Liang Junxia and Dong Yeyun were similar in age. Dong Yeyun was the first friend Liang Junxia made at Bei Dou, back when Dong Yeyun would visit Yuheng Courtyard every day.

It was only after a long time that Liang Junxia learned his good friend was the biological son of the neighboring Yaoguang Courtyard’s Master.

The two shared similar dispositions and interests, with perfect tacit understanding. They could pick up on whatever the other said, turning even casual chats about the day’s weather into endless streams of conversation.

After Liang Junxia’s Eight Meridians broke through to six meridians at full capacity, he left the mountain to gain experience. He stayed in the Imperial City for quite a long time. Because of his exceptionally handsome appearance, he was particularly popular with girls. With his smooth-talking ways, when he lost his money pouch and was penniless on the streets of the Imperial City, someone introduced him to Liuli Pavilion to become a Liuli boy.

The Liuli Pavilion in the Imperial City was unique.

It sounded like an elegant place, but it was only open to female customers—either young ladies from prominent families or noble wives. Without status or connections, one couldn’t enter at all.

There was no shortage of noble women in the Imperial City of Great Qin, from court politics to merchant associations, prominent families, and clans. Most of them came to Liuli Pavilion simply seeking momentary relaxation and entertainment.

The interior of Liuli Pavilion was exquisitely elegant, with different styles tailored to customers’ requirements.

Liang Junxia blended in for over half a year, evolving from his initial “this doesn’t seem right” to eventually feeling like a fish in water, with different approaches for different customers.

Noble wives generally preferred obedient Liuli boys who didn’t act too clever. He would occasionally bring up topics while feigning ignorance, then praise the “elder sisters” for their worldliness. With sincere sweet talk, everyone was happy.

Young ladies from prominent families, being younger, came mostly out of curiosity or to drown their sorrows. At these times, he would act more witty, telling interesting little stories while pouring tea or wine, prescribing the right remedy, and following their mood.

Some noble women also discussed serious matters while relaxing and enjoying themselves. For them, he simply had to be mute, letting words go in one ear and out the other, just serving drinks well.

The Liuli boys only needed to make customers happy and ensure they enjoyed themselves. Many Liuli boys were ambitious, using various tricks to try and catch the noble women’s eye, hoping to become a Liuli boy belonging exclusively to one person.

Because Liang Junxia excelled as a Liuli boy, many wanted to take him away or get more intimate with him, but he sincerely declined them all.

If he had rejected only one person, he would certainly have offended them, but by rejecting everyone, he made the noble women who tried to obtain him compete with each other.

Liang Junxia initially came to Liuli Pavilion just to earn money so he wouldn’t have to wander the streets of the Imperial City, but unexpectedly, he got caught up in it and made many interesting friends from the Imperial City.

He didn’t consider this a shameful or unspeakable experience; rather, he found it quite interesting.

Like Dong Yeyun, Liang Junxia would only focus and burn with passion for things he found interesting.

*

When Ming Li came looking for him, Liang Junxia was reviewing the Eight Meridian Spirit Technique books written by his junior disciples. He was circling errors with a pen and writing down correct answers. When he glanced up and saw her enter the courtyard, he was stunned, blinked, and asked: “When did you wake up?”

“About an hour ago.” Ming Li sat down across from his desk and turned to look out the window. The place where the Master of Yuheng Courtyard lived hadn’t changed at all.

“Is your body feeling better?” Liang Junxia pushed the stack of Eight Meridian Spirit Technique books that needed checking toward Chen Zhou, along with the pen he stuffed into his hand.

Chen Zhou: “What does this mean?”

Liang Junxia pointed at the pile of papers with errors and said, “Let you reacquaint yourself with the joy of being a Senior Brother.”

Chen Zhou took the pen and scanned the papers, quickly drawing several more circles on them.

Ming Li flexed her fingers and said, “The Star Meridian has mostly recovered. I received a message from His Majesty asking me to eliminate the Thirty-Three Tribes people in the Imperial City.”

Liang Junxia asked: “When do you plan to go?”

“Tonight.” Ming Li said, “Since my brother’s last destination was also the Imperial City, I wanted to ask if you could find out where Miss Chu is in the Imperial City.”

Only after hearing her explanation did Liang Junxia realize that Dong Yeyun hadn’t gone to the Ice Desert but to the Imperial City.

They had never investigated Miss Chu before because there was no need.

