If Chen Yi was merely a little troubled by Li Huai’gu’s wedding, then Chen Yunfan was already cursing up a storm.

Before three in the morning, while Chen Yunfan was sleeping soundly, Chun Ying woke him with a cold, damp towel.

Last night, he’d been unable to refuse the insistent invitations of several colleagues from the Governor’s Office and had been forced to accompany them to the Spring Rain Building.

He had indulged in a night of revelry there, only returning home blind drunk around midnight.

Now, he was completely groggy. "What time is it?"

Chun Ying lied without batting an eye. "My lord, it is already three."

Hearing this, Chen Yunfan flopped back down, rolled over, and mumbled, "Still too early for morning roll call. I’m sleeping a bit longer."

Chun Ying’s expression was one of helplessness. "My lord, have you forgotten what you promised the Third Place Scholar?"

"Hm?" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Today is the Third Place Scholar’s wedding. You’re supposed to be his wedding attendant—his groomsman!"

"Hm? Oh."

Seeing his reaction, Chun Ying slapped the towel back on his face and scrubbed vigorously.

Startled awake by the cold towel, Chen Yunfan shot up and pounced, pinning her beneath him. "You little wench, you’ve got a death wish, don’t you?"

Chun Ying let him hold her without a fight, merely continuing her persuasion.

"My lord, you gave your word. It wouldn’t be right not to go."

Chen Yunfan looked down at her, then sighed and swiped a hand over his own face, circulating the True Essence within his body.

Within a few breaths, the last traces of alcohol vanished, leaving him clear-headed and refreshed.

He then clambered out of bed, grumbling as he dressed. "I have no idea what Father was thinking, forbidding me from revealing my Martial Arts Cultivation."

Chun Ying got up and straightened her clothes. "My lord," she said softly, "the Master must have his reasons for this arrangement."

Chen Yunfan rolled his eyes, his muttering unabated.

One moment he was complaining about his father’s endless rules, the next he was grumbling about the Holy Emperor stationing him in Shu State, and the moment after that he was lamenting how much better the bustling Jiangnan Prefecture was.

It was, in short, the typical attitude of someone who did not take kindly to being woken up. He was furious.

Chun Ying listened attentively but dared not utter another word.

After helping him into his official robes and retrieving the prepared gift, she quietly hurried him out the door.

Chen Yunfan had no choice. He stepped outside, looked up at the stars, and let out a long sigh. "Just you wait. One day, I..."

He didn’t finish. It suddenly occurred to him that the two people responsible for his current predicament were his father, Chen Xuanji, and the Emperor of the Great Wei Dynasty. The words died on his lips.

He fell silent.

He remained quiet until the carriage had left the residence. Then, Chen Yunfan asked nonchalantly, "Chun Ying, do you think I’ve been plotted against, too?"

Chun Ying sat obediently beside him. "My lord, you are a man of great importance. Naturally, no one would dare to plot against you."

Chen Yunfan shot her a look, his expression serious. "And what if the one plotting against me is my own father?"

Chun Ying ducked her head, not daring to speak.

Chen Yunfan didn’t expect an answer from her and continued, speaking his thoughts aloud.

’Ever since I saw the Hawk that day, I’ve been wondering... what was the purpose of sending me to Shu State?’

’To be an official? The Great Wei Dynasty is vast. I could have been sent anywhere. Why Shu State, of all places?’

’Following that train of thought, can you guess what I realized?’

Chun Ying shook her head.

Chen Yunfan gazed out the window. "I thought of Brother Yi," he said slowly. "If someone as clever as him could be manipulated, what chance do I have?"

Chun Ying started to speak, then hesitated. "My lord, you and Young Master Yi are different."

Chen Yunfan laughed mockingly. "How are we different? We have the same father, and we both grew up by our mothers’ sides... We’re exactly the same!"

He paused. "Although, now that I think about it, there is one difference. His birth mother doesn’t have the Qinghe Cui clan behind her. Mine does."

Chun Ying shrank back even further, daring not to speak. She couldn’t possibly comment on the Master or the Mistress.

But Chen Yunfan clearly wasn’t going to let her off the hook. "So, aside from keeping an eye on me, what other mission did you have coming to Shu State?"

Chun Ying shook her head, her lips pressed firmly together.

"You have one."

"My lord, I do not."

Chen Yunfan stared at her for a moment. When she still refused to yield, he scowled.

"Fine, don’t tell me."

"If you won’t tell me now, then you’d better never tell me. Do you really think I’m some clay doll that won’t fight back?"

"Worst case, we go our separate ways. I’ll toss my Official Seal and go roam the Jianghu."

Chun Ying knew he was just blowing off steam, but she still had to try and placate him.

She spent a good while cooing gentle words of comfort at him, but Chen Yunfan remained thoroughly incensed. "You just wait and see!"

A short while later, the carriage passed the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion.

Chen Yunfan glanced at it and chuckled. "I almost forgot, Brother Yi is going to Li Huai’gu’s wedding today, too."

"Say, do you think the business with the ’Sword Madman’ stealing the Xiao Family’s medicinal herbs has anything to do with Brother Yi?"

