Jiu'gao City, which had enjoyed peace in its secluded corner for nearly a century without weathering any significant storms, had finally run into serious trouble.
First, the Emperor’s Great Sacrifice had implicated countless people. Not only was Lord Liang of the Ministry of Spring—the man who had spearheaded the ceremony—executed, but the investigation had also exposed the embezzlement of the granaries and even dragged in the lineage of the Prince of Xiaoning. As the saying goes, pulling up the radish brings the mud with it; the Seven-Harmony Libation exported from Jiu'gao was merely a speck of yellow clay on the radish’s roots. While the source of the wine was inevitably under suspicion, problems could have arisen during the process as well. Had nothing followed, there might have been room for maneuver. However, the events that transpired next made it impossible not to suspect that a terrifying conspiracy was hidden within this normally law-abiding little city.
First came the rumors of a strange madness, followed by reports that a Shadow Envoy from the World’s Greatest Manor had slipped into the city to stir up trouble. Then, the impregnable Jiu'gao City, though not yet breached from without, had sealed its own gates. One or two incidents might be dismissed as coincidence, but a succession of them suggested a hidden hand at work. There were originally only two major powers within Jiu'gao: Governor Fan Tong, who had been blown into a bloody bloom before everyone’s eyes, and the Water-Control Commandant, Qiu Ling. The story of the Qiu family was even more intriguing. Who didn't know of the once-illustrious Black Moon Army? Who hadn't heard the legends of the Black Moon’s fall and the tragedy of Juchao? It was said there was nothing new under the sun, only the wheels of history repeating their old tracks.
A continuous rain lasting months that heralded disaster, a plague-stricken city cut off from the outside world and haunted by ghosts, and unidentified rebels with ulterior motives lurking within—all of it pointed toward that blurry shadow of the past.
Jiu'gao was to be the next Juchao.
"Nonsense!" Cheng Yu slammed her hand on the table and stood up, her anger following her long, powerful finger as she nearly jabbed it into the brow of the person before her. "The Jinshi Bureau has not fired a single arrow from start to finish, nor did we plant any explosives outside those four city gates. Even if His Majesty personally brought the Jade Cicada Battalion to investigate, every member of the Jinshi Bureau could withstand the scrutiny. There have been no lapses!"
However, no matter how indignant she was, Zhou Yaxian remained as steady as a mountain, merely staring at the half-cup of tea in his hand.
"What I said may not be the fact, but it is very likely the 'truth' that everyone inside Jiu'gao currently believes."
If the truth was a traveler on foot, then rumors were meteoric arrows with wings—especially in such a moment of crisis and panic.
Cheng Yu understood the deeper meaning behind Zhou Yaxian’s words, but her resentment was hard to quell.
"The World’s Greatest Manor has long been deeply rooted in the imperial court. The Jinshi Bureau went to great lengths to uproot this poisonous vine without damaging the foundation, losing countless soldiers in Yichun. No sooner had we dealt with the Manor than heavy arrows and fire oil appeared in Jiu'gao. Anyone with eyes can see there is trickery afoot. Though His Majesty is young, he is not so easily blinded."
As her voice fell, Commander Wei, standing to the side, immediately chimed in.
"To blow up the moat’s drawbridge and block the city gates requires not only a large amount of explosives but also pre-arranged wiring. For such a massive operation to go unnoticed by anyone inside or outside the city... ultimately, the blame shouldn't fall on us. The Water-Control Commandant and the Governor’s Mansion cannot escape accountability."
"At this point, pushing the blame onto the people in the city will neither resolve the crisis nor clear our names," Zhou Yaxian said bluntly, exposing the man's petty scheme and not even bothering to look at his embarrassed expression. "A pack of tigers and leopards can be hunted down, but lice and fleas are small and hard to guard against. Those remnants of the World’s Greatest Manor mingled with the commoners entering and leaving the city, acting in secret and plotting for a long time, just waiting to strike today. Meanwhile, we must consider the dignity of the officials, finding our hands tied at every turn. Arriving a step late was exactly what they calculated."
Most crucially, until the moment it happened, who could have imagined that the enemy hiding in the shadows would ultimately choose not to cause a ruckus in the capital, but instead aim their spearhead at a remote little city?
"If we go into the city ourselves, won't everything become clear?"
Qiu Ling’s voice suddenly rang out. Zhou Yaxian lifted his eyelids, his voice instantly turning cold.
