Not long after returning from Qinglong Temple, Wu Peng’s case seemed to have made progress. Within a few days, a squad of soldiers sealed off Fangchi Garden, and everyone in the establishment was taken away by the authorities for questioning. Vague rumors circulated saying there was no such thing as a female ghost haunting—this time the Wu family’s young master had probably been schemed against by the ladies in the garden.

Two days later, when Zhou Xianyi came to He’s Rice Shop, Qiu Xinran couldn’t help but ask him about the matter. After pondering for a moment, he leaned close and said to her in a low voice: “For the sake of our friendship, I can tell you a few things, but you absolutely must not speak of this to others.”

Qiu Xinran also hastily leaned closer and promised: “I definitely won’t tell anyone.”

Only after receiving her assurance did Zhou Xianyi ask mysteriously: “Do you know who’s truly in charge behind Fangchi Garden?”

Qiu Xinran thought about it and asked quietly: “Lan Hui?”

Zhou Xianyi was startled, staring at her wide-eyed. Seeing her look at him innocently, he asked again: “Then do you know Lan Hui’s true identity?”

“The daughter of the former Feathered Forest Guard Commander Zhang Yong—Zhang Hui?”

Zhou Xianyi sat up straight all at once and said huffily: “If you already know everything, why are you asking me?” The two stared at each other for a while before he couldn’t help leaning close again to ask: “Even in court, only a few people know about this. Where did you learn of it?”

Qiu Xinran was amused by his reaction and said with narrowed eyes and a smile: “Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed.”

Zhou Xianyi glanced at her skeptically, pursed his lips, and continued: “Chief Clerk Qian somehow got information and discovered Zhang Hui’s identity. He probably wanted to go claim credit with the Left Minister, but unexpectedly Zhang Hui admitted it right there in court. She directly submitted a petition of grievance for the Zhang family, even saying she had evidence that Zhang Yong had been framed back then. The case of the young Heir of the Xia family being kidnapped from the traveling palace was already a major case to begin with. Moreover, it also involved the Diyue people—it’s a matter of great importance. The Court of Judicial Review didn’t dare conceal it and immediately reported it upward. What was originally a missing performer case has now implicated an old Feathered Forest Guard case, even alarming the Emperor himself, who ordered the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate to jointly handle the case. Because of this, I’ve been staying at the official quarters for several days without going home.” He sighed after finishing.

After a moment of silence, Qiu Xinran suddenly said: “Xianyi, do you still remember during the autumn hunt a year ago, when discussing Minister Zhang’s case, I said your character was upright and that if you entered service in the future, you might become an Autumn Official, speaking up for the loyal and for the common people?”

Zhou Xianyi clearly also remembered that day’s events and smiled slightly: “How could I not remember? It was because of what you said that day that afterward I had the notion of becoming an Autumn Official.”

“That day you said if you entered service in the future, you definitely wouldn’t disappoint me.”

Zhou Xianyi seemed to hear the meaning in her words and looked at her in a daze. He saw Qiu Xinran smile: “To this day, regardless of what the outcome of this case is, I believe Xianyi won’t disappoint me.”

Looking at the woman before him with her gentle, water-like gaze, Zhou Xianyi’s heart warmed. His hand beneath his sleeve couldn’t help clenching into a fist as he also smiled: “The rumors in the capital say that Xinran’s divinations are accurate—I absolutely cannot let you ruin your reputation with me.”

Not long after Fangchi Garden was sealed, news that Lan Hui was actually Zhang Hui also spread rapidly through the court. During her years in Chang’an, she had contact with many important court officials and obtained some evidence proving that the accusations against Zhang Yong of embezzling account books and colluding with Diyue people were suspicious, directly pointing to corruption within the Feathered Forest Guard and factional persecution. The matter of the military salary shortage ten years ago seemed to have other hidden circumstances. The old Zhang family case was reopened, and the spearhead of this case pointed directly at the current Feathered Forest Guard Commander Wei Yi.

Emperor Xuande listened to the Court of Judicial Review’s report at the court assembly, then turned to ask the Marquis Dingbei standing in the hall: “I’ve heard that Xiuyan also became acquainted with this woman after returning to the capital?”

The young marquis in court robes stood up straight. After pondering for a moment, he cautiously reported: “This is indeed the case. The Zhang family’s incident occurred because your subject was abducted from the traveling palace. It seems that after your subject entered the capital, her several approaches were to use this opportunity to investigate the events of that year.” It was hardly surprising that Lan Hui, having contacted many important officials in the capital related to this matter over these years, would actively approach Xia Xiuyan.

Emperor Xuande then asked: “Since this is so, what are your thoughts on this matter?”

