’Was this a test?’

’Or did he have some other motive?’

Chen Yi had no way of knowing.

But seeing the Old Marquis’s serious expression, he knew he had to respond with proper decorum.

’It’s just... Shu State’s current situation is a mess.’

’To call it a tangled mess would be an understatement.’

On the surface, the Xiao Family reigned supreme. They held significant military power, and the other Noble Families and Clans, along with all of Shu State’s officials, major and minor, followed their lead.

’But behind the scenes?’

’With the deaths of Xiao Fengchun and the others, the core strength of the Xiao Family has been fractured. This has led some of Shu State’s Noble Families and officials to constantly obstruct and test them.’

’Furthermore, some who fancy themselves powerful and influential have either developed rebellious notions or are simply looking to gain more benefits for themselves.’

’Some even harbor the idea of "taking their place."’

Yet under these circumstances, there were still people fanning the flames from the shadows.

Such as the Hidden Guard and the Jing State Liu Family.

Chen Yi understood Shu State’s situation clearly, but he couldn’t reveal everything he knew.

For one, it would be difficult for him to explain the source of his information.

Secondly, he worried that saying too much would inevitably arouse the Xiao Family’s Old Marquis’s suspicion, which would do more harm than good.

With this in mind, Chen Yi carefully chose his words. "Things seem to be somewhat turbulent."

Such an answer clearly did not satisfy the Old Marquis. "And what makes you say Shu State is turbulent?"

It wasn’t just a scholar accomplished in the Calligraphy Dao like Chen Yi; any student of current affairs could have said as much.

But this was not the answer the Old Marquis wanted to hear.

Or rather, he wanted to hear some unconventional insights.

Chen Yi glanced at him and replied with a smile, "By looking at the small, one can see the great."

"Some time ago, there were several murders in the Prefecture City, and medicinal herbs from the Xiao Family Medicine Hall were stolen. I heard it was the work of the Illusory Sound Sect and other Evil Demons."

"I believe such incidents should be rare, especially in and around the Shu State Prefecture City."

"If this were Jiangnan Prefecture—not even mentioning Jinling, but just in places like Suzhou and Hangzhou—those Evil Demons wouldn’t dare show their faces within the city walls."

He couldn’t reveal the secrets he had discovered, so he could only make logical deductions from the known facts.

But the Old Marquis was still not satisfied. "These are just isolated incidents. They don’t prove that Shu State is turbulent."

This time, however, Chen Yi smiled and shook his head. "It is often said, ’When a nation is about to perish, monsters will appear.’ The same applies to Shu State."

"If Shu State were truly at peace, I imagine the likes of the Illusory Sound Sect wouldn’t dare appear in or around the Prefecture City, let alone cause trouble. Wouldn’t you agree?"

The Old Marquis’s expression flickered. He instantly understood the meaning of "looking at the small to see the great" that Chen Yi had mentioned earlier.

At the same time, he recalled the state of Shu State when Xiao Fengchun and the others were still alive.

Comparing the before and after, it was not difficult to see—five or ten years ago, Evil Demons had never caused trouble in Shu State, at least not in or around the Prefecture City.

It was mostly in the Wumeng Mountain or upper Chishui River areas.

And it was mostly Jianghu conflicts between the Mountain Race and the Evil Demonic Dao.

"And what do you believe is the reason for these incidents, Qingzhou?"

Hearing this, a peculiar expression flashed across Chen Yi’s face. ’The Old Marquis is asking a question he already knows the answer to.’

’But I obviously can’t point to the Xiao Family as the cause.’

After a moment’s thought, he replied, "Many factors."

"For example, after the war with the Barbarian Race, Shu State is weakened internally. The army, the City Guard, the Imprisonment Department, and even the common people need time to rest and recuperate."

"Then there are outsiders stirring up trouble."

"The Poshisu Country, the Barbarian Race, or the sea bandits from the Southeast Coastal Region—they all want to see chaos erupt so they can reap the benefits."

"But I believe it’s only temporary. Once Shu State returns to its former glory, these petty criminals will certainly have nowhere to hide."

A smile appeared on the Old Marquis’s face. "And what if I don’t want to wait?"

