Secret Recipe | Chapter 215 | Before the Autumn Wind | Novela.app

When Qin Jiuye stepped out of the cabin, the sky was already nearing dusk. The clouds hung low, almost merging with the turbid river water. The prow of the boat cut through the rainy mist, weaving through the endless bamboo forests lining both banks. This type of dredging boat, unique to Yuzhou, was born for clearing waterways; its hull was shorter than the merchant ships of Longshu, making it less capable in open waters but allowing it to navigate through dangerous shoals and narrow passes—a vessel that sought victory amidst peril. However, the joy of escaping danger did not last long. Qin Jiuye’s palm gripped a thin slip of paper, which Qiu Ling had placed in her hand before leaving the deckhouse earlier. "Actually, I came to find you for another reason. Regarding your grandfather... I am very sorry. Though it is a bit late, I felt you should know. These are some of Qin Sanyou’s movements after he left Jiugao. While I was assisting with the flood investigations around Jiugao recently, I looked into this for you. It is all recorded here; I do not know if it will be of use to you." At that time, Xu Qiuchi had already walked away. As Qiu Ling explained in a low voice, Qin Jiuye did not look at the paper, only staring blankly at the man before her. In the period following Qin Sanyou’s death, she had thought of asking Qiu Ling for help. After all, he was an experienced investigative supervisor, surely more effective than a lone village girl like herself. But the moment the thought arose, she abandoned it. Qin Sanyou’s matter was her own; she absolutely should not drag others into her mess. Qiu Ling had more important things to do, and she did not want to exhaust their friendship with heavy favors, nor did she want to hinder his steps for her own selfish reasons at such a critical juncture. Aside from the coroner who discovered the body that day, she had never spoken to anyone else about her suspicions regarding Old Qin’s death. No one could replace her longing and regret, and Old Qin’s death was something for which evidence was almost certainly impossible to find—unless one day she could confront the true culprit face-to-face. Yet, even so, the man before her had perceived everything. Even without her saying a word, he had silently done so much for her. After a long silence, Qin Jiuye slowly reached out and solemnly took the thin paper from him. The green-skinned paper used by the government was light and durable, yet it had become wrinkled from being pressed against his body for a long time. She gripped the paper tightly and bowed deeply. "I will keep everything the Supervisor has done in my heart. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will do my utmost to repay you." As she bowed, the man before her instinctively reached out, but in the end, he only gave her a phantom support before saying softly, "An official I know was tracking Ding Miao’s whereabouts and found a lead near Chixia Sands by Guanchao Pavilion. If our judgment is correct, he likely left Jiugao from there. As for your grandfather..." Qiu Ling did not continue. He would not say anything irresponsible, but Qin Jiuye could already guess what might have happened. Chixia Sands was a place for large ships. Qin Sanyou rarely frequented that area, but that was because he had his own sampan back then. Boatmen at small docks could rarely afford to hire extra hands; without his own boat, if he wanted to earn more to offset his travel expenses, he would have had to find work on a large vessel. The distress she had buried deep in her heart began to churn again. Observing her expression, Qiu Ling couldn't help but speak. "This news may not be entirely accurate. I am only telling you what I know; you must judge for yourself." Qin Jiuye snapped back to her senses and forced a reassuring smile. "I was just thinking... Old Qin’s body was found in the Daixiao River outside Dingweng Village. The furthest upstream the Daixiao River goes is north of Ganyu, still far from the capital. If Old Qin truly boarded Ding Miao’s ship, could it be..." She spoke hesitantly, but Qiu Ling understood. "You mean to say that after Ding Miao left Jiugao, he did not head straight north to the capital, but has been hiding somewhere in Jiaozhou all along?" "It is only a guess. And even if he did, it might be because of pursuers behind him or being trapped by the floods. But if it was his intention..." Qin Jiuye paused slightly, voicing her internal deduction. "...it means Ding Miao’s goal might not be the capital or the Great Sacrificial Ceremony. Then why did he go to such lengths to drag the Liang family down and even involve the Prince Xiaoning’s Manor? Was it just to find a backer? Are those Seven-Combined Libations truly just a smokescreen?" As soon as Qin Jiuye spoke, Qiu Ling’s thoughts also raced. He still remembered