Li Shubai turned his head to look at Huang Zixia amidst these strange and magnificent fireworks. The reflection of this gorgeous scene in her eyes was even more breathtaking than the real spectacle before him.

When Huang Zixia returned to the Wang residence in Yongchang District, she discovered Wang Yun already sitting in the hall waiting for her. She suddenly felt her hand, which Li Shubai had just held, burning hot, making her feel guilty.

Yet Wang Yun smiled gently at her, still maintaining that gentle demeanor as clear as the sky after rain, making her feel slightly more at ease, though even more indebted and guilty. She sat down before him and carefully asked, “Does the Imperial Guard have free time today? You’ve come so early.”

He nodded and said, “Yes, the weather is so cold, and His Majesty is unwell, he hasn’t been holding court recently, so the palace doesn’t need to maintain such high vigilance.”

Seeing the water in the stove starting to bubble, Huang Zixia washed her hands to grind tea and prepared a cup for him.

He sat beside her watching the tea, then suddenly asked, “Why go out in such cold weather? It’s much warmer at home.”

She lowered her head, preparing the tea, and said casually, “Zhou Ziqin found me, and we went to Prince E’s mansion together to look for clues.”

“No wonder you’re wearing men’s clothing,” he smiled, taking the tea she handed over, savoring its subtle fragrance and bitterness, lost in thought for a moment without speaking further.

Huang Zixia asked, “Is the tea not good?”

“It’s very good,” he said, turning to look at her with a faint smile appearing on his face, “You’ve been investigating at Prince E’s mansion for so long, staying until now?”

Huang Zixia lowered her head to taste the tea, giving a soft “mm” in response.

Wang Yun looked at her, hesitating before finally asking, “Then, why did you go to the south of the city?”

So he already knew she had gone to the south. Huang Zixia felt her spine stiffen slightly, but after recalling that she and Li Shubai hadn’t been followed on their way back, she calmly brushed her hair and said, “That charm from Prince Kui, you know, someone must have tampered with it. Zhou Ziqin insisted on taking me to Prince Kui’s mansion, I had no choice but to go with them to the south to examine the box containing the charm, to see if there was any opportunity.”

Seeing her react so calmly, Wang Yun also smiled and said, “Ziqin is just like that, never considering others’ thoughts.”

Huang Zixia lowered her head and said nothing more.

Wang Yun looked at her downturned profile, hesitated for a long while, and said, “I need to return to Langya for some time.”

Huang Zixia looked up at him questioningly.

“The New Year is approaching, and as the eldest grandson of the main family, I naturally need to return for ancestral worship, it’s like this every year, there’s no way around it…” he said, looking at her with hope eyes.

She naturally understood his meaning. But she hesitated for a long while, finally avoiding his gaze and saying, “Safe journey, return soon.”

Seeing her response, Wang Yun couldn’t help but lean closer to her, asking by her ear, “You… don’t plan to come with me?”

Huang Zixia felt his breath gently brushing her ear, creating a strange tingling sensation. She felt extremely nervous and couldn’t help but turn her face away: “I… in what capacity would I go? How could… an unmarried woman accompany her fiancé to worship ancestors?”

Wang Yun couldn’t help but laugh, gently raising his hand to fix her hair, saying softly, “I was being unrealistic… Indeed, how could that be appropriate?”

Huang Zixia remained silent, lowering her head, feeling his fingertips lightly brush across her cheek, creating an unusual sensation.

An uneasy feeling rose in her chest, and she involuntarily curled up, moving away from his fingers.

But his hand slid down, gently embracing her shoulders, lowering his head to gaze at her, his eyes covered with a layer of moisture as he looked deeply at her and asked, “I’m leaving, will you… see me off?”

The sky was nearing dusk, and the snow outside reflected the heavenly light, casting brilliant gold and purple colors over them. These gorgeous colors also tinted Wang Yun’s face with an expression that seemed both melancholic and affectionate. He looked down at her, his pale lips slightly parted, calling softly, “Zixia…”

His voice was dreamy and carried swaying thoughts, making Huang Zixia’s body involuntarily tremble, unconsciously leaning back as far as possible, avoiding his breath that was almost within reach.

He gently pressed down on her trembling shoulders, leaning down, but saw a layer of moisture suddenly covering her eyes.

She knew she had nowhere to escape, and could only tightly close her eyes, her trembling eyelashes covering her rising panic, but unable to hide her body’s trembling.

His breathing suddenly became heavy, the hot blood flowing through his entire body seeming to cool instantly. The sunset withdrew its dreamy, enchanting gold and purple colors, and the room began to darken. She was clearly within his reach, but he felt he could no longer see her.

