The aftermath of the Taiyuan Jiang Clan case was an enormous amount of work.

Just as Jiang Wende had said — the moment he died, the already rotten Taiyuan Jiang Clan collapsed with a crash and fell into total chaos. The Taiyuan Jiang Clan members, desperate to save their own skins, defected in droves — some surrendering themselves, some exposing their own secrets, some turning state’s witness, some denouncing their associates, some informing on others, and some biting each other like dogs. Then there were those on the outside, piling on and taking advantage of the situation. In just a single month, all manner of strange characters appeared on the stage in every conceivable fashion, each putting on their own show of disgrace, collectively driving the Taiyuan Jiang Clan — this enormous, festering parasite on the nation — toward its final destruction.

The petitions filed against the Taiyuan Jiang Clan piled up into mountains. Chen Yanfan took one look at the situation, made an excuse about pressing business in the Eastern Capital, threw down the work, and fled — leaving Hua Yitang and Ling Zhiyan to shoulder the burden. The two of them investigated cases day and night, losing all sense of time, barely knowing whether it was day or night. Bai Ruyi and Wan Lin were not spared either, drafted in to serve as extra hands, working bitterly without rest.

Jin Ruo and the Pure Gate were run off their feet as well, primarily responsible for gathering evidence of the Taiyuan Jiang Clan’s crimes against ordinary people. The more they investigated, the worse it got — the foul deeds the Taiyuan Jiang Clan had committed over all these years were too numerous to record. The cases unearthed included the white cattle case of the Suizhou Su Clan, the Dragon God case of Chengxian County in Qingzhou, the Floating Life Gate case, and many others. Petitions from the common people alone numbered in the hundreds, requiring the mobilization of several Pure Gate branch halls to handle the external reception.

In the midst of all this, Lin Sui’an, the group’s most formidable warrior, found herself with no battlefield to fight on.

When it came to reviewing case files — she couldn’t understand the archaic classical Chinese of this era’s documents, and would fall asleep three times over a single volume.

When it came to receiving citizens filing complaints — as master of Qian Jing, her name now resonated throughout the Tang nation. When she sat herself down, the citizens were too awed to speak, wishing they could set up a pair of pig heads and burn incense in worship, and far from helping, she only added to the confusion.

When it came to going out to the grassroots for investigation and questioning — she was semi-socially avoidant, and half a day of questioning wouldn’t yield a handful of useful answers.

After much agonizing, Lin Sui’an ultimately made use of her physical stamina and quick feet, and secured for herself the job of delivering meals. Together with Yita and the Four Saints, she went back and forth each day between the Hua household, the prefectural yamen, and the Pure Gate halls, delivering Mu Xia’s heartfelt cooking to everyone — which was quite a cheerful occupation.

The first stop on the meal delivery route was the Andu Prefectural Yamen. Even though the number of people eating there was not large, Hua Yitang the big eater was present, which meant the food containers had to be brought in by carriage — Yita handled that.

For the several Pure Gate halls, with their dozens of people, the food containers filled five large carriages, handled by the Four Saints.

The stop Lin Sui’an was responsible for was the last one: just two food containers, delivered every day at noon to a small courtyard in Heze Lane at the far northern end of the yamen district.

The yamen’s prison had been burned completely to the ground. After a month of emergency construction, a handful of cells had been cobbled together, now crammed full with Taiyuan Jiang Clan members. The morgue had also been reduced to ash, and Fangke, with nowhere to work, drifted through the yamen with a coffin-face day after day. The night watch constables who ran into him a few times nearly had their lives frightened out of them.

Hua Yitang had, with a grand wave of his hand, purchased a small courtyard for Fangke in Heze Lane, the nearest alley to the yamen. The north-facing rooms were converted into a temporary morgue and coroner’s workroom, while the south-facing rooms were reserved for a special prisoner — Qi Yuansheng.

