After the Lantern Festival, the sixteen newly ranked graduates got busy.

Beyond the fixed items on the agenda — paying respects to the chief examiners and calling upon the Chief Minister — the graduates’ association also arranged banquets under all manner of names: the Grand Introduction, the Secondary Introduction, the Minor Introduction, the Celebration Banquet, the Cherry Banquet, the Moonlit Lantern Banquet, the Polo Banquet, the Peony Banquet, the Buddhist Relic Viewing, the Farewell Banquet, and so on. A small banquet every day, a grand banquet every three days. Even the foremost young rake of Yangdu found this pace of socializing difficult to sustain, and came home exhausted every night, collapsing into bed the moment he walked through the door.

This continued for over a month. The weather gradually warmed, and the flowers of the Eastern Capital began to bloom.

The graduates’ association focused all their energy on preparing for the centerpiece event: the Flower-Gathering Parade and Banquet, which served as the concluding celebration for each year’s graduating cohort. After this banquet, official appointments would be issued by the court and the new graduates would go their separate ways — hence it was also known as the “Farewell Banquet.”

The “flower-gathering” tradition here carried a different meaning from the one Lin Sui’an knew. It did not refer specifically to the third-place finisher. Instead, several of the young, handsome graduates were selected as “Flower Ambassadors” and sent to gather flowers from the most celebrated gardens throughout the Eastern Capital. On this day, all public and private gardens in the Eastern Capital opened their gates to the Flower Ambassadors, awaiting their arrival.

The gathered flowers would be arranged as decoration on specially designed flower carriages. The Flower Ambassadors, dressed in their finest, would then ride these carriages on a tour of the entire Eastern Capital. The whole city’s residents could watch the spectacle from the sides of the streets — a tradition beloved since ancient times.

The women of the Tang Kingdom were bold and passionate, and their ways of expressing admiration were equally direct. If a woman caught sight of a Flower Ambassador who caught her eye, it was common for her to throw flowers and fruits as a token of affection. Word had it that five years ago, an exceptionally handsome and popular Flower Ambassador had been so showered with fruits that he ended up with a bruised eye — quite undignified, as it turned out — and after that incident, regulations were introduced: no throwing of fresh fruits, only flowers.

On this day, the flower trade in the Eastern Capital was at its peak for the year. Jin Ruo had sourced his supply well in advance, setting out the moment the ward gates opened, announcing that today the Pure Sect intended to make another handsome profit.

The three-day night market at the Lantern Festival had revived the food stalls of the Pure Sect and brought in a tidy sum, greatly improving the living conditions of the Pure Sect’s members. From that point on, the Eastern Capital’s Pure Sect held Jin Ruo in complete respect and gave him their unqualified support.

The graduates’ association had announced the roster of Flower Ambassadors for this year’s cohort the previous day. It was no surprise to see Bai Ruyi and Hua Yitang on the list — but to find the two female graduates, Ning Rui and Wan Feiying, also prominently named was a genuine shock to Lin Sui’an.

“Female graduates are actually more popular than male ones,” said Mu Xia, commanding eight attendants to carry incense-burning censers in a circuit around Hua Yitang. “The women of the Eastern Capital in particular have an exceptional admiration for female graduates.” Mu Xia surveyed Hua Yitang’s attire with a level of critical scrutiny previously undeployed, and said with great seriousness: “Fourth Young Master — this concerns the honor of the Hua Family. You absolutely cannot allow your limelight to be stolen today.”

Hua Yitang stood with both arms raised, one foot slightly lifted, chin tilted up, eyes half-lidded, savoring the afternoon sunshine that lay warm and lustrous against his skin like finest jade. His expression suggested he was thoroughly enjoying himself. “I am, after all, the one and only Fourth Young Master of the Hua Family. When it comes to stealing the show, who could possibly do it better than me?”

Today his ensemble was truly in a class of its own — the new creation that the Hua Family’s personal designer had spent ten days and ten nights producing without rest: the “Glittering Splendor of Gold and Green” robe, the “Moon-Ripple Water-Mark” hairpin, the “Fragrant Dust Endlessly Unfurling” boots, the “Limitless Spring Color Before the Eyes” fan. Hanging from his sash were a pair of gold-and-silver-thread incense balls, complemented by the Hua Family perfumer’s newest creation — “Jade Terrace Immortal Traces, Precious Candlelight and Fragrance.”

