The other party’s kowtowing was so swift and impeccably executed that even Hua Yitang felt a twinge of awkwardness about accepting it. With magnanimous generosity, he said: “There is really no need for such grand ceremony—”

“Fourth Great-Grandfather, those words are mistaken!” The mustached man launched into a spirited and earnest speech. “It is said: a nation that honors ceremony flourishes; a family that honors ceremony grows great; a man who holds himself to ceremony cultivates virtue; a heart that holds to ceremony finds peace. Our Hua Family stands at the pinnacle of the Five Surnames and Seven Lineages — ceremony is something that must never be abandoned. Fourth Great-Grandfather is the senior elder of the Hua Family’s main line. We ought to have bathed, changed our robes, and observed three days of fasting before coming to pay our respects. Our presumptuous conduct today already constitutes a grave impropriety — please accept this grandson’s bow.”

With that, he knocked his head to the ground three more times, thud thud thud.

Hua Yitang was stunned. He squinted, studied the man before him at length, and then it dawned on him: “Could you be—”

The mustached man’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Fourth Great-Grandfather, you’ve finally remembered me! Yes — it is your very own grandson!”

Ling Zhiyan was bewildered. “This would be—”

“Hua Ermu, the head of the Hua Family’s branch household, settled in Yi Prefecture a few years ago. By generational seniority, he is my grandnephew.” Hua Yitang tapped his fan briskly, smiling. “Ermu — you’re not that young, and you’ve already grown a mustache. No wonder I didn’t recognize you.”

Hua Ermu: “Fourth Great-Grandfather is making fun of me — your grandnephew is already past forty. It is long past time to grow a mustache.”

“Are the others behind you also from the branch household?”

“Fourth Great-Grandfather, your eyes are as sharp as ever. These are all Fourth Great-Grandfather’s great-grandnephews.”

“My, my — only a few years, and they’ve all grown this big already?”

“The eldest is already preparing to discuss a betrothal. If all goes well, Fourth Great-Grandfather could be holding a great-great-grandnephew this time next year.”

“Mm. Very good.”

“It is all thanks to Fourth Great-Grandfather’s blessings.”

Chatter chatter chatter chatter…

A man in his forties, constantly making himself small and fawning, calling himself “grandson” at every turn; a seventeen-year-old youth acting like a weathered elder calling himself “great-grandfather” — the two of them chatted away warmly, ignoring everyone else entirely. The scene was actually rather harmonious.

Lin Sui’an leaned out the carriage window and watched with astonished admiration: Who would have guessed that Hua Yitang’s seniority would be even more ridiculous than Wan Lin’s? This young, and already elevated to great-grandfather.

Though — did they truly have to conduct this conversation while kneeling? Were their knees not in pain?

Ling Zhiyan could bear it no longer and gave a quiet reminder: “Fourth Young Master — perhaps it would be best to let your — ahem — grandchildren stand up to continue talking.”

“Absolutely not! Ceremony must not be abandoned!” Hua Ermu was immediately alarmed. “Quickly, quickly — kowtow to Great-Great-Grandfather.”

The young men behind him knocked their heads against the ground in a drumbeat of thud thud thud, calling out together: “Greetings, Great-Great-Grandfather!”

Ling Zhiyan was dumbfounded. What exactly were these people trying to accomplish?!

“Sixth Young Master, you have a lower seniority — you don’t understand the rules,” Hua Yitang tapped Ling Zhiyan’s shoulder with his fan. “Mu Xia—”

Mu Xia hopped down from the carriage and carried out a sandalwood chest, distributing the “meeting gifts” inside one by one to the assembled great-grandnephews. As for the contents of the gifts — naturally, the Hua Family’s characteristically unpretentious golden leaves. This time, however, it was the Plus edition: fifty gold pieces per pouch, full count, full weight, blindingly gleaming.

“We came in a hurry and weren’t able to prepare anything — a small, humble gift. Don’t let the great-grandnephews think it beneath them.” Hua Yitang waved his fan with a pleasant smile. “The ground is cold — no need to keep kneeling. You may all rise.”

“Thank you, Great-Great-Grandfather!” The great-grandnephews’ voices shook the air.

Lin Sui’an’s eyes went green with envy. No wonder Hua Ermu kept saying “ceremony must not be abandoned” — kneeling here comes with a red envelope bonus!