Qi Yuansheng had served as one of Jiang Wende’s most capable lieutenants and had personally orchestrated the cicada-shell loan fraud case of the Suizhou Su Clan. By modern standards, he was at minimum the ringleader of a massive fraud, and still had multiple murders from the Yangzhou case on his hands. Yet at the same time, he was a key witness in the Qin Family Army case and had rendered service in helping to solve it. His crimes and merits were difficult to balance, and the Three Courts couldn’t decide how to handle him — and so they tossed this hot potato to Hua Yitang.

Hua Yitang was even more audacious, and simply resorted to procrastination, leaving the matter unresolved and untouched.

And so Qi Yuansheng settled into the courtyard with perfect ease. Three meals a day, two teas, and four snacks — the same standard as Fangke — and save for not being permitted to go out, his life could not have been more comfortable.

When Lin Sui’an arrived at the courtyard with the food containers, Fangke was about to go out, saying he was going to East Market to buy some pig offal for experiments.

Lin Sui’an took out a packet of pastries and handed it to Fangke, then asked: “How is he today?”

“Qi Yuansheng was gravely injured in the cliff fall, and on top of that, excessive anxiety had long since depleted his internal organs. Before, he had been holding on by the power of the Dragon God fruit. After the Taiyuan Jiang Clan case was put to rest, he stopped taking it. In truth, even if he hadn’t stopped, he doesn’t have much time left…” Fangke let out a sigh, his expression unexpectedly carrying a measure of admiration. “This person took the Dragon God fruit for so long — the quantity was small, but he managed not to lose his mind. His strength of will is a match for yours.”

Lin Sui’an shook her head. “I am nowhere near his equal.” She paused, then asked: “How long does he have?”

Fangke was silent for a moment. “Any time now.”

Although she had been mentally prepared, hearing those words still made Lin Sui’an’s heart clench.

Fangke took the pastries and hurried off. Lin Sui’an carried the food containers through the inner gate and into the courtyard.

Qi Yuansheng was nestled in a grand armchair, a large soft cushion propped behind him, reading a volume of scenic travel essays. On the desk beside him, a small stove burned, and a tea kettle was heating over it, bubbling and steaming. The sun was bright today, its warm golden light falling on his long lashes, shimmering like fireflies — beautiful as a painting.

“What delicacies has Manager Mu prepared today?” Qi Yuansheng asked with a smile.

Lin Sui’an unpacked bowl by bowl: “Light gossamer noodles, steamed lamb, served with a dish of black pepper, cumin, and fresh garlic; crystal dragon-and-phoenix cake, purple dragon cake, jade-dew rounds, and your favorite hundred-flower tea — this batch just arrived from Qingzhou today.”

Qi Yuansheng tasted a little of each, set down his chopsticks, and poured two cups of tea for Lin Sui’an and himself. “Manager Mu seems to think I have the same appetite as Hua the Fourth. How could one person eat all this? The hundred-flower tea is more to my liking.”

Lin Sui’an smiled and sat with him, drinking a cup of tea.

Fangke had said that Qi Yuansheng’s five senses were gradually failing, and that he had likely lost his sense of taste long ago.

“When the case is concluded, what do you plan to do?” Lin Sui’an asked.

Qi Yuansheng held his tea cup and thought for a moment. “I’d like to go back to Yangdu and see it once more.”

“Mm. That’s good.”

“If it’s possible, I’d also like to stand at the top of Yumei Mountain one more time and look out over Yangdu’s night lights.”

Yumei Mountain — where the white cattle of Yangdu and Qi Yuansheng’s little sister Xiuer were buried.

Lin Sui’an lowered her eyes. “Mm. That’s good too.”

“You have seen Xiuer’s memories — could you tell me what she looked like?” Qi Yuansheng said. “It has been so long. I can no longer remember clearly.”

Lin Sui’an shook her head. “Xiuer’s memories show the world through her own eyes. There is no way to see her own face.”

“Then… in Xiuer’s eyes — what was I like?”

“When you smiled, you were very beautiful. Like a painting.”

