The rain that had fallen for three consecutive months finally stopped, yet the dark clouds refused to disperse. All of Jiugao City remained damp, cold, and gloomy.
In such weather, a pot of warm wine or a cup of hot tea would naturally bring comfort to one's entire body.
What was currently the most popular thing in Jiugao City? It wasn't the new purple jade teapots from Wincui Pavilion, nor the latest Pai Gow variations at the Thousand-Hand Gambling House, nor the celestial silk shirts from Spring Garment Pavilion. It was the "Rejuvenation Soup" sold on Shouqi Street in the southern part of the city.
Huichun Hall was most famous for its Radiance Powder; no one had heard of this Rejuvenation Soup before. But that didn't matter. What mattered was that the soup came from Huichun Hall, and a bowl cost only seven wen.
For seven wen, one couldn't be cheated or fooled. It was worth it just for the sake of strengthening one's health.
Word of the affordable and effective Rejuvenation Soup spread quickly through the streets and alleys. People from the south of the city flocked to the site, and those from the north squeezed their way down as well. Residents from all four directions gathered in the back alley of Shouqi Street, until it seemed people were even standing on the eaves. Turning the corner behind Tingfeng Hall, a bitter medicinal fragrance wafted through the rooftops. In just three short days, those lining up for the medicine had become quite familiar with the routine. Some even brought bamboo stools and folding chairs; they chatted and did handiwork while waiting, their exhaled breath nearly forming a cloud in the narrow alley.
While the line of people stretched across two or three alleys, there were only three people busily working behind the stall.
The young apprentice leading the work looked physically frail, lacking even the strength to stir the soup. He was panting after only a few rotations of the ladle, yet he was exceptionally nimble when it came to collecting coins, as if he had trained in a bank for seven or eight years. Behind him, the man responsible for portioning the medicine seemed to have endless energy; he brewed the medicine without pause and poured it without spilling a single drop. His face, covered by a cloth mask, looked cold and stern, and he remained silent from beginning to end. As for the woman who appeared to be the stall owner, she mostly used her mouth—but that mouth was indeed formidable. She could hawk the soup and chat about anything under the sun. No headache, fever, or incurable ailment could stump her. With a few movements of her lips, she could spout knowledge on health and medicine that sounded perfectly logical and practical. For seven wen, one got both medicine and a consultation; why wouldn't people be happy?
The slanting western light cast a dim yellow glow over Shouqi Street. A few elderly women left happily, clutching their warm soup. Behind them, a burly man was less polite, carrying a bucket in each hand as if he were fetching bathwater. But when his turn finally came, the woman portioning the medicine packed up the large pot behind her, rubbing her hands with a smile.
"So sorry, customer, this was the last pot for today. You can come earlier tomorrow; we’ll be out here at dawn. The soup is limited, sold until it's gone."
The man could hardly hide his disappointment, looking as if he wanted to snatch the soup from the person in front of him. The crowd behind him also dispersed dejectedly, and the once-congested alley cleared out in an instant.
The woman briskly tidied the stall while the apprentice counted the coins with his eyes closed. The man who had been brewing the medicine looked around to ensure no outsiders were present before pulling down his mask and asking in a low voice.
"Miss Qin, what kind of medicine are you actually selling in this pot?"
"A formula to strengthen the spleen and resolve dampness. It won't hurt if you drink a little, and it won't kill you if you drink a lot." Qin Jiuye’s eyes darted around shiftily as she continued cleaning. "Brother Du, have you been staying up late and feeling a bit of internal heat lately? I have other formulas. I'll have Jinbao bring one to you later."
Du Shaoheng remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.
"I do not understand your intentions, Miss. If this loss-leading soup cannot prevent the disease mentioned in that secret formula, why have we been setting up a stall here these past two days?"
He spoke with restraint, but Qin Jiuye immediately caught his underlying meaning. She looked over his sturdy frame and said, "Brother Du, you look like a healthy man, so you don't understand the mindset of those seeking medicine. The soup itself isn't the point. The point is to make the buyers remember the existence of our stall. In the future, if there is any disturbance in the city, they will think of this place. Only then will we have the chance to 'prescribe the right medicine for the symptoms.'"
