The great fire burned until dawn, turning the edge of the sky red. Everyone in Chengdu Prefecture was alarmed, rushing from all directions to help fight the fire.

Jing Yu’s body was taken away by the morgue workers to prepare for burial.

Huang Zixi and Zhou Ziqin searched the abandoned corpses for a long time, discovering they had been very thorough – dressed in common civilian clothes with nothing to indicate their identity, even the maker’s marks on their weapons had been ground away.

Since traveling with an escort in the city wasn’t appropriate, Li Shubai ordered his guards to disperse, occasionally following secretly. The remaining four of them stood silently before the ashes. To hunt down Li Shubai, the enemy not only dared to kill Princess Qile but now showed complete disregard for innocent civilians in the surrounding streets, causing many to perish in the fire and leaving countless others homeless.

“Bastards… I’ll personally catch these arsonists!” Zhou Ziqin gritted his teeth in hatred.

Huang Zixi frowned: “A fire this large, with all the surrounding buildings under their control, front and back doors locked and sealed – every process and detail was planned. I’m afraid the power of these masterminds targeting His Highness is far beyond what you can imagine.”

Zhou Ziqin pouted: “I don’t care who they are. They committed crimes in Shu Prefecture, and as Shu Prefecture’s Chief Constable, I’ll fight them to the end!”

As they walked out of the alley reduced to rubble, they suddenly saw a woman anxiously searching through the crowd of escapees, trying to identify people walking out. Her figure was graceful, her steps light, and even with extreme anxiety on her face, her silhouette remained striking in the crowded chaos.

Zhou Ziqin called out to her: “Madam, who are you looking for?”

Gongsun Yuan turned to see the four of them, paused for a moment, then let out a long breath and quickly walked to them, saying: “I’m looking for you!”

“Oh? Were you worried about us?” Zhou Ziqin patted his chest, seemingly having forgotten how terrified he’d been moments ago. “Don’t worry, who are we? Of course, we’re unharmed!”

“Look at yourselves, stop bragging.” Gongsun Yuan looked at their dust-covered, disheveled appearance and helped pat the ash off him. “Alright, alright, I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Madam, where are you staying now? Let’s all go to your inn,” Huang Zixi asked.

Gongsun Yuan nodded and said: “After being harassed by those two men, I moved to the Yunlai Inn two streets away. Come with me.”

Yunlai Inn was very quiet. Though an unremarkable small inn, its courtyard was planted with bamboo and orchids, with a small spring – perfect for those who had just escaped the fire.

“Came from the burned inn next door?” The innkeeper was experienced, immediately understanding seeing their appearance. “Did you save your luggage? Do you still have money on you?”

Zhang Xingying, who had been lost in thought, finally came to his senses, somewhat moved: “Thank you for your concern, sir…”

Huang Zixi interrupted him: “Don’t worry, we can afford the rooms.”

Gongsun Yuan immediately said: “I’ll pay.”

Zhou Ziqin waved his hand grandly: “Don’t worry, all expenses will be covered by the yamen!”

Seeing so many people eager to pay, the innkeeper finally relaxed: “Oh, that’s good then.”

The look of gratitude on Zhang Xingying’s face instantly froze, replaced again by his expression of suppressed grief.

Once in their rooms, their first task was to call for water to wash themselves. Then they gathered in the front hall to order food together.

“Ah… never had such a desperate midnight snack before…” Zhou Ziqin sighed, looking at the near-dawn sky outside. “Also never had such a luxurious breakfast…”

After fumbling through the fire scene for so long, the men were fine, but Huang Zixi’s throat was damaged by the smoke, constantly pressing her chest and coughing. Fortunately, Zhou Ziqin had already asked the inn to cook a large bowl of snow pear and loquat soup, having everyone drink it while waiting for the late meal to clear the heat.

“Chonggu, you’re the worst affected, you must drink more!” Zhou Ziqin kept forcing soup on her.

Having drunk a belly full of water, Huang Zixi was truly uncomfortable and had to escape Zhou Ziqin’s attentiveness by making an excuse to find Gongsun Yuan.

When Gongsun Yuan came to the hall with Huang Zixi, they found another woman in her thirties following behind them. She was petite and delicate, appearing like an unremarkable maid behind the graceful Gongsun Yuan.

When she walked up to them and raised her head after bowing, they discovered her face was like a blooming crabapple, hazy and glowing in the lamplight. Even shrouded in melancholy, she possessed a captivating charm.

“This is my fourth sister Yin Luyi, who just arrived in Chengdu Prefecture today. I had left a note at Aruan’s house in Songhua Lane, and when Luyi arrived in Chengdu Prefecture today, she came looking.”

Zhou Ziqin suddenly realized: “Oh, so that paper note on the door was left for your sisters? I was wondering what that paper kite meant.”

Gongsun Yuan nodded, pulling Yin Luyi to sit beside them. Yin Luyi was quiet and reserved, and with everyone preoccupied with Jing Yu’s death, the meal was extremely somber. Only near the end did Zhou Ziqin ask Yin Luyi: “Fourth Lady, what is your specialty?”

Seeing Zhou Ziqin inquire about her skills, Yin Luyi remained silent but turned her hand toward him, producing a pomegranate flower from her fingers.

“Oh? Where did that flower come from?” Zhou Ziqin reached out in surprise to take it, but Yin Luyi turned and withdrew her hand, pressing her palms together to crumple the flower a few times, then extended her hand again. Now a pomegranate appeared in her palm, golden with a pink tinge, round and lovely.