Fangke, who happened to be passing through after just waking up, was assaulted by the scent and sneezed six times in a row. He stared in disbelief. “Are you not afraid of being stung by every bee within a five-li radius?”

Mu Xia: “This fragrance is especially formulated — it attracts butterflies while repelling bees entirely.”

Fangke rolled his eyes, accepted the tea broth Yita had just finished brewing, shuffled off in his shoes, and walked away. Yita ran after him asking whether he wanted to come watch the Flower Ambassador Parade, and was rejected with a look of undisguised distaste.

Hua Yitang stood with one hand on his hip, struck a dramatically affected pose, and spun slowly in a full circle. “Lin Sui’an — well?”

Lin Sui’an’s eyes were half-blinded by the glinting gold-and-silver embroidery on his robe. She waved a hand. “Excellent.”

Hua Yitang’s smug smile expanded further. The graduates’ association’s carriage procession was already at the gate, and he made a point of admonishing Mu Xia again and again to absolutely ensure a VIP viewing spot for Lin Sui’an. Then he swept out the door, his vast sleeves fanning out behind him like a peacock’s tail in full display.

Lin Sui’an sighed with relief.

Mu Xia presented the “Flower Ambassador Parade Route Map” drawn up by the graduates’ association, and used her finger to trace the route as she explained: “The thirty-seven most celebrated flower gardens in the Eastern Capital have been arranged in a route — Fourth Young Master has been allocated spots at Hundred Flowers Garden in Wenrou Ward, Ten Thousand Plum Garden in Xiuye Ward, and Clear Fragrance Courtyard in Guande Ward, all among the finest in the Eastern Capital. According to the planned route, after Fourth Young Master finishes gathering flowers, he will set out from the south bank of the Luoshui, proceed along the main thoroughfare to Changxia Gate, head north to Jiaqing Ward, all the way to the South Market, cross the Luoshui, enter Luonan City through Shanglin Ward, and then continue on to —”

“I won’t be joining the crowds for this one.” Lin Sui’an stood up, picked up Qian Jing, and headed for the door. “I’ve made an appointment.”

Yita: “Oh?”

Mu Xia’s route map slipped from her hands and fell to the floor.

The crowds attending the Flower Ambassador Parade were even larger than anticipated. The walk from Jingxing Ward, where Hua Family’s Sixty-Six Residence was located, to Fujiao Ward normally took only two quarters of an hour on foot — but the streets were packed, and the flower vendors’ carts and stalls clogged every alley and lane, making progress tortuously slow. Lin Sui’an was also moving against the flow of foot traffic, which was like rowing upstream. By the time she reached the Qinghua Teahouse in Fujiao Ward, she was already a quarter-hour late for their appointment.

She had reserved a private room on the second floor — quiet and secluded, ideal for a confidential conversation. When she pushed open the door, she found Ling Zhiyan already there, seated by the window in plain everyday clothes, a simple wooden hairpin his only ornament, a backrest behind him — and sitting perfectly upright despite it. He was looking at the sky outside.

After last night’s rain, the air was cool and clean, refreshing to breathe.

A pale yellow butterfly landed on the window, then flew away again.

Ling Zhiyan watched it go, and smiled faintly.

Lin Sui’an felt a quiet “oh” of admiration somewhere inside her. She lifted her hem and took the seat across from Ling Zhiyan, clasping her fists. “My apologies for being late.”

“Think nothing of it.” Ling Zhiyan picked up the tea ladle and scooped a cup of steaming liquid for Lin Sui’an. She noticed that what was simmering in the tea vessel was not tea at all — only clear water.

“The annual Flower Ambassador Parade — ten thousand people leaving their homes to watch — is one of the Eastern Capital’s great sights. Lin Niangzi does not go to join the spectacle, but instead makes an appointment to meet Ling at this out-of-the-way teahouse. Ling is truly honored beyond expectation.”

