After a long silence, Huang Zixia nodded and said, “Yes, I will pay special attention to him.”

Li Shubai said nothing more and returned to eating his dim sum.

Zhou Ziqin, feeling the atmosphere was awkward, quickly laughed “Haha!” while holding his bun: “Hey, I grabbed my favorite red bean bun right away! Is it my good luck, or does the cook like me?”

No one responded to him, making his laughter echoing through the flower hall seem even more awkward.

Zhou Ziqin could only dejectedly take a bite of his bun before asking Huang Zixia: “Chonggu, where should we go today?”

Huang Zixia paused, glancing up at Li Shubai. Seeing no change in his expression, she could only sigh inwardly and say, “You go to Yu Xuan’s place, I’ll go to Madam Gong Sun’s.”

Zhou Ziqin was surprised: “Eh? Why split up? Let’s go see Yu Xuan together! Didn’t you say Yu Xuan is good-looking, has good character, a good personality, and a good temper? Let’s go, let’s go, it’s pleasant to be around him!”

“I… when did I ever say that?” Talk about bringing up the worst possible topic – Huang Zixia felt her scalp tingling. She was completely defeated by Zhou Ziqin’s talent for stabbing right at people’s weak spots.

She heard Zhang Xingying cough nearby as if choking on his soy milk – even someone as slow as Zhang Xingying could sense it, yet Zhou Ziqin remained oblivious!

Huang Zixia secretly glanced at Li Shubai and found him finally looking at her, but his expression wasn’t the thunderous anger she had expected, but rather a light, breezy smile.

He smiled at her and said, “For this case, since Ziqin needs you, you should cooperate fully. There’s no need to be overly concerned about certain things. What’s wrong with you going to Yu Xuan’s place together with Ziqin?”

“…Yes.” She quickly responded in a low voice.

“I’ve been invited to inspect the Western Sichuan army today and must leave soon. You go with Ziqin, but don’t overtire yourself.” As he spoke, he took the tea handed to him by the servant standing behind him, rinsed his mouth, and stood up to leave.

Zhang Xingying hurriedly followed him out. Zhou Ziqin and Huang Zixia both stood to see him off.

As he passed by Huang Zixia, he suddenly lowered his head and whispered in her ear: “Don’t worry about me. You said you would stay by my side – I remember that.”

Hearing his open and relaxed words, she felt the heavy stone in her chest suddenly lift, and her lips involuntarily curved into a slight smile as she said, “Mm, I remember too.”

Huang Zixia led Zhou Ziqin through a shortcut to Yu Xuan’s residence by Hanyuan Bridge.

Eager to see Yu Xuan, Zhou Ziqin excitedly went up to the door and knocked the door ring – while others would knock two or three times, he knocked seventeen or eighteen times in succession, nearly pulling the door ring off.

Despite such commotion, there was still no sound from inside.

As they waited, an old woman squatting nearby pulling weeds looked up and said, “Scholar Yu probably isn’t home, stop knocking.”

“Oh…” Zhou Ziqin stopped dejectedly, “Do you know where he went?”

The old woman didn’t know and ignored him, continuing to search for weeds on the ground.

Huang Zixia asked, “Grandmother, what are you looking for?”

“Oh, I have some moles on the back of my hand, I need to find some houttuynia to rub on them,” the old woman said, picking up a plant to examine it before tucking it into her clothing.

Huang Zixia knew this was houttuynia, commonly called drought lotus grass, used to stop bleeding and reduce swelling. Rubbing it on hand moles would make them shrink and fall off in a few days.

So she said, “This grass is indeed good, but its juice leaves black marks on your hands that are hard to wash off – you’ll need to use plenty of soap bean.”

“This old woman is already aged, with dark skin – it won’t show much, no matter.”

Several images suddenly flashed through Huang Zixia’s mind.

The black marks on Fu Xinruan’s fingers. Gong Sun Yuan’s thoughtful look at Qi Teng’s hands. The small scars on Qi Teng’s hands after his death.

Standing under the willow tree, she suddenly felt a faint sadness well up inside her.

Seeing her lost in thought, Zhou Ziqin asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“I’m thinking…” she said slowly, “when you offer your most precious thing to someone, yet they’re so eager to get rid of it – how worthless that makes it seem.”

While Zhou Ziqin was still puzzling over this, the door finally opened behind them. Yu Xuan stood inside, wearing plain blue clothes that made him appear even more elegant and upright.

Behind him stood another person – wearing a kasaya, with an aged face and thin frame, but eyes containing inner brightness – it was Master Mu Shan from Guangdu Temple.

They were quite surprised to find Master Mu Shan at Yu Xuan’s home and greeted him with joined palms.

Master Mu Shan smiled and said, “Later guests should yield to earlier ones – this old monk will take his leave.”

Huang Zixia quickly said, “Please wait, Master, we have some matters we’d like to consult you about.”

Master Mu Shan made an “Oh” sound and looked toward Zhou Ziqin.

Zhou Ziqin hurriedly said, “Zhou Ziqin, constable of Chengdu Prefecture.”

Master Mu Shan’s expression darkened briefly, but he quickly smiled and said, “What business do officials have with this monk who has left the secular world?”

“Master, please,” Huang Zixia gestured inside.

The four of them walked past the pink wall and screen wall to see water lilies in the courtyard, with blue-purple flowers in bloom. They sat down in the hall, facing a pond of blue lotus.

Yu Xuan went to the back hall to make tea, while the three sat in the main hall in momentary awkward silence.

Huang Zixia spoke first, asking, “Master, have you come today to discuss Buddhist teachings with Yu Xuan?”