"You should not be here."
The rank of Superintendent outweighed that of a Supervisor. Qiu Ling should have stopped there, but this time he ignored the other man, walking straight to Cheng Yu and tossing a specially made crossbow in front of her.
"The person firing the cold arrows has been caught, but we couldn't keep them alive. They clearly came prepared and never intended to return."
Cheng Yu glanced at the crossbow on the ground, her brow furrowed with anxiety.
"Without even a living witness to question, surely you don't expect to use this broken bow to convince Prince Yu'an to advance into the city now?"
Before Qiu Ling could speak, Zhou Yaxian spoke up from the other side.
"Even if Prince Yu'an is to be convinced, this matter must absolutely not be led by you. Your actions at the World’s Greatest Manor have already reached their ears. You can barely protect yourself, yet you choose this critical juncture to return to Jiu'gao and cause a stir. Do you think the Qiu family’s situation isn't dangerous enough?" His tone grew increasingly disappointed, his gaze turning stern. "When did you become so reckless and stubborn? If I had known, I would never have allowed the General to let you return to Jiu'gao."
His words fell, and for a long time, there was no response. Instead, Qiu Ling tore off the dust-covered cloak from his shoulders. As the bundle of cloth hit the ground, his back and shoulders, stained with blood, were exposed to the cold air. The wounds from his days of hard riding had failed to heal; the festering blood had soaked through three or four layers of clothing, a sight that wrenched the heart.
"I entered the World’s Greatest Manor to retrieve clues for the secret formula; that was my duty as a Supervisor investigating a case. I returned to Jiu'gao for the safety of the thousands of citizens; that is my responsibility as a member of the Qiu family. May I ask the Superintendent, what is my crime? Even though he was imprisoned here for over twenty years, my father never vented his resentment on the innocent, nor did he for a single moment neglect his duties under the title of Water-Control Commandant. He managed the waters and promoted agriculture, working diligently for over twenty years, only to be branded with the crime of 'undying rebellious intent' in the end. May I ask the Superintendent, what is the Qiu family’s crime? My father does not even hold military power—how dare they frame and slander him like this?"
Grief and indignation left his cool eyes bloodshot, and his face, now covered in stubble, seemed to have aged overnight. Zhou Yaxian looked at the young junior he had watched grow up; the reprimand he intended to speak was ultimately swallowed back down.
He stepped forward, took out a clean cloth, and gently wiped the blood and filth from the young man's face.
"It is precisely because your father lost his military power long ago and has no chance of winning that everything in this city looks more like a desperate revenge that was never intended to end peacefully. Is it not?"
Qiu Ling’s blood-stained hands loosened, then clenched into fists again.
"Jiu'gao is not Juchao. We have already found a way to solve everything. We only need a chance to present it..."
"You say there is a solution for the strange illness rising in the city, yet you cannot provide evidence. You cannot even gather the ingredients for the medicinal catalyst, so how can you talk of controlling the situation? Once any mistake occurs, the situation will only worsen. At that time, forceful measures will still have to be used. No matter what our starting point is, we will end up with a reputation for incompetence. Do you think Prince Yu'an will act according to your words?"
"There is no need for Prince Yu'an to go personally; I am willing to go in his stead. If he does not trust the Qiu family, then send someone he does trust. Even if he trusts no one, he only needs to give the people in the city some time, and they will surely open the gates..."
"Until the matter of the Wild Fragrance Seeds is resolved and we understand exactly what the situation is, no one is allowed to approach that city, and no one is allowed to leave it."
Zhou Yaxian looked at the fresh tea in his hand, his tone light and lingering. However, anyone familiar with this Superintendent’s style of conduct would know that this meant everything was now irreversible.
Qiu Ling’s figure swayed. The hardships of the journey here had not broken him, but at this moment, a sense of powerlessness swept through his entire body. His father had personally experienced the tragedy of Juchao, and now, only twenty-two years later, was he to watch helplessly as it all repeated in Jiu'gao?
"Why must you be so resolute? You have stayed here without leaving, Superintendent—is it not because you also hold a single thought, a desire not to drive them to total extinction?"
"Because you are not telling the truth." Zhou Yaxian looked up at Qiu Ling, his voice carrying an unavoidable pressure. "Regarding everything that might happen in that city, you haven't told the truth at all."