“With just Hua Yitang alone, there are more than enough people in the spectacle already.” Lin Sui’an smiled. “I am not, in truth, very fond of crowds.” She drew out the Shadow Censor credential from her robe, set it quietly on the table, and dropped her voice. “Today, Lin has come specifically to seek guidance from a senior.”

Ling Zhiyan nodded. “Ling will hold nothing back.”

Lin Sui’an: “Does the Shadow Censor have an official rank?”

Ling Zhiyan: “None.”

“Can one be promoted?”

“One cannot.”

“Is there punishment for poor performance?”

“There is.”

“What punishment?”

“Depending on the Holy Sovereign’s mood.”

“Rewards for good performance?”

“There are.”

“What kind of rewards?”

“Depending on the Holy Sovereign’s mood.”

“How is performance assessed?”

“…Depending on the Holy Sovereign’s mood.”

Lin Sui’an’s face twitched in a way she could not quite control.

So this position didn’t even have clearly defined job responsibilities?

Ling Zhiyan gave a dry cough. “For the case of the Feng Family’s Literary Gate, the Holy Sovereign rewarded Ling with two hundred thousand strings of cash.”

Lin Sui’an’s eyes lit up at once. “Can travel costs and other expenses be reimbursed from an official account?”

“They cannot.”

So the implication was: if the work satisfied the Holy Sovereign, one might make a substantial sum; if the Holy Sovereign was displeased, one might toil away and earn not a single coin — and might even end up out of pocket?

And being out of pocket was the optimistic scenario. Judging by the level of danger in the Feng Family Literary Gate case, a less fortunate outcome might involve losing one’s life.

This was truly a high-risk, high-reward profession of the most hazardous kind.

“The Holy Sovereign mentioned that if there is a task, a specific person will contact me. Who is that person?”

Ling Zhiyan smiled. “That would be me.”

He produced a bamboo tube from within his robe, broke open the wax seal, and extracted the scroll inside. On it were only four characters:

【Qingzhou — Cheng County】

At the very bottom was a small red seal bearing two characters: “Langlang.”

Lin Sui’an: “…May I ask, Ling Court Inspector — this Langlang refers to —”

Ling Zhiyan covered his mouth with his fist and coughed once. “When the Holy Sovereign was Crown Princess, she had taken for herself a style name: Langlang Hermit. This seal is the Holy Sovereign’s private seal. Only the Shadow Censors personally selected by the Holy Sovereign know of it, and it is exceptionally difficult to counterfeit.”

Lin Sui’an: “…”

Of course no one would bother counterfeiting it — who could possibly imagine that the sovereign of an entire nation had given herself such an absurd style name?

“So my task this time is to go to Qingzhou’s Cheng County and investigate —” Lin Sui’an asked, “what kind of case?”

Ling Zhiyan’s expression turned grave. “Strange phenomena occurring with increasing frequency. Sinister forces stirring. The court sent three separate groups to investigate. All died without exception.”

Oh ho! The reward for this one was certainly going to be substantial.

Lin Sui’an scratched her forehead. “Can the identity of a Shadow Censor be disclosed to other people?”

Ling Zhiyan smiled. “If it is Fourth Young Master Hua — that should be fine.”

“What?”

“The Holy Sovereign had originally intended for Fourth Young Master Hua to serve as a Shadow Censor. But after meeting both Fourth Young Master and Lin Niangzi in person, she changed her mind.” Ling Zhiyan mimicked the Female Emperor’s tone: “Hua Family’s Fourth Young Master is too conspicuous and eye-catching — far less steady than Lin Niangzi. Better to have these two work together — one visible, one hidden. The effect will be unexpected and decisive.”

“If Ling’s assessment is correct, the post the Ministry of Personnel has assigned to Fourth Young Master should also be in Qingzhou.”

Well. The Holy Sovereign had been running calculations from half a city away, and Lin Sui’an could hear the beads on the abacus from here.

Ling Zhiyan used tongs to pick up the letter, pushed it into the warming stove, and burned it to ash. He scooped Lin Sui’an another cup of plain water and said: “Qingzhou is remote, and Cheng County is in a particularly wild and desolate location. Lin Niangzi and Fourth Young Master — please take good care of yourselves.” He raised the cup of plain water in his own hand. “If there is ever anything that Ling can help with, I will give everything I have.”

