Although battles had begun with the Prince of Zhao’s forces at the frontlines, life in Chang’an continued as usual.

Willows turned green, grass sprouted, and birds chirped everywhere—spring had arrived once again. Nobles held spring viewing banquets with pipes and strings playing, beauties singing and dancing; common folk made dumplings with wild vegetables and meat filling, enjoying spring delicacies; newly appointed scholars rode proudly through Chang’an; young ladies in light spring garments caught the eyes of young men with their bright glances…

This wasn’t even the Double Third Festival yet, which would be even livelier.

The Imperial Guards could do nothing about it—this was simply the way of the world and its customs. The Imperial Guards, military inspectors, and ward guards had grown somewhat weary. Perhaps the fugitive had long since fled?

In a civilian residence in Shengping Ward, several attendants blocked the courtyard gate, pleading with clasped hands: “Fourth Young Master, please go out less. Though the checkpoints aren’t as strict now, your wanted poster is still posted at street corners.”

Li Rui pointed at his face, “Could anyone recognize me like this?”

The attendants looked at the sickly scholar before them, with his sallow complexion, drooping eyebrows, and full beard, exchanging troubled glances. The Fourth Young Master had always treasured his appearance, and now he had “defiled” himself to this extent—it was truly difficult for him, but…

Their leader said: “Fourth Young Master, Captain Ren will return with news soon. Why not wait for him before going out?”

Li Rui grew more displeased, “Since when did Ren Feng earn the right to make me wait?”

Ren Feng had been lurking in Chang’an for years. Though he was glib-tongued, Li Rui wasn’t a fool and could see he was Qiao Hai’s man. His smooth-talking manner was even more irritating than that stubborn old Qiao Hai.

Before the assassination attempt on the Emperor, Qiao Hai had acted the loyal minister, formally apologizing with deep bows, earnestly begging Li Rui to hide away, saying the Fourth Young Master’s status was too important, and if anything happened to him, ten thousand deaths couldn’t atone for the crime. Though Li Rui felt the old man was too cautious, he was ultimately softhearted and agreed to let Ren Feng take him elsewhere to hide.

When the assassination actually failed, Li Rui was indeed shocked and truly grateful to Qiao Hai—fortunately, the old man had been shrewd and careful…

But now, being cooped up like a trapped beast in this small residence day after day without seeing daylight, and crucially, not knowing when this situation would end, Li Rui grew increasingly anxious. Ren Feng said fighting had begun at the front. Thinking of the imperial robes already prepared at home, would Father ascend the throne? To stabilize public sentiment, would he make the Third Brother the crown prince? He might even release Second Brother. He had been fond of Second Brother before…

The attendants couldn’t stop Li Rui from going out.

To avoid drawing attention, he only took two personal guards who had come from the Prince of Zhao’s residence—skilled fighters who spoke little and followed his orders. Walking the streets, Li Rui was initially nervous, but when the ward guard at the gate merely glanced at them carelessly, and they encountered several Imperial Guards without incident, his courage grew.

This wasn’t Li Rui’s first time going out. He knew there were two places to gather information: taverns and pleasure houses. After drinking, with beauty in one’s arms, people would say anything. Thinking of taverns reminded him of Shen’s establishment. Li Rui pursed his lips and headed straight for Pingkang Ward.

Entering Pingkang Ward, music filled his ears, and beauties in fine silks met his eyes. Li Rui relaxed—this was how people should live.

Finding a house that wasn’t too conspicuous but looked comfortable and elegant, Li Rui entered, sat in a corner of the hall, ordered drinks and pastries, and listened to a courtesan play the pipa and sing.

“…A red beauty with dew-sealed fragrance, cloud and rain on Wu Mountain breaks hearts in vain…” She was singing Li Bai’s “Pure and Peaceful Music.”

After she finished, someone said: “Don’t you have anything new? Hearing this all the time gets tiresome.”

The courtesan gave a slight curtsy and smiled, “The new scholars have just passed their examinations—usually this time of year brings many new verses, but this year’s poems are—perhaps too militant, not suitable for gentlemen to hear while drinking.”

Because of the war with the Prince of Zhao, and perhaps because many scholars had witnessed the assassination attempt at Shen’s tavern and the subsequent “Loyal Hearts Feast,” this year’s new scholars wrote fewer romantic verses and more passionate, heroic ones. Such lyrics weren’t suitable for this occasion, and few could sing them well anyway.

