Translator's note: I apologise for the delay in this update; I've had a rather hectic week. The next two chapters will be up over the next two days as usual. - A half shichen later, the originally bright, sunny day had turned to a drizzle, the wet droplets trying to get in through the window lattices, causing the occasional lovers to disperse. A Luo was still dressed in a crow-dark gown, her long hair combed to one side, and she walked to the table, reaching out a searching hand to hold the purple Yixing clay pot, which had long since been penetrated by the cold, and gently covered it with her hands; the water within sent up fine bubbles, white steam pouring out of the pot. As she sat at the table, A Yin fastened up the clasps at her collar, the practised movements like that of a theatre, at the end of a play, being shuttered. A few strands of hair stuck to the moist nape of her neck, and, with her large, round eyes and plump, rosy cheeks, it was like the scattering of cracked ...

The sound of the watchmen’s clappers sounded ten or so times, yet Li Shiyi wasn’t drowsy in the slightest; she’d just been about to take out a jar of soothing Lu’an melon seed tea when she heard a series of three knocks on the wooden door. Li Shiyi called out an invitation to enter, and saw Song Shijiu closing the door and entering. Visiting in the depths of night; Li Shiyi set down the jar, and asked, “Is there something the matter?” Song Shijiu stood neatly with one foot at the front, one foot behind, and pondering with her head bowed, and only then said, “I’ve felt from the start that there’s something odd about that Mulan.” Li Shiyi drew a pensive breath, and nodded. “Mulan was a general with brilliantly outstanding military service, and entered Hun’ce Army; but when I fought hand to hand with her, it seemed like her martial skills weren’t that impressive.” This wasn’t even impressive? It was very impressive; clearly it was that you were more impressive, then. Song Shijiu gathere...

Starting in the morning, Jiang Xichu’s phone had begun to ring continuously; it would ring once and Jiang Xichu would hang up on it once; until the third time it rang, she furrowed her brows as she looked at the phone, and didn’t hang up again, and in fact put her phone on silent mode. Chen Man didn’t understand. “Who is it, then?” Jiang Xichu’s mood wasn’t good; it seemed that she was rather fed up with the person calling, and she said, “It’s nobody, just a disturbance. Have you finished eating? If you’ve finished, then let’s go.” Leaving at eight and dallying a bit, they arrived at the office at eight twenty; other offices’ starting hour was nine, but of these two, one was the General Manager, and the other was the General Manager’s Head Secretary; arriving a bit early also set a good example. Arriving at the office, Jiang Xichu began to bustle about, busy for more than an hour; overall, the most important duties were completed, and she could rest for a bit; as a result, that caller ...

The three indistinct characters dispersed in the tomb chamber; the amorous scent of sweet basil was incredibly improper on the ice-cold yellow loess and stones; Li Shiyi picked the smoking pipe up, and considered it carefully, and then felt the ground faintly vibrate, the sound of swift, uneven, hoofbeat-like footsteps rushed, approaching from the distance with the force of a hot knife through butter. Tu Laoyao’s body trembled violently, and the fat on either side shook as if struck over and over by Lei Gong; [1] the group gazed at him, bewildered, and saw that he’d fished the Hun’ce Command out from his pocket with some difficulty, pinched between numb fingers, and he said, stammeringly, “F…fuck, it’s shaking!” Li Shiyi thought to herself this wasn’t good; she held the smoking pipe horizontally across her chest, just having fallen into a defensive stance when she heard a burst of ghostly breeze attack, coming icily behind her head. She pressed her mouth firmly shut, the veins on her ...

It was said that Yan mountains were on a dragon’s vein; rising from west at the Yang River, and at the east linking the Shanhai Pass, they faced the Taihang mountains across the waters. To the east of the Yan mountains was Mount Wuling; Li Shiyi, because of A Yin, had a bit of a relationship with this place, and somewhat took into consideration her complexion, but, seeing that her expression was as lively as usual, relaxed a bit. The Chaohe River meandered like a dragon’s spine, and was one of the ones which wound around the Yan mountains; the mountain range wasn’t very high, and now, waking from hibernation, had sporadic greenery. Following around the Chaohe River halfway, arriving at Gubeikou, the Hun’ce Command that Tu Laoyao held in his hand began to make faint movements, a bit like a chick which had recently broken out of its shell and was pecking at feed, lightly jolting over and over. Li Shiyi and the others got out at the south side of Gubeikou Village, and asked for the locati...

“Even if I didn’t like you, the place you have in my heart is one that could not be replaced by anyone, to say nothing of the fact that I do like you.” Hearing Jiang Xichu say this, Chen Man was frozen for half a day, and only afterwards did she suddenly react, complexion flushing in an instant; she tilted her head, pressing her lips together, and after a long time, she slowly turned her head back. She stammered a few words; Jiang Xichu, for a while, couldn’t hear them clearly, and she turned towards Chen Man slowly, and then turned her ear towards her, and said, “What are you saying? I can’t hear it clearly, speak a bit louder.” “I said,” Chen Man said, and drew a deep breath, and only with great hardship summoned her courage, and increased the sound of her voice, “I want to kiss you…” In total, five words, the sound of each softer than the last. Jiang Xichu raised her head, gazing at Chen Man with astonishment; before, she hadn’t known that Chen Man had this sort of bashful and girli...

After bidding A Luo farewell, Li Shiyi and the others rested at the residence for a few days. In the past, every time they would go on a trip, Song Shijiu would always grow exhilarated; this time, it wasn’t clear whether she had once again gotten some lazy affliction or something similar, but unexpectedly, she would close the door and refuse guests, the curtain pulled tight; not to mention her visits to Li Shiyi every morning and evening, even when Tu Saozi, belly protruding, would come to invite her to eat, she would say in a discontented voice, “Go ahead and leave it outside,” and there wouldn’t be any sign of activity. Li Shiyi didn’t know if she’d been made into a cheap mother, [1] or if it was some other mood; in short, she had become concerned; the character of “placid” had been written halfway, the vertical hook cutting it in half, and looking at it, it appeared crooked and at an angle, not upright in the slightest. She crumpled up the paper, washed up, and got into bed to slee...

A Yin’s gaze rose, her fawning peach blossom eyes in that moment showing a faint degree of restraint; they didn’t have tear stains, or a sense of aggrievement, and the corners of her mouth rose slightly, reinforcing her boldness and arrogance. A Luo wasn’t in the best of spirits, and didn’t have the intention of reminiscing; she only gave a parting call to take care, and then gathered up her skirts and returned back to the house. Song Shijiu and Tu Laoyao looked at each other, not knowing what to do; the slender man briefly bowed and extended his hand to see them out, and only then did they walk shoulder to shoulder with Li Shiyi, a matter on her mind. As they departed, Tu Laoyao paid attention to A Luo’s meaningful glance, and retreated a step, hurriedly putting the engraved golden calling card into his sleeve. A Luo, hearing the vermillion door creakily pulled open, and then creakily close once more, paused her steps on the stairs, and after not too long, the man returned to her side...