When Zhu Qing returned and saw Third Master talking with Cai Si and his men, he didn’t approach.
A quarter-hour later, after Cai Si and the others left, he walked forward to report. “Master, everything is arranged with the brothers.”
Xie Zhifei waved at him without speaking.
Only then did Zhu Qing notice that the master’s expression wasn’t quite right—he seemed troubled.
“Did Boss Cai say something?” he asked.
Xie Zhifei shook his head. “I’ve found out Geng Songsheng’s whereabouts.”
Zhu Qing’s mouth fell open, frozen in place.
Things in this world were truly unpredictable. Over there, the master had just connected the Grand Imperial Grandson with Old Master Zhu; over here, they’d already found out about Geng Songsheng’s whereabouts.
Unexpectedly swift.
“Once threads are connected, there’s no reason for them to break again.”
Xie Zhifei quickly made his decision.
“Go immediately to the Grand Imperial Grandson’s villa and tell him that Third Master says the credit for this matter must fall to him. As for the explanation—I’m on good terms with Cai Si, which is the same as him being on good terms with Cai Si.”
“Yes!”
Just as Zhu Qing was about to mount his horse, he suddenly thought of something. “What about you, Master?”
Xie Zhifei looked across at the pleasure quarters on the opposite bank and sighed. “You go first. I haven’t decided yet.”
Of course Zhu Qing knew what the master hadn’t decided.
Geng Songsheng was a monk at Mount Wutai. Given Miss Yan’s temperament, nine out of ten she would depart that very night.
Should the master follow?
If he went, what about the spy matter?
The Five Wards Command wasn’t owned by the Xie family. The master’s usual casual behavior was tolerable because the Grand Imperial Grandson backed him.
But at this critical juncture…
He truly couldn’t get away!
…
The villa.
Zhu Yuanmo knelt on the ground, performing the ritual between ruler and subject toward the man seated above.
“Master Zhu, no need for such formality. Mingting has told me everything. Rest assured, I’ve already sent people out. News will arrive soon.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yuanmo was deeply moved. He quickly kowtowed three more times. “Many thanks to the Grand Imperial Grandson for your consideration.”
“Mingting, help Master Zhu up.”
Pei Xiao stepped forward to support him. “Sit for a bit. His Highness and I haven’t seen each other in a long time. After we finish a cup of tea, you can return.”
Zhu Yuanmo quickly said: “Young Master Pei, please take your time. I’ll wait outside.”
“Why go outside? What we’re discussing isn’t confidential—just casual conversation.”
Pei Xiao pointed to a chair. “Sit comfortably.”
Could Zhu Yuanmo sit comfortably?
He was on pins and needles!
The Directorate of Astronomy couldn’t associate with just anyone, especially imperial princes and grandsons—they couldn’t even come close.
First, the Emperor was wary;
Second, getting involved never led to anything good.
But at present, Third Master truly couldn’t spare the time, the spy matter was real, and his having only six months to live was also real.
With three realities converging, Zhu Yuanmo had no choice but to steel himself and come seeking help.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“Your Highness?”
“Enter.”
Shen Chong pushed the door open, walked to Zhao Yishi’s ear, and spoke in a low voice.
Seeing this, Zhu Yuanmo could no longer sit still and kept signaling with his eyes to Young Master Pei.
Young Master Pei had nothing if not curiosity. He silently replied with four words: “Stay calm.”
The conversation went on for quite a while.
When it ended, Shen Chong didn’t leave. Instead, Zhao Yishi stood up and walked to Zhu Yuanmo.
Zhu Yuanmo was frightened and quickly stood. “Your Highness?”
“Don’t be afraid!”
Zhao Yishi said warmly: “News just arrived—the person you’re looking for has been located.”
Really?
Zhu Yuanmo was overjoyed. Without another word, he knelt down again. “Many thanks to Your Highness, many thanks to Your Highness!”
To the side, Young Master Pei was completely bewildered.
This fast?
Excessive!
…
The Zhu residence.
Inner quarters.
Second Master Zhu led Yan Sanhe to a courtyard.
“Miss Yan, this is the courtyard where Weixi lived before she married. My father selected this residence for her according to her birth date and time.”
