The courtyard of Linshui Pavilion was adorned with numerous lanterns, their light hazy and flickering. From time to time, the graceful, slender silhouettes of beautiful women moved between them, accompanied by the sounds of singing and playing from the main hall. The atmosphere was truly enchanting and intoxicating.
I tightened my grip on Mingshao’s arm and pointed out a rabbit-shaped lantern on the lawn. "How cute."
Mingshao glanced at me. "Do we really have to come here to look at lanterns?"
Taking advantage of the fact that the madam leading us wasn't looking, I quickly pecked Mingshao on the cheek and whispered, "Don't worry. I’m just here for the excitement. I definitely won't misbehave." As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt they sounded odd—wasn't that usually a man's line?
Mingshao clearly didn't think it was funny; he kept his face stiff and refused to acknowledge me.
I had no choice but to coax him. "I promise, we’ll just take a look and leave."
Mingshao turned his face the other way. I had to circle around to his other side. "Besides, that Yingluo is a famous *qingguan*. Do you even know what a *qingguan* is?" Before I could finish, Mingshao cut me off.
"And you do?"
I nodded immediately. "Of course. They’re the type who can collect silver just for playing the zither and talking."
Mingshao was exasperated into a smile. He reached out and pinched my nose. "Where do you get all these strange ideas?"
Seeing him no longer angry, I felt relieved. The madam turned back with a smile. "Master Minzhi and Miss Yingluo are playing the zither in the water pavilion. This way, please."
I curled my lip. To think they’d go to a water pavilion to romance each other in this freezing weather—they certainly were dedicated to the aesthetic.
The water pavilion sat atop a pond in the back garden. As we stepped onto the Nine-Bend Bridge, we heard the tinkling notes of a zither. The piece being played was "Water Town in a Dream." No need to guess—it was definitely Minzhi. I hadn't expected him to come here to show off the modern music I’d taught him, and even pay for the privilege of performing for someone else. Love really does make people lose their minds; he was getting a terrible deal.
When the song ended, I pushed open the door and said, "Brother Ji, your memory is getting worse. You played a perfectly good song with three mistakes..."
Before I could finish, I froze. What a beautiful woman.
In the soft candlelight, Yingluo wore a long, pale yellow dress. Her black hair fell like a waterfall, and her skin was like congealed cream. Her intelligent, elegant eyes sparkled as she looked around. Seeing me, an abrupt guest, she was only slightly startled before putting down her music score and rising gracefully to salute. Every movement was the epitome of refined charm.
A large, dark face blocked my view of the beauty. Minzhi frowned, looking at Mingshao and then at me, unsure which one of us to scold. From behind him came a familiar male voice, laughing. "Brother Shao, you really are a character. To think you’d bring Xixia to a place like this. I truly admire you."
I was stunned again. I was about to salute when he stopped me. "No need for formalities here. What brings you two?"
Mingshao, face grim, glanced at me but said nothing.
The speaker was the Seventh Prince, Mingyi. He wore a light-colored robe and was lounging lazily on a daybed, waving his hand casually. "Since you're here, sit. We were just listening to Minzhi's new tune. Oh, I forgot to introduce you. These two are our friends, Mingshao and Xixia."
Yingluo hurried to salute. She fixed her eyes on my face for a moment, then smiled brightly. "I have never seen a woman who could look so good in men's clothing as Officer Xi."
I was slightly taken aback. "How did you know? Where is the flaw?"
Yingluo covered her mouth with a smile. "There is no flaw, but every time I encountered Officer Xi while you were patrolling the streets, I would take a few extra looks. So, I remember you clearly."
She was a clever and straightforward woman; no wonder Minzhi was infatuated. Mingshao and I sat down. Yingluo personally served us fragrant tea, saying with a smile, "Master Mingshao and Officer Xi are unexpected guests today. Allow Yingluo to perform a piece to show my hospitality."
She played "Song of Longing," a popular piece in the music houses of the capital. To my ears, though her technique was exquisite, the piece was a bit rigid. It lacked the fluidity of Minzhi's "Water Town in a Dream."
Minzhi had been a bit angry with me, but once Yingluo started playing, his gaze never left her. He forgot his anger and even forgot I was sitting there. Mingyi, on the other hand, had a light smile on his lips and a carefree air, looking quite relaxed.
