Ling’ai arrived at the medical college early in the morning and knocked on the office door.

Du Tonghuai had just come from the hospital and hadn’t even had a chance to take a sip of water. He picked up his cup and said: “Come in.”

Ling’ai poked her head in for a look, then quickly walked to the desk and offered a bow. “Good morning, Teacher Du.”

“Ah, it’s Ling’ai.” Du Tonghuai took a sip of water to moisten his throat. “What brings you here?”

“Teacher Du, these are the teaching materials Yan Qing asked me to deliver to you.” Ling’ai placed the thick stack of materials on the desk one by one.

“Finished so quickly?” Du Tonghuai’s face lit up with delight. He eagerly picked up a volume and flipped it open. Yan Qing had been learning calligraphy from Shi Ting and by now could write a beautiful regular script.

“True to form — it’s Yan Qing, after all, ha ha.” Du Tonghuai grew more and more excited as he read, his eyes flashing with a bright, sparkling light. “These teaching materials are truly wonderful — I have never seen nor heard of anything like them.”

Ling’ai chuckled from the side: “Teacher Du, when the forensic medicine department opens, remember to save a spot for me — I registered early, you know.”

“Don’t worry. Even if I weren’t reserving it for you personally, Yan Qing’s friendship alone would guarantee your enrollment.”

“Thank you, Teacher Du.” Ling’ai came closer. “Teacher Du, let me help you sort through these.”

“That would be most welcome.” Du Tonghuai was very fond of this student — diligent and eager to learn, without a trace of airs. Her father was a figure even the Marshal had to flatter and win over, and she could have swaggered sideways through Shun Cheng if she’d wanted — yet she had an exceptionally candid, kind, and easy-going personality.

Ling’ai helped Du Tonghuai sort through the materials, attended two more classes in the afternoon, and after school hurried over to the Shi Mansion without delay.

At this moment Yan Qing was seated in the pavilion, listening to Di Huai report on his investigation. Since Di Huai was her trusted confidant, Shi Ting had specifically assigned several men to serve at his disposal.

“I checked out the Night Wanderers’ Society — nothing seemed off there. The only thing that struck me as strange was that canopy set up for the poetry recital.”

Di Huai said: “That canopy is a temporary structure, and they’ve been rushing the construction day and night for the past two days.”

“What’s strange about it?”

“Last night I was near the construction site and noticed someone carrying timber out. Which is to say, lumber that had been brought in during the day was being quietly hauled away again at night.”

Yan Qing set down her teacup, frowning. “Cutting corners?”

“It seems so. But lumber isn’t particularly valuable — even cutting corners wouldn’t make sense for stealing lumber.”

“Who is in charge of this project?”

“Zhang Dun.” Di Huai knew what Yan Qing wanted to ask, and added: “Zhang Dun has connections with the Meng family’s second son, Meng Xiangchen, and this Night Wanderers’ event is being hosted by Meng Xiangchen’s subordinates.”

“Meng Xiangchen?”

Yan Qing found it interesting. What had seemed a perfectly ordinary construction issue had unexpectedly ensnared the Meng family.

“Miss, do you think this is aimed at you?”

“Very likely.” Yan Qing tapped the tabletop lightly. “The fact that I suddenly received an invitation to serve as a judge at the poetry recital was suspicious from the start. Now there’s a problem with the canopy at the venue, and it circles back to Meng Xiangchen — I can’t help but suspect something.”

“Miss, then let’s simply not go.”

“If the other party is coming after me, then of course I must go — otherwise wouldn’t we be letting someone’s scheming go to waste?”

Yan Qing beckoned Di Huai closer and murmured a few words in his ear.

Di Huai nodded. “Miss, rest assured — I will handle it flawlessly.”

Di Huai had barely reached the doorway when he nearly collided with Ling’ai, who was hurrying in. He pulled up short just in time.

“Miss Ling’ai.”

“Di Huai, are you heading out on business?” Ling’ai was holding a cardboard box, its contents unknown.

“Just a small matter to take care of.”

“Wishing you every success.” Ling’ai said, and cheerfully stepped into the courtyard.

Di Huai smiled, turned, and left.

“Why the rush?” Yan Qing smiled as she watched her approach. “Is that a gift for me?”

“Of course not.” Ling’ai set the box down on the stone stool beside the pavilion. “I’m here to ask you for a favor.”

“A favor?”

Ling’ai felt her cheeks warm under Yan Qing’s clear, bright gaze. “This is how it happened — yesterday at the tram stop I ran into a thief. While chasing the thief, I happened to run into Captain Zheng. Thanks to him, my bag was recovered. And the thief had a knife — if Captain Zheng hadn’t shown up, I’m afraid I would have suffered some injury.”

Yan Qing hadn’t expected Ling’ai to have run into Zheng Yun, and a small cluster of sparks lit up in her eyes. “So? You were saved by a hero?”

Ling’ai rolled her eyes. “You’ve been reading too many storybooks.”

“Haven’t you? Wasn’t it exactly as I said?” Yan Qing propped her chin in her hand, imagining the scene. “At the critical moment when the thief thrust his blade at you, Zheng Yun descended like a heavenly spirit, not only shielding you from the attack but also helping subdue the thief.”

