Ming Huashang and Ren Yao heard the scream, exchanged a look, and quickly made their way toward the source of the sound.

Neither of them had brought a lantern, and could only navigate by the faint, hazy light reflected from the snow. Ren Yao’s steps were quicker than Ming Huashang’s; she ran through the covered walkway, and when she looked up seemed to see something terrifying. She let out a short cry, and then, realizing she had cried out, forcibly stifled it.

Ming Huashang followed close behind. Turning the corner, the first thing she saw was a flash of red.

A woman in red hung suspended from a crossbeam, her hair — long enough to reach the small of her back — spread in wild disorder. Just then a gust of wind blew through; her body swayed from side to side. The wind parted her hair, exposing the face beneath.

Ming Huashang glimpsed the state of that face and drew a sharp intake of breath, taking a step back.

Red blood had flowed from her eye sockets down across her face. But most horrifying of all — the sockets themselves held no eyeballs, only two gaping, blood-drenched black holes.

Ren Yao looked at the woman’s face and could no longer maintain her steely composure. Her voice trembled as she demanded: “What is this? Who is playing these ghastly tricks here?”

Ming Huashang saw two women lying collapsed at the far end of the covered walkway; a palace lantern had fallen to the ground, its oil dripping onto paper that had already caught fire. She said: “Those two women at the back — I don’t know if they are alive or dead. Elder Sister Ren, let us go check together.”

Beyond the covered walkway was a small pond, now buried under snow. Ming Huashang did not know whether there were any gaps in the ice below, and did not dare venture onto it recklessly. She pressed her back against the wall, carefully skirted around the woman hanging from the rafters, and walked quickly toward the back.

Ren Yao saw Ming Huashang pass right alongside the red-clad corpse and felt her scalp prickle. But she prided herself on having courage no inferior to any man’s — how could she lose face to a delicate, sheltered young lady? Ren Yao could only steel herself and feel her way along the wall.

She could not understand how Ming Huashang was walking so steadily. Unable to bring herself to look up, she shut her eyes tight, clenched her teeth, and groped her way forward. Without being able to sense her surroundings, those few short steps felt as though they were stretched out infinitely. She judged she ought to be there by now, and reluctantly opened her eyes to a crack — only to see a red hem draped across her body. She instinctively followed the garment upward and looked, and found herself looking directly into the woman’s hollow black eye sockets.

In the grip of extreme terror, one cannot even produce a sound. Ren Yao’s knees buckled on the spot. Ming Huashang was crouching on the covered walkway, reaching out to feel the breath of the people on the ground. Fortunately — they were only frightened unconscious.

By their clothing, they appeared to be a young lady and her maid. The two had been out for a stroll and had happened upon this terrible scene. The scream from before must have been theirs before they fainted.

Since they were all right, Ming Huashang felt reassured. This was not a place to linger — the best course was to call for help quickly. Ming Huashang realized Ren Yao had been a long time coming; when she turned around she found Ren Yao stuck halfway along, staring blankly at the female corpse as though bewitched.

Ming Huashang called out hastily: “Elder Sister Ren?”

Ren Yao did not know what had come over her — those hollow, blood-filled eyes seemed to have seized her, and though her reason was screaming she could not tear her gaze away. She dimly heard someone call her name, and then a pair of warm hands gripped her arms and led her forward.

Ren Yao walked stiffly for a long while, then numbly looked up to find Ming Huashang watching her with worry. Only then did she finally break free from the grip of that terror — as though a ghost had seized her. Her knees went weak and she nearly fell.

Ming Huashang quickly steadied her, gently patting her arm: “It is all right. Let us go find people right now.”

Her words were barely finished when a cluster of torchlight lit up the courtyard wall, and a jumble of voices came from behind it. With so many guests at the banquet, others must have heard the scream too and were coming together to investigate.

A slender figure in crimson appeared first, carrying a lantern. The firelight fell on his face, making his complexion appear even more like polished jade, his eyes like stars.

When Ming Huashang saw him, she felt herself relax without thinking: “Second Elder Brother!”