“Surname Chu, formerly from an Imperial City prominent family, later offended the royal family and was executed, with only her and her elder brother remaining, who returned to the Imperial City.” Liang Junxia rested his head on one hand. “This information should be enough. If she returned to the Imperial City for revenge, she must have taken action. The elder sisters I know are most clear about such matters.”

Ming Li, unaware that Liang Junxia had been a Liuli boy, blinked in confusion at his last statement.

Liang Junxia mysteriously winked at her.

Zhou Zixi, who had appeared by the window at some point, said: “He was once a Liuli boy in the Imperial City, on good terms with the noble ladies there.”

Ming Li suddenly understood: “Then I’ll rely on you, Senior Brother.”

Liang Junxia made a curious sound: “I don’t think I said that aloud. How do you seem to suddenly understand?”

“Zixi told me.” Ming Li nodded lightly toward the window. “He just mentioned that you were once a Liuli boy in the Imperial City.”

Both Liang Junxia and Chen Zhou looked toward the window, seeing only the gloomy shadow cast from outside, with no sign of Zhou Zixi.

Ming Li said, “He can only appear in the form of a ground ghost shadow.”

“I understand the theory.” Liang Junxia said, “I’ve seen the shadow form of ground ghosts before.”

Chen Zhou added, “But this is the first time seeing a ground ghost shadow form that only you can see.”

Ming Li touched her nose, pretending not to catch their implication.

Zhou Zixi frowned at Ming Li’s busy state right after waking up, but said nothing, just looking outside as they continued discussing Dong Yeyun’s situation.

Liang Junxia sent communication talismans to the noble ladies in the Imperial City. It would take some time to get answers, so he first dealt with the affairs of Yuheng Courtyard before going to the Imperial City with Ming Li.

“I’ll temporarily leave Yuheng’s matters to Black Fox. He won’t leave for distant places recently since his wife hasn’t returned.”

Ming Li was somewhat surprised: “Li’niang hasn’t returned yet?”

“No, and even recent communications are sporadic. I think he won’t be able to hold out much longer before going to look for her.” Liang Junxia sighed. “I hope nothing happens to them.”

Chen Zhou: “Don’t jinx it.”

*

Chen Zhou stayed at Yuheng Courtyard to help Liang Junxia handle affairs, while Ming Li returned to her courtyard alone.

Everything was as she had left it, without the slightest change.

Even the pot of camellia flowers that her brother had personally placed under the eaves remained beautiful.

Ming Li entered the house with a calm expression, passing through the long corridor to the hot spring bath in the back pool.

As her entire body sank into the water, only the faint sound of blood flowing remained in her ears. When she closed her eyes, she saw the scene of raging fire burning the Northern Ghost Plain, the sky dark as if about to shatter, and in her peripheral vision, tiny blades of green grass being lifted by the wind and swept into the fire.

People standing outside the flames watched her and sighed.

The chief of the Wandering Ghost Tribe.

A man who had united thirty-three tribes that had constantly betrayed each other.

Though Gu Qi was supposedly infiltrating Bei Dou under Cui Yaocen’s orders, he was cooperating with the Wandering Ghost Tribe.

The timing must have been when he arrived at the Northern Ghost Plain posing as Chen Zhou, which meant the Wandering Ghost Tribe knew he was an impostor at that time.

What did the Wandering Ghost Tribe warriors want when they took him away?

The internal layout of Bei Dou that Gu Qi had memorized.

But why had the Thirty-Three Tribes gone to the Imperial City?

The Imperial City had the Scripture Saint, who protected Great Qin and would never allow the Wandering Ghost Tribe, which tried to wipe out the mainland cities, to cause trouble.

Because the Scripture Saint’s determination to protect Great Qin was too firm, the hostile relationship between the Thirty-Three Tribes of the Northern Ghost Plain and him would not change.

The Scripture Saint would certainly exterminate the Thirty-Three Tribes, yet Emperor Wen Xiu had asked her to handle this matter in the Imperial City.

The Crown Prince’s bride selection;

The Scripture Saint’s disciple recruitment;

The northern border conflict.

All coincidentally happened during the same period.

And Emperor Wen Xiu’s life was nearing its end—

Ming Li emerged from the water, exhaling lightly, shaking the water droplets from her face, and noticed a figure standing behind the screen where clothes were placed.