His lips finally landed only on her forehead, like a butterfly lightly touching a newly bloomed cardamom flower, a moment of contact before parting.

Huang Zixia froze for a moment, realizing there was no other movement, before slowly opening her eyes.

Wang Yun gently released her and turned to stand up, his voice slightly hoarse: “It’s getting late, I should go. You… stay careful alone in the capital.”

“I… will,” she bit her lip, mumbling.

“Well then, it’s late, I’ll head back first,” Wang Yun said, turning to walk out.

Huang Zixia silently followed behind him, seeing him out of the flower hall.

The small courtyard was covered in snow, and a cold wind blew. When Wang Yun reached the door, he paused slightly before turning to look at her. She lowered her head silently, her pale face like a lotus in the night wind, her chin pointed like a lotus petal, thin and pitiful.

The emotion that had made him feel annoyed gradually receded at this moment, and he unconsciously raised his hand to tuck in her collar, saying softly, “Chang’an winters are so cold, you must take good care of yourself.”

She looked up at him, showing a faint smile: “Mm, you too, take care on your journey, remember to be careful everywhere.”

He nodded, squeezed her hand, and said, “Go back quickly.”

Huang Zixia nodded but remained standing at the door, watching him leave.

After Wang Yun left Chang’an for Langya, the weather grew increasingly cold. By New Year’s Eve, though the sky was clear, the air remained bitingly cold.

The Wang family’s servants were attentive in their care, the residence’s lanterns and colored silks were hung early, new peach charms were replaced on the main door, new window paper decorated with pairs of bright red window flowers, table cloths and covers all changed to brand new ones, making this quiet residence burst with the festive atmosphere of the New Year.

Huang Zixia, having received everyone’s care for many days, prepared red envelopes for each person.

Alone in Chang’an, with no one to rely on, she just sat heavily at the table listening to the firecrackers outside.

From far beyond the surrounding walls came what seemed to be children’s laughter; on this day, thousands of households were lively and reunited. But in this small residence, everyone was silent, with only her lighting a stick of incense, praying from afar to her family’s spirits in heaven.

As night approached, she sat alone by the lamplight facing the pair of Agashni on the table, feeling only cold loneliness, unbearable. Rising to look outside, passing through the corridor, faint laughter seemed both present and absent. She stood in this corridor with rippling light, hearing only her breathing, crystal clear in the cold night.

The Milky Way hung low, stars twinkling in the vast sky.

She remembered after solving Wang Ru’s case, coming out of Taiji Palace, looking up to see that person standing tall as jade under the starry sky.

The same stars, the same her gazing at the sky, but that person, where was he tonight?

Her hand pressed against the slightly warm wall, gently stroking the glazed tiles. Curious little fish approached her fingertips, separated by thin glazing, a dreamlike color, seeing yet forever unable to touch.

She couldn’t help but rest her forehead against it, gazing at them. The light above covered her warmly, ripples of water floating layer by layer across her face.

At the end of the corridor, a servant woman walked over smiling, handing her a letter.

She took the letter, looking at the writing on it, there was no signature, only five characters writing “For Huang Zixia.” The handwriting was unfamiliar.

She felt her heart flutter slightly, hurriedly opening it to look. Inside on the plain white paper was written only one character – “Come.”

A clear, graceful, and familiar character that made her heart immediately begin to pound. She gripped the letter in her hand, quickly passing through the corridor, and walking toward the main gate.

On New Year’s Eve, every household’s hearth fires cast light, illuminating the quiet, empty alleys with faint light. She saw Li Shubai standing under the starry sky, slight firelight illuminating his face, casting golden-red shadows on his sculptured features, yet even the shadows were so beautiful.

Huang Zixia turned to see the Wang family servant bringing out a cloak, quickly taking it while blocking her view. She thanked the servant, urging her to go inside before wrapping the sable cloak tightly around herself and walking toward Li Shubai.

The fluffy sable fur clustered around her cheeks made her face appear even more delicate and lovely; she lifted her face to look at him, her cheeks glowing beautifully in the faint firelight nearby, too dazzling to gaze upon directly.

Li Shubai stared at her and said, “Sorry I’m late, just returned from the palace.”

Huang Zixia hurriedly asked, “Did something happen?”

“No. Just the usual New Year’s Eve summoning of imperial relatives to the palace to watch the Nuo dance and receive spiced wine,” he said, helping her brush away the few strands of fur covering her eyes, telling her, “Come, I’ll show you something.”

She followed him out of Yongchang District, heading east.