"In coming to Yuzhou, the Jinshi Bureau’s mission, besides the World’s Greatest Manor, included this lingering trouble from Juchao." Cheng Yu finally spoke. By now, she knew some things no longer needed to be hidden. "The martial world is vast and distant, but it is never further than the Emperor’s land. Do you think the Jinshi Bureau is as useless as that Governor of Jiu'gao? Those batches of Seven-Harmony Libation were brought into the Imperial Medical Office long ago. Even if Prince Yu'an does not know the full truth, the fact that seven or eight people in his entourage are medical supervisors and officers from the palace proves he has more or less guessed the situation he is about to face."
The teacup in Zhou Yaxian’s hand was set down, placing an irrefutable conclusion on this anxious debate.
"From today onward, no unit is permitted to advance even half a mile further. The Jinshi Bureau will deploy along the banks of the Feng and Huan Rivers. The rest of the forces will move south to seal off the downstream exits of Jiu'gao. This final line of defense must be held so tightly that not a breath of wind can penetrate, nor a grain of sand blow through."
****** ****** ******
Qin Jiuye opened her eyes and found herself standing on the Bridge of No Return. The crimson river water below was surging and overflowing, flooding the bridge's surface and soaking her shoes.
Crying and fleeing figures brushed past her. She slowly looked up; Jiu'gao City, fallen into a living hell, was right before her eyes.
At first, she knew it was only a nightmare, because she had experienced similar nightmares before. But even so, she could not escape no matter what. She struggled within this terrifying and endless dreamscape, dying over and over, and starting over and over again. The so-called cycle of hell was likely nothing more than this.
How had things turned out this way? She couldn't remember for the life of her. She only remembered that on the day of the Winter Solstice, Fan Tong’s sacrificial ceremony was going to be disrupted. Li Qiao had been lured away, and she had led people to pursue, only to encounter Ding Miao in a theater, and then...
Qin Jiuye opened her eyes. What met her sight were somewhat familiar, dilapidated roof beams.
She couldn't quite tell if this was reality or another layer of the dream. She only felt the appearance of the beams was familiar, yet she couldn't remember where she had seen them.
Her head was heavy and groggy, and her body felt an unnatural, stagnant weight. The mere act of pulling back the corner of the quilt exhausted her strength. Cold sweat broke out, soaking half her clothes. She instinctively reached up to her hair. The hairpin with the hidden needle was gone, and her clothes had been changed to new ones. The light, soft fabric was not something the Guoran Residence could afford, and the elegant style had nothing to do with Xu Qiuchi’s taste.
Her heart began to throb after waking from the nightmare. She struggled to climb out of bed, but before she could take a single step with her bare feet, her entire body went limp, and she collapsed onto the floor.
It felt like recovering from a major illness, but her instincts as a physician immediately told her that she must have been poisoned. The medicine pouch and needles she carried were all gone. Refusing to give up, she strained her neck to look around. The door was tightly shut and locked. The only window in the room was also closed, with a heavy curtain hanging on the inside. Beside the curtain stood a flower stand, and the potted plant on it had withered, looking bare.
Qin Jiuye stared at the familiar-looking plant and finally realized that this was Listening Wind Hall.
Since her legs had no strength, she dragged her body across the floor. Then, she reached up, grabbed one leg of the flower stand, and pushed with all her might. The potted plant tilted and fell, shattering on the ground with a loud crash. A flying shard cut her forehead, but she didn't care. she quickly picked out a piece of broken ceramic and hid it in her hand. The next moment, the door creaked open. She saw a pair of boots stained with mud enter the room, finally stopping in front of her.
"Why are you awake?"
A strange voice spoke. It wasn't Ding Miao’s voice.
Hope flared in Qin Jiuye’s heart. She felt herself being easily lifted from the floor and placed back onto the bed.
"Let me go... where is this..."
As soon as her body touched the bed, she struggled to sit up again. The person who had put her back seemed a bit at a loss, just standing there.
Qin Jiuye’s voice stopped abruptly. The silly figure leading the big green ox outside the city gates surfaced in her mind. She stared blankly at the person's face, and only after a long while did she squeeze a raspy sound from deep in her throat.
"How is it you..."
"Shh." The round-faced youth stepped forward quickly, signaling her to be quiet with a mysterious air. "The Master watched over you all night and has only just laid down to rest. Let him sleep a bit longer."
Qin Jiuye looked up in a daze, her gaze passing through the gauze curtains of the outer room toward the half-open door. However, before she could see clearly, a familiar scent drifted past her nose. She looked up at the person before her in disbelief.