“Rest assured — I will absolutely not be polite about asking.” Lin Sui’an smiled and drank her plain water in one go.

The wind moved through Ling Zhiyan’s clothes, which were all in neat, narrow-cuffed styles — without the sweeping, flowing quality of Hua Yitang’s wide sleeves. All it produced was a faint rustling of fabric against cloth.

His hand stilled slightly. His eyelashes lowered. His lips parted, as though he intended to say something — and then did not. His mouth rested against the rim of the cup as he slowly finished that cup of plain water.

His expression did not change, yet Lin Sui’an suddenly felt, from somewhere unspecifiable, that he seemed somehow sorrowful.

Abruptly, the sound of thunderous shrieking and calling erupted from the street corner outside. A name came crashing into the quiet teahouse like an enormous, gleaming, golden pot being hurled through the air — and the water in the tea vessel rippled in little concentric rings.

“Fourth Young Master! Fourth Young Master! Hua Family’s Fourth Young Master!”

“Fourth Young Master, turn around and look at me!”

“Ahhhh, Fourth Young Master, you’re so beautiful! Fourth Young Master — I adore you!”

“Fourth Young Master — catch my flowers!”

“Fourth Young Master, marry me!”

Lin Sui’an and Ling Zhiyan stared in bewilderment out the window below. A great swarm of people was sweeping past like a tidal wave, and from the torrent there flew entire bouquets of flowers, loose petals, women’s gauze shawls, tasseled pouches, and embroidered handkerchiefs — a storm of flying objects pelting the front of the procession.

At the very front of the procession, a figure in an extraordinarily magnificent brocade robe, his hair covered in flower petals, was lifting the hem of his robes in both hands and running for his life. His two enormous sleeves billowed out like a pair of windsocks — yet Hua Yitang’s speed was remarkable, even in such an unwieldy outfit, pulling ahead of the crowd chasing him by a full, sizable distance.

Ling Zhiyan: “This is not, in fact, the Flower Ambassador Parade route… is it?”

Lin Sui’an pressed a hand to her forehead. What is this clown up to now?

As though drawn by some uncanny resonance, Hua Yitang looked up, spotted them, and lit up instantly. He bounded and leaped, shouting, “Lin Sui’an! Ling Sixth Young Master! Come rescue me!”

Lin Sui’an, resigned, picked up Qian Jing, stepped out through the window, and dropped down. Spinning as she landed, she looped one arm around Hua Yitang’s waist and with a single heave, sprang upward. Left foot on the ground, launching high — right foot off the wall for a second boost — one more burst of momentum — both feet in the air, pushing off nothing but the wind itself. A soaring leap, and she landed them both on the roof of the inn across the way.

“What are you doing?” Lin Sui’an asked with undisguised exasperation. “Weren’t you riding the flower carriages through the city? Where’s your carriage?”

Hua Yitang fanned himself at top speed with his little fan. “The young women of the Eastern Capital are terrifying. The flower carriage could not move at all. I escaped just in time — otherwise I would have ended up like Bai Ruyi.”

“…What happened to Bai Ruyi?”

Hua Yitang went abruptly silent, eyes sliding away with visible unease. “Nothing to speak of, really — the Bai Family of Longxi is surely broad-minded, they won’t take it to heart — at worst, he can consider it a dog bite and not dwell on it.”

Lin Sui’an seized Hua Yitang by the wrist. “Where is Bai Ruyi?”

Was there still time to watch — to go rescue him?

“When I made my escape I could see the Capital Prefecture had already arrived —” Hua Yitang’s eyes shifted back, narrowing with suspicion. “You and Ling Sixth Young Master —”

Without warning, a dark shape came flying at them. Lin Sui’an’s reflexes kicked in and she drew her blade and cut — with a thud, the shape burst apart: five-colored petals rained down like a shower in the breeze. It had been a bouquet of flowers.

The crowd in the street had grown even larger. Beyond the young women clutching armfuls of flowers, there were now also a good number of young men clutching scrolls of poetry.

“I can see them — Hua Fourth Young Master is over there!”