He had seen them too. He said nothing; his long legs covered the distance in just a few strides and he was standing before Ming Huashang. He examined Ming Huashang thoroughly from head to foot, then swept his gaze over the people on the ground and the corpse hanging ahead, and asked: “Are you all right?”

“I am fine.” Ming Huashang pulled Ming Huazhang closer and said, “Second Elder Brother, someone has died here — her eyes were both gouged out somehow. The two people on the ground appear to have been frightened into unconsciousness — please, go quickly and call for a physician.”

Ming Huazhang put the lantern in Ming Huashang’s hand, checked the breath of the people on the ground first, and then walked close to examine the hanging female corpse. Ren Yao’s body still felt numb all over; she watched from a distance, unable to believe what she was seeing: “How on earth do you two siblings live back home? You are not afraid at all?”

Ming Huashang was naturally afraid — but not of the bloody corpse. What she feared was the danger lurking in the darkness.

Had she been alone, she would certainly not have dared to remain. Fortunately Ren Yao had been with her. During the day she had witnessed Ren Yao’s valiant bearing with the spear; she believed that even if they encountered a villain, Ren Yao could subdue them — and so Ming Huashang had found the courage to stay. Now that Ming Huazhang had arrived, she was far less afraid.

Ming Huazhang circled the woman’s corpse to examine it, then finally stopped still on the ground. Curious, Ming Huashang held up the lantern and went over: “Second Elder Brother, what is it?”

It had been dark earlier and she had not looked carefully; now by the light of the lantern she realized she recognized this woman hanging from the beam. She was the maid who had pointed out the road to her just a little while ago.

But even more hair-raising was what was written on the ground in blood:

“Those who look upon me — die.”

A gust of night wind passed through, bringing a sudden chill. And at that moment, from behind them, a cascade of screams arose one after another.

“Ah!”

A death occurring at the magnificent Feihong Banquet immediately alarmed Princess Taiping. Whether or not the round of backgammon between her and Prince Wei had been completed was unclear, but she now sat on the raised dais with a very grim expression: “What is the meaning of this?”

By this time the identity of the deceased had already been determined. She was a maid called Chi Lan, who served at Princess Taiping’s residence. When the princess held the Feihong Banquet, Feihong Garden was shorthanded, so she had been brought along from the princess’s household to help.

The first young lady to have seen the state of Chi Lan’s body was still unconscious. Ming Huashang was the person who had arrived at the scene earliest among those present, and she offered Princess Taiping a bow and reported: “In reply to Your Highness the Princess, after paying your subject’s respects to you, your subject returned to the warm pavilion — a point which many of the young ladies present can confirm. Afterward your subject was feeling restless from sitting and wished to get some air. On the way she encountered the maid Chi Lan, who helped your subject find her path. Your subject then went and spoke with Miss Ren in the garden — which Miss Ren can confirm.”

Ren Yao nodded, affirming that what Ming Huashang had said was true. Ming Huashang continued: “From the time your subject parted with Chi Lan to the time she found Miss Ren was roughly one cup of tea. Your subject and Miss Ren spoke for approximately one cup of tea. Then we heard someone scream behind us. When we arrived, we found Miss Zhao and her maid fallen unconscious on the ground, and Chi Lan suspended from the rafters, her eyes streaming with blood, already dead.”

Ming Huazhang followed with additional detail: “That is correct. I heard the screams from outside and reached the scene in no more than half a burn of an incense stick. When I took the body down, the limbs were still soft and the skin had not yet lost its warmth — she must have died only a short time before.”

Princess Taiping pressed her fingers to her brow in renewed distress. With a household of servants like clouds, she had no concern whatsoever for the life or death of a single maid — but the fact that such a thing had occurred at her carefully prepared grand banquet was exceedingly damaging to everyone’s mood. Now, in the presence of so many guests, if Princess Taiping handled this poorly it would directly affect her standing in court.

After all, if she could not even deal with the death of one small maid, who in court would still believe in her capabilities and come to her side? This was a critical juncture — she absolutely could not afford a misstep.