She recognized the scent on him. It was the same scent as the swordsman who had first appeared behind her and then lured Li Qiao away.
She shrank back, the last trace of hope in her eyes vanishing, replaced only by vigilance and resistance.
"Who exactly are you?"
Perhaps because her voice was too tense and sharp, some movement finally came from outside the door. The thin gauze was pushed aside, and a blurred figure was revealed. The moment she saw the newcomer, Qin Jiuye felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. The sweat all over her body instantly turned bone-chillingly cold, making her shudder uncontrollably.
"Are you cold? You are quite ill. I helped feed you medicine several times during the night, which is why you're sweating. It seems we need to add a thicker quilt."
As Ding Miao spoke, he stood up and skillfully took out a thick wool blanket to cover her.
The moment her body was touched, Qin Jiuye seemed to finally regain her soul. She nearly bolted upright from the bed, struggling desperately like a fish thrown onto the shore. But her struggle was so weak. The man grabbed her hand, easily restraining her, and then leaned in close. An overwhelming shadow instantly enveloped her.
"Don't move. What if you hurt yourself again?"
His hand was somewhat cool as it gently brushed over her cut forehead. That coolness spread across her skin, making her hair stand on end.
"Don't touch me..."
She almost didn't recognize her own voice—hoarse and intermittent, like the sound made by a weak, dying person.
"Why are you throwing a tantrum with me? You were so well-behaved before."
His hand gently stroked her cheek, as if wiping a piece of dusty jade. Yet this gentle movement was comparable to a cruel punishment. He pretended not to see her trembling, his hand sliding deep beneath her thin clothing. The fear of being the fish on the chopping block made it almost impossible for her to breathe. After an unknown amount of time, the hand finally stopped, eventually only fishing out the broken ceramic shard from her waist and tossing it aside.
He sighed in her ear, his voice filled with genuine concern.
"The medicine isn't working well, or perhaps you are even sicker than I imagined. But it doesn't matter; I have plenty of patience. This is all for your own good. You won't blame me, will you?"
A faint, indistinct fragrance drifted to her nose. She tried hard to hold her breath, but she could not escape no matter what.
"Don't worry, we've already rescued you." The round-faced swordsman poked his head in, a smile appearing on his somewhat dull face. The certainty in his voice was unsettling. "From now on, we are a family."
A massive shock, along with the grogginess deep in her head, hit her all at once. She collapsed onto the bed and fell into darkness.
Qin Jiuye felt that perhaps she hadn't woken up at all. She drifted between bizarre nightmares and a reality even more terrifying than those nightmares, using every ounce of strength just to maintain a sliver of consciousness.
The cut on her head had been treated at some point; thick cotton gauze wrapped with ointment was bound around her head, making her feel even more lightheaded. During this time, she woke up intermittently a few times, but she usually couldn't hold on for long before falling back into a coma. Gradually, she lost her sense of time, only able to seize the gaps of clarity and judge how much time had passed by the degree of her wound's healing.
Occasionally, she used the opportunities when they brought her food to listen for movement outside the courtyard, but she heard nothing at all. This place, once the noisies and most gossip-filled spot in Jiu'gao, was now as silent as a pool of stagnant water.
Or perhaps, the entire city of Jiu'gao was like this.
The day of her appointment with Qiu Ling must have long since passed, but Prince Yu'an’s people had not appeared in the city, meaning things had taken a turn for the worst. She had previously discussed a plan with Xu Qiuchi; they wouldn't just sit and wait for death. But Ding Miao appeared very composed, showing no signs of defeat. The situation in the city might be even more severe than she imagined. She guessed that the two sides were either still locked in combat or in a stalemate following a clash. Regardless of which it was, her current situation was very grim, because in the short term, Xu Qiuchi and the others might be too preoccupied to come and rescue her.
Ding Miao didn't seem to intend to take her life. After the initial terror passed, she slowly calmed down, but another layer of worry inevitably surfaced in her heart. Xu Qiuchi bore the responsibilities of the Qiu family and wouldn't lose his composure because of her disappearance, but Li Qiao would never leave her be. Ding Miao trapping her in Listening Wind Hall was indeed a move that wouldn't be guessed immediately, but it wasn't entirely impossible to discover. Now that two or three days had passed without any sign, it could only mean that something had happened to Li Qiao that day.
