By evening, Ming Yuhe did not enter Yunshang Pavilion. Instead, Luo Xinci met him outside, along the stone path by the pond. “Are you feeling better?” he asked.
Luo Xinci had already regained her spirits after hearing Lianxing’s report of the rumors outside. Hearing Ming Yuhe’s concern, she remembered how he had ordered a veil placed over her head on the way back. Gratitude welled in her heart. Her eyes shone as she looked at him. “Much better. Thank you, elder brother.”
Ming Yuhe saw her lashes gilded by the setting sun, trembling slightly, and beneath them, eyes bright with sincerity, rimmed faintly red, still bearing traces of tears. And yet—this seemingly innocent, harmless girl had dared to deceive and use him, fabricating vile plots of patricide and stealing her friend’s betrothed, treating him like a fool. His gaze shifted from her face to the water. The sun was sinking, its glow spread across the pond, rippling into brilliance as koi stirred the surface.
He glanced at the fish and asked, “Did Liyang truly push you?”
“No!” Luo Xinci quickly replied. “I only pretended to be pushed. See? No blood, no injury. It was an easy way to get back at him.”
They walked side by side across the stone bridge over the pond. Luo Xinci waited eagerly for his praise. But instead, he looked at her, paused, and suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Luo Xinci, puzzled, stopped when he did. Her eyes, bright with hidden delight, shimmered like misty autumn waters as she gazed expectantly at Ming Yuhe. She thought he would be astonished by the precision of her scheme. Yet his gaze was shadowed, unfathomable, moving slowly downward—from her brow, past the bridge of her nose, lingering on her lips, and still descending.
That look unsettled her. Was it her imagination? If not, what did Ming Yuhe mean by looking at her this way?
She could not describe his eyes exactly, only that wherever they passed, a faint tingling followed, like strands of hair brushing lightly across the skin. Though he stood a full foot away, unmoving, his gaze continued downward, sliding past her neck until it rested at her collar. The strangeness of it made her breath quicken, her chest rising and falling more sharply. She noticed it herself, and could not help but step back, instinctively raising a hand to shield her chest.
The movement was abrupt. Ming Yuhe seemed startled awake; the unsettling gaze vanished at once, replaced by his usual calm expression.
Still shaken, Luo Xinci dared not ask. She smoothed the hair falling over her shoulders, pretending that had been her intention all along.
Ming Yuhe resumed walking, his tone even: “Niansheng, a fine stratagem.”
Nothing in his manner betrayed what had just passed.
Relieved, Luo Xinci told herself it must have been her imagination. She followed him a few steps and replied, “So long as elder brother does not mind that I made such a scene.”
Ming Yuhe said, “Not at all. But Niansheng, you must understand—people in the capital are not all fools.”
When he spoke the word “fools,” his tone was heavier. Luo Xinci looked up and saw that his expression was faint and unreadable. His lashes lowered as he regarded her. “There will always be those who can see through your tricks.”
Luo Xinci froze. Did he mean they would see through the fact that she had no real scheme at all—or that she was not truly Ming Niansheng? Unease stirred in her heart. She pressed him: “If they see through me… what then?”
“It will mean nothing.” He had given her a chance, and she had refused it. He would not show mercy again. Following her words, he added, “Your ploy will not deceive many. But since Liyang was clearly at fault, you still hold the advantage. Only, in the eyes of certain noble ladies, your reputation may suffer.”
Hearing that this was what he meant, Luo Xinci finally felt at ease. Before coming to the capital, Ming Niansheng had already said she never wished to return here again in her lifetime. Reputation meant little to her. What worried Luo Xinci was whether Marquis Wuling or Princess Shao’an might resent her.
Since entering the household, she had seen the Marquis fewer than three times. With the uproar this incident had caused, one would expect that even while convalescing, he would have heard of it. Yet he had neither rebuked her nor sent anyone to question her. Princess Shao’an was the same.
Seizing the moment, Luo Xinci voiced her concern to Ming Yuhe.
“I told you,” he said, “as long as no blood is shed, I guarantee no one will blame you. Do you not trust me?”
“I do, I do!” Luo Xinci’s heart blossomed with joy. She had doubted him before—after all, the Marquis was such a fierce and terrifying man. But things had unfolded exactly as Ming Yuhe promised: the Marquis had not uttered a single word about it. It seemed Ming Yuhe’s authority in the household was greater than she had imagined.