what Zhou Yaxian had said in Guanchao Pavilion that day; the man had explicitly stated that they had intercepted the suspicious ships heading for the capital and locked onto the rest. There were two possibilities: first, Zhou Yaxian had lied to temporarily appease him so he would focus on the First Villa under Heaven. But based on his understanding of the man, someone who did things so meticulously would likely disdain such a smokescreen. The remaining possibility was... "Let us assume that Ding Miao and Prince Xiaoning reached some sort of consensus long ago, but what they intend to do are not one thing, but two separate actions. Prince Xiaoning using the Great Sacrificial Ceremony to harm the civil and military officials and throw the capital’s court into chaos is only the first. Ding Miao lingering in Longshu for his true purpose is the second." "Or perhaps even Prince Xiaoning only knows the first part and not the second." Qin Jiuye seemed to have caught a thread as well, immediately following up quickly. "Actually, I have always felt the First Villa under Heaven’s attitude in this whole affair is very strange. Logically, to leverage the connection with Prince Xiaoning’s Manor, Ding Miao must have used the First Villa’s influence to plot in secret. This couldn't have been hidden from Di Mo for long. But that night on Qionghu Island, I saw Yuan Qi on the ship from Fangwai Temple; the latter clearly did not hold the First Villa in high regard, and the secret formula he consumed was not obtained from Di Mo. From this, it is evident that Di Mo’s attitude toward the secret formula might have changed. This is also why, although we later found traces of Liang Shian and the others, we never saw any signs of the so-called First Villa assassins assisting them. You must know, Di Mo acted swiftly regarding the Clear Wind Powder; once he locked onto Dingweng Village, he sent people to silence them." The fact that the authorities quickly locked onto those problematic ships heading north also indirectly proved that Liang Shian had failed to gain more support from the Jianghu factions. If this deduction held true, Jiugao would not be as heavily guarded as the capital; no matter what Ding Miao wanted to do, his chances of success would actually be greater there. Qiu Ling was currently in Yuzhou, his hands tied, unable to personally confirm things for the time being and only able to wait for news from Lin Fang and the others. As for her, she had come here through a thousand hardships with the determination to unravel the mystery of the formula; how could she easily leave without a result? She was immersed in her conflicted emotions and did not notice her own expression, but Qiu Ling, standing beside her, saw it. He pressed his lips thin and suddenly spoke. "If, in the very end, it turns out Ding Miao was truly behind what happened to your grandfather, what will you do?" Qin Jiuye was stunned, looking up somewhat blankly. Would she kill Ding Miao? Or would she confront him alone, just as she had braved the gale to go to the Qiu Manor that day? Seeing her remain silent, his heart grew uncontrollably anxious. He suddenly regretted giving her the information he had found without weighing it further. "That man is far more dangerous than he appears, hiding in the shadows with unknown movements. Moreover, the swordsman following him is brutal; the case of Tingfeng Hall might only be the tip of the iceberg. Promise me, do not face him alone." *Right, there is still Old Tang’s debt to settle.* It seemed that between her and that man, a life-and-death struggle was inevitable. Until she watched Qiu Ling depart, Qin Jiuye did not show another hint of unsettling emotion. But only she knew that she did not speak of "revenge" because those words were burning in her heart at every moment, like embers that would not die, waiting for the chance to flare up again. During those nights spent in the depths of the Min Mountains, she had always pondered this question: what truly counts as justice, and what must she do to be considered as having sought justice for Old Tang and her grandfather? What truly counts as revenge, and how could she make the other party feel the same grief, pain, and anger as she did? If the final answer was only "a life for a life," then she would kill him without hesitation. The rising river water had carved countless winding channels through the bamboo forest. The emerald stalks were half-submerged in water and half-rustling in the wind. The prow occasionally brushed against bamboo leaves before plunging back into the depths, creating a strange and profound sensation. Unknowingly, even in this most savage of deep mountains, the chirping of insects could no longer be heard. *The cicada senses the coming of the golden wind before it moves.