“Ahh, Hua Fourth Young Master on the rooftop is even more beautiful!”

“The green blade — that’s Qian Jing! That young lady is Lin Sui’an!”

“I knew it — follow Hua Yitang, and you’ll always find Lin Niangzi!”

“Lin Niangzi is so dashing!”

“Lin Niangzi — I’ve written a poem for you — please read it!”

“This humble student has composed a rhapsody in Lin Niangzi’s honor, and would like to read it aloud to her now!”

“We’ll never be heard from down here — let’s go inside the inn and climb to the roof!”

“Yes — to the roof!”

The surging crowd had the inn surrounded on all sides without a gap. More people were pressing into the building — and by the looks of it, they were about to come up the stairs. Lin Sui’an blanched. The inn was a standalone structure, separated from the neighboring buildings by a gap of several zhang on all sides, and she now had an oversized, elaborately dressed liability to transport as well. Even with all her skill, she couldn’t just ignore gravity and fly — and surveying her surroundings, the best escape route was back down to the street — which was currently filled wall to wall with people. Going down there would be walking straight into the trap.

While the two of them were frantically racking their brains, laughter came from the other direction.

Ling Zhiyan was leaning on his arms across the second-floor window of the teahouse across the street, watching them with gleeful schadenfreude.

Hua Yitang was suddenly illuminated. He pointed straight at Ling Zhiyan and called out at the top of his voice: “Oh! Is that not the celebrated Flower Ambassador of five years past — the renowned Sixth Young Master of the Ling Family?! Still as fair-complexioned and refined as ever, I see — a figure of absolute grace and distinction! And if I’ve heard correctly, Sixth Young Master Ling has still not taken a wife — surely returning to the Flower Ambassador Parade today, he must be hoping to find a fated companion!”

A masterstroke of redirecting the flood!

Lin Sui’an watched with her own eyes as fully half the crowd swung toward Ling Zhiyan and poured into the teahouse. Ling Zhiyan’s expression underwent a dramatic change. He shouted something at Hua Yitang — it sounded distinctly like “drop dead!” — then vaulted out the window, up onto the roof, and took off at a run. Lin Sui’an seized the moment, grabbed Hua Yitang, and the two of them leaped back down to the street. While the crowd was still recovering from the confusion, they ran flat-out and made their escape.

The chaotic Flower Ambassador Parade finally drew to a close.

Fortunately the Capital Prefecture and the Jinwu Guards had arrived in time, and the day passed without any crowd disasters — though Lin Sui’an and Hua Yitang had come very close to running their lungs out through their feet.

They dragged their exhausted limbs home to the Hua residence, too spent even for conversation. They ate a hasty supper, and went to bed before the sky had even fully darkened.

They slept for three full hours.

When Lin Sui’an woke, the first quarter of midnight had just passed. The house and its surroundings were utterly still.

She rolled over, closed her eyes, and lay there for a long time. Then she opened them again.

Wonderful. Her mind was wide awake.

After cycling through the “flip-flopping like a flatbread” sleeping position, the “qi sunk to the core energy center, playing dead” sleeping position, and the “rolled up in the blanket, curled into a silkworm cocoon” sleeping position, all to no avail, Lin Sui’an had no choice but to reluctantly acknowledge that she was suffering from insomnia.

Going to bed too early really did have its consequences.

Lin Sui’an got dressed. She thought for a moment, then left Qian Jing behind and made her way at a leisurely pace out of the Emerald Smoke Garden, following the softly glowing stone-lantern path up onto Lotus Bridge.

And there — as unexpectedly expected — she found Hua Yitang.

Hua Yitang had changed into a fresh white robe. He was leaning against the bridge railing, eyes closed. The moonlight pooled on his thick, dark lashes — crystalline, as though it might drip down at any moment.

Lin Sui’an walked over and leaned against the railing beside him.

If her memory served, this was the third time they had come here to bask in the moonlight together.

Hua Yitang: “Can’t sleep?”

Lin Sui’an: “Woke up too early.”

“Something on your mind?”

“…There is something I haven’t known how to bring up with you.”

