Lin Sui’an could scarcely believe what she was seeing. Hua Yitang, the formidable Deputy Constable of Cheng County — crouching down before a tiny toddler, gravely and earnestly delivering a lecture on the nature of “love poems.”

“A love poem, as the name indicates, is a poem presented to someone you admire. It is not something to be given out casually. As the saying goes: a promise once made is a promise kept for a thousand gold—”

“I know that,” the small child said, blinking utterly guileless eyes. “It’s a poem for someone you like. Why are you getting upset? Oh, I know — Mama said this is called being jealous.”

Hua Yitang’s face went dark, and the spectators all around erupted into wave upon wave of laughter.

The area around Simian Estate was a residential neighborhood to begin with, and it happened to be the morning market hour, with many people coming and going. They were all watching now, eyes bright with delight. Lin Sui’an was deeply embarrassed, and quietly covered her face and began backing away, intending to escape the scene with her fleetest footwork.

It had to be said — the thickness of the number-one Yangdu wastrel’s face was truly a height no ordinary person could hope to reach. Even now, he craned his neck and argued stubbornly, “Who — who who who who said I was jealous?! How — how how how how how how could I possibly be jealous of a little child?!”

“You are jealous,” the small child said, with perfect certainty. “But you don’t have to be sad. I like you too. I wrote a poem for you as well.”

Hua Yitang: “What?”

The small child reached into the seat of her trousers and produced another crumpled piece of rough paper, smoothed it out with small chubby hands, raised it high, and read aloud in a ringing voice: “The rain has stopped! The sky is clear! Deputy Hua Constable’s clothes bloomed open like flowers — so beautiful!“

Lin Sui’an: “Pfft!”

The crowd: “Hahahahahaha!”

Hua Yitang was stunned still. The small child tucked the paper into his hand, flashed a grin showing two missing front teeth, and went pattering away.

Hua Yitang stood motionless, staring at the crumpled-rag-like paper in his hand. His face suddenly flushed red. He shoved the balled-up paper into his pocket and rose in flustered haste, trying to cover himself by waving his little fan. “Ah, my — it’s a bit warm today, isn’t it.”

The onlookers broke into delighted laughter. An old man ran up and thrust half a salted fish into Hua Yitang’s hands. A middle-aged woman pressed two strips of salted pork on him. A young lady offered half a basket of eggs. An old grandmother insisted on presenting an entire bundle of scallions. And then came duck eggs, goose eggs, smoked chicken legs, dewy-fresh greens, wild fruit washed in spring water, steaming hot buns — each person who handed something over said, “Deputy Constable Hua — you’re like a flower. So lovely.” In no time at all, the elegant, dashing Deputy Constable had been decorated into a walking general store.

Hua Yitang went from initial astonishment and shy embarrassment, to being moved, to finally — as if his innately crowd-loving nature had fully awakened — not only accepting everything with delight but swaggering right through the market with visible pride. “You flatter me, you flatter me — far too kind, far too kind — I couldn’t possibly refuse, I’ll gratefully accept!”

Lin Sui’an followed behind, laughing helplessly. Watching the scallions draped around Hua Yitang’s neck thicken into something that could function as a scarf, she truly could not stand by any longer. She stepped in to take a basket of duck eggs — only to discover she had poked a hornet’s nest. The onlookers, having seen that Deputy Hua’s physique was so frail he looked like a stiff breeze might carry him away, had been somewhat restrained in what they offered him. But the moment they saw Lin Sui’an willing to take things, they abandoned all restraint completely. Ten-pound blocks of salted pork, twenty-pound salted fish, thirty-pound bundles of mountain goods all came heading their way at once. Lin Sui’an was caught off guard, and in no time at all had been dressed up as a Christmas tree.

The two of them could barely walk, shuffling along one step at a time, accepting things and bowing their thanks, in a state of complete overwhelmed chaos, drenched in sweat. It took a full hour before they finally managed to get back to the county office.

