Go East – Tan Jianci, Zhou Yiran

During the Dayong era, the nation was powerful, and many states aspired to it. Thus, a special institution called the Sifang Hall was established to manage the comings and goings of visitors from all over the world. Yu Deshui was appointed as the head of the hall, which was divided into East and West branches. The East branch handled external affairs, while the West branch managed internal affairs.

The leader of the East branch was An Xiuyi, who came from an official family and was known for his efficient and decisive work. The recently appointed leader of the West branch, Wang Kunwu, had been transferred from the military to Sifang Hall. Another key figure, the formidable Yuchi Hua, was the cherished daughter of the Duke of E, but she was never spoiled.

In addition, the Sifang Hall had hired a consultant, Yuan Mo, who would inspect the city gates even during his off-duty hours. Under Yu Deshui's leadership, Wang Kunwu officially joined the West branch. Lao Ji and Shen Bailian were assigned as assistants by the Sifang Hall. On Wang Kunwu's first day, he requested that the two hand over their official seals, but Lao Ji candidly admitted that the seal was not in his possession.

At the city gate, Yuan Mo was issuing travel documents when he noticed a woman casually taking a few pieces of clothing from the market and draping them over herself. She then stole a travel document and attempted to pass through the gate. The victim, Kudi Le, knew she had been robbed but did not rush to retrieve her belongings. Yuan Mo, who had witnessed everything, tricked the woman into handing over the document.

Just as he was about to question her further, Wang Kunwu arrived at the gate to collect the seal, giving the woman an opportunity to hide. An Xiuyi received a notification that a batch of military equipment had gone missing from Honglu Temple, so he ordered the city gates to be sealed immediately, allowing goods only to enter but not to leave.

Kudi Le, who had acquired the missing equipment, went to Ruyi Tower to give Yuan Mo a silver note, hoping to quickly transport the goods out of the city. Yuan Mo happened to be at Ruyi Tower with Wang Kunwu, and when Kudi Le stated his purpose, Yuan Mo directed him toward Wang Kunwu. The mysterious woman went to Ruyi Tower to drink with courtesans, managing to exchange clothes with one of the girls.

When she stepped outside, she encountered Yuan Mo, who was carrying two jars of wine. She demanded her travel document, and Yuan Mo told her to follow him to his residence to retrieve it. Wang Kunwu pretended to be drunk, while Kudi Le wrote out a travel document and pressed Wang Kunwu's hand to make a fingerprint with his own blood.

After Kudi Le left, Wang Kunwu prepared to follow him, but Yuchi Hua, suspecting Wang Kunwu of accepting bribes, intervened. Wang Kunwu left behind the money, having no time to explain. At the city gate, An Xiuyi conducted a routine inspection. Fearing that the goods would be discovered, Kudi Le secretly ordered his men to assassinate An Xiuyi. However, Wang Kunwu arrived just in time to save the bewildered An Xiuyi.

The goods were scattered everywhere, and realizing the situation was exposed, Kudi Le quickly fled on a horse. Yuan Mo noticed that the seal on the wine jar Kudi Le had given him was covered in soil from the suburbs. He then took the woman to the Mountain God Temple, where Kudi Le appeared, looking nervous.

In the room, Kudi Le burned a few pieces of paper and was about to leave with a bundle when he was knocked unconscious by a powder Yuan Mo had set at the door. Wang Kunwu arrived shortly after, regretting that Yuan Mo had not kept the evidence Kudi Le had burned. He also realized that Yuan Mo had already seen through his plan against Kudi Le.

Wang Kunwu then grabbed the wine jar, poured it over the unconscious Kudi Le to wake him up, and was about to leave with him when Yuchi Hua arrived with the Jingzhao Prefecture. The guards subdued Kudi Le, holding a knife to his throat. Kudi Le took a step forward and committed suicide, leaving Wang Kunwu unable to explain and having to return with the Jingzhao Prefecture for investigation.

