The mood Lin Sui’an was in right now could best be described by a single animated expression:

Are you out of your mind?!

She slammed the courtyard door shut. Hua Yitang, however, slithered through the gap like an eel and shot inside. Fan spread open, he was just launching into what promised to be a lengthy declaration when his gaze swept sideways and landed squarely on Ling Zhiyan, standing in the courtyard.

Ling Zhiyan, one hand braced against his lower back, stared at Hua Yitang in shock.

Hua Yitang, fan raised mid-air, stared at Ling Zhiyan in shock.

Lin Sui’an: “…”

Whether it was her imagination or not, the atmosphere suddenly felt distinctly like a standoff at a Shura arena.

Then, without warning, both men spoke at once.

Ling Zhiyan: “Hua the Fourth, please don’t misunderstand—”

Hua Yitang: “Ling the Sixth, you heartless person — when are you going to pay back the sixty bolts of silk you owe me?!”

A brief silence.

Ling Zhiyan: “Hmm?”

Hua Yitang: “Misunderstand what?”

Lin Sui’an: “…”

It hadn’t been a standoff at a Shura arena. It had been a case of chickens and ducks sharing a yard — talking completely past each other.

Half a stick of incense later, Lin Sui’an and Hua Yitang sat side by side on two small stone stools, listening as Ling Zhiyan recounted what had unfolded in the Eastern Capital over the past month.

The case of the Feng family’s civil faction had shaken the Eastern Capital to its foundations. Some had compiled a record of the Feng family’s accumulated crimes over the years and submitted it as a memorial. Others were convinced the Feng family had been framed and submitted joint petitions demanding the Emperor reopen and reinvestigate the case. Some pointed fingers at the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review and accused him of handling a wrongful verdict. Others presented decades of the Feng civil faction’s contributions in an appeal for clemency. Over a thousand scholars of the Eastern Capital sat in silent protest before the Court of Judicial Review, petitioning on the Feng family’s behalf. Multiple factions came to blows over who would claim the vacated post of Minister of Rites. In short: those who fished in troubled waters were there; those who kicked a man when he was down were there; those who watched and laughed from a safe distance were there; and those who rushed to carve up the spoils most certainly were there.

“To stabilize the court, His Majesty temporarily suppressed the Feng family’s case and ordered the Court of Judicial Review to conduct a thorough and meticulous reinvestigation,” said Ling Zhiyan. “The chief culprits from the Feng, Jiang, Bai, and Yan families are being held in the Court’s prison. Of them, Feng Yuyi and Bai Shun were severely injured, so they were confined to the rooms in the Court’s rear courtyard for proper medical care. Feng Yuyi regained consciousness periodically; Bai Shun remained in a continuous deep sleep. And then—”

Ling Zhiyan drew a breath. “Seven days ago at dawn, the jailer assigned to deliver their morning meal pushed open the door and found that Bai Shun had somehow woken. He was sitting on Feng Yuyi’s bed. The bedding beneath him was lumped and uneven. The jailer was alarmed, dragged Bai Shun off the bed, and pulled back the bedding — and found Feng Yuyi’s body underneath. He had been smothered to death.”

Even though she had already been told the outcome just moments before, hearing the details now still made Lin Sui’an’s scalp prickle.

Hua Yitang frowned. “Did Bai Shun give a confession?”

Ling Zhiyan: “After killing Feng Yuyi, he has done nothing but laugh. Nothing can be gotten out of him — he appears to have lost his mind. There was only one instance: when I brought up Qi Yuansheng’s name, he stopped laughing, looked at me for a moment, and then started laughing again. After that, using Qi Yuansheng’s name to provoke him produced no further response.”

From all appearances, Bai Shun had most likely been Qi Yuansheng’s confederate all along, just as Dongchao had been. But Bai Shun was a member of the Bai family — someone who had survived by attaching himself to the Feng family’s patronage. What reason would he have had to help Qi Yuansheng? Lin Sui’an inwardly sighed: that secret would most likely never be known to anyone again.

“What of Feng Song?” Hua Yitang asked again.

“Feng Song had already been gravely ill. When he learned of Feng Yuyi’s death, he was so overcome with grief that he too died within a couple of days.”

Lin Sui’an: “And the Feng civil faction’s case?”