"Qingzhou, what do you think should be done to pacify Shu State?"

Chen Yi answered without hesitation, "Kill one to warn a hundred."

"Kill one to warn a hundred, kill one to warn a hundred... Heh heh."

Although the Old Marquis was somewhat disappointed, feeling that Chen Yi’s words were too broad, he considered it a passing answer.

According to his own judgment, the situation in Shu State indeed showed signs of impending chaos.

It wasn’t just the meddling of the Evil Demonic Dao; many Noble Families and court officials were making moves behind the scenes, to varying degrees.

Even from outside Shu State, ill winds were blowing.

The Imperial Court, Jing State, and even places like Guangyue Prefecture and Jiao State, where Duke Qian’s Zhang Family resides, had seen developments unfavorable to Shu State and the Xiao Family.

Not to mention the restless Poshisu Country and the Barbarian Race.

Under these circumstances, if the Old Marquis wanted to "kill one to warn a hundred"...

...the choice of target required careful consideration.

A Noble Family like the Jing State Liu Family was a possibility.

But the commotion would be too great, inevitably attracting the attention of the Imperial Court and various other powers, and the matter would likely end unresolved.

If the target were too small, the effect would be greatly diminished.

That was why the Old Marquis held his trump card but had yet to find a suitable opportunity to play it.

After a momentary daze, he glanced at the calligraphy in his hand that read "Tranquility Yields Foresight" and said:

"Qingzhou, it’s not too late for you to have lunch here before you go back. And Wuge, you as well, of course."

Chen Yi had no objections.

Neither did Xiao Wuge.

But the two were in different moods.

Chen Yi let out a sigh of relief; he had managed to muddle his way through the Old Marquis’s test after all.

’But it seems I won’t be able to follow Sun Fu’s advice. I should probably visit Qingjing Residence less often in the future.’

’And then there was what the Old Marquis told Xiao Wan’er earlier—about having someone investigate Chen Yu, the owner of Hundred Herbs Hall.’

’From now on, I’ll have to be more cautious and keep a low profile.’

With laughter and conversation, the meal was quite harmonious.

But for some reason, Chen Yi couldn’t shake the feeling that many of the Old Marquis’s words during the meal held hidden meanings.

"When Jinghong returns, I’ll welcome her back with you."

"Qingzhou was born at the end of the first year of the Anhe era. You’re not getting any younger."

"Whether you go to Guiyun Academy or not is up to you. That old bastard Yue Ming is up to no good. Just look at the commotion in the prefecture now."

"You might as well spend more time in Spring Lotus Garden, especially at night."

"And also..."

Words like these left Chen Yi unable to grasp his true meaning.

’Is he telling me to go to the academy less to avoid causing trouble for the family?’

’But why did he differentiate between day and night?’

In the end, he could only assume the Old Marquis was old and just saying whatever came to mind.

’It couldn’t possibly be him urging me and Xiao Jinghong to consummate our marriage, could it?’

’That would be far too shameless for an old man.’

...

「As evening approached.」

Over the just-cleared skies of Shu State, dark clouds gathered once more.

The puddles that had been baked by the sun for most of the day evaporated, and the rising water vapor instantly turned into a blanket of heat, making it incredibly muggy both inside and outside the Prefecture City.

Even the occasional breeze was laden with moisture and scorching heat, causing those walking through the city to sweat endlessly.

Even in Yanhua Lane in the South City, dotted with dense vegetation, the patrons and the girls were much the same.

Especially the women who took the stage to perform.

Whether it was the Cultured Courtesans who played instruments and sang, or the scantily-clad girls who twirled and leaped in their dances, sweat beaded on all their foreheads.

After finishing a performance, they would have to drink a bottle of Mushroom Tea to cool down.

In just half a day, a single Qin Building would go through a cartload of Mushroom Tea.

The Madams didn’t find it a painful expense.

Although Mushroom Tea was expensive, compared to the Divine Bull Tea and Wangji Tea they sold, this small loss was just a drop in the bucket.

You see, while the girls drank one cartload of Mushroom Tea, the patrons would drink two or three cartloads of Divine Bull Tea.

