.

Later, when Fan Yilan left Shu, they lost contact.

Unexpectedly, they now met here.

She walked over and heard Fan Yilan saying to the person at the entrance: “This student Fan Yilan once received a word of teaching from Teacher Xie. The grace of one day—having coincidentally heard the teacher is in Jinling, I’ve come specially to pay respects.”

The person at the entrance seemed to recognize her, only saying: “You’ve already come three times.”

Fan Yilan seemed somewhat embarrassed: “I trouble you to announce me.”

Only then did the person at the entrance say: “Then please wait a moment. I’ll go see.”

Fan Yilan thanked him. Without any impatience, she simply watched that person leave while standing in place waiting.

Her appearance was not particularly eye-catching, but her bearing of pure distance and detachment made one envious.

When Jiang Xuening drew near, she could see clearly that what she held was a poetry collection.

That’s right.

Back then, Fan Yilan possessed outstanding poetic talent and had originally been competing for selection as a companion reader at Yangzhi Studio. Who would have thought that with Xie Wei’s single sentence “There are no good poems in the imperial palace,” he easily eliminated her, yet seemed to have awakened her, fulfilling her current reputation as a talented woman praised by all scholars.

Fan Yilan had originally been somewhat apprehensive. When Jiang Xuening was in the distance, she spoke with the person at the entrance without noticing.

Only when someone drew near did she discover it.

Surprised, upon focusing her gaze, she immediately smiled: “Miss Jiang, why are you also here?”

Jiang Xuening avoided mentioning her own purpose for coming. After briefly performing a courtesy, she said: “Miss Fan, this is…?”

Fan Yilan didn’t think much of it, only saying: “I arrived in Jinling the day before yesterday. On the road, I saw Teacher Xie and thought I’d seen wrongly. After making inquiries, I learned it was true. I once received the grace of the teacher’s guidance and dare not forget it. So I collected several of my crude works from recent years to call upon the teacher—first to express gratitude for his kindness, second to request the teacher’s slight guidance. However, the first two times I came, they said the teacher was resting. I dared not disturb him, so today I’ve come once more.”

Jiang Xuening didn’t respond.

Fan Yilan found it puzzling when she brought it up: “Strange to say, the day before yesterday I came in the afternoon. After learning the teacher was resting, yesterday I specially chose to come in the morning, and they also said the teacher was resting…”

The day before yesterday to yesterday.

Jiang Xuening’s heart felt like an overturned five-flavor bottle. Not knowing exactly what emotion prompted her to respond to Fan Yilan’s remark, she only slowly smiled and said: “Perhaps having just arrived in Jinling after the exhaustion of such a long journey, he was too tired.”

Just arrived in Jinling?

Fan Yilan looked at her with slight surprise.

Only at this moment did she suddenly realize that Jiang Xuening had only asked what she came to do but hadn’t mentioned why she herself had come.

She wanted to ask further.

At this time, Jianshu, dressed in dark green fitted clothing, came out from inside. Originally intending to go out on business while conveniently dismissing Fan Yilan, he stepped out the door saying: “Miss Fan, the teacher is still resting. Please come again another day.”

As soon as these words fell, he saw Jiang Xuening standing beside Fan Yilan.

Fan Yilan’s face immediately showed disappointment.

A trace of regret passed through her eyes as she bowed slightly, saying: “Since that’s the case, I’ll come to pay respects another day.”

Yet Jianshu’s gaze fell upon Jiang Xuening: “Miss Ning…”

Jiang Xuening had already heard what he said to Fan Yilan moments ago, so she said: “Then I’ll come again tomorrow.”

That wasn’t what Jianshu meant.

After all, he had witnessed his teacher’s state two years ago and knew how special Jiang Xuening was.

He hurriedly said: “No, please wait a moment.”

Jiang Xuening was startled.

Fan Yilan also looked toward her.

However, Jianshu hadn’t had time to explain anything. He turned and returned to the guest house, then came out again very quickly. His steps seemed somewhat hurried, and when he returned to the entrance, he was slightly out of breath, only saying: “The teacher has just risen. Please enter.”

Fan Yilan: “…”

These words were not spoken to her—she could easily judge that.

Jiang Xuening also remained silent for a moment before taking steps past Fan Yilan, ascending the stairs, and going inside the guest house.

Jianshu then bowed slightly to Fan Yilan before returning to the guest house, walking ahead to guide Jiang Xuening.

Only Fan Yilan was left in the original spot.

Standing outside the guest house entrance, she seemed lost in thought. A slight bitterness surfaced in her heart, but a moment later, she dismissed it with a smile. The volume of carefully compiled poetry she had brought, like a petal of light cloud, was loosely and readily tossed aside by her hand—a release.

Xie Wei was awakened by Jianshu.

Outside the window, the thin twilight was hazy, yet warmer than the northern lands. Moist water vapor floated in the empty air. Upon sitting up, dazed for a moment, he knew this was not the capital’s climate.

In the plum vase was inserted a branch of red osmanthus.

This sleep seemed to have lasted quite long.

The congee in the small kitchen had already been cooked and replaced, replaced and cooked again.

After hearing Jianshu’s words, he donned his clothes and rose.

Daoqin immediately brought up the prepared hot congee, placing it on the table surface and arranging several small dishes of side vegetables, not daring to include anything greasy or meaty. This was because on the journey to Jinling, Xie Wei truly hadn’t eaten anything substantial. First, they feared he couldn’t eat oily foods; second, they feared harming his stomach and intestines. Only this bit of plain congee and simple vegetables was relatively safe.

He was also weary of speaking and sat down to drink the congee.

Not long after, Jianshu brought Jiang Xuening in. Xie Wei’s face was pale. Having drunk less than half a bowl of congee without lifting his eyelids once, he said: “Come in.”

Whether in his facial expression or his tone of speech, both were no different from when he had been her teacher in the capital years ago.

As if that confrontation within Bishao Hall had never occurred.

Jiang Xuening entered, properly and respectfully performing the courtesy due to a teacher, saying: “I pay my respects to Teacher.”

Hearing this, he showed no particular reaction. One hand holding the white porcelain spoon, stirring the congee bowl before him, watching the bit of white steam rising, he didn’t ask at all how she had considered things. Instead, he asked: “Have you eaten?”