A Needle in Sugar

Not long after the Prince of Qin departed, Shen Fujian arrived with a group of guards, looking travel-worn.

Shen Fujian directed his men to load a collection of household goods and utensils. Once fully prepared, he changed into Xie Yi’s clothes, climbed into the Prince of Qin’s carriage with a swagger, lifted the curtain, and looked at Xia Yunhe with a grin. "Brother Yun, we’re off."

Xia Yunhe said, "Travel safely."

Shen Fujian patted the silver spear at his side and laughed, "Don't worry. I am my father’s own disciple; no ordinary group of three or five men could get close to me."

With that, he called for Qian He'er to drive, and the group left Changfeng Post Station with great fanfare, heading toward the direction of Liguan.

The following day, Old General Shen also left the capital.

Xia Yunhe went to see him off. Upon returning, he sat alone in the corridor playing a game of chess for half the day. Estimating that the Old General and his party had cleared Liguan, he looked up to see the sun tilting westward and had Zhenniang summon Third Master Fu, entrusting him with the task of investigating the Tian family’s grain and oil shop in Yin County once more.

After a period of recovery, Third Master Fu had regained his health. Upon hearing Xia Yunhe’s instructions, he cupped his fists and said, "With the young master’s command, I, Fu San, would face any danger without hesitation. There is no time to lose; I shall set off today and investigate that blasted grain shop."

After packing his belongings, Third Master Fu left the city at the fifth quarter of the Xu hour, just as the evening drum sounded, and headed north.

Early the next morning, Xia Yunhe rose, dressed formally, and went to the palace to report to Emperor Hehui. Afterward, he went to the Wenyuan Pavilion, located south of the eastern veranda.

The Wenyuan Pavilion was unlike any other place. While the surrounding palaces featured yellow glazed eaves, this building alone had a black roof—in the Five Elements, black corresponds to water, signifying the use of water to suppress fire. The building consisted of two levels: the upper floor was a single open space, while the lower level was divided into six rooms, echoing the saying, "Heaven generates water, and Earth sustains it with six."

After paying his respects to Academician Mei, he learned that the Emperor had assigned over a dozen court officials to assist in collating books. Including the literate scholars from the Inner Book Hall, there were nearly a hundred people busy moving, copying, and binding books, working noisily until the lamps were lit each day.

Here, Xia Yunhe encountered Wen Shuochuan. Master Wen was still dressed in plain robes with a long beard, maintaining his usual gentle and refined demeanor. Aside from the day they paid respects to Tan Zhi, they had had no further interaction, so seeing him here today was quite a surprise.

Wen Shuochuan was originally a clerk in the Censorate; how had he come to manage affairs for the Hanlin Academy?

After some conversation, he understood the situation. It turned out that Wen Shuochuan had received a transfer order to serve as a book editor in the Hanlin Academy. Although the order had come inexplicably, it brought him closer to the Emperor.

Wen Shuochuan remarked, "It could be considered a blessing in disguise."

Xia Yunhe’s ears pricked up, and he asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Unexpectedly, Wen Shuochuan became evasive, laughing it off and changing the subject. His reaction made Xia Yunhe wary, so he responded with a few perfunctory remarks.

Seeing that the two were getting along, Academician Mei kindly assigned them to adjacent desks to transcribe different sections of the same book, making it easier for them to discuss and proofread.

Half a month passed in this busy routine, and before they knew it, the Little New Year had arrived.

Amidst the intermittent sound of firecrackers echoing through the capital, the collation of the rare texts reached its end. Academician Mei finished correcting the final copy, ordered the books to be boxed and sealed, and prepared to present them for the Emperor’s review the following day.

The group breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Academician Mei looking solemn, someone asked if there was a problem. After a moment of thought, the Academician shook his head and told everyone to disperse and rest. Thus, the officials, having been busy for over half a month, happily went their separate ways.

Wen Shuochuan, looking pleased, said to Xia Yunhe, "There is a family in Pingkang Ward that makes excellent stove candy. I often buy from them. Today is the Little New Year; why don't you go buy some to offer to the Kitchen God, Yizhi?"

Xia Yunhe had no intention of going out, but he could not refuse Wen Shuochuan’s earnest persuasion. Relenting, he went home to change into common attire and headed toward the vicinity of Pingkang Ward. Wen Shuochuan, also in common clothes, led the way with a radiant smile.

