Inside the room was a black-robed man, nine chi two in height, powerfully built, gripping a counterfeit Qian Jing tightly in his hand. His left foot bore an old injury — this was clearly the man identified as “Killer B” who had gone to the Tie Family Medical Hall to commit murder. For unknown reasons, he remained unconscious throughout, seemingly poisoned by something. The yamen runners quickly carried this person off to the Prefect’s residence to be examined and treated by a physician.

Fangke conducted an autopsy on the deceased man identified as “Killer A” and reached the following conclusion: the direct cause of death was rupture of a cardiac blood vessel, resulting in massive internal hemorrhage. Upon opening the body, the entire chest cavity was found to be flooded with blood.

“In essence, this individual’s blood flow suddenly accelerated to a degree that struck a major blood vessel on the exterior of the heart. This vessel has two sharp turns — picture turbulent river water battering the bends of a rapid waterway. The waterway could not bear the force, and the inner bank collapsed in small fractures.”

Fangke demonstrated with gestures as he explained: “This blood vessel is unusual in that it has many layers — the inner layers are relatively fragile, while the outer layers are far more resilient. When the blood breaches the inner layer but cannot break through the outer layer, it accumulates between the vessel walls. At this point, the vessel resembles a water bladder: the rupture in the inner layer is the mouth of the bladder, and blood enters through it into the space between layers, building up continuously. The bladder wall is stretched thinner and thinner, and finally—” He snapped his fingers. “Bang!”

Everyone jumped in fright.

Fangke’s lips stretched into a deeply unsettling smile. “The vessel tears apart. Blood sprays out. Instantaneous death.”

Jin Ruo wiped the sweat from his brow. “Absolutely terrifying.”

Prefect Che said: “Why would this person’s blood flow suddenly accelerate?”

Fangke said: “His last molar was hollow, and a drug was hidden inside — most likely a powerful stimulant. Once ingested, it stimulates the dilation of blood vessels and accelerates the heartbeat, sending the user into a state of extreme mental excitation while dramatically boosting both strength and speed for a short period.”

Fangke glanced at Lin Sui’an. “Very similar to Hao Liu’s condition — only the drug this individual took acted faster and with greater effect.”

In other words, the drugs they had consumed likely belonged to the same category of stimulants, and behind it there was very possibly an organization capable of producing these substances at scale.

Well, well.

Lin Sui’an rubbed her temples.

She was not sure whether it was because the Finger of Gold had activated too quickly this time without enough psychological buffer, or because the visions it produced were too fantastical and had struck her brain cells with full force — but ever since she had glimpsed the black-robed killer’s memories, her head had been throbbing in a rhythmic ache, as though a tiny figure inside her skull was gripping the nerves in her scalp and skipping rope with them.

Hua Yitang glanced over, moved closer, and the scent of the fragrance sachet eased Lin Sui’an somewhat.

Zhao Zhengzhi pushed open the door and entered the room where the body was kept, murmuring a few words in Prefect Che’s ear. Prefect Che’s expression turned slightly grave. He clasped his fists toward Fangke and said, “Berkebü and the unconscious man are in a somewhat strange condition as well — might Doctor Fang accompany us to take a look?”

Fangke was naturally willing. He picked up his large wooden case and followed Prefect Che out.

Yita and Jin Ruo scrambled after them eagerly to watch, and Hua Yitang fell back a few steps, grabbed Lin Sui’an by the arm, and walked briskly to a quiet spot. From his sleeve he produced a fragrant ointment, tipped a small amount onto a silk cloth, and gently dabbed it on Lin Sui’an’s temples. He then warmed his fingers by rubbing them together and, through the cloth, began to massage her temples. In a low voice he asked, “What did you see? Why does your color look so poor?”

It had to be said, Hua Yitang’s massage technique was genuinely skilled, and the ointment was of the finest quality. Lin Sui’an’s headache had already eased considerably. “You certainly won’t believe me if I tell you — I actually saw a dragon.”

Hua Yitang’s fingers paused. “Hm?”

