After emerging from the Imperial Study, the two walked toward the palace exit one in front of the other. He Zhong was driving the carriage waiting at the palace gate. From afar, seeing his own Marquis returning, his face revealed a smile, but very quickly he also caught sight of the person behind his Marquis, and that smile immediately froze on his face. He now finally knew who Qiu Xinran was. Seeing her, naturally his eyes weren’t eyes and his nose wasn’t a nose, and he let out a short, forceful cold snort.

Qiu Xinran found this Vice General He rather amusing. At least he was much better than Xia Xiuyan, who could hold a grudge for ten years and still greet you ten years later with an unruffled “Have you been well since we parted?” By comparison, she found Vice General He’s straightforwardness extremely rare and valuable. Not only did she not take offense, she even smiled at him amiably.

This smile of hers seemed to confuse He Zhong. His facial expression stiffened. For a moment, his face showed contempt mixed with bewilderment, bewilderment mixed with indignation, and within that indignation was even a few parts bashfulness… Before boarding the carriage, Xia Xiuyan caught sight of his expression and his movement paused. Finally he couldn’t help but turn back to glance at the female Daoist behind him. He only saw her standing in place with a composed expression, looking as if she were respectfully seeing him off to his carriage. He pondered for a moment, then said to her, “Do you need a ride?”

Hearing these words, He Zhong showed an expression as if the sky were falling. Qiu Xinran almost couldn’t hold back her laughter. She quickly retreated a step and said with lowered head to cover it up, “Many thanks for the Marquis’s kind intention. This humble Daoist can return on her own.”

Xia Xiuyan clearly wasn’t truly intending to give her a ride either. He nodded perfunctorily and boarded the carriage. Qiu Xinran suddenly spoke up again to stop him, “The Marquis’s outer robe… is still with me.”

“Throw it away.” He lowered the carriage curtain and said indifferently in passing. He Zhong ordered the driver to depart, and the carriage drove smoothly in small steps toward the palace exit.

Qiu Xinran stood in place watching the carriage rumble away a few steps, when it suddenly stopped again. From the carriage window, a pale white hand extended out and tapped the carriage wall. She paused slightly, then walked forward. Sure enough, she saw the person inside the carriage had lifted the curtain and was waiting for her. Xia Xiuyan looked down at her from his elevated position in the carriage and warned, “Cut it to pieces before throwing it away. If one day I see it in a clothing shop—” His last sentence was drawn out slightly. Qiu Xinran’s eyes widened in disbelief, “The Marquis may not know how much silver I charge for a divination in the marketplace!”

Xia Xiuyan gave a light sneer and lowered the carriage curtain. This time the carriage truly left without looking back.

However, Xia Xiuyan believed that Qiu Xinran didn’t lack for silver. Some people were simply born knowing how to make others like them.

When she entered the palace, it was already Xia Xiuyan’s third year in Chang’an. The capital continued day after day, plain as usual.

That day when he entered the academy, the teaching master had not arrived. In the room, several students gathered in twos and threes chatting idly. The Sixth Imperial Prince Li Hanfeng turned around from his desk and looked at him with some worry, “You’ve finally come. The master said you were ill again these past few days?”

Xia Xiuyan coughed a few times, lowering his eyes, “It’s difficult to sleep upon entering summer. I haven’t rested well for several consecutive days.”

Li Hanfeng looked somewhat uneasy and was about to say something more when he promptly changed the subject, “What are they talking about so animatedly?”

At this mention, the other party immediately became spirited and smiled, “You haven’t come for some days so you don’t know yet—the palace recently had a little immortal arrive.”

Xia Xiuyan raised an eyebrow. Then he heard Li Hanfeng say enthusiastically, “She’s descended from the Nine Sects, only thirteen or fourteen years old. That day Bai Jingming brought her before the throne for an audience, saying that Baoyu Daoren of the Divination Sect entrusted her young disciple to him to keep at his side for instruction. He plans to keep her at the Bureau of Astronomy as an acolyte. You know His Majesty has always loved these matters of seeking spirits and asking about the Dao. Hearing she was Baoyu Daoren’s beloved disciple, on a whim he asked the young acolyte a few questions. As a result, that young acolyte counted on her fingers and calculated, mentioning several matters, and she actually got them right. His Majesty was greatly pleased. Not only did he agree to keep her at the Bureau of Astronomy to handle affairs, he even exceptionally promoted her to the position of Clerk. For a time, who knows how much jealousy and resentment this provoked.”