Ling Zhiyan: “Although we have Feng Song’s confession and the ironclad evidence from the shadow academy, the civil faction’s roots run deeper than we had imagined. I fear this case may never see the light of day again. Fortunately, the Feng family itself has fallen — it is only a matter of time before the civil faction’s influence over the court is gradually rooted out…”

Hua Yitang tapped his fan against his palm and said nothing. Lin Sui’an also kept her silence.

After a pause, Ling Zhiyan said quietly: “It was my oversight. When Jiang Hongwen died, I concluded the suspect was someone inside the prefecture office — but I failed to consider that Bai Shun was also someone who could put both Jiang Hongwen and Feng Yuyi at ease enough to go out with him.”

Hua Yitang: “That is not your fault. At the time, we all believed the second body was Bai Shun’s — that it was a misdirection planted by Qi Yuansheng. The fault is mine: when I pulled Bai Shun out alive, I should have been more alert.”

Ling Zhiyan: “It is not your fault. With the White Livestock Case erupting, and then Governor Zhou being murdered in quick succession, you were stretched to the limit just to crack the case — it’s only natural you didn’t notice Bai Shun’s abnormality. Still, the fault is mine. All the way from Yangdu back to the Eastern Capital, I somehow failed to notice anything amiss about Bai Shun.”

Hua Yitang: “No — the fault is mine. If only I had decoded the hidden meaning in Qi Yuansheng’s final words sooner—”

Ling Zhiyan: “The fault is mine. I should have insisted on keeping Bai Shun and Feng Yuyi in separate confinement—”

“The fault is mine!”

“The fault is mine.”

Lin Sui’an propped her chin in her hand and rolled her eyes back and forth between the two of them — left, then right, then left again — as they traded the blame back and forth, line by line, with voices that kept rising and an atmosphere that kept souring.

Hua Yitang: “The Ling clan built its family on military merit — always robust in body and light in the head. That you accomplished this much is already remarkable. Truly, the fault is mine, for failing to give you sufficient guidance.”

Ling Zhiyan: “Hua the Fourth Young Master, foremost pampered young master of Yangdu — more prone to ruining things than achieving them — the fact that, between bouts of eating, drinking, and pleasure-seeking, you managed to assist me in solving this case, is nothing short of a heaven-sent miracle. A descent of divine grace. The fault is, nonetheless, mine.”

The two of them stared at each other.

Hua Yitang slapped the table. “Ling the Sixth, what are you implying?!”

Ling Zhiyan frowned. “I’m starting to think those sixty bolts of silk weren’t worth the trouble.”

“Trying to welsh on a debt to the Hua family? Dream on! I’ve already shown extraordinary restraint by not charging interest!”

“Surely the Hua family, rich enough to rival an entire nation, doesn’t need my sixty bolts of silk?”

“Business is business! Even brothers keep clear accounts!”

“Pfft!” Lin Sui’an burst out laughing.

Hua Yitang and Ling Zhiyan both fell immediately still, and with perfect synchrony averted their gazes and cleared their throats.

“You two really are birds of a feather.” Lin Sui’an smiled.

“Please. I would not be caught dead calling him a brother,” Hua Yitang muttered and grumbled. “A friend — that, perhaps.”

At those words, Ling Zhiyan went still. After a long moment, he smiled quietly.

He was someone who smiled rarely, always carrying himself with the gravity of a man far older than his years. When he smiled now, it was as if the wind had ruffled the surface of a lake, sending fine ripples shimmering across the water — beautiful in the way of things that were easy to overlook.

Hua Yitang raised an eyebrow. “Go on then. What impossible task have you traveled all this way to ask me for help with?”

Ling Zhiyan, for once in his life, was caught off guard. “Well — the truth is, I came to ask Lin Niangzi — only, I hadn’t anticipated the two of you being in quite this sort of… arrangement—”

That brought both Lin Sui’an and Hua Yitang up short. They spoke in unison: “What sort of arrangement?”

Ling Zhiyan was puzzled. “Did Hua the Fourth not say, just now, that he wanted Lin Niangzi to elope with him?”

Oh, right — she had nearly forgotten!

Lin Sui’an fixed the pampered young master in question with eyes that could cut. “Hua Yitang. What stunt are you pulling now?!”