“Though it may not be reliable. The visions I see are generally filtered through the deceased’s memories — like those victims in Yangdu City, where everything I saw was the scene of their opium haze, as though veiled in white mist. This time’s deceased also consumed drugs before death. Perhaps the drug’s effect distorted the memory, or perhaps—” Lin Sui’an pointed to her forehead, gesturing for Hua Yitang to knead that spot as well. “That memory was nothing but a hallucination.”

Hua Yitang nodded thoughtfully, scooped out a bit more ointment, dabbed it lightly on Lin Sui’an’s forehead, and pressed his palm over the cloth to massage it. “I believe these two have ties to the killers on the Yunshui River.”

“They likely have a deep connection to the Pure Gate as well.” Hua Yitang’s palm was genuinely warm and soothing. Lin Sui’an could not help but breathe out a long, slow exhale.

Hua Yitang suddenly went rigid. He stiffly withdrew his hand, shifted two full steps to the side, handed over a clean cloth, and cleared his throat in a stiff, awkward manner. “Done — done. All d-done.”

“Thanks.” Lin Sui’an wiped the excess ointment from her forehead, caught the sight of Hua Yitang’s blazing red ears, and suppressed a laugh.

Every time she let out a breath near him, he blushed. It was genuinely amusing.

Berkebü and the black-robed man were both accommodated in rooms in the north courtyard. After Fangke and an elderly physician brought in by Prefect Che jointly examined both men, they concluded that both had been administered the same drug.

“Berkebü has sustained damage to his heart vessels and suffered severe external injuries as well. Whether he will regain consciousness is in heaven’s hands,” Fangke said. “As for the black-robed man, his body contains the same drug, but taken in small doses over a prolonged period. The drug’s nature has soaked into his five organs and six viscera and penetrated his brain, causing the unconscious state. I venture boldly to speculate that even if this person wakes, his consciousness will be in disarray — nine times out of ten, he will be a madman.”

The elderly physician said: “I feel that this drug’s properties are somewhat familiar to me.”

Prefect Che said: “Have you encountered it before?”

The elderly physician shook his head. “There are similarities, but it is not entirely the same. I once treated several patients who accidentally consumed a poisonous fruit while gathering firewood — their symptoms were quite similar to this person’s. Rapid heartbeat, fever, and—”

The elderly physician pried open the black-robed man’s eyelids. “—the whites of the eyes turned cyan-blue.”

Fangke said: “To think such a toxic plant existed — I had never heard of it.”

The elderly physician said: “That is quite understandable. All of you have come from the Eastern Capital. This toxic plant is unique to Qingzhou — it thrives in heat, favors shade and darkness, and grows mostly along the edges of damp marshes and wetlands. Its stem is long and slender, like a dragon’s body; its leaves typically grow in clusters of three, short and thick, like dragon claws; its fruit grows at the very top, blue-black in color, crystalline and gleaming like precious gems, like a dragon’s eye. Seen at a glance, the entire plant resembles a serpentine dragon from a painting. Hence its name: the Longshen Fruit.”

Hua Yitang shot a rapid glance at Lin Sui’an. Lin Sui’an was startled. Could the image from the Finger of Gold actually have been this plant?

“The Longshen Fruit… Longshen…” Marshal Ren’s expression shifted slightly. “Could it be that the place where Longshen Fruit grows most abundantly is—”

The elderly physician sighed. “That’s correct. Although the Longshen Fruit can be found throughout the counties of Qingzhou, the only place truly suited for its growth is that particular location.”

Marshal Ren and Prefect Che exchanged a glance, each hesitating to speak.

Hua Yitang said: “Prefect Che, please speak plainly.”

Prefect Che hesitated for a moment, then glanced again at Marshal Ren, who gave a solemn nod.

“To be frank with you: there is a county in Qingzhou that has harbored a legend since ancient times of the Longshen descending,” said Prefect Che. “Over the past year, this legend has grown increasingly fervent. Every resident of the county reveres the Longshen without exception — to the point of near fanaticism. And the Longshen Fruit is precisely that county’s specialty.”