Du Shaoheng was stunned for a moment, but soon caught on.
"One of the reasons Jichao fell back then was the inability to separate the sick from the healthy in a short time. Once the patients are scattered, distributing medicine becomes even more difficult. If we can get those who feel unwell to come here voluntarily, it will indeed save us a lot of trouble."
"Exactly. I don't understand military strategy, but I can see that the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light, which puts us at a disadvantage. I've dealt with Ding Miao a few times; he is indeed good at manipulating hearts, but he has never lived the life of an ordinary person. He doesn't understand the citizens of this city as well as a local doctor like me. The rich in the north are stingy, that goes without saying. But take these old residents in the south—they all like to take advantage of small bargains and never want to miss out on a spectacle. This is their joy outside of daily life. We don't even need to waste our breath; they will naturally scramble to come. Conversely, even if you held it to their lips, they wouldn't swallow it."
Du Shaoheng nodded sincerely. Even his aching back seemed to feel better, and his body was filled with energy again.
He thought that as a former soldier, he was capable of enduring hardship, but after taking over, he found that brewing and selling medicine was no less exhausting than a military campaign. The work began before dawn, and after half a day, his body was sore. Yet this woman, who had been in business for ten years, was accustomed to the toil and showed no sign of fatigue.
Nearby, Jinbao had finished counting the copper coins. He turned and handed the organized money along with the basket to Qin Jiuye, his voice tinged with dissatisfaction.
"You said we'd only do this for a few days before returning to the village for consultations. If Auntie Wu and the others find out I came back behind their backs to help you earn this 'black-hearted' money, they'll surely give me a piece of their mind."
"What black-hearted money? This is life-saving money. Don't talk nonsense when you go back."
Saying too much would only scare him, so Qin Jiuye left it at that. She took the basket and handed it to Du Shaoheng, who shook it and was stunned by the sound of the clinking coins.
Qin Jiuye patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Don't be surprised, Brother Du. It's just a matter of many littles making a mickle. To prepare medicinal ingredients for thousands of people, this sum is not small. Every bit helps. Go and quickly exchange this for the ingredients I specified earlier. Remember to collect them in several batches so the city's pharmacies don't notice. If they do, they'll either raise prices or report us, neither of which is good."
Du Shaoheng nodded. Having worked with this woman for only a few days, he had already picked up some of her "small merchant" air, moving with a certain shifty alertness. After whispering together for a bit longer, he led Jinbao away.
The alley fell silent, save for the sound of the woman humming a tuneless little ditty.
A series of scattered footsteps sounded at the mouth of the alley. After hovering for a moment, they headed straight for the figure cleaning the stall alone.
Unlike the light, shuffling steps of the southern residents in their straw sandals, these were the heavy, aggressive strides of high-quality, thick-soled black boots.
What was meant to come had finally arrived.
Qin Jiuye didn't look up. She finished the last of her tidying and quickly placed the large copper ladle in a hidden spot within reach.
"Miss, what kind of soup are you selling here?"
The voice of inquiry sounded, its tone arrogant despite an attempt to sound polite.
Qin Jiuye wiped her hands on the cloth at her waist and forced a smile.
"Customer, we just sell ordinary medicinal soup. It has no name."
The small man in the lead deliberately leaned in and lowered his voice. "Don't try to hide it. How is it I've heard this is stuff from Huichun Hall?"
As soon as he finished, another man beside him spoke up impatiently. "I am well-acquainted with several of the managing shopkeepers at Huichun Hall. I wonder which formula you are selling, Miss? And which shopkeeper prescribed it?"
Qin Jiuye kept her head down, avoiding their gaze. After a long pause, she spoke with a sheepish expression.
"How about... you gentlemen come back earlier tomorrow? You'll know once you buy some and taste it. Seven wen isn't expensive. For the sake of your health, you shouldn't skimp on such a small amount."