Zhou Ziqin snatched the pomegranate, asking excitedly: “So you know magic tricks?”

“In Yangzhou, at feasts and celebrations, having Luyi perform magic is an event that excites the whole city.” Gongsun Yuan spoke while taking the pomegranate from his hand, breaking it into pieces to share with everyone.

The pomegranate was as fresh as if just picked from the tree, sweet and sour. Only Yin Luyi held her piece of broken pomegranate, tears in her eyes, unable to eat.

Gongsun Yuan sighed and said to her: “I know you’re always sensitive and sentimental, but the dead are gone. Aruan must be happy to go with her lover – why grieve so much for her?”

“I… I just can’t let it go.” Yin Luyi spoke, still in a daze.

“I feel there must be more to Aruan’s death, so I’ve asked Young Master Zhou to investigate.” Gongsun Yuan looked earnestly at Zhou Ziqin. “Now we sisters must rely on the constable. Please investigate the truth of Aruan’s suicide for love, at least… let us know what happened to her, why she didn’t seek our help but chose death instead.”

“Madam, please don’t worry.” Zhou Ziqin patted his chest in the guarantee. “As the imperially appointed Chief Constable of Shu Prefecture, I will uncover the truth of all cases that occur in Shu Prefecture, leaving no questions unanswered!”

Yin Luyi looked up at him, about to say something, but Gongsun Yuan had already gratefully said to Zhou Ziqin: “Thank you, Young Constable Zhou! My sister’s grievance depends entirely on you!”

Zhou Ziqin readily agreed, then remembered something: “Speaking of which, the Chengdu Prefecture yamen is hosting guests tomorrow. Would you be willing to come perform?”

Gongsun Yuan and Yin Luyi exchanged glances, saying: “Since Young Constable Zhou has asked, we shall certainly attend tomorrow. May we know who the guests are, and what kind of entertainment to prepare?”

“To be honest, Military Commissioner General Fan is visiting the Prefecture Lord’s mansion tomorrow. Firstly, because the new Prefecture Lord has just arrived in Shu Prefecture, to become acquainted. Secondly, for the marriage of Military Commissioner’s Office Judge Qi Teng to my sister. The Military Commissioner is a warrior and will surely enjoy sword dances – that’s Madam’s specialty.”

Gongsun Yuan nodded: “Yes. But I think… since it’s a joyous occasion, Young Constable Zhou’s sister probably won’t like the flash of blades.”

Zhou Ziqin frowned: “Well… can’t help that, we must prioritize the guests.”

“I have a good idea. Previously, Aruan helped me rearrange the sword dance, making several modifications. Though it’s still a sword dance with flowing qi, the graceful and gentle parts now surpass even the Green Waist dance, combining both strength and softness. Now that Luyi has arrived, she can help me prepare. Tomorrow I’ll perform my new dance – it won’t disappoint anyone.”

Zhou Ziqin was delighted: “If Madam says so, it must be a spectacular performance! Alright, we’ll look forward to tomorrow.”

“One more thing, I need some items prepared for my dance tomorrow.” She called for paper and brush, wrote a list, and handed it to Zhou Ziqin.

Zhou Ziqin looked at it, reading out what she needed: “Two pairs of cowhide lanterns, a basket of flower petals, ten pairs of butterflies…”

Reading to this point, he asked in surprise: “Butterflies? Is this sword dance also releasing creatures to freedom?”

Though Gongsun Yuan was in low spirits, she couldn’t help covering her mouth to smile, saying: “The secret cannot be revealed. I might tell, but these mechanisms are how Luyi makes her living – they absolutely cannot be told to others.”

Zhou Ziqin scratched his head embarrassedly and smiled: “I spend all day studying corpses, how would I know about these things? I’ll have someone prepare everything right away.”

“But remember they must be alive – we’re strangers here and can’t find live butterflies ourselves,” Gongsun Yuan added.

“I guarantee each one will be alive! Leave it to me, no problem!” Zhou Ziqin said, then looked enviously at the pomegranate in Yin Luyi’s hand and said, “By the way, Fourth Lady, why didn’t you come to the capital before? Your skills are truly marvelous.”

Yin Luyi was small in stature, her voice also soft and gentle: “More than ten years ago, I visited the capital with my sisters, but Constable Zhou would have been a child then. However, I have several disciples, and some went to the capital, I hear they’re often at the Western Market.”

Zhou Ziqin quickly asked: “How can we find them?”

“My first and second disciples are together, a married couple, even older than me. When they left, I gave them a trained white bird – perhaps you could find them through that.”

Huang Zixi immediately understood, saying: “I’ve seen that couple at the Western Market. But their skills are ordinary, and they sold the white bird.”

At that time, Wang Yun, who bought the white bird, performed a disappearing caged bird act at Xianyou Temple, leading to various unexpected events afterward.

Yin Luyi nodded and said: “In matters of skill, being hasty for quick results is most unwise. Sun Da learned just two techniques before feeling it was enough to make his way in the world and bid me farewell. Rong was somewhat better, learning several good tricks, but when her husband wanted to leave, she had to go with him.”

Zhou Ziqin quickly said: “Why doesn’t Fourth Lady perform some tricks for us after tomorrow’s banquet, to add to the entertainment?”

Yin Luyi lowered her head silently and said: “That won’t be necessary. I’ll have some part in Elder Sister’s dance tomorrow – everyone will see then.”