“Achoo!”

Hua Yitang rubbed the tip of his nose and glanced down at his outfit. Today, for the sake of cutting an impressive figure, he had dressed with particular care: a robe in the gradated hues of dawn clouds, boots in “spring answers to the heart’s desire,” a fan with a peony-fragrant design paired with a “red gates reflect the willow” hairpin — plus an incense blend of “sparse smoke and gentle sun.” All told, he was elegantly dashing, gracefully poised, and magnificently styled, and also the wind was quite cold—

Hua Yitang sneezed again.

Indeed. Dressing handsomely in this season required a certain resolve.

Mu Xia appeared at the right moment with hot tea. Hua Yitang’s hand paused as he reached for it, but once Mu Xia said “I brewed it myself,” he brought the cup to his lips and sipped with peace of mind. His gaze settled, fixed and unmoving, on the direction in which Lin Sui’an had run off, and he asked: “You Jiuniang, what is your sister’s name? Where is she from?”

But a long moment passed without You Jiuniang answering. Mu Xia glanced over. You Jiuniang was standing rigid five steps away, her face drained of color, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.

“She — she is someone I encountered on my way to the Precious Treasures Pavilion. She said she rarely went out and wanted to come sell an ornament but had lost her way. I saw she was young, so I brought her along with me… I genuinely had no idea she was — I really don’t know her… I really don’t!”

Hua Yitang at last shifted his gaze to You Jiuniang. He smiled faintly. “What are you frightened of? I’m only asking.”

You Jiuniang shook from head to toe.

Hua Yitang looked somewhat at a loss. He turned to Mu Xia. “Do I look particularly fierce today?”

Mu Xia lowered his eyes. “Fourth Young Master naturally looks like flowers and moonlight every single day.”

“Then why is she so terrified?”

Because you are terrifying right now! Mu Xia thought inwardly.

His Fourth Young Master seemed to know only that he was good-looking, without being aware that he also carried about him an air of sharp, cutting authority. Ordinarily it was concealed beneath laughter and banter, and the whole person seemed gentle and approachable — but whenever he fell into an unguarded seriousness, this aura would radiate outward, pressing down on those around him until they could barely breathe. At times it was even more intimidating than the family head’s cold expression.

This sensation was difficult to put into words. It was like a peony blooming in sunlight — beautiful and exquisitely fine to behold — but if you drew close, you would find that concealed behind the petals was a vast, unfathomable shadow that made one’s heart go cold. Mu Xia had spent thirteen years at the Fourth Young Master’s side and still could not fully acclimatize himself to it, let alone a mere You Jiuniang. That she could still manage to answer at all showed considerable strength of character.

You Jiuniang: “Fl-Flower Family’s Fourth Young Master may certainly investigate — I dare swear on oath! Not a single word I’ve said is false. If even half a syllable is untrue, let my face rot, my eyebrows rot, and my eyeballs rot!”

“Speaking of eyeballs,” Hua Yitang pressed his fan to his chin, “come here.”

You Jiuniang’s hands flew up to cover her eyes. “I — I know I have been blind to what was in front of me, but Fo-Fourth Young Master please do not dig out my eyeballs!”

Hua Yitang sighed. “I only thought that your eyes today look rather different from when I saw you two days ago.”

You Jiuniang finally shuffled forward reluctantly, lifted her face with trepidation, and Hua Yitang’s incomparably handsome features were reflected in her pupils — she couldn’t help flinching. That day at the Ji Family clinic, this celebrated Hua Family’s Fourth Young Master of all Yangdu had seemed so soft and yielding — why had he become an entirely different person today? One look, one smile, and a chill seeped into her very bones.

Ah yes — this transformation had begun the very moment Lin Niangzi had chased after the criminal.

Hua Yitang tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “When I saw You Jiuniang that day, her eyes held water — luminous and enchanting. Why do I feel today they lack somewhat of that loveliness?”

Yita: “She almost frightened (cry), eyes have water.”

Mu Xia: “Ahem!”

You Jiuniang took a deep breath to steady herself. “Because I have run out of Grape Tears these past few days. That is why my eyes appear less limpid.”

Hua Yitang: “What manner of thing are Grape Tears?”