The men were stunned, seemingly not expecting this woman to say such irritating things with such a cowardly demeanor. After a long silence, they finally revealed their true intentions.
"This is the formula for Radiance Powder, isn't it?"
At this point, their purpose was self-evident.
In all her years of making a living, Qin Jiuye reckoned she had suffered more setbacks than she had eaten grains of rice. She had thousands of ways to settle matters peacefully. However, today her goal was not to minimize the issue, but to make as much noise as possible.
She gave a mysterious smile, and with a loud *clang*, she threw the copper ladle back into the pot, signaling the start of this alleyway battle.
"What if it is? And what if it isn't?"
The visitors had clearly been preparing for a while, and their accusations immediately poured out in a torrent of flying spit.
"If it is, then you stole this formula from Huichun Hall! Business is built on 'trust.' To take a stolen formula and hawk it on the street at a low price—how are you any different from a despicable thief? And if it isn't, then you are using Huichun Hall's reputation to swindle people and ruin our name! No matter which it is, you are flouting the law and blackening the reputation of the entire medicine trade! You should be dragged to the yamen to answer for your crimes!"
The man had an unusually loud voice. This shout was comparable to a madam at the Red Pheasant Quarter soliciting business; everyone on the street looked over.
Qin Jiuye had achieved her goal and no longer bothered to pretend. She picked up the copper ladle and pointed it directly at the man's face.
"Setting aside the fact that my formula has two more ingredients than your Radiance Powder and that the Job's tears have been roasted, so what if it were the same? Since ancient times, these formulas have been known to every practitioner. Does giving it a different name make it yours alone? In my view, the ones truly making a fortune off the name 'Radiance' are someone else entirely."
"You... you shrew! Pure nonsense..."
The man who had come to find trouble was losing his breath from shouting, but his opponent was just getting started. She sounded as if she weren't just venting a day's grievance, but years of accumulated dissatisfaction.
"Furthermore, I only said this soup is called Rejuvenation Soup. Did I ever say it was from Huichun Hall? Everyone in Jiugao City knows the truth. Out of ten people who go to Huichun Hall, six are told they have heavy dampness, three have liver and kidney deficiencies, and if the last one has no problems at all, they're still sent off with a dose of hawthorn pills just to finish the job. In the end, which poor person on the brink of death can actually afford treatment at Huichun Hall? You call that watered-down medicinal soup 'Radiance Powder' and sell a dose for eighty or a hundred wen, yet you won't let anyone else sell their own. You're the ones who have lost your consciences!"
"Sharp-tongued and glib! Talking to you is just falling into your trap. I'll tear that mouth of yours first!"
A group of burly men actually couldn't win an argument against a single woman. Seeing them turn hostile and prepare to strike, a soft female voice rang out.
"If I recall correctly, isn't Radiance Powder the formula of Shopkeeper Kan Renshou?"
The voice was gentle, sounding particularly out of place in this explosive atmosphere.
The argument was interrupted, and everyone turned to look. They saw a woman in plain clothes walking gracefully through the rain. A maid in pink held an umbrella for her, her aura not paling in the slightest compared to her mistress.
*It’s been a few months, and everyone has certainly made their own progress.*
Qin Jiuye slowly lowered the copper ladle. She blinked, feeling a wave of emotion. She was wondering whether she should politely say hello or lower her head and pretend not to know her, when the woman under the umbrella spoke again.
"This is Shopkeeper Qin of Guoran Residence. She has some business dealings with my Su family, and the ingredients for this soup also come from the Su family. If you gentlemen have any doubts or dissatisfaction, you may speak them to me now. If there is anything the Su family has done improperly, I will personally apologize to you all."
Su Muhe's sudden appearance was unexpected enough, but for her to speak up in her defense made Qin Jiuye suspicious. She almost wondered if the woman was putting on a play with Huichun Hall. But then she saw the once-ferocious men backing away, the wariness in their eyes unmistakable.