Qi Yuansheng smiled, tears glimmering in his eyes. “I could not protect Xiuer while she was alive. I hope that from now on, I can always be by her side.”

Lin Sui’an looked away, unable to bear looking at Qi Yuansheng’s face any longer. “Mm. That’s good.”

The courtyard fell quiet. The fragrance of tea drifted through the air, and the sky above was a cloudless blue.

“Lin Sui’an — if I could do it over again, I would not have pried open your hand.”

Lin Sui’an raised her eyes abruptly.

Qi Yuansheng smiled with great gentleness. “Now, we are friends. I trust you.”

Lin Sui’an’s heart ached with bittersweet feeling. She raised her tea cup. “To friends — a toast!”

Qi Yuansheng lifted his cup. “To friends!”

“Ding” — three cups clinked together.

The cup that had appeared from nowhere was upended by someone and drained in several gulps. He sat himself down without ceremony and helped himself to the gossamer noodles, polishing them off completely. He wiped his mouth and smiled brilliantly: “Mu Xia’s culinary skill is truly peerless!”

Lin Sui’an looked on helplessly: “Yun Zhong Yue — you come and eat my food every single day. Have you no shame?”

Yun Zhong Yue pointed at his own nose. “But this is my real face.”

Skin like lustrous jade, eyes deep as autumn water, the knife scar beneath his eye like a single clear teardrop — far from diminishing his beauty, it added a touch of bewitching allure that was genuinely unsettling.

Lin Sui’an didn’t know how many times this made her stare.

Yun Zhong Yue became somewhat uncomfortable and scratched his nose. “Is this face really that good-looking?”

Lin Sui’an nodded. “Yes.”

Yun Zhong Yue’s ears turned red. Qi Yuansheng lowered his eyes and smiled quietly.

Lin Sui’an gave a dry cough. “I’m just curious — are you truly not…”

Yun Zhong Yue raised an eyebrow. “Are you all thinking that I refuse to admit any connection to Qin Nanyin because I despise having that foul Jiang blood flowing through my body, and because I cannot bear to see the name of the God of War tainted?”

Lin Sui’an was taken aback. Qi Yuansheng: “Is that not the reason?”

“Even between a true mother and child — how many would bear such an exact resemblance?” Yun Zhong Yue asked.

Lin Sui’an: “…”

By the laws of genetics, such a degree of similarity was indeed uncommon, and furthermore —

“And speaking of bloodlines — I should be of the same generation as Jiang Dongyi, yet why do my features bear not the slightest resemblance to his?” Yun Zhong Yue continued.

Qi Yuansheng: “Now that you put it that way, that’s true…”

Yun Zhong Yue: “In truth, I have no connection to Qin Nanyin or Jiang Yongshou whatsoever.”

Lin Sui’an: Wait — what?!

Qi Yuansheng’s eyes went wide.

Yun Zhong Yue sipped his tea with evident satisfaction. “I am simply a little beggar my teacher picked up off the streets. The only reason my teacher took me on as a disciple was because I bore a five-part resemblance to Qin Nanyin. The world knows that Yun Zhong Yue, the greatest thief under heaven, is a master of disguise with a thousand faces — but no one knows that Yun Zhong Yue’s true secret skill is the reshaping of a living person’s actual face.”

Lin Sui’an: Wait, WHAT?!

“After I came of age, at regular intervals, my teacher would make adjustments and refinements to my bones and musculature. It took a full six years and countless rare and precious materials before this face was finally complete.” Yun Zhong Yue flicked his cheek. “An exact likeness of Qin Nanyin’s face.”

Lin Sui’an stared, utterly speechless: Cosmetic surgery?! Subtle alterations?! Good heavens — is this real?!

Qi Yuansheng rolled his eyes. “Can a single word out of your mouth be true? That day, Coroner Fang proved with the blood-drip bone method that you were Jiang Yongshou’s son.”

