Tang Yi, a face full of smiles, found Jiang Ling and sat down beside her, taking a sip of tea, “Hey, Brother Jiang got lucky yesterday, huh.”
Jiang Ling put a hand to her forehead. As if his own success was not enough, this Tang Yi had scampered over to concern himself with her, “Not as lucky as you, Brother Tang, with a beautiful woman on each arm.”
“Let’s go back today and not rest ‘til we get dead drunk.” Having attained success this time, Tang Yi still wanted to get up to his same tricks, “I also went back to help Brother Jiang investigate his matters.”
Jiang Ling understood that Tang Yi was a very shrewd individual. All of his talk of asking his sister was just fobbing her off. If this were to continue on, then she would eventually be able to stay sober after a thousand drinks.
The two of them arrived at the Yunxiang Gardens. Qiu Shi immediately pulled them into a private room.
Jiang Ling recalled how Qiu Shi had carefully stroked Tang Yi’s cheeks and coughed awkwardly.
“What’s wrong, Brother Jiang? Are you feeling unwell?” Tang Yi looked at her with concern.
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing.” Jiang Ling hurriedly changed the subject, “What did you find, Brother Tang.”
Off to the side, Qiu Shi was helping Tang Yi arrange for some dishes and wine.
“I came out of A Qi’s place this morning.” Tang Yi started to regale them with the events that occurred after he woke up.
Jiang Ling’s eyes went dark; she did not actually want to hear of Tang Yi’s love life.
“Nevermind, Second Young Master. You were in a drunken stupor last night. Miss Qi considerately cleaned up your mess.” Qiu Shi interrupted jealously, “And called someone to remove you as soon as you woke up.”
“Qiu Shi-jiejie, you don’t get it. I got to see her, too.”
Jiang Ling saw Tang Yi’s smug expression and almost thought he had passed the night with a beautiful woman, but as it was, he had gotten one look and came calling, his beaming smile shining through.
“Fool, have Young Master Jiang decide.”
Tang Yi was afraid that even Jiang Ling would make fun of him, so he righted his expression and returned to the topic: “I went through the records from three years ago, but there were none regarding disciples at the Qingshan Sect.” The Tang Sect disciples accepted assassination requests, which were usually recorded by designated disciples. Only the sect leader and the records keepers could access them.
Things had reached another damned deadend. It was not He Xi, it was not the Tang Sect; Jianghu was massive and those who wielded needles too numerous to count. But who had a grievance with the Gu Family or the Qingshan Sect, such that they would poison their needles?
“Are you sure that it was not the doings of the Cult of Light?” Tang Yi was surprised that Jiang Ling was so certain that it was not the Cult of Light, “Based on what I know, all the other sects were at the banquet at the time, with only three Qingshan disciples and the Cult of Light traitors at the scene.”
Tang Yi cast a suspicious look at Jiang Ling, “Is it that you are involved with the Cult of Light and want to pass the blame to the Tang Sect?”
“If Young Master Jiang wanted to pass the blame to the Tang Sect, he would not have come to find you, Second Young Master.” Jiang Ling had just opened her mouth to explain when Qiu Shi did it for her.
“That’s true. While our Tang Sect may not engage in proper business, we will also not deny what we have done. Whether there is a traitor or some such, I cannot say for certain.” Tang Yi pondered for a moment then smacked the table, “Each poison is special, so the needles’ wielder will be revealed based on their poison they choose. If someone is hit with our Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles, there would only be a small red dot left on their body. If they don’t discover their poisoning before their death, then all that will remain after their death is unmarked white bone, unlike other poisons which discolor the bones.”
Jiang Ling’s brow furrowed. Back then, Jiang Ling had learned of Gu Yun’s murder in a flurry and had not investigated the particulars of his injury before rushing down the mountain to seek revenge on He Xi. It was only later that Yun He had told Jiang Ling that Gu Yun had been struck in the chest by poisoned needles. He Xi had been the only one at the scene who had wielded silver needles as weapons, so she was naturally the greatest suspect. If He Xi had not told her that her silver needles did not contain poison, then she probably would have never thought of other possibilities for the murderer.