Jin Ruo said: “Hey, hey, hey — I have a very bad feeling about this.”

Yita said: “Me — also.”

Hua Yitang raised an eyebrow. “Could the place Prefect Che is referring to be—”

“Qingzhou. Cheng County.”

They had been in Guangdu City for barely a day and a night, yet they had cracked the case of Bai Rong’s framing, won the Nanxiang Gambling House outright, seized a massive haul of smuggled goods, dismantled a human trafficking ring, and obtained a lead on the “Longshen Fruit” of Qingzhou’s Cheng County. The operational efficiency was so high that even Lin Sui’an was astonished. Once the case was wrapped up, the whole group finally relaxed, and only then did they realize how utterly exhausted they were. They rode back to the Hua Family’s Eighty-Eight-Room Residence and went their separate ways to their rooms, burying themselves under blankets and sleeping soundly.

When Lin Sui’an woke, it was already the Hour of Wei on the second day — roughly calculated, she had slept for eight full hours. Out in the main hall, everyone had only just risen and was eating breakfast. Fangke had clearly been dragged up by Yita — he was still half asleep, nodding off between spoonfuls of flat noodle soup.

According to Mu Xia, the earliest riser was Hua Yitang, who had been up before the Hour of Chen. He had taken a bath, perfumed himself, changed into a thin, layered robe that shaded from scallion green to white — (Mu Xia: the robe is called the Ice Flesh Jade Bone Robe) — settled into a languid, graceful pose, and sat fanning himself with a sandalwood lattice-carved fan — (Mu Xia: the fan is called the Clear Breeze No-Sweat Fan) — while fixing his gaze on the main entrance, apparently waiting for someone.

Before long, visitors truly did arrive — and to everyone’s astonishment, it was Bai Rong and Bai Xiang.

Father and son had clearly taken great pains to dress themselves up. Both wore brocade purple robes, purple jade hairpins, and white jade stone belts cinching matching rotund midsections, and they settled themselves into the seats across from Hua Yitang.

Lin Sui’an finally understood why Hua Yitang had been willing to sacrifice sleep to primp and preen — he had clearly anticipated that the Bai Family of Qingzhou would come to express their gratitude and had made his preparations well in advance so as to outshine these two in a battle of finery.

Hua Yitang smiled with dazzling elegance. “For Bai Family Head to honor us with a visit, the humble Hua residence is truly glorified!”

Bai Rong’s face was long and sour. “You look very much like your eldest brother.”

Equally insufferable.

“Bai Family Head flatters me.”

“Third son says it was you who cleared me of suspicion as the killer?”

“A trifling matter, not worth mentioning.”

“Ha — quite the arrogance. Then tell me, how exactly does this case stand?”

“Is Bai Family Head testing me?”

“I refuse to believe that a good-for-nothing dandy like you who never studied could pass the imperial examinations. I refuse even more to believe that someone like you who spends his days eating, drinking, and playing could investigate a case. The Hua Family must have greased Prefect Che’s palms, and that is why he broke the case — to build up your reputation!”

Bai Xiang: “A’Ye!”

“You be quiet!” Bai Rong snapped. “I have yet to punish you for the crime of inviting a wolf into our home!”

Bai Xiang deflated sulkily.

The others exchanged swift, expressive glances.

Jin Ruo: “I thought they came to bring gifts — turns out they came to cause a scene.”

Yita: “Stepping on the nose and climbing the face — unacceptable!”

Fangke: “Calling Hua Yitang a wolf, I cannot agree with. He is clearly a fox.”

Yita: “Fourth young master is a good-looking fox.”

Lin Sui’an: “A vixen?”

Mu Xia: “Lin Niangzi truly cuts right to the point.”

“Pfft!”

The group dissolved into laughter.

Hua Yitang’s expression darkened. He shot a glare at the lot of them, then gave his fan a couple of slow waves and drew up his eye corners in a long arch, smiling. “Since Bai Family Head has asked, I naturally will speak without reservation. However — if I can lay out the full story of this case clearly and plainly, what will Bai Family Head do?”

