On both sides of the white-pebble-paved stone path, seating areas were separated by bamboo curtains and blue gauze tents.
Faintly visible within the tents were residents either engaged in refined conversation or playing chess.
A few scholars in white robes stood beside the vividly crafted bronze phoenix lamps, exchanging pleasantries and laughter.
The inn attendant leading the way smiled as he guided the Cui Family upstairs: “With the Imperial Examination scheduled for February after the New Year, scholars from all corners have been arriving in the capital since December to prepare. Most stay in our Chongren Ward and Pingkang Ward south of Mingchun Avenue, which is why the capital is livelier than usual this year.”
Just as the attendant stepped onto the final wooden step of the carved vermilion railings, he encountered a guest coming downstairs.
The staircase was rather narrow, allowing only two people to pass side by side.
The attendant smiled at the descending guest: “Sir, if you please…”
The young guest blocking the stairway wore a headscarf and a plain silk round-collar robe, with only a simple carved bamboo jade pendant at his waist. His posture was as upright as pine and cypress. He looked over the attire of Master Cui and the Second Master Cui with a haughty and arrogant expression.
“Can’t you see the difference in status? Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants are the lowest. I am a scholar—do you expect me to make way for merchants?”
“I say you…” The Second Master Cui, unable to hold back, began to raise his voice but was stopped by Master Cui with a raised hand.
In the capital, a place teeming with wealth and influence, Master Cui feared offending the powerful through carelessness.
Preferring to avoid trouble, Master Cui pulled the Second Master Cui behind him, stepped aside to clear the staircase, and signaled for Yuan Fuyu to make way as well.
Yuan Fuyu’s expression was cold. Her gaze swept over the scholar’s shoes and robe. Lifting the hem of her skirt, she ascended the steps unhurriedly, followed closely by six robust female guards.
Make way?
It had always been others who made way for Yuan Fuyu—no one had ever dared to ask her to yield.
“The inn you’re staying in was opened by merchants. The fine silks and shoes you wear were all purchased from merchants. If you hold merchants in such contempt, why not rely on your own efforts? Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants are all pillars of our dynasty’s foundation—what hierarchy is there to speak of?”
The words spilled from Yuan Fuyu’s lips felt eerily familiar—a voice in her mind overlapped with her own.
These words, it seemed, were something Xie Huaizhou had once said.
Word for word.
She never expected that today, these words would come from her own mouth.
The blocking scholar, flushed with anger, retorted, “A lowly merchant’s daughter dares to speak loftily of the nation’s affairs?”
Yuan Fuyu snapped back to reality and chuckled lightly. “Xie Huaizhou, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and The Emperor’s Tutor, also comes from a merchant family. Are you implying… he is unworthy?”
The scholar’s face instantly paled. He glanced around nervously, afraid his words might have been overheard. “How dare you spout such nonsense!”
The attendant quickly intervened to smooth things over: “Sir! Sir! Let’s not spoil the harmony! This is the Ascending Cloud Staircase—it’s for going up only, not down, for good fortune. Please proceed straight ahead and take the left staircase to descend.”
The scholar stormed off in a huff, but Master Cui was thoroughly frightened by Yuan Fuyu’s boldness.
Before Yuan Fuyu entered her room, Master Cui couldn’t help but admonish her: “Fourth Lady, we are in the capital now! Nobles are everywhere outside. We must be cautious in all matters and avoid being contentious!”
The Second Master Cui, unable to contain his impatience, asked, “Now that we’ve arrived in the capital, Fourth Lady… will we be able to meet the noble person you mentioned tomorrow?”
“Noble people have busy schedules. We’ll wait quietly for word,” Yuan Fuyu replied. “Don’t worry, things will be accomplished.”
Master Cui nodded.
Deep night fell silently over the capital city. The ward gates closed, and the nine main avenues and eighteen streets within the city were deserted, yet inside the wards, the bustle and excitement continued unabated.
Yuan Fuyu stood by the window, gazing at the brilliantly lit imperial city in the distance.