“They are a kind of dew that can be dripped into the eye. Once applied, for several hours the pupils dilate and resemble grapes — hence the name.”

“My, my — they have technology for making dilating eye drops here?” Lin Sui’an and Jin Ruo came walking back quickly. Jin Ruo looked sour; Lin Sui’an’s expression was rather cheerful.

Hua Yitang leaped to his feet. “Well? Any result?”

Lin Sui’an shook her head. “The person got away.”

“What sort of person was it?”

“Yun Zhong Yue,” Lin Sui’an said, jerking a thumb at Jin Ruo. “Certified by the Pure Gate’s authority — the successor of the greatest thief under heaven.”

Yita and Mu Xia “Whoa!” in unison.

Jin Ruo snorted. “The legendary Yun Zhong Yue always worked alone. This one apparently has an accomplice — a half-baked imitation, truly.”

Hua Yitang raised an eyebrow and began fanning himself at a measured, unhurried pace.

Lin Sui’an hitched up her robe, crouched down, and stared directly into You Jiuniang’s eyes. “Now that you mention it — these Grape Tears are quite effective at dilating the pupils.”

You Jiuniang looked at Lin Sui’an in puzzlement, then at Hua Yitang, and was genuinely baffled — in the very instant this Lin Niangzi had appeared, the terrifying aura that had surrounded Hua Family’s Fourth Young Master had vanished entirely.

“From where did You Jiuniang purchase these Grape Tears?” Lin Sui’an helped You Jiuniang to her feet and asked.

You Jiuniang finally let out a sigh of relief. “Naturally from the Ji Family clinic. Grape Tears are the Ji doctor’s proprietary secret formula. I dare say they cannot be found anywhere else, not just in Yangdu but even in the Eastern Capital.”

Lin Sui’an frowned. The Ji Family clinic again…

All of a sudden, Hua Yitang beside her let out a soft laugh. The corner of his mouth curved upward, his eyes flickering in a way that suggested a warning light had been installed behind them — clearly he was cooking up some mischief.

Lin Sui’an could plainly feel You Jiuniang’s body go rigid beside her, as though startled by Hua Yitang’s suddenly dissolute energy. She was rather puzzled — could it be that the profligate had been up to something while she was away?

“Mu Xia, escort You Jiuniang back.” Hua Yitang said.

You Jiuniang started. “There’s no need — no need at all.”

“If Nine Niang has any empty bottles left over from the Grape Tears, would she be willing to give one to me?”

“Ah?” You Jiuniang blinked. “Oh — yes, yes, of course.”

“Yita, stay here and continue purchasing pearl ornaments at ten times the price.”

The two stewards were nearly in tears upon hearing this. Hua Yitang let out an amused little laugh, then signaled to Lin Sui’an to come with him. Without being told, Lin Sui’an already knew the destination: since You Jiuniang had said the pearl hairpin was part of Ji Gaoyang’s wife’s dowry, they naturally had to go and investigate the Ji Family clinic once more.

She understood perfectly — but Jin Ruo did not, and he came trotting behind them with boundless enthusiasm. “Where are you two going? Could it be you have a way to catch Yun Zhong Yue — hey, what in blazes?!” Jin Ruo spotted the hairpin Hua Yitang was turning between his fingers and nearly lost his eyes from their sockets. “You really found it?” A thought struck him, and something didn’t add up. “If you already have what you were looking for, why continue buying ornaments?”

Lin Sui’an: “To avoid alerting the prey.”

“That is the first reason. The second is—” Hua Yitang put on a perfectly earnest face: “The Hua Clan does business and always keeps its word. Having announced ten-times price purchase of all pearl ornaments in Heyue City, we must naturally purchase every single pearl ornament in Heyue City.”

Lin Sui’an: I can’t believe I almost fell for that!

Jin Ruo rolled his eyes so hard they practically orbited the ceiling. He didn’t believe a word of Hua Yitang’s explanation, but couldn’t stand still — he glanced around, lowered his voice, and pressed: “Who brought the hairpin in?”

Lin Sui’an: “Ji Gaoyang sold it to You Jiuniang — claimed it was his wife’s dowry.”

