Where Immortals Once Walked

Did he leave for a better position somewhere else? “How did he know you?”

“Young Master, he knows a great deal about my past. He also knows that you were the one who rescued me from that dreadful place.” Zhu Xiu’er gazed at He Lingchuan. “The connection between Sun Hongye and me was you!”

He Lingchuan rubbed his nose.

“I know Sun Hongye fairly well. He never visits without a purpose. Why would he go out of his way to help you out of kindness?”

“He proposed a partnership.” Zhu Xiu’er smiled faintly. “Each of us would get what we needed.”

“How so?”

“My enemy is related by marriage to the current Imperial Censor Hé Liwen. As it happened, Sun Hongye wanted to teach the Hé Family’s second and third sons, Hé Su and Hé Jing, a lesson.”

He Lingchuan remembered now. Before Sun Hongye entered his service, he had served as a study companion to the Hé Family’s third young master.

When Generals Wu Di and Ke Jihai broke through Woling Pass, they had employed a strategy supposedly proposed by Hé Liwen’s third son, Hé Jing. Hé Jing consequently received a generous reward. In truth, however, the plan had come from Sun Hongye. Hé Liwen had deliberately credited the wrong man, assigning the achievement to his own third son. He had dismissed Sun Hongye with a mere dozen or so taels of silver before driving him out of the residence.

Later, at Luming Garden, the Hé Family’s second son, Hé Su, had sent men to tamper with Sun Hongye’s carriage. As a result, Sun Hongye was nearly killed by the ghost ape on his way down the mountain. He had survived only because He Lingchuan intervened.

He Lingchuan had once told Sun Hongye that a man should avenge his own grudges and that the Hé Family would be left for him to deal with.

It appeared Sun Hongye had taken those words to heart and never forgotten them. The moment he returned to the Yuan capital, he began making plans.

He came from an impoverished background and had few helpers in the capital. He Chunhua certainly would not have involved himself in something like this. Joining forces with Zhu Xiu’er against their mutual enemies had therefore been a sensible choice.

“His plan was excellent, and we carried it out smoothly,” Zhu Xiu’er said softly. “I won’t tell you exactly what we did. It was too filthy a business, and I don’t want to stain your ears with it. In any case, both my enemy and his suffered terribly.”

“I was overjoyed, so I invited him to Pleasant Fortune Tavern to celebrate. My husband accompanied me that day.” Zhu Xiu’er sighed. “Sun Hongye attended, but his eyes kept wandering as though something weighed heavily on his mind. He was distracted throughout our conversation. I noticed he had brought luggage with him, and before he had even finished two cups of wine, he said he was leaving the Yuan capital.”

“Did he say where he was headed?”

“He said he was heading east, toward Beijia.” Zhu Xiu’er continued, “We asked what had happened, but he only shook his head. Then he gave me a book. If you returned, I was to give it to you. If you never appeared again, then the book would be mine to dispose of however I wished.”

“He left it for me?” Those final words took He Lingchuan completely by surprise. “Where is the book?”

“That is where things become strange.” Zhu Xiu’er gave a bitter smile. “The day after I brought it home, the book disappeared.”

“Disappeared?” He Lingchuan flicked a small stone away from his foot. “Where did you store it?”

“In a concealed compartment in my bedroom,” Zhu Xiu’er replied. “I checked before leaving home that morning, and it was still there. By the time I returned that evening, it had vanished.”

“Who saw you hide it?”

“My husband.” Zhu Xiu’er’s expression became serious. “He went with me to Pleasant Fortune Tavern and met Sun Hongye as well, so he also knew that I placed the book inside the hidden compartment beside the bed. But he is openhearted and upright. If he says he did not take it, then he did not. I believe him.”

“No one else?”

“I also questioned the maids in my courtyard. Every one of them swore to Heaven that they knew nothing.” Zhu Xiu’er let out a long sigh. “This was my fault. Sun Hongye entrusted the book to me, yet I allowed it to disappear while it was in my keeping.”