After Yuchi Hua left, the woman who had been hiding in the temple used an itching powder to control Yuan Mo and demanded that he obtain a residence permit for Ancheng within three days. She finally revealed that her name was A Shu. Wang Kunwu was released without charge, but An Xiuyi believed that Wang Kunwu had cut off his lead. Yu Deshui ordered that the case of the smuggled military equipment be temporarily set aside.

An Yuandao, the young assistant minister of Honglu Temple, began an investigation, as some of the missing equipment was still unaccounted for. He required Sifang Hall to cooperate with the Jingzhao Prefecture, demanding that clues be found within three days. Yu Deshui turned and imposed the same demand on both the East and West branches.

Lao Ji and Shen Bailian were assigned to review all the records from the past two years. As they worked, they continuously complained. After all, the West branch had been idle for a long time, and doing some trivial tasks was actually quite nice. However, as soon as Wang Kunwu took office, he eagerly took on the case, causing his subordinates to work hard, but they feared being dismissed if they were not diligent.

Yuan Mo walked over to the two and asked if they were troubled by the case of the missing military equipment. Since everyone at Sifang Hall knew that Yuan Mo had a sharp mind, they asked him for help. Yuan Mo agreed, but only in exchange for a residence permit for his maid. That evening, Yuan Mo went alone to a courtyard in the suburbs to search for clues when suddenly a sharp weapon was pressed against his waist.

He turned to see it was A Shu. Yuan Mo quickly explained that he was hurrying to find evidence precisely to get A Shu her residence permit. Based on the terrain analysis of Changcheng, Kudi Le should be living in a suburban courtyard. Wang Kunwu found a map in Kudi Le’s boot, which Yuchi Hua immediately snatched, asserting that as the organizer, Jingzhao Prefecture had the right to the clues first.

Unwilling to back down, Wang Kunwu opened the map with her, discovering that Qingsong County was marked on it. Yuchi Hua speculated that this could be where the military equipment was hidden and quickly went to report to the Jingzhao Prefecture Governor. A Shu, without a residence permit and with her remaining silver used by Yuan Mo for the permit, ended up staying at Yuan Mo’s house.

Yuan Mo took out the torn map he had found in the suburbs and began to piece it together. A Shu, unable to sleep, walked over to watch and discovered that the torn map was made of leather. She used the texture on the back of the leather to restore it. Wang Kunwu asked Yu Deshui to mediate with Jingzhao Prefecture to stop the investigation.

It was clear that Kudi Le had left the clearly marked map in his boot to mislead the authorities. Jingzhao Prefecture’s extensive search of Qingsong County would only waste time. Yu Deshui felt that Wang Kunwu was overthinking and stated that all he could do was obey orders from higher up. As the two argued, Yuan Mo arrived with the pieced-together map from the previous night, revealing that Kudi Le’s real hiding place was in Nanshan.

Yu Deshui suddenly remembered that Tan Lin, the Vice Minister of Personnel, was planning a trip to Nanshan and ordered Lao Ji to stop him immediately. A Shu, hearing about the assassination plan, worried it would affect her residence permit, so she dragged Yuan Mo along to Nanshan. Wang Kunwu arrived first on the way to Nanshan to stop Tan Lin, followed shortly by Lao Ji. Tan Lin, however, was determined to continue his journey despite the warnings.

Wang Kunwu explained that he had a plan that would allow Tan Lin to proceed without delay while still luring the assassins into revealing themselves. Yu Deshui, dressed as Tan Lin, arrived at Xishan. Wang Kunwu then publicly announced that Vice Minister Tan would speak, and a nervous Yu Deshui stepped out of the sedan chair, unaware of the truth.

