Of all the Hua Family estates in the Eastern Capital, the most luxurious and comfortable was the Hua Family Residence No. 66, located in the Jinghang Ward. It lay to the south of the North Market, with convenient access, offering the tranquility of seclusion amid the bustle. From there, following the Central Imperial Avenue northward, crossing the Luo River Bridge, entering the southern city, passing through the Jade Rooster Ward, and through the gate of Jinghang Ward, one arrived at this magnificent residence. The architecture followed the Hua Family’s consistent style of extravagant, imposing opulence — a spacious six-courtyard compound, with black eaves and red pillars, the walls plastered in vermillion-red pigment mixed with gold dust, which in sunlight gave off both fragrance and shimmer. Entering through the main gate and proceeding all the way to the back garden, one was greeted by a view of clear lake water, lush garden greenery, and graceful willows — with pavilions and water terraces standing delicately alongside, most beautiful of all being the “Singing Oriole Water Pavilion” on the island in the middle of the lake. Gazing out from there in all four directions, the shimmering water rippled all around, fish leapt from the water, and the effect was utterly refreshing to the heart and mind.

Having made such a grand spectacle for himself, with the inexplicable ache and restlessness in his chest finally dissipated by a few degrees, Hua Yitang had barely entered the estate before servants came to report: Ita had already brought Lin Niangzi and the others to the Singing Oriole Water Pavilion, where a tea banquet had been set out to celebrate his triumph. His mood immediately lifted. He fanned himself, humming a little tune, crossed the Swallow Dance Bridge, and cheerfully entered the water pavilion — left hand on hip, right hand holding his fan aloft, striking a dashing pose worthy of celebration. “In today’s Eastern Capital debut, this Hua has made a name for himself that will echo for generations to come, and from this day forward surely —” He paused. “Ling the Sixth, why are you here?!”

At the sight of Hua Yitang, Ling Zhiyan immediately brightened. He rose swiftly to his feet, took hold of Hua Yitang’s elbow, and practically escorted him to a seat, then personally picked up his own tea bowl and placed it in Hua Yitang’s hand. His manner was warm and attentive. “Fourth Young Master has worked hard today — here, drink some tea, rest your throat.”

Hua Yitang was on instant guard. “Have you taken some bad medicine?”

Ling Zhiyan smiled through gritted teeth. “Drink.”

Hua Yitang lowered his eyes to look — the tea was thick as mud, giving off a pungent, bitter, acrid smell, with some unidentifiable matter floating on the surface. Clearly Ita’s latest creation.

He glanced over at the others — Jin Ruo covering his mouth to smother a laugh, Lin Sui’an’s shoulders shaking uncontrollably, and Ita sitting behind her pitch-black, fuming tea vessel, her blue eyes wide and innocent, watching the two of them.

“Ahh, now that I think about it — Sixth Young Master Ling was so magnanimous as to be my sponsor for the imperial examination, and I have yet to formally express my gratitude. What better time than now — I shall use tea in place of wine, a small token of my sincerest thanks.” Hua Yitang raised the tea bowl and offered it back to Ling Zhiyan in return toast. “Sixth Young Master Ling, I invite you to drink this cup to the bottom — please do not let my heartfelt warmth go to waste!”

Ling Zhiyan braced both hands against the tea bowl, quietly exerting force to push it back. “Today, Fourth Young Master silenced them all, restored reason to chaos, and shattered false rumors — releasing a terrible burden I had been carrying. Ling takes this opportunity to return the toast to Fourth Young Master!”

Hua Yitang’s strength was no match for Ling Zhiyan’s. He watched the tea soup drawing closer and closer, gritted his teeth, and dropped his voice. “Ling the Sixth, stop deluding yourself — I had no time to do you any favors.”

Ling Zhiyan’s hundred-year aristocratic dignity was barely holding together. “Fourth Young Master’s tough words hide a soft heart — I understand.”

“You’re biting the hand that fed you.”

“I’m returning a borrowed flower to the Buddha.”

Lin Sui’an watched with deep feeling. “Truly, this is what brothers-in-arms look like. Ita — you can’t play favorites!”

“Understood.” Since the day Fang Ke had praised Ita’s tea artistry, Ita’s confidence in her brewing had grown enormously. She devoted herself daily to studying the classic texts on tea, striving for continuous innovation. Now, seeing the behavior of Hua Yitang and Ling Zhiyan, her delight only increased. She promptly ladled out a large bowl of tea soup and pushed it into the center of the table. “One bowl each. Drink.”