* The autumn chill was spreading from north to south along the water's flow, about to sweep across the entire land of Xiangliang, and everyone within it would face this unavoidable cold current. A gust of wind blew toward her, stirring a slight chill. Qin Jiuye shivered and was about to return to the cabin to escape the wind when Lu Zican’s voice sounded behind her. "Miss Qin, I... I truly have no face to see you!" Having not seen him for several days, his eyes were still somewhat red and swollen. His untrimmed beard and hair almost drowned out his small eyes, and his voice sounded as if he were about to cry. Passing sailors on the deck looked over curiously at the sound. Qin Jiuye suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and had to limp forward to comfort him in a low voice. "Commandant Lu has also suffered. Why say such things? Isn't everyone fine now?" Lu Zican choked back his tears. "I just remembered the Supervisor’s instructions before he left, and then I thought of my own incompetence. In the end, I actually had to seek help from that bullshit Jianghu shadow manor, Chuanliu Court... I’ve practically thrown the Supervisor’s face all the way back to his ancestors..." Chuanliu Court again. Earlier, when Xu Qiuchi mentioned being rescued, he also seemed to have brought up Chuanliu Court. Turning to look again at the endless sea of bamboo, Qin Jiuye suddenly remembered what those mountain folk had said. She had already seen the people the government kept on the west side; next, would it be the "demon" from the east who had fallen into madness? "Could this place be..." Qin Jiuye turned her head in disbelief, meeting Lu Zican’s gaze. The latter gave her a nod of affirmation. "Indeed. Further ahead is the rumored Chuanliu Court." Indescribable emotions surged in her heart. Qin Jiuye paused for a moment before murmuring, "How could it be... Chuanliu Court?" Lu Zican did not notice her mood and only sighed along. "If I hadn't come here myself, I wouldn't have imagined that Lord Tan has been in contact with Chuanliu Court all along. But thinking back, there were signs. This Juchao is a savage place to begin with, a mix of dragons and snakes with a volatile situation; one must form timely alliances and look out for one another to hold this territory. Lord Tan gets information from Chuanliu Court, and Chuanliu Court gets cover from Lord Tan. This kind of mutually beneficial relationship is quite stable, though on the surface, everyone must pretend not to know each other. Since they were willing to lend a boat to help this time, they must be honoring that connection..." Halfway through, the image of the youth spitting blood in the bamboo building that day flashed before Lu Zican’s eyes. He cut his words short, nearly biting his own tongue. Qin Jiuye nodded as she listened, appearing unconcerned, but the hand gripping the railing betrayed her inner feelings. The previous premonition grew stronger. She tried to make her voice sound steady. "How much longer will we be delayed here?" The woman seemed not to have noticed anything. Lu Zican breathed a slight sigh of relief and quickly said seriously, "That’s hard to say; we must wait for the river channel ahead to be cleared. However, the Supervisor said he would arrange a place for Miss Qin to work. If you need anything, just tell me. I’ll consider it making up for my failures." Qin Jiuye turned her head and patted his shoulder with an unreadable expression. "The Supervisor is busy with affairs every day; it is thanks to the help of a right-hand man like Commandant Lu. From what you said, you were also involved in entering Juchao using Chuanliu Court’s boat this time. Did you have any dealings with the people in that court?" The words "right-hand man" made Lu Zican feel a bit lightheaded. He was suddenly filled with endless energy, and his previous worries vanished. "Naturally. The people of that shadow manor act very suspiciously, but I suppressed bandits and earned merits in my youth. These eyes of mine are sharp, and I was quite clever in dealing with them..." Qin Jiuye looked around and leaned in, lowering her voice. "In that case, I wonder if Commandant Lu has seen a certain person." "Who?" She softly breathed two words into his ear. The moment he heard the name, Lu Zican’s face turned from red to green, green to purple, and purple to black, as if he had been poisoned. She had only asked casually without much hope, but seeing his reaction, Qin Jiuye immediately had her answer. "Could it be you truly saw him?" "Aren't we... aren't we going to continue investigating the secret formula? Why... why are you looking for him..." Lu Zican stammered in response, hoping to bluff his way through. Unfortunately, the woman was too sharp and had no intention of continuing the act with him. "Of course it is for the matter of the secret formula. What else did you think? I said before that Young Master Yan might have his own motives and cannot be fully trusted. But if we have one of our own in Chuanliu Court, isn't that a good thing?" *That may be so, but since when did that Li Qiao count as 'one of our own'?