He added, “And I gave my word to find you a husband to your liking. I will keep that promise. Rest easy, Niansheng—once this matter is settled, I will see it done.”
Because it touched upon finding her father, Luo Xinci nodded eagerly.
Just then, a guard approached. “Young Marquis, Master Chen has sent word. The Bureau of Records has prepared the documents, and asks if you can come tomorrow to inspect them.”
Ming Yuhe considered, then asked Luo Xinci: “Niansheng, the Bureau’s case is urgent. Tomorrow, envoys from the palace and Prince Ning’s residence will come to apologize to you. Would it be acceptable to let Father and Mother accompany you then?”
The word “Father” instantly made Luo Xinci think of her own birth father—then she realized Ming Yuhe meant the Marquis Wuling.
To be alone with the Marquis, just imagining his look of loathing made her want to flee the household. Princess Shao’an was of the royal family, Jiang Liyang’s aunt, but kind-hearted. Still, Luo Xinci was not close to her.
Between the two, she preferred Ming Yuhe. At least he had instigated the incident with Jiang Liyang; he ought to bear responsibility and protect her. But as a counterfeit daughter of the household, suddenly facing envoys from the palace and Prince Ning’s residence left her truly panicked. She edged forward, tugged at Ming Yuhe’s sleeve, and whispered: “Elder brother, could you stay in the household tomorrow and accompany me?”
“You want me to stay with you tomorrow?”
“Yes…” she pleaded softly. “You promised…”
It had been Ming Yuhe who forced her to retaliate against Jiang Liyang, promising he would stand by her.
Ming Yuhe hesitated, then said, “The Bureau’s case involves officials who entered court in the three years before the Yihai year. The number is vast, and it will take time… But I could have the corresponding documents sent here to the household for review.” As if convincing himself, his tone softened. “Since you ask, tomorrow I will remain here to handle affairs—and accompany you to receive the envoys.”
Relieved by his concession, Luo Xinci quickly caught another detail.
The Bureau of Records. Of course—the court must have complete records of all officials’ origins. By examining those documents, she could learn their native places, examination years, and other proofs of identity. Even names once used should be recorded. And among those officials who entered court in the years before Yihai was Wang Yinrao.
Not long ago, Luo Xinci had been fretting over her lack of silver to continue searching for her birth father’s whereabouts. Yet in the blink of an eye, a new turn of fortune appeared. As long as she could find the three characters “Wang Yinrao” in the archives of the Bureau of Records, she would no longer have to wander aimlessly in her search.
The surprise came so suddenly that her eyes gleamed with joy; the faint red marks at the corners—traces of tears—now looked like rouge that only heightened her beauty.
Unable to restrain herself, Luo Xinci stepped half a pace closer to Ming Yuhe and said eagerly: “Elder Brother, you’ve had to stay in the residence to handle official duties for my sake. I feel guilty… why don’t I—let me grind the ink for you!”
“That won’t be necessary,” Ming Yuhe replied. “Niansheng, don’t overthink. It’s only right for an elder brother to care for his younger sister.”
“But I want to…” The chance was right before her, yet she couldn’t grasp it. Her anxious tone immediately drew a suspicious look from Ming Yuhe.
Startled, she quickly added: “…I only wished to ease Brother’s burdens. Since you say it isn’t needed, then I’ll let it be.”
“Mhm.”
By now, the sun had already slipped behind the flowering trees. In the courtyard, maids were setting up ladders to hang lanterns.
Ming Yuhe glanced around and said, “Then it’s settled. It’s late—Niansheng, return to your rooms.”
Reluctantly, Luo Xinci went back to Yunshang Pavilion. Passing through the moon gate, she leaned against a flowering branch and peered through the lattice window. She saw Ming Yuhe instructing his guards, but the distance was too far to catch his words. She only noticed that after he finished, the guard cast a glance toward the nearby Zhaixing Pavilion.
The next morning, Luo Xinci rose early. After dressing, she asked where Ming Yuhe had gone. A maid told her he was at Zhaixing Pavilion handling official business.
