A team of guards surrounded Taoxi Mountain and Cheng Manor. Chang Chunqing brought out a rosewood chair from the manor and placed it in front of the gate, inviting Yan Song to sit for a while.
Snowflakes fell like feathers, and the guards held umbrellas over Yan Song. Soon, two people were brought out, tied up tightly, along with the manor owner, Cheng Feng.
“Stableman Zhang Wei, attendant Li Da,” Chang Chunqing opened the roster for Yan Song to see, “These two joined the manor two months ago, and this is what we found in their room.”
A guard presented a tray with two small, unlabeled medicine bottles.
Yan Song remained silent, and Chang Chunqing glanced at Cheng Feng.
In the cold winter, Cheng Feng, kneeling nearby, was already sweating profusely. He quickly explained, “Your Highness, everyone who comes to work in the manor is carefully selected, with a clean background and honest conduct. They usually undergo three months of training before starting work. These two were allowed to start early because they had already been trained at the main house.”
Yu Zhaoying arrived just in time to hear this.
He dismounted and greeted Yan Song with a respectful “Your Highness.” After Yan Song nodded, he turned to Cheng Feng, “Where did they come from?”
Yu Zhaoying and Yan Dong had been close friends since childhood, calling themselves brothers from different mothers. But now, addressing Yan Song as “Your Highness” meant he was handling official business. Cheng Feng dared not lie and said, “From He Yuan.”
That was the residence of the eldest son of the Yu family.
But setting aside family matters, for Yan Song to personally visit, it must be a significant issue. Even for the sake of the Wenhua Marquis Residence, Yu Zhaoying had to speak for his elder brother.
“Although my brother manages He Yuan, he usually doesn’t concern himself with the servants’ affairs. Moreover, three months ago, he took on a task from the Literary Selection Department and went to the lower counties to verify the qualifications of next year’s capital officials. You two,” Yu Zhaoying lashed Li Da with a whip and coldly demanded, “Speak the truth!”
Li Da screamed, and Zhang Wei, cowering beside him, looked up and unexpectedly met Yan Song’s gaze—dark and cold like a ghostly pool. He shivered, quickly lowered his head, and begged for mercy, saying he was just following orders.
“Whose orders?” Yu Zhaoying asked. “What was your intention?”
“The medicine bottles were given to us by a nanny from He Yuan. From the voice, it was Nanny Li. She told us…” Li Da, fearing a worse fate if he delayed, hurriedly confessed, “She told us to act when Little Lord Yan came to the manor. As for what the medicine is, we truly don’t know. Please, Your Highness, spare us!”
Yu Zhaoying’s expression changed, and he quickly thought, “Your Highness, is this related to Dongdong’s recent odd behavior?”
Yan Song nodded.
Yu Zhaoying clenched the handle of his fan. He had considered Cheng Manor his territory, where Hou Yi and Yan Dong let their guard down, not expecting it to almost harm Yan Dong! He Yuan, He Yuan… Yu Zhaoying’s gaze lowered, as if he was thinking of many things, or perhaps nothing at all.
“Now, who is managing He Yuan? You should have an idea,” Yan Song said to Yu Zhaoying, his tone relatively gentle. “For the sake of our families’ friendship, I won’t disturb you further.”
There was no real friendship between the Yan and Yu families; it was all for Yan Dong’s sake. The more polite Yan Song was, the more uncomfortable Yu Zhaoying felt. He stiffly pressed his lips together and said, “I’ll go back and handle it immediately. Excuse me.”
With that, he mounted his horse and rode down the mountain.
Chang Chunqing asked, “Your Highness, these two are just pawns and don’t know much. How should we deal with them?”
“Isn’t the bottom of Taoxi Mountain a good place?” Yan Song said. “Throw them down later.”
The two men were terrified, kowtowing like pecking chickens, and were soon gagged and roughly dragged away, leaving a trail of urine behind.
Cheng Feng, drenched in sweat, kowtowed and said, “I failed to manage my subordinates properly. Please punish me, Your Highness!”
“People from the main house can’t be refused; it’s understandable. Besides, Jie often comes here to ride and has told me the manor’s people are diligent and reliable. However,” Yan Song tapped the armrest with his fingers and said calmly, “as the manor owner, you should consider the life and death of your manor, shouldn’t you?”
“Your Highness is right. This is my negligence in management. I beg for your mercy, Your Highness. I will take this as a lesson and never make such a mistake again.” Cheng Feng kowtowed three times and remained prostrate.
Yan Song stood up and walked past Cheng Feng, “Your biggest mistake wasn’t poor management.”
Chang Chunqing glanced at the stunned Cheng Feng and said, “Since Yu Er Gongzi considers this place his territory, it must be due to Manor Owner Cheng’s filial piety.”
With this hint, Cheng Feng understood.