“My teacher’s extraordinary skill, though miraculous, is not without flaws — especially against a coroner of Fangke’s supreme mastery. There must have been tell-tale signs throughout. It is fair to say that when Coroner Fang examined this face that day, he had already detected that it was not formed naturally, but shaped by human hands after birth. I must say — spending too long around people like you lot hasn’t sharpened any of his other skills, but it has filled his belly with clever schemes. He understood at once what the true purpose of my testimony was.”

Lin Sui’an felt a flash of clarity. “The blood-drip bone method cannot verify blood kinship at all!”

Ha — she had known all along that this kind of paternity test was unscientific!

Qi Yuansheng: “But that day Coroner Fang also tested Lin Niangzi — hss!”

“When he tested me, Doctor Fang switched to a different bone,” Lin Sui’an said.

“He also switched to a different knife,” Qi Yuansheng added.

Yun Zhong Yue looked entirely satisfied. “You two aren’t completely hopeless.”

Lin Sui’an’s mind buzzed: So — Yun Zhong Yue’s entire identity was a scheme that this pair of teacher and disciple had spent over a decade constructing, all for the purpose of landing the most decisive blow at the most critical moment — shattering Jiang Wende’s psychological defenses and forcing him to personally confess his crimes aloud.

If that was truly the case, then —

“What happened to Qin Nanyin afterward?” Lin Sui’an asked.

Yun Zhong Yue was quiet for a moment. “After the battle at Yi City, my teacher searched the battlefield for ten days and ten nights. But the battle had been catastrophic — mountains of corpses and seas of blood, countless severed limbs impossible to piece back together, countless heads with faces beyond recognition, and some bodies had been trampled into pulp by horse hooves. In the end, all my teacher found in that heap of the dead was this—”

Yun Zhong Yue drew a water flask from within his robes and placed it on the table. The mouth of the flask was carved with a beast-shaped clan emblem. “This water flask was hung at Qin Nanyin’s waist by my teacher with his own hands, and the clan emblem was also carved by him. It is the only relic that remains of Qin Nanyin.”

“My teacher built a cenotaph for Qin Nanyin, but to our dismay, someone from an organization called Yinsi later cast covetous eyes on it and stole Qin Nanyin’s relic. It took me a long time to track down the Yinsi member — who had changed his name and hidden himself in Yi City — only to find, when I arrived, that you and Hua the Fourth were there as well.” Yun Zhong Yue’s expression was one of mild bewilderment. “The two of you — your luck is truly beyond all reckoning.”

Lin Sui’an: “The way you say that, it rather sounds like an insult.”

Qi Yuansheng nearly laughed out loud. He thought for a moment, then asked: “The things you’ve told us — are they the true truth?”

Yun Zhong Yue raised his tea cup and took two sips, gazing up at the azure blue sky. “What is called ‘the truth’ depends, in the end, entirely on what lies within a person’s heart. Whatever you believe to be the truth — that is the truth.”

Lin Sui’an thought of something Hua Yitang had once said in a similar vein:

“The world believes what it sees is the truth, when in fact it has only taken what it wished to see as the truth. As for what it does not wish to see — whether real or false — it simply cannot see it.”

“You and Hua Yitang are very much alike,” Lin Sui’an said.

“Absolutely not — Yun someone could never aspire to that!” Yun Zhong Yue waved both hands vigorously. “All I ask is that in the future, when Yun someone wanders the rivers and lakes and tries to earn a modest living, he never crosses paths with the two of you again!”

Lin Sui’an laughed. “I suppose you were hanging around the yamen today and got chased out by Hua Yitang again?”

“What is wrong with your Hua the Fourth? I merely went to inquire about how the case was progressing, and he threw shoes, smashed bowls, and shouted at me — what on earth have I done to offend him?”

“Ah… perhaps because he doesn’t enjoy looking at your face.”

“This face of mine is precious — worth ten thousand in gold, at minimum. How has it wronged or provoked him?”