The courtesan smiled, “But I do have a new tune, said to be written by a famous northern courtesan for a noble young man.”

The guests laughed, “A young master and his beauty—this is good! Let’s hear it!”

The courtesan demurred, saying she hadn’t practiced it well yet, and asked the gentlemen not to laugh.

“We won’t laugh, we won’t laugh. Just sing! Even humming from Cloud Lady’s sandalwood lips would be pleasant to hear,” one guest teased.

The courtesan smiled and playfully spat at him, then turned her strings and began to sing.

“When parasol leaves fall at sunset, as you journey far away…”

Li Rui’s heart jolted.

“…Late at the night feast in Xianyang, spring sleep delayed behind painted screens. Fresh rouge marks on arms, forgetting past lover’s folly…”

This was exactly like his parting with Lady Feng! Because her name meant Phoenix, her courtyard was called Cypress Court. When he left the Northern Capital, parasol leaves were falling, and autumn’s meaning was deep. After their intimate moments, she had urged him not to indulge in pleasure-seeking in Chang’an and to forget his old flame.

Li Rui grew extremely nervous, afraid he was reading too much into it—after all, autumn leaves and parasol trees were common in poetry, and women often thought of new and old lovers. But wasn’t it too coincidental? A famous northern courtesan…

If it was indeed meant for him to hear, who was behind it? Certainly not Lady Feng—could it be people from homecoming to receive him? His family knew his temperament best; in such a place, singing such a romantic tune would arouse the least suspicion, and the lyrics were full of longing for return.

But could it be a trap set by the Imperial Guards? How would they know he would come here? And know about Lady Feng and Cypress Court?

Li Rui turned these possibilities over and over in his mind, his heart pounding, wanting to take the gamble but afraid of losing.

Meanwhile, the other guests, having finished listening to the song, called for wine and food, each embracing a drinking companion as they began their feast.

“With fighting in the north, who knows if we’ll still be able to enjoy such peaceful meals in the future.”

“Tch—worrying needlessly.”

The worried one continued: “I heard the Northern Capital’s forces are very strong.”

“So what if they are? Haven’t you heard the Prince of Zhao is ill? Why did they try to assassinate His Majesty? Wasn’t it all for that position? The Prince of Zhao is so old, and now with this illness—”

“I hadn’t heard the Prince of Zhao was ill?”

“You’ve been too preoccupied with your newly wedded wife, how would you know anything?”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Li Rui thought for a moment, and still unsure, took his two attendants to another house. Sure enough, he heard that “northern courtesan’s” new tune again, and once more confirmed the news of his father’s illness.

Li Rui couldn’t wait any longer and called the singer to perform the song for him privately in a room.

“Who taught you this song? It sounds like something that happened to a friend of mine.”

“Two young masters taught it to me, saying their lady missed this gentleman terribly and sent people to search for him in the capital,” the courtesan smiled.

The courtesan knew that such “friends” were usually the gentleman himself. Looking at the consumptive ghost before her, she felt quite disappointed—what kind of fine gentleman had she imagined? These scholars’ poems and verses were fine to sing but not to be believed.

Li Rui frowned, looking at her, “Did they say where they’re staying?”

“They said they’re at the Azure Cloud Temple in Changxing Ward.”

Li Rui nodded, smiled, had his attendants give the courtesan some silver, and walked out with his hands behind his back.

The courtesan weighed the silver, recalling his smile just now and his bearing—there was indeed something refined about him. Having seen all sorts of strange things and people in this place, the courtesan pursed her lips, put the silver in her purse, and went back to singing.

When Li Rui returned to his lodging, Ren Feng was anxiously pacing. Seeing him return, he finally relaxed, but before he could speak, Li Rui asked: “Why didn’t you tell me my father was ill?”

Ren Feng smiled apologetically: “The news wasn’t certain yet—telling Fourth Young Master would only cause needless worry.”

Li Rui looked at his slick face and suddenly wondered if he might be Third Brother’s man. If I just stay detained here… But he quickly dismissed this suspicion—Old Qiao was wholeheartedly devoted to Father, and Third Brother and Qiao Hai… impossible.