She didn't want to guess this way, and she knew that for a useless person like her who couldn't even get out of bed, such guesses served no purpose other than to increase her anxiety. But she still couldn't help but worry, fret, and even feel afraid.
Ding Miao had drugged her water and food. After she realized this, she secretly spat out what she had eaten, only to be discovered immediately. The round-faced youth stood by the bed with his hands on his hips, his voice full of confusion.
"How can you not eat? The Master said that if people don't eat, they will die."
She said nothing, merely pursing her lips and staring at the floor.
"Are... are you angry with me for tricking you before?" He gestured at his neck, stuttering, his tone growing more urgent. "The Master made me do that! I was just playing with you! I would never hurt you! Never! What do I have to do to make you believe me? Tell me... tell me..."
The round-faced swordsman’s hands grabbed her and shook her back and forth. The hard calluses on his fingertips rubbed against her skin. One moment, the familiarity reminded her of that other youth’s touch; the next, it was so disgusting she could hardly bear it.
"What... what did you actually do to him?"
She finally spoke, her voice trembling slightly from her rapid breathing. She stared into his dull eyes, wanting to dig out an answer.
But those eyes were empty, as pure as a child’s and as wicked as a demon’s.
"Are you asking about Jia Thirteen? He is no match for me—not before, and not in the future. I could have killed him, but the Master only told me to lure him away. I lured him all the way to the docks before I made my move. He was heavily injured, though. Even if I didn't take his life, he likely won't survive."
He announced his victory with great pride. After waiting a long time without a response, he could only look at the woman in confusion.
Qin Jiuye felt as if she had fallen into a boundless, frozen nightmare. The surroundings were so quiet she could only hear her own heartbeat, each beat carving out a bloody hole.
For a moment, she really wanted to let go of her emotions, to break down and wail, to scream and stomp before her enemy. But she suppressed it with all her might. This endurance was far more painful than an outburst. She only felt a dull pain in her chest, a ball of fire burning up her throat, and she actually spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Move!"
Ding Miao’s startled and angry voice rang out from the doorway. The next moment, he had rushed to the bedside. Ren Xiaohan stood by, at a loss, and was immediately slapped hard across the face.
"What did you say to her?"
His dull eyes stared unblinkingly at the man before him. Ren Xiaohan didn't even raise a hand to touch his swollen cheek.
"She asked me about Jia Thirteen, so I told the truth..."
Terrifying emotions flickered across Ding Miao's face, like the ugly scar peeking out from under his collar. After a long while, he finally calmed down and gently patted the round-faced youth.
"I'm sorry, it was my fault." After saying this, he turned his gaze toward the empty table nearby and said softly, "It's also time we had a meal together. Could you have someone prepare it?"
Ren Xiaohan froze for a moment, the light in his eyes brightening again. The blow he had just received was instantly forgotten. Nodding, he backed out of the room.
The room fell silent again. For a time, only the sound of her struggling on the bed could be heard. He walked over step by step, gently but irresistibly supporting her shoulders, letting her lean against his chest. He raised his hand to gently wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth, patting her back as if soothing a child.
Qin Jiuye’s body began to tremble uncontrollably again, but the drugs and the exhaustion following her great grief left her limbs stiff and numb. She was like a shadow puppet, only able to be manipulated by him. An unspeakable pain nearly consumed her. She closed her eyes, tracing the youth’s image in her mind, imagining his voice, his scent, his warmth.
Finally, he noticed her closed eyes and the expression on her face. His movements stopped instantly. His gaze turned toward the bright red stain spreading across the quilt, and his cold voice held a kind of anger he hadn't even noticed himself.
"Do you care for him that much? He is nothing more than a broken man who came out of the World’s Greatest Manor. He is far more cowardly than you imagine. He can't even take care of himself, let alone save you. And your friends can't save you either. They don't care about you as much as you think. They are either busy trying to turn the tide and win the game, or busy saving the world and fulfilling their great cause. When it comes to the most critical moment, they will still choose to protect the majority and treat you as a sacrifice that can be made. No matter when, no matter where, the only person who will always choose you is me."
She pursed her lips and said nothing. Now that the most sorrowful moment had passed, she didn't even want to waste the energy to argue with him. She needed to gather her strength and deliver a fierce counterattack.
After an unknown amount of time, the door was pushed open. A group of "servants and maids" filed in, placing steaming dishes on the table. He carried her to the table, set a bowl and chopsticks before her, and then pulled Ren Xiaohan down to sit as well.