“You are saying that one can determine the poison, and thus the poisoner, from the bones of the dead?” Tang Yi’s words reminded Jiang Ling that she could seek another path.
“Precisely. If you are unafraid of disturbing the souls of the dead, you can open the coffin and perform an autopsy. If the bones are normal, then it was the doing of our Tang Sect. If the bones have blackened, then you can take one of the bones to an expert knowledgeable in poisons and they will likely be able to tell you both which poison was used and who uses that poison.”
Tang Yi’s method was undoubtedly the best way at present, but exhuming a corpse was no small matter, and the Gu Family would not exonerate He Xi simply based on her one-sided testimony.
Tang Yi had said all he could say and, satisfied, began to think of the drunken good time he would have today. Maybe Miss Qi would bring him to her room again, “Brother Jiang, you don’t have to rush off just yet. Come, let’s have a drink.”
Jiang Ling had still not recovered from her handover and, compounded with the befuddlement she felt regarding Gu Yun’s matter, when it came to drinking with Tang Yi, it truly was a case of the spirit being willing but the flesh weak. After two cups, Jiang Ling felt like she was burning up. She waved a hang, begging for mercy. Tang Yi slanted a look at her, “Alas, I had thought I’d found a good drinking friend. Forget it, the food here is good, Brother Jiang can simply enjoy the food.”
Qiu Shi filled Tang Yi’s cup and another for herself, “Qiu Shi-jiejie will drink with you today.”
A few cups of wine later, Tang Yi’s face was flushed with drunkenness, his words flowing ever-freer, “Qiu Shi-jiejie is the best. If Brother Jiang didn’t already have someone in his heart, he’d really be a good match.”
“Stop teasing me, you two.” Jiang Ling smiled wryly, pouring herself a cup and downing it in one go.
Just when Tang Yi had drunk himself into a good mood, a serving girl, about fourteen or fifteen, entered their room. She was Qi Yue’s servant, the one Jiang Ling had seen yesterday.
The serving girl stood at the door, looking at Tang Yi, neither entering fully nor leaving. Tang Yi grew uneasy under that stare and swallowed nervously, “Uh…does Miss Qi have something to instruct?”
Tang Yi had indeed yet to drink himself into a stupor, “Miss Qi said that if the second young master got drunk again today, she would notify the madame.”
Hearing this, Tang Yi wiped away his previously joy-filled expression, instead carrying some traces of anger, “She said that?”
But the serving girl did not reply, instead curtseying apathetically and retreating.
Tang Yi clenched the wine cup in his fist, like he wanted to crush it to pieces, “I’m going to see her!” Saying as much, he suddenly stood up, threw open the door, and left, his chair crashing to the ground behind him.
“Second Young…Master.” Qiu Shi reached out to catch Tang Yi only to catch empty air.
Qiu Shi slowly retracted her outstretched hand, straightened Tang Yi’s chair, and sat down on it. She grabbed Tang Yi’s still-full wine cup and tipped her head back to drain it in one go. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
Qiu Shi sniffled, facing Jiang Ling, who had observed everything silently, with a smile and tears, “Isn’t it ridiculous?”
Jiang Ling’s eyes flashed, and she shook her head lightly. How could liking someone be ridiculous?
Qiu Shi filled Jiang Ling’s cup again and started to recount their story on her own, “Miss Qi was originally the daughter of a major official in the capital, three years the second young master’s senior. They met in Yuzhou as children, and the second young master grew closer to Miss Qi during that time. Later, her father became embroiled in a political struggle and resigned, bringing his family to Yuzhou, but his enemies hired assassins to kill her father. The entire family collapsed, and Miss Qi sank into prostitution.”
“The assassins.” Jiang Ling parsed the particular reason.
“Were Tang Sect disciples, indeed. Even though I sympathize with Miss Qi, in this line of work, sympathy is the most worthless thing there is. Who amongst us does not need sympathy? But back then, the second young master was still young and was unaware of the full story. All he knew was that his Qi-jiejie would be coming to Yuzhou, and he waited with a heart filled with joy and anticipation. It was too late by the time he learned of Miss Qi’s situation. Afterward, he would come seek her out each day, perhaps wanting to make it up to her. When I see that look of his, I envy Miss Qi.”
