Ning Wan Wan turned, seeing Si Zhan smile gently. “I want to tell you something.”
“…???” Ning Wan Wan raised an eyebrow, waiting.
Si Zhan raised his hand, palm up, looking at her and saying nothing. “Don’t be afraid,” he said, his phoenix eyes containing a universe. “Leave everything to me. I will cancel the marriage contract between you and Si Yi. You just need to wait at ease.”
“…Okay.”
Just looking at Si Zhan’s face, she felt reassured, believing he would accomplish this.
*
That night, during the Spring Festival, Ning Wanwan allowed the maids in Chuyun Yuan to play freely, as long as they did not make too much noise.
The maids gathered in groups to play dice games, with the losers forced to eat various snacks. Zhan Xiang, having eaten too many snacks, found an excuse to enter the room to serve the young mistress. She gasped while covering her chest, with crumbs from osmanthus cake still lingering at the corner of her mouth.
Ning Wanwan, leaning on the bed’s cushion and reading a book, glanced at Zhan Xiang and teased, “Where did this little mouse who sneaks food come from? Can’t even wipe your mouth clean?”
Zhan Xiang hurriedly wiped her mouth with her sleeve, giggling as she approached the bed, covering the teapot. “Young mistress, the tea has gone cold. This servant will bring you a fresh pot.”
Ning Wanwan nodded, continuing to read her book. From the corner of her eye, she caught a flash of gold on Zhan Xiang’s head. When she looked again, Zhan Xiang had already left.
Soon, Zhan Xiang returned with a pot of boiling tea. Ning Wanwan deliberately glanced at Zhan Xiang’s hairpin and saw that it was gold.
Surprised, she recalled that Zhan Xiang was a first-rank maid with a good monthly salary, but wearing gold was far beyond her means. Curiosity compelled her to look again.
Something suddenly emerged in her mind, as if breaking through layers of darkness, but she couldn’t quite grasp it.
She sat up abruptly and said, “Zhan Xiang, take off the hairpin and let me see it.”
Zhan Xiang was momentarily stunned, then understood and handed the gold hairpin to Ning Wanwan. “Is this what the young mistress means?”
Ning Wanwan nodded and examined the hairpin carefully. It was ordinary in appearance, but the pattern—a cicada above a moon palace—was unusual and resembled a seal.
Ning Wanwan immediately ordered, “Quickly bring paper and an ink pad.”
Zhan Xiang, frightened by Ning Wanwan’s expression, hurriedly fetched paper and an ink pad, placing them on a small table. Nervously, she asked, “Young mistress, is there something wrong with the hairpin?”
Ning Wanwan laid the hairpin flat, pressed it into the ink pad, and stamped it onto the paper. She then revealed a rare yet familiar seal pattern—one she had seen on every secret letter from Si Zhan in her previous life.
She had thought it impossible for Si Zhan to stage a palace coup in Biandu, guarded by imperial troops. However, after becoming a remnant soul beside Si Zhan, she discovered his hidden capabilities and a powerful intelligence organization deeply rooted throughout Biandu and the Qi Song empire.
Uncertain of the organization’s nature or its connection to Si Zhan, she realized it had strong ties to him, providing him with confidential intelligence about the royal court and officials.
“Zhan Xiang, where did you get this hairpin?” she asked.
Zhan Xiang quickly replied, “No, I didn’t buy it. My second brother gave it to me.”
Ning Wanwan lowered her eyes, pondering, “Your second brother… is he working as a patrol soldier in the city’s western military station?”
In Biandu, military patrol stations are established every three hundred steps with three to five soldiers per station, patrolling for thieves, fires, and other crimes at night.
Two years ago, Zhan Xiang’s family asked her to recommend her brother for a position. After consulting her grandmother, he joined the military patrol station and personally visited to thank her.
“Thanks to the old madam and the young mistress’s blessing, my second brother became a patrol soldier,” Zhan Xiang expressed gratefully.
Ning Wanwan then inquired, “Did he tell you where he got the hairpin?”
“My second brother’s salary couldn’t afford such an expensive hairpin. When I asked, he said it was given by the master of… Lü Ming Pavilion.”
“Lü Ming Pavilion…”
Could this be the organization that provided intelligence to Si Zhan in his previous life? If so, with Lü Ming Pavilion’s intelligence capabilities, she might locate the poison saint, Ghost Infinite.
Zhan Xiang continued, “I asked him why the pavilion master would give him such a valuable hairpin.”
He said that Lü Ming Pavilion had been robbed before, injuring two girls. He was patrolling that street and caught the thief, forcing him to return the stolen goods. The pavilion master, grateful, secretly gave him this gold hairpin.
Finishing her story, Zhan Xiang looked at Ning Wanwan nervously, asking, “Young mistress, is there something wrong with my second brother?” She wondered if the gold hairpin had been stolen.
“No, your second brother is fine, and this hairpin is too. I just felt that the pattern on this gold hairpin looks familiar and wanted to know where it came from,” Ning Wanwan replied, handing the gold hairpin to Zhan Xiang. “Since it was given to you by your second brother, wear it carefully.”
Zhan Xiang sighed with relief and took the gold hairpin. “Thank you, miss.”
Ning Wanwan laughed, “Silly girl, what are you thanking me for?” Her expression became serious. “By the way, I need your help.”
“Please instruct me, miss.”
“I want you to ask your second brother about the location of Lumen Pavilion.”
*
West Water Gate Street was bustling with shops and businesses, taverns, and song houses everywhere. Banners fluttered, and the street was filled with horse-drawn carriages, creating a scene of prosperity.
Ning Wanwan and Fu Yi looked up at the magnificent building adorned with a gilded blue plaque reading “Lumen Pavilion” in vermilion.
The five-story Lumen Pavilion featured upturned eaves and corners, surrounded by railings with pearl curtains and embroidered plaques. Flickering candles and dancing red and orange lanterns created an atmosphere of sensual allure.
Fu Yi swallowed nervously and turned to Ning Wanwan. “Miss, are we really going in?”
“What are you afraid of? We’re both dressed as men. Just keep your head down, and no one will recognize us.”
“But… this is a brothel.”
Although Qi Song was open-minded, this establishment was still associated with prostitution. If they were discovered as women, it could ruin their reputations.
“If you’re scared, wait outside. I’ll go in alone,” Ning Wanwan said, glancing back before walking ahead with her hands behind her back.
Fu Yi quickly called out, “How can I do that! This servant will follow you.”
Ning Wanwan shot her a warning look. “Call me young master.”
Fu Yi noticed a fair-skinned young servant approaching and whispered, “Yes, young master.”
The young servant warmly greeted them, “Gentlemen, please come inside.”
Ning Wanwan walked in confidently, with Fu Yi following nervously. Fu Yi kept her head down but stole glances around, noting the vermilion curtains, singing and dancing, and the sounds of laughter and clinking cups. Scared, she quickly lowered her head, focusing her gaze inward.
The servant guided them and asked, “Our girls are skilled in music, chess, painting, and various arts. Would you like to hear a song or watch a dance?”
Ning Wanwan replied, “I want to see your manager.”
The servant hesitated, then smiled politely, “I’m sorry, sir, but our manager is not available.”
