Chen Chuang let out a thunderous shout, and someone did indeed come—though they arrived scrambling on all fours. The man, who appeared to be an ordinary servant, cried out the moment he saw Chen Chuang, "Chief Manager, that horse... that horse..."
I didn't wait for him to finish before I bolted. I had already heard the angry, frantic neighing of Forever Yours. Something must have happened; someone must have provoked him, or else he would have stayed quietly in the stables waiting for me. Before I even ran out of the courtyard, the black horse’s cries turned shrill. I quickly let out a sharp whistle to signal that I was nearby.
Forever Yours let out another long whinny, sounding like a wronged child, and rapidly galloped toward me. Just as I dashed through the moon gate of the courtyard, I saw my precious horse charging my way. Behind him followed a mob of aggressive guards, brandishing ropes and even a few weapons. I glanced around and saw only the colorful pebbles lining the flowerbeds.
I grabbed a handful of the stones and flung them at the crowd. A series of sharp clatters followed, and then a chorus of pained groans erupted. I knew my temper often made me lose my sense of restraint in a fight, and their moans made me realize I might have hit them too hard. Still, seeing a large group of men bullying a defenseless animal filled me with fury. I didn't have time to deal with these sycophants; I reached out and threw my arms around my darling horse.
Forever Yours was still in a state of high agitation. He kept nuzzling my neck with his large head, swishing his tail irritably and stamping his hooves. I stroked his neck to comfort him, feeding him the osmanthus candies from my pocket to calm him down.
Chen Chuang, Luo Guang, and the others caught up. Seeing Chen Chuang, my anger flared. I pointed at the guards groaning on the ground and said, "Fengyun Castle’s way of treating guests is truly unique."
Chen Chuang looked at my black horse, then at the fallen guards, his expression turning awkward as if he didn't know what to say. Then, his gaze shifted past my shoulder to a point behind me. His posture stiffened, and a look of profound fear crossed his face. I turned around to follow his gaze. A group of guards was approaching, led by a man in a black robe with his hands behind his back. He stood out like a giraffe in a flock of sheep.
The "giraffe" was staring at me coldly with his singular, striking eyes.
The moment our gazes met, the first thought that flashed through my mind was: *He looks like he’s half-Chinese, half-American.* My second thought corrected it: *He must be a mix of Yantian and Meng blood.* Judging by the color of his eyes, his mother must have been a pure-blooded woman of the Meng Nation.
He was a young man in his early twenties with a tall, upright stature. His skin was a rare, creamy white, and his beautiful green eyes sparkled under the midday sun with a brilliant yet icy luster, like two precious emeralds. His jet-black hair was casually held in place by a green jade hairpin that matched the color of his eyes. Every color on him was so pure that, when combined, they gave off a strangely cold and elegant aura.
This cold, beautiful man walked through the crowd and slowly paced toward us. He looked Luo Guang and me up and down, then slanted his gaze toward Chen Chuang.
Chen Chuang stood by with his hands down, bowing respectfully. He said in a soft, cautious voice, "Lord, these two officials are from the Ministry of Justice in Zhongjing. They wish to take Xiao Ying to identify a body."
Though I had already guessed his identity, hearing the word "Lord" still gave me a small shock. So, this was the new master of the castle, Feng Tong. Well, he certainly had a pair of extraordinary eyes.
Luo Guang, perhaps fearing I might offend him in my anger, stepped ahead of me and offered a polite salute. "Lord Feng, we need this girl’s cooperation to close a case."
Feng Tong turned his shimmering eyes toward Xiao Ying and asked in a light, airy tone, "What trouble has this girl caused?"
His voice was as clear and pleasant as jade striking metal, but it was bone-chillingly cold. Xiao Ying fell to her knees with a thud, her shoulders trembling, unable to utter a single word.
I couldn't stand seeing someone look like a lamb led to the slaughter, so I quickly spoke up. "The case has nothing to do with Xiao Ying. We only wish for her assistance in identifying a body. We can send her back in three or four days at most. I hope Lord Feng will cooperate with the government’s investigation."
Feng Tong’s rippling gaze returned to my face. He looked thoughtfully at the large black horse behind me, which was currently nuzzling my neck and acting spoiled because it hadn't had enough candy. He asked softly, "Your horse?"
"Yes," I replied. "Does the Lord have some advice?"