Xia Xiuyan was noncommittal. Li Hanfeng, seeing his expression, knew he looked down upon this matter, “Do you think this is absurd?”

“I’m simply not interested in these arts of reading fate.”

Li Hanfeng then smiled and said, “In any case, the capital is now lively because of her. Many people inside and outside the palace, having heard of this matter, want to seek her for divination. However, she hides in the Bureau of Astronomy and doesn’t often go out. Otherwise I’d also like to see if she’s truly as miraculous as the rumors say.”

As the two were speaking, they heard the Second Imperial Prince Li Hanyi suddenly say mockingly, “I think she’s just a charlatan who knows some petty tricks, running to the palace to seek advantages opportunistically. Only you lot would be deceived by her.”

His birth mother was Noble Consort Chen in the rear palace. Pampered and indulged since childhood, this had cultivated a somewhat domineering character that looked down on others.

Hearing him dare to speak such words loudly in the academy, Li Hanfeng showed a worried expression and reminded him in a small voice, “Second Brother…” But before his words could emerge, a scoffing laugh came from the western corner. It was precisely the Fourth Imperial Prince Li Hanxing, raising an eyebrow at him, “What’s strange about us being deceived by her? She is now a Clerk personally appointed by imperial decree from Father Emperor. Is Second Brother saying Father Emperor was also deceived by her?”

After he said this, the academy quieted. No one dared to respond further. Li Hanyi’s expression was very unpleasant. Pointing at him, he blurted out, “What, do you want to go complain to Father Emperor? I tell you, even before Father Emperor I would still say the same thing. If you have the guts, go ahead!”

Li Hanxing rolled his eyes, clearly not very interested in dealing with him. Li Hanyi was about to say more when the Third Imperial Prince Li Hanling stood up to restrain him, persuading kindly, “Enough, enough. Fourth Brother was also kindly reminding you. This academy has many people with many eyes. Who knows which one might embellish and spread the words. Then Father Emperor would scold you again.”

Li Hanyi wasn’t entirely brainless either. Knowing his words were correct, he flung his sleeves and sat down angrily. Fortunately the master also arrived just then, and the matter came to nothing.

Seeing this, Li Hanfeng breathed a sigh of relief. Not daring to speak more with Xia Xiuyan, he hurriedly turned back around. Xia Xiuyan flipped through the book pages on his desk, his mind still on what Li Hanfeng had said earlier. Li Hanyi had a fiery temper, arrogant nature, and didn’t think much before speaking. His thoughts on this matter were actually similar to his own. If someone really passed his words from today to Emperor Xuande’s ears, watching him go debate with His Majesty might actually be quite interesting.

Several days later, after accompanying the Empress Dowager for the noon meal and emerging from Fukang Palace, the sun outside was too scorching. Halfway along, Xia Xiuyan sent a little eunuch back to fetch an umbrella while he himself turned into the Imperial Garden’s pavilion to escape the heat and wait. On such a summer day, aside from patrolling guards, even palace attendants from various palaces hid in their rooms and didn’t go out.

As he walked toward the pavilion, he heard talking voices from behind the artificial hill—the voices of two children. Originally thinking they were maids slacking off and hiding here, he meant to avoid them, but then heard one of them suddenly mention “General Xia.” Xia Xiuyan’s footsteps paused, and he turned to walk toward the pavilion on the artificial hill.

Sitting by the water pool below the artificial hill were two people, both wearing indigo servant robes—they should be minor officials serving in the palace. But looking at their ages, they were still very young, approximately fourteen or fifteen years old. In this hot weather, they were hiding behind the artificial hill to enjoy the cool air. The two sat cross-legged facing each other, with a chessboard-like pattern between them. Each held a thin tree branch in their hands, going back and forth marking on it. The one on the left wore the servant robe fairly properly, while the other had already rolled up sleeves to the elbows, revealing two sections of slender white arms—quite improper.

Xia Xiuyan sat in the pavilion on the hill. This place was quiet, and the conversation below fell into his ears word for word.

The young people were still tender in years. Listening to the voices, one couldn’t distinguish clearly, only feeling that one voice was livelier while the other was steadier.

Xia Xiuyan heard the livelier one sigh, “This palace is very different from what I imagined. Had I known, I really should have followed Martial Uncle to the northwest. Looking at Zhuo Yan’s letter, she says it’s currently the season when water and grass are abundant there. A few days ago she even rode horses with General Xia to beyond the passes.”