Zhu Dachang took one look at the two of them and burst out laughing with undisguised glee. “In the future, if the county office runs out of rations, just send the two of you out for a turn — that should be enough to feed all our brothers for half a month.”

Li Nili chimed in: “I’ve heard the townspeople are keeping the gold leaves that Deputy Constable Hua gave out before, enshrined in their home altars — burning incense and offering tea three times a day, praying to the Flower Deity for protection!”

The various clerks and constables standing nearby began playfully mimicking the gestures of worshippers making offerings.

Hua Yitang and Lin Sui’an were busy unloading and had no time to respond. Magistrate Qiu himself couldn’t hold back his laughter, and quickly ordered everyone to pitch in and help. Once the crowd had worked together to sort through the entire pile of local specialties, Magistrate Qiu remembered what he’d actually meant to say. “Deputy Constable Hua, Investigator Lin — an imperial decree has arrived.”

Hua Yitang and Lin Sui’an quickly straightened their clothing and followed Magistrate Qiu in rapid strides to the main hall.

Ling Zhiyan was standing in the center of the hall, holding the imperial decree, watching them with an amused smile.

“Let it be proclaimed: The foundation of all under Heaven lies first in the peaceful livelihood of its people. Hua Yitang, Deputy Constable of Cheng County in Qingzhou, has rooted out banditry and wickedness, swept away corruption and brought clarity to the land, and rendered great and distinguished meritorious service. He is hereby promoted to Judicial Administrator of Yi Prefecture, effective immediately.”

Lin Sui’an thought: Good heavens — Judicial Administrator of Yi Prefecture! That sounds far more impressive than Deputy County Constable.

Magistrate Qiu’s jaw dropped. Written all over his face were four large words: Heaven’s Favorite Son.

Hua Yitang took the imperial decree and read it through carefully, then smiled. “Well — barely adequate for this Fourth Young Master Hua.”

“The Judicial Administrator of Yi Prefecture holds the rank of Subordinate Seventh Grade, Lower Degree — Fourth Young Master has been promoted seven full ranks in one stroke. This speaks volumes of His Majesty’s deep expectations for Fourth Young Master,” Ling Zhiyan said with a smile. “Yi Prefecture is one of Tang’s five great capitals. Though its status does not equal that of the Eastern Capital, the Peaceful Capital, or Yangdu, it stands on equal footing with Guangdu. Four seasons of spring, a pleasant climate — it is a good place.”

Hua Yitang’s tone carried a slight edge. “Indeed, a good place.”

Lin Sui’an perked up with interest. “How so?”

Ling Zhiyan: “Yi Prefecture is the greatest city in Suizhou, with a long history and many entrenched noble clans. The most powerful among them is one of the Five Surnames and Seven Lineages—”

Hua Yitang: “The Su Clan of Suizhou.”

Lin Sui’an let out a soft, surprised sound. She thought: Truly, enemies are fated to meet. His Majesty clearly knew of the enmity between them and the Su Clan of Suizhou — yet arranged this appointment anyway. There must be a deeper purpose.

Lin Sui’an poked Ling Zhiyan. “Senior Adjudicator Ling — what about me?”

Ling Zhiyan produced a paper from his robes and handed it to Lin Sui’an, murmuring, “His Majesty said that what Investigator Lin accomplished in Cheng County was beautifully done. This is his reward.”

The paper turned out to be a property deed. The location was in Guiyi Ward — a three-courtyard residence, right next to the Jingxing Ward where the Hua Family’s sixty-six estates were located, a quarter-hour’s walk to the Northern Market on foot, half an hour’s walk to the Imperial City on foot. A genuine prime location. The equivalent of a four-courtyard townhouse inside the second ring road of the capital — and its market value—

“Fifteen thousand strings of cash,” Hua Yitang said with one glance, adding his own assessment: “If Qiu Hong hadn’t been arrested, he’d have had to fight tooth and nail for twenty years to earn that.”