Li Rui’s expression softened, and he told Ren Feng about the day’s events.

Ren Feng frowned—why hadn’t they contacted him? Then he realized that all the Prince of Zhao’s usual places had been searched by the Imperial Guards, and this was his private residence. While the Imperial Guards couldn’t find them here, neither could the Prince’s people.

Hearing Li Rui’s account, Ren Feng shared his mix of temptation and suspicion.

After some thought, Ren Feng said to Li Rui: “Fourth Young Master, don’t rush. I’ll investigate this temple myself before we decide.”

Li Rui smiled in approval: “Then I’ll trouble Captain Ren.”

Ren Feng smiled back—earning a kind look from this young master wasn’t easy.

The next day, Ren Feng went to investigate the Azure Cloud Temple himself.

It was late in the day before he returned.

“How was it?” Li Rui asked anxiously. Seeing Ren Feng’s expression, his heart sank.

“It was indeed a trap. There were disguised Imperial Guards watching the place. I barely managed to escape thanks to my quick thinking.”

Li Rui frowned as he looked at him.

“Don’t worry, young master. I wandered around and even went to the East Market before returning. No one followed me.”

Li Rui relaxed, though disappointed and suspicious—how had the Imperial Guards learned about his affairs?

Suddenly, there was the sound of weapons outside. Everyone inside was startled, and before they could think, the windows and doors were simultaneously broken open as a group of Imperial Guards burst in.

Ren Feng and the others tried to protect Li Rui and fight their way out, but Li Rui had already seen the archers on the walls through the broken window.

Li Rui waved his hand—it was over…

General Qin walked in, smiling: “Fourth Young Master, shall we go to the palace?”

After taking Li Rui away, Qin Xiang breathed a sigh of relief. Though this was certainly due to Assistant Governor Lin’s strategy, the Imperial Guards hadn’t failed at the crucial moment. Being able to track a spy for half a day without losing him or being detected—only the Imperial Guards had such skill.

Lin Yan felt the same way. When he told Shen Shao Guang about how they had used the intelligence gathered from the Northern Capital and her “comfort zone” theory to set the bait in Pingkang Ward, how they had “stirred the grass to startle the snake” at the temple, and about the Imperial Guards’ pursuit, he praised them: “The Imperial Guards’ tracking skills are truly unmatched—the Capital Prefecture can’t compare.” He seemed quite envious.

Shen Shao Guang ladled him a bowl of spinach and egg drop soup, saying with a meaningful smile: “The Capital Prefecture has its own merits. For instance, that song verse must have been quite moving to have fooled Li Rui, don’t you think?”

Lin Yan’s lips curled up.

Shen Shao Guang looked as if she was waiting for his explanation.

Lin Yan licked his lips and recited it to her.

Shen Shao Guang’s expression grew increasingly dark—to be able to write such romantic verses…

Seeing her pursed lips and slightly widened almond eyes, Lin Yan found her utterly adorable.

“Assistant Governor Lin—”

Lin Yan reached out to stroke her temple hair, laughing softly: “You’ve never been jealous of me before. This feeling—it’s quite nice…”

Shen Shao Guang tilted her head away from his hand, and still not satisfied, pinched his arm.

Lin Yan laughed even more, “I didn’t write it—when would I have time for that? A clerk in the Capital Prefecture wrote it.” That one did indeed have some—romantic tendencies.

Shen Shao Guang’s expression cleared slightly, but she warned: “Remember, when you marry me, no concubines, no serving girls, no singing girls or dancers. Even at banquets, maintain proper conduct, or else—”

Before Shen Shao Guang could finish her threat, Lin Yan smiled and said: “Before meeting you, no one had caught my eye; after meeting you, there was no one else in my eyes.”

Lin Yan’s expression grew serious: “Zhi, there won’t be any ‘or else.'”

Shen Shao Guang couldn’t help but smile with narrowed eyes, and added another spoonful of soup to his bowl: “This spinach is very tender, my lord should drink more.”

Lin Yan’s eyebrow twitched.

Shen Shao Guang looked at him suspiciously, “Are you a picky eater? I always feel like you have something against spinach.”

Author’s Note: “Before meeting you, no one had caught my eye; after meeting you, there was no one else in my eyes.” —Inspired by words Mr. Qian Zhongshu wrote to Ms. Yang Jiang.