Jin Ruo: “Pfft —”

Hua Yitang’s eye twitched. “You call this killing the enemy but wounding yourself by a thousand.”

Ling Zhiyan’s eyelid jumped repeatedly. “The Ling family motto: even in death, always take someone down with you!”

The two exchanged a glare, then simultaneously picked up their bowls, brought them to their lips, and carefully took a small sip. One went green in the face, the other went blue.

Ita looked on expectantly. “More?”

Both spoke in unison: “No need!”

Lin Sui’an and Jin Ruo dissolved into laughter.

It had to be said — Ita’s tea was beyond description in taste, but remarkably effective in breaking down barriers. The distance that had grown between Ling Zhiyan and the rest of the group over half a month of separation dissolved in no more than half a bowl. The guarded stiffness in his expression and posture eased noticeably.

Hua Yitang switched to Mu Xia’s regular tea, had a couple of sips, and quickly came back to life. He peered at Ling Zhiyan. “Who is that Shan Yuanming, and where is he from?”

Ling Zhiyan: “A tribute scholar from Suizhou. Quite a celebrated talent.”

“Suizhou?” Hua Yitang narrowed his eyes. “No wonder — the feng shui of that wretched place is no good.”

In truth, when Shan Yuanming had introduced himself, Lin Sui’an had also taken note.

Suizhou — the heartland of the Su Family, home base of Su Chengxian.

“For this imperial examination, the Emperor places great importance on it — especially after word spread that Hua Family’s Fourth Young Master intended to sit for the exam. The major aristocratic families have all mobilized in response. All five clans and seven lineages have sent their scholars to compete. One could say the scale and caliber of this New Year’s imperial examination is the greatest in fifty years,” Ling Zhiyan said, glancing at Lin Sui’an. “The Su Family has also sent one person — named Su Yiyun, the cousin of the Su Family head, who, in terms of seniority, would be Su Chengxian’s great-uncle by marriage.”

Lin Sui’an expressed her admiration. “The elderly certainly do remain vigorous and strong.”

“Ahem — he is only twenty-three. It is simply that his seniority is very high.” Ling Zhiyan paused. “To be perfectly candid — this person arrived in the Eastern Capital a month ago and repeatedly came to my door with calling cards, requesting a meeting. Given the relationship between the Ling and Su Families, I reluctantly saw him once. This person — this person has repeatedly probed me for details about Lin Niangzi’s time in Nanpu County. His words suggested he seemed rather… regretful… about the matter of Su Chengxian dissolving the engagement with Lin Niangzi —”

Ling Zhiyan couldn’t continue. Because Hua Yitang was staring at him with murderous eyes, his fan creaking ominously under the force of his grip — as though he were imagining it as someone’s bones, intending to grind them to dust and scatter them on the wind.

“Oh?” Lin Sui’an actually laughed instead, though her smile was more unsettling than Hua Yitang’s killing intent. “How’s that? Is this great-uncle of his thinking of reviving the engagement? Of inviting me to become the Su Family’s grand-aunt by marriage?”

Ling Zhiyan buried his face in his teacup. “I never said any such thing.”

“I think something isn’t right about this,” Jin Ruo voiced his suspicion. “Both Shan Yuanming and Su Yiyun are from Suizhou, and they both came to cause trouble for us without the other knowing — there’s a good chance they’re colluding behind the scenes.”

Ling Zhiyan frowned. “These two don’t appear to have any connection. After all, one is from humble origins and the other from the aristocracy.”

“Oh, please. As if a secret deal between them would need to be filed with the Court of Judicial Review.” Jin Ruo glanced at Lin Sui’an. “I’ll go investigate this Su Yiyun!”

Lin Sui’an was startled. “But you’re in the Eastern Capital — you don’t have anyone here —”

Jin Ruo: “Lin Sui’an, you really underestimate me. I am the genuine, bonafide acting Young Gate Master of the Pure Gate. When it comes to gathering intelligence, who in the entire Pure Gate can compare to me? Even without a single person under my command, I can dig up everything there is to know about that Su person — right down to the dirt at the roots!”

“Well said — now that is the mettle of the Pure Gate’s acting Young Gate Master!” Hua Yitang snapped his fan shut with a decisive crack, pulled out a packet of gold leaf, and tossed it to Jin Ruo. “Go.”