Mingshao appeared to be listening intently, but his eyes were drifting toward the brazier in the corner, as if he were deep in thought. When he saw me looking, he gave a helpless smile. A thought suddenly flashed through my mind: if I weren't here, would Mingshao act like Minzhi? Or like Mingyi?
I quickly pushed the idle thought away, feeling a bit guilty for speculating about him like that. How could I be so petty?
Mingshao didn't know about my messy thoughts. Thinking I was starting to regret coming here, he gently squeezed my hand and gave me a comforting smile. I squeezed his large hand back firmly. I really was starting to regret it—why had I been so stubborn about following Minzhi?
Yingluo finished her performance, and Minzhi cheered loudly. Yingluo only smiled faintly. "Master Minzhi's tunes are more novel," she said, turning to me. "Officer Xi seems familiar with 'Water Town in a Dream' as well. I wonder where Master Minzhi went wrong? Would Officer Xi be willing to play it once?"
I thought for a moment. "Very well. Mingshao and I came uninvited; consider a song my apology. However, my technique is not as practiced as Master Minzhi's. Please be prepared."
I was telling the truth, but they all laughed. I had learned the zither from a tutor when I was young, but as I grew older, I spent all my time with my guzheng and rarely touched the zither. In terms of skill, I truly wasn't as proficient as Minzhi.
After playing "Water Town in a Dream," I saw Minzhi's infatuated gaze fixed on Yingluo. I sighed inwardly and lightly plucked the strings. "I just remembered a song. I'll give it to Miss Yingluo."
Yingluo nodded slightly. "I am honored, Officer Xi."
The song that had suddenly come to mind was "The Gate of Love" by Sarah Chen.
*"Heroes and beauties / The gate of love is hard to leave / What era, what kind of person / Can complete this dream?*
*I have a heart / I have feelings / But the heavens are gone / Love and hate are amidst tears / Union and parting turn to smoke in an instant.*
*Autumn winds and fallen leaves, sorrow fills the tower / Who toys with the deep feelings of children? / This lonely journey has no one to see me off / It seems I can only wave my sleeves.*
*Floating, floating wind / Whose pain does it blow? / I owe the mountains, I owe the waters, but I owe you the most / I only hope the next life has a beginning and an end."*
I wasn't sure why I chose this song. Perhaps subconsciously, I felt that if Yingluo truly fell in love, Minzhi might ultimately fail her. I didn't think Minzhi was a flighty man, but it was hard to imagine his mother allowing him to marry a woman from a brothel—even a *qingguan*. And though Minzhi had been mischievous since childhood, he was extremely filial.
When the song ended, I felt the lyrics were perhaps too melancholy. I looked up at Yingluo; there was a faint glint in her eyes. It seemed she had understood the subtle worry in my heart. Such an intelligent woman was truly easy to like.
Beside us, the Seventh Prince gave a long sigh but said nothing.
I glanced at Minzhi’s dazed expression. It seemed that as long as Yingluo was present, there was no hope of bringing his soul back to earth. I pulled Mingshao to stand, but before I could say goodbye, the door behind us was slammed open by another uninvited guest. A gust of cold wind swirled in, followed by a voice slightly slurred with wine: "What a unique song."
Leaning against the doorframe was a man in a black robe, his hair held by an emerald hairpin. He had pale skin and a pair of cold green eyes that held a hint of intoxication, like two pools of water shrouded in spring mist.
I couldn't help but wonder—what kind of day was this? Why were all my acquaintances showing up here?
Feng Tong’s enchanting gaze swept over everyone in the pavilion. He smiled faintly and said, "I didn't expect the Seventh Prince to be here as well. What fine spirits."
Mingyi remained lazy, waving a hand. "Fortress Master Feng, what brings you here? Come in and sit."
Feng Tong’s gaze passed over Minzhi and landed on my face. He stared at me as if he didn't recognize me. Since he hadn't realized it was me, I was more than happy to keep it that way. I cupped my fists toward the others. "Please continue, everyone. We won't disturb you further."
Yingluo stepped forward, her words sincere. "I have guests and cannot see you out. Safe travels, Officer Xi."