The hereditary position was still undecided, and people like him had secretly chosen sides. Yan Song was saying that his filial piety had a flaw, allowing others to take advantage and almost implicating his true and only master.
In fact, when those two first arrived, Cheng Feng had secretly observed them for a month. Seeing they were diligent and well-behaved, he gradually let his guard down. Cheng Manor, known for its horses, usually had distinguished guests coming and going, surrounded by attendants, with outsiders unable to approach. Everything entering the manor was checked, and nothing had ever happened. If something did, it would implicate the Wenhua Marquis Residence. Even in sibling rivalry, force wasn’t used like this.
But what he thought, others might not!
Fortunately, there was still room for maneuver. Cheng Feng, trembling, said, “I will remember Your Highness’s teachings and work diligently in the future, always vigilant, not to disappoint Er Gongzi.”
He escorted Yan Song to the carriage, bowed at the window, and only straightened up after the sound of the wheels disappeared, his neck soaked.
The mountain road was quiet, only the sound of the wind. Yan Song leaned against the tangyuan velvet pillow, pretending to nap, and said, “Yu Er Gongzi is still young.”
“Yu Er Gongzi is careful and cautious, but he hasn’t experienced much, and his heart isn’t ruthless enough. However, he will learn from this. After all, his heart is with our Little Lord, and you are willing to give him a hint. By the way,” Chang Chunqing rode alongside the window and reminded, “since you’ve returned to the capital, what about His Majesty?”
Yan Song rubbed his nose bridge, tiredly saying, “I can’t spare the time now. Have Nong Sheng and Ren Qi go to the palace to report on Qianzhou and Luzhou. I’ll go to the palace tomorrow to apologize.”
Returning to the capital after a mission but not immediately reporting to the palace could lead to accusations of arrogance and disrespect. Chang Chunqing didn’t advise further, just nodded in agreement.
*
“Nong Sheng!”
In the evening, snowflakes fluttered down, covering the courtyard. Yan Dong lay on the window sill, resting on a tangyuan velvet pillow, daydreaming. He spotted the young man who had just flipped down from the eaves and feigned surprise, “Sneaking around, what mischief are you up to?”
“I’m here to pay my respects to you,” Nong Sheng approached the window, producing a small snack box like a magic trick, “I bought you some Zhang Ji, doesn’t it smell good?”
Inside the snack box was a package of crispy yellow du, made by slicing taro and sprinkling it with fragrant nuts and almonds, coated with a prepared batter and fried. It was still warm, and the aroma was enticing.
Yan Dong picked up a piece with chopsticks and ate it. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, delicious. He recalled the past few days and felt guilty, “I wasted so much good food.”
Seeing Yan Dong eating heartily again, Nong Sheng sighed in relief, helping him adjust his white wind hat, “No worries, whenever you want to eat, we’ll get it for you.”
“Okay.” Yan Dong quickly caught a small white dog that almost fell off the window sill, stuffed another piece into his mouth, and then asked, “Weren’t you with Big Brother?”
“I just returned from the palace,” Nong Sheng said. “His Majesty asked about your illness, if you’re better. I said it was a nightmare that startled you, making you uneasy, and since it’s cold, you stayed home to rest for a few days. You’re almost better now. His Majesty didn’t ask further, just sent some supplements and pretty things for you, and asked me to pass a message: ‘If there’s anything, don’t hold it in, come to the palace, and I’ll stand up for you.'”
When Yan Song returned, he saw this scene: Yan Dong wrapped in a little yellow jacket, wearing a white wind hat and gloves, with only half his face exposed. His cheeks puffed as he chewed, smiling, looking in good spirits.
Yan Dong also noticed him, his eyes lighting up, and he immediately raised his hands in a welcoming gesture.
Yan Song walked over, “It’s too warm inside, yet you sit here in the wind?”
“I didn’t see you when I woke up, so I sat here waiting for you,” Yan Dong retorted naturally, stuffing another piece into his mouth.
Yan Song glanced at the little glutton and said nothing.
Chang Qingqing brought a basin of water over, and Yan Song removed his gloves, placing them on the tray, and used a warm towel to wipe his face and hands, “Did Little Lord have dinner?”
“I’m right here, just ask me!” Yan Dong protested, raising his hand.
Chang Qingqing couldn’t help but laugh, “He did. Initially, he wanted to wait for you to eat together, but when the other masters arrived, they ate first.”
“Your Highness hasn’t eaten yet,” Chang Chunqing instructed from the corridor, “Have the small kitchen bring up the warmed dinner.”
Yan Dong watched these people, each more at ease than him, the rightful master of Fengchun Courtyard, even knowing the small kitchen kept food warm.
The attendants quickly set the table, and Yan Song took the main seat. Yan Dong and Snowball climbed down from the couch, happily occupying the two chairs beside Yan Song.