Jin Ruo lit up with a grin. “On it.”

Lin Sui’an: “Take care of yourself.”

“Just sit back and wait for me to dig up some dirt on the Su Family.” Jin Ruo dashed out of the water pavilion, exchanged a brief greeting with Fang Ke who was entering in his slow, unhurried manner, and called out: “Doctor Fang, you’re up! Ita’s been keeping your tea warm for you!”

Fang Ke, still in his large decorative moth ensemble, walked in and took Jin Ruo’s seat. Still apparently not quite awake, his brows were tightly knitted, his face pale with a bluish cast. He asked: “Whom are you all targeting now?”

“A bad person named Su.” Ita ladled a bowl of tea and placed it before Fang Ke. Fang Ke picked it up and drank it down in one go, and some of the tension in his brow eased.

Ling Zhiyan had been staring fixedly at Fang Ke’s outfit since the moment he walked in. When he then watched Fang Ke down Ita’s tea without so much as a flicker of expression, he was utterly dumbstruck. “This — this radiant — this — distinguished hero is —”

“Ling Court Official, well met.” Fang Ke clasped his hands. “I am Fang Ke. I am the coroner engaged by Hua Fourth Young Master.”

“A coroner?!” Ling Zhiyan’s voice jumped up an octave. He immediately noticed his loss of composure and hastily recovered his aristocratic bearing. “Ah, so it’s Brother Fang — I have long heard of you.”

“I have no particular reputation — there is nothing to have heard of me.” Fang Ke’s expression was like carved wood. “We are not acquainted, Ling Court Official. There is no need to make conversation for its own sake. It tires you to say it, and it tires me to hear it.”

Ling Zhiyan: “……”

Hua Yitang was pounding his thigh with laughter. Lin Sui’an was biting down hard to keep a straight face.

So this is how refreshing it feels to watch Fang Ke put someone else in their place.

“Doctor Fang was truly the hidden hero of the Heyue City case. Without him, it would have been very difficult to find the murderer’s weakness.” Mu Xia, being the more considerate one, made a point of explaining Fang Ke’s background.

Ling Zhiyan’s eyes lit up with understanding. “I have long — ahem, I have heard something to that effect.”

“Ling the Sixth — does your Court of Judicial Review have any coroner certification examinations coming up? Help our Doctor Fang register for one.” Hua Yitang asked.

Ling Zhiyan thought for a moment. “Registration for this season’s coroner certification examination has already closed. He could wait until next season — around the fourth month.”

Hua Yitang clicked his tongue. “Too late. Is there any way to jump the queue through other channels?”

Ling Zhiyan: “Why the urgency?”

Lin Sui’an gave a meaningful sigh. “It’s not that we’re in a hurry — it’s that if a case comes along, there won’t be time.”

Ling Zhiyan laughed. “Lin Niangzi need not worry. The Eastern Capital is the Tang Kingdom’s imperial city — the Three Departments and Six Ministries are here, the Imperial Guard is stationed here, and the people live in peace and contentment. In terms of defense and security, it is the finest in all of Tang.”

Lin Sui’an: “……”

You do realize that sounds exactly like you’re setting yourself up for a fall.

Hua Yitang fanned his little fan. “Ling the Sixth — don’t boast. Boasting invites lightning strikes.”

Ling Zhiyan: “Fourth Young Master only needs to focus on his studies and prepare calmly for the examination. Even if a case does arise, with the capital magistrate’s office, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Ministry of Justice all here —”

“Ling Gong! Something terrible has happened!” Ming Feng came sprinting breathlessly into the water pavilion. “The Court has ordered all officials to return to the Court of Judicial Review immediately — they say —” He took a rapid glance around at the people in the pavilion, and lowered his voice. “A strange case has appeared!”

Ling Zhiyan stood in the great hall of the Court of Judicial Review, looking at the furiously enraged Chief Justice Chen Yanfan seated above, and found himself involuntarily recalling the gleefully triumphant look on Hua Yitang’s face as they had parted ways.

“Ling the Sixth, if you find yourself in over your head, you can always come to me. I have a magnanimous nature — I might be persuaded to help you out!”

What a pity that the very next moment, that smug face had been swatted aside by Lin Niangzi.