“Weren’t you looking for me to get the Star Fragment Script?”

Ming Li came to the edge of the bath and stretched out her hand. The wooden script, glowing as it slowly rotated around her wrist, had water droplets falling from her fingertips.

“Here you go.”

Zhou Zixi didn’t cross beyond the screen, just raising his hand to summon the unrestrained Star Fragment Script, which flew toward him.

Ming Li looked at the silhouette behind the screen and said, “If I come to find you last, would you not be upset?”

Zhou Zixi said carelessly, “Senior Sister, you’ve forgotten, I don’t have such emotions. Besides, I’m not the kind of person who only waits for someone to save me.”

“You’ve been much better recently than when you first started.” Ming Li said, “Anger, jealousy, killing intent—even if they don’t sound beautiful, they are emotions that people have.”

Ming Li leaned against the edge of the pool, supporting her head with one hand, tilting it to look over, smiling with narrowed eyes: “If you came over now, you might even feel desire.”

Zhou Zixi emerged from behind the screen but didn’t approach the pool’s edge. Yet he had an unobstructed view of the scene ahead, with hot spring mist swirling around, allowing him to see the enchanting figure leaning by the pool.

Without waiting long, Zhou Zixi said expressionlessly: “No.”

“Very well.” Ming Li laughed, turning away, her back covered with streaks of water.

As Zhou Zixi turned his head away, his peripheral vision caught that smooth back, and his brows slightly furrowed.

After bathing, Ming Li put on her clothes, with only her long hair still wet. Just as she took a towel to dry it, Zhou Zixi used a spirit technique to draw away the moisture.

Ming Li, kneeling on the cushion in the room, turned to look. Zhou Zixi stretched out his hand to lift her cold, smooth, long hair. The strands slipped through his fingers but left behind their fragrance.

Without Ming Li having to ask, Zhou Zixi began braiding her hair. The door of the room was wide open, with the twilight color spilling in, yet unlike the previous illusion.

Ming Li said, “Do you remember where the jewelry box is?”

Zhou Zixi let her hold the unfinished braid, stood up, and brought all the jewelry boxes from the table to place beside her.

Ming Li was completely relaxed at this moment, without the slightest wariness toward him. When Zhou Zixi asked what color hair ribbon she wanted, she answered: “Dark green.”

Zhou Zixi took the wrong one.

Ming Li opened her mouth to remind him, but then stopped. Water green would be fine; he might think the water green ribbon looked better.

After finishing braiding Ming Li’s hair, Zhou Zixi came around to face her, looking down to examine his work.

Ming Li graciously spread her arms, slightly raising her chin for his inspection: “Does it look good?”

Zhou Zixi crouched down and moved closer to Ming Li, who was kneeling on the cushion. Like a beast cautiously seeking prey, he suddenly embraced her from a safe distance, as if catching the prey he wanted most.

“Senior Sister.” Zhou Zixi lowered his head to lightly smell the fragrance in her hair, his tone as cold as a drunkard’s confession. “If I’m the only one feeling desire, that would be too meaningless.”

*

By the time Ming Li went to bid farewell to her father, night had fallen.

Dong Yeshou cautioned her to be careful in all matters, and Ming Li also urged him to focus on recovering and not worry too much.

For this trip to the Imperial City, Chen Zhou and Liang Junxia would accompany her. If changes occurred later, they could call for more people.

Chen Zhou had gone from the pit to life and death in one step, yet there was a five-year gap with the outside world. This Imperial City trip was a good opportunity for him to practice.

While resting at an inn along the way, Liang Junxia was opening one response letter after another from the noble ladies of the Imperial City, rapidly sending out communication talismans.

“The Imperial City has been quite lively recently.” Liang Junxia sighed, looking at the letter in his hand. “Lady Zhao is both worried about her niece dealing with the Crown Prince’s bride selection and concerned whether her son can stand out in the Martial Academy assessment to participate in the Scripture Saint’s disciple recruitment.”

Ming Li: “How did you respond?”

Liang Junxia tapped the communication talisman and said, “Of course, I must help ease our Military Marquis Mansion’s lady’s worries.”

Chen Zhou held up a communication talisman between two fingers and waved it, saying: “Imperial City Duan family.”

Liang Junxia took it and opened it. “The Duan family is currently the leading prominent family, at the height of their influence. Miss Duan is a lively one who likes to hear about trivial matters. She must know something.”