“His Majesty means you’ve been working hard, so you don’t need to go to the palace tomorrow. Rest at home before going to the office,” Nong Sheng quietly relayed the message to Yan Song, who nodded, and Nong Sheng withdrew.
“Tonight’s fish was cooked by Father,” Yan Dong sniffed the aroma and couldn’t resist picking up a piece with chopsticks.
Yan Song placed a small piece of fish in his mouth, the familiar taste melting instantly. He said, “Aren’t you curious who was behind it?”
“Qingqing said Yu Er was in a hurry earlier,” Yan Dong replied.
Yan Song succinctly explained the situation.
Nanny Li, Yan Dong remembered her as one of the managing nannies at He Yuan, an old servant of Yu Da.
This person had seen the world, yet could be tempted to do evil, disregarding the family’s reputation and her own life and family… Oh, Yan Dong recalled, Nanny Li had never married, dedicating herself to serving her master, making her actions more convenient and decisive than those with families.
Yan Dong poked the empty plate in the snack box with his chopsticks, puzzled, “But why would she want to harm me? I didn’t offend her. Is it because I’m close to Yu Er? But if I die, does that mean her master will definitely become the heir? So strange.”
Unable to understand, Yan Dong decided not to dwell on it, “How did Big Brother deal with them?”
Yan Song recalled the three bodies torn and devoured by beasts at the bottom of the cliff and a decapitated beast carcass. In Yan Dong’s bright eyes, he took a sip of porridge, choosing a less frightening description.
“Ground to dust.”
Yan Dong had heard the term but never seen it, slightly curious, “How exactly do you grind them? With a millstone?”
Yan Song teased him, “I’ll show you when there’s a chance.”
“No need to trouble you,” Yan Dong said, holding the snack box, his fingers tapping a self-composed tune on the box, “Without Nanny Li, how will you find out who ordered her?”
“A pawn knows little, but the money and medicine bottles she handled are clues,” Yan Song said. “The bottles have been sent to Third Sister, and the rest is being investigated. There will be news soon.”
“No rush, no rush, Big Brother should rest early tonight.”
Though Yan Song was known for his endurance, Yan Dong was still worried. After dinner, he fetched a fur-lined cloak for Yan Song and stuffed the inspector Snowball into his arms, insisting he sleep for at least four hours.
The little white dog, bearing its mission, puffed up its chest under its master’s encouraging gaze and barked authoritatively at Yan Song!
Yan Song rubbed the majestic dog’s head, and Yan Dong, seeing this, leaned over, jealously saying, “Woof!”
Yan Song, seemingly helpless, reached out to rub Yan Dong’s head. After the latter contentedly nuzzled his palm and obediently went into the inner room, Yan Song chuckled softly, turned, and left.
Yan Dong took a small box from the zitan willow Yan-patterned corner cabinet, retrieved a mutton-fat jade round fan pendant with a swimming fish design, placed it in a brocade pouch, and called Chang Qingqing in, “Take this to Yu Er.”
Chang Qingqing responded with an “Eh,” took the pouch, and headed west.
Children who grew up together naturally visited each other often. The Yan family was the most relaxed, with Hou Yi and Yu Zhaoying visiting the most. After Yan Dong moved to Fengchun Courtyard, he designated the side courtyard for the two of them, even giving it a particularly affectionate name, Junlai Cottage.
At this moment, Hou Yi was also in Yu Zhaoying’s room. Chang Qingqing greeted them at the door, presented the pouch to Yu Zhaoying, and smiled, “It’s too cold, you two should rest early.”
Yu Zhaoying nodded, and after Chang Qingqing left, he opened the pouch and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Wow, our Dong’s craftsmanship isn’t bad,” Hou Yi leaped up from the Maitreya couch, peering over Yu Zhaoying’s shoulder at the fan pendant, sounding a bit jealous, “I don’t have one! Playing favorites, see if I don’t beat him tomorrow!”
Yu Zhaoying smiled, silently, gently stroking the fan pendant.
The news quickly reached Chang Chunqing’s ears, “Not bad, that’s how it should be. Anything related to Little Lord, no matter how trivial, report to me.”
Whether the dream from the storybook was real or not, it had to be treated as real. There couldn’t be a second incident like Taoxi Mountain.
Chang Chunqing dismissed the informant, turning just in time to see the little white dog sneakily nuzzling Yan Song’s chin for the third time, teasing, “Fortunately, the rain and snow canceled court, or it wouldn’t complete its task.”
Yan Song held the little white dog’s bottom, coldly saying, “If it doesn’t complete it, we’ll keep it, and its owner will have to bring something more precious to redeem it.”
Snowball immediately betrayed its master, pleading, “Woof!”
*
The barking of guard dogs echoed from outside, eerie and shrill in the cold winter night.
