Ming Huazhang sat there clutching Ming Huashang’s handkerchief, thinking: she had been so generous handing it to Jiang Ling — and then she remembered to take it back when it came to him?
What made it even more infuriating was that she still wore a look of complete innocence, as though blaming Ming Huazhang for making a mountain out of a molehill.
Ming Huazhang couldn’t help but look Jiang Ling over with great care. Jiang Ling might be dissolute and wasteful, a person of no learning and no real purpose, but his looks were not bad — thick brows, bright eyes, lips red and teeth white. With his gold-drenched clothing worn on his frame, there was a kind of lavish, unrestrained elegance to him, as if white jade were the hall and gold the horse.
Having grown up in the lap of luxury, he had about him a warmth and sincerity that was almost childlike. He was blunt and clear-cut with strangers, but the moment he counted someone as his own, he dropped all pretense entirely. Ren Yao’s complaint had obviously been an excuse to vent, and yet he was perfectly willing to swallow his pride and apologize.
In the Divine Capital, sons of distinguished families who were accomplished in both literary and martial arts were everywhere. But a true and guileless heart like Jiang Ling’s was absolutely one of a kind.
At the very least, Ming Huazhang could not manage such openness — and he believed Xie Jichuan was the same.
Among the young misses of the nobility, someone like this would surely be well-liked, and Ming Huashang was so fond of eating and playing… Ming Huazhang couldn’t help but turn over a particular thought — could Ming Huashang have a soft spot for Jiang Ling?
At this thought, the cold in his heart grew. Choosing a good husband for Ming Huashang was among his responsibilities — Jiang Ling might be a decent enough person, but — no, absolutely not.
The interaction between the two siblings hadn’t been noticed by anyone, except for Xie Jichuan, who had given it a passing glance. Jiang Ling was busy looking forward to a good story. He hadn’t expected that Ming Huazhang’s pair of dark eyes would settle on him with a fixed, unwavering stare, until he felt the hair on his arms stand on end. He rubbed his arms and asked in bewilderment, “What is it? Do I have something on me?”
Ming Huazhang withdrew his gaze and spoke calmly: “Nothing. Recently the haunting at the Wei residence has caused quite a stir — how much do you all know about the Wei family?”
Ming Huashang shook her head. If one asked her about every good eatery in the Divine Capital, she could name them all without missing a single one — but the Wei family dealt in funeral goods for the dead; how would Ming Huashang know anything about them? As for Ren Yao — she could answer even fewer questions. Spear practice consumed the vast majority of her time; although she lived in Luoyang, beyond the gates of Marquis Pingnan’s residence, she actually knew almost nothing of this city.
It was Jiang Ling who scratched his chin and said, “Their puppets are supposed to be quite finely crafted. Quite a few noble families order from them when holding funeral rites.”
Ming Huazhang said, “Precisely. The head of the Wei household, Wei Yanqing, was originally from Taiyuan Prefecture. Twelve years ago — in the second year of Chuigong — he came to Luoyang and took up the craft of making wooden puppets. His puppets are carved with exceptional detail. Over the years his business has grown steadily, and now he caters exclusively to aristocratic households on commission. His business is good, and he is by nature benevolent: he distributes gruel during years of famine and donates incense money during years of plenty. In both business circles and among his neighbors, his reputation is quite good — there is no talk of his having offended anyone. Yet his household has not been at peace.”
Ming Huashang’s ears pricked up at a key detail: Taiyuan Prefecture. Nanny Su had taken the true daughter of the household back to her hometown of Taiyuan sixteen years ago, and Wei Yanqing had come to Luoyang from Taiyuan Prefecture twelve years ago — was it possible he knew Nanny Su?
Ren Yao was well-versed in such situations and understood immediately: “Another household where wives, concubines, and children are fighting over the family property?”
“Not quite.” Ming Huazhang said. “He sought a child for many years and donated incense oil to many Buddhist temples, yet he still had not one son or half a daughter. So he took in three apprentices — in all likelihood, the future head of the Wei household will be chosen from among these three.”
Jiang Ling asked curiously, “So what does this have to do with the haunting at the Wei residence?”
“The crux lies with these three apprentices.” Ming Huazhang continued. “Among Wei Yanqing’s three apprentices, the senior apprentice, Wei Moyuan, is a man; the second and third apprentices are both women. But at the start of this month, the second apprentice, Wei Baixuan, went missing. After that, rumors of haunting began to spread through the Wei household — people kept claiming to encounter puppets moving about the courtyards. The neighbors, whispering among themselves, said Wei Baixuan hadn’t simply gone missing but had died, and that her spirit had returned and attached itself to a puppet, continuing to serve her master and fellow apprentices.”
