Hong Lu had intended to lead me to the Court of Judicial Review near the Ministry of Justice. After tethering the horse, he asked the gatekeeper to send word inside. Before long, Wei Qingming indeed walked out. Having not seen her for several days, I took a good look at her. She appeared different than usual, wearing a simple, plain black robe devoid of any adornment. Her sleeves were tied up with silk cords, revealing her snowy-white forearms, giving her a quite capable and efficient air. She hadn't even had time to change, likely coming out to see me the moment she heard the news. A surge of sweetness rose in my heart, and I couldn't help but smile.
Hong Lu perceptively stepped forward to untie the cords for her. Wei Qingming spread her arms, tilting her head to watch him smooth out the wrinkles on her back as she smiled. "I must look a mess to Miss Su."
"Not at all!" I smiled and moved to grab her hand. "What have you been so busy with?"
Wei Qingming quickly took a step back. "I am soiled. Do not come too close."
I realized then that she was likely handling a murder case in that outfit, perhaps even performing an autopsy herself. I felt a slight chill of fear. Seeing this, Wei Qingming said, "Wait a moment," intending to go back inside to change. I quickly caught her hand. "No need, no need. Didn't we say we were going to eat? Let's go straight to Ziwa Street. Wouldn't that be easier?"
Wei Qingming mounted another Snow-Winged Cloud Kirin. Hong Lu led my horse as the two of us rode side-by-side at a slow pace. The late spring evening was most pleasant. I shaded my eyes with my hand, watching the setting sun hanging near the walls of the Imperial City. The clouds were vibrant, and a line of returning birds fluttered out from the palace, perhaps startled from the branches of some imperial concubine's courtyard.
"I heard your eldest aunt made you all eat vegetarian?" Wei Qingming asked with a casual smile.
"Exactly! Where did you get your information?" I rubbed my stomach, saying aggrievedly, "It's been five or six days since I've had a bite of meat!"
"We are going to Fengle Pavilion tonight," Wei Qingming said plainly.
I cheered. I wasn't some country bumpkin anymore; I knew Fengle Pavilion was the foremost of the seventy-two Grand Restaurants in Pingjing. Compared to the recently popular Chunan Pavilion, Fengle Pavilion was the favorite of the old-school nobility. Chunan Pavilion excelled in novelty and clever performances, while Fengle Pavilion adhered to tradition and offered the finest cuisine. Each had its merits. I said with a grin, "I'm making Cousin spend money again!"
Wei Qingming smiled. After riding for a while, I saw Mrs. Tang walking unsteadily on the road. Her hair was disheveled in the sunset, trembling in the wind. She must have listened to Hong Lu and stopped waiting for the day. As we drifted past her, Wei Qingming noticed me looking back and said, "After her son died, her husband showed signs of madness. Thus, she waits at the Ministry of Justice every day, hoping for a result from the investigation."
Her tone was calm and cold, as always. It made me frown. Perhaps she had been too gentle with me lately, making me momentarily forget how ruthless she was when we first met.
I hesitated, but my heart still ached for the woman. "Could we... give her some silver?"
Wei Qingming agreed readily. "Fine, I'll see to it."
I felt better then and said with a beaming smile, "You're so kind!"
To my surprise, she added leisurely, "It shall come out of Miss Su's share of the Prince's treasure."
I choked for a moment, only managing to stammer out, "Well, then... don't give too much, but don't give too little either..." Hong Lu couldn't help but snort a laugh. I glared at him, and he lowered his head to feign seriousness, though his shoulders were shaking.
The image of Mrs. Tang's desolate, soulless appearance lingered in my mind. As we turned into Ziwa Street, the clamor of the bustling market filled my ears, but my heart remained uneasy. What truly unsettled me was Wei Qingming's long-absent coldness and her methods of manipulating the court. Wasn't she investigating this case? Could there really be no clues? With her intellect, how was that possible?