Yan Sanhe looked at the courtyard before her. “Who lives here now?”
Second Master Zhu: “Still her. Father and Mother kept it for her, saying their daughter needs a place to rest when she returns home.”
Yan Sanhe: “Does Second Miss also have one?”
“Yes!”
Second Master Zhu: “In this respect, Father and Mother showed no favoritism.”
Yan Sanhe: “Let me go in and look.”
Second Master Zhu glanced at the old steward behind him. The steward quickly went ahead and had the maids light all the lamps in the courtyard.
This was a two-section courtyard that looked plain and simple, yet exquisite in every detail.
The courtyard gate opened to the east. A path of cobblestones wound forward. The courtyard had flower beds and trees, even a small pond with several carp.
Yan Sanhe could completely imagine how carefree Zhu Weixi had been as an unmarried young lady.
“What trees are planted here?”
“The one on the left is a persimmon tree, the one on the right is a pomegranate.”
Second Master Zhu: “Outside the courtyard are all osmanthus trees.”
Osmanthus trees?
Yan Sanhe inexplicably thought of Jietai Temple and turned to walk out of the courtyard.
Not knowing what she intended to do, Second Master Zhu took the lantern from the old steward’s hands and quickly followed.
Yan Sanhe walked along the courtyard wall for more than ten zhang before discovering that osmanthus trees were planted all around the outside of this courtyard.
“Give me the lantern. You all wait here.”
Yan Sanhe glanced at Li Buyan. Li Buyan took the lantern, and the master and servant walked around the courtyard wall together.
They soon reached the back courtyard. Li Buyan raised the lantern high and was secretly alarmed.
“Sanhe, there’s actually a grove of osmanthus trees here.”
Yan Sanhe saw it too. “Do you remember that Zhu Weixi once said there’s also a grove of osmanthus trees at Jietai Temple?”
“I remember. When Old Master Zhu was ill, he specifically had Zhu Weixi go look at them.”
Yan Sanhe narrowed her eyes. “It shouldn’t be a coincidence.”
Just as she finished speaking, someone called out: “Miss Yan, Miss Yan.”
It was Ding Yi.
Yan Sanhe’s heart stirred. “He must have discovered something.”
Li Buyan: “Let’s go!”
Yan Sanhe: “No rush. Let’s finish circling this courtyard.”
Li Buyan raised her voice and shouted toward the distance: “Ding Yi, stay at the courtyard gate and don’t move. We’ll be right back.”
They completed the circle.
Ding Yi rushed to greet them. “Miss Yan, look at this.”
What he handed over was a palm-sized piece of paper. Yan Sanhe didn’t immediately look at what was written on it but calmly asked: “Where did you find it?”
Ding Yi: “It was tucked between the pages of a book. I casually flipped through it and it fell out.”
Yan Sanhe: “What is it?”
Ding Yi: “I don’t know.”
Only then did Yan Sanhe bring the paper to the lantern. After looking at it for a long time, she couldn’t understand what was written on it.
“Second Master Zhu, come take a look.”
Actually, Zhu Yuanzhao had been anxiously waiting for a long time. Anything Father had tucked between book pages must be important.
He leaned in for a look and was greatly surprised.
“This is someone’s life chart. Miss Yan, look—it has the primary stars, heavenly stems, earthly branches, hidden stems, secondary stars…”
Yan Sanhe couldn’t understand. She interrupted directly: “Whose is it?”
Zhu Yuanzhao searched around, then flipped it front and back. “I don’t know. There’s no name written on it.”
No name?
Then why was it tucked between book pages?
Yan Sanhe was silent for a moment. “How is this person’s life chart?”
Zhu Yuanzhao examined it carefully.
After studying it for a while, his eyes suddenly widened, his face showing rare excitement.
“This person has an excellent fate—great wealth and nobility. Moreover, the Scholarly Star has been positioned over his head since he was three years old and will remain there for a full twenty years. I’ve never seen anyone whose Scholarly Star could remain positioned for twenty years.”
Scholarly Star?
Yan Sanhe’s heart tightened.
“Could it be Geng Songsheng’s?”