Jin Ruo: “Is that actually true?!”

“True or false — a single question will tell.” Hua Yitang pointed ahead with his chin.

Dusk was drawing near. The Ji Family clinic’s sign hung in the setting sun’s light, bathed in a crimson glow like spilled blood — deeply inauspicious.

Lin Sui’an: “Jin Ruo, scout ahead and check whether Ji Gaoyang is there. If he is, find a way to lure him away; if he isn’t, give me a signal.”

Jin Ruo held up one finger.

Hua Yitang: “Fine, fine — that counts as one item of information, I’ll pay accordingly!”

Jin Ruo didn’t go barging into the clinic. Instead he made a circuit of the surroundings, chatting briefly with neighbors and passersby, and returned in no time at all.

“Ji Gaoyang has gone out on a house call. Based on his usual habits, he’ll be back in about half an hour. Whatever underhanded business you’re planning, make it quick—”

Lin Sui’an delivered a slap to the back of Jin Ruo’s head. “What exactly do you think we’re doing?!”

“We are perfectly upstanding people.” Hua Yitang sauntered into the Ji Family clinic with great swagger.

With Ji Gaoyang absent, the front hall was of course unmanned. The rear courtyard was exactly as it had been during their previous visit: medicinal herbs grew in dense green abundance throughout the yard, several fat rabbits were scattered about nibbling at the leaves, their cage having broken again. A small child lay asleep in a rocking chair, round little belly rising and falling beneath a floral cotton blanket. Smoke curled lazily from the kitchen chimney, and Ji Gaoyang’s wife was inside preparing the evening meal.

Hua Yitang walked directly to the northernmost herb bed. Growing there was the Red Peach Dragon’s Nightshade they had seen before in the courtroom, along with the fat rabbit that had given testimony at the hearing — it had eaten its fill and was now sprawled on the grass, idly chewing as it dozed. The very picture of every sluggard’s ultimate dream.

“Haven’t these plants already been tested? No toxin.” Jin Ruo was about to reach for one when the child in the rocking chair awoke and shouted: “Children cannot touch the medicine herbs! The leaves and the berries bite — they’re very painful!”

“‘Children'” Jin Ruo stood there deeply embarrassed and sheepishly withdrew his hand.

Ji Shi heard the noise and came running out of the kitchen. Upon seeing Hua Yitang and Lin Sui’an, her expression was not particularly welcoming — she had most likely already heard about the morning’s proceedings in court.

“What business brings the two honored guests here?!”

Hua Yitang smiled with perfectly disarming harmlessness. “Has Madam Ji heard of the Hua Clan’s pearl ornament purchase today?”

Ji Shi: “We’re poor as church mice here — what pearl ornaments could we possibly have? Honored guests have come to the wrong place.”

Hua Yitang: “I was told by Dr. Ji some time ago that Madam Ji’s dowry contained several rather distinctive pearl ornaments. I have come especially to have a look. If they should happen to suit the heart of this red-faced acquaintance of mine,” he winked at Lin Sui’an, “then never mind ten times the price — fifty times is perfectly negotiable.”

Lin Sui’an fixed a rigid expression on her face and said “Mm,” and Jin Ruo mimed gagging.

“My dowry? Ji Gaoyang sold off every piece long ago!” Ji Shi said in exasperation. Then something seemed to cross her mind, and her expression dimmed. “And I was only a girl from a modest family to begin with — my dowry would never have contained anything as fine as pearl ornaments. The honored guests need not make sport of me.”

“It seems I have been mistaken.” Hua Yitang clasped his hands in farewell. He had taken two steps when he appeared to recall something, and turned back: “I notice the rabbits in this garden are looking remarkably plump and tender. The meat is surely delicious. Might Madam Ji be willing to sell me a few — just right for making a stew?”

“No, no, no!” The child leaped off the rocking chair with a shriek. “Grandfather said the rabbits are all important medicinal ingredients — they save lives — we cannot sell them, and we cannot eat them!”

Cannot be eaten?!

Something chimed in Lin Sui’an’s mind, like a flicker of lightning that vanished before she could grasp it.