“…Most likely because your face is better-looking than his…”

“…That’s the reason?!”

“A judicial adviser, and he still acts more petty than a woman!”

“Pfft!”

Qi Yuansheng watched the two of them banter back and forth, let out a yawn, and sank comfortably back into his soft cushions, closing his eyes with contentment.

The water in the kettle came to a boil again. The tea in the cups had gone cold.

Lin Sui’an and Yun Zhong Yue fell silent at the same moment.

Qi Yuansheng lay quietly at rest, his breathing already stilled.

Qi Yuansheng had no funeral.

In accordance with his dying wishes, Fangke cremated his remains and placed them in a small box.

The box was chosen by Hua Yitang — pear blossom wood, carved with water ripple patterns. Hua Yitang gave it the poetic name: “A heart as vast as the eastern sea; a heart as pure as pear blossom white.”

Fangke’s commentary: “Hua the Fourth, please read more books!”

On the day they saw Qi Yuansheng off from the city toward Yangdu, only Lin Sui’an and Hua Yitang were present. There was no ceremony — they simply entrusted Qi Yuansheng’s ashes to Yun Zhong Yue.

Having been relentlessly stared at in public of late, Yun Zhong Yue had grown thoroughly exasperated, and today wore another ordinary-looking human-skin mask. He wrapped the ash box carefully, slung it across his back, and glanced at Hua Yitang. “Hua the Fourth — Yun someone has a few words to say privately to Lin Niangzi. You’re rather in the way!”

Hua Yitang ground his teeth and glared at Yun Zhong Yue. Just as Lin Sui’an braced for him to snap back and start kicking people — he let out a huff, tucked his sleeves, and walked away, coming to stand at the city gate far in the distance, pulling an impressively long sulking face.

Lin Sui’an pressed her hand to her forehead. “Why do you keep provoking him?”

Yun Zhong Yue fixed Lin Sui’an with a steady gaze, his eyes luminous. “You’ve already guessed the relationship between my teacher and Qin Nanyin, haven’t you?”

“Hm?”

“I am the successor of Yun Zhong Yue; you are the successor of Qin Nanyin. Does that not mean—” Yun Zhong Yue peeled away the mask from his face, revealing his bewitching countenance. “—that you have no desire to roam the rivers and lakes with me freely, soaring side by side, resuming what was begun before?”

Lin Sui’an shook her head helplessly. “You are not your teacher, and I am not Qin Nanyin. What previous tie could there be?”

Yun Zhong Yue rubbed his nose and silently put the mask back on. “Teacher said that with this face, any young woman would fall for me. I suppose that was a lie.”

Lin Sui’an rolled her eyes. “If you want to find a young woman to like you, it isn’t about your face — it’s about your sincerity.”

“Do you like Hua Yitang because of the sincerity he shows you?”

“Not really. Mainly because he has money.”

Yun Zhong Yue couldn’t hold it back — he burst out laughing.

Lin Sui’an was displeased. “Why are you laughing like that?”

Yun Zhong Yue: “You just didn’t deny that you like him.”

Yun Zhong Yue tilted his head. “I truly must leave now — and who knows when next we shall meet. Have you nothing to say to me?”

Lin Sui’an said solemnly: “Abide by the law. Don’t fall into my hands.”

Yun Zhong Yue erupted in laughter. He glanced at something behind Lin Sui’an, swung onto his horse, and rode away without a backward look.

Hua Yitang gathered up his wide robes and came rushing over like a gust of wind, sending two kicks at Yun Zhong Yue’s retreating figure, then circled around Lin Sui’an twice. “That fellow Yun Zhong Yue… that… ahem — what did he say?”

Lin Sui’an: “He said he isn’t Jiang Yongshou’s son at all, and has no connection to Qin Nanyin.”

Hua Yitang: “Tsk. Obviously.”

This time Lin Sui’an was genuinely shocked. “How did you know?”

“Intuition,” Hua Yitang said. “With Jiang Yongshou’s worthless bloodline — how could he possibly have produced a son like Yun Zhong Yue?”