Along the way, firecrackers sounded and music played, the festive atmosphere surrounding all of Chang’an. Tonight all districts of Chang’an hung lanterns high, burning through the night. The curfew was lifted for three days during New Year’s, so even though it was late, there were still children playing in the streets, some sitting at doorways eating dates and melon seeds, showing off what their parents had given them.

Huang Zixia remembered something and felt in her sleeve, finding an unopened red envelope, which she took out and handed to Li Shubai, saying, “This is for you, for good luck.”

Li Shubai took it and emptied it to look – a thin gold leaf, the most ordinary kind. She must have prepared it for those around her, for New Year’s fortune. He tucked the gold leaf in his sleeve, smiling, and said, “Thank you, I didn’t know you were so wealthy, seems being a lowest-ranked eunuch for life wouldn’t matter.”

“All thanks to the Prince’s blessing, no one in my clan dared to seize the inheritance my parents left,” she said, then couldn’t help but sigh, looking up at the millions of stars in the sky, saying softly, “I wonder how they’re doing over there if they’re also celebrating the New Year together warmly…”

“They will be, they’ll be watching over you from there, and you’ll be their pride,” Li Shubai said, gently raising his hand to touch her hooded head, “Don’t worry.”

Huang Zixia nodded, feeling warmth well up in her eyes, tears seeming about to fall. But she forcefully held them back, breathing hard, making them vanish in her eyes before they could fall.

She followed Li Shubai under the starry sky, walking toward Prince Kui’s mansion.

Walking across the curved bridge before Zhenliu Pavilion, there seemed to be some web-like things distributed above the withered lotus. In the darkness, she couldn’t see clearly, so she asked Li Shubai, “What’s that?”

Li Shubai smiled and said, “You’ll know in a moment.”

She entered Zhenliu Pavilion with him. Li Shubai brought her a gold-inlaid copper hand warmer to warm her hands, then lit a fire stick and asked, “You or me?”

Huang Zixia hugged the hand warmer and said, “I don’t even know what it is, of course, it should be you. Let me see if it’s a surprise worth coming out for in the middle of the night.”

“Then sit down,” he said, walking to the lotus pond’s edge, waving the fire stick to light a candle hanging there.

He returned to Huang Zixia’s side, sitting down with her in the pavilion, leaning against cushions on the railing.

One by one, fuses were lit by the candle, fire spreading across the lotus pond, and suddenly countless colored lights burst forth. Green flames spread upward, burning out countless green leaf silhouettes, and among the twinkling green lights, red, purple, yellow, and white lights burned together, shooting out bright flames, and blooming countless huge peonies above the green radiance.

Huang Zixia was dumbfounded, watching the pattern burning from bottom to top with wide eyes, asking, “Is this… frame fireworks? But it seems different from the usual ones?”

“Yes, usually people bind the prepared fireworks into various shapes before lighting them, which can be rigid. But I thought, by pre-arranging patterns with silk threads, then coating different colored gunpowder on the silk net pattern, burning up gradually, isn’t it just like a flowering tree blooming?”

Before he finished speaking, the burning peonies had instantly withered, sparks burning out along with the silk threads, but the fireworks had spread to another prepared silk net behind. Auspicious clouds appeared ethereal, celestial gates opened, revealing immortals facing each other, dancing gracefully. The firelight burned for just an instant, the colorfully dressed immortals instantly fading then brightening again, each time the fireworks burst forth depicting the immortals’ silhouettes, they would change poses, their clothes and ribbons floating with the movement, flowing with brilliant colors, seeming both illusory and real.

Huang Zixia stared in amazement, asking, “How was this done?”

“Of course, it was done seven times, with seven silk nets burning in sequence from front to back. Each burning firework is different. But because we can’t distinguish front from back from our viewpoint, we think it’s the same immortal changing dance poses.”

“Light trees shine with thousand rays, flower flames open seven branches… it’s so beautiful…” Huang Zixia listened to his explanation while watching the flowing, sparkling fireworks before her, unable to look away.

The immortals departed, this scene of fireworks already scattered to ash, and more dazzling fireworks began behind, like stars filling the sky, light spinning, then suddenly converging into a bright moon. After waxing and waning, it suddenly scattered, transforming into points of white light, becoming continuous snowfall. Each snowflake suddenly transformed into a butterfly, countless brilliant butterflies flapping their wings above the lotus pond, then becoming starlight scattered across the sky.

In these strange and magnificent fireworks, Li Shubai turned his head to look at Huang Zixia beside him. She was watching the changing wonders before her with wide eyes full of delight. The changing firework lights cast shifting colors across her face as if wrapped in neon – faint purple, light red, thin green, shimmering yellow…

In her bright eyes, reflecting the entire changing world, the gorgeous scene before them transformed into shadows more breathtaking than the real spectacle before him.

