Huang Zixia immediately thought of Zhang Xingying’s father. When the late Emperor was gravely ill, the palace was desperately seeking cures – not only summoning famous doctors from various regions for diagnosis but also inviting many Buddhist monks and Taoist priests to the capital to pray for blessings. Master Shan was already a renowned high monk at that time, which was why Wang Zongshi invited him into the palace.

“Although Buddhist dharma is boundless, this old monk’s Buddhist nature was not steadfast enough to defy heaven,” Master Shan sighed and continued, “On the very day I entered the palace, though the Emperor briefly regained consciousness during my sutra recitation, it was merely a final flicker before his spirit returned to heaven…”

Huang Zixia frowned slightly. She remembered it was Zhang Xingying’s father who had administered medicine to revive the Emperor, earning the Emperor’s brush inscription as a reward. Master Shan was now trying to claim undue credit.

So she hesitantly said, “But many in the capital say it was a doctor from Duanrui Hall who saved the Emperor and revived him…”

Master Shan hadn’t expected her to know about those events and became quite awkward, having to say, “Oh, I remember that doctor too. He was in his prime then, and quite fearless. Many imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical Bureau didn’t dare use strong medicine, fearing to harm the imperial body, but he believed it better to give His Majesty temporary consciousness to handle state affairs than let him remain unconscious.”

Li Shubai asked, “With the Emperor’s health being so crucial, how did the imperial physicians not stop such treatment?”

Master Shan’s gaze flickered as he avoided the question, only saying, “The Emperor’s condition was critical, and circumstances were pressing – Eunuch Wang made the final decision.”

Huang Zixia recalled what Li Shubai had mentioned about finding an Ajiashenie in the blood the Emperor had coughed up. She frowned slightly, wanting to question further but feeling the matter too significant to speak carelessly. After hesitating for a long while, she asked, “So when the Emperor temporarily regained consciousness, you, Eunuch Wang, and Doctor Zhang from Duanrui Hall were by his side?”

“Oh yes, I remember now, that doctor’s surname was Zhang…” Master Shan nodded, “When His Majesty awakened, we waited outside the hall and exchanged names. But after so many years, I can’t remember his full name anymore.”

Huang Zixia asked further, “So you and Doctor Zhang were both waiting outside the hall?”

Master Shan hesitated briefly before saying, “Yes.”

Li Shubai remained silent, but they both understood Master Shan was lying. Li Shubai had been waiting outside the hall the entire time – if Master Shan had come out, they would certainly have met. But he had no memory of Master Shan’s face, proving they had never met – which meant when his father briefly regained consciousness, Master Shan must have been by his side.

But having come so hastily and under such pretenses, they clearly couldn’t question further, so Li Shubai and Huang Zixia both chose not to expose the lie.

Seeing Li Shubai nod slightly to her, Huang Zixia pressed her palms together in farewell: “Thank you for the excellent tea, Master. Having seen your countenance fulfills our wish. We won’t disturb your meditation further. We’ll visit again another day.”

Master Shan’s eyes swept across her face once more before he smiled, stood, and showed them out.

Three had climbed the mountain, now two descended Mount Mingyue.

Mountain winds howled along the winding path. Huang Zixia and Li Shubai walked in silence.

They stopped at an unobstructed cliff edge and looked back at the misty mountains. Birds flew across the green peaks before them, while smoke and haze stretched diagonally across the vast sky.

Seeing no one around and all was quiet, Li Shubai finally spoke: “This Master Shan seems to know the Indian soul-capturing technique.”

“Soul-capturing technique?” Huang Zixia frowned thoughtfully, recalling how she had felt almost dreamlike when he had looked at her.

“I once met a Western Region monk who could control others with his eyes, making them dazed and completely obedient – it seems Master Shan learned this art, though he’s not as skilled as that monk.”

“Yes, he’s said to be a high monk who traveled through the Western Regions. I wonder if there’s any connection between the Ajiashenie from the Western Regions and him.” Huang Zixia suddenly understood, nodding, “In my three years in Shu Prefecture, I’d heard tales of Master Shan’s boundless Buddhist power, and also rumors about how Commissioner Fan’s son Fan Yuanlong was infatuated with a singing girl, but I never connected the two. Now it seems Master Shan might have used soul-capturing techniques to change Fan Yuanlong’s mind. No wonder no one questions his fake spring, or those stories about reformed unfilial sons and transformed shrews – they must have been achieved the same way. If he used this technique for good purposes, it could be beneficial.”

“But what if he did things in the palace that we don’t know about?” Li Shubai gazed at the birds crossing the mountains before them and sighed, “What if he’s connected to the Emperor’s brush inscription, Consort E’s madness, and that small redfish in the Emperor’s mouth when he passed away?”

These secrets that could overturn the world, spoken softly from his lips, dispersed in the mountain wind, known to no one.

Huang Zixia gazed at his profile, that curve more distant and beautiful than a thousand miles of rivers and mountains, leaving her momentarily silent. After a long while, she said softly, “Regardless, Mount Mingyue is here, Guangdu Temple is here. Next time we come to see Master Shan, we’ll be better prepared.”

They headed north toward the Prefecture Lord’s mansion.

At a fork in the road, Li Shubai suddenly turned toward another direction.