This new young mistress of the Su family looked as fragile as a willow in the wind, but her methods were even more ruthless than her father's. She was a veritable "gentle blade." This was true for her family affairs and even more so in business. In the past month, she had cut off ten shops and kicked out old servants who had been with the family for over a decade, all to settle the accounts. The Su family was indeed not as glorious as before, but everyone understood the principle of "leaving a way out." Besides, this was just a business of seven-wen soup; they had made their point and there was no need to have a major falling out with the Su family.
The men from Huichun Hall threw out a few more harsh words before scurrying away.
Qin Jiuye watched the now-quiet street corner for a long time before coming back to her senses. She bowed to Su Muhe.
"Thank you, Miss Su, for resolving the situation. It's just that my street business is truly beneath notice. I fear your words just now might implicate you..."
"What I said just now was not entirely made up." Su Muhe softly interrupted her, her misty eyes looking at her with a half-smile. "About half of the medicinal ingredients you've collected around Jiugao lately came through Su family channels. Isn't it a bit too late to try and distance yourself now?"
Qin Jiuye paused, then looked up to study the other woman's face.
To keep the city's pharmacies stable, she had specifically told her subordinates to act with caution, yet she still hadn't escaped Su Muhe's eyes. And the fact that the other woman was speaking so openly made her realize that the Second Miss of the Su family had likely already guessed why she was here.
Only those involved in the investigation knew the details of the secret formula, but Su Muhe was one of the parties involved and came from a family of medicine merchants. Her sensitivity to such matters far exceeded that of ordinary people.
"Miss Su, what exactly have you come to find me for? You might as well say it all at once."
Both were clever people, and Qin Jiuye decided to save time and be direct. Su Muhe was also more straightforward than expected, asking immediately:
"Are there going to be many 'Grandmothers' in this city soon?"
*Are there going to be many more like Yuanzhou in this city?*
It was a strange way to ask. Even at such a critical moment, if these words hadn't come from Su Muhe's mouth, Qin Jiuye felt she might have cracked a smile. But standing before her was a member of the Su family; she couldn't laugh no matter what. After a long silence, she whispered:
"This is not the place to talk. Would Miss Su be willing to move to another location?"
***
After the Start of Winter, the sun set earlier and earlier. Just past the hour of the Rooster, the city was already shrouded in darkness.
Tonight, Jiugao City was exceptionally quiet. Even the sound of the night watchman patrolling the streets was absent. It was as if everyone had sensed something in the air and had finished their work early to hide away.
The streets were empty. Perhaps to save oil, not a single lamp was lit along the entire road. The moonlight was dim and hazy. A mass of black shadows approached from the end of the street like a ghostly army passing through, accompanied by faint, clinking sounds that grew heavier as they drew near.
It was the sound of a squad of armored men with sabers marching through the streets—a sound the city hadn't heard in a long time. Every household had its doors and windows tightly shut, fearing that a single moment of carelessness would lead to an encounter with a man-eating tiger or the King of Hell.
Currently, that squad of "ghost messengers" had entered the alleys behind the eastern market. In those alleys, only one courtyard remained lit.
A lantern hung high before the gate of the Protectorate Office, casting a bright light over the ground, which was covered in wheel ruts but swept clean.
The leading Military Sima, surnamed Zhao, was a man of great physical strength. He stood under the lantern, listening to the sounds inside the courtyard. An old dog in the next street barked, annoying him. He gave a signal, and his squad immediately dispersed, surrounding the courtyard in layers. He then ascended the steps and went straight to the main gate.
He had brought over a hundred men and arrived with great momentum, even preparing tools to break down the door. He was only waiting for resistance so he could show off his skills and start a massacre. But upon reaching the entrance, he found the gate of the Protectorate Office wide open, as if they had known of their arrival all along.
*The monk can run, but the temple cannot.* He didn't believe he wouldn't catch a few fat fish tonight. He immediately gave the order, and the men filed in, storming into the central courtyard with a clatter.