Lin Sui’an’s smile had been far more genuine: “Whatever the case may be, as long as Ling Court Official finds himself in difficulty, I will be glad to assist with full effort. Compensation will follow the same rates as in Yangdu.”

“Ahh —” Ling Zhiyan let out a long, heavy sigh.

“Ling Zhiyan!” Chen Yanfan roared. “Step out!”

Ling Zhiyan, as a Court Official of the Court of Judicial Review — rank Senior Sixth Grade, Upper Tier — was the lowest-ranked person in this great hall, and could only stand at the very tail end of the queue, one step back from the door. He side-stepped out, clasped his hands. “Your subordinate is present.”

Chen Yanfan slammed the table furiously. “What is the meaning of all that sighing?! Are you suggesting that our Court of Judicial Review is incapable of solving this case?!”

This Chief Justice was fifty-three years old. He had presided over the Court of Judicial Review for five years. The higher his rate of case resolution climbed, the more of his hair he lost. Without his official cap, only a fist-sized knot remained on his head, and his hairline was rapidly retreating toward the crown — earning him the unofficial nickname “brilliantly gleaming on top,” in direct opposition to the relentless decline of his hair. Equally in direct opposition to his diminishing hair was his progressively increasing temper.

Ling Zhiyan remained composed and unruffled. “Your subordinate has been in the records hall these past few days studying old case files, and is not fully informed on the newly reported case.”

“Listen to this! All of you listen!” Chen Yanfan thundered. “This young man is blaming me!”

“Your subordinate would not dare.”

“What is it you don’t dare? Abandoning your post during duty hours, going out without authorization, and —”

“Your subordinate followed the regulations and filed a report. Deputy Chief Justice Zhang approved it.”

“Hm?”

Deputy Chief Justice Zhang Huai stepped forward. “Chief Justice Chen — that is correct.”

Chen Yanfan was momentarily cut off. “In any case — this reflects poorly on you! Back to the records hall! Not a single old case resolved, and you haven’t the right to come out! Hmph!”

“Your subordinate obeys.”

As he exited the great hall, Ling Zhiyan could still hear Chen Yanfan’s booming voice practically shaking the roof: “Who told you to call that young man over here?! Are you all trying to be the death of me?! This case — don’t let him anywhere near it! All of you remember that!”

Ming Shu and Ming Feng were indignant. “Chief Justice Chen really goes too far! When it comes to solving cases, who in the entire Court of Judicial Review can compare to Ling Gong? Why on earth should you be kept off this one?”

“Chief Justice Chen has his own reasons and calculations. The two of you should not speak carelessly.” Ling Zhiyan strode quickly toward the records hall. “What is the case, exactly?”

Ming Feng lowered his voice. “A female corpse was found in the Yishui canal. The body is described as peculiar — and word in the streets is that it’s the work of evil spirits.”

Ling Zhiyan frowned. “What is peculiar about the body?”

“They say it is — especially beautiful.”

“What?”

“That is to say — the person was beautiful, and the corpse is also beautiful. No, more accurately — the corpse is even more beautiful.”

Ling Zhiyan quickened his pace, taking three steps where there had been two, passed through the back compound, walked into the records hall, and settled into his seat, turning things over carefully in his thoughts.

It was just one female corpse — that alone would hardly be enough to send Chief Justice Chen into such a fury. In all likelihood the cause was the rumor of evil spirits. With the year’s end approaching, hearts and minds were already unsettled, and with the New Year’s imperial examination imminent, the aristocratic families and scholars from every prefecture were gathered in the Eastern Capital… If rumors started circulating now — Ling Zhiyan couldn’t help but think of the rumors surrounding the Feng Family’s case. He shook his head, and smiled bitterly. “Hua Fourth Young Master truly is a prophet of doom.”

Ming Feng: “Ling Gong — shall I go look into this case?”

Ling Zhiyan nodded, then paused, and added: “Prepare a modest gift. Send it to the Hua Family Residence No. 66.”

Ming Shu: “Hm? Does the Hua Family actually need gifts from us?”

Ling Zhiyan pressed a hand to his forehead. “Better to prepare in advance. Let us hope it goes unused.”

Ming Shu and Ming Feng exchanged a baffled look, but did as they were told.

