“Warning?” Yin Yin recalled how Qingmei had looked at the time and offered another possibility, “I think it was more like a premonition.”

“Premonition?” Ling Long lifted his head to look at Yin Yin. A shadow seemed to pass through his amber eyes.

“Yes, a death notice.” Yin Yin’s gaze darkened slightly. “It felt like the killer was telling Qingmei— ‘You’re next’.”

Ling Long furrowed his brows slightly. “Why do you think that?”

Yin Yin looked at Ling Long and said, “When I found Qingmei, she was really scared. But it wasn’t the corpse that frightened her— it was the fear of death. Her expression…… it looked as if she were the one who had died, not Zhu Wuwen.”

Ling Long looked at her for a moment, then asked, “Do you know about Qing Shancha?”

“Uh……” Yin Yin nodded awkwardly. “Yanyan told me.”

“Actually, when I realized that the Shancha from Tianxiang Society was Qing Shancha, I already had a bad feeling.”

“You also think she joined Tianxiang Society to take revenge?” Yin Yin’s eyes widened as if something had just dawned on her. “Wait, could Qingmei^[1]Green Plum be the same Luzhu^[2]Green Bamboo who escaped back then?!”

“It’s a possibility.”

“But what does that have to do with Zhu Wuwen? Yanyan said the one who was engaged to Qing Shancha was someone with the surname Ning.”

“Ning Qingfeng. He and Zhu Wuwen were close friends.” Ling Long paused. “There were four people who went to Nanping County back then. Ning Qingfeng and Zhu Wuwen were among them.”

What exactly had happened in Nanping County two years ago? If Qing Shancha wanted revenge, why hadn’t she gone after Ning Qingfeng instead of Zhu Wuwen? And was Qingmei really Luzhu? What was the real cause of the incense burner fire at the Fragrance Banquet? Was it an accident or foul play?

As Yin Yin puzzled over the growing mess of unanswered questions, she felt a gentle flick to her brow.

“Don’t frown like that. These matters have nothing to do with you.”

Yin Yin rubbed the spot where Ling Long had flicked her and gave a soft “Oh”, then buried her head.

She got flicked on the forehead by her crush! So shy! ~o(////▽////)o~

The sky had already begun to brighten, and the sun slowly emerged. Right on cue, Yin Yin felt hungry.

“Let’s go grab something to eat.” The inn was now crowded with constables, and the murder had left the guests on edge. Yin Yin no longer wanted to stay there. “Mother, how about we move to another inn?”

Ling Long considered it and said, “Madam Yin, if you don’t mind, why not come stay at my place?”

“This……” Madam Yin seemed hesitant. “Xiao Yin staying there is already troubling you. If I move in as well, wouldn’t that be even more of a burden?”

“When I stayed at Yin Manor, your household treated me with great kindness. Now that you’ve come to the capital, it’s only right that I return the favor.”

Madam Yin looked at Ling Long with a trace of confusion. Back when he stayed at Yin Manor, he had been aloof and distant. Though polite, he hardly spoke and always seemed to keep others at arm’s length. Why was he suddenly so warm in the capital?

Her gaze shifted back and forth between Ling Long and Yin Yin, and a realization dawned.

As expected of her daughter! She even managed to thaw a walking iceberg! How impressive!

Yin Yin accompanied Ling Long to escort Madam Yin to Zhuwang’s headquarters. After a simple breakfast, she found her thoughts drifting back to the murder at the inn. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this matter was far from over. Where had Qingmei gone after fleeing? Was she in danger?

The entire morning passed in a daze of wild speculation, until Sang Ze showed up and insisted on dragging her out to lunch at Tianxiang Pavilion.

The restaurant’s signature dish, honey-glazed spare ribs, was renowned throughout the capital. But because it belonged to Liu Ruoxi, Yin Yin had never set foot there.

Today, however, Sang Ze’s persistent pestering left her with no choice. She thought of asking Madam Yin to join them, but the latter said she’d been too frightened the night before and needed rest. Instead, she told Yin Yin to invite Ling Long.

Invite Ling Long to meet Liu Ruoxi? She’d have to be out of her mind. No— even if she were out of her mind, she wouldn’t do that!

So she decided to take Sang Ze alone to try the legendary ribs. But they’d only just walked a few steps when Ling Long called out to her, “Yinyin, where are you going?”

“Uh…… lunch.” She answered, somewhat guiltily.

“I’ll go with you.” He wasn’t comfortable letting Yin Yin wander around on her own.

Yin Yin: “……”

So this was what people meant by ‘heaven’s net is vast and wide, and nothing escapes’? Yin Yin suddenly felt defeated.

In the end, Ling Long went with her and Sang Ze to Tianxiang Pavilion.

Standing outside the restaurant, Ling Long looked at Yin Yin with a teasing smile. “I didn’t expect you to eat here.”

“……It wasn’t voluntary.” If she had any say, she’d rather starve than eat Liu Ruoxi’s food!

……Well, maybe not starve. If it ever came to that, she’d choose Liu Ruoxi.

Inside, the restaurant was more crowded than Yin Yin had expected. Maybe it really was the food— or maybe it was the beautiful ladies.

Ling Long, as always, drew attention the moment he stepped inside. A girl quickly came to guide them and take their order. To Yin Yin’s surprise, even the owner herself came down to greet them.