Miss Qi refused his offers to redeem her time and time again, treating him with goodwill yet ignoring him. Tang Yi could only use his wealth in the hope that she would not have to see customers as the others did.
Qiu Shi drank the wine she held, “I call him a fool, but am I not one as well?”
Jiang Ling accompanied Qiu Shi quietly. At a moment like this, no amount of comforting words could surpass a bit of company.
Qiu Shi looked at Jiang Ling, who was drinking with her blankly, and chuckled, “If you don’t go back, your beloved will get mad again.”
“…” Jiang Ling then reacted. She stood up, her eyes bright. She said to Qiu Shi, “Thank you!”
Qiu Shi watched Jiang Ling leave with tears in her eyes. She said to herself: “A woman of the night such as I pitying another.”
The day was drawing to a close, lanterns being lit up along the street. Jiang Ling ran back towards the inn, the road somehow longer than before. Her heart thumped wildly, her chest tight with pain. She had always been there; the one in Yizhou, at the bandit’s den, had been her, and the one last night was her, too. Jiang Ling had not been mistaken at all!
What welcomed her at the inn was an empty room, as before. Jiang Ling sat on the roof in a daze, buffeted by the night breeze. The scent of alcohol dispersed in the wind, too. He Xi was still mad at her, right?
He Xi, dressed in black robes, lighted upon the roof’s ridge and sat down a few paces away from Jiang Ling, “Do you always like to come up to the roof when you have something on your mind, then?”
He Xi’s appearance calmed Jiang Ling’s anxious heart; rather than being filled with excitement and surprise, she settled down. She shook her head, “Only when I’m missing you.”
“Have you thought it through?” He Xi did not look at Jiang Ling, instead looking out at the nearby lanterns.
Jiang Ling sank into silence again. He Xi sighed. Just as He Xi was preparing to leave, Jiang Ling sat down beside her and held He Xi’s hand.
He Xi’s hand was ice cold. Jiang Ling hid He Xi’s hand inside her own sleeve, “I haven’t, but I do know that when I’m not with you, my heart feels like it’s being ripped out.”
She placed He Xi’s hand on her chest, “It hurts so much.”
He Xi turned her head, listening to Jiang Ling quietly.
“Don’t avoid me. I grew up on the mountain, and I haven’t seen much of the world.”
He Xi smiled, “When have I ever avoided you?”
Jiang Ling knitted her eyebrows together. She looked at He Xi, grumbling: “You left me all alone. Isn’t that avoiding me?”
“I just wanted to let you calm down on your own.”
Jiang Ling’s mouth tightened, like she had made her mind up about something. She turned and threw herself into He Xi’s arms. Her free hand wrapped around her neck and she buried her face in her shoulder. She said, her voice muffled, “You’re so heartless. I missed you every day you were gone, I don’t want to calm down that way.”
“How about this?” He Xi breathed softly into Jiang Ling’s ear, her voice low. Jiang Ling felt a tingle run down her spine. She sensed He Xi turn her head slightly, her warm exhalations brushing Jiang Ling’s cheek.
Jiang Ling’s cheeks burned. She knew what He Xi wanted to do, but even though they had already done it before, this time, Jiang Ling’s heart was in her throat.
He Xi tilted her head and captured her lips, the soft, cool sensation invigorating Jiang Ling’s nerves. Jiang Ling closed her eyes and sank into He Xi’s kiss, responding gently.
He Xi rested her forehead against Jiang Ling’s, gasping lightly. She whispered: “Your heart is beating so fast.”
Only then did Jiang Ling realize that she was still pressing He Xi’s hand to her chest. He Xi did not give her a chance to escape, turning her hand over and pressing Jiang Ling’s hand to her own chest, “Mine, too.”
The place her hand touched was soft; Jiang Ling could not gather her thoughts enough to feel for her heartbeat. Her heart flipped over in her chest, her voice soft and sticky, “Are you the reincarnation of a fox spirit?”