* Lu Zican was a career soldier who had climbed up merit by merit; when did he start colluding with a renegade from the First Villa under Heaven? Lu Zican felt conflicted, his face written with the word "unwilling," but knowing he could no longer hide it, he could only whisper, "Before I went to find you, I did indeed see him. At the time, he also said he was going to look for you, but after we set out, I didn't see him again. It’s been like this for the past few days. Not just me, but the Second Young Master and the others haven't seen him either. This Chuanliu Court is a place of the Jianghu; who knows what they are really up to..." He said all this in one breath, feeling strangely as if this explanation sounded like intentional slander, so he hurriedly swore repeatedly, "Really! I swear to heaven, everything I said is the truth!" Qin Jiuye nodded, her expression quite calm. She believed Lu Zican was telling the truth. When Young Master Yan initially moved against Li Qiao during the Treasure Mirage Pavilion case, he must have pointed a path out for the latter. Like catching fish in a river, under a three-sided encirclement, a panicked fish can only swim into the bag. From Li Qiao’s situation, he was at a dead end; he could either walk step by step into Young Master Yan’s trap or find another place to wait for death. So when she first heard Lu Zican say he had seen him near Chuanliu Court, she had felt a secret sigh of relief; it meant he at least still had the desire to survive. But immediately after, an indescribable anger welled up in her heart. What kind of methods did that Young Master Yan have? He was not the same as a soft-hearted, powerless village doctor like her. If Young Master Yan was willing to do something for Li Qiao, Chuanliu Court would surely demand a hundred or thousand times the price from him; they would not let him leave easily. When that time came... Seeing her remain silent for a long time with an increasingly grim expression, Lu Zican grew even more guilty. "If you truly want to find him, it’s not that I couldn't..." He was confessing without being prompted, but the woman seemed to have changed her mind, sighing into the air. "Perhaps you are right. Such things cannot be forced after all. Cutting off the thought early is also a good thing." Lu Zican was stunned. For some reason, his heart began to race with alarm again. His intention was naturally not to see that kid surnamed Li, but the woman’s tone sounded like she was severing all past ties. His Supervisor had finally managed to escape the sea of bitterness; he couldn't let this Shopkeeper Qin lead him back into a ditch with just a beckon of her hand. "Miss Qin, Commandant Lu, what are you chatting about so happily?" Tan Duce’s voice suddenly rang out behind them. The two, each with their own thoughts, turned their heads simultaneously to see Lord Tan appearing on the deck once again. Qin Jiuye composed herself and bowed respectfully. "Many thanks to Lord Tan for your assistance. May I ask if there are any instructions..." "Miss Qin is too polite. I have no business, but someone wishes to see you." After Tan Duce spoke, he turned and called out softly. A tall, thin figure followed closely behind him—a youth wearing a narrow hat with a black gauze veil covering his face. He stood behind Tan Duce with his head bowed, disciplined enough not to take a single step further. Tan Duce maintained his cheerful demeanor, specifically walking a few steps closer to whisper in Qin Jiuye’s ear, "He is from Chuanliu Court, not the same as the others on my boat." *Speak of the devil.* Qin Jiuye, who had just been discussing Chuanliu Court with Lu Zican, looked startled. It took a moment before she looked toward the tall, thin figure. "This lowly one is only here to deliver a message for my Master," the figure finally spoke, his voice somewhat low and raspy. "Master wishes to invite Miss Qin to the Court as a guest for a conversation." When Old Tang met with trouble, this Chuanliu Court had hidden its head and tail; why did they suddenly want to meet now? Could it be a trap? Qin Jiuye couldn't help but frown. Before she could probe further, Lu Zican spoke up rudely. "Why didn't you say so earlier? If Miss Qin goes, it’s fine, but my Supervisor must go as well." "Master said that the situation in the Court is special; members of the Qiu family are not permitted to enter. Previously, it was an emergency, so Lord Duanyu was allowed a brief visit, but now it is inconvenient. We hope for your understanding." Hearing this, Lu Zican’s eyebrows shot up. "What kind of bullshit hospitality is this? My Supervisor has a reputation in the Jianghu; can the dignified Lord Duanyu not even enter your broken courtyard? Since Chuanliu Court has the idea of