This was the first time in the past few days she had been allowed to sit in a chair. Having been paralyzed in bed for so long, she felt her hands and feet were somewhat numb. The powerlessness that had radiated from deep within her body had now spread to her fingertips. She could barely hold the chopsticks and spoon. The soup spoon in her hand fell back into the bowl with a clatter, and then a clean hand took the soup bowl from her.
Ding Miao held the spoon, gently scooping up half a spoonful of broth and half a spoonful of rice. He blew on it softly before bringing it to her lips.
Qin Jiuye stared fixedly at the spoon, frozen there without moving.
Her stomach was empty. The chicken soup, simmered with ham, had a fragrant aroma, and the rice soaked in the broth was crystal clear. Yet she felt a bitterness in her mouth and a darkness before her eyes.
"Open your mouth."
The man holding the spoon gave the command. She lowered her eyelashes, and after a long while, she finally opened her mouth obediently and swallowed the spoonful of soup and rice.
She had not yet figured out his background, nor did she know what the situation was outside. Now was not the best time to resist. The priority was to stabilize him and then find an opportunity to recover her health.
He was clearly very satisfied with her reaction. After one spoonful came another, until the bowl of soup and half a bowl of rice were completely gone. Only then did he take out a handkerchief to gently wipe the corners of her mouth. His movements were too gentle, his gaze focused on her lips. Qin Jiuye felt as if needles were pricking her back under that gaze, making it almost impossible to breathe.
The "servants" and "maids" who had served the food did not leave. They stood bowed to the side, exceptionally quiet. Whenever her gaze shifted to their faces, they would return a polite smile, but the more she looked at those smiles, the more eerie they seemed. Like the performers and maids on that flower boat, these people were deaf, blind, and mute. She had previously only felt they were pitiful, but now she wondered if there were truly any so-called souls left within these shells.
Her resisting body shuddered, and the long chopsticks by her hand fell to the floor. The woman nearest her immediately stepped forward with agile movements, replaced them with new ones, and mouthed something to her.
She understood the mouth shape. The woman had called her "Madam."
The drugged food in her stomach began to churn. Qin Jiuye finally understood what this play Ding Miao loved most was. He wanted her to play his "wife," while that somewhat foolish round-faced swordsman was their "child." This meal, which made her feel as if years were passing, was nothing more than an ordinary dinner for a "family of three."
Some words truly shouldn't be spoken lightly. To spite Li Qiao, she had once said she hated playing house the most. In the blink of an eye, the heavens had arranged exactly that for her.
"I've been working on this great play in the city until the middle of the night, and I seem to have caught a bit of a cold. Would Jiuye be willing to take a look for me?"
Ding Miao’s voice rose unhurriedly. She didn't speak, looking down at her nearly crippled hands.
He wasn't in a hurry either, quietly waiting for her answer.
Qin Jiuye knew she didn't have the right to refuse. After a long while, she tremblingly reached out and placed her hand on his wrist.
"The pulse is deep and thin. You are indeed overworked."
She finished with a few brief words and was about to quickly pull her hand back when he grabbed it.
"Your hands are a bit cold. Is it because you fear bitterness and haven't been taking your medicine properly?"
Qin Jiuye forced herself to calm down, curled the corners of her mouth, and said softly.
"Haven't you personally checked whether I've taken my medicine? It's already winter, and this courtyard is drafty. Staying in the room for too long will let the cold air enter the body. If Mr. Ding truly pities me, he should let me go outside to soak up some sun and replenish my yang energy."
She didn't give up any chance to investigate the outside, which he easily noticed.
"If you want to know something, just ask me directly. I can tell you everything without reservation."
He clearly knew what she cared about, leading her to ask. Although her heart was nearly torn in two, she still used coldness to mask her pain and unease, asking in a flat voice.
"Fine. Then I ask you, have you seen Li Qiao?"
No matter how she masked it, the concern and heartache in her eyes couldn't be hidden, and it was irritating to behold.
Ding Miao lowered his head, his finger tapping the spoon against the empty bowl one stroke after another.
"Naturally not. I merely sent someone to deliver a letter to him, saying that with the Winter Solstice as the deadline, as long as he was willing to come see me, I would let the people around him go. However, he broke the appointment. So I sent Xiaohan to fetch you. When he saw Xiaohan, he flew into a rage and chased after him, leaving you behind. The city is in such chaos; they couldn't protect you, so naturally, I couldn't just sit by and do nothing."