After they left, the records hall fell completely silent. Occasionally a gust of wind stirred the hanging file tags, sending out a soft, rhythmic knocking. Ling Zhiyan unrolled a yellowed case file, let his eyes pass over several columns, and could not take in a single character. A wave of weariness, impossible to name, washed over him. He propped his left hand against his cheek, closed his eyes — and before he knew it, had drifted off to sleep.

He slept deeply. It had been a very long time since Ling Zhiyan had slept this soundly. His consciousness felt as though it had sunk into a bottomless swamp, impossible to rouse — dimly, as if from far away, he caught a scent. A sweet, crisp, fruity and woody fragrance, with threads of cool, clear water woven through it. It eased his sunken consciousness slowly back toward waking.

“Look at that — drooling and everything.”

“Should we let Ling Court Official sleep a little longer?”

“If he keeps sleeping, I’ll be accused of murder again!”

Murder?! Accused?!

Ling Zhiyan jolted awake violently.

Two pairs of eyes materialized directly before him — one pair sharp and piercing, the other with lashes fanning wide and full — and he let out a startled “Oh!” lurching backward, nearly knocking the bookshelf over behind him.

Hua Yitang rolled his eyes. “Ling the Sixth, are you really a child of the Ling clan? With awareness this poor, you wouldn’t notice an enemy’s blade at your throat until it was already there.”

Ling Zhiyan shook his head, beyond incredulous. The two people before him were unmistakably Hua Yitang and Lin Sui’an — was he still dreaming?

“You two —” Ling Zhiyan looked around — unmistakably the Court of Judicial Review’s records hall. Outside the window was total darkness. Night had fallen. “Why are you here?”

“Ming Shu brought us in,” Lin Sui’an said with a gentle smile. “Ling Court Official, let’s go — time to solve a case.”

Ling Zhiyan stared. “The female corpse case?!”

“What female corpse?” Hua Yitang fanned his small fan with agitation. “That Shan Yuanming’s been murdered.”

Side Story

Half an hour earlier.

Lin Sui’an had just raised a piece of sliced fish to her mouth when Jin Ruo came bursting in, snatched Lin Sui’an’s plain water, downed half the flask in one go, and said: “One good piece of news, one bad piece of news — which do you want to hear first?”

Hua Yitang was chewing a steamed bun with casual disinterest. “We’ve already heard about the female corpse in the Yishui canal.”

“Not that — Shan Yuanming’s been killed!”

You’re not serious — again?

Lin Sui’an immediately lost her appetite. She set down her chopsticks. “That’s definitely the bad news, yes.”

Jin Ruo shook his head. “Not that one! The bad news I’m talking about is — there are rumors going around that Hua Family’s Fourth Young Master is the killer.”

Hua Yitang dropped the half-eaten steamed bun back into his bowl, curved his lips in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, and let out a couple of quiet, cold chuckles.

Fang Ke set down his bowl. “When did this happen?”

“The body was found half an hour ago.”

Fang Ke nodded. “The body should still be fresh.”

Lin Sui’an pressed a hand to her head. “What’s the good news?”

“Doctor Fang just said it — the body’s still fresh.”

Fang Ke methodically removed his outer robe, folded it carefully and set it to one side, then stood up wearing only his large crimson inner garment, hoisted his oversized self-made tool chest onto his back, and fixed Lin Sui’an and Hua Yitang with the expressionless calm of a still well.

Lin Sui’an surrendered. “Let’s go. We need to find Ling Court Official.”

Jin Ruo: “What for?”

“He’s a Court Official of the Court of Judicial Review. With him leading the way, we can investigate the case in a proper, above-board manner,” Hua Yitang said. “The Eastern Capital is different from Yangdu — we still need to keep a lower profile here.”

Jin Ruo: “Well, well — you suddenly remember low profile now, do you?”

Mu Xia: “I’ll go prepare a midnight snack.”

Ita: “Pig-person, shall I make tea?”

Lin Sui’an: “Make some.”

At those words, both Hua Yitang’s and Jin Ruo’s faces went entirely green. Fang Ke glanced at Lin Sui’an with a flicker of genuine surprise.

Lin Sui’an looked up at the night sky, brows tightly knit, a weight settling in her chest.

Looks like tonight is almost certainly going to be an all-nighter. She absolutely had to make it clear to Ling Zhiyan — overtime calls for extra pay!

A new case begins — I’m sure sharp-eyed readers have already noticed, the difficulty of each case is tied to the map!

Ahhhh, writing mysteries is so hard! (Lying down…)