Hua Yitang opened his eyes, looking out at the wide, dark sky. “Is this about you becoming a Shadow Censor?”

Lin Sui’an was startled. “How did you know?”

“That day when the Holy Sovereign invited you to Yingtian Tower, I had a faint inkling. Then afterward, you were perpetually sighing and fretting — and today you met with Ling Sixth Young Master in a very secretive way. I confirmed it then. As for the reason you went to Ling Sixth Young Master rather than to me —” Hua Yitang let out a breath — “a wooden-headed man like him, what ideas could he possibly have? It must be because he knows something I do not.” He paused. “Ling Sixth Young Master’s dark iron tablet is also a Shadow Censor credential, isn’t it.”

Lin Sui’an stared at Hua Yitang with wide, astonished eyes.

Hua Yitang turned his head. “What — struck again by the sheer brilliance of my deductions?”

Lin Sui’an narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t follow me, did you?”

Hua Yitang startled as though someone had grabbed his tail and shot back, “I — I absolutely did not! I was at the wine pavilion Mu Xia had reserved during the parade and didn’t see you there — and then I thought about it — you were dressed to go out today, so you’d definitely made an appointment with someone, and since you don’t like crowds, you were obviously going to meet them somewhere away from the parade route. Ling Sixth Young Master lives in Fujiao Ward, and Fujiao Ward is not on the parade route, so — so —”

“So you came charging over in a panic?”

“I — I was not panicking! I was startled by those women and ran the wrong way!”

“Ha!”

Hua Yitang puffed out his cheeks and said nothing.

Lin Sui’an swallowed her laughter. From her robe she drew out the Shadow Censor credential and held it up before Hua Yitang. “Here — the legendary Shadow Censor credential. Take a look.”

Hua Yitang’s gaze traveled across the dark iron credential scattered with something like starlight, and his expression grew solemn. “Shadow Censors — born under the stars, moving through the shadows, their true faces unknown to any. Wherever they go, it is as if the Holy Sovereign herself is present. The most mysterious force in the Tang Kingdom. I never would have thought…”

Lin Sui’an: “Never would have thought it would be someone like me — and someone like Ling Court Inspector.”

Hua Yitang rolled his eyes. “Completely demystified.”

“Ling Court Inspector told me that the Holy Sovereign had originally intended for you to be a Shadow Censor.” Lin Sui’an said. “And yet in the end, she gave the post to me. Don’t you feel it’s a pity?”

“Whether it goes to you or to me — what’s the difference?” Hua Yitang glanced at her sideways. “Lin Sui’an — don’t forget. You and I are partners, through life and death, inseparable.”

“As it happens, the Holy Sovereign thinks the same.”

“What?”

“The Holy Sovereign’s first assignment for me is to go to Cheng County, Qingzhou.”

“A big case?”

“Nine chances in ten.”

Hua Yitang frowned, reached for his fan — and found he hadn’t brought it. He made do by fanning himself with his hand a couple of times, then raised an eyebrow with a smile. “It sounds as though I’ll at minimum be appointed Qingzhou Prefect.”

Lin Sui’an gave a thoughtful “oh?” “What rank is a Prefect?”

“Qingzhou is a lower prefecture. The Prefect is of the upper fourth rank.” Hua Yitang said with satisfaction, “Just barely up to the standard befitting Hua Family’s Fourth Young Master.”

Three days later.

Hua Yitang received his official appointment certificate from the Ministry of Personnel — the formal document confirming his posting.

Lin Sui’an glanced at it briefly. The classical language was beyond her, but two terms stood out clearly enough.

【Qingzhou — Cheng County — County Lieutenant】

“What rank is the County Lieutenant of Cheng County?” Lin Sui’an asked.

Mu Xia blinked. “Cheng County is a lower county… it should be the lower grade of the ninth rank…”

Jin Ruo and Fangke both made the same sound at the same moment — a slow, satisfied click of the tongue. Yita called out in a small voice, “Fourth Young Master, impressive!”

Lin Sui’an drew out a long, contemplative “oh,” then smiled. “Just barely up to the standard befitting Hua Yitang.”

Hua Yitang’s face turned green.

New story arc beginning! Any guesses as to what kind of case it will be this time?