He hadn’t even noticed the pleased upward curve that appeared at the corners of his lips. He gazed at her face, mesmerized by the light sliding like water waves across her eyelashes; occasionally when she blinked, her eyelashes trembling slightly, it was like a dragonfly’s wings vibrating in his chest, stirring his heartbeat.

She watched the fireworks, while he watched her.

A moment of beauty, a wonderful and grand fireworks show ended, and the lotus pond with its thin ice and withered lotus returned to stillness.

Huang Zixia leaned against the railing, unable to come back to herself for a long while, still immersed in the fireworks display.

Li Shubai gently took her hand, saying, “Let’s go, the remaining smell isn’t very pleasant.”

Following him back across the curved bridge, she looked back reluctantly at the remaining ashes of the silk nets, counting how many layers of silk nets it took to create such a soul-stirring moment of beauty.

Just as they reached the end of the bridge, she suddenly let out a soft “ah” and stopped in her tracks.

Li Shubai saw her standing stunned in the wind, her gaze fixed on an empty point in space, her expression changing dramatically, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Huang Zixia raised her hand to stop him, saying softly, “Let me think…”

He stood beside her, waiting.

The night wind howled, countless stars brilliantly dazzling in the sky. Yongjia District was where nobles and officials gathered; on New Year’s Eve, there was singing and dancing everywhere, songs coming from near and far, indistinct and unclear.

The remaining heat from the fireworks made the thin ice on the lotus pond crack from the warmth, occasionally making a light “crack” sound.

Huang Zixia stood dazed under the starry sky in the night wind, feeling as if all the stars in the vast sky suddenly poured down like bright snowflakes, rushing toward her. Those too-terrible truths pressed down on her from all directions, almost too much to bear, making her whole body tremble.

Seeing the bone-chilling night wind, Li Shubai took Huang Zixia’s hand, leading her trembling, panicked form to the nearby Yubing Pavilion, closing the doors and windows, stoking the fire in the stove until it blazed, letting her sit beside it.

“Just now… I seem to have thought of something,” Huang Zixia finally came back to herself, tapping her head and saying, “About the case of Prince E jumping from Xiangluan Tower, for an instant, I seemed to grasp something…”

“Don’t rush, let’s think it through,” Li Shubai moved a chair to sit beside her, saying, “What made you think of it? The lotus pond?”

Huang Zixia shook her head, furrowing her brows.

Li Shubai thought again and asked, “The fireworks?”

“Yes… it was the fireworks!” She almost urgently grabbed his sleeve, “When you told me about those immortal fireworks, because we couldn’t distinguish front from back from our viewpoint, we didn’t know it was seven silk nets burning in sequence from front to back, we thought it was the same silk net burning seven times, thought it was the same immortal changing dance poses…”

Her voice was excited, her face showing a kind of confused bewilderment: “I seem to know, but don’t know what… but, not being able to distinguish front from back must be the key point of this case!”

Li Shubai also froze, then suddenly realized, gripping her hand, asking, “You mean, what we saw then, perhaps like today’s fireworks, was a fabricated illusion? My seventh brother… he didn’t die?”

Huang Zixia nodded vigorously, saying, “I’m not certain yet, but perhaps he just took advantage of the terrain of the Qifeng and Xiangluan Towers, and took advantage of the illusion in our eyes, performing this good show of fake death and ascension?”

Li Shubai pressed his lips together in thought for a long while before saying, “Then, him burning those things I gave him in front of all of us must have had a reason. Otherwise, he could have burned everything at Mother’s spirit tablet.”

Huang Zixia nodded forcefully, saying, “Yes! This must also be a key point. Related to how he could disappear before our eyes in front of everyone.”

Li Shubai let out a long breath, slowly leaning back in his chair. He was still holding her hand, either having forgotten to let go or needing her support to tell himself this wasn’t a dream: “Seventh brother is still alive… he didn’t die, he’s still alive?”

Huang Zixia felt his hand holding hers trembling slightly, and couldn’t help but feel her heartache, knowing Li Shubai and Li Run were closest, now knowing Li Run was still alive in this world, he was naturally extremely moved. However, Li Run set up such a scheme to pin the world’s most shocking crime on him, what exactly was the reason?

In any case, as long as Prince E Li Run was still alive, they would have a way to find him, would always have a way to dig out the truth and find the root of everything.

“Now it’s cold, with rain and snow, I don’t know if my seventh brother would brave the snow to travel far, but I think there’s a high possibility he’s still in Chang’an or the suburbs.” Li Shubai raised his hand to press his forehead; due to excitement, he felt his temples throbbing slightly, seeming to erode his usually calm mind, unable to think as coolly as usual.