She was unfamiliar with places outside Yunshang Pavilion. When she first entered the household, Steward Tang had warned her that Zhaixing Pavilion was forbidden—likely because it was where Ming Yuhe dealt with affairs of state. Fortunately, it wasn’t too far away. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of the documents inside.
The answer she had pursued for so long was right there, yet out of reach. The torment gnawed at her, dulling even the nervousness of receiving guests from the palace and Prince Ning’s manor.
She sat at the window, staring until her eyes ached at the open casement of the pavilion. The longer she looked, the more anxious she grew. Ming Yuhe had said the Bureau of Records case was urgent and needed swift resolution. If he finished today, the documents would be returned to the authorities tomorrow. While they remained in the Marquis’s residence, she still had a chance to see them. Once sent back, she would lose all access.
Restless, she waited until nearly noon, when Prince Ning’s old steward arrived. He apologized to her politely and presented many gifts as compensation.
Prince Ning’s household was small. Young Prince Ning had just left the capital days ago, and Jiang Liyang was confined in the Marquis’s residence by Ming Yuhe. Thus, only the old steward could come. Given the close ties between Prince Ning’s manor and Marquis Wuling, a few gifts and apologies sufficed to smooth things over.
After sending him off, Luo Xinci thought the matter not so difficult. Once she received the eunuch from the palace, she could devote herself entirely to figuring out how to enter Zhaixing Pavilion.
As she expected, that afternoon a eunuch did arrive, bearing generous rewards to compensate her. The tasks were simple but tedious. By the time all the visitors were dismissed, most of the day had passed.
Princess Shao’an returned to the rear courtyard, and Ming Yuhe prepared to go back to the pavilion to continue his work. Luo Xinci’s heart tightened, and she asked outright: “Elder Brother, how goes your work?”
“By nightfall it will be finished,” Ming Yuhe replied. “Why do you ask?”
If he finished before dark, the documents would be returned the next morning. Tonight was her only chance. If she missed it, she had no idea how long she would have to keep searching in secret.
“Niansheng needs Brother’s help?” Ming Yuhe asked, then added regretfully, “I fear not today. Once I’m done, I must enter the palace, and won’t return until around midnight. If it’s not urgent, let’s speak tomorrow.”
Luo Xinci’s heart thudded wildly. Tonight, Ming Yuhe would be gone. That meant Zhaixing Pavilion would be empty until midnight. She could slip inside and read the documents—just read, touch nothing else, and leave no trace.
“…It’s not urgent,” Luo Xinci murmured. She had never done anything so furtive; even imagining it made her guilty. She looked away, blinking rapidly. “Not urgent. Tomorrow will do. You go on with your work.”
After waiting a long while without Ming Yuhe’s reply, Luo Xinci cautiously turned her gaze. She saw his eyes fixed intently on her face, his expression absorbed, as though studying her closely.
The feeling was strange. Luo Xinci shifted slightly to the side and asked softly, “Elder Brother?”
His stare was broken. Ming Yuhe smiled and said, “Niansheng, only today does your brother realize how beautiful you truly are.”
For a moment, Luo Xinci’s mind went blank. What was that supposed to mean? Was it teasing? Or simply a brother’s compliment? It should be a compliment, shouldn’t it?
Her elder cousin Luo Yizhou had said similar things before: “Little Sister is so pretty—her husband must be handsome too, or I’ll never agree!”
But somehow, when the words came from Ming Yuhe, they felt oddly unsettling. Her expression stiffened. She didn’t know how to respond to such sudden praise. After a long pause, she stammered out a hurried “Mm,” then blurted, “I’ll… I’ll go back now.”
Ming Yuhe nodded with a smile.
The two parted. Back at Zhaixing Pavilion, Ming Yuhe instructed his guards: “Tonight, let her through.”
Now, only the official surnamed Wang remained for Luo Xinci to uncover—and once Ming Yuhe learned of him, he would know all her secrets. To help her find this man quickly, he had deliberately ordered his guards to borrow a large batch of documents from the Bureau of Records.
Tonight, Luo Xinci was certain to come to the pavilion. She would obtain what she sought. But things would not unfold as she wished.
Ming Yuhe had prepared a tremendous surprise for this “younger sister.” He wondered—after she experienced it, would she still dare to look him in the eye tomorrow and call him “Elder Brother”?