Since the Feihong Banquet began, not a single night at the mountain villa had been peaceful. Everyone had already fallen into sleep when, yet again, the night filled with firelight and running footsteps, until finally voices were raised in shouts.
Everyone was jolted awake. Prince Wei reclined on his bed, his lapels loosely parted, a beauty without a stitch of clothing tucked in his arms. His expression was displeased. “What is going on out there?”
His attendant knelt on the floor at the foot of the bed, eyes fixed on the floor tiles, not daring to look up even slightly. The night was bitterly cold, yet beads of sweat as large as beans had broken out on the attendant’s forehead. “Your Highness Prince Wei, something terrible has happened. It appears Princess Taiping has caught the killer.”
Prince Wei had only just roused himself from his comfortable reverie and had not quite caught up. “What killer?”
“The household slave who serves Prince Ding.”
Prince Wei’s still-drowsy mind snapped instantly awake. All trace of lingering warmth vanished from his eyes. He shoved the beauty in his arms aside. “Where is Prince Ding?”
---
By the time Prince Ding and Prince Wei arrived at the main hall, the room was already full of people. A powerfully built man in a coarse blue cloth garment was bound and kneeling in the center of the hall, with the items searched from his room strewn to one side.
There were women’s garments — red, in various styles — and most horrifying of all, six eyeballs crammed into a brocade box.
Prince Ding swept the scene with a single glance and then looked away, his expression unhurried as he walked toward Princess Taiping. “Your Highness, what has happened?”
Princess Taiping saw Prince Ding and Prince Wei approaching, and her expression shifted to something between a smile and not a smile. “Nothing much — only that a brazen and wicked slave has been caught. He killed three of this Princess’s maidservants, and even had the audacity to reach toward those close to this Princess. Thanks to this Princess’s vigilance, he has now been caught with the evidence on his person. Prince Ding, Prince Wei — in your view, how should such a treacherous, ungrateful wretch be punished?”
Prince Wei’s expression did not change. Rather than answering, he asked, “The strange occurrences recently — were all of those his doing?”
“Indeed.” Princess Taiping said, “Now that the rivers run clear and the sun and moon shine bright together, with the divine power of the Son of Heaven illuminating all beneath heaven, what ghosts or monsters could there possibly be? Clearly it was this villain working deception, invoking the name of serpents and demons to harm others under the guise of the supernatural.”
Princess Taiping’s eyes were fixed squarely on them, her lips curved in something that was mockery but not quite — her words laden with hidden meaning. Prince Wei knew that this stratagem had failed. He felt considerable vexation in his heart, but outwardly he maintained his customary ease and superiority, and said with perfect indifference, “So it was him causing mischief. Now that the chief culprit has been caught, deal with him accordingly.”
“The internal affairs of this Princess’s household I will naturally handle myself — Prince Wei need not trouble himself.” Princess Taiping turned her gaze to Prince Ding, and the expression in her eyes was difficult to read. “Prince Ding, this is your guard. I will handle the matter — you will not object, I trust?”
Prince Ding smiled with his characteristic refined elegance. “Naturally not. He has disturbed Your Highness. Whatever punishment is given, it will not be excessive.”
---
While Princess Taiping, Prince Ding, and Prince Wei were engaged in this exchange, five young people had already returned to the courtyard. The killer had been caught, but the mountain villa looked set to remain in a state of upheaval for the rest of the night. Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang did not move to other quarters — they decided to spend one more night making do in Jiang Ling’s courtyard.
Ming Huashang yawned. Only now did she feel a wave of exhaustion washing over her from all directions. “So tired.”
“Me too.” Ren Yao’s eyes were darkened all the way underneath, and she spoke with unmistakable gritted-teeth satisfaction. “Filthy wretch. I can finally get a decent night’s sleep.”
Ming Huashang nodded with deep and heartfelt agreement. Ming Huazhang turned his head and glanced at Ren Yao, his expression taking on a hint of displeasure.