From a clerk to a book editor—a promotion from a minor ninth-rank official in the Censorate to a ninth-rank official in the Hanlin Academy—the change from rarely seeing the Emperor to serving near him was clearly a source of great joy for Wen Shuochuan. Along the way, he spoke to Xia Yunhe about many New Year customs, such as "The Kitchen God eats the stove candy to speak well of us in Heaven and protect our peace on Earth." Xia Yunhe listened, nodding occasionally in agreement.

After passing through a narrow alley, a bustling street opened up before them.

"That was a shortcut; it saved half the journey," Wen Shuochuan said with a smile.

Xia Yunhe dusted off his clothes and followed Wen Shuochuan deeper into Pingkang Ward.

The streets were lined with vendors—on one side, fresh poultry, fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables; on the other, pastries, candies, peanuts, and walnuts. Children played with string games in the corners. Further ahead, there were all kinds of New Year flowers—orchids, daffodils, kumquats, and coral berries. Turning the street corner, the crowd of people preparing for the New Year was so dense that the six-foot-wide alley was packed solid.

When they finally arrived at the Tian family's candy shop, it was still teeming with people. Xia Yunhe caught his breath and stifled a yawn, regretting having squeezed into this place with Wen Shuochuan. He glanced at Master Wen beside him, only to see him wiping a light sweat from his forehead, smoothing his beard, and standing there helplessly.

Xia Yunhe clicked his tongue, thinking he shouldn't have come. There were plenty of street vendors selling similar candy; it was all just sugar, and he imagined the taste was much the same.

Just as he was thinking this, the crowd surged, forcing him to take several steps back. He barely managed to steady himself when he heard someone in front cry out, "What?! Sold out?"

Another shouted, "It’s barely past the Rooster hour, and the sun hasn't even set! In previous years, they sold until the lamps were lit."

The shopkeeper came out to apologize, stating that they had made less this year and had already sold out, asking everyone to try elsewhere. Seeing this, the crowd had no choice but to disperse.

Xia Yunhe and Wen Shuochuan stepped down from the shop’s entrance. Wen Shuochuan stroked his long beard and said, "Yizhi, look at this..."

"There are many street vendors selling candy; the taste is likely just as good," he said with a smile.

The two agreed to leave, but then a group of black-clad guards with swords arrived and stopped in front of the Tian family shop. The shopkeeper hurried forward to greet their leader, his eyes filled with obsequiousness.

Xia Yunhe paused and turned slightly, thinking, *Why is he here?!*

He noticed Wen Shuochuan’s face had turned as dark as a pot. He also turned away and nudged Xia Yunhe’s arm, signaling him to leave quickly.

Unexpectedly, the leader, with sharp eyes and quick hands, came up, bowed, and blocked their path.

The man’s gaze drifted to Wen Shuochuan, and he wore a mocking smile. "Oh, isn't this Clerk Wen? It's been a long time; you seem to be in high spirits." Then, with a couple of laughs, he looked at Xia Yunhe. "Master Xia?"

Wen Shuochuan was unwilling to acknowledge the man; he turned his face away and remained silent.

Xia Yunhe greeted him with a smile. "Master Chen."

Chen Haizhou rolled his eyes and said, "Are the two of you here to buy stove candy?"

Wen Shuochuan kept his face grim, bowed only to Xia Yunhe, and said, "Master Xia, I have matters at home to attend to; I shall take my leave." With that, he pushed past the black-clad guards and vanished into the crowd.

A small group of onlookers had gathered, occasionally casting glances at Xia Yunhe.

Chen Haizhou said, "Clerk Wen isn't buying, and neither are you, Master Xia?"

"The candy here is sold out; I shall look elsewhere." Xia Yunhe bowed briefly and prepared to leave.

He didn't know what wind had blown this demon, Chen Haizhou—the notorious Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief—to the candy shop. Who would want to have any dealings with him?

Chen Haizhou, however, smilingly blocked him. "Master Xia, I have bought a great deal of the candy here; I could give you a bag or two." He gestured for Xia Yunhe to follow him into the shop.

Once inside, Chen Haizhou ordered the shopkeeper to lower the door boards. Seeing Xia Yunhe’s brow knit, he chuckled, "Don't be nervous, Master Xia."

He turned back to the shopkeeper. "Where is the candy I told you to save?"

The proprietor shrank his neck and grinned. "It’s in the backyard, just waiting for Master Chen to inspect it."

Chen Haizhou gave a light "Mm" and walked with the shopkeeper toward the backyard, then stopped and called out to Xia Yunhe, "Master Xia, won't you come and take a look?"