Bai Rong squared his belly and straightened up. “From this point on, the Bai Family of Qingzhou and the Hua Family of Yangdu shall bury the hatchet.”

“Excellent!” Hua Yitang snapped his fan shut with a sharp crack and made a gesture of invitation. “Whatever Bai Family Head wishes to ask — please go ahead.”

“First question: what is the story with the jade token from the Tie Family Medical Hall?”

“Although the jade token is Bai Family Head’s most personal possession, the person who brought it to the Tie Family Medical Hall that night was not Bai Family Head — it was Bai Shiliu. So the assumption I worked from was that Bai Shiliu had stolen it from Bai Family Head.”

Bai Rong stared wide-eyed.

“According to Bai Shiliu’s own testimony, he went to the Bai residence early that morning to pay his respects to Bai Family Head, and at that time Bai Family Head was wearing this very jade token. Taking him at his word, that would mean Bai Family Head wore this jade token from morning until night without removing it — and that is where the inconsistency lies.”

“What inconsistency?”

“Bai Third Young Master mentioned that Bai Family Head is deeply passionate about jade, and therefore must be intimately familiar with the properties and care of every type of jade. Mutton-fat jade is sensitive to sunlight — if exposed to direct sunlight, the jade quality will be damaged. The sun in Qingzhou is fierce, and on the day of the incident the weather was clear. Bai Family Head would never wear a mutton-fat jade token all day long, but would instead choose a different variety of jade to substitute. Therefore, the conclusion is: Bai Shiliu lied.”

Hua Yitang paused briefly. “But Bai Shiliu recognized the token at a glance and spoke of it without any hesitation, suggesting he was very familiar with it. Combined with the fact that he was a long-time gambler, it was not difficult to surmise that he had stolen the token with the intention of using it as gambling collateral.”

Bai Rong said nothing.

“What follows is rather straightforward. That night, after Bai Family Head returned to his room and checked his jade collection, he found one piece missing. Of course, with Bai Family Head’s acuity, a moment’s thought would have led him to conclude that Bai Shiliu had taken it. Enraged, he rushed off to Bai Shiliu’s ancestral residence to retrieve it. Bai Shiliu’s ancestral home is located in Thousand Layered Lane in the Qiu Gate district. The fastest route from Bai Family Head’s home passes through the Night-Long Lane in the Qiu Gate district — which is precisely why Bai Family Head was spotted passing the scene of the crime.”

Bai Rong’s expression became bleak.

“But when Bai Family Head arrived at Bai Shiliu’s ancestral home, he found the young man absent and waited in his room — only to have two killers arrive instead, who knocked Bai Family Head unconscious. By the time he woke, I imagine he was already in the secret chamber of the Nanxiang Gambling House?”

Bai Rong was silent for a moment, then shook his head. “No… when I came to, I happened to see Shiliu’s throat being slit… blood splashed all the way up to the ceiling… Shiliu, that child… he died just like that…”

Hua Yitang also fell silent. He picked up his teacup and took a quiet sip, gazing out the window. Outside, it was the height of spring in Qingzhou, the sunlight just right, and a branch of peach blossoms swayed in the spring breeze, like a child’s radiant, carefree smile.

Lin Sui’an recalled that Bai Shiliu was a few years younger than Bai Xiang. He was only eighteen years old this year.

“Do you know who killed Shiliu?” Bai Rong asked.

Hua Yitang set down his teacup and sighed softly. “It should have been one of the Nanxiang Gambling House’s hired thugs. Earlier, Bai Shiliu had lost his ancestral home on the fifth floor of the Nanxiang Gambling House and been badly beaten — nearly losing his life. After that — and what follows is my deduction — two thugs sought out Bai Shiliu and said they had a way to help him recoup his losses, but required Bai Shiliu to help them find a renowned physician to treat an illness.”

Hua Yitang raised his eyes to Bai Rong. “Bai Shiliu knew Tie Hai — it was Bai Family Head who made the introduction, was it not?”

Bai Rong’s complexion turned ashen. He closed his eyes briefly, then said: “One month ago, Bai Shiliu came to me saying he too had developed headache symptoms. That day, Doctor Tie happened to be at the residence for a consultation…”

Bai Rong could not continue.