He Lingchuan shook his head. “Someone planned this while you were completely unaware. Sun Hongye must have realized he was being watched, which was why he tried to pass the book to you. Even so, the other party proved one step ahead.” His expression turned grave, then he added, “Sun Hongye did not think this through carefully enough. He could easily have brought disaster upon you.”

Zhu Xiu’er bit her lip. “Perhaps he had no one else he could trust and could only ask me for help?”

“What was the title of the book?”

“Collected Commentary on the Jade Blossoms,” Zhu Xiu’er answered. “It was the original handwritten manuscript. I leafed through several pages, and there were corrections and alterations throughout. It seems to have been written by some talented scholar in the Yuan capital thirty years ago. It was extremely obscure. I had never heard of it before.”

He Lingchuan nodded. “Alright, I understand.”

Zhu Xiu’er stopped walking. “You are very different from how you were before you left.”

“Oh?” He Lingchuan smiled. “Different in what way?”

“You seem...” Zhu Xiu’er studied him, carefully choosing her words. “Far more dependable and steady, and also...”

That dependability and composure had been washed and settled by time. They were not qualities another person could imitate or perform.

It’s only been a year. Just what has he gone through?

Zhu Xiu’er smiled and said, “And also more attractive to young women.”

The young man’s eyes were far too bright and alive, as though they could peer directly into the deepest recesses of a person’s heart. What unmarried young woman could withstand being looked at that way?

He Lingchuan was thick-skinned and had always accepted praise with complete ease. “Are you planning to introduce me to some young ladies from the Yuan capital, Sister Xiu’er?”

“The capital?” A faint disdain appeared in Zhu Xiu’er’s expression. “What young lady here could possibly be worthy of you? You deserve someone better!”

“Haha, and where am I supposed to find someone like that?”

“Not here, at least.” In contrast to his carefree manner, Zhu Xiu’er was entirely serious. “When I returned from Immortal Spirit Lake to my grandfather’s side, I once thought I could simply marry anyone. Only after marriage did I realize how important the person beside you truly is.” She looked directly at He Lingchuan before saying, “The same applies to you. When taking a wife, you must choose a virtuous woman. You absolutely cannot allow your family to assign someone to you at random!” ℴℴ𝘮

“I have been enlightened.” He Lingchuan cupped his hands toward her. “Sister Xiu’er’s insight is profound.”

“I should return now. I still need to accompany Grandfather outside this afternoon.” Now that the important matter had been conveyed, Zhu Xiu’er curtsied once more and took her leave.

She had always observed every courtesy with He Lingchuan.

He Lingchuan ordered someone to bring out specialties from Xia Province and pressed them into her hands before watching her leave the residence and board her carriage.

“She and your younger brother were both entrusted with something by Sun Hongye,” the Soul-Stealing Mirror inside his robes exclaimed. “But the book he gave her has already been stolen. Can those groups of numbers still be deciphered?”

“Not until we find the book.” He Lingchuan’s expression darkened. “Sun Hongye’s departure must be closely connected to the message he wanted to pass to me.”

He paced around the residence several times before going to find Steward Wu.

The steward was busy assigning duties throughout the He Residence. When He Lingchuan mentioned Sun Hongye, he froze.

“Sun Hongye?” Steward Wu paused. “Yes. Mr. Sun submitted his resignation to Master three days ago. He collected fifteen taels of silver from me and then left.”

“He gave no reason?” Surely anyone resigning would offer some explanation.

“He said he was unwell and intended to travel east. I told him the residence could summon a physician for him, but Mr. Sun repeatedly refused. Master even offered to raise his salary, yet he still refused to stay.” Steward Wu scratched his head. “Mr. Sun did fall ill twice while traveling with us from Xia Province to the Yuan capital. His health has never been particularly robust. When he came to collect the silver, his complexion looked poor as well.”

“How did he perform for the household over the past year?”