The woman on the bed awoke from her drifting thoughts, “Hasn’t Nanny Li returned yet?”
“She probably won’t return,” the personal maid entered, kneeling by the chaise longue, adjusting the woman’s fur coat, “Yan Shizi personally went to Taoxi Mountain, and Er Gongzi returned to take Nanny Li away. They all came with ill intentions.”
“I don’t know if it’s my guilty conscience, but Yan Shizi’s sudden return feels like he knew something in advance,” the woman’s beautiful face showed a hint of suspicion, “But even though he’s young and holds a high position, almost like a demon in intelligence, it’s unlikely he could foresee this—unless the rumors are true, and he’s not human, but the King of Hell?”
“Miss,” though the woman was married, the maid still habitually called her “Miss.” She said helplessly, “People privately call Yan Shizi the King of Hell because of his intimidating authority, making ghosts tremble wherever he goes. It doesn’t mean he’s not human. But since Miss knows Yan Shizi isn’t easy to deal with, why take the risk for that person?”
“I’m doing it for Mingkong,” Li Haiyue pressed her meticulously styled hair, troubled, “The hereditary position is undecided, Father-in-law’s attitude is unclear, Mother-in-law is gentle and reserved, and besides me, who will plan for Mingkong?”
The maid was worried, “Miss is thoughtful for the young master.”
“Yan Dong is close to the second son, always cold and distant when he sees me, probably because the second son speaks ill of us to him! That boy is spoiled by his family, and if he is influenced by the second son, demanding his family speak well of him to His Majesty, prompting Father-in-law to choose the second son as the heir, it will be too late!” Li Haiyue lamented, “I thought if something happened to Yan Dong at Taoxi Mountain, it would implicate Cheng Manor and the second son. Even if the second son could clear his name, the Yan family would have a rift with him, cutting ties. But I didn’t expect Yan Shizi to return so soon.”
The maid had thought this move was too risky from the start, risky enough that even if successful, the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. But Li Haiyue was stubborn, further influenced by that person’s “advice,” and couldn’t be persuaded.
“But now Yan Shizi is investigating Nanny Li. What if it leads to us?” The maid shivered.
“I wasn’t the one who met Nanny Li in disguise; how could she guess it was me? Besides, when Nanny Li went to Cheng Manor, she also concealed her identity. She has served Mingkong since childhood and is loyal to us. Otherwise, no matter how much we reasoned or tempted her with gold, she wouldn’t dare take the risk. Now that she’s gone, there’s no evidence.” Li Haiyue sat up, twisting the gold-threaded handkerchief, “Mingkong isn’t in the capital, so this has nothing to do with him. Even if Yan Song tries to implicate us, I can claim someone is trying to frame us, sowing discord between the families for their gain. Without solid evidence, Yan Song can’t do anything to me. No matter how arrogant he is, he has to give face to Consort De and the Second Prince.”
Yan Shizi had even challenged His Majesty; would he give face to anyone else? Moreover, in the current situation, the Second Prince might be more inclined to give face to Yan Shizi—but before the maid could voice this, there was a gentle knock on the door.
“Madam,” a maid outside announced, “someone sent a box over, saying it’s Nanny Li’s belongings.”
Nanny Li? Li Haiyue and the maid exchanged a glance, puzzled yet inexplicably uneasy. But Nanny Li’s belongings had to be checked for peace of mind.
The maid opened the door, took the box, and handed it to the chaise longue. But when the lid was opened, a scream tore through the night, followed by barking dogs, plunging He Yuan into chaos.
“Ah—take it away!”
Li Haiyue waved her hand, and the box fell to the ground with a “thud,” its contents rolling out—a pair of bloodied, cloudy eyeballs.
They lay on the ground, still staring at Li Haiyue.
“From tonight, Li Haiyue will have no peaceful nights.”
Yan Song leaned back in a rattan chair, grooming Snowball. He had just washed up, his robe open, long hair draped, his profile in the candlelight otherworldly. Chang Chunqing stood behind, applying orchid balm, the room filled with a light fragrance.
Hearing this, Chang Chunqing asked, “Do you think this has anything to do with Yu Da?”
“If Fengchun were dead, the Yu family would be destroyed. Yu Da wouldn’t act at Taoxi Mountain; it’s too obvious. Li Haiyue is foolish, but this time she’s so fearless,” Yan Song narrowed his eyes, “she’s also a pawn.”
Chang Chunqing said, “Convincing Li Haiyue to take such a risk isn’t simple.”
Yan Song didn’t reply. At this moment, the little white dog, satisfied with its “service,” turned its head, expressing gratitude with its round, grape-like eyes.
Yan Song looked at those bright, clear eyes, his expression softening. He held the little dog in his arms, nuzzling its head, and softly said, “Those who offend me, everyone can kill… don’t be afraid.”