Ling’ai’s eyes went wide: “How did you know?”

“They all write it that way in novels. Have you heard of Ba Xun’s novels? Would you like to take a look?”

Ling’ai: “……Then what happens next?”

“What comes next — the rescued girl secretly pledges her heart, vowing to marry no one but him, of course.”

Ling’ai went a deep crimson and pushed her aside irritably: “The first part is right, the second part isn’t.”

“If it’s wrong, what are you blushing for?” Yan Qing gave a couple of gleeful laughs.

“All right, all right — no more beating around the bush. I’m genuinely here to ask for your help.” Ling’ai pointed to the box beside her. “Yesterday Captain Zheng took off his shoes and gave them to me. I’ve already scrubbed them clean and polished them with shoe cream. Could you help deliver them to him?”

“He took off his shoes to save the maiden? Captain Zheng is quite creative.” Yan Qing stroked her chin thoughtfully.

“Anyway, I’ve left the shoes with you.” Ling’ai saw her odd expression and couldn’t help her face heating up. “All right, that’s all, I’m leaving.”

“Wait.” Yan Qing quickly called her back. “Captain Zheng saved you, and you’re just going to return his shoes like this — doesn’t that seem a bit too casual?”

“Too casual?” Ling’ai heard this and quickly sat back down. “You think I should prepare a gift too? But I always feel Captain Zheng isn’t that kind of person — if I were to send a gift, would he find it awkward?”

“A modest gift carries great sentiment — just don’t give anything expensive.”

“You’re right.” Ling’ai’s interest was immediately piqued, and she leaned forward eagerly. “Then do you know what Captain Zheng likes?”

Yan Qing thought for a moment: “Captain Zheng, like their commander, is a man of few desires. If there’s one thing he enjoys, it would be solving cases.”

Ling’ai gritted her teeth: “So you’re saying I should arrange a case for him to solve? Be serious!”

“All right. Actually Captain Zheng does have one hobby.”

“What hobby?”

Seeing Ling’ai’s face nearly pressed against hers, Yan Qing pushed her aside with distaste, “You’re spitting all over me.”

Ling’ai laughed and wheedled: “Come on, tell me, tell me.”

Shaken vigorously by the arm, Yan Qing relented helplessly: “Captain Zheng really has no particular hobbies — when he’s not working cases he’s at home practicing with his long spear. But I heard from Shi Ting that he’s very fond of a kind of wild berry wine. This wild berry grows on Cang Mountain; when it ripens the fruit is a deep red, many berries clustered together into a bunch, each one roughly the size of a small cherry. The people of Shun Cheng all call it red berries.”

“Red berries?” Ling’ai quietly committed the name to memory.

“You’re in luck — this is exactly the season when these berries ripen. If you genuinely want to thank him, why not pick some red berries by hand and give them to him for brewing wine? Every time he drinks that wine in the future, he’ll think: these are the berries Ling’ai picked for me.”

“That’s a brilliant idea!” Ling’ai jumped up excitedly. “I’ll go right now!”

“Hey, hey!” Yan Qing hastily called her back. “The sky’s nearly dark — you’d be going up the mountain now not to pick berries but to feed the wild animals.”

Ling’ai broke into a toothy grin, her small white teeth gleaming like fine porcelain. “What was I thinking? All right then, first thing tomorrow morning I’ll go.”

“The mountain is full of brambles and the paths are rough — wear long sleeves and long trousers.”

“Don’t worry.” Ling’ai bounded and skipped away.

Once Ling’ai had gone, Murong asked curiously: “Miss, does Captain Zheng really like wine brewed from those berries?”

“I spotted some when I last visited his home, but whether he actually likes it is another question.”

Murong was startled. “Then why did Miss send Ling’ai to pick berries?”

“You silly girl — can’t you see I’m playing matchmaker?” Yan Qing shook her head in exasperation, picked up her cup and swirled it. “Don’t you think Ling’ai and Zheng Yun are well-matched? The key thing is that this girl has clearly taken a fancy to Zheng Yun, she just hasn’t realized it herself. Zheng Yun always wears that cold expression of his, which easily scares off young women. If I don’t give them a little push, this block of wood will never open up.”

“I see.” Murong smiled. “Miss even has what it takes to be a matchmaker.”

“It’s not that I want to play matchmaker — it’s that the childhood sweetheart brother of hers, that Nagase, came all the way from the Dian Kingdom just to be at her side. If you told me it was out of love, would you believe it?”

“Ling’ai said they were neighbors in childhood — they couldn’t have been more than five or six years old. Children of five or six couldn’t possibly develop feelings like that.”

Yan Qing nodded: “Maybe I’ve misjudged Nagase. But I want to see Ling’ai happy more than anything. You see how she lights up, like her entire person is glowing, whenever she mentions Zheng Yun.”

She gave a light sigh: “First thing tomorrow morning, go along with Ling’ai — but don’t let her notice. As long as her life isn’t in danger, you don’t need to intervene. A few scrapes and bumps, she can handle those.”

Murong smiled: “I understand what Miss means. Miss can rest easy — I will take good care of Miss Ling’ai.”

Besides Qiao Yiran, Yan Qing had only one other kindred spirit in Ling’ai. Murong naturally treasured her on behalf of her young mistress.