Though it was called the Protectorate Office, the courtyard was cold and bare, lacking even rockeries or flowers. Everything could be seen clearly at a glance—such as the bearded adjutant sitting by the stone table in the center of the large courtyard. There was no one else.
Looking closer, there was also a donkey in the corner.
The donkey was startled and began running in circles around a sword-practice post, causing the dozens of fully armed, battle-ready soldiers to stare blankly.
The old dog in the next street finally grew tired of barking and stopped. A moment later, the man by the stone table gave a wide yawn and spoke without turning his head.
"The Protector is not here. If you have a grievance or a case to report, please come back another day."
Accumulated anger erupted at that moment. Sima Zhao drew his saber with a *shring*.
"How bold! We come under the orders of Prefect Fan to question you. Not only does Protector Qiu Ling not come to greet us personally, he sends you to speak in riddles!"
Lu Zican turned his head, acting as if he had only just noticed the courtyard full of people. He hurriedly rose and bowed.
"So it was Lord Fan's command. Why wasn't someone sent to announce it? This lowly general would have stood in the courtyard early to welcome you..."
Before he could finish, he was impatiently interrupted.
"Where is Qiu Ling? As the master of this residence, why has he not come out to greet us?"
Lu Zican blinked, looking confused. "My Protector went on a long journey some time ago. Did you not know, brother?"
Sima Zhao sneered in silence. He had come with a specific purpose and reliable intelligence; how could he have come to the wrong place? He signaled his men to search the surroundings. His subordinates were veterans who had followed him for over a decade; while not perfectly disciplined, they were certainly better than the sycophants around Lord Fan. Before long, they dragged someone out from the direction of the kitchen.
Sima Zhao's brow rose in joy. He gave a thunderous shout and personally stepped forward to seize the suspicious figure. Being a military man himself, he knew the prowess of the "Lord of Broken Jade," so he used his full strength. To his surprise, the person was soft and clearly not a martial artist. Caught by the shoulder, the person immediately cried out "Ouch!" and fell to the ground, a wine jar rolling far away from his hand.
The situation was not what he had expected. Sima Zhao was stunned, only finding his voice after a long pause.
"Lord Lin? What hour is it? This is the Protectorate Office. You, a Director of the Waterways Bureau, appear here in the middle of the night and hide suspiciously—what exactly are you plotting?"
The miserable Lord Lin rubbed his backside as he stood up. The first thing he did was pick up the wine jar. Finding it unbroken, he breathed a sigh of relief, then turned with a look of surprise and spread his hands.
"Can Lord Zhao not see? General Lu and I felt like old friends at first sight. We agreed to have a small drink under the moon and discuss history. Since it is a gathering of friends, it is perfectly open and aboveboard, with a clear conscience."
Sima Zhao sneered, clearly not taking this weak Director seriously.
"A fine gathering of friends. Why does Lord Lin not gather with his dozens of colleagues at the Waterways Bureau, but instead comes to this Protectorate Office? You come here seven or eight days out of ten, treating it like your own backyard. The neighbors probably think you're the master here. Or perhaps the master of this house authorized you to do so long ago, using a spineless coward like you to build a connection with the Waterways Bureau, making it easier for you to act in the future—using the excuse of shipping to commit treason!"
He spoke with hidden barbs, but Lin Fang's expression remained unchanged. He only gave a playful smile.
"Lord Zhao must be joking. It is not currently my time of duty. I can be wherever I wish to be."
As he spoke, he even raised his sleeve to hide a light chuckle. The donkey behind him also let out a loud bray, sounding like the sharpest of mocks and taunts.
Sima Zhao was speechless with rage. The soldiers who had been searching returned to report, their expressions difficult to describe.
"Reporting to the Lord, we've searched everywhere. There is no one else..."
Not only was the eldest son of the Qiu family missing, but everyone else had vanished as well. Sima Zhao stood in the courtyard holding his saber, looking like a clown caught on a high stage with no way down. He roared in fury.
"Did you search carefully? Did you search carefully?!"