Huang Zixia nodded, saying, “Now that we’ve confirmed he’s still alive, perhaps we can investigate. If we can find Prince E’s whereabouts, surely we can clear this false charge and break through the current situation.”

“Yes, we can focus on the Buddhist temples and ancient monasteries in the suburbs. Though I’m just an idle person now, I still have two or three groups of men, we’re not short of manpower.” Li Shubai said, seemingly feeling he was holding her hand too tightly, and gently released it, the excitement and darkness on his face already gone. He gently rubbed her palm which had turned white from his grip, slowly saying, “I must ask him in person, why exactly.”

On the first day of the first lunar month, Chang’an’s citizens all got up early to burn incense at various Buddhist temples. Everyone was fighting to get the first incense of the new year before Buddha, the so-called most auspicious “first incense,” but the first incense at major temples was usually reserved for officials and nobles. Even if commoners stayed up all night waiting, they still wouldn’t get a turn, so ordinary families would just go around to various temples to burn incense after daybreak.

Huang Zixia had watched fireworks at Prince Kui’s mansion last night and talked with Li Shubai for a long while; by the time she returned to the Wang residence in Yongchang District, it was already past midnight. Before she could sleep much, someone was desperately knocking at the door: “Chonggu, Chonggu, Chonggu! Get up, get up, get up!”

In all the world, only one person was like this, whom she simply couldn’t resist.

So she could only respond drowsily, telling him to wait in the outer room while forcing herself to get up and dress.

After washing up, she went to the front hall to see Zhou Ziqin sitting there waiting for her, absolutely dazzling, painful to look at directly. That bright red clothing, purple flower patterns, golden belt, each designed to blind people.

She covered her eyes and sat across from him: “It’s New Year’s Day… wear whatever you want, I’ll endure it.”

“Isn’t it good? Very festive. My mother always tells me this is how one should dress in the first month for good fortune,” Zhou Ziqin said, pulling out a red envelope from his chest and giving it to her, “Great fortune to you, here’s a lucky gift.”

“Thank you, great fortune to you too, this is yours.” She also handed him the one she had prepared.

“Oh, a gold leaf, didn’t know you were so generous,” Zhou Ziqin said happily as he opened the red envelope.

Huang Zixia looked at the red envelope he gave her, inside were two auspicious coins. She could only wordlessly tuck them in her sleeve: “Compared to you, I’m just a pauper.”

“Let’s go, pauper, I’ll cover the incense and candle money today,” Zhou Ziqin said magnanimously, patting his chest.

Huang Zixia asked back: “Incense money? What’s that?”

“Hey, of course, we’re going to burn incense on the first day of the New Year. Don’t you buy incense and candles when you go to pray?”

“…Who said I was going?”

“What else would you do? Staying home on New Year’s is too lonely, better come out with me quickly.” Zhou Ziqin said, urging her to finish breakfast without further discussion, then took her out, heading straight for the nearby temples.

Every temple was packed with people, reminding Huang Zixia and Zhou Ziqin of that crowded scene at Jianfu Temple. Fortunately, this time the capital’s people were spread across various temples, so it hadn’t quite reached the point of being completely impenetrable.

Holding incense and candles while standing outside the main hall, unable to squeeze in any further, the two looked at each other helplessly. Zhou Ziqin asked, “Should we go burn incense at Anguo Temple next door instead?”

“Trust me, all temples in Chang’an will be like this today,” Huang Zixia didn’t leave him any room for false hope.

Zhou Ziqin sighed, cleanly tossing his incense and candles into the courtyard incense burner, then turned to squeeze his way out: “Let’s go then.”

All along the way out, almost everyone was eagerly discussing the Buddha’s relic that would soon be welcomed into Chang’an.

“When the Buddha’s relic enters the city, my whole family will go to the last pagoda to welcome it! It’s not far from the suburbs, right?”

“Yes, originally they said they would build one hundred and twenty towers, there should have been even more people going to welcome it, but I heard Prince Kui pressured them to reduce it to just seventy-two, so the last tower is now ten li from the city.”

“Even if it’s not ten li but a hundred li, I’ll still go!”

“This Prince Kui must be haunted by Pang Jun’s ghost, is he afraid of the Buddha’s relic entering the city? Why would he arbitrarily reduce the number of pagodas? What harm did it do him?”

Hearing this nearby, Huang Zixia only slightly furrowed her brows, but Zhou Ziqin had already raised his hand pointing at that person and shouted: “Hey, what did you say…”

Huang Zixia grabbed him, saying softly: “Don’t mind them!”