The corners of Feng Tong’s mouth curled into a faint, phantom-like smile. "The people of the grasslands say that an 'Ink Dragon' only appears once every sixty years. I didn't expect one to be tamed by a woman. You are... quite something."
Literally, his words seemed to be a compliment. However, his tone carried none of that sentiment. I nodded politely. "The Lord overpraises me."
He continued to stare at my precious horse. It suddenly occurred to me—had those guards provoked my horse on his orders? Feng Tong seemed to read my mind; a provocative smile touched his lips as he said lazily, "A fierce temperament. Truly worthy of the name Ink Dragon."
His expression was incredibly punchable. I quietly clenched my fists, forcing down the rising fire in my heart. I tried to keep my voice as calm as possible. "Whether he is an Ink Dragon or not has nothing to do with Lord Feng. You needn't trouble yourself over it."
Feng Tong kept watching me. A sharp white light flashed deep within his pupils, like sunlight reflecting off hard ice. In an instant, a distant, detached look rose in his eyes, covering all his emotions like a thin layer of frost.
Even though Chen Chuang hadn't looked up at him, he couldn't help but take a step back, bowing his head even lower.
Luo Guang said, "If the Lord has no objections, we shall take the girl with us."
Without a word, Feng Tong turned and walked past us. Chen Chuang looked at his master expectantly, but seeing that he said nothing, the manager could only swallow hard and whisper to Xiao Ying, "Say what should be said, and what shouldn't be..."
I stared at Chen Chuang and let out a cold laugh. "Manager Chen, it’s best if *nothing* that shouldn't be said is spoken." Was this fellow arrogant or just stupid? Threatening a witness right in front of us—did he truly have no respect for the state's authority?
Chen Chuang froze. When he looked up and met my eyes, his shoulders trembled again. His reaction made me feel even more annoyed. I wasn't some man-eating demon; why was he shaking?
From a distance, Feng Tong spoke without turning his head, "Manager Chen, see the guests out."
Chen Chuang answered respectfully and made a gesture for us to follow. Seeing Xiao Ying still standing there shivering, I went over and took her small hand. The terrified child followed me out like a silent lamb.
A slight shiver suddenly raced down my spine. I whipped my head around, but there was nothing living behind me. Feng Tong’s figure had vanished behind the moon gate, and the guards had all retreated. The courtyard was empty, devoid even of a foraging bird. Yet, the feeling of being watched by a predator in the shadows only grew stronger.
Forever Yours leaned in uneasily, letting out a low snort. I put my arm around his neck and gave him a gentle pat.
On the way back, a question occurred to me: Did that elven Lord have his eye on my precious horse? The more I thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Then again, he was a man of the world; surely he wouldn't plot over a horse—perhaps I was just being paranoid.
Several candles were lit in the room, yet it still felt dim.
I spread a piece of paper on the round table and picked up a brush, drawing arrows between several names to illustrate my train of thought. Luo Jin, Chen Zhan, Luo Guang, Zeng Ping, and the clerk, Old Mo, all sat around the table, looking seriously at my strange chart.
"Based on the clues we currently have, the case didn't begin at the Li Garden, but at Fengyun Castle," I said, tapping the name 'Fengyun Castle' with my brush. "The old Lord died, and his chosen concubines were meant to die with him. We have no evidence regarding the inner workings of this, but we can preliminarily deduce they were intended as funerary sacrifices. We don't know why the Sixteenth Aunt was chosen. Perhaps because she had no family background, or because she was a guard’s daughter and knew some martial arts, or perhaps she was simply favored. Regardless, she was selected. Her condition was to see her mother and sister one last time. Xiao Ying confirmed that after the old Lord died, the Sixteenth Aunt’s mother and sister visited the castle."
I looked at the expressions of those around me and tapped the name 'Li Wu-shi.' "Li Wu-shi was likely kept in the dark. She followed her mother to see the Sixteenth Aunt. It’s hard to say if the Sixteenth Aunt had planned the switch from the start, or if the selfish, wicked idea only formed when she saw her identical sister. In any case, she left her sister, Li Wu-shi, behind and escaped the castle wearing her sister's clothes."
Only Zeng Ping and Old Mo showed expressions of sudden realization. The others, having already reached a similar conclusion, showed no surprise.
"To leave Fengyun Castle, that was likely the only way." Recalling the heavily guarded fortress, I sighed softly. "I can't fathom how their mother agreed to it. After all, they were both her daughters."