Xia Xiuyan advised: “Your subject has been stationed in the northern territories for many years and is unfamiliar with court affairs. But if it were ordinary corruption, that would be one thing. However, if it involves foreign enemies, your subject believes we must proceed with caution.”

Emperor Xuande nodded: “Since this is so, this case will be handed over to the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice to jointly re-examine it. They must investigate it thoroughly.”

After Zhang Yong was convicted, the Feathered Forest Guard Commander Wei Yi was personally promoted by the Left Minister. Now that the Zhang Yong case had been reopened, Wei Yi bore the brunt of being implicated. After court dismissed, rumors circulated that when the Left Minister left the palace gates, his face was ashen and his steps swift.

Storm clouds were gathering in court, and the balance of power was beginning to shift subtly. When had all this started? Did it begin when Wu Peng was imprisoned? Or when the Marquis Dingbei returned to the capital?

Somehow, Qiu Xinran belatedly discovered that everyone around her had become busy, as if she was the only one still idle. Life in the marketplace was very peaceful. Yuan Zhou stole some time from his busy schedule to visit her. Since the last time he fell into the water, it seemed the two hadn’t seen each other for quite a while. When they met this time, she saw dark circles under his eyes and a weary expression, as if he hadn’t slept well for several days.

“Is the Bureau of Astronomy this busy?”

Yuan Zhou shook his head: “Recently there have been many matters in court. I imagine you’ve also heard some rumors. The Emperor has had intentions of designating the Eastern Palace these past two years. Master wants me to remind you that if the Emperor summons you, remember absolutely not to get involved in this matter.”

“Does teacher think the Emperor will ask me to divine fortunes?”

“The Emperor is a firm believer in ghosts and spirits. If he truly summons you, although he may not necessarily listen to your divination, whatever you say will be trouble for you.”

Such secrets concerning the Eastern Palace should not be disclosed to outsiders. Qiu Xinran looked at him: “It’s fine to tell me this once, but don’t mention it to anyone else.”

Hearing this, Yuan Zhou smiled: “I naturally know this.” He seemed somewhat moved: “Back when we were still in the palace, I was always the one saying these things to you. I never expected that one day you’d be the one reminding me instead.”

“I think you just can’t hold back your words, so you ran here to tell me.” Qiu Xinran poured him a cup of water. “Master and Master Uncle always think you’re more honest than me, but actually you’re the one with mischief in your heart, just wanting me to lead you into doing something outrageous.”

Yuan Zhou laughed: “That’s so unjust. When it comes to being outrageous, I couldn’t match you even if I tried. Just take that incident with the Marquis Dingbei seven years ago…” He was halfway through when he realized his slip of the tongue, though Qiu Xinran didn’t seem to mind. Yuan Zhou observed her expression and still couldn’t help asking curiously: “I actually heard everything you said to Master back then. That was one thing at the time, but now if you explained to the Marquis, it might not be impossible to resolve this grudge.”

Qiu Xinran shook her head: “When he was brought to Chang’an as a youth, people in the palace called him Young Heir to his face, but everyone knew in their hearts what he was doing here. His temperament is reserved and his thoughts run deep. Those years weren’t good memories for him. If he were to learn that when Qizhou was besieged, the Emperor had once thought of killing him…”

Yuan Zhou was alarmed: “You’re afraid he would turn against the Emperor and harbor rebellious thoughts?” Given Xia Xiuyan’s character of seeking revenge for every slight, it truly wasn’t entirely impossible. Thinking of this, his heart also felt somewhat uneasy: “But if you don’t tell him, won’t he still perceive it?”

“The Emperor does have some uncle-nephew affection for him. Under those circumstances back then, if he had been determined to eliminate him, there were other methods available. I dared to divine that divination also because I was betting that the Emperor still had some hesitation about him.” Qiu Xinran lowered her eyes. “It’s best if this matter rests on me alone, to avoid any additional complications arising.”

After she finished this sentence, the two were silent for a long while. Qiu Xinran usually seemed carefree, but at times like this she showed a composure different from her usual self. Yuan Zhou studied her and finally said with a strange expression: “You dare say even this, yet you say I’m discussing the Eastern Palace?”

Discussing the Emperor was indeed a much graver charge than discussing the Eastern Palace. Qiu Xinran couldn’t help laughing: “Then tell me about the Eastern Palace, so that I’m not the only one with something held against me by you.”

“The Eastern Palace… there’s really not much to say.” Yuan Zhou frowned and turned the matter over in his mind. “Who do you guess it will be?”

“By birth, naturally the Third Prince and Sixth Prince are most qualified, but I’m afraid in court the First Prince and Second Prince also have considerable support.”