Zhou Ziqin sulkily shook his sleeve, his cheeks puffed up as he watched those people.

It was very noisy around them, and those people hadn’t noticed Zhou Ziqin at all, still discussing: “Who knows… I heard Prince Kui wanted to stop the pagoda construction entirely, it was only because the Emperor insisted that these were kept.”

“They say Prince Kui is possessed, wanting to overthrow the empire! On the winter solstice, Prince E jumped to his death at Daming Palace because of his threatening pressure!”

“Yes, yes, I heard about it too! Prince E died for the country and empire, moving heaven and earth, so his physical body ascended in mid-air, and thousands of people at Daming Palace witnessed it! Everyone present knelt to respectfully send off Prince E’s transformation into an immortal!”

“Right, right, I heard about it too! This is true! My third aunt’s husband’s eldest aunt’s nephew serves in the Imperial Guard at the palace, he was right below Xiangluan Tower, he saw it with his own eyes!”

“I heard about it too! But how could it be? Prince Kui swept away rebels in Xuzhou, pacified Nanzhao, and fought the Uighurs in the west, his contributions to the Great Tang’s empire are tremendous, how could he… harbor such evil intentions for so many years?”

“They say when Prince Kui was in Xuzhou years ago, he was haunted by Pang Jun’s ghost, which planted an evil curse near him. Now the evil curse is gradually taking effect, he’s been possessed by the vengeful spirit, and lost his normal nature – though he still appears to be Prince Kui on the outside, inside he’s already Pang Jun’s evil spirit, wanting to overthrow the Great Tang empire!”

Others quickly lowered their voices, interrupting him: “Are you trying to die? How dare you say such things?”

“What’s not to dare say? Haven’t you all heard? The whole capital is saying it, everyone knows! Prince Kui has now been stripped of all his positions, showing the Emperor has also noticed his wolfish ambitions, right?” Though the person stuck his neck out saying this, his voice gradually grew quieter.

Zhou Ziqin glared at that group, muttering: “What’s going on… these absurd rumors are getting more and more intense!”

Huang Zixia pulled his sleeve to leave, while behind them the group had already moved on to discussing welcoming the Buddha’s relic: “I heard that all along the relic’s journey, countless people have been prostrating in worship. The Buddha’s power is truly boundless – someone held a torch following for half a day, and after the pine torch burned out, his hand was covered in resin, his entire right hand caught fire, but he didn’t feel any pain, still holding up his burning right hand to guide the Buddha’s relic for quite a long way!”

“Such a devout believer! He will surely achieve a great way and be guided to the Western Paradise by our Buddha!”

Zhou Ziqin rolled his eyes while asking Huang Zixia: “Are there people in this world who don’t fear pain?”

“People in this world pursue all sorts of things – some cut off emotions and thoughts for fame, some brave blade mountains and seas of fire for profit, why can’t there be those who brave flames and boiling water for faith?” Huang Zixia walked straight ahead, slightly furrowing her brows as she said, “Everyone in this world has something they’re willing to give everything for. When it truly comes to that point, perhaps you and I would also have moments where we’d willingly endure being burned by flames.”

Zhou Ziqin thought for a moment, looking at the people around them spitting saliva as they talked about various miracles, shaking his head saying: “I couldn’t do it, I’m afraid of pain.”

“Sometimes, faith and pursuit make people fearless of everything,” Huang Zixia said, looking up at the dense crowd before them, seemingly talking to herself as she continued, “Just like being under a soul-stealing spell, fearless of death, ignoring destruction, only recklessly charging forward toward that final goal.”

Zhou Ziqin stuck out his tongue: “Soul-stealing spells aren’t that powerful, just like how Master Shan had to first use Yuxuan’s inner demons to guide him. He’s supposed to be the most powerful soul-stealing master, right? But I don’t believe he could make me want to harm you out of nowhere.”

Huang Zixia nodded silently, saying: “Right, it’s just people unable to overcome their inner demons, falling into obsession and hatred. Without reason, how could there be any opportunity for soul-stealing spells?”

As they talked, they finally squeezed their way out of the crowd to the temple entrance.

But more people were surging inside, brushing past their shoulders as they crossed the threshold. An elderly man passing by them suddenly turned to look at them, asking delightedly: “Aren’t you… Xingying’s friends?”

Huang Zixia turned to look – it was Zhang Xingying’s father Zhang Weiyi, the old man who had been bedridden. She had only met him once or twice when visiting the Zhang house with Zhou Ziqin, but the old man had such a good memory, immediately recognized them.