Upon arriving at Fengle Pavilion, Wei Qingming went to change. When she emerged, she wore a jade-white robe with wide sleeves and a red belt. Her inner garment revealed two slivers of a pale red collar, making her look elegant and noble. Seeing her eyes narrowed slightly in a warm, gentle smile, she was once again the familiar person I knew. Only then did I feel more at ease.
While she was changing, I waited near the courtyard at the entrance and took a good look at the famous Fengle Pavilion. As the leader of the Grand Restaurants, it had a history of four or five hundred years. Whether it was the food or the decor, every innovation was imitated by other establishments. The trend of building magnificent "Huanlou" facing the street was started by Fengle Pavilion. Every half-month, the floral decorations were changed according to the solar terms, and there were even rare birds and beasts dwelling within. Today, there were dozens of pots of peonies in full bloom. Though they were vibrant flowers, the arrangement with other plants at varying heights made it look opulent and grand without being gaudy.
Passing under the Huanlou, the entrance led to a small courtyard with lush greenery and twenty or thirty scattered seats. But one's gaze would only be drawn to the beauty above—dozens of charming beauties of various styles leaned lazily against the railings, exuding a warm and enchanting fragrance, like a silent invitation...
When Wei Qingming came out, she saw me staring up at the beauties without blinking. She smiled, "Which one would you like to invite for a drink?"
"Ah!" Seeing her dashing appearance, I was momentarily dazed. "None... none of them are as beautiful as Sister Yindeng!"
"Too late, she surely has an appointment now," Wei Qingming said flatly. Suddenly, she took my hand and led me straight through the courtyard into one of the five main buildings of Fengle Pavilion. Though she didn't walk fast and didn't use much force, there was an inexplicably irresistible aura about her. I was confused and felt an instinctive fear, allowing her to lead me to a private booth on the third floor without daring to make a sound.
Once inside the private room, Hong Lu closed the door. Only then did she let go of my hand. I finally dared to glare at her. "Hey, you! Why the sudden rush? I wanted to see the scenery!"
Wei Qingming's expression softened, and she raised her hand to swing open three large windows. "Look then."
Seeing her smiling normally again, I thought to myself how temperamental this person was. I hadn't even provoked her. Truly difficult to deal with. But since I was eating her food, and the evening breeze was refreshing, and the sunset-dyed Dan River flowed beneath the window with shimmering, graceful waves, I huffed and couldn't be bothered to stay angry.
Fengle Pavilion focused most on the flavor of the food itself. As the saying goes, "The five colors blind the eye, the five tones deafen the ear." To ensure diners focused on the five flavors, the owner provided no entertainment unless the guests invited someone themselves. A fortune teller like Wen Gan wouldn't even make it through the door before being kicked out by the bouncers. Wei Qingming had already set the menu. Without needing orders, a maid served tea—just a small, fragrant cup—along with several tea snacks shaped like peony petals for the season. I carefully picked up a petal. Surprisingly, it was not only thin, soft, and silky, resembling the flower perfectly, but it also retained the original scent of a peony. It was only when it melted softly the moment it entered my mouth that one realized it was truly just a snack.
Wei Qingming rarely ate anything, yet she actually ate two pieces. Likely, these snacks were made from high-quality ingredients rich in spiritual energy with very few impurities.
The more I ate, the hungrier I got. I looked at her expectantly. "Don't tell me we're just eating this all night! I want real dishes!"
"I know." Before she finished speaking, three dishes were served. As expected, they catered to my recent vegetarian diet, consisting of poultry and fish. Unlike what I imagined, these dishes weren't overly delicate. Seasonings were used sparingly, highlighting the wonderful natural flavor of the ingredients. Some dishes even reminded me of those "dirty" eateries in the Myriad Demon Stockade—the primal, wild scent of mountain pheasant! It made me so nostalgic I wanted to cry.
Seeing two lines of tears on my cheeks, Wei Qingming gently took out a handkerchief to wipe them. "What is it?"
"Waaa..." I looked up at her, unable to hold it back for some reason, crying even harder. "I miss my Master..."