Chun Ying recalled seeing Chen Yi with Liu Lang outside the Spring Rain Building last time. "I... shouldn’t think so," she said, uncertain.

"I think it does," Chen Yunfan said, intrigued. "I’ll ask him at the banquet later."

"My lord, perhaps it’s best not to ask?"

"You’re going to meddle in this, too? I just don’t get it. Of all the White-robed Ministers, why did they send *you* to follow me?"

"Perhaps because I’m obedient?"

"...Get away from me. The sight of you is infuriating."

"Oh..."

...

At least Chen Yi’s morning was more pleasant than his older brother’s.

He slept in until the sun was high in the sky before finally rising. With Xiaodie’s help, he dressed for the day.

For Li Huai’gu’s wedding, he had chosen a special set of brocade robes.

Of course, for someone from a wealthy and distinguished family, certain unwritten rules were unavoidable.

—For one, his brocade robes couldn’t be the same ones he had worn for the Old Master’s birthday celebration.

Xiaodie bustled about for the better part of an hour. In addition to his clothes, she made sure his waist sash, Jade Token, and sachet were all perfectly arranged. She even found him a Young Master’s Fan.

"Young Master, there are sure to be many scholars among the guests at the Third Place Scholar’s mansion today. You must have all the proper accessories."

Chen Yi flicked open the fan and examined himself in the Copper Mirror. He raised an eyebrow, the single gesture shattering his noble air. "Passably human, I suppose."

Amused, Xiaodie covered her mouth to giggle. But her eyes remained fixed on his profile, and a blush crept up her cheeks.

"Young Master, you’re not... no, that’s not it, I mean you can’t be... that’s not right either. You are human, but..."

Her fumbling words amused Chen Yi as well. He snapped the fan shut and tapped her on the forehead with it. "Enough nonsense. Let’s go."

Xiaodie rubbed the spot where he’d tapped her and followed him out the door.

As she walked, she kept a hand over her mouth, scolding herself internally.

’Oh, Xiaodie, you’re so clumsy with your words! The Young Master even laughed at you.’

After a quick breakfast.

Chen Yi took a pouting Xiao Wuge to Jiaxing Garden. "Next time there’s a chance, I’ll take you to a banquet," he promised.

Xiao Wuge immediately brightened, his childish delight showing. "You promise, Brother-in-law?"

Chen Yi nodded in agreement. There would be plenty of time in the future; he was sure he could get Xiao Wuge to a banquet eventually.

Once they reached Jiaxing Garden, he informed Xiao Wan’er of his plans and turned to leave.

Just then, Xiao Wan’er asked, "Has everything been normal at the Jishi Medicine Hall these past few days?"

Chen Yi paused. He knew she was really asking about Linglan Pavilion, so he nodded with a smile. "Everything’s normal, aside from a slight dip in our silver coins."

At first, the words sounded jarring, but on second thought, they held a certain playfulness.

Xiao Wan’er chided him playfully, "Oh, so you *are* aware the Medicine Hall is short on silver coins?"

Chen Yi had rarely seen such an expression on her face and couldn’t help but take a second look. It was only when he noticed the two faint blushes on her lotus-like face that he spoke again.

"Linglan Pavilion is sticking to legitimate business for now. I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary."

Blushing, Xiao Wan’er turned her head away. "I see. You should go."

Chen Yi smiled and took his leave, leading Xiaodie out of Jiaxing Garden.

A long moment passed before Xiao Wan’er came back to herself. The blush on her face hadn’t faded; in fact, it seemed to deepen with a strange intensity.

Xiao Wuge noticed and couldn’t help but ask, "Big Sister, your face is really red. Um, is your illness acting up?"

Xiao Wan’er quickly turned away and cleared her throat. "Huatang, take Wuge to the study. He needs to catch up on his lessons."

"..."

Xiao Wuge looked as if he’d been struck by lightning. He couldn’t understand how a simple question had resulted in being sentenced to his studies.

Xiao Wan’er, of course, offered no explanation. Inwardly, however, she felt a sliver of gratification.

’He knew I was asking about Linglan Pavilion,’ she thought. ’That must mean he’s taking his duties at the Jishi Medicine Hall seriously.’

’He passes.’

Chen Yi, already in the front courtyard, had no idea he had just ’passed’ a test. He summoned Liu Si’er to drive the carriage away from the Xiao Mansion.

"Young Master," Liu Si’er said, "It’s late to be heading to the Jishi Medicine Hall. There’s probably not much to do. Why not go after lunch?"

Chen Yi slapped his forehead. "My apologies, Brother Si. I forgot to mention it. Today is the Third Place Scholar’s wedding. We’re going to Luoyi Lane."

At these words, Liu Si’er’s hands trembled, and he yanked hard on the reins.

"Young Master, I just remembered I forgot something! Please wait a moment."

’Damn it,’ he thought. ’Why didn’t this Fledgling say so earlier?’

’I hope Uncle Gui hasn’t gone far.’

Chen Yi watched him run back, completely baffled. He muttered a single word.

"Weirdo."