Goodness — His Majesty truly lives up to his reputation. Generous beyond measure!

Lin Sui’an tucked the deed away with a satisfied smile, thinking she should ask Mu Xia later to build a proper strongbox to keep it safe. She asked Ling Zhiyan, “What is the assignment this time?”

Ling Zhiyan said quietly, “His Majesty says that after this ordeal in Cheng County, Investigator Lin has truly worked hard. The scenery in Yi Prefecture is excellent — he asks that Senior Adjudicator Ling accompany Investigator Lin there, to take in the sights and loosen some stiff joints.”

Lin Sui’an: “Understood! Acknowledged!”

Hua Yitang’s eyes lit up. “Sixth Young Master Ling is also going?”

Ling Zhiyan nodded.

“Excellent — ahem!” Hua Yitang cleared his throat and gave his fan a coy little wave. “His Majesty certainly knows how to calculate. He dispatches Sixth Young Master Ling on official business — and then makes me foot the travel expenses.”

“Adjudicator Ling eats very little — easy to keep fed.”

“Absolutely not — if you go hungry and grow thin on the road, word will get out that my Hua Family mistreats you, and won’t that ruin my Hua Family’s good name?!”

“In that case, Adjudicator Ling shall be entirely in your hands, Fourth Young Master!”

Hua Yitang waved a magnanimous sleeve. “Rest easy — I’ll see you fed until you’re round and plump.”

Ling Zhiyan and Lin Sui’an exchanged a glance and shook their heads with fond laughter.

True to form — the mouth-denying, body-consenting Fourth Young Master Hua. Clearly delighted down to his core, and absolutely refuses to admit a single word of it.

“Congratulations on your promotion, Deputy Constable Hua!” Magistrate Qiu stepped forward and clasped his hands in salute. “When does Deputy Constable Hua plan to depart?”

Hua Yitang’s expression turned serious. “No time to waste — we depart in three days.”

Magistrate Qiu looked somewhat reluctant to let go. “If Deputy Constable Hua does not mind, I would like to host a farewell banquet, inviting the heads and elders of the Qiu and Zhu families to see you off—”

“That would not be appropriate.” Hua Yitang declined. “I ask that Magistrate Qiu keep the news of my departure confidential on my behalf.”

At this, everyone was taken aback.

Magistrate Qiu: “Why keep it a secret?”

Hua Yitang sighed, shaking his fan and pacing to the doorway. He raised his head to gaze at the drifting clouds on the horizon, his silhouette melancholy and wistful. “I, Hua Yitang, am deeply beloved by the people. If they were to learn that I am leaving, they would be overcome with grief, unable to bear the parting, and would accompany me a hundred li in farewell, weeping tears across Qingzhou. I simply cannot bear to put them through that!”

Everyone: “…”

Can you say such things about yourself without feeling any shame?

Out of deference to Hua Yitang’s insistence, Magistrate Qiu had no choice but to order everyone in the county office — from top to bottom — not to breathe a word about Deputy Constable Hua’s departure. Hua Yitang continued his daily routine of visiting the tea gardens and tea workshops, hauling home armloads of salted pork and salted fish as usual.

Mu Xia and Ita began making hurried preparations for the journey. Lin Sui’an used the Pure Gate’s channels to send word to Jin Ruo, asking him to wait in Guangdu and rendezvous with the main party.

The only remaining issue was what to do with Bingsi and the other three. Lin Sui’an had previously noticed that the four of them were constantly close to Little Fish, did whatever Little Fish said, and had taken a great liking to the tea garden. She thought about letting them stay in Cheng County — only to have all four of them kneel down and bow in silence the moment they heard, tears in their eyes, so moved that a pang shot through Lin Sui’an’s conscience.

Lin Sui’an had no choice but to ask Ita to speak with the four of them and find out their true wishes. Ita’s report from the conversation was as follows:

“They say: their lives were saved by Pig-person. Born, they are Pig-person’s people. Dead, they are Pig-person’s pigs.”