Ling Zhiyan’s hand trembled on the reins — presumably his heart was trembling too. The townspeople watching from Ten-Thousand-Li Bridge looked ready to have their eyes pop out, half of them privately wishing they could kneel down on the spot and claim a great-great-grandfather of their own.

Jin Ruo’s face fell, and he fiddled miserably with his reins as he drifted around the carriage. “That Hua fellow handed over the Hundred-Flower Tea business to the Pure Gate so readily — was it so he could make himself my great-grandfather too?!”

Fangke narrowed his eyes, fingers slowly stroking the large wooden chest, his expression even more sour than Jin Ruo’s. Lin Sui’an hazily recalled that Fangke’s monthly pay was exactly fifty gold pieces — quite the coincidence.

Once the greetings were done and the conversation concluded, Hua Ermu led the great-grandnephews to escort them onward. Hua Yitang’s party had already consisted of three lavish carriages and four snow-white fine horses — imposing in the extreme — but now with this train of brocade-robed attendants added to the procession, the whole thing became downright audacious in its splendor. The crowd swept in magnificently, arriving at the south gate of Ten-Thousand-Li Bridge. The city gate guards were so startled that they didn’t even check the travel permits — they simply stood aside and waved them through.

Through the city gate, a long straight avenue stretched ahead — the Central Avenue — ten zhang wide, lined on either side with towering scholar trees, their dense green canopies shading the road. Beneath the canopy were ward boundaries that existed in name only; the ward walls had been pierced with holes, and pedestrians and vendors moved freely through. Along the east side of the street, shops selling embroidered silk, straw hat works, silk and satin, and Shu brocade were laid out in glittering abundance. Along the west side, the shop names had a distinctly literary flair — “Qixia Hall,” “Little Red Pavilion,” “Caishing Emporium,” “Ink Brush Fragrance” — which left Lin Sui’an thoroughly at a loss.

Jin Ruo explained: “These are all Shu paper workshops.”

Hua Ermu seized the opportunity to give an enthusiastic introduction: “The Central Avenue runs west toward the south-third district of Yi Prefecture. The Huanhua Stream runs through the center, dividing it into the Taibai Ward and the Qingtian Ward. Water from the Huanhua Stream produces paper of superior quality, renowned throughout Tang — the saying goes ‘a single sheet worth a thousand in gold.’ So the west side of the Central Avenue is primarily paper mills, with Shu paper merchants concentrated here as well.”

As he spoke, a glaring anomaly appeared among the literary shop names: an enormous storefront with an extra-wide plaque, silver-edged, with five gilded characters — “The Brush Flows Like a God.” Before it stood a discount signboard titled “Regret if You Don’t Buy,” densely written with the day’s Shu paper discount details. The shop front was thronged with customers pressing shoulder to shoulder — the busiest of the lot.

Everyone: “…”

No need to ask. That seven-parts exaggerated, three-parts unconventional style could only be a Hua Family establishment.

Hua Ermu: “How does Fourth Great-Grandfather find our shop’s name?”

“Excellent!” Hua Yitang nodded, fan at work. “It captures the true essence of my Hua Family’s ancestral motto.”

The Hua Ermu party was instantly suffused with reflected glory, brimming with pride — even the horses’ tails seemed to wag with satisfaction.

A little further along, two six-story towers came into view, flanking either side of the Central Avenue — black eaves and jade-green columns to the west, green tiles and red columns to the east. Towering into the sky, magnificent in scale, they stood like two great guardian spirits watching over Yi Prefecture.

“The one on the west is Zhangyi Tower, and the one on the east is Sanhua Tower — both are fine spots to climb for the view.” Hua Ermu nudged his horse toward Hua Yitang’s side, smiling broadly. “Your grandnephew has already reserved a private room at Zhangyi Tower — and I will be the host, to welcome Fourth Great-Grandfather and party in style.”

Hua Yitang patted Hua Ermu’s shoulder with the dignity of an elder who was very pleased.

The Central Avenue ran straight to the south gate of the inner city. This time the city gate guards at least did their duty — they verified travel permits and official credentials before promptly waving the party through. At this point, Hua Ermu thought it best not to proceed further. He made an appointment to meet Hua Yitang at Zhangyi Tower in two hours, and then led his great-grandnephews through another round of ceremonial bowing — all with great enthusiasm — before departing.