“Miss, the bathwater has been brought up by the attendant,” Jinshu placed the soup delivered by the innkeeper on the low table. Noticing Yuan Fuyu still standing motionless by the window, she smiled and asked, “Does Miss also find the capital more beautiful than our Taiqing?”
“How so?” Yuan Fuyu turned to look at Jinshu.
Clutching the gold-traced tray she had used to carry the soup, Jinshu peered out through the open window and said, “Our Taiqing feels dull and dusty, while the capital at night is full of vibrant colors…”
Yuan Fuyu was amused by Jinshu’s description.
The capital’s prosperity—its debauchery, extravagance, and nightly revelries—was a bustling clamor that Taiqing’s tranquility and peace could not compare to.
Just as Yuan Fuyu was about to close the window, she spotted He Yichen standing on the wall of the opposite alley, looking up at her.
He Yichen was wearing an amber-colored robe with a white collar and subtle patterns, finally looking somewhat presentable.
Yuan Fuyu raised an eyebrow, signaling for He Yichen to come up and speak.
Soon, He Yichen was seated with Yuan Fuyu at the bamboo couch and chessboard set up in the room, while Jinshu kept watch outside.
He Yichen now provided the answer to the question Yuan Fuyu had asked during their last meeting.
“It’s true that Anping Princess has withdrawn from the world to devote herself to Buddhism, but her Princess Manor is heavily guarded not only by Manor Troops but also by layers of Mystic Eagle Guards. Gaining an audience with Anping Princess is as difficult as reaching the heavens! After the Princess passed away… I, too, once thought of seeking help from Anping Princess, but she has not emerged since the Princess’s funeral.”
“Where was Anping Princess on the night the Princess died?” Yuan Fuyu asked.
He Yichen looked puzzled. “Naturally, Anping Princess was at her Princess Manor.”
Yuan Fuyu pressed her lips together. Her younger sister Yuan Fuqu had been present when she died, yet He Yichen was unaware of this.
It seemed someone had erased all traces of Yuan Fuqu’s appearance at the estate.
What role had Yuan Fuqu—the sister she had doted on since childhood—played in her murder?
If it was for power, Yuan Fuqu should be at court now, not withdrawn from the world in Buddhist devotion.
“As for Xie Huaizhou and his family, they have not been particularly close with any noble houses! Moreover, after the Princess’s passing, Xie Huaizhou has been residing at the Princess Manor and has not lived with his family,” He Yichen reported.
Noticing Yuan Fuyu staring absently at the wispy white smoke rising from the Boshan Censer, He Yichen asked, “When do you want to meet Pei Du?”
“After the curfew tomorrow, at Pei Du’s residence in Anxing Ward. There’s no need for you to notify Pei Du too early—just inform him one hour in advance.”
He Yichen understood that meeting at Pei Du’s residence was to put him at ease.
Not informing him too far in advance was to prevent him from having time to make extensive arrangements.
But…
“What if Pei Du, guilty of betraying his mistress, refuses to agree?” He Yichen frowned deeply. “What if he wants to change the location or time?”
“Bring the Princess’s handwritten letter. Tell Pei Du I will arrive at that hour—it’s a notification, not a negotiation. He has no room to pick and choose.” Yuan Fuyu used a tea scoop to ladle brewed tea from the kettle into a teacup, then pushed it toward He Yichen and stood up. “Drink the tea and leave carefully. You were followed when you entered the capital. Shake off your pursuers and hurry to the Gambling House. Be quick.”
She did not like to be kept waiting.
It was only a matter of time before those tracking He Yichen set their sights on her.
Yuan Fuyu needed to handle matters before He Yichen’s followers officially began targeting her.
He Yichen watched as Yuan Fuyu took the cloak, pulled up the hood, and headed out without even bothering to drink the tea. He promptly rose to his feet as well.
Peering through the crack in the guest room door, he saw Yuan Fuyu leading her armed maid downstairs. Turning back, he stepped over to the window they had just entered through and gently pushed it open a sliver.
Sure enough, someone was deliberately—yet casually—glancing toward this very window.