welcoming guests, why not receive us all openly? Are you plotting something? If Miss Qin goes like this, wouldn't it be like a sheep entering a tiger’s den?" But no matter how furiously he questioned, the other party seemed not to care, simply standing there waiting for an answer. "Master said, whether to go or not depends entirely on the lady’s choice." Qin Jiuye fell into a brief silence. She had never met Young Master Yan, but for him to be able to hide in the shadows and contend with Ding Miao and even the First Villa under Heaven for many years, he must be a cunning, wise, and extremely patient person. She hadn't known the specific location of Chuanliu Court before, but now that she knew this hidden Jianghu shadow manor was nearby, her first thought was: Young Master Yan must have a reason for building Chuanliu Court here. Perhaps he also believed Juchao was an important place. Besides, Young Master Yan had clearly been dealing with "that thing" for more than a day or two; since she was a physician, she should meet him regardless. And since he had taken the initiative to propose it, aside from the possibility of ill intent, perhaps there was also an intention to exchange information. Having weighed the pros and cons, Qin Jiuye spoke decisively. "Fine, I will go." As soon as she spoke, not only Lu Zican but even the messenger from Chuanliu Court seemed to be taken aback. Only Tan Duce seemed to have expected her choice, and he continued to ramble on. "Going to Chuanliu Court is on the way, ah, but you did injure your waist after all. It might be a bit inconvenient for the next few days..." Before he could finish, the person following him suddenly spoke. "If the lady does not mind, this lowly one can stay by your side at any time to help look after you." Qin Jiuye’s gaze swept over the person, and for some reason, a strange feeling suddenly arose in her heart. She hadn't injured her legs at all; it was just that her waist injury made things a bit inconvenient. It was difficult to get up, and she had to walk carefully, but other than that, there was no major issue. The way the other party was so eager to get close to her didn't seem like concern for her health, but rather like he was following his master’s orders to monitor her. Xu Qiuchi’s warning from the cabin earlier rang in her ears again. Qin Jiuye immediately composed herself and politely declined. "Actually, my injury is not that serious. No bones were broken. I reckon I’ll be fine in a few days, so I won't trouble this young brother." Lu Zican finally snapped out of it and couldn't help but pull Qin Jiuye aside to whisper in her ear. "Why on earth is Miss Qin going? What if... what if that Sun Yan detains you and takes you to refine medicine..." Lu Zican’s face turned purple from holding back his words. Qin Jiuye felt amused but remained serious, comforting him in a low voice. "Brother Lu, rest easy. The Supervisor won't be far away these days, will he? There is no place for me to use my skills on this boat, and time is of the essence. Rather than waiting for death, why not let me go and probe Young Master Yan’s bottom line? I can use his precious place, and perhaps there will be other gains." Undercurrents swirled around them as everyone harbored their own thoughts. Only Lu Zican failed to see through it all, feeling only that this decision was absurd and hasty. "Even so, Miss Qin should have someone following her. If it is inconvenient for the Supervisor, I am willing to volunteer!" Lu Zican was persistent, perhaps because the previous shipwreck had left him with some trauma. But if she truly brought a military officer who lived on government rations into Chuanliu Court, she probably wouldn't be able to overhear a single word. Qin Jiuye’s gaze shifted, and she saw the red-clad woman sitting withered at the stern of the boat, clutching her blade. Aside from some abrasions, Jiang Xin'er seemed fine, but her expression was terrible, looking as if she had been soaked in that black lake for three days and nights. Thinking then of Xu Qiuchi, who was hiding in the deckhouse and refusing to see anyone, Qin Jiuye understood a thing or two. There are some people in this world who appear cynical and uninhibited on the surface, but are actually more twisted inside than a freshly fried dough twist from Bobo Street. He had clearly followed the boat to find her, yet upon seeing the person, he insisted on acting as if he weren't happy at all—on the contrary, he was colder than ever before. This coldness was a prelude to what would come later, so that when they parted, it wouldn't hurt as much. *Coward. The sins committed today must always be repaid tomorrow; you will regret this in the future.