The connection was now clear. According to Fangke’s findings, the unconscious black-robed man had taken the drug over a long period of time, and the substance had penetrated his brain, which would likely lead to episodes of violent madness. Doctor Tie spent his career treating head ailments and must have developed considerable expertise in brain-related conditions.

But why had they not simply sought out a physician themselves, instead of going through Bai Shiliu’s connections?

Lin Sui’an thought it through and understood. Their symptoms must have been too unusual — they could not trust an ordinary physician, and even more so feared that a physician who did not know them might leak word of their condition. So they had sought the introduction of the Bai Family of Qingzhou. Even if the Bai Family had fallen on harder times, they were still among the Five Great Surnames and Seven Noble Houses. A patient introduced by the Bai Family would be treated with utmost discretion by any physician.

Hua Yitang continued: “But the thug’s condition was too severe. During the treatment that night, he suddenly flew into a violent rage and hacked Doctor Tie to death. The other thug, fearing that the knife wounds on the corpse would expose their identities, hacked the body into an unrecognizable mess. Bai Shiliu was terrified half to death, and together with the thug, he fled back to the ancestral home — only to walk directly into Bai Family Head.”

“After rendering Bai Family Head unconscious, Bai Shiliu realized the jade token had been left at the Tie Family Medical Hall. So, in a natural chain of events, he framed Bai Family Head as the killer, hoping to escape the consequences. Only — whether it was the thug going mad again, or some other reason — Bai Shiliu was killed as well—”

“In truth, when Shiliu died, I seemed to still see Berkebü…” Bai Rong said. “And I heard a piercing laugh…”

Hua Yitang thought for a moment, then sighed. “The Bai Family of Qingzhou now relies entirely on Bai Family Head alone to hold things together. As long as Bai Family Head could be condemned as a murderer, the Bai Family would fall into chaos, torn apart from within, and the grand edifice would collapse — leaving the Bai Family of Qingzhou as nothing more than a pawn in Berkebü’s hands. I imagine Berkebü was quite pleased with himself at that moment.”

Bai Rong: “Then why not simply kill me outright?!”

Hua Yitang raised his teacup in a toast. “To account for contingencies. A living Bai Family Head is far more useful than a dead one.”

Bai Rong was silent for a moment, then raised his teacup and drained it in one gulp — nearly choking from the bitterness. “What kind of tea is this?!”

“Our Yita’s unique brewing technique. There is no second establishment in all of the Tang Empire.” Hua Yitang smiled. “Bai Family Head — are you satisfied?”

Bai Rong set his teacup down heavily and kicked Bai Xiang who was sitting beside him. “Why have you not yet gone to pay your respects to your sworn elder brother?”

Bai Xiang: “But A’Ye — Hua Fourth Young Master is younger than me—”

“Bow!”

Bai Xiang stood up with a dejected, reluctant air and clasped his fists with equal dejection. “Bai Xiang of the Bai Family of Qingzhou pays respects to sworn elder brother…”

Hua Yitang smiled like a flower in bloom, rose to his feet, rolled back his sleeves, and strode forward to raise Bai Xiang up by the arms. “Third Brother, no need for such formality. Your elder brother came in haste and brought no gift for the occasion — Mu Xia!”

Mu Xia quickly retreated and returned in short order carrying a yellow rosewood box. Lin Sui’an recognized it at a glance — it was Berkebü’s box, containing the property deeds and land deeds of the Nanxiang Gambling House and so on.

“You helped your elder brother win this back last night. I’m giving it to you.” Hua Yitang patted the box.

Bai Xiang’s jaw dropped. He stammered, “Is — is this really all right?!”

Hua Yitang said earnestly, “Although Bai Shiliu was killed by another’s hand, at the root of it all, it came back to the word ‘gambling.’ From now on, you would do well to give up running gambling houses. Bai Family Head has a passion for jade — you might as well go into the jade goods trade.”