Lin Sui’an blinked. “You don’t actually dislike Yun Zhong Yue, do you?”

“Hmph — nor would a true descendant of the Qin Clan ever be content to be a common thief!”

This fellow was unmistakably a tsundere through and through.

“You’re not going to the yamen today?”

“I’ve been at it for so many days I’m bone-weary — my back aches, my eyes sting, my legs are cramping, and I’m practically hunched over. I’ve lost a full four pounds. Today, everyone at the yamen gets a day off.” He paused, and seemed to be slightly nervous. “We rarely get a chance like this — would you keep me company for a walk?”

Lin Sui’an smiled. “Sure. Where to?”

“Qujiang Pool — Furong Garden!” Hua Yitang’s eyes lit up with bright delight. “I’ve heard the spring blossoms there are glorious, the scenery lovely, and it’s perfect for an outing.”

Furong Garden was not far from Mingde Gate. Going straight through the gate and heading east, past Anyi, Ande, Tongji, and Quchi neighborhoods — in early spring, every household’s courtyard bloomed with forsythia, soft yellow, pale pink, peach red… swathes of color spreading into a sea of flowers, petals drifting like snow — a truly beautiful sight.

To Lin Sui’an’s astonishment, she spotted the newest edition of door deities: on the left, the God of Wealth Hua Yitang, and on the right, the War Goddess — the pair of them pasted together on the doors of ordinary citizens’ homes, offering protection and bringing good fortune.

Hua Yitang seemed not to have noticed at all, just pressed straight ahead with his head down, muttering to himself as he walked — clearly reciting something. The scene felt all too familiar, and Lin Sui’an nearly laughed out loud.

When they finally reached Furong Garden, good heavens — instead of the glittering waters of Qujiang Pool, all they could see was a mass of jostling heads. The glorious spring blossoms were on the ground, in the horse dung, in the pond water, on the hair of young ladies, and in the hands of rambunctious children — but absolutely not on the trees.

Hua Yitang’s face fell. Lin Sui’an suppressed laughter so hard it hurt.

“How about you come with me somewhere?” Lin Sui’an said.

Hua Yitang hadn’t yet recovered from the blow of “Mu Xia’s intelligence being inaccurate.” Lin Sui’an grabbed him around the waist, sprang into the air, and moving at breathtaking speed across startled shouts and a continuous string of rooftops, arrived on the roof of the yamen’s judicial office.

Hua Yitang’s face fell even further. “Today genuinely is a day off — I genuinely am not slacking.”

Lin Sui’an pulled up her robes and sat down on the rooftop. “Sit with me a while.”

Hua Yitang sat down with reluctance, then followed Lin Sui’an’s gaze — and was transfixed.

Brilliant clouds spread like embroidery across the sky, stretching out along the ridgeline of the mountains in endless rolling waves. The wispy kitchen smoke from thousands of households was dyed rose-gold by the setting sun. The laughter of children, the clatter of pots and bowls, a dog barking, a sheep bleating, a hen clucking, a water duck quacking — sounds drifting near and far in turn. Homeward birds threaded through the evening glow, each feather luminous in the light.

“This is the best spot in all of Andu City to watch the sunset,” Lin Sui’an said with a smile. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Hua Yitang’s gaze shifted to Lin Sui’an’s face. The girl’s eyes were as clear as still water, shimmering with the most captivating light.

“Beautiful.”

Lin Sui’an smiled. “Your poem, then?”

Hua Yitang’s heart skipped half a beat. “Po — poem?! A p-poem?!”

“Yes. The poem you wrote for me.”

Hua Yitang’s heart began to pound wildly. He opened his mouth, found his voice had gone hoarse, swallowed several gulps, breathed in deeply twice, and then, word by deliberate word, recited: “Silver light shimmers soft, waters flow still; flowing still with longing, feelings boundless and deep; deep the tender spring buried in the heart — one glimpse, one heart, and I pray we grow white-haired together.”