My lament was interrupted by Luo Guang. "Xiao Ying said that before the Sixteenth Aunt 'passed away,' she was in a semi-comatose state..."
I looked at Chen Zhan. He seemed to remember something as well and cried out, "Elephant Grass Powder!"
I nodded. "It was likely Elephant Grass Powder. The Sixteenth Aunt used it to incapacitate her sister. After leaving the castle, she desperately needed a place to hide, and the remote Li Garden was an ideal choice. But she didn't expect Li Qiao to come to the garden to fetch his wife. The initial argument was likely Li Qiao demanding to know his wife’s whereabouts. When he learned the Sixteenth Aunt had sent his wife to be buried alive in her place, he..." The image of the tear tracks at the corners of Li Qiao’s eyes surfaced in my mind. My heart felt heavy, and I couldn't go on.
Luo Jin signaled for me to sit and tapped on 'Fengyun Castle' and 'Li Garden.' "Though it is one sequence of events, it can be categorized as two cases. One is Li Qiao killing the Sixteenth Aunt; the other is the Fengyun Castle funerary sacrifice case. According to Xiao Ying’s testimony, after the old Lord died, two concubines died of 'sudden illness'—the Sixteenth Aunt and the Seventh Aunt. However, as to whether they were buried alive, we must exhume the bodies and perform an autopsy to reach a final conclusion."
Luo Guang curled his lip. "Even ordinary families wouldn't allow an exhumation. Much less..."
Luo Jin let out a long sigh. "We have to do it. At the very least, we must bring Li Wu-shi’s body back. We owe the Li family an explanation."
I didn't need to guess; he was definitely worrying about how to deal with the wealthy and powerful Fengyun Castle.
I said, "Just say we need to exchange the bodies. There are folk legends about those who die unjustly becoming vengeful spirits. We could even ask Master Wuxin from the Great Compassion Temple on Mount Chan to perform a ritual. We can negotiate to open the coffins at night..."
Luo Guang interrupted me rudely. "Use your brain, will you? Once the coffins are opened, the fact that Fengyun Castle uses living sacrifices will be exposed. If it were you, would you agree?"
I shot him a glare but said nothing.
Luo Jin waved his hand. "The case must be handled; otherwise, why does the imperial court keep us? But we must think this through carefully. It’s late; everyone go back and rest."
His thoughts were never hard to guess: he wanted to solve the case without offending anyone. This mindset of his was often a target for our frustration. But today, none of us refuted him.
The night was deep. The windproof lanterns hanging under the eaves of the Ministry of Justice cast blurred circles of light on the steps. In the shadows, a black carriage sat quietly. It looked familiar, almost like...
The curtain was lifted, revealing the face of that old fox, Xu Liufeng. He was still smiling, as if everything in the world was merely an amusing game. To be honest, seeing that expression at this hour really made me want to kick him...
"Long time no see, Officer Xi?" he chirped, waving at me. "Come up, come up. It’s quite cold out there."
I crossed my arms and tilted my head at him. There was no one else around, so I didn't bother with pleasantries. "It’s the middle of the night. Can't sleep, so you're out admiring the moon? You go right ahead and enjoy yourself, old man. I won't disturb you."
The old fox wasn't angry at all. Instead, he stroked his beard and smiled like a blooming chrysanthemum. "I specifically came to invite you to dinner."
"Dinner?" I thought I had misheard. "You wouldn't be that kind. Every time I see you, I run into bad luck. You tell me—"
Before the old fox could speak, someone inside the carriage let out a soft chuckle. Though the laugh was light, it felt like a bucket of cold water being poured over my head. My hand was still tugging on the old fox’s white beard, but my body went rigid instantly.
Seeing my reaction, the old fox looked amused again. He rescued his beard from my grip and said softly, "Get in."
Crown Prince Mingde was dressed in a white robe. Even in the dim light of the carriage, his face, whose features were hard to discern, radiated a hazy, moon-like purity. He seemed to be looking at me, yet also looking through me at something else.
I had been riding for days, and my body was so sore it felt like it was falling apart, but at this moment, my nerves were pulled taut, and my exhaustion vanished.
He didn't speak, so I kept my mouth shut and asked nothing.