Wei Qingming hadn't expected this answer. Caught between tears and laughter, she finally couldn't help but lower her head and chuckle into her fist. Hong Lu was also permitted to sit. He wanted to laugh but didn't dare; he choked on a mouthful of rice and had to push open the door and run out before he dared to laugh shamelessly.
Wei Qingming raised her hand as if wanting to comfort me but not knowing how. After a moment's pause, she simply stood up, draped an arm over my shoulder to pat me gently, and rested her other hand on the top of my head. I took the opportunity to turn and bury my face in her embrace. She didn't mind my face being covered in tears and snot, letting me hold her.
"Don't cry," she said. "In another month, you can go back to see your Master."
I was too choked up to speak. She continued softly and gently, as if talking to herself, "When the time comes, I will take you back."
"Whatever you like to eat or play with, I'll help you buy it to take along."
"Don't you like this dish? Before we leave, I'll have someone order a portion so your sect members can taste it too."
"One month passes very quickly."
She spoke softly and slowly, her voice circling above my head, long and distant as if drifting down from the clouds. In the end, I couldn't even tell if she was comforting me or sighing.
She exuded a vigorous spirit of one who commands the world, yet her embrace was so soft and warm. All light was blocked out, and I indulged in that safe darkness, smelling only the fragrance on her clothes—a scent I was intimately familiar with, like a hidden nostalgia deep in my heart.
Sensing Hong Lu tiptoeing back, I felt quite embarrassed and lifted my head from Wei Qingming's embrace with a flushed face. Knowing my awkwardness, she considerately returned to her seat and chatted with Hong Lu about trivial official matters, rumors in the capital, and the activities of some celebrities. While I tidied my hair and makeup, I felt a wave of groundless sorrow. Sometimes I really couldn't tell if the Wen family was my own home, and one day, I would never see her again.
After the meal, it was time to go to Cold Spring Mountain. The sky was dark, but Wei Qingming didn't seem to be in a hurry. Only when I truly couldn't eat another bite did she stand up to lead me downstairs. My mind was preoccupied with stray thoughts. By the time I snapped out of it, Hong Lu was gone. Wei Qingming was personally leading the horse, waiting for me to mount.
I blinked. "Only one horse?"
"Yes," Wei Qingming said. "Hong Lu has other things to do."
Afraid of embarrassing myself in front of her, I tried my best to climb onto the horse's back gallantly. I felt a cool breeze brush past as Wei Qingming gracefully mounted behind me. A soft, downy cloak was draped over me. "It's cold at night," she said, flipping up the cloak's hood to cover my head. Naturally, she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and reached out to take the reins.
I felt more and more like I was the one being strange. I cleared my throat and asked, "Which way?"
"East. Once we pass through Hanhui Gate, we can take to the sky." Her voice was so close, every word clear in my ear, carrying a hint of a smile. "Do you want to try riding it yourself?"
I turned my head to look at her in surprise. "You trust me?"
"I'd be happy for the leisure." To avoid a face-to-face collision, she leaned back slightly, looking at me with downcast eyes and a smile.
"Hehe!" I kicked the stirrups happily. "Off we go!"
To show her full trust, she actually let go with both hands. Not wanting to touch me, she rested them casually on her knees, her large sleeves hanging down. She even made that somewhat unrefined posture look extremely beautiful. Though I shouted boldly, I was actually very afraid of making her fall. I focused on the road, not even daring to breathe too hard. Fortunately, the horse was gentle. We trotted all the way out of the eastern Hanhui Gate. Wei Qingming lazily raised a hand and cast a spell. A point of light lit up somewhere in the distance, suspended quietly in my vision like a small lantern.
"Fly toward the marker. Don't be afraid." Seeing my amazement, she smiled. "Don't worry, others can't see it."
I silently marveled at the communication techniques of the great sects. Calling out in the language of the demons, the horse powerfully flapped its wings and soared into the night sky.
After flying for about fifteen minutes in high tension, I gradually grew accustomed to it. My courage grew, and I wanted to chat with Wei Qingming. However, I called her several times without a response. Turning my head, I saw that this person had actually fallen asleep.
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