“They say: before, they wronged Little Fish. Going to the tea garden — to make amends. Not to stay.”

It was only then that Lin Sui’an remembered: the four of them had originally been sent to the Xian De Estate because they had harassed Little Fish at the tea stall, and been soundly thrashed by Little Fish’s grandfather and a group of farmhands and handed over. It was only through that twist of fate that they had ended up being forged into the “Four Beasts.” In fact, five people had originally been sent to the Xian De Estate; now only four remained. The fifth had most likely met with misfortune.

Fangke offered a different perspective: “This is a good sign. It shows the four of them are gradually beginning to recall their former selves. If they stay close to Qian Jing, perhaps one day they will fully recover and become ordinary people again.”

Lin Sui’an thought it over and agreed.

With everything in order, Hua Yitang chose a pitch-dark and windy predawn hour to set off. In the interest of keeping a low profile, not even Ling Zhiyan was permitted to ride a horse; everyone squeezed into the carriages together. Bleary-eyed, they fumbled through the dark, hitching horses and boarding carriages — a scene not unlike a band of thieves making off in the night. Yet just as the carriage rolled out of the county office’s side gate, a sharp cry rang out:

“Deputy Constable Hua is leaving!”

In an instant, the scene blazed with light, bright as day. Even the horses pulling the carriage were startled into a daze.

Lin Sui’an and Ling Zhiyan peered through the gaps in the carriage window. The road on both sides was packed with a dense crowd of townspeople, torches held aloft, eyes red as they stared toward the carriage. At the very front, leading them all, were none other than Magistrate Qiu Liang, Chief Secretary Zhu Dachang, and all the clerks and constables.

“County Magistrate Qiu Liang, together with the people of Cheng County, bid farewell to Deputy Constable Hua! May Deputy Constable Hua sail smoothly through life, in good health and high spirits!”

Everyone was stunned. They all turned to look at Hua Yitang.

Hua Yitang sat bolt upright, his eyes gradually reddening. “I said not to tell them…” With a sharp snap he opened his fan and hid his face behind it, voice cracking: “Let’s go — quickly—”

Everyone broke into smiles: So this one wasn’t afraid the people would weep tears across Qingzhou — he was afraid he himself would weep tears across Cheng County.

There was no running from it now. Lin Sui’an threw the carriage window wide open and leaned out, waving in distant greeting. “Thank you! Thank you!”

In the crowd, she spotted Old Qiu the Eighth, Qiu Bo, Zhu Dachang’s mother, Qiu Thirty-Second, the Zhu Family patriarch, Autumn Third Young Miss, Little Bull, the small child who had delivered the love poem, Qiu Sixteenth Young Miss, the tea-picking women from the tea workshop…

“Farewell to Investigator Lin! May Investigator Lin find peace and happiness wherever she goes!”

“Farewell to Dr. Fang! May Dr. Fang be free from all ailment and suffering!”

“Farewell to Little Master Ita — keep practicing your Tang-speech!”

“Farewell to Little Master Mu Xia — that roasted lamb technique you taught us is truly delicious!”

“Tell Little Master Jin Ruo — if he ever misses tea, come back anytime!”

“Farewell to Senior Adjudicator Ling — do smile more, Senior Adjudicator. You look so much better when you smile.”

Lin Sui’an’s eyes stung. She turned away in embarrassment, caught a glimpse of Ling Zhiyan covering his face with his sleeve, Fangke with his head buried in a large wooden chest, the coachmen Mu Xia and Ita with their noses running as they sniffled, and Hua Yitang with shoulders heaving, not daring to show his face.