Watching Liu Ruoxi descend the stairs gracefully, Yin Yin felt that even if they served dragon meat, she couldn’t eat a single bite now.

“Ling Long, why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I could’ve prepared a private room.” Liu Ruoxi smiled as she sat next to him without sparing Yin Yin a glance.

Ling Long took a sip of tea. “No need to trouble yourself.”

“Then this meal’s on me. I didn’t get the chance to welcome you properly last time.”

Your treat? Now I’ve completely lost my appetite.  Yin Yin forced a stiff smile. “I heard Miss Liu was injured. Shouldn’t you be resting?”

Bitao, standing beside Liu Ruoxi, snorted and lifted her chin toward Yin Yin. “Our leader is busy managing important affairs, unlike certain idle young ladies with nothing better to do.”

Heh.

Yin Yin blinked innocently. “And who is…… Li Wanji^[3]a mock-innocent pun that sounds like 日理万机 (rì lǐ wàn jī – ‘to handle countless affairs every day’). 机 (jī) can be misheard or twisted to hint at 鸡 (jī), slang for male … Continue reading?”

……

Everyone’s expressions froze, shifting wildly in color. But when her gaze met Ling Long’s, she felt a chill pierce straight through her soul.

She suddenly regretted it.

She hadn’t expected these ancient people to understand such a subtle dirty joke. How unexpectedly open-minded they were!

“Yinyin.” Ling Long’s voice drifted close to her ear, carrying a hint of coldness. “Where did you learn things like that?”

“……”

She really regretted everything now. She was literally proving the saying, ‘if you don’t seek death, you won’t die’!

“Um……” Can I call it a good deed?

Just as she felt her life was hanging by a thread, a voice rang out from the next table.

“Yo~ Such a tender little face~ Don’t hide, I won’t eat you.”

Clearly, the man didn’t know where he was— or whose territory he was on— to be flirting with a lady from Liu Ruoxi’s restaurant. And right in front of Liu Ruoxi.

Now this was what you called someone begging to die. Still, Yin Yin felt thankful for the rescue.

Sang Ze especially hated men who harassed decent women, probably because it reminded him of his sister. Without thinking, he picked up the chair beneath him and hurled it at the rogue.

“Ow—!” The man cried out in pain and turned around. “Who the hell hit me?! Was it you, you little brat?!”

He glared down at Sang Ze, who barely reached his knees, and bared his teeth. “You got some nerve, punk. Daring to hit your grandpa?!”

“What’s all this noise?” Head Constable Xu entered with a group of officers, glaring at the commotion.

The thug quickly pointed at Sang Ze. “Sir, this kid hit me with a chair!”

Head Constable Xu studied Sang Ze, then asked, “Why did you hit him?”

“Because the table was too heavy.” Yin Yin answered matter-of-factly.

Head Constable Xu: “……”

Thug: “……”

Liu Ruoxi collected herself and frowned. “What brings you here, Head Constable Xu?”

Head Constable Xu wiped his face and looked at her. “Where’s that masked girl from your Tianxiang Society? Bring her out.”

Masked girl? Qing Shancha?

Yin Yin barely frowned, but Ling Long noticed.

Liu Ruoxi’s face hardened. “Why do you want to see her?”

“We suspect she killed Zhu Wuwen, the third son of the Zhu family. We need to bring her in for questioning.”

“Oh?” Liu Ruoxi raised an elegant brow. “Do you have evidence?”

“Several of Third Young Master Zhu’s friends saw a masked girl take him.”

“Heh.” Liu Ruoxi scoffed. “It’s just a mask. Anyone can wear one.”

Head Constable Xu looked irritated. “A mute girl, wearing a mask, and using Tianxiang Society’s martial arts— how many of those do you have?”

Before Liu Ruoxi could respond, more constables rushed in. “Head Constable Xu! A charred corpse has been found by the river! It might be Qing Shancha!”

Everyone froze. Head Constable Xu immediately rushed out, and Liu Ruoxi followed with Bitao.

Yin Yin had completely lost her appetite. Ling Long sighed. “Let’s go.”

……

The riverside was already crowded. Constables were maintaining order, but Yin Yin managed to slip in behind Head Constable Xu.

On the gravel lay a body covered with a straw mat. Head Constable Xu lifted the mat, and beneath it was a charred corpse, burned nearly to charcoal.

“It’s this bad, so how can you tell it’s her?” Head Constable Xu asked the other officers.

“This.” One of them handed over a mask, which indeed belongs to Qing Shancha. “It was beside the body. There were also fabric scraps matching her clothes.”

Yin Yin frowned at the scorched corpse and muttered to Ling Long, “Yuanfang, what’s your take^[4]a line that became a meme, from the historical TV drama 《Amazing Detective Di Renjie》. Li Yuanfang is the loyal assistant to the detective Di Renjie?”

Yuanfang: “……”

“Better not look anymore.” Ling Long pulled her away from the crowd.

The air reeked faintly of burnt flesh, and it was nauseating. Thankfully, they hadn’t brought Sang Ze.

“Don’t you think it’s strange?” Yin Yin looked at Ling Long. “If the killer burned the corpse to hide the identity, why leave the mask behind?”

Ling Long frowned. “You think someone else died instead?”

“Yes.” And quite possibly…… it was Qingmei.

Wait!

A sudden thought struck Yin Yin. She grabbed Ling Long’s sleeve in alarm.

“The one who died…… might really be Qing Shancha.”