***
In the back alley of Shouqi Street in the south, Lord Fan's shouting drifted over the walls of Tingfeng Hall, causing the neighbors to tighten their doors and windows once more.
A group of bailiffs stood trembling in the somewhat cramped courtyard. For a long time, no one dared to respond. Only the tattered swallow lantern by the door spun in a circle, as if silently mocking the stupidity of the intruders.
In the shadows of the corridor, a figure stared at the lantern that hadn't been lit for a long time, then suddenly burst out laughing.
The laughter was particularly piercing in the silent night, like a spark falling into a vat of oil, instantly igniting Fan Tong's rage.
"Was it you who vowed that if they weren't at the Protectorate Office, they must be at Tingfeng Hall? Are you playing me for a fool?!"
The person in the shadows stepped out slowly. His green gauze robes looked exceptionally soft and harmless amidst the official uniforms and bailiff clothes. When he spoke, his voice was unusually gentle.
"Lord Fan, do not be anxious. Their movement this time proves we have touched their tail. You have taken the initiative and the situation is under control. They only hide and dodge because they dare not face us directly."
Though this explanation offered nothing substantial, it somewhat restored Fan Tong's face in front of the crowd. Fan Tong's eyes darted around as he looked back at half of Jiugao City with some resentment.
"Tonight, I searched more than just these two places. If they are neither in the east nor the south, where could they have hidden?"
***
Outside the side gate of the Su residence on Yuzao Street in the north, the entire street was silent. The noise from the east couldn't reach here, and the chaos from the south couldn't penetrate these high walls. For the wealthy and powerful, everything happening in the city tonight had nothing to do with them.
A figure quickly peeked out from the alleyway. After confirming no one was around, he slipped into the half-open gate like a wisp of smoke. The gate was then shut tight, separating the world inside from the world outside.
Inside the Su residence, the courtyard was brightly lit. A woman who had been pacing behind a rockery for a long time turned immediately upon hearing the movement and hurried forward.
"How was it?"
Duan Xiaozhou untied his face mask, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Miss Qin's calculations were indeed brilliant. As soon as General Lu returned to the Protectorate Office, someone came knocking. Fan Tong also indeed led men to search Tingfeng Hall. But they won't find so much as a scrap of paper; they'll likely be fuming all night."
Qin Jiuye let out a long sigh of relief and sat down on the edge of a flower bed, feeling a lingering fear.
She hadn't sat down since sunset, and her heart had been hanging by a thread. Only now did she feel they had passed a hurdle. Du Shaoheng, who had been waiting for news with her, also stepped forward to ask.
"Did you see Ding Miao?"
"He wasn't seen at the Protectorate Office. Tingfeng Hall was surrounded so tightly by Fan Tong that we don't know if there are other enemies hiding in the shadows. Our people couldn't get close. General Gao had warned me not to act rashly before the enemy's situation was clear. I only noted their situation and hurried back to report."
As he finished speaking breathlessly, Qin Jiuye handed him a cup of hot tea.
"Luring the snake out of its hole is only one part; the second is to lure the tiger away from the mountain." The white steam from the tea obscured her face, giving her a mysterious and composed air. "If Ding Miao's people have already infiltrated every corner of this city, no matter what we do, he will notice. Instead of that, it's better to make some noise first to draw out those hiding in the dark, and then find an opportunity to turn the tables."
Her words instantly gave Duan Xiaozhou some confidence. Du Shaoheng also spoke up.
"Don't worry, Miss Qin. I've already sent people to follow those from Huichun Hall. This time, we will surely follow the vine to the melon and find the spies Ding Miao has planted in the city. It's just a pity we lack manpower; otherwise, while Fan Tong was out of his hole, we could have taken the chance to infiltrate the Prefect's residence to scout things out."
"Actually... we do have the manpower."
Qin Jiuye rubbed her hands together. Before she could explain further, a sound of wind echoed across the rooftops, and a figure flashed through the night.
The youth was agile, and he carried a huge hemp sack on his back. He had moved across the rooftops without being noticed, and now he flipped down, landing before Qin Jiuye as if seeking credit.