Ren Yao let out a sharp hiss of breath, a chill running down her back. Jiang Ling, on the other hand, had his eyes lit up: “Is that real? Is it truly a ghost?”
“These are only rumors circulating in the area.” Ming Huazhang specifically added, “Not to be ignored, but not to be taken as gospel either.”
Jiang Ling couldn’t have cared less — he was already wholly absorbed in the excitement of catching a ghost. Ming Huashang glanced lightly at Jiang Ling and asked Ming Huazhang, “Second Elder Brother, then — what are we to do?”
Xie Jichuan had not spoken, but he had been observing the people at the table the whole time. At the mention of the strange tale — some people were afraid, such as Ren Yao; some people were excited, such as Jiang Ling. Only Ming Huashang’s attention had not been diverted in the slightest by the uncanny events, and she kept hold of the most important question.
Ming Huazhang gave Ming Huashang a light glance — his eyes cool and clear, like moonlight falling on a person — and said, “Investigate the truth behind the haunting.”
Ming Huashang froze, and was a beat behind in snapping out of it: “Ah? Investigate a ghost?”
She had assumed Ming Huazhang would have them investigate what might well be a murder — after all, Ming Huazhang looked nothing like someone who believed in tales of ghosts and spirits.
“That’s right.” Ming Huazhang said without hurry. “Rumors of the Wei household’s puppets coming to life have already spread all through the common folk. People throughout the Divine Capital are gripped with unease. Promptly investigating the matter to dispel the rumors and settle the public’s anxiety — is that not the most important thing?”
Ming Huashang paused for a moment, then nodded with great gravity, her eyes bright with admiration: “Second Elder Brother is right — Second Elder Brother sees far and high, and his heart is entirely for the people. He is truly a model for us all, a pillar of the nation!”
Xie Jichuan let out a short laugh. He propped his chin on his hand — like a blossom of begonia drunk on spring, barely able to bear its own weight — and cast his glittering gaze toward Ming Huashang: “Second Little Sister has such a good opinion of Jingzhan — whatever he says, you think it’s wonderful. And what about me?”
Ming Huashang didn’t bat an eyelash and launched into compliments without pause: “Xie Elder Brother — a figure of orchid and jade, spirit and bearing unmatched…”
Ming Huashang rattled off her pleasantries with practiced ease, but then Ming Huazhang suddenly spoke in a flat tone, cutting off her flattery: “Within the Xuan Xiaowei there are only duties — no family ties. From now on address each other by rank and post; no favoritism.”
Ming Huashang’s eyes flicked swiftly to Ming Huazhang, and she fell obediently silent. Xie Jichuan raised an eyebrow and said with something like a smile: “Jingzhan, when Second Little Sister was just now praising you, you listened to every word without missing a syllable — and then the moment she got to me, you cut her off. I think you’re the one showing favoritism.”
Ming Huazhang calmly set the command token on the table and said, “Would you rather investigate by yourself?”
Xie Jichuan’s posture changed at once. He sat up straight, shedding the loose-limbed air he had affected a moment before, and said with gravity: “The Commandant spoke rightly.”
Ming Huashang ventured to ask, “Commandant — meaning…”
Xie Jichuan smiled and pointed toward Ming Huazhang: “Him. Jingzhan is currently a fifth-rank Huaihua Commandant, and is at a crucial juncture in ascending to the Heaven tier. If he distinguishes himself and earns a top mark on his review, he can be promoted to the fourth rank, and from then on report directly to the Empress.”
Ming Huashang, Ren Yao, and Jiang Ling all looked toward Ming Huazhang at once, each with a different expression. Ming Huashang’s admiration was mixed with a warm pride — her elder brother was truly remarkable. She wanted nothing more than to attach herself to this formidable person, and she couldn’t really be blamed for that, could she?
Only Ming Huazhang himself had no expression at all; he gave Xie Jichuan a glance, the coldness in his eyes almost tangible. Xie Jichuan then seemed to realize — a beat late — and said with a laugh, “That does sound like classified information. But Second Little Sister isn’t an outsider — I told them, you won’t be angry, will you?”
This had been nicely fanned into a flame. Ming Huashang hurriedly changed the subject: “Second Elder Brother — ah, that is — Commandant, what are we to do next?”
Ming Huazhang had just said there was no room for family sentiment within the Xuan Xiaowei, so Ming Huashang had wittily switched to his official title. But while she was at it, it was worth noting: promotions in the Xuan Xiaowei were truly rapid. Ming Huazhang was only sixteen this year, and had already risen to the fifth rank, on the verge of stepping into the fourth. By the orthodox court path — even with family connections paving the way — reaching the fourth rank would take no less than twenty years.