Master Mu Shan nodded, joining his palms as he smiled and said, “Benefactor Yu often has unique insights into Buddhist teachings. I often come to discuss with him and find it refreshing for the mind and spirit. I must leave for the capital tomorrow, but seeing Benefactor Yu seemed troubled, I came today to bid him farewell.”

“The Master is truly thoughtful,” Huang Zixia said, then asked, “May I ask how you and Yu Xuan came to know each other?”

“It was at the end of the year before last, shortly after Benefactor Yu passed the provincial examinations. There was a poetry gathering at Qing Garden, and Chen Lunyun invited me to attend. Though there were over ten people at the gathering, Benefactor Yu’s outstanding bearing caught my attention among the crowd, leaving an indelible impression. Later, after the incident with his adoptive father Prefect Huang’s family, he was deeply troubled and attempted suicide. Though Magistrate Qi saved him, seeing him so dispirited, he asked me to counsel him. Since then, Benefactor Yu and I have had increasing contact.”

Huang Zixia nodded and sighed, “I’ve also heard that Magistrate Qi had frequent contact with you, Master.”

Master Mu Shan nodded and said, “Amitabha, Benefactor Qi was indeed a frequent visitor here. He was witty and always smiling. What a pity he died so young – Chengdu Prefecture has lost a remarkable person…”

Zhou Ziqin quickly said, “Master truly saves all beings – Yu Xuan gave up his suicidal thoughts entirely thanks to your guidance.”

Though Master Mu Shan still wore a smile, his gaze wavered: “Indeed, how can ordinary people separate themselves from the endless red dust of the mortal world? Benefactor Yu wished to escape his troubles through death – that was like trying to find fish in a tree.”

Huang Zixia then asked, “So the Master also knows of Yu Xuan’s troubles?”

Master Mu Shan said, “Naturally I know. As Prefect Huang’s adopted son, everyone knew the Huang family’s daughter poisoned her entire family for his sake. He deeply hated himself for causing his benefactor’s family to be destroyed, and thus felt intense guilt, taking all the blame upon himself. This demon in his heart took deep root, leading him to extremes…”

“I notice he often has headaches – is this from mental anguish or an aftereffect of his suicide attempt?” Huang Zixia asked.

Master Mu Shan sighed and said, “In my view, it’s likely both.”

Huang Zixia nodded and asked, “Please forgive this disciple’s curiosity, but I heard from Magistrate Qi’s housekeeper that you once traveled to the capital and brought back an Agashni fish to give to the Magistrate?”

“Yes, this old monk received it as a gift from a noble in the capital, so I brought it back to Chengdu Prefecture. Later, I read in the scriptures that this fish had an unlucky appetite for blood, which seemed unsuitable for Buddhist purity. I was considering whether to release it when Magistrate Qi came to visit. He was quite fond of the little fish, and though I explained my concerns, he didn’t mind and asked for it – alas, I fear I brought him misfortune, leading to his bloody fate.”

“Master thinks too much. It was just a small fish – how could it be inauspicious? Haven’t you heard that the Duke of Kui also keeps a small fish, an Agashni as well?” Huang Zixia said.

Hearing her mention the Duke, Master Mu Shan quickly joined his palms and chanted, “Amitabha, the Duke’s precious life is blessed by heaven – how could a mere small fish affect him in the slightest?”

“Moreover, I hear Magistrate Qi’s small fish has disappeared?”

Master Mu Shan’s expression froze briefly, but he quickly smiled and said, “With a clear conscience, no waves can disturb the mind – how can external things affect one’s self? As long as one stays true to oneself, what difference does it make whether the fish is there or not?”

Seeing the old monk starting to change the subject again, Huang Zixia had to circle back: “Since Magistrate Qi was so fond of the fish you gave him, why wasn’t it properly cared for? Do you know where that fish is now? I asked Yu Xuan about this matter, but he seemed to know nothing about it, and there was no trace of the fish at his residence. I heard from housekeeper Qi Fu that the Magistrate mentioned this to you – is this true?”

Master Mu Shan’s downcast eyes twitched slightly, his tone growing slower: “It is true. That fish… was killed by Benefactor Yu.”

Even Zhou Ziqin was surprised at this: “I heard the Agashni has extremely strong vitality, living up to a hundred years. Why would Yu Xuan kill this fish for no reason?”

“I believe he had an episode of his illness and accidentally broke the fish tank. No matter how resilient an Agashni might be, it cannot survive without water.”

Seeing his watertight answer, Huang Zixia could only nod and say, “I see… Regarding this fish, this disciple has one more question to ask, if the Master be so kind?”

After Master Mu Shan indicated his permission, she asked, “About that fish, the Agashni – could the Master tell us about its origins? Who gave it to you, and how did you acquire it?”

“The fish…” Master Mu Shan hesitated, then finally nodded and said, “After taking my vows, I eschewed material wealth and had no connection to worldly things. So when I went to the capital before, Lord Wang gave me several scrolls of sutras copied by Master Xuanzang himself, along with that Agashni. It’s said this fish was transformed from a dragon maiden’s fleeting thought before Buddha, naturally possessing Buddha nature. After I brought it back to Chengdu Prefecture since Qi Teng liked the fish and asked for it several times, I also felt that as a monk I had no need to keep living creatures, so I gave it to him.”

Mentioning fish reminded Zhou Ziqin of something, and he quickly took out the double fish bracelet from his chest, and placed it on the table, saying: “Master, this…”

Before he could finish speaking, Master Mu Shan had already sharply withdrawn his hand, as if afraid to touch it. Given his advanced age and usually slow movements, this sudden action startled both Huang Zixia and Zhou Ziqin, making them notice something unusual.