Hua Yitang’s expression was if anything more shocked than hers. “I — I — I said I wanted to — e-e-elope?!”

Lin Sui’an narrowed her eyes at him.

“No — no, it’s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding! It’s a slip of the tongue! A slip of the tongue!” Hua Yitang was actually sweating. “That’s Mu Xia’s fault for going on and on about eloping right in my ear, and I blurted it out in the rush of the moment— ahem, what I originally intended to say—” Hua Yitang took a breath and said, “Lin Sui’an, will you come with me to the Eastern Capital?”

Lin Sui’an: “What?”

Ling Zhiyan: “What business do you have in the Eastern Capital?”

“Elder Brother won’t help me purchase an official post, which means I have no choice but to—” Hua Yitang raised his fan. “Go to the Eastern Capital and sit the imperial examinations!”

Ling Zhiyan’s neck gave a crack.

Lin Sui’an: “…”

He was serious about this?

“Hold on,” said Ling Zhiyan, one hand at his neck and one at his lower back. “Are you a tribute student?”

Hua Yitang: “No.”

“Have you passed the regional examinations?”

“No.”

“The prefectural examinations?”

“No.”

“Are you a student of one of the seven schools or two academies?”

“No.”

“…” Ling Zhiyan’s eyes went wide. “Don’t tell me you’re planning to put yourself forward for the Edict Examination held on New Year’s Day?”

“That is the fastest route.”

Ling Zhiyan looked as if he might faint. Lin Sui’an was completely lost. “What is the Edict Examination?”

Hua Yitang snapped his fan open with a flourish. “Beginning in the fourth year of Xuanfeng, an Edict Examination has been held every three years. The Emperor issues the call himself, summoning extraordinary talents from all under heaven. Anyone who sits the Edict Examination — regardless of origin, regardless of background — may be recommended by a prefectural authority, or may put themselves forward without a sponsor. The examination is held on New Year’s Day, the dawn of new life, and the Emperor himself presides over and personally tests the candidates. Those who place on the list become the Emperor’s own disciples.”

Ling Zhiyan sighed. “Fourth Young Master, you only know half of it. While placing through the Edict Examination does carry great prestige, it ranks well below placing through the regular examinations — it is regarded by the court as a ‘mixed path.’ Those who come through it are routinely mocked and belittled by those who placed through the standard examination routes. The posts granted to them are ‘miscellaneous posts,’ outside the mainstream, with little hope of promotion. And of these last two rounds of the Edict Examination in particular — the recommendation stage has become quite riddled with abuses. Alas, the Edict Examination in its current form has become little more than an empty shell.”

Lin Sui’an: Hmm… sounds about as promising as Hua Yitang himself.

Hua Yitang smiled. “Times have changed. This year’s Edict Examination will be an entirely different matter.”

Ling Zhiyan blinked, then caught on. “Because of the Feng family?”

“The Feng family’s examination fraud case has come to light, which means this month’s regular examinations are certain to be delayed. The imperial examinations are a matter of national importance — His Majesty will not allow them to remain in disarray indefinitely. The most pressing need now is to stabilize the hearts of scholars across the realm and undermine the reputation of the Feng civil faction. This Edict Examination is the perfect opportunity.” Hua Yitang said with confidence. “If my read is correct, anyone who places highly in this Edict Examination will be a true disciple of the Emperor in every sense — and will be put to use directly by His Majesty.”

To put it plainly: the regular examinations, already corrupted by the Feng family, had been rendered worthless. So this year’s Edict Examination was not only going to be held — it was going to be held in a grand and splendid fashion. Nothing short of spectacular would do, for the fastest way to restore the court’s credibility was precisely this.

Ling Zhiyan looked at Hua Yitang with unconcealed surprise. After a long pause, he said quietly, “Worthy, indeed, of being the Hua family’s Fourth Young Master.”

Hua Yitang waved his little fan in smug satisfaction.

Ling Zhiyan considered it, then added, “There is one difficulty, however. Anyone sitting the Edict Examination — whether recommended by a sponsor or putting themselves forward — must have a guarantee from a serving official of the seventh rank or above—”

Ling Zhiyan couldn’t finish. Both Hua Yitang and Lin Sui’an had turned to look at him in the same moment, Hua Yitang’s gaze most of all, burning with blazing intensity.