Once Ming Huazhang crossed that threshold and became one of the Empress’s confidants, able to appear before her directly, the invisible benefits would far exceed what any court rank could measure. A close attendant of the Son of Heaven — even if merely a ninth-rank minor official — was precisely the position that countless sons of distinguished families competed over, the pre-ordained slot of a future prime minister.
No wonder Marquis Jiang’an had stuffed Jiang Ling in here — even just having a face known to the Empress was a benefit to one’s future career that could not be calculated.
After these reflections, Ming Huashang felt even more firmly committed to joining the Xuan Xiaowei. She had originally worried that the people of the organization might dock her stipend — but if Ming Huazhang rose to the upper echelons, that concern no longer existed. Even if she eventually left the Ming family, Ming Huazhang, out of consideration for old ties, would at the very least not pursue her to the ends of the earth.
By that time, Ming Huashang could spend her days doing the most leisurely work and drawing the most stable wages, coasting through life in some other place. If anyone asked, she could say with pride: I have someone watching over me from above.
What a beautiful future — she only needed to secure the Earth tier rating, and all of this would be within reach.
The thought made Ming Huashang’s smile grow increasingly genuine. She felt she was being quite sensible — perfectly in step with her superior’s wishes — yet Ming Huazhang gave her another look, expression unreadable, and said: “The haunting has had a serious negative impact and needs to be clarified quickly so as to settle the public’s unease. Let’s go to the Wei residence to make inquiries first. The outside world has turned the puppet haunting into something utterly fantastical — the true situation is something we still need to hear from those directly involved.”
Jiang Ling and Ren Yao had been waiting precisely for this. The two rose immediately, and were stopped by Ming Huazhang: “Wait. Don’t go out together. Jiang Ling, you go first. You two wait another quarter of an hour before going out.”
The “you” in Ming Huazhang’s instruction clearly referred to Ming Huashang. Ming Huashang had no objection, but Ren Yao was not pleased: “Why do I have to follow behind this wastrel?”
Jiang Ling clicked his tongue, equally unhappy: “What’s so bad about being a wastrel? In the Divine Capital, plenty of people want to be a wastrel and can’t manage it.”
“And you still dare say it — got addicted to being useless, did you?”
“Enough.” Ming Huazhang silenced them both with a cold word. His voice wasn’t particularly loud, yet the two of them — seeing his expression — somehow fell quiet without quite knowing why.
Ming Huazhang’s expression was severe: “Do you know where you are right now? Your shouting like this could expose this location. The shop owner, and all those who come to make contact here in the future, could lose their lives because of your stupidity. You have Marquis Jiang’an’s residence and Marquis Pingnan’s residence behind you — even if your identities were exposed, no one would dare touch you. But not everyone in this world is from a marquis’s household; there are also ordinary people who survive by putting their lives on the line.”
“I don’t care why each of you wanted to join the Xuan Xiaowei — but let me offer one final word of counsel: once you take this step, the life you had before is gone forever. You will live permanently inside lies, disguises, and suspicion. If you cannot endure it, leave now — don’t cost someone else their life.”
Ming Huazhang’s words left everyone in silence. Ming Huashang didn’t know what Ren Yao or Jiang Ling thought of the Xuan Xiaowei, but her own reason for agreeing to join had primarily been to secure a stipend — she hadn’t truly grasped what it entailed.
It was only after hearing Ming Huazhang’s words that she realized she was about to enter a dark world — one where killing and betrayal were real, and where she herself would live inside endless lies.
Ren Yao and Jiang Ling both went quiet, but to Ming Huazhang’s surprise — and yet perhaps not — neither of them left. Not knowing whether to feel relieved or to feel sorrow on their behalf, he said, “Good. Since you’ve understood, then let us begin. Remember — concealing your movements is only the most basic step.”
Jiang Ling left. Ming Huashang thought: waiting out a quarter of an hour was a waste — better to do something useful. She asked, “Are there actually pastries here?”
The remaining three all looked at her. Ming Huashang spread her hands, earnest and sincere: “Even though I don’t like sheep liver, I’ve already placed the order, so it would be a waste not to eat them. Would you like some?”
Xie Jichuan said with genuine feeling, “Second Little Sister, you are truly something else. I’ll take a portion.”
Ming Huashang took that as a compliment. She turned to Ming Huazhang and said, a little tentative: “Second Elder Brother, or — Commandant — would you like some?”
Ming Huazhang’s expression was quite indescribable, but an avid eater’s heart is resilient beyond measure, and in the end Ming Huazhang relented, saying helplessly, “As you like.”
Ming Huashang happily took it as a yes and volunteered herself to go order, and quietly swapped Ming Huazhang’s portion to cherry pastries.
She knew Ming Huazhang would definitely not eat them — that was fine; she could eat both portions herself.