Silver coins flowed like water over the counters of the Qin Buildings, and after being counted, were hauled away to the Xiao Family’s World Relief Medicine Hall or to Hundred Herbs Hall.

After all, over this period, these tea drinks had become all the rage in Yanhua Lane.

These Qin Buildings were clearly very familiar with the whole process.

If it was like this for the other Qin Buildings, it went without saying for Spring Rain Building, which had the most booming business and the most top-ranking women in all of Yanhua Lane.

Night had not yet fallen, but the place was already bustling with people.

Patrons came and went in an endless stream.

Some were led to seats in the main hall by the Pimps and Madams in charge of greeting, while others were taken by the maids of Cultured Courtesans they knew to private rooms in the back, or to even more luxurious and expensive courtyards.

The top floor of the Qin Building, facing the street, was a stark contrast to the lively scene below.

Most of those coming and going within were tall Jianghu People, each one either masked or wearing a bamboo hat, moving without a single sound.

Even the clamor from below did not reach this place; it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Coupled with the tightly shut doors and windows on all sides, the place was dim and silent even during the day, illuminated only by scattered lamps and lanterns.

The dim yellow halos of light bordered one another, like guards on duty, each protecting its own territory.

This caused the light and shadows to flicker and shift in the top-floor corridor.

And in a quiet room deep within the corridor, Black Tooth sat upright at a low table, a paper slip unfolded in his hand.

By the light of the oil lamp on the table, he read it carefully three times before putting the slip away and speaking:

"So, the visitors from the Jing State Liu Family did indeed want a marriage alliance with the Xiao Family, but the Old Marquis rejected them?"

Sitting opposite him was none other than Lou Yuxue, wearing a white jade mask.

She nodded slightly, her tone no longer the flirtatious, soft whisper from before, but much calmer and colder.

"That is correct."

"According to the spy hidden in the Xiao Family, Liu Yu from the Liu Family’s second branch first paid a visit and brought up the marriage alliance with the Old Marquis face-to-face."

"Afterward... which is to say, at noon today, Liu Wen and Liu Zhaoxue went together to the Xiao Family to visit the Old Marquis. They must have gone for the same reason."

The eyes of Black Tooth, hidden behind his iron mask, twitched. "And the result?"

Lou Yuxue let out a light laugh. "I heard that when Liu Wen left, his face was ashen."

"Before he had even left the Xiao Family estate, he cursed more than once—sometimes at Liu Zhaoxue, and other times indirectly at the Xiao Family."

Black Tooth chuckled. "In that case, the Medical Saint Hand from the night before last is indeed from the Liu Family."

Hearing this, Lou Yuxue shook her head. "We can’t be certain yet."

After a pause, she continued, "At the very least, we must rule out the possibility that he’s from the Xiao Family."

"After all, the stakes of this venture are enormous. If he’s a spy sent by the Xiao Family, then forget about those few from the Evil Demonic Dao—even you and I would be in danger."

Black Tooth said dismissively, "Even if the Xiao Family doesn’t know now, they’ll know it was us after the event."

"At that time, you and I will both have to go into hiding to avoid being killed by the Xiao Family in their fury."

Just as Lou Yuxue was about to agree, she heard Black Tooth continue, "However, your concern does have some merit."

"It would be good to be absolutely sure about that Medical Saint Hand’s background."

Lou Yuxue glanced at him. "Since you agree, I’ll send someone to probe Liu Wen tonight."

"Probing the Liu Family is no problem, but I want to know when you plan to make your move."

"Once I confirm Liu Wu’s identity, I will begin my preparations."

"Good. I will fully cooperate with your actions on this matter. I hope you won’t disappoint me."

Seeing Black Tooth looking straight at her, Lou Yuxue laughed. "As it should be."

"However, I’m afraid my spies will all be lost after this. I’ll have to trouble you with the matter of silver coins."

"Say no more. I’ll go get the silver tomorrow night."

As Black Tooth spoke, he glanced to the side and, with a slight exertion of force, crushed the paper in his hand to dust.

"In any case, I won’t break the rules of Bright Moon Building."