Ji Shi sighed. “He treats those rabbits as though they were his lifeblood — tends to them himself when they’re hurt, and when one dies, he picks a site with good feng shui and personally buries it. I would never dare sell them.”

Hua Yitang smiled and inclined his head. “I see. Forgive the intrusion.”

Outside the clinic gates, Hua Yitang’s expression grew solemn. He looked up toward the distant horizon, where vivid red storm-clouds drifted through his dark eyes, adding a coldly beautiful edge to his already striking features.

Watching his expression, Lin Sui’an understood roughly what he had concluded. She said: “The ward gates will close soon. If we need to go to the magistrate’s court, we had better move quickly.”

Jin Ruo: “What do we want at the magistrate’s court?”

Hua Yitang: “To beat the drum and file a complaint.”

Jin Ruo: “Huh?!”

“It really is — ” Lin Sui’an paused. “Still the Red Peach Dragon’s Nightshade?”

Hua Yitang shook his head. “That is not Red Peach Dragon’s Nightshade. It is Hell’s Dragon Nightshade.”

Magistrate Xu was seated beside a basin with his feet soaking in hot water, so comfortable his toes had spread wide apart. His newly taken concubine’s soft, boneless little hands were kneading his shoulders, her breath warm at his ear, and within moments she had Magistrate Xu’s thoughts galloping off in all directions. He seized the concubine’s wrist with one hand, all set to exchange heartfelt vows — when, at that precise instant, the sound of the grievance drum came drifting from the front courtroom: boom — boom — boom.

Magistrate Xu lurched to his feet in alarm and bellowed: “Who is beating the grievance drum at this hour?!”

“Honorable Xu! Disaster! Disaster!” The chief secretary crashed the door open with a bang. “Fl-Flower Family’s Fourth Young Master is here! He’s out in front of the main hall beating the drum!”

“What?!” Magistrate Xu jumped out of the footbasin, the ice-cold flagstone nearly cramping the arch of his foot. He grabbed his official robe and ran for it. “Oh, my poor sainted mother — what is that ancestor up to now? Didn’t I already send constables to keep order at the Precious Treasures Pavilion?”

“Honorable Xu — your hat — your hat — and your shoes, your shoes!” The chief secretary trailed behind, clutching Magistrate Xu’s official boots in one hand and his official cap in the other. “I have no idea either — the curfew is nearly upon us, you’d think if there was something urgent it could wait until tomorrow! I’d only just warmed my wine — haven’t had a sip yet—”

These two had been working together for years and were well attuned to each other. They complained without pausing for breath, running all the while, and somehow managed along the way to pull on the official robe, jam on the official boots, and set the official cap upon the head — all without losing a moment — and made it from the inner chambers to the main hall in less time than it takes to drink half a cup of tea. Just before entering, the chief secretary made a quick adjustment to Magistrate Xu’s appearance. Magistrate Xu drew a long breath, took his measured official stride, stepped up into the hall, took his seat, and slapped down the gavel. “Hear ye—”

The officers on both sides called out, “All rise—” as a single figure strode into the hall in the dying light of the setting sun, robes fluttering like flower petals, features brilliantly and strikingly handsome — none other than the nightmare figure Magistrate Xu had encountered just this morning: Hua Family’s Fourth Young Master.

What made it worse was that this person was like a lantern in the dark — the moment he appeared, all eyes converged upon him, drawing in a great crowd of spectators. The outside of the main hall was packed to bursting, heads poking up along the courthouse walls like a row of hanging ornaments — even whatever creatures were hiding in the rat holes seemed to be peering out curiously.

Magistrate Xu’s hand on the gavel was trembling slightly. He brought it down with a quaver and spoke, his voice cracking on the last syllable: “Who stands before this court? State your name and your grievance—”

The final note went entirely off-key.

Hua Yitang drew a written complaint from his sleeve and presented it, his voice steady and clear: “I am Hua Yitang. I bring formal charges against Ji Gaoyang of No. 5 Stone Street, Qihe Ward, Heyue City — for murder and financial gain — for poisoning to death Lu Shi of North Eight Alley, Beiyue Ward!”

Skit:

Magistrate Xu: What fresh misery is this! Wuwuwu — this life isn’t worth living anymore.