Sure enough, when the shop owner brought the dishes out, there turned out to be four plates. Ming Huazhang looked at them, his expression difficult to read. Ming Huashang said a little sheepishly, “I just forgot to ask — when eating here, does the organization cover the cost, or do we pay ourselves?”
Xie Jichuan let out a burst of laughter, almost helpless with mirth. Ming Huazhang took a deep breath and said, “We pay ourselves. I’ll cover it. Eat quickly and let’s get moving.”
Ming Huashang gave a bright reply and immediately picked up her chopsticks to execute the order. Cherry season had just arrived — the pastries were made from fine flour fried in oil, and the cherries inside had kept their color unchanged, still carrying their sweet-and-sour fragrance. Ming Huashang ate three in a row, and seeing that half the plate was already empty, she felt a touch of embarrassment — and with generous warmth placed one in front of Ming Huazhang: “Second Elder Brother, the cherries inside are delicious — try one?”
Xie Jichuan, just about to mention that Ming Huazhang didn’t eat fried food, saw him peel off the pastry casing and eat the cherry inside.
Both Xie Jichuan and Ming Huashang were stunned. Ming Huashang was the first to recover. She thought: eat the filling but not the crust — he really is a difficult cat to look after.
Ren Yao silently watched this scene unfold — Ming Huashang eating one, then placing one in front of Ming Huazhang, and then Ming Huazhang removing the crust to eat the cherry. The two of them moved together in such unconscious harmony. Ren Yao couldn’t quite make sense of it, but somehow the pastry in her mouth tasted a little strange.
Had the shop owner added too much vinegar?
Ming Huashang finished the pastries. The quarter of an hour was long past. Satisfied and content, she headed out with Ren Yao. Once the two of them had left, Xie Jichuan looked at Ming Huazhang with a half-smile and asked, “Doesn’t eat sweets, doesn’t eat fried food?”
Ming Huazhang’s bearing was composed and graceful — though he was actually feeling somewhat awkward inside. He genuinely never touched food that had been fried in oil, but Ming Huashang had been eating with such pleasure, her eyes bright and shining as she said the cherries inside were delicious, and he had found himself inexplicably wanting to try.
He still didn’t know what impulse had led him to pick up his chopsticks in that moment — but they had indeed tasted quite good.
Ming Huazhang could not explain his own behavior, so he simply chose not to explain, and with his usual expression of cool detachment changed the subject entirely: “Once we go to the Wei residence, don’t let them get too involved with the case. Just find some tasks to keep them occupied and kill time — that’s enough. Jiang Ling doesn’t need the assessment, Second Lady won’t pass it anyway, and as for Miss Ren — she’s simply not suited to the Xuan Xiaowei. This case has nothing to do with them; don’t drag them into it.”
Xie Jichuan nodded, then suddenly smiled — an unreadable look directed at Ming Huazhang: “Jiang Ling and Ren Yao aside — Second Little Sister was noticed by Han Jie, which means she has exceptional natural gifts and is born to this kind of work. You haven’t even asked — you’ve already cut off her path. Is that right?”
“No one is born suited to living in shadows.” Ming Huazhang said. “What she wants is a stable, quiet life — and she should stay as far from the Xuan Xiaowei as possible. A place like this — built on mutual suspicion, hidden from the light — should never have existed to begin with.”
“Then why did you join?”
“What else was I to do?” Ming Huazhang looked at him, his gaze clear and still. “Stand by as a guardian of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household and watch it drift further and further from the center of power?”
“But this is a road with no return.” Xie Jichuan picked up the teapot and filled the cup at Ming Huazhang’s side, saying, “Three new recruits with such complicated backgrounds — one of them your twin sister — all assigned to your unit. Doesn’t that give you pause?”
That was a well-posed question. Ming Huazhang picked up the teacup, did not drink from it, and slowly traced the pattern on its surface with his fingertip. His fingers were pale, resting against the plain unadorned porcelain — and somehow appeared even more luminous than the Yue kiln ware itself: “Then why did you let slip that I am at a critical juncture in ascending to the Heaven tier?”
Xie Jichuan said nothing. Ming Huazhang had already answered for him: “Because you want to keep them here — at the very least keep Jiang Ling. If I fail and go over to Princess Taiping’s side, that is at least one more way out.”
Xie Jichuan let out a quiet sigh: “Heaven and Earth — one character apart, but truly a world of difference. Gaining an audience with the Empress is far from simple — this is only the beginning. If you insist on rising further, things like this will happen again without end. Are you truly determined to see it through?”
Ming Huazhang looked at the clean, elegant Yue porcelain in his hands, and unexpectedly thought of the cherries just now. Many things he had never tried, but assumed he would dislike — might not necessarily be so.
Ming Huazhang finally set down the teacup and said: “Between the Li and Wu clans, in the end only one side can survive. Prince Wei has already issued his challenge. How could I retreat without a fight?”