He Anchang felt a chill on his face. He reached up to touch it and opened his eyes, only to find Xie Jingsheng’s face looming right before him. Snapping into full wakefulness, he frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"
Xie Jingsheng propped his chin on his hand and smiled. "I’m in a good mood."
He Anchang touched his finger to his face and saw that the ink was still wet. He looked up at Xie Jingsheng, who put on an expression of feigned innocence. He Anchang’s expression remained cool as he said, "Fine ink and brushwork. It is a pity to leave it here."
Seeing his usual icy demeanor, Xie Jingsheng sighed. "I think it’s a pity too."
He Anchang felt there was a double meaning in his words but did not care to dwell on it. He pulled a cotton handkerchief from his robe and wiped his face casually. "This set of scrolls contains the difficult cases Secretary He was handling. If you are so idle, you might as well look through them."
Xie Jingsheng noticed the faint dark circles under He Anchang's eyes, likely from a lack of rest over the past two days. Normally, Xie Jingsheng would have offered a biting remark, but today he had no such inclination. In fact, he felt a sudden urge to settle this case quickly. With that thought, he reached out and pulled a few scrolls toward him to examine. After looking through four or five, Xie Jingsheng suddenly pointed to a name and asked, "Do you think this person is worth investigating?"
Seeing the name, He Anchang knew Xie Jingsheng had come prepared. He simply said, "That night he was so eager to stand out; I already had my suspicions."
"I only feel that this person has the greatest motive and the best opportunity," Xie Jingsheng said, his finger tracing repeatedly under the name *Xin Wen*. "A member of the imperial clan, well-liked by His Majesty, able to enter and exit the palace at will, and inextricably linked to the Court of the Imperial Clan. These are all his advantages. Moreover, with the Prince of Qin in charge of the Court of the Imperial Clan, the loss of a single Secretary is nothing. As long as the Emperor doesn't insist on a perfectly clean investigation, then no matter who comes next, no one will be able to touch this 'Little Overlord of the Capital.'"
"Mhm." He Anchang lowered his gaze. "But where is the evidence? Your words are mere speculation."
Xie Jingsheng leaned over the desk, his hands bracing the arms of He Anchang’s chair, effectively trapping him. However, He Anchang remained unmoved, not even shifting his posture to avoid him. Xie Jingsheng studied that beautiful, cold face closely, his mind wandering back to the man’s drunken allure that other day. Outwardly, however, he spoke seriously: "There is plenty of evidence. I only fear he won't be able to withstand it."
"Then bring it out first and let us see its weight." He Anchang’s eyes were lighter in color than most people's; looking into them for too long gave one a sense of exquisite, refined beauty.
Xie Jingsheng’s throat bobbed. The evidence that was at the tip of his tongue suddenly took a turn. "If you want to see it, you have to trade."
He Anchang paused, letting out a soft, questioning "Hm?" Xie Jingsheng felt as though his chest had been brushed by that cold voice, igniting a scorching heat that surged through his entire body. Sensing something, He Anchang said coldly, "Secretary Xie, are we investigating this case or not?"
Investigate!
Of course they had to investigate!
Xie Jingsheng took a deep breath and pulled away from their proximity, retreating to the other side of the desk before he could settle himself. A smile tugged at his lips, though to He Anchang, it looked somewhat predatory. Xie Jingsheng said, "I’ll show you the evidence." He spread out several painted scrolls he had brought with him. "These are all from Secretary He’s private collection. His soul hasn't even passed the seventh day yet, so you’d better keep your composure."
They were actually *Spring Palace* paintings—erotica. Yet, setting aside the carnal nature of the subject, the brushwork was incredibly delicate and the style elegant. The woman in the paintings was especially striking; her hair was styled in a languid cloud-like coiffure, her features were as enchanting as flowers, and her eyes were depicted with such meticulous detail that she seemed to breathe. Furthermore, the woman in every painting was the same person, making the collection even more hauntingly beautiful.
He Anchang finished looking through them calmly and said, "They are all from the same hand."
"By someone quite unexpected."
He Anchang’s eyes gradually narrowed as he spoke the name of the deceased Secretary: "He Xu."