I smiled at her and pulled Mingshao to leave. As I turned, I realized Feng Tong’s gaze was fixed on our joined hands. Without warning, a flash of icy anger surged in his eyes.
I remembered that he talked a lot when drunk but was cold and silent when sober. This was the first time I’d seen such an explosive expression of rage. He blocked the doorway, refusing to move. Even Mingshao frowned. "Sir, if you would be so kind as to step aside."
Feng Tong’s gaze moved up from our hands inch by inch until it reached Mingshao’s face. He stared at him without blinking. Mingshao was handsome, but being stared at by another man with such fiery intensity made me feel uncomfortable. I never would have guessed Feng Tong had such... inclinations.
Mingyi seemed to sense something was wrong. He stood up and walked over, smiling. "Come, Fortress Master Feng, come in and sit."
As if he hadn't heard, Feng Tong’s gaze moved slowly back to my face. In a tone devoid of emotion, he asked, "Why are you here? Who is he?"
So he *had* recognized me? I gave him a small smile. My principle: never provoke a drunk person.
"Ah, Fortress Master Feng, long time no see," I greeted him pleasantly. "You're here too? It's warm inside, please go in. We’ll be taking our leave."
Feng Tong ignored my words and stared straight at me, asking again, "Why are you here? Who exactly is he?"
Mingyi, seeing his state was unstable, grabbed him to pull him into the room. "Come in, why block the door? I have excellent tea here..."
Suddenly, Feng Tong reached out to grab our hands. Mingshao pulled me behind him, dodging the move. Feng Tong missed and was about to lung forward when Mingyi caught him around the waist from behind. Before he could struggle, he was dragged into the room by Mingyi. I took the chance to pull Mingshao and flee Linshui Pavilion.
Once we reached the main street, I patted my chest hard. Mingshao looked back at the hazy lights of the pavilion and frowned. "Who is this Fortress Master Feng?"
"He’s the wealthiest man in our Yantian Kingdom," I said. "Have you heard of Fengyun Fortress?" I gave him a brief summary of the previous case. Mingshao looked thoughtful but said nothing more. He just tightened his grip on my hand. "You've investigated your case and had your fun. Come, I’ll take you home."
I leaned against his arm and apologized sincerely. "I won't do this again. I’ve realized there’s nothing actually fun in there."
Mingshao laughed and pulled me into his embrace.
After walking a while, I asked him, "Would you prefer it if I dressed up beautifully every day like Yingluo?"
Mingshao stopped, gave me a tender kiss on the forehead, and then said something quite irritating: "As long as you're happy. When I first met you, you were even more disheveled than you are now."
Seeing me glare at him, he suppressed a laugh and said seriously, "Speaking of playing music, I almost forgot. Our manor is preparing to celebrate my uncle's birthday in a few days. Uncle said he wants to hear you play the guzheng."
"How does he know about the guzheng?" I asked curiously.
Mingshao smiled. "That guzheng was found by my uncle and me in the Guishen Ravine outside Qizhou City. Uncle said the instrument looked very strange and didn't seem to be from Yantian. After taking it back, no one in the army recognized it, so Uncle gave it to me. He even joked that if someone could play it, they would truly be a soulmate. I didn't expect destiny to be exactly so."
I suddenly remembered when I met the Princess of Jing in Qingrong’s palace, and she had said, "Destiny has its own plans." Surely she knew of Marshal Chu’s jest. But how did a guzheng end up in Guishen Ravine?
Mingshao explained, "The locals don't dare enter Guishen Ravine because strange things often happen there. For example, thunder and lightning might suddenly strike on a perfectly clear day. Local legends say many people who went in never came out. Uncle feared spies might use the ravine as a hideout, so he led his personal guards in to search. It was a cloudy day when we went in, and we didn't encounter anything strange, but we did find some odd objects."
My heart skipped a beat. "What kind of odd objects?"
Mingshao thought for a moment and gestured with his hands. "A cup, made of a material I couldn't identify. It had a strange handle, and there were drawings of strange animals on it. They looked like dogs—white bodies, black ears—but they were standing up."
My heart thudded again. Was he describing Snoopy?
Mingshao continued, "There was also a very beautiful small wooden box with a little handle on the back. When you turned the handle, the box would produce very lovely music."