They quickly bowed, asking: “How is your health, Uncle?”

Zhang Weiyi seemed in good spirits, smiling as he said: “After recuperating for over half a year, and being a doctor myself, treating myself for so long – ah, it seems my medical skills still aren’t refined enough, only now able to go out.”

“Not at all, Uncle is a famous doctor in the capital, naturally skilled at healing.”

“After Xingying returned from Chengdu Prefecture, he told me about your situation. This son of mine kept it from me for so long, I hadn’t realized Master Yang was you!”

“There were reasons, please forgive us,” Huang Zixia said sincerely after giving Zhou Ziqin a slightly helpless look.

Zhang Xingying’s brother smiled nearby: “We didn’t expect to meet you here, otherwise Xingying would have come along.”

Zhou Ziqin quickly asked: “Oh right, Second Brother Zhang should also be off today, where did he go to play?”

“Staying home to rest. He’s following Prince Kui now, rarely gets a few days off, let him sleep a bit more,” Zhang Weiyi said with a smile, then looked inside, “Quite crowded… Have you finished burning incense?”

“No way, couldn’t even squeeze in, so we came out,” Zhou Ziqin said, then added worriedly, “Old sir, I think you’d better not go in, it wouldn’t be good if you got pushed around by the crowd somewhere.”

“Yes, Father, sit down, I’ll go in to burn incense for you. Buddha won’t blame you.”

Seeing his son say this, Zhang Weiyi held his incense and candles, bowing three times from outside the hall, then went with them to find a stone bench nearby for people to rest.

Though Zhang Xingying’s brother was in his prime, it still took considerable effort to squeeze inside, and he hadn’t emerged for a long while. As the three of them sat there waiting boredly, Zhang Weiyi asked Huang Zixia: “Miss Huang, do you still remember that case with my family from years ago?”

Huang Zixia nodded: “Of course, I was very young then, following behind my father to investigate clues at your home when you scolded me.”

“Yes, at that time my family was wrongly accused, calling to heaven with no response and earth with no reply, then someone from the Ministry of Justice came saying someone had found questionable points in the case and wanted to reinvestigate. When I saw the person raising these points was such a small girl, with two little braids, I thought heaven was mocking us and nearly fainted…” Zhang Weiyi recalled the past events, still laughing heartily.

Zhou Ziqin immediately became curious, quickly asking: “What happened? Tell me about it?”

Huang Zixia said casually: “Nothing much, one of Uncle Zhang’s patients died, and they had power and influence. In their anger and grief, they blamed Uncle Zhang and falsely accused him, putting him in prison.”

Zhou Ziqin asked angrily: “Who was this awful patient’s family? How could they blame the doctor when they couldn’t cure the illness? And even implicate the doctor’s family?”

Huang Zixia raised an eyebrow at him, only saying: “It’s not the only case.”

Zhou Ziqin immediately thought of how the Emperor had killed imperial physicians and their families. Even though the Emperor knew Princess Tongchang had been stabbed in the heart and was impossible to save, he still blamed the imperial physicians and implicated hundreds of their relatives.

He sighed, saying: “Being a doctor is really difficult.”

The three of them stopped discussing this matter, then Zhang Weiyi remembered something and quickly asked: “Oh right, Miss Huang, I wanted to ask, can I get back that painting the late Emperor bestowed on me?”

Zhou Ziqin asked: “Is that the painting with three black ink blots on it? They haven’t returned it to you yet?”

“No. They originally said it had nothing to do with Princess Tongchang’s case and would return it to us, but later for some reason, it was never mentioned again,” Zhang Weiyi sighed, “I’ve practiced medicine for decades, and that time being summoned to the palace to treat the Emperor was the peak of my life’s glory. I had hoped to be buried with the painting the late Emperor bestowed…”

Huang Zixia thought about those three scribbles on it, remembering what Li Shubai had told her. He said the late Emperor used white hemp paper for painting, while yellow hemp paper was usually used in the palace for drafting edicts.

What could be hidden under those ink blots?

While she was thinking, Zhou Ziqin had already patted his chest in guarantee: “Since it was bestowed by the late Emperor himself, by all rights it should be returned to Uncle! Leave this to me, I’ll make a round to the Court of Judicial Review and Ministry of Justice to see where it ended up. This thing only had a tangential relationship to the case, with some persuasion, we should be able to get it back.”

“Oh my, then many thanks, young brother!” Zhang Weiyi was immediately overjoyed, holding Zhou Ziqin’s hand and repeatedly thanking him.

“It’s nothing, I may not have other virtues, but I’m enthusiastic and love helping others!”