The inner city was not large. At its center stood the Yi Prefecture Prefectural Office. Three wards were arranged around it in a tripod formation. The Hua Family’s Ninety-Nine Estates were located in the South-Second Ward — a seven-courtyard residence, with the Buchun Lake in the rear courtyard fed by live water drawn from the Jianjiang River. The estate was twice the size of the Hua Family’s sixty-six-estate compound in the Eastern Capital, which gave some indication of the difference in land prices between Yi Prefecture and the Eastern Capital.

After their long and exhausting journey, everyone was worn out. They sprawled on the couches in the main hall while Mu Xia assigned the rooms. Hua Family servants called out to one another as they carried in the luggage — bustling feet never touching the ground, a cheerful hive of activity.

Fangke declared flatly that he would not attend any such ridiculous welcome banquet. The others followed suit.

Ling Zhiyan: “It is, after all, a Hua Family clan gathering — Adjudicator Ling would be out of place as an outsider.”

Lin Sui’an: “Eating and drinking socially is too exhausting — I’ve never been good at it.”

Jin Ruo: “If Master isn’t going, neither am I.”

Ita: “Pig-person not going, I not going.”

Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, Black Tortoise: “Not going.”

They had all expected Hua Yitang to make a fuss and drag people along — but instead, he merely shrugged, fan waving idly, eyes drifting toward the main gate.

Before anyone could figure out what he was thinking, Mu Xia hurried in and reported: “Fourth Young Master — Yi Prefecture Governor Chi Ji and Prefectural Secretary Xia Ren have arrived.”

Hua Yitang snapped his fan shut. “Invite them in.”

The perpetually overcast Shu skies, it seemed, had made both Governor Chi Ji and Prefectural Secretary Xia Ren fair-skinned and fine-complexioned. Governor Chi Ji was fifty-three, but looked barely past forty — slight in build, sharp and capable. Xia Ren was about the same height as Hua Yitang, just turning forty, with three neat strands of long beard. At a quick glance, it looked like three whiskers of a catfish drawn on a white flour cake — quite comical.

Both men were dressed in civilian clothes. They came in calling Hua Yitang their brother and swearing they felt as if they’d known him for years. The reticent Ling Zhiyan couldn’t escape either — he was dragged into the circle and made to socialize at length. Governor Chi Ji racked his brain and managed to claim a connection with the Ling Family, calling himself a half-day schoolmate of the current Ling Family patriarch and dubiously establishing himself as Ling Zhiyan’s “world-uncle.”

Lin Sui’an was already half-asleep with boredom. Jin Ruo was squirming in place. Ita had used the excuse of brewing tea to disappear and had not returned. Fangke slipped away while no one was watching. Lin Sui’an was just thinking up an excuse to sneak to the bathroom when Governor Chi Ji suddenly turned the topic to her.

“This must be the famous Investigator Lin — renowned throughout three great capitals!” Governor Chi Ji’s eyes blazed with an unsettling brightness. “Meeting you in person today — truly a heroine of uncommon spirit and formidable bearing!”

Lin Sui’an forced herself to sit up straight. “Governor Chi is far too kind — Lin truly does not deserve such praise.”

Governor Chi Ji looked toward Jin Ruo. “And who might this be?”

Lin Sui’an: “My disciple, Jin Ruo.”

“Worthy indeed of being Investigator Lin’s disciple — a young hero of remarkable talent and martial bearing.”

Jin Ruo laughed drily. “You flatter me.”

Lin Sui’an sensed that something was off. What had started as routine official pleasantries — the kind Hua Yitang and Ling Zhiyan could bat away between them — had suddenly taken a sharp turn toward the two of them. There was definitely something more to this.

Sure enough, Governor Chi Ji’s next words plunged straight to the heart of the matter. “Judicial Administrator Hua, I must tell you — being this governor has been a thoroughly miserable business!”

Hua Yitang blinked. “What makes Governor Chi say this?”

Governor Chi Ji’s eyes reddened, and he dragged a sleeve across them. Prefectural Secretary Xia Ren wore an expression of deep feeling as he said, “Ever since word got out that Fourth Young Master Hua would be serving as Yi Prefecture’s Judicial Administrator, Governor Chi has been so delighted he couldn’t sleep a wink at night — he’s been practically counting the days at the city gate. Truly anxious and longing for your arrival, with sore, strained eyes from watching so hard.”