I listened to his description in a daze. I wondered if Guishen Ravine was some kind of portal connecting different times and spaces. Or perhaps, under some coincidental circumstances, it linked to another world?
My heart began to race, but then I realized that even if it were a time portal, no one knew where the other end led. Perhaps those who entered were simply lost in the vastness of time and space. Besides, my father had passed away before my accident. Even if I could return to my original world, what would it mean for me now?
I wrapped my arms around Mingshao’s waist and buried my head deep in his chest. My heart, stirred by the unexpected news, finally began to calm.
*Where the heart finds peace, there is home.* My parents and family were here. Mingshao was here. Where else could I go?
I looked up and gazed into Mingshao’s shimmering eyes. "Mingshao, I love you very, very much."
Mingshao’s arms around my waist suddenly tightened. He leaned down and tenderly kissed my lips.
***
Luo Jin tapped his fingers on the reports and looked up at me. "Why investigate Wang Rong?"
I said, "When I asked about the innkeeper's wife, he said, 'Yan Qing is full of the stench of copper; how could Miao Xiu elope with him?' He actually knew her maiden name. Isn't that a bit strange? He and Yan Qing are both long-term guests at the Junyue Inn. He’s an educated man; if the wife really had an affair, perhaps he would be more to her liking. The people sent to Zhaojun to catch Yan Qing won't be back for two or three days. I want to use this time to check on Wang Rong and the others at the inn."
Luo Jin nodded. "You check on Wang Rong. Leave the others to Chen Zhan."
When I cornered President Dong in the back garden of the Merchant Association, he was huddling in a grand armchair, irritably scolding a miserable-looking young man. "You're young! If you don't know how to do something, ask! Look at these messy accounts you've kept. How am I supposed to explain this to others?"
The young man hung his head in silence. President Dong waved him away. "Go and think about it. If you really can't do it, I'll have to find someone else."
The young man walked past me, looking dejected. I cupped my fists at the garden entrance. "Elder Dong, I have something to trouble you with for a moment."
President Dong was startled, then quickly stood up. "Please come in, Officer."
He was a man in his sixties, short and stout, with a kind and benevolent face. I had deep respect for this elder who used his own money to run a charity school for poor children, so my words were particularly polite. "Elder Dong, there is a case involving the Junyue Inn, so we are checking all the guests who stayed there. Wang Rong is a teacher at your school, so I’ve come specifically to learn more about him."
President Dong called for servants to bring tea while pacing the room. "Wang Rong was a bookkeeper under me. I saw he was educated and had a good character, so I kept him on."
He began counting Wang Rong's virtues on his fingers like a doting father. "He is dedicated to teaching the children, he is honest and upright, has no bad habits, and never visits those low-class places."
He pointed toward the inner room of the hall. "I even have a piece of his calligraphy here. Officer, come and take a look. His handwriting is also excellent."
I followed him to look. It was a long scroll hanging on the wall just inside the inner room. It was an ancient-style poem. I stepped closer to examine it. They say handwriting reveals the person; one could see something of the owner's character in these strokes. Wang Rong's writing was beautiful, but it was overly delicate, lacking in strength and spirit. Then I saw a small seal that looked familiar. I leaned in closer. It bore two characters: "Yu Yao."
I exchanged a few more pleasantries with President Dong and then left.
After all, it was just a portrait; perhaps it didn't prove anything. But when I thought of the woman with the intelligent eyes in that painting, I felt conflicted.
As a child bride, she had no right to choose her own husband. Wang Chunfu was just an ordinary businessman with no deep education; his schooling was likely just enough to keep accounts. And he often beat her after drinking. It was certain there was no affection between the couple. But eloping was a very serious matter. Setting aside the consequences of the husband reporting it to the authorities, life after eloping wasn't necessarily happy. If she truly went with Yan Qing, she would be nothing more than a concubine. Not only would she have to endure the cold eyes of the Yan family and the "discipline" of the primary wife, but she would also have to be prepared for an even harder life ahead—because with her status, she would almost certainly lose favor as her beauty faded with age.
If she had thought of all this, would she still be so blind—or rather, so brave?
But then I thought: once a woman is blinded by love, how many of them *aren't* blind?
I was starting to worry. If we actually caught Yan Qing and found Miao Xiu in his merchant caravan, what on earth should I do with her?
***