Huang Zixia shook her head speechlessly, seeing Zhang’s elder brother finally squeeze out of the temple, and stood up saying: “Since the weather is cold, Uncle should hurry home to rest, you still need to take good care of your health.”

“You know, who would take such a messy painting? I still don’t believe it was the late Emperor’s work,” Zhou Ziqin muttered on their way back, pondering where to find the painting.

Huang Zixia slightly furrowed her brows: “It’s not a painting.”

“Huh? Not a painting? I thought so, those three traces we saw last time were messy, you’d have to stretch your imagination to make any connection.”

“No, I mean…” Huang Zixia saw few pedestrians around and no one paying attention to their corner, then lowered her voice saying, “Yellow hemp paper in the palace is mostly used for writing, while white hemp paper is used for painting.”

Zhou Ziqin drew in a sharp breath, asking: “So, you mean…”

Huang Zixia met his gaze, nodding once.

“The late Emperor had a strange illness, and before death couldn’t distinguish between yellow and white hemp paper colors, so he took the wrong one?”

Huang Zixia stumbled, nearly falling: “No!”

“Then what?” Zhou Ziqin looked at her with eyes full of curiosity.

Huang Zixia said helplessly: “The late Emperor was long bedridden, of course, someone helped him get the paper. Even if he was confused and couldn’t distinguish colors, could all those people around him not recognize it?”

Zhou Ziqin nodded thoughtfully: “So… the late Emperor was — writing?”

“Yes, and very likely, writing an extremely important edict.”

Zhou Ziqin’s eyes widened, asking: “Then the edict’s content is… three ink blots?”

“I’m certain the edict’s content must be hidden under those scribbled ink blots,” Huang Zixia said gravely, “But why it was altered, and why it was given as a painting to Uncle Zhang when he was summoned to diagnose illness, I don’t know.”

Zhou Ziqin excitedly patted her back, saying: “No need to think about it! Once we get that painting, I’ll brush it with that solution made from spinach, the later added ink layer will fade first, and we can instantly see the writing underneath…”

“And then, all the ink on the entire paper will fade and disappear without a trace?” Huang Zixia asked.

Zhou Ziqin hesitated, saying: “Uh… well, at least we’ll see the hidden imperial edict.”

“But such important evidence would disappear forever, never to appear again. And what use would it be if you saw it? If this thing is really important, perhaps no one would believe what you say. Perhaps they would try to eliminate you for knowing the secret?”

Zhou Ziqin made a sound like a toothache: “No way… is it that serious?”

“What do you think?” Huang Zixia looked up at the horizon. Heavy crimson clouds pressed down on Chang’an, a gray haze that wouldn’t disperse, scattering only to gather again.

“That painting, Prince E’s mother Consort Chen had a copy of, even after going mad, she still secretly kept it. So I think perhaps Prince E’s actions on Xiangluan Tower are also inextricably linked to this painting.”

Zhou Ziqin’s face immediately went pale: “This… this is very possible! So that painting is really… really important!”

“So, first, we need to find that painting; second, we must protect it properly, absolutely cannot let it be damaged; third, without damaging it, we need to remove that layer of ink added on top to reveal the writing underneath.”

After Huang Zixia listed these three points, Zhou Ziqin’s face showed an expression of both pain and joy: “Such a challenging task, I love it!”

Huang Zixia asked: “How do you plan to start?”

“Of course — go to Yi Ji Mounting Shop, beg that old man, and see if we can learn some secret technique for removing ink!”

He patted his chest, looking full of ambition. Huang Zixia said: “Then I wish you success.”

“Leave it to me!” Zhou Ziqin said, turning to take a step, then remembering something and quickly coming back, saying, “Chonggu, can I ask about something that seems very serious?”

Huang Zixia nodded, looking at him: “What?”

“Well… what if after we remove those scribbles on top, we discover there’s nothing underneath, and the late Emperor was just confused before death and randomly scribbled a painting…”

“The late Emperor left so many works, the palace has dozens or hundreds. If it was random scribbling, destroying it would be better, to prevent it from spreading, don’t you think?”

Zhou Ziqin nodded, but still said: “Chonggu, but this is the late Emperor’s last work…”

Huang Zixia looked at him very seriously: “Someone even splashed vermilion on Zhan Ziqian’s painting, which do you think is more serious?”

“You’re right… anyway, even if it’s destroyed, I’m only trying to protect the late Emperor’s reputation,” Zhou Ziqin immediately understood, waving as he rushed forward, “Chonggu, wait for my good news!”

“The West Market isn’t in that direction!”

“Obviously! What shop would be open on New Year’s Day? I’m going straight to Old Yi’s house to ambush him!”