Hua Yitang’s brow furrowed, and he asked with warm, genuine concern: “Governor Chi — whatever difficulties you face, feel free to speak plainly.”

Governor Chi Ji dabbed at the corner of his eye. “The people of Yi Prefecture are simple and honest, the common folk good-natured, most of them law-abiding and living in peace — except, alas, for a small portion of jianghu factions causing trouble in the villages. The people suffer from their harassment, and your Chi has found them a great headache.”

Lin Sui’an: Oh.

Jin Ruo muttered: “Give me a break — the words ‘simple and honest’ make me break out in cold sweats now.”

Ling Zhiyan frowned. “What manner of jianghu factions are they?”

“In truth just jianghu rabble — the dregs, a rabble armed with martial arts, which makes them troublesome. The prefectural office has mounted several suppression campaigns and each time come away empty-handed.” Prefectural Secretary Xia Ren let out a long sigh and looked earnestly at Lin Sui’an. “We are truly at the end of our ability, and thus dare to presume on Investigator Lin’s assistance — to help the authorities suppress these bandits.”

Lin Sui’an raised her eyebrows: She hadn’t realized her reputation had become quite this useful — they hadn’t even finished settling in before a high-ranking offer arrived.

The corner of Hua Yitang’s eye twitched. His fan stopped.

“Ahem ahem ahem ahem!” Ling Zhiyan coughed until his lungs nearly came up. “This is not appropriate — ahem — Investigator Lin is not a member of the official corps — ahem ahem — there is no proper mandate for such a role.”

“If Investigator Lin would not mind, Yi Prefecture is prepared to appoint her as Yi Prefecture’s Chief Constable, with the specific duty of bandit suppression!” Governor Chi Ji announced formally. “All constables, clerks, and investigators of the Yi Prefecture Governor’s Office would be under Investigator Lin’s command — with a monthly pay of—”

“Governor Chi — do these jianghu factions you mentioned have any names?” Hua Yitang suddenly cut in.

Governor Chi Ji started. Hua Yitang was smiling — but there was something in his eyes, an indescribable and unsettling edge of danger. Chi Ji couldn’t help but feel a chill at his back, and quickly glanced at Prefectural Secretary Xia Ren.

Xia Ren understood at once. He swiftly produced a scroll from his sleeve. “Here is the intelligence we have gathered on these factions — please review it, Investigator Lin, Judicial Administrator Hua, and Senior Adjudicator Ling.”

The scroll listed a string of faction names: the Crane Immortal Sect, the Five Mound Alliance, the Huang Nine Clan, the Ascension Teaching, and others. The last name on the list, occupying the final position of prominence, was written in striking red characters: Pure Gate.

Everyone: “…”

Hua Yitang snapped the scroll shut. The smile on his face did not reach his eyes. “And what exactly does Governor Chi mean by this?!”

Governor Chi Ji was indignant. “You may not be aware — this Pure Gate is quite the shameless jianghu faction. Its members are numerous and diverse in background, and they are expert at lying low. In ordinary times they make their living trading in information, and they are forever engaging in scheming and conniving — they are, in short, the greatest agitators in Yi Prefecture—”

Ling Zhiyan: “Ahem ahem ahem ahem!”

Only now did Governor Chi Ji notice that the expressions of the others in the room had shifted somewhat. The look Jin Ruo was shooting him nearly pierced through his chest. Lin Sui’an smiled without warmth, her dark robes moving without wind. The atmosphere turned cold as ice.

Prefectural Secretary Xia Ren wiped his sweat. “Is — is there something amiss?”

Before the words had faded, a ringing shout carried in from beyond the door:

“Yi Prefecture Branch Leader of the Pure Gate, Gan Hongying, requests an audience with the Master of Qian Jing, Investigator Lin Sui’an! And with the Young Gate Master of the Pure Gate, Jin Ruo!”

Governor Chi Ji and Prefectural Secretary Xia Ren looked as if they had been struck by lightning. They froze.

Skit:

Hua Yitang: These two superiors of mine in Yi Prefecture don’t seem very bright — they’re an eyesore. Why not just get rid of them.

Lin Sui’an: I’ll take Chi Ji.

Jin Ruo: I’ll chop up Xia Ren.

Ling Zhiyan: Ahem ahem ahem ahem!

Did anyone catch the hidden secret in Governor Chi Ji’s and Prefectural Secretary Xia Ren’s names?