"A fifth-rank Secretary of the Court of the Imperial Clan. Usually, he was rigorous in his official robes and never joked, his brush only recording imperial decrees and official mandates. Yet at night, he had a passion for bedchamber art—wild and unrestrained." Xie Jingsheng smirked. "It gave me quite a shock. If he weren't already dead, I’d have to make a friend of him just for the sake of his technical skill. Wouldn't you agree, 'nodding acquaintance' Master He?"
"Though I knew him, I was unaware of this hobby." He Anchang looked up at him. "You want to find the woman in the paintings?"
"Exactly." Xie Jingsheng rolled up the scrolls. "The paintings He Xu kept hidden in his room all feature this woman. She must be someone who caught his heart but could never be shown to the world, so he had to hide her. Of course, it’s also possible he just enjoyed the thrill of keeping a 'golden bird' in a hidden cage. Regardless, this woman must know something."
"You are that certain?"
Xie Jingsheng flashed him a smile, tinged with a bit of roguish charm. "If she had a fraction of the allure of someone like *Ruxu*, I would certainly tell her all my secrets. As they say, even heroes cannot pass the gate of a beautiful woman. If a brilliant talent like myself can't resist, how could a frail scholar like him?"
He Anchang ignored the first half of his sentence entirely. "Since you managed to get the paintings from his room, shouldn't finding the person be even easier?"
Xie Jingsheng sat on the edge of the desk and tossed a scroll up and down with a hint of helplessness. "That’s the logic of it, but as it happens, this is a place where I really can't go alone."
He Anchang poured himself a cup of cold tea. "The capital is only so large. Is there truly a place that would make the great Master Xie feel 'shy'?"
"Then you don't understand." Xie Jingsheng caught the scroll and casually tucked it into a porcelain vase on the desk. "The wider the gates are open, the more it looks like common weeds by the roadside. I have always only pursued true beauties, and this place... I truly have never set foot in it. Let’s go together; perhaps I can help Master He get a taste of the 'flesh' for once?"
He Anchang drank the tea. His stomach was empty and the cold liquid made him feel slightly unwell. But since the conversation had reached this point, he simply nodded.
Even though He Anchang had considered the various pleasure districts of the capital, he never expected this place to be the Mirror Flower Nunnery, halfway up Mount Luyi. This nunnery had been built by the late Empress Fuyu to promote Buddhism. Although it had declined and faded from public view in recent years, it was still a place that received imperial provisions. He truly had not expected this.
Both Xie Jingsheng and He Anchang had changed into civilian robes of fine silk, though Xie Jingsheng carried a dark sandalwood fan, looking quite the dandy. Seeing He Anchang’s rare look of hesitation, Xie leaned in and whispered in his ear, "It really is inconvenient to enter, isn't it? Exciting, no?"
"This is a sacred Buddhist site." He Anchang used his hand to push Xie’s leaning head away, saying slowly, "Do not be so frivolous."
Xie Jingsheng laughed. "Fine." He stepped forward and knocked on the door. When it opened, an old nun with a benevolent face stepped out.
"Benefactors," the old nun greeted them with a slight bow. "Have you come to make a vow?"
"Not quite. This humble one followed the scent to find the 'Peach Blossom Path.' I wonder if the gates of the immortals and Buddhas are open?"
The old nun’s expression remained kind, and she even revealed a hint of a smile. "A gentleman of such divine grace and elegance would surely find favor even before the Buddha himself." She stepped aside slightly to lead the way. "Please, gentlemen."
Xie Jingsheng snapped his fan shut with a smile and entered the nunnery with He Anchang. Inside, the maple groves were serene, the flower paths elegant, and the faint scent of incense drifted under their noses. The scenery along the way was exceptionally refined and quiet, showing no sign of anything untoward. But once they passed through a moon gate, the scenery changed significantly. In the center stood a lush, tall *Fodingzhu* tree. Though it hadn't bloomed yet, one could already imagine the romantic atmosphere of the courtyard when the hidden fragrance of the flowers filled the air. A swing hung beneath the tree, and two young nuns in their early teens were playing on it. Seeing the old nun bringing guests, they weren't afraid; instead, they looked Xie Jingsheng and He Anchang up and down.
"Master Shu Jing is in luck today, welcoming two such divine young masters." The young nun swinging had delicate features, though the slight air of flirtatiousness at such a young age was a flaw. Seeing He Anchang’s cold expression, she knew he wasn't an easy person to deal with, so she only smiled brightly at Xie Jingsheng. "You look quite unfamiliar, sir."