Hua Yitang: “If I recall correctly, a Grand Court Investigator of the Court of Judicial Review holds the junior sixth rank.”

Ling Zhiyan’s voice went up an octave. “You want me to act as your guarantor for the Edict Examination?!”

“If you agree, I’ll write off the sixty bolts of silk.”

“Are you aware that if the candidate whose application one has guaranteed performs too poorly — scores a rank too low — the guarantor is subject to demotion?”

“I’ll throw in an additional thousand in gold.”

Ling Zhiyan was struck speechless. He stared, mouth agape, and then — astonishingly — actually began to consider Hua Yitang’s proposal in earnest.

Lin Sui’an watched in quiet amusement: exactly how impoverished was the Ling clan, that Ling Zhiyan would risk demotion just to earn this sum?

After pondering for the full length of a cup of tea, Ling Zhiyan looked up and asked with complete seriousness, “Hua the Fourth Young Master, why do you want to become an official?”

Hua Yitang: “As it is said, the great Kun fish and the Peng bird soar upward ninety thousand li—”

Thump thump thump — the main door rang with another series of knocks. Before Lin Sui’an could even call out to ask who was there, the visitor outside had already announced themselves.

“Lin Niangzi, Hua Yiheng requests an audience.”

Hua Yitang shot to his feet as if launched, his face draining white. He spun in a frantic circle. “How did Elder Brother find this place?! It can’t be — it can’t be — if he’d known I was here, he would have shown up with a whole escort. No, no, no. He doesn’t know — I need to hide. I need to hide!”

Hua Yitang bolted toward the side room door, then came charging back, seizing Ling Zhiyan and dragging him along.

Ling Zhiyan, mystified: “I have to hide too?”

Hua Yitang: “Have you forgotten the old feud between the Hua and Ling clans from fifty years ago? I may be generous and magnanimous, but my Elder Brother is petty and small-minded.”

Lin Sui’an watched the two of them disappear into the side room, pressed a hand to her forehead, and sighed.

What on earth was all of this?!

Hua Yiheng had come alone. Same style as before: he sat down and said nothing for a long time, his homicidal gaze fixed entirely upon Lin Sui’an.

Lin Sui’an: “Does the head of the Hua household need to use the privy?”

Hua Yiheng: “No need.”

“Head of the Hua household, please speak directly.”

“Do you know why the Fourth Young Master wants to become an official?”

Why ask me? How would I know?!

She didn’t say that aloud, because she noticed that Hua Yiheng had quietly glanced toward the side room, his gaze carrying a weight of subtle meaning.

She understood at once. Hua Yiheng had known all along that Hua Yitang was here. So he had come to ask her — intending for Hua Yitang to hear the answer through her voice.

Hua Yiheng wasn’t asking her. He wanted to use her as a conduit to ask Hua Yitang.

And why, exactly, should she be willing to manage this particular family matter?

Lin Sui’an stood up. “Head of the Hua household, would you care for some tea?”

Hua Yiheng: “Hmm?”

“I’ll brew a pot.” Lin Sui’an walked directly to the side room door and pulled at it. It didn’t open — held from within. She pulled it open just a crack. Through the narrow gap she could see Hua Yitang on the other side, pressing both hands together in a pleading gesture held high above his head, looking up at her with a beseeching expression. His sleeve had slipped back, revealing a forearm as pale as fine jade — and across it were two fresh red welts from the wooden ruler, swollen and raised to an alarming degree.

Lin Sui’an: “…”

Lin Sui’an let out a quiet sigh, then turned and went back to sit across from Hua Yiheng.

“Does the head of the Hua household know the full account of the Feng civil faction’s case?”

Hua Yiheng finally shifted his gaze from the side room to Lin Sui’an’s face. “I know something of it.”

“And the White Livestock Case?”

“I have heard the broad outline.”

“Have you ever come across the name Qi Yuansheng?”

“I understand him to be the one who poisoned Governor Zhou.”

“That is correct,” said Lin Sui’an with a nod. “He was also the hidden hand who brought down the Feng family and exposed the White Livestock Case. And moreover—” She paused and glanced toward the side room. “He is most likely the reason Hua Yitang wants to become an official.”