The steadier one consoled, “Senior Martial Sister Zhuo following Martial Uncle to the frontier wasn’t to go play. These past two years the frontier has been so unsettled, relying entirely on General Xia alone to guard Qizhou.”

“I heard General Xia’s heir is also in this palace. Why isn’t he in Qizhou?”

“The heir’s health is poor. The frontier climate is harsh. The Empress Dowager brought him to the palace to recuperate.”

“Then he hasn’t inherited even half a bit from his father?” The other party shook her head with some regret. “In that case, who will take over the Changwu Army in the future?”

Xia Xiuyan sat in the pavilion. Hearing these words, he gave a slight sneer. He had heard others say such things openly and secretly many times. Hearing it here now, his heart had no ripples.

The other one also couldn’t help but smile, “You’re more worried than the civil and military officials. General Xia is in his prime—what talk of who will take over? Moreover, I heard that although that heir’s health is poor, he learned martial arts in the army when young. A tiger father has no dog son—who knows when his illness improves, he might also accomplish something in the military.”

“Who knows when that will be.” That person sighed. “You also cultivate divination arts and know best that worldly matters are impermanent. You should naturally see further than others.”

Hearing this, the person across paused. After a moment, they said hesitantly, “Why are you suddenly saying these things? Are you…”

After a while, that person said in a low voice, “A few days ago I…” The voice was pressed extremely low, and the latter half of the sentence couldn’t be heard clearly. Immediately after, one of them was heard giving a startled cry, saying in panic, “You, you mustn’t say these things in front of Master.”

“I know,” that person’s voice also wilted, “There are many things you can’t say in this palace.”

“You shouldn’t say these things outside either.” The other party corrected. After a while, they couldn’t help but ask something in a small voice. After a long time, they finally heard the hesitant reply, “I feel this isn’t a good omen. I always feel that in the future General Xia will probably die defending the city…” Before the latter half of the sentence finished, the mouth was immediately covered.

Xia Xiuyan had originally been listening casually, but hearing this, his lips pressed tightly together, and a storm was already faintly brewing in his gaze. Below was quiet for quite a while, as if confirming there was no one around. For a time, only the clamorous chirping of cicadas could be heard in the garden.

After a long time, one person was heard desperately lowering their voice, “You absolutely must not speak of this to outsiders.”

“Mm.” The person across answered listlessly.

At this time, footsteps suddenly came from not far away. It was precisely the little eunuch who had gone back to fetch the umbrella hurrying over. Seeing this, Xia Xiuyan no longer deliberately avoided them. He walked forward two steps, just in time to see the two people below the artificial hill like startled birds, quickly standing up from the ground.

The first thing Qiu Xinran did upon standing was to lower her head and hastily let down the sleeves she had rolled up to her elbows. It wasn’t about thinking of propriety between men and women—mainly because last time when the palace’s supervising nanny saw this improper attire and reported it to the Bureau of Astronomy, her monthly stipend was deducted for disheveled dress.

Before she finished tidying up, she heard the person beside her greet the person in the pavilion with a slightly trembling voice, “Greetings to the Xia heir.” Her movement of arranging her sleeves also couldn’t help but pause as she immediately followed by lowering her head in a bow.

After a long while, no sound came from overhead. Her raised hands were getting sore. Suspecting the person above had already left, just as she was about to sneak a peek upward, she heard that person’s cool voice say, “What is your name?”

Not knowing which of them he was asking, the youth below hesitated for a moment before saying, “This subject is Yuan Zhou, Clerk at the Bureau of Astronomy.”

Xia Xiuyan paused, narrowing his eyes to look at him carefully. After a long time, he slowly said, “So you’re that little Daoist from the Bureau of Astronomy?”

Yuan Zhou felt his question was strange, but there was no time to think carefully. He could only brace himself and say, “Yes.”

“Good.” Xia Xiuyan nodded. This word “good” falling on the ears somehow made one’s heart tighten. Finally, he let his gaze fall on Qiu Xinran for a glance, then left without another word.

After he left, Qiu Xinran lowered her hands and turned to look at her junior martial brother beside her, sincerely sighing, “Yuan Zhou, are you really this famous in the palace?”

Yuan Zhou’s face was still somewhat pale. He also said bewilderedly, “I previously went to the academy with Teacher. Perhaps the Xia heir has some impression of me?”