He finished, and didn’t dare to even breathe, staring straight at Lin Sui’an.

Lin Sui’an blinked, then blinked again, and let out an “Oh.”

Hua Yitang felt as though his swollen heart had been pricked with a needle, slowly deflating.

“But I understood your feelings,” Lin Sui’an added.

Hua Yitang shot back upright at once. “Re — really? Truly?!”

Lin Sui’an’s smile played at the corners of her mouth. “You like me. I’m glad.”

Hua Yitang’s mind went blank with a buzz. Those words were far too familiar — that was exactly how Lin Sui’an had opened when she rejected Bai Ruyi.

“Hua Yitang — I like you too.”

That was done for. This line was exactly the same as when she’d rejected Bai Ruyi as well.

“Your kind of liking and my kind of liking are not the same…” Hua Yitang’s heart sank lower and lower. “Hua someone understands… understands…”

Lin Sui’an watched him. Before her, Hua Yitang was like a peony wilting under frost — pitifully dejected, on the verge of tears, but still holding himself straight and upright by sheer force of will — and Lin Sui’an couldn’t help thinking of the very first time she’d seen him, when she’d sent him tumbling head over heels, and the first thing he’d done on getting back up was strike a pose and look dashing.

Back then, she had felt nothing for this pampered wastrel of Yangdu but contempt from the bottom of her heart.

And now? What did she feel?

In truth, her heart had known the answer for a long time.

Lin Sui’an patted Hua Yitang on the shoulder. He turned his head on instinct, and Lin Sui’an, with the speed of thunder before ears can hear it, leaned in and kissed him — a brief touch, and she pulled back. Then felt a pang of regret. Too short — she hadn’t tasted anything, couldn’t tell if it was sweet or sour, salty or bland…

Hua Yitang froze completely, staring at Lin Sui’an, neither speaking nor breathing.

Good opportunity!

Lin Sui’an leaned in again. This time for a little longer. And she even gave it a little lick. Heh — it was sweet.

Hua Yitang’s eyes moved, frame by frame, dropping to Lin Sui’an’s lips. The whole of him looked like he’d been steamed through by the evening glow, and all at once flushed red from head to toe, slapping both hands over his own mouth. “Mmph mmph mmph — you mmph-ed me!”

Lin Sui’an gave a dry cough, snatched Hua Yitang’s little fan and fanned herself rapidly — the burning heat on her face not only failed to dissipate but grew even more intense. “My kind of liking for you — is this kind of liking.”

Hua Yitang blinked rapidly several times. Slowly, he lowered his hands. In his eyes, the radiance swelled and swelled — then softened, melting into boundless, all-encompassing tenderness.

Lin Sui’an could least of all bear that look, and turned away in embarrassment.

Hua Yitang tugged at Lin Sui’an’s sleeve, then went higher, hooking around Lin Sui’an’s little finger. Then he shifted again, linking their palms together, then finally adjusted once more until their fingers were interlaced.

Lin Sui’an felt her face burning hot enough to toast flatbread. “Let’s go home. Eat dinner.”

Hua Yitang beamed like a flower in full bloom. “All right.”

Lin Sui’an tried to pull her hand free and found it absolutely hopeless. She had no choice but to let Hua Yitang hold her hand as they walked across the eaves out of the yamen and down the long street toward the Hua household.

Hua Yitang’s palm was warm to the point of burning, his face as red as a ripe fruit. He completely forgot to watch where he was going, eyes plastered to Lin Sui’an’s face. Passers-by stopped and stared one after another, breaking into expressions of delighted excitement at some extraordinary piece of gossip.

Lin Sui’an wanted to die. “Stop staring at me!”

“All right.”

Not a fraction of movement in his gaze.

“Stop staring at me and smiling!”

“All right. Heh heh.”

“Stop pressing up against me!”

“Heh heh, all right.”