* Qin Jiuye cursed inwardly and finally made up her mind. "Commandant Lu still needs to assist the Supervisor; surely there are more important things to do these days. How could I waste your time on me? I think it would be better to have Miss Jiang accompany me. The two of us went deep into Juchao this time; we could be said to have perfect chemistry and mutual appreciation, just short of becoming sworn sisters. When we escaped that cave at the critical moment, we covered for each other and entrusted our lives to one another. We are practically an inseparable pair." Except for the first sentence, everything else could be called nonsense. The wind blew this nonsense toward the stern. Jiang Xin'er’s ears twitched, and that vivid expression of pride mixed with a hint of disgust instantly returned to her face. She instinctively looked toward the tightly closed door of the deckhouse and said urgently, "Who is a pair with you? That was forced by the situation earlier. I have always only followed my Young Master..." "No matter. if you have made up your mind, take her with you." Xu Qiuchi’s voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Jiang Xin'er’s protest. He had opened the door at some point, the waist fan swaying at his hip. He used to almost never let that fan leave his hand, but now he rarely even touched it. Countless sour emotions were swallowed back into her stomach. Jiang Xin'er lowered her head, falling into silence like an abandoned puppy. Qin Jiuye couldn't bear to watch; she walked over in a few steps and pulled the woman to her side. "Young brother just said I couldn't bring the Qiu family; others should be fine, right?" The messenger from Chuanliu Court paused upon hearing this, then nodded. "Naturally. However, there are many paths in the Court, crisscrossing and complex. This lowly one will still lead the way for the lady when the time comes." The fact that he mentioned it repeatedly made the suspicion in Qin Jiuye’s heart grow deeper. Her gaze couldn't help but flicker toward his tightly covered face. "Actually, there’s no need..." She wanted to say there was no need for such trouble, as she had always had a talent for recognizing paths. But the words stopped at her lips, and the gaze she had moved away shifted back, pinning itself onto the figure standing with his head bowed. "Miss Qin?" Tan Duce blinked as he looked over, seemingly sensing some subtle change. "If there is any problem..." *There are plenty of problems.* Why exactly was a person from Chuanliu Court on Tan Duce’s boat? To deliver a message, it wouldn't have been impossible to let Tan Duce convey it. And was that Young Master Yan too divinely prophetic? How could he be so sure that she and Jiang Xin'er would be saved, sending someone to wait on the boat so early? Did he think too highly of her? But Qin Jiuye did not ask any of these questions. She only pressed her lips together in silence for a moment, then looked up and said briefly, "Lord Tan worries too much. If it is no trouble, then we shall have this young brother accompany us." Tan Duce then nodded and rambled a few more instructions. Just as he was about to turn and leave, Qin Jiuye suddenly asked, "The name? What is this young brother’s name? Since we will be together for the next few days, there must be a way to address him, right?" Tan Duce paused, and it took a while before he turned back to look at the person beside him. "Miss Qin might not know, but most people in Chuanliu Court have pasts they are unwilling to let others know. I heard he happened to be the thirtieth person to come work at the Court. To avoid trouble in the future, the Court addresses him by his rank. Everyone calls him Xiao Sa." *Sa* meant thirty. Truly an interesting number. "Xiao Sa..." The woman slowly rolled the name on the tip of her tongue, then smiled and looked up at the youth. "Xiao Sa, then I’ll be in your care for the next few days." *** | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 浚河船 | Dredging boat | A specialized vessel for clearing river channels. | | 秦三友 | Qin Sanyou | Qin Jiuye's grandfather. | | 赤霞滩 | Chixia Sands | A location near Guanchao Pavilion. | | 观潮亭 | Guanchao Pavilion | Pavilion for watching the tide. | | 黛绡河 | Daixiao River | A river near Dingweng Village. | | 七合鬯 | Seven-Combined Libation | A type of sacrificial wine/fragrance mentioned as a potential distraction. | | 元岐 | Yuan Qi | A character associated with Fangwai Temple. | | 方外观 | Fangwai Temple | A religious or sect location. | | 晴风散 | Clear Wind Powder | A medicinal or alchemical powder. | | 梁世安 | Liang Shian | A character involved with the secret formula. | | 听风堂 | Tingfeng Hall | A hall or organization mentioned in a past case. | | 金风未动蝉先觉 | The cicada senses the coming of the golden wind before it moves | A proverb about foresight and sensing danger. | | 川流院 | Chuanliu Court | A mysterious Jianghu organization/manor. | | 谈独策 | Tan Duce | A local official in Juchao. | | 断玉君 | Lord Duanyu | Qiu Ling's title (Broken Jade Lord). | | 卅 / 小卅 | Sa / Xiao Sa | Meaning "thirty." The messenger's name/rank. |