"Sister, I'm back."
*It’s fine that you’re back, but why did you bring so much stuff? I didn't tell you to go shoplifting!*
Qin Jiuye rubbed her nose awkwardly and gave a brief explanation. "He comes from the Jianghu, after all; his lightfoot skills are quite good. He was the perfect person for this. You won't blame me for taking the initiative, will you?"
*Coming from the World's Greatest Villa, his lightfoot skills are more than just 'good.' His killing skills are the ones that are truly good.*
"Why would you say that, Miss Qin? Right now we are united against the enemy; there's no need for 'yours' and 'mine.' We rough men don't care about such things."
Du Shaoheng spoke with a clear stance. Qin Jiuye nodded and signaled Li Qiao to report. The latter spoke succinctly.
"Though Fan Tong was not in his residence, the Prefect's office is guarded by the Sima's men—at least a hundred of them. I couldn't scout further, but I didn't come back empty-handed."
As he spoke, he dropped the "cargo" he had been carrying.
The crowd gathered around. The hemp sack squirmed before a head popped out—it actually contained a person.
The man landed head-first and was dizzy for a long time before he could stand steady. He looked around and then fell to his knees with a *thud*. He looked disheveled from the journey, and after staring for a moment, the group recognized him as Cao Jin, the Clerk who served beside Fan Tong.
"Lord Cao..."
As Qin Jiuye murmured his name, Cao Jin ignored his bruised forehead and kowtowed repeatedly, his hair a mess.
"Little Cao! You lords can just call me Little Cao!"
After a few months, Lord Cao had completely changed. Not only did he not dare call himself "Lord," he looked as if he wanted to become a servant serving tea, with the word "compliant" practically engraved on his forehead.
Qin Jiuye was speechless. After a moment, she looked at the youth beside her.
"Did you hit him? Is his head injured?"
Li Qiao raised an eyebrow. Seeing this, Cao Jin immediately pointed to his black eye and swore to the heavens.
"My escape from that sea of misery was entirely thanks to this brother's help! these bumps and bruises were all from my own carelessness; they have absolutely nothing to do with him!"
Now everyone understood. At this point, what had happened between the two was clearly not important. What mattered was what Lord Cao had experienced in the Prefect's office to make him turn out like this.
"Lord Cao holds an official position; I dare not overstep." Gao Quan's voice was gentle, but he didn't miss a beat in his calculations. "We have sincerely invited Lord Cao to the residence for a chat. If Lord Cao speaks from the heart and tells the truth, that is the bond of friendship. Only then would we dare leave Lord Cao to find another place to stay."
Gao Quan's words hit the mark. Cao Jin immediately nodded like a chicken pecking grain.
"I will tell you everything I know. As long as you don't send me back to that ghostly place, I'll do anything."
The gold and silver nest of Jiugao City had become a "ghostly place"; the story behind this was surely not simple. Even though they had already left the Prefect's office, Cao Jin's voice was still instinctively lowered, as if speaking any louder would draw the monsters from the darkness.
"It all began with that pond in the backyard of the Prefect's office..."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
回春汤 | Rejuvenation Soup | The medicinal soup Qin Jiuye sells.
回光散 | Radiance Powder | Huichun Hall's famous medicine.
守器街 | Shouqi Street | A street in the southern part of Jiugao City.
听风堂 | Tingfeng Hall | Qin Jiuye's residence/base.
果然居 | Guoran Residence | Qin Jiuye's shop name.
都水台太舟卿 | Director of the Waterways Bureau | Lin Fang's official title.
军司马 | Military Sima | A military rank/official under the Prefect.
郡守 | Prefect | The head of the commandery/city (Fan Tong).
掾史 | Clerk | An administrative official (Cao Jin).
温柔刀 | Gentle Blade | A metaphor for Su Muhe's soft but lethal methods.
和沅舟 | He Yuanzhou | Su Muhe's grandmother (referenced as a victim of the secret formula).