They had not yet reached the gate of Taiping Quarter, and the Pure Gate disciples following behind had already gathered in eighteen separate clusters, heads pressed together, writing furiously in little notebooks. Hua Yitang walked slower and slower, as if each step cost him effort, pausing every so often to strike a few poses for flaunting their happiness.

This is absolute social death, Lin Sui’an wailed inwardly.

The Pure Gate’s speed at spreading gossip was extraordinary. Sure enough, the moment they reached the neighborhood gate, Jin Ruo came charging out ahead of everyone. “Master — does this surname Hua — OH. MY.”

Hua Yitang held Lin Sui’an’s hand with one hand and tucked his other sleeve, hand on hip. “Little Jin Ruo — from now on, you will address me as Shimu!”

Jin Ruo’s face twitched. “Hua Yitang — you’re male, right?”

“Ah, in my joy I got confused for a moment.” Hua Yitang lifted his chin. “From now on — I am your Shigong!”

The Pure Gate disciples: “Pfft!”

Jin Ruo: “Master, please reconsider!”

Lin Sui’an pressed her hand to her forehead. “The person in question is deeply regretting this right now!”

“Out of the way, you lot!” Fangke shouldered a large wooden box and shoved through the crowd. His gaze landed on Lin Sui’an and Hua Yitang’s clasped hands, and he paused for just a moment before letting out a “Hmph.” “Oh, so you’ve finally stopped playing the slow long game?”

“Why are you all blocking the road—oh!” The newly emerged Ling Zhiyan, aide of the judicial office, let out an uncharacteristic cry of surprise. He froze for two breaths, then smiled. “Hua the Fourth — congratulations!”

Hua Yitang was even more insufferably pleased with himself. “Back to the estate — ten days of feasting!”

Lin Sui’an: “…”

You — enough!

“Never mind that for now, I’m busy today,” Fangke said, turning to ask Jin Ruo: “Where’s the body?”

Lin Sui’an: “What?”

Jin Ruo: “Furong Garden. Qujiang Pool.”

Hua Yitang: “Hm?”

Ling Zhiyan: “What exactly happened?”

Jin Ruo: “Citizens on an outing spotted a black cloth sack floating up from the middle of the pool. When it was hauled out, it contained four left legs, five right arms, and one human head.”

Lin Sui’an: “…”

Ling Zhiyan: “Are there any witnesses who spotted a suspicious individual?”

“Yes,” Jin Ruo said, caught between tears and laughter. “According to citizens who were visiting the garden, they saw a man and a woman in the park today — a flamboyantly dressed young man as beautiful as a flower, and a black-clad young woman carrying a blade at her waist. The two of them were acting suspiciously, and not long after they entered the garden, they suddenly shot into the air and vanished in a flash. The citizens are certain they are the notorious murderous duo of the rivers and lakes who have been killing people left and right!”

Ling Zhiyan pressed his hand to his forehead. Fangke’s eyes rolled so far upward they nearly disappeared.

Jin Ruo made a “please, this way” gesture. “Together, shall we?”

Lin Sui’an and Hua Yitang looked at each other and smiled ruefully.

Hua Yitang: “Walk?”

Lin Sui’an: “At this point, what else can we do? Let’s go.”

The citizens stepped aside, clearing a path. The five of them sighed and trudged forward with heavy steps.

“Soaking in water for days — the body must be far from fresh. When on earth will the new morgue finally be completed?”

“There’s still a whole pile of case files at the yamen unread. Sigh—”

“Master — Shigong — the two of you, your luck, you simply cannot escape it.”

“On the matter of Shigong — your disciple may need to deliberate further.”

“I’ve decided — in the future, our child will be called Lin Chunhua.”

“Hua Yitang!”

“Oh my, ow! That hurts!”

“Pfft.”

“Heh, serve you right.”

“Hahahahaha!”

The lanterns were coming on, the night soft as water. The five silhouettes dissolved into the glow of ten thousand homes, brilliant as stars.

Main story complete.