Miss Duan first complained about his long silence, then complained about the Crown Prince’s bride selection. She didn’t want to marry the foolish Crown Prince, but she was the only girl in her family without a marriage agreement.

Then, regarding the Miss Chu he had mentioned, she wrote: “According to the timeframe you mentioned, the only Chu family that offended the Empress and was executed was one Chu family, but it wasn’t as simple as ‘offending.’ The Chu family was found to have poisoned the Empress, which led to their complete execution.”

The Empress died in the early part of the second year after the Chu family’s execution.

“I remember her full name was Chu Xiao. The Chu family used to have some reputation in the Imperial City, but I never interacted with her, so I don’t know what kind of person she was. Even if she stood before me now, I wouldn’t recognize her.”

The three fell silent after reading this.

“Poisoning the Empress—I wonder if Ah Yun knew about this crime.” While responding to Miss Duan’s communication talisman, Liang Junxia continued, “It seems clear now that Chu Xiao’s target for revenge in the Imperial City is His Majesty.”

“With such a charge against her, she couldn’t return to the Imperial City openly; she’d have to hide. Someone must be protecting her.” Chen Zhou narrowed his eyes and said, “Chu Xiao’s beloved?”

Ming Li said, “At the very least, it would have to be someone with power and influence in the Imperial City to protect her.”

After speaking, Ming Li handed Liang Junxia the communication talisman she had intercepted—a reply from the head of the Imperial City’s Chenyan Merchant Association.

It began teasingly: “After not seeing each other for so long, you actively contact me only to find traces of another woman.”

Ming Li and Chen Zhou couldn’t help but glance at Liang Junxia, who remained very calm and said: “This elder sister has this kind of style.”

“Several years ago, a black market caravan in the west was robbed by a man called Dongyun, so we became enemies and investigated him. At that time, he had a woman with him, whose surname was Chu, whom he had rescued from a western underground slave market. She was a slave from a fallen family in the Imperial City—likely the person you’re looking for. But once they reached the Imperial City, the two separated. I mainly kept an eye on the man called Dongyun and didn’t pay attention to what happened to the woman in the Imperial City.”

“This elder sister deals in both legitimate and black market goods. I didn’t expect her to have a grudge against Ah Yun.” Liang Junxia remarked with some amazement. “But at least now we know what alias Ah Yun was using when he was with Chu Ying.”

Dongyun.

Ming Li wanted to laugh, but couldn’t.

Chen Zhou was thoroughly disdainful: “Besides Dongyun, Yundong, Yunye, and Yeyun, what other aliases could he think of?”

While the three were criticizing Dong Yeyun’s ability to create aliases, Lady Zhao responded again.

The first part expressed gratitude for Liang Junxia’s advice and strategies to help relieve her worries. The latter part, though brief, was crucial: “Don’t concern yourself with the whereabouts of a dead person.”

Liang Junxia raised his eyebrows as he read this, unconsciously tapping his fingertip on the communication talisman. A spark that had been absent for a long time ignited in his eyes, which reflected the characters.

He began to find this interesting.

This Miss Chu, Chu Xiao, was officially dead in the Imperial City.

Lady Zhao’s words were both a reminder and a warning for him not to wade into troubled waters.

Another responding communication bird’s call flew in through the window. Liang Junxia reached out to catch the communication talisman, somewhat surprised: “Oh, I didn’t expect this person to respond to me.”

Chen Zhou: “Who?”

“You’d never guess.” Liang Junxia opened the communication talisman toward him with a serious expression. “I just sent it on a whim, as I wasn’t that confident in my friendship with this noble person.”

Ming Li looked up and saw the mark on the communication talisman that read “Chang Xi.”

Princess Chang Xi, daughter of Emperor Wen Xiu and the Empress, adopted daughter of the Scripture Saint.

Princess Chang Xi replied to him: “If you find the whereabouts of this Miss Chu, please inform me.”

Liang Junxia: “…”

It was clear that this young princess also wanted revenge.

Chen Zhou sighed: “Didn’t you consider that Princess Chang Xi is the Empress’s daughter before sending it?”

Liang Junxia held his forehead: “I thought the Chu family had merely offended the Empress through improper words or actions. How could I know the Chu family was so bold?”

But Ming Li looked at the communication talisman, lost in thought.

It seemed that finding Chu Xiao in the Imperial City would be somewhat difficult.