The carriage was filled with a faint, green-tea-like fragrance. It suddenly reminded me of a commercial I’d seen where Stephen Chow held a bottle of green tea and spoke in slurred Mandarin. Thinking of Stephen Chow made me think of his creative entrance in *A Chinese Odyssey*...
"What are you thinking about?" Mingde asked softly.
I startled, the movie clips in my head scattering at his words. I quickly replied, "Nothing."
Mingde said nothing more. In the darkness, there seemed to be a very faint sigh.
The carriage suddenly stopped. The curtain was pulled back, and blurred lamplight rushed in. Before us stood an exquisite water pavilion. The distant water was covered in thick ice, reflecting a soft, beautiful glow under the lights. A plaque on the pavilion read "Pavilion of One Dream."
Mingde walked ahead without a word, and the old fox and I had no choice but to follow silently. I didn't know where we were, as the surrounding areas were submerged in darkness, showing only the silhouettes of palaces and towers. Then again, even in daylight, I probably wouldn't recognize this place.
Several young attendants in green robes lifted the heavy curtains, and a wave of warm air hit us, making me feel instantly comfortable. They carefully removed Mingde’s cloak. He glanced back at me and said flatly, "Come in."
I looked at the old fox, who smiled at me, signaling me to follow. His smile looked warm and harmless, but for some reason, I just couldn't bring myself to trust him.
I followed Mingde down a long corridor. The room was filled with that same faint green tea scent he carried, but the smell kept making me think of the commercial, and then *A Chinese Odyssey*...
I suddenly felt very out of place. I was still wearing my black uniform, my robe covered in dust, my ponytail a mess. I was almost afraid to step my dusty boots onto the soft, light-colored carpet...
Behind soft curtains was a spacious study, its walls decorated with bows and arrows. Mingde didn't stop, walking straight behind a red sandalwood screen. I hesitated, unsure if I should follow. Then I heard his light voice: "Why are you standing there?"
I braced myself and walked in. It was a small tea room. Mingde was already sitting cross-legged behind a low table, leaning lazily against a dark red cushion. Seeing me enter, he simply pointed to the spot opposite him.
I sat down obediently. From my lowered perspective, I could see his hands on the table, idly playing with the lid of a teacup. His hands were like Ming Shao’s—long, beautiful fingers with perfectly proportioned joints...
As my mind wandered, the aroma of food reached my nose, making my stomach growl instantly. I suddenly remembered I hadn't eaten dinner. I looked up and met Mingde’s slightly smiling eyes. Such a gentle smile appearing so unexpectedly made him look exactly like Ming Shao. A moment of daze passed through me before I remembered they were close relatives; they were bound to look alike.
I quickly lowered my head. He was completely different from the day he saw Ming Rui off. A Crown Prince without his murderous aura was actually harder to deal with.
Soon, a table full of dishes appeared before me. But looking them over, they were all light, vegetarian dishes—not a speck of meat...
Mingde seemed to read my confusion and said calmly, "Today is my day of fasting. A very special day. Thus, there is no meat or wine. Just have a little."
Fasting? Weren't fasts in the Yantian Kingdom usually very solemn affairs? I looked at his white robe, which smelled faintly of tea, and couldn't hold back my doubt. I said, "Fasting? But I've been riding all day and I'm covered in dust from head to toe. I don't think I'm suited for—"
He gave me a flat look. His phoenix eyes weren't meant for sidelong glances; it looked a bit like he was flirting. He seemed to find me too talkative and said with a hint of impatience, "Aren't you hungry?"
I was hungry, but being stared at by a powerful high-ranking leader made it hard to swallow. Especially when I thought about what kind of mission he might give me after this meal, my appetite vanished further.
He sighed softly, picked up his chopsticks, and placed a piece of green vegetable in my bowl. The hair on the back of my neck stood up instantly—I finally knew what it felt like to be overwhelmed by unexpected favor.
"I'll do it myself," I said, quickly picking up my bowl and chopsticks and stuffing myself in a few bites. My poor nerves couldn't take any more shocks.
Once my stomach was full, my spirits improved. I reached for a hot towel on a nearby tray to wipe my face. Huh? Even this smelled like green tea?
My mind was about to wander again, so I quickly sat up straight on the floor mat. I looked directly at the uncharacteristically gentle face before me and said with solemn resolve, "Whatever mission the Prince has for his subordinate, please speak plainly."
***
**Glossary**