Ren Yao had grown up as a boy and had a mouth full of coarse language. She could say whatever she liked herself — but how could she use that sort of talk in front of Ming Huashang?
Of the five, it was probably only Jiang Ling who still had his mind on the case. He was lively and full of energy, his curiosity brimming. “Second Miss Ming — how did you know those six eyeballs hadn’t been discarded? And how did you guess where they were kept? Don’t tell me you went to the killer’s room beforehand?”
Ming Huashang raised a hand to cover her lips, let out a delicate yawn, and said, “So tired. Second Elder Brother, Xie Elder Brother — I’m going to sleep.”
Ming Huazhang nodded. Xie Jichuan smiled warmly. “Good dreams, Second Younger Sister.”
“Hey, don’t go to sleep yet — tell me first!” Ming Huashang and Ren Yao departed without a shred of mercy. Jiang Ling turned to Ming Huazhang with an eager expression. “Ming Second Brother, how did you know—”
Ming Huazhang walked straight toward his own room as though he had heard nothing at all — not even a flicker of acknowledgment. Jiang Ling could only turn to Xie Jichuan. “Brother Xie, surely you’re not rushing off to sleep as well? I have good wine set aside — let us warm it and talk!”
Xie Jichuan smoothly removed Jiang Ling’s hand from his arm, his face a picture of regret. “My family keeps strict rules — wine is not permitted. I am afraid I must decline Young Heir Jiang’s kind offer. My apologies.”
That said, Xie Jichuan did not give Jiang Ling a single chance to reply before turning and walking away. Jiang Ling called after them several times, but still could only stand and watch as all four of them left — not one of them stayed.
Jiang Ling sighed and made his way back to his own room in disappointed resignation. “Looks like I’ll have to drink alone.”
He pushed open the door, and found his room had been thoroughly ransacked by an unknown number of visitors — everything was in complete disarray, and several pieces of furniture were even missing.
Jiang Ling stood there, stunned to his core. He had never in his life lived in such a mess of a room. As far as he was concerned, sleeping here was simply out of the question. But all the other rooms were occupied, so it seemed he would have to find the Princess’s household manager and ask to be assigned a different room.
Jiang Ling stepped out and had gone a couple of paces when he suddenly felt something was not quite right. “Wait — isn’t this my own courtyard?”
---
·
The first year of Shengli, the seventeenth day of the first month.
Contact with the people down the mountain was finally established today. The Empress summoned the Imperial Guards to come to Mount Mang and clear the snow from the road. The great families of Luoyang also sent helpers. With everyone working together, a path was finally dug through by dusk. Regrettably it was already late, so we cannot set out today. Second Elder Brother has told me to pack my things tonight and leave at first light tomorrow.
When Second Elder Brother returned from outside, his expression seemed off. He sent me away and held a quiet private conversation with Xie Elder Brother. They thought I couldn’t hear, but actually I’ve already guessed — the avalanche was not natural.
But what does it matter? Tomorrow I can go home. I can eat hot, freshly made pastries, and roasted venison — crisp on the outside and tender inside — and the noodle soup from the Tang Shi Ji on the east side of the city!
Ren Jiejie has somehow never eaten at Tang Shi Ji. I have already made a pact with her: once we return to Luoyang, we will go together to the east side of the city for shrimp and velvet antler noodle soup. What a pity that Bao Bao cannot come with me. If only Jiang Ling could be made to pay for its keep, and I could raise Bao Bao myself.
Written by Ming Huashang, on the night of the seventeenth day of the first month, at the Feihong Mountain Villa on Mount Mang.
Addendum: The name “Feihong” truly is an unlucky one. Word has it that Princess Taiping has already been considering renaming the garden.
Further addendum: The killer fell suddenly ill and died in the woodshed of the mountain villa. The specific cause of illness is unknown.
— End of the First Case: “A Feast in Wind and Snow.”
---