The snow in the capital fell for a day and two nights. Though it had stopped, the ground still accumulated a thick layer.

In such cold weather, there were already few pedestrians on the streets. Come evening, not even a shadow could be seen.

At the end of the cobblestone road, a black shadow slowly writhed on the ground.

Called writhing because the shadow only had thighs, no lower legs;

The two arms were quite strong, but lacked palms, exposing bare wrists.

One wrist extended forward, the other followed, and the body moved forward a bit;

The wrist extended forward again, the other followed again, the body moved forward another bit, sweeping the snow beneath clean, exposing the blue-gray stone bricks.

Occasionally, a few late-returning pedestrians caught sight of him and covered their noses, detouring around.

This person’s cotton jacket reeked, with yellow fluid dripping from his hair—probably just crawled out of a dung heap.

The black shadow crawled from one end of Baihua Well Alley to the other, then turned left toward Sajin Alley.

Tired from crawling, the shadow simply lay flat on the ground, burying his face in the snow, rubbing left and right.

Gradually, the grime on his face rubbed away less and less, revealing a pale face that saw no sunlight year-round.

The facial features were quite ordinary, except for a pair of eyes frighteningly red, as if blood could drip from them.

What lay at the end of Sajin Alley?

Qinglian Alley.

Qinglian Alley bustled with carriages and people. Many had received word and braved the cold to come from home to pay respects to the just-deceased mother of Directorate of Astronomy Master Zhu.

The sky grew darker and darker.

No one noticed the black shadow silently crawling into Qinglian Alley.

…

At the Zhu Manor gate, white lanterns were blown ragged by the wind.

Zhu Jing stood right at the main gate, clasping fists in greeting with each arriving mourner, then instructing servants behind him to escort guests inside.

Accompanying coachmen and servants were led to a shelter behind the gate to drink hot tea and eat hot pastries.

In less than four months, three funerals at the Zhu Manor.

While mourners showed nothing on their faces, inwardly they wondered—could the Zhu Manor have leaked too many heavenly secrets and received karmic retribution?

Gradually, the Zhu Manor gate area filled with carriages.

Amidst the bustle, the shadow drifted like a black phantom, drawing closer and closer to the Zhu family.

Closer and closer!

Finally, he stopped beside a carriage, bare wrists bracing on the ground, struggling to sit upright.

Except for his back, his entire body’s clothes were soaked through.

But he didn’t feel cold.

In his chest, a scorching fury burned through his four limbs and eight meridians—even his blood was boiling.

How many years?

Exactly how many years?

He’d finally endured until this day!

Perhaps tired from crawling, he leaned against the wheel and sat for quite a while, then raised his right hand, reaching behind his waist, touching something.

His wrist rubbed that thing, which rubbed his flesh, bit by bit moving to the front.

A fire starter.

He lowered his head, gripping the fire starter in his mouth, rubbing it again and again against the wheel.

In an instant of sparks and lightning, the fire starter ignited. Somewhere in the depths of memory also lit up.

In the vast wilderness, he was bound to a large tree, mouth stuffed with rags.

He struggled desperately.

Useless.

They slowly approached him.

Then a familiar voice sounded—the voice of a demon walking out of hell.

The demon said in the world’s gentlest voice: For my sake, please spare his life. Sever the four limbs, poison him mute, and that will suffice.

He straightened his body, reached up to arrange his hair and clothes.

Before, he’d also been a respectable person. So in death, he should die respectably.

His mouth released. The fire starter fell on his body.

Burn!

The hotter the better—ideally burning this entire estate together, all of it.

In the firelight, someone strode toward him.

That person grabbed him up and buried him in the snow.

“Wu wu, wu wu, wu wu wu…”

His eyes bulged furiously, tears nearly falling, struggling desperately, only to hear that person say in a very calm voice: “Taiwei, my Third Master wants to see you.”

His heart stopped beating for an instant.

Who are you?

Who is your Third Master?

Why do you know my name?

…

In the mourning hall.

Second Master Zhu Xuangui and his wife offered incense to Madam Mao.

Kneeling to kowtow, the host family’s sons, daughters-in-law, daughters, and sons-in-law all kowtowed in return.

After paying respects, Zhu Xuangui and his wife withdrew to the outer room. They didn’t go to the back to drink tea, finding an unpopulated spot to huddle head-to-head in discussion.

Madam Zhang: “Just yesterday the Military Commission people investigated her. Tonight she’s gone. Could she have committed suicide out of fear?”

Zhu Xuangui sighed: “Who knows?”

Madam Zhang: “Tell me, what crime could a woman commit?”

Zhu Xuangui: “Hard to say.”

Madam Zhang’s eyes rolled rapidly.

What the Military Commission asked her husband about was Concubine Fu. What they asked her about was Fourth Sister-in-law.

Was there some necessary connection between these two?

Yes.

One was Fourth Brother’s birth mother, one was Fourth Brother’s legitimate wife. Could it be…

“Did your Fourth Brother commit some crime?”

“Bullshit!”

Zhu Xuangui glared fiercely at his wife: “My Fourth Brother is already lying in a coffin. What crime could he commit? Control your mouth. Don’t chew on others’ reputations behind their backs all day.”

Madam Zhang pursed her lips, thinking: So what if he’s lying in a coffin?

There are even cases of corpses being dragged from coffins for flogging!

Just then, the old steward hurried into the courtyard. After bowing to them both, he entered the mourning hall again.

He crouched beside Zhu Yuanmo, whispering at his ear: “First Master, Third Master just sent word. After midnight, meet at Miss Yan’s separate residence.”

Today was Madam Mao’s first night vigil. By custom, the eldest son couldn’t even leave the mourning hall door.

Zhu Yuanmo’s voice was hoarse from crying. “Did Third Master say what for?”

“The person was found.”

Taiwei was found?

After a long while, Zhu Yuanmo finally found his voice. “Tell Third Master I’ll be there on time.”

“Yes!”

On the other side of the coffin.

Xie Erli watched the old steward’s hastily departing back, suddenly rising and walking to Zhu Yuanmo’s side.

Everyone was startled by him.

Xie Erli paid no attention. He knelt beside Zhu Yuanmo, covering his mouth to ask: “What did the old steward want?”

Zhu Yuanmo didn’t hide anything from this brother-in-law.

Third Master was working so hard partly because of Miss Yan, but this brother-in-law was also a major reason.

“Taiwei was found. Third Master told me to go to the separate residence.”

“I’ll accompany you shortly.”

Xie Erli saw Zhu Yuanmo’s surprised expression, voice slightly stiff.

“The mourning hall can’t be left unmanned. Once you leave, Second Brother and Third Brother must stay on watch, and tend the incense and paper offerings. Me accompanying you is most appropriate.”

Before Zhu Yuanmo could respond, he added quietly: “Things have reached this point. We must pool our strength. If you all die, it’ll be her turn.”

Finishing, Xie Erli rose again, returning to kneel in his original position.

Just then mourners came to pay respects, requiring family members to return courtesy. He wore mourning clothes, prostrating on the ground, body bent into an arched curve.

Zhu Yuanmo’s eyes reddened again.