Xia Yunhe scanned his surroundings, seeing only black-clad guards. Suppressing his anxiety, he followed Chen Haizhou.

Lifting a thick, dirty curtain, they entered the backyard of the Tian family shop. He smelled a faint but strangely alluring scent, though he couldn't recall where he had smelled it before.

The proprietor led them to a low door and opened it. The room was small, neatly stacked with layers of bamboo baskets—at least twenty of them—each filled with cut stove candy. The room was heavy with the sweet aroma.

The sweetness masked the strange odor from before, and the proprietor’s voice brought Xia Yunhe back to reality.

"Try some, my lords. In all the capital, if my shop claims to be second, no one dares claim to be first."

Chen Haizhou casually picked up a piece of candy from a basket, ate it, and nodded. "Well made. Go collect your reward."

The shopkeeper beamed. "Oh, Master Chen, what are you saying? It’s just a small task; how could I trouble you for a reward? To have caught your eye is the greatest honor for my humble shop."

Xia Yunhe looked at the shopkeeper with disdain and asked, "You clearly have so much candy left; why did you deceive the people by saying it was sold out?"

The shopkeeper sneered, "It was indeed sold out. These were all ordered by Master Chen. Since Master Chen orders so much, I have to save them all for him."

Xia Yunhe looked at Chen Haizhou. "Can you finish all this candy, Master Chen?"

Chen Haizhou dismissed the shopkeeper, picked up a piece of candy, and said with a smile, "I can't finish it. Does Master Xia wish to help? You seem fond of sweets as well, don't you?"

"If you cannot finish it, why take so much?"

"My parents died early, and I never had anyone to buy me candy as a child. Now, I just buy a little more. You wouldn't be like Clerk Wen, fond of meddling in such trivial matters, would you?" Chen Haizhou continued, "I see you and Wen Shuochuan are getting a bit too close, Master Xia. Be careful not to get caught in the crossfire."

"Oh?" Xia Yunhe looked at Chen Haizhou with a smile. "Listening to you, it seems you have a grievance with Master Wen?"

"Master Wen?" Chen Haizhou frowned.

Seeing Chen Haizhou hesitate for a moment, Xia Yunhe said with a smile, "Master Wen has been transferred to serve as a book editor; he is an official of the Hanlin Academy and has been serving near His Majesty for some time now."

Having said this, he watched Chen Haizhou, who was momentarily stunned before returning to his usual composure.

"No wonder he was so bold today." Chen Haizhou narrowed his eyes and glanced at him. "Enough about that boring man; let’s talk about you, Master Xia."

Xia Yunhe’s heart skipped a beat, but he remained silent.

Chen Haizhou said slowly, "As the saying goes, a fair lady is a gentleman's desire. Xia—Yizhi, I would be willing to stop associating with other men for your sake..."

The room was low, and amidst the lingering sweetness, Chen Haizhou tilted his head to look at him with a half-smile. "Who doesn't love a beauty? Especially since you are renowned for your elegance, Master Xia."

He met Chen Haizhou’s gaze, saw the trace of mockery in the man’s eyes, snorted coldly, pushed him aside, and walked out of the room.

The cold wind hit him, dissipating the sweet, intoxicating scent. He suddenly felt clear-headed. Turning back, he saw Chen Haizhou leaning against the door frame, watching him with a languid air.

Chen Haizhou said, "There is one thing I don't understand, and I would like your guidance, Master Xia."

Xia Yunhe replied sternly, "What is it?"

"You know about the Wanshou Festival incident—how a tiger escaped its cage in the Changle Park and nearly harmed the Emperor's favorite concubine, only to be shot by the Prince of Qin. But the Prince of Qin violated ancestral laws by appearing at the Changle Tower, and even dared to use the Great Ancestor’s longbow, yet the Emperor did not punish him. Don't you find that strange?"

Xia Yunhe said, "It was the Emperor’s benevolence. What is strange about that?"

Chen Haizhou nodded with a smile. "The Emperor was furious and wanted to investigate the tiger's escape. He had intended to give you the task, but coincidentally, you were ill, and the investigation naturally fell to me. Why was it such a coincidence that you fell ill?"

"Illness is a natural part of life; aren't you being a bit too harsh, Master Chen?"

Chen Haizhou said, "You are right, Master Xia, it is a natural part of life. I am a coarse man, and I must report back to the Emperor tomorrow. As of now, I truly have no leads. I would like to ask you, Master Xia, how would you solve this problem?"