Princess Taiping quickly made up her mind: “The princess’s household is vast and this palace cannot attend to every detail. Perhaps this was someone with a grudge, who took advantage of the loose discipline in Feihong Garden to seek revenge. See to it that the maid receives a proper burial in due course. Send one hundred strings of cash in condolence to her family. Additionally, strengthen the patrols in Feihong Garden — this palace will not tolerate such an occurrence again.”

Prince Wei sat to one side, unhurriedly turning the jade ring on his finger. His steward frowned and said: “Your Highness Taiping, we are told that when the body was found, there was also a line of writing in blood on the ground saying ‘Those who look upon me — die.’ What is to be made of that?”

Princess Taiping’s expression grew stern, and she said coolly: “Nothing more than idle people making a mystery of things. Is there really such a thing in this world as supernatural forces? Even if there were — this palace’s father and mother were both emperors; my eldest, second, and third elder brothers served as crown prince; my fourth elder brother is the heir apparent; my husband is a prince. There is nothing within the four seas that does not submit. What ghost or spirit would dare come near this palace?”

No woman in the world was more exalted than Princess Taiping — with such potent imperial aura, there was no reason she could not suppress any malevolent spirit. The steward clasped his hands, looking abashed. Prince Wei stepped in at the right moment: “He was only concerned about the safety of the Feihong Banquet — after all, with so many sons and daughters of noble houses up on the mountain, if anything were to happen to any of them, there would be no way to account for it to the officials of Luoyang. Taiping, do not be angry.”

Princess Taiping pressed her lips together; the rage in her phoenix eyes made them blaze like fire. Prince Ding, her consort, smoothed things over: “Enough — this was simply an accident. If we strengthen the patrols going forward, any perpetrator will surely flee and not dare cause further trouble. The princess has been busy all day and must be exhausted. Everyone go get some rest.”

At Prince Ding’s words, the assembled guests could only rise and take their leave. Ming Huazhang had been the first to see the body, and Xie Jichuan who came after, sensing something was wrong, had immediately had guards seal off the rear courtyard — so only a few people had directly witnessed Chi Lan’s condition in death.

But those present were all pampered young lords and ladies who could not so much as bind a chicken themselves. Suddenly being this close to a murder scene, no one could settle their spirits and enjoy the festivities any further. In a matter of moments, what had happened in the rear courtyard had already spread everywhere — passing through many layers of embellishment, the whole affair grew ever more bizarre and eerie.

Ming Huashang blended into the crowd and made her way out. Her mood had more or less settled, but Ren Yao was still shaken to the core. Every time Ren Yao closed her eyes, she could see those two blood-drenched hollow sockets.

Ren Yao’s state was truly poor, and Ming Huazhang was also uneasy about letting Ming Huashang stay alone. He said: “Second Lady, sleep in the same room as Miss Ren tonight. I will move to the room right beside you and be close at hand to look after you both.”

Ming Huashang’s eyes went wide; she accepted, overjoyed: “All right!”

She was not actually afraid of a dead person — but she was quite afraid of living ones. After all, the true culprit who had killed Chi Lan had not yet been found. Who knew whether the perpetrator would strike again? She had been fretting about how she would sleep tonight, and now Ming Huazhang was actually suggesting he move over here. With Ming Huazhang right next door, her security would unquestionably be greatly improved.

But this was not Duke Zhenguo’s household — she shared the courtyard with Ren Yao. Would Ren Yao object to a man entering? Ming Huashang looked over at Ren Yao: “Elder Sister Ren, what do you think…”

Ren Yao had the same resolute and formidable air as ever — as though she could not have cared less — and said: “Fine. Since you are frightened, let the arrangements be as you see fit.”

Ming Huashang glanced at Ren Yao but did not call out her stubbornness. Since Ren Yao agreed, that was best of all. Ming Huashang said with a smile: “Then I shall be in Elder Sister Ren’s care for tonight. Elder Brother, my room has already been tidied. You can move into my room; I will go and stay with Elder Sister Ren from the Ren family.”