Huang Zixia stood behind him, saying, “Wrong way.”

“No,” Li Shubai said, “Qing Garden is only a hundred steps from here. Let’s find Yu Xuan.”

Yu Xuan. Huang Zixia was surprised that Li Shubai wanted to find him. She hurried a few steps to catch up and asked, “How do you know Qing Garden is this way?”

“Isn’t there a map of Chengdu Prefecture hanging in the government office? I glanced at it once.”

Huang Zixia was speechless – with just a glance, he probably knew Chengdu Prefecture better than she did after living there for three years.

Qing Garden was planted with plum, peach, and pear trees, but being late summer, none were in bloom. Only clusters of purple lilyturf flowers bloomed beneath the rockery, and hollyhocks flourished along the bamboo fence, still offering some beauty.

Yu Xuan was among the flower beds, carrying a bucket to water the plants. Seeing them approach, he nodded and said, “Wait a moment, just a few more flower beds.”

Huang Zixia looked around and asked, “Where’s Old Li, the gardener?”

“His grandson is sick, so he needs to stay home to care for him. I promised to water these flowers morning and evening for him.” He pointed ahead, saying, “Just those patches left to water.”

Huang Zixia silently went to the well, drew a bucket of water, and moved to help him water.

Li Shubai took the bucket from her, carrying it naturally and just handing her a water dipper. Huang Zixia was pleasantly surprised, turning to look at him, but found his expression calm and casual, as if it didn’t matter at all. She could only pretend to be equally composed, taking the dipper he offered and scooping water from his bucket to water the flowers and plants.

Seeing them so natural together, one carrying water and one watering, Yu Xuan unconsciously stopped what he was doing, staring at them for a long while without coming to his senses.

Only when Huang Zixia turned back and asked, “How much water should I use?” did he look away, lowering his head to say, “A bit more – the weather’s been hot lately. Without a good soaking, they might suffer by midday.”

While watering the flowers, Huang Zixia asked, “Such a large garden, you’re managing it alone now? Why not get some help?”

He said softly, “I’m at leisure now with nothing to do, so coming here helps pass the time.”

“Qing Garden used to be the finest in Chengdu Prefecture, with distinguished guests gathering here almost daily for gatherings,” Huang Zixia gazed at the garden’s flowers and plants with some regret. “But with such hot weather now, I guess not many people come to appreciate it?”

Yu Xuan nodded, “The lotus flowers are withering now, the osmanthus hasn’t bloomed yet, and it’s so hot – naturally no one comes. Though last night we had a winding stream party, everyone enjoying candlelit night wandering and composing some poems.”

“A winding stream party? Who came?”

“Just our poetry society, many people came… only Wen Yang was missing.”

Huang Zixia asked, “So Qi Teng came too?”

Yu Xuan nodded, saying, “Yes, he even caught a small fish from the water to take home, saying he wanted to raise one too.”

“Small fish?” Huang Zixia and Li Shubai immediately caught this crucial detail, maintaining neutral expressions while exchanging a glance.

“Yes, Qi Teng likes raising small fish. He used to have a small red fish too, kept it in a porcelain bottle he carried around showing off to people, saying it was an Ajiashenie, extremely rare, just like the one Prince Kui had.”

Li Shubai said calmly, “Ajiashenie are very rare – was his genuine?”

Yu Xuan watered the flowers, head lowered as he said, “I don’t know about that, but Master Shan said it was.”

Huang Zixia suddenly remembered that morning when he met Qi Teng, Qi Teng had asked him, “Do you remember what happened to my small redfish?”

At that time, Yu Xuan’s expression had been distorted with shock, almost frightening to see.

So, Huang Zixia continued watering the hollyhocks one diaper at a time, slowly asking, “Then, do you know where Qi Teng’s small fish… is now?”

Yu Xuan staggered back as if struck heavily. But looking at Huang Zixia, seeing her calm face and direct gaze, he managed to take a deep breath and said softly, “I don’t know… anyway, haven’t seen it for a long time.”

“Around when did it disappear?” Huang Zixia asked again.

Yu Xuan thought for a long while, his face growing increasingly pale: “Probably… after the incident at the Prefecture Lord’s mansion.”

Huang Zixia made a thoughtful sound. Li Shubai, seeing her holding the water dipper motionless, took it from her hand and went to continue watering.

Huang Zixia and Yu Xuan remained standing among the shadows of the hollyhocks, sunlight casting dappled patterns on them, light and shadow gently swaying, alternating between bright and dark between them.

Huang Zixia felt a slight pain well up in her chest, so she turned her head away, walking toward Li Shubai.

Yu Xuan, seemingly trying to break the awkwardness, said softly, “Because I remember, before that, everyone used to joke that instead of calling Qi Teng ‘Young Master Hanyue,’ we should call him ‘Young Master Fish-Keeper’… but after that, that fish never appeared again, so no one made that joke anymore.”

Huang Zixia stopped in her tracks, feeling something off in her heart, and turned back to ask, “Qi Teng’s nickname was Young Master Hanyue?”

“Yes, Qi Teng’s courtesy name is Hanyue, which sounds like ‘cold moon,’ and after Wen Yang arrived, people would tease that Wen Yang and Han Yue (cold moon) were a natural pair. So when joking, people often called him Young Master Hanyue.”