Yuan Zhou nodded, tacitly confirming her speculation: “Since the Marquis Dingbei returned to the capital, the Emperor has shown him favor and honor that seems to surpass even the Left Minister. I think there’s also consideration in there of using the situation to suppress Noble Consort Shu’s maternal family’s power.”

Balancing the two sides—the art of emperors. No matter who entered the game, all became chess pieces. Qiu Xinran gazed toward the imperial city in the east that couldn’t be seen and sighed softly: “The Left Minister isn’t someone who will just passively take beatings. He should be doing something very soon.”

After Yuan Zhou left, Qiu Xinran felt somewhat uneasy. Near noon she took a carriage to Fangchi Garden. The elegant estate that had been filled with music and song just days ago now had its main gate sealed with official notices. Everyone passing by couldn’t help but glance inside, as if wanting to peer through the cracks in the brick walls to spy the secrets behind the white walls.

The moment Qiu Xinran got off the carriage, she saw a figure in red standing at the main entrance that looked somewhat familiar. Just as she was wondering, she saw that person turn around and also spot her from afar, frowning as if trying to remember where they had met. Qiu Xinran saw her walk toward her. When she got close, she stopped and looked her up and down twice, then suddenly said: “Have I seen you before?”

This temperament was truly worlds apart from Gao Yang’s. Qiu Xinran found it somewhat amusing and answered good-naturedly: “Not long ago at the official residence where the Marquis Dingbei stays, I did have a brief encounter with the young lady.”

When she put it this way, Gao Yue immediately remembered. That time she had swung her whip at someone and nearly injured a female Daoist standing to the side, causing her brother to punish her with confinement at the estate. Only today had her confinement been lifted. Thinking of this, she said awkwardly: “Sorry about last time. That whip wasn’t aimed at you.”

Qiu Xinran hadn’t expected her to take the initiative to apologize. Clearly she wasn’t a bad-hearted young lady, and her opinion of her improved somewhat: “Why is Miss Gao here alone?”

Speaking of this, Gao Yue’s expression became somewhat unnatural as she answered awkwardly: “This is my first time in Chang’an. I was confined at home the past few days, so I came out to look around today.” Qiu Xinran glanced at the Fangchi Garden plaque behind her and understood: “Was Miss Gao’s whip last time aimed at Miss Lan Hui?”

Gao Yue glared at her, somewhat angry from embarrassment: “You—”

“If you don’t mind, let me divine a reading for you, young lady.”

By the time she was seated by the window on the second floor of the wine shop across from Fangchi Garden, Gao Yue still hadn’t figured out how she had ended up following this person here in a daze. She saw the person across from her take three copper coins from her sleeve and place them on the table, gesturing to her: “What would the young lady like to ask about?”

Gao Yue stared at the copper coins on the table, biting her fingernail rather conflicted, half believing and half doubting: “Are you accurate?”

Qiu Xinran thought about it and answered honestly: “Not very accurate when divining for myself, more accurate when divining for others.”

Gao Yue had never seen anyone do business like this, but after thinking about it still said: “Then you—divine whether that woman can return safely.”

“Which woman?” Qiu Xinran asked knowingly.

The woman in red glared at her, holding back her breath. The two sat in silence for half a moment before she finally lowered her voice and answered as if surrendering: “Lan Hui! Satisfied?”

Qiu Xinran smiled and explained: “Please forgive me, young lady. Divination requires sincerity. You must state what you’re asking about in detail for the hexagram to come out accurately.”

Gao Yue pursed her lips, not knowing whether she believed it or not. She just saw the person across from her toss the coins on the table a few times, also calculating something in her hand. In her boredom, she turned to look around the vicinity and suddenly her gaze fell on a black-clothed figure wearing a hood.

It was spring, yet he was dressed very tightly, followed by two attendants. Under the hood only half his face was visible, showing only that he had two small mustaches. Gao Yue stared at him for quite a while until the attendant behind him noticed the spying gaze from the corner and looked in this direction. Only then did she suddenly lower her head and bury her face in her cup.

Seeing her suddenly act abnormally, Qiu Xinran looked back curiously. Just as she moved her neck, Gao Yue suddenly pressed down on her hand: “Don’t turn around.” Gao Yue lowered her voice in warning. She used her peripheral vision to observe the three people coming upstairs. The little mustached man wearing the hood turned and entered a private room. Of the two attendants following him upstairs, one followed him into the room while the other vigilantly surveyed the surroundings and sat down at a tea table closest to that private room.

“Those three are Diyue people,” Gao Yue said to her quietly. “The one wearing the hood who went into the private room is Qi Kedan’s strategist, Yashu.”

“You’re not mistaken?”

“I’d recognize him even if he were burned to ashes.” The woman in red said through gritted teeth.