Xie Jingsheng tapped his chin with his fan and smiled. "The gates of Buddha are hard to enter; I’ve arrived a bit late."
The young nun giggled. The old nun simply said, "You always have the most to say." She then turned to Xie Jingsheng. "Since the gentleman has come with a recommendation from a distinguished guest, do you have someone in mind?"
"The Abbess is making things difficult for me. They are all as beautiful as flowers; it is hard to choose." Xie Jingsheng put on a look of hesitation. "I wonder if I might see Miss Miao Shan or Miss Miao Yin?"
The old nun froze upon hearing the name Miao Yin. After a moment, she said, "The gentleman may not know, but those two are the top beauties of this nunnery. They are high-spirited. If the gentleman wishes to invite them... this poor nun must go and ask."
Xie Jingsheng said it was no trouble while slipping several gold ingots into her hand. Shu Jing accepted them, and her pace quickened as she went upstairs to inquire. The young nun on the swing continued to steal glances at Xie Jingsheng, while on the other side, He Anchang was also watching him. Xie used his fan to cover his nose and mouth, whispering to He Anchang, "This is all thanks to my brothers' 'hard work' in the past; it's not my own doing."
He Anchang replied, "Mhm. You seem very familiar with the routine."
"Necessity of the situation," Xie Jingsheng tilted his head toward him. "Why don't you try it too?"
He Anchang ignored him.
Before long, the old nun hurried back downstairs, her attitude even more welcoming. "Gentlemen, please follow this poor nun. Miao Shan and Miao Yin will be with you after they have finished their toilette."
The two were led to a side courtyard and went upstairs into a room. Inside, there were brocade carpets, fragrant hanging veils, a zither and book desk, and a large canopy bed—nothing was missing.
He Anchang felt uncomfortable from the heavy incense, and his stomach felt even worse. He sat at the desk, staying far away from the incense burner. Xie Jingsheng didn't wander off either, sitting down beside him. The old nun told them to enjoy themselves and withdrew. Soon, there was a knock at the door. When it opened, a girl in light robes appeared with a smile. Her skin was as fair as curdled jade, her eyes were curved like crescents, and most wonderful of all was her voice—it seemed to melt one's bones the moment she spoke. "Miao Shan is late. I hope I haven't wasted the gentleman's hour."
"Not at all. Waiting for a beauty is like dipping honey in vinegar—the flavor is just right." Xie Jingsheng smiled. "And here is Miss Miao Shan, sweet as can be."
Miao Shan covered her smile and walked to He Anchang’s side. "The gentleman’s words are what's truly sweet." She looked at He Anchang and giggled. "I wouldn't dare be too forward sitting beside him; this gentleman looks like a truly proper, good man."
Xie Jingsheng laughed loudly and draped an arm over He Anchang’s shoulder. "Good eye. He is the most 'proper' person in all of the capital." The word "proper" sounded anything but proper coming from his mouth.
He Anchang was pulled closer by the gesture, but this time he didn't brush the man off. There was another knock at the door. Both of them turned their gaze toward it. As the door opened, a woman’s charming face was revealed. Her hair was like silk, half-bound in a languid style, and her eyes held the shimmering waves of autumn waters. With just a slight touch to the corner of her eye, she exuded an effortless, captivating allure.
The person they were looking for had arrived.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 鹿懿山 | Mount Luyi | The mountain where the nunnery is located. |
| 镜花庵 | Mirror Flower Nunnery | A nunnery that serves as a front for a high-end brothel. |
| 经历 | Secretary | A specific official rank (Jingli), here referring to He Xu's position. |
| 宗人府 | Court of the Imperial Clan | The institution that manages the affairs of the imperial family. |
| 桃花径 | Peach Blossom Path | A euphemism for a path leading to a brothel or a place of pleasure. |
| 佛顶珠 | Fodingzhu | Literally "Buddha's Crown Pearl," a type of Osmanthus or ornamental plant. |
| 殊静 | Shu Jing | The name of the old nun/abbess at the nunnery. |
| 妙善 | Miao Shan | One of the women at the nunnery. |
| 妙隐 | Miao Yin | The woman depicted in He Xu's secret paintings. |
| 春宫画 | Spring Palace paintings | Erotic art/paintings. |
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