Hua Yiheng frowned. “What does Lin Niangzi mean by that?”

“I am not a fan of tea,” Lin Sui’an said, ladling a bowl of plain water for Hua Yiheng. “If the head of the Hua household does not object, perhaps he would try my specialty plain boiled water — and listen, while he does, to the story of Qi Yuansheng.”

Mini-theatre: On the subject of “eloping”

One hour prior.

Hua Yitang lay face-down on his bed, rubbing his sore backside with pained whimpers.

“Mu Xia, is there any more of that Radiant Jade Pain-Relief Ointment? Bring it over quickly and let me put on more… Mu Xia, what are you packing luggage for?”

Mu Xia had already packed two large trunks and was now working on a third.

“Fourth Young Master, I am preparing for your elopement with Lin Niangzi.”

“Eloping?!” Hua Yitang shot up off the bed, shocked and pained in equal measure, his face contorting. “Who is eloping with whom?! Me and Lin Sui’an?! Since when?! How did I not know about this?!”

“Ita said that the Family Head met with Lin Niangzi alone this afternoon, and the two of them spoke privately for half a stick of incense.”

Hua Yitang was instantly on edge. “What did they talk about?”

“At tonight’s family dinner, you saw the Family Head’s attitude toward Lin Niangzi with your own eyes. Add to that the fact that Lin Niangzi packed her belongings and left in the night — with Fourth Young Master’s cleverness, can you not guess what the Family Head said to Lin Niangzi?”

Hua Yitang’s expression darkened.

No wonder Lin Sui’an’s face had been so pale when she arrived, and she had spoken so little and left so decisively — she must have been treated to some considerable unpleasantness by Elder Brother.

“Elder Brother must have misunderstood Lin Sui’an. I’ll go have a talk with him.” Hua Yitang limped toward the door. Suddenly, the door opened on its own. Hua Yimeng slipped in through it, and pressed a large bundle into Hua Yitang’s arms.

“Elder Brother is already asleep. Second Elder Sister is keeping watch. Hurry up and go now while you can — this bundle has the deeds to several properties, and gold leaf — more than enough for you to live on.”

Hua Yitang stared in disbelief. “Go? Go where?”

Hua Yimeng: “Sky above, sea beyond — go wherever you please. Lin Niangzi’s martial arts are excellent — she will certainly be able to protect you.”

“Hmm?”

“What are you still standing there for? Eloping requires good timing. Hesitate for a moment and you’ll regret it for a lifetime.”

“No, wait, Third Elder Sister — when did I say I wanted to—”

“Time waits for no one! Go, go, go!”

By the time Hua Yitang found himself sitting in a fast-moving carriage, his mind still hadn’t quite made the turn.

How had he ended up in some muddled situation where he was supposed to be “eloping” with Lin Sui’an?

Mu Xia: “Fourth Young Master, have you decided where you and Lin Niangzi are eloping to?”

Hua Yitang, still blank: “Where to?”

“Guangdu is warm in winter, Yidu is peaceful and easy-going, the capital has four seasons, the Eastern Capital is lively — all good options.”

The Eastern Capital? The Edict Examination held every three years on New Year’s Day!

Hua Yitang’s eyes lit up at once. That made good sense — he could go sit the Edict Examination, and once he placed, he’d be an official!

Hua Yitang: “The Eastern Capital!”

Mu Xia: “Wise as always, Fourth Young Master. The Eastern Capital is an excellent place to elope to.”

“It’s not eloping… it’s inviting Lin Sui’an to escort me to the Eastern Capital—”

“I always knew the day would come when the Fourth Young Master eloped with Lin Niangzi.”

“It’s not eloping… Lin Sui’an and I are partners—”

“Once you’ve eloped, you’ll be able to see Lin Niangzi every single day. Is Fourth Young Master happy?”

“Hmm?” Hua Yitang looked up, thought about it for a moment, and smiled. “Being able to see her every day would indeed be quite nice… ahem, it’s not eloping — it’s setting out on the road together!”

Mu Xia sighed. “Then might I ask Fourth Young Master: what does it feel like, to be setting out on the road together with Lin Niangzi?”

Hua Yitang waved his little fan. “Eloping feels pretty good.”