The carriage moved from the county office all the way to the city gate, the waves of farewell calls rising higher and higher, on and on without cease. Then, all at once — as if someone had called out an order — ten or more people rushed from the crowd. In the time it took to blink, they had shoved what they were carrying through the carriage windows. Before Lin Sui’an had even registered what was happening, she heard a series of clucking sounds, and a large rooster came flapping and flailing right into her face. Fangke stared round-eyed as a large white goose landed on the lid of his wooden chest. Ling Zhiyan found himself inexplicably clasping two crisp white cabbages. And most absurd of all was Hua Yitang — covered head to face in chicken feathers, duck feathers, and goose feathers, with a fat, sturdy barred-feather hen perched on top of his head.

Mu Xia and Ita shouted “No need! No need! Please don’t send us off like this!” — to absolutely no effect. An unending stream of salted pork, salted fish, eggs, greens, steamed buns, and white sugar cakes poured in through the door and window cracks. Everyone stopped being sad and scrambled — blocking the door, plugging the windows. Mu Xia drove the carriage at full gallop and made a break for the city gate, charging through as if fleeing for their lives. Even from a distance, the cheering voices of the townspeople could still be heard, as if they had won some remarkable victory.

In an absolute state of dishevelment, everyone looked at one another — and through their tears, they burst out laughing.

Hua Yitang: “I said to keep it a secret from the very beginning!”

Ling Zhiyan: “Fourth Young Master sees further than the rest of us. It is we who misjudged Fourth Young Master.”

Fangke: “Too much enthusiasm — also a fright.”

The deep-rooted, battle-hardened tradition of showering people with gifts — there is simply no defense against it.

Lin Sui’an caught the barred-feather hen off of Hua Yitang’s head. “Is this chicken good to eat?”

Mu Xia: “Barred-feather hens make the most delicious broth — once we reach the next relay station— Whoa!“

The carriage stopped. Everyone’s hearts lurched. They quickly blocked every window and door, bracing against another surprise parting gift from above. The carriage rocked gently, and Ita climbed down.

“It’s Little Fish,” Mu Xia said quietly. “It looks like she came to see Ita off.”

Everyone heard this and immediately stuck their heads out of the windows in avid curiosity, like a string of sugar-coated hawthorn berries hanging along the side of the carriage.

In the pale morning mist, Ita’s golden hair drifted in the breeze, reflected in Little Fish’s eyes, shimmering like water.

Little Fish held a bowl of tea — a rough clay bowl, filled with Hundred-Flower Tea. Exactly as it had been the first day Ita arrived in Cheng County.

Little Fish: “Ita — let this bowl of tea stand as my send-off for you.”

Ita: “Mm.”

“Do you know that I like you?”

“Mm.”

“I like you, but I can’t go with you.”

“Mm.”

“There are still things I need to do here in Cheng County.”

“Mm.”

“In the future — will you come back to see me?”

“Mm.”

“Ita — take care on the road.”

Ita was silent for a moment. She raised the bowl and drank it down in one long swallow, wiped her mouth, clasped her hands in salute. “Take care.”

Little Fish’s eyes went red. She gave a long, respectful bow toward the carriage, then stepped back to the roadside. Ita vaulted back onto the carriage, snapped the reins, and the carriage sped away.

Everyone pulled their heads back inside one by one, looked at each other, heads drawing close together.

Fangke: “Little Fish is a young woman with her own mind — knows when to hold on and when to let go. That’s good.”

Hua Yitang: “I, the number-one wastrel of Yangdu, how on earth did I raise Ita to be such a tongue-tied, clumsy creature with words?!”

Lin Sui’an: “Ita’s Tang-language training must be moved to the top of the agenda immediately!”

Ling Zhiyan: “Indeed.”

Lin Sui’an pushed open the carriage door and glanced back. Ita’s eyes were red-rimmed, hands wiping roughly at them every now and then. Mu Xia sat beside him, not daring to make a sound.

Lin Sui’an thought for a moment, then raised her voice: “Ita — I’m thirsty.”

Ita gave a “mm,” ducked into the carriage, and bent over the task of boiling water and taking out the tea, head lowered.