As he spoke, he let out a soft sigh. There seemed to be regret in that sigh, yet it was unspeakably uncomfortable to hear.
Cold sweat on Qin Jiuye’s forehead slid down her cheek. Her weakness made even sitting at the table to finish a meal feel like a struggle, but her gaze toward him was as sharp as an arrow, her voice filled with unconcealed contempt.
"You're lying. You sent him a letter, and in that letter, you must have used me as a threat to demand he meet you alone. Then you made a feint, all to break down his mental defenses and lure him away from me. From the very beginning, you never intended to meet him, did you? What exactly do you want to do to him..."
"What do I want to do to him?" Ding Miao’s smile faded, and a bizarre, twisted expression appeared on his face. "What should I do to him? We both came from the same place; no one knows him better than I do. Even if I brought him before you, listed his crimes, subjected him to torture, and cut him into a thousand pieces, what would it matter? We've already experienced similar torments countless times."
Qin Jiuye looked at his face, her breathing involuntarily becoming rapid.
He saw her unease and leaned in close, his tone infinitely gentle, but for a moment, the expression in his eyes could almost be considered cruel.
"So I decided to let him experience some things he hasn't been through—like losing something after possessing it. When fate wants to take something from people, it doesn't ask for their opinion. I want him to know that I am his fate."
After spitting out those cruel words, he turned back into that elegant academy teacher. He took a sip of clear tea and turned his head slightly to look around.
"I was afraid you wouldn't adjust, so I specifically chose your friend’s courtyard. You lived here for a time back then, so you're familiar with every brick and tile. The two rooms in the back are too old, but we can slowly renovate them. I've already cleared out the pond in the courtyard for you; you can raise whatever you like. I heard you took a fancy to that house in the back alley of Fourth Sub-Street; it seems our tastes are perfectly aligned. How about we move there another day? Slowly rebuilding and managing the courtyard can be a kind of pleasure..."
Every word he spoke was so reasonable, yet Qin Jiuye felt an uncomfortable terror, as if a swarm of bees were circling her ears. Her empty eyes finally showed some emotion. It was as if she could no longer bear for him to say another word. The next moment, she suddenly grabbed the edge of the table and began to vomit violently.
The medicinal juice, mixed with the soup and rice that had been forced into her stomach, was vomited all over the floor. The dry heaving only stopped after a long while.
He just watched quietly until she was silent. Then he took out a handkerchief and gently wiped her mouth.
"It seems your body is still a bit weak. It was inconsiderate of me to let you sit here and catch a draft. It's better to close the doors and windows and go back to bed to rest."
The "maids and servants" immediately withdrew upon hearing this. Before leaving, they shut the door tightly. That door, which never used to close properly, had been fitted with new hinges. Even if pushed open, it would close automatically. The moment it shut, not even a breath of wind could get in. Qin Jiuye stared blankly as the last sliver of a gap was closed, as if witnessing her last connection to the outside world being severed.
"No... don't close it..."
A trace of uncontrollable despair appeared in her voice, but to the man’s ears, it only added a kind of unspeakable pleasure.
He approached her from behind, embraced her, and covered her unwilling eyes.
"Don't be afraid. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here with you, forever and ever."
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 七合鬯 | Seven-Harmony Libation | A specific type of wine or medicinal brew from Jiu'gao. |
| 金石司 | Jinshi Bureau | An investigative/intelligence agency (literally Gold and Stone Bureau). |
| 督监 | Superintendent | A high-ranking official title (Zhou Yaxian's rank). |
| 督护 | Supervisor | A mid-ranking official title (Qiu Ling's rank). |
| 野馥子 | Wild Fragrance Seed | The botanical source of the "plague" or strange illness. |
| 听风堂 | Listening Wind Hall | The location where Qin Jiuye is being held; her former workplace. |
| 壬小寒 | Ren Xiaohan | The round-faced swordsman working for Ding Miao. |
| 虞安王 | Prince Yu'an | A royal figure stationed outside the city. |
| 果然居 | Guoran Residence | The place where Qin Jiuye previously stayed/worked. |
| 居巢 | Juchao | The site of a past tragedy/plague mentioned in the story. |
| 瑇瑁营 | Jade Cicada Battalion | An elite military unit (transliterated as Jade Cicada). |
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