Xie Jichuan, not far away, heard this and raised an eyebrow. He said with a smile: “Jingzhan is right to be concerned. Tonight, let me also move over to keep an eye on our younger sister.”

“No.” Ming Huazhang refused coldly, casting him a displeased sideways look. “This is a young woman’s private quarters — what would it look like if you moved in?”

“But I am afraid,” Xie Jichuan said. “With you gone, there will be only me left in the courtyard — I would not dare sleep.”

Everyone in the capital knew that Ming Huazhang and Xie Jichuan were close friends; when assigning guest quarters, Princess Taiping had placed the two of them in the same courtyard directly. Ming Huazhang balked for a moment and said nothing, looking at Xie Jichuan with an expression of profound disdain.

Ming Huashang said quietly: “Brother Xie’s intentions are kind — there is no need to be so bound by empty formality. Besides, it is not my private quarters at home — it is Princess Taiping’s guest quarters. I will go and pack up my things; Brother Xie is perfectly welcome to stay.”

Ming Huashang would have been glad to have as many people in the courtyard as possible. Compared with safety, what did the proprieties between men and women amount to? Though Xie Jichuan looked gentle and slight, he was a man at the end of the day — having him there would be one more measure of security.

“You see — even our little sister agrees!” Xie Jichuan pressed his case. Ming Huazhang actually did not want to let Xie Jichuan have his way, but when he looked back he found that both Ming Huashang and even Ren Yao were watching him with faint expectation. Ming Huazhang paused, and then said with reluctant resignation: “Very well. But you sleep in the outer room — keep your eyes to yourself and do not do anything improper.”

“Also — she is not your little sister. Do not call her that carelessly.”

Xie Jichuan exhaled in relief and waved dismissively: “I know, I know. The Xie family has not yet fallen so low as to know nothing of propriety.”

Ming Huashang suddenly found herself with three bodyguards, and felt considerably bolder as she walked. She and Ren Yao went back first to pack their personal things; Ming Huazhang and Xie Jichuan would follow afterward. Ming Huashang took Ren Yao’s hand as they left the palace building and stepped directly into the boundless snow and wind. Ming Huashang looked up, watching the swirling fragments of jade-like snow above her, and murmured: “The wind has come up.”

The wind had come up and snow was falling; Feihong Garden was already built on a mountaintop, and with conditions like this the road down the mountain would be even more treacherous.

An inexplicable thought rose in Ming Huashang’s mind: they were all trapped on the mountain.

Ren Yao noticed Ming Huashang standing motionless, staring up at the night sky, and looked up herself: “What is it — is there something up there?”

Ming Huashang shook her head: “Nothing — I was just letting my mind wander. Let us go, and get back quickly.”

Ming Huashang thought — surely she was just worrying for nothing. With so many powerful nobles on the mountaintop, even Prince Wei and Princess Taiping were here — how could they possibly be stranded?

Ming Huashang no longer had any desire to attend whatever banquets remained. She planned to get through the main banquet on the fifteenth, give Princess Taiping her full respect, and then descend the mountain in the afternoon.

Why Chi Lan had died, why the murderer had killed her in such a brutal manner, and what the strange phrase “Those who look upon me — die” meant — none of that was anything she wanted to know.

If she could endure another half day, she could return to her ordinary life.

Ming Huashang had planned well — but the unexpected proved faster than her plans.

At the fourth watch of the night, Ming Huashang was sleeping deeply when she suddenly heard a dull, rumbling boom. Ren Yao, beside her, grumbled fretfully and turned over. Ming Huashang had never needed to rise so early; she rolled over and went right back to sleep without a qualm.

From the room next door came the creak of a door; someone had come out. Outside the window, what sounded like low voices, and then several more sounds of doors opening and closing. After she did not know how long, a knock came at their door.

“Second Lady?”

Ming Huashang struggled to open one eye: “Mm?”

“Wake up quickly. Just now there was an avalanche — the mountain road is blocked.”

Ming Huashang blinked in a daze. Her body was awake but her mind was not; she could not grasp the meaning of the words. The person outside the window let out a quiet sigh and said: “We may not be able to get down the mountain.”