Lin Sui’an quickly jabbed Hua Yitang. Hua Yitang glared at her.

Lin Sui’an: Tell a joke.

Hua Yitang: ???

Lin Sui’an: Hurry up!

Hua Yitang scratched his forehead with his fan. His eyes lit up. “Speaking of which — there’s one unsolved mystery in Cheng County. Lin Sui’an — do you remember that hidden chamber in the underground passage connecting Simian Estate and Xian De Estate?”

Lin Sui’an: “What about it?”

“That chamber holds a tremendous secret.”

Everyone glanced at one another. No one said a word.

Ita delivered the tea cups to everyone, then asked with curiosity: “What — secret?”

Hua Yitang chuckled. “I asked the Zhu Family patriarch about it afterward. He told me that chamber was specially built by the Zhu Family patriarch three generations back and the Qiu Family patriarch four generations back — for the convenience of their secret meetings. The tea flowers and the Dragon God’s fruit were actually their betrothal tokens to each other.”

Everyone at once spat tea everywhere: “Pfft—“

Ita cried out in outrage: “Fourth Young Master!”

Skit:

Yangdu, the Hua Family’s great mansion.

The Hua Family’s Head Steward, Imel, was drenched in cold sweat, watching helplessly as the Hua Family patriarch Hua Yihuan snapped the brush in his hand in two.

“These are Fourth Young Master’s expenses in Cheng County?!”

“In reply to the patriarch — yes.”

“A leopard cannot change its spots! That wasteful wretch! Three days without discipline and he’s already taken the roof tiles off— ” Hua Yihuan snatched the cane from beneath the desk with a sharp rasp. “Where is he right now? Prepare the carriage at once — I will—”

“Patriarch, a moment!” Imel swiftly presented another ledger. “These are this season’s Hundred-Flower Tea accounts — please have a look first.”

Hua Yihuan swallowed his fury, unrolled the scroll, skimmed it in a single sweep, cleared his throat, and put the cane away. “He has not entirely disgraced the name of our Yangdu Hua Family.”

“Oh, my dear patriarch, you are far too modest! Compared to the profits from Hundred-Flower Tea, Fourth Young Master’s expenses in Cheng County are a mere drop in the ocean — Fourth Young Master’s little maneuver has most magnificently added a great and gleaming luster to our Hua Family’s name!”

“Hmph. Does my Hua Family need a mere wastrel to add luster to our name?”

“Patriarch, with respect, you are a seasoned veteran of countless commercial battles — how can you not see the extraordinary potential in Fourth Young Master’s Hundred-Flower Tea venture?”

“Truly, if things continue at this rate, within two years, it won’t just be Tang’s tea market — even the overseas market will be swallowed whole by Hundred-Flower Tea.”

Hua Yihuan gave a cold laugh. “Do you think the other tea merchants are all fools?”

“Patriarch, as ever, you see what is yet to come — I have heard that imitation teas have already appeared in several of the great capitals.”

Hua Yihuan curved his lips slightly, lifted a cup of tea with an easy hand, and poured it. In the cup, the tea leaves unfurled, vivid and bright — the most authentic Hundred-Flower Tea from Cheng County.

“If others have come to imitate us, it means our tea is excellent. If no one imitated us — wouldn’t that be rather dull?”

Imel shivered.

Had the patriarch just — smiled? Heavens above — it looked exactly as frightening as when Fourth Young Master smiled!

The title of this story arc is drawn from the Tang dynasty poem “Three Hundred Poems, No. 192” by Hanshan.

I saw the master painter Zeng Yao of extraordinary nature, born in the time of the Liang dynasty, gifted beyond compare. Tao Zi moved like wind, matchless in his art, the two masters wielded their brushes with consummate skill. They gave expression to dragons walking, demons striding, divine and towering. Rao and Miao filled the void with traces of the mundane world — yet none of them could paint the portrait of Master Zhi Gong.