“Yes yes yes, thank you, Elder Brother! Elder Brother is mighty!” Bai Xiang snatched the wooden box with both hands, calling out sweetly and brightly.

Bai Rong stared at Hua Yitang for a long while with wide, unblinking eyes, then glanced at his own useless son, and let out a long, deep sigh. He turned to Hua Yitang and performed a deep, solemn bow of respect.

Formidable, this young man…

What Hua Yitang’s eldest brother had wanted was simply the territory of the Bai Family of Qingzhou. But this Hua Yitang — what he wanted was the hearts of the Bai Family of Qingzhou.

Skit:

Ten days later. Yangdu. The Hua Family’s great residence.

Hua Yituan was staring at the map of the Tang Empire in deep distress. Of the five great cities of the empire, the Hua Family’s commercial reach extended into four. Only Guangdu City had resisted capture for all this time. Looking back, he had been young and hot-headed then — he had come down too hard on the Bai Family of Qingzhou, and inadvertently made enemies of them. Now… this was a headache.

Hua Yituan hovered his brush over Guangdu City on the map, somewhat hesitant.

Should he just wipe out the Bai Family of Qingzhou in one fell swoop?

“Master! Master! Master! Master!” Yimer charged in waving a scroll, startling Hua Yituan so badly he nearly dragged a brushstroke across Guangdu City. “A letter from the head of the Bai Family of Qingzhou, Bai Rong!”

Hua Yituan set down his brush and looked up. After a long moment, he made a sound of “Hm?”

Yimer eagerly unrolled the scroll, skimmed it rapidly, and summarized the central message:

“Bai Family Head says that Fourth Young Master helped him clear his name as a murder suspect and he is deeply grateful, and therefore has had Bai Third Young Master Bai Xiang acknowledge Fourth Young Master as his sworn elder brother.”

Hua Yituan: “Hm??”

“Bai Family Head also says he is willing to cooperate sincerely with the Hua Family going forward and open up the Guangdu City market together for mutual benefit.”

Hua Yituan: “…”

Yimer put away the scroll, then suddenly felt something was slightly off. “Master, this Bai Family Head coming out of nowhere with this — could it be a trap?”

Hua Yituan scratched his forehead with the brush handle — a gesture identical to the way Hua Yitang scratched his forehead with his fan — and smiled. “Bai Rong has long been at the end of his rope. He is taking the opportune moment to show goodwill toward the Hua Family.”

Yimer nodded. “The master speaks wisely. The way things stand, with foreign power growing dominant in Guangdu City, if the Bai Family of Qingzhou does not find a way out soon, they will quickly be swallowed up without a trace. Cooperating with the Hua Family is their best option.”

Hua Yituan looked at Guangdu City on the map and let out a sigh of relief.

Very well indeed. An extra ally is always better than an extra enemy.

Yimer said with feeling: “One cannot help but say — our Fourth Young Master is truly something. Not only did he earn the top rank in the imperial examinations and receive his official post, but he even helped us pull the Bai Family of Qingzhou into our corner along the way. Truly — heroes come forth from youth!”

Hua Yituan laughed. “That little brat’s luck is indeed in a class of its own.”

Yimer said: “By the way, Master — I heard Lin Niangzi made quite a showing in Guangdu City and personally captured Berkebü!”

Hua Yituan paused. “You mean the Berkebü who competed with us for business at the port two months ago, had twelve vexing bodyguards with him, and injured twenty-three of our brothers?”

“That very one! He was beaten into a pig’s head by Lin Niangzi! Serves him right!”

Hua Yituan’s brow furrowed tightly. He paced back and forth in place two full times.

Yimer: “Master? Is something the matter?”

“Send word immediately to Fourth Son and tell him to raise Lin Niangzi’s monthly stipend by five hundred gold.”

“What?!”

“A talent like this must be kept close by Fourth Son’s side. Under no circumstances can we allow someone else to poach her away!”

“The master is wise!”

Lin Sui’an: Achoo! Who’s talking about me?

Bai Rong: Achoo! Why do I suddenly feel as though I’ve had a brush with death and survived to tell the tale?