Yuan Mo and A Shu, hiding in the shadows, praised Wang Kunwu’s strategy of leading the tiger away from the mountain. As expected, several assassins in the crowd began to move forward, waiting for an opportunity. Just then, Yuchi Hua led the Jingzhao Prefecture soldiers to surround them. The assassins tried to retreat but were already under surveillance. A fierce battle ensued. Some of the assassins spotted Tan Lin at a nearby inn and quietly approached him.

Yuan Mo and A Shu protected Tan Lin, but they only had brute force to rely on. Wang Kunwu and Yuchi Hua arrived at the inn shortly after and captured all the assassins. An Xiuyi found a distinctive tooth token on one of the assassins, a decoration unique to the people of Yanyu. Wang Kunwu grabbed the token and rode off, leaving Yu Deshui in a difficult position.

Yuchi Hua, impressed by A Shu's bravery at the inn, offered to redeem A Shu and give her a job with her. A Shu was very tempted, but Yuan Mo quietly reminded her that Yuchi Hua's father was a high-ranking official in the court, and if her true identity was discovered, both of them would be in grave danger. Reluctantly, A Shu dismissed the idea. That night, A Shu asked Yuan Mo to help her apply medicine to her wounds.

As Yuan Mo looked at the long and deep cuts, he began to feel inexplicably worried. Meanwhile, Wang Kunwu stood by the river, reminiscing about the past. He remembered how he and his brothers had vowed to achieve greatness and return home together, but now he was the only one left, which only strengthened his resolve for revenge.

When Yuan Mo woke up the next morning, he found that A Shu had cleaned the house thoroughly, but many of his treasured old wines had disappeared. He asked A Shu what she had done with them, and she diverted the conversation back to the matter of her residence permit. An Xiuyi instructed Lao Ji to find a lost cat belonging to a foreign envoy.

Lao Ji casually bought a cat to replace it, but An Xiuyi discovered the ruse and scolded him. Wang Kunwu came over and said that Lao Ji was from the West branch and did not have to follow the orders of the East branch. An Xiuyi then asked about the tooth token, and Wang Kunwu pulled it out, only to have Yu Deshui snatch it away.

Yu Deshui took Wang Kunwu aside and explained that the tooth token was a special item belonging to the Faceless Ones, a hidden assassin organization in the desert that had plagued the surrounding countries for decades. Besides Yanyu, Dayong and several other countries had been trying to eliminate the Faceless Ones, but Yanyu seemed to have made a deal with them to dominate the desert, making the eradication plan difficult to implement.

Yuan Mo found Wang Kunwu to inquire about the progress of A Shu's identity papers. Wang Kunwu produced a servant contract, proving that A Shu was Yuan Mo's legal maid.

Yuan Mo was racking his brains trying to explain the household registration issue to A Shu. Knowing her personality, he was certain she wouldn't let him off easily. So, he decided to hide the contract for now and figure out a solution later. Just then, A Shu walked into the room and saw Yuan Mo holding a contract. She guessed that it had to do with her household registration and excitedly snatched it away.

Yuan Mo was so frightened that he began to stutter. A Shu looked at the contract for a long time and suddenly asked where her name was supposed to be signed. Yuan Mo then realized that A Shu couldn't read the Dayong characters, allowing him to narrowly escape the situation. A Shu carried the contract with her while accompanying Yuchi Hua on a shopping trip.

She mentioned that she wanted to rent a house in the capital, and Yuchi Hua said she knew an agent who could help. While they were buying clothes, they came across a large order. Yuchi Hua explained that Dou Chun, a high-ranking official, was about to return to the capital to report on his duties, and the steward was making advance purchases. Wang Kunwu began militarized training for the clerks in the West branch, and everyone complained both outwardly and inwardly.

The dissatisfaction grew even more when Wang Kunwu mentioned that the West branch needed to be trained to the same standards as the East branch. The clerks in the West branch were unhappy, noting that they only received half the salary of those in the East branch, making the demand for the same workload seem absurd. Yuan Mo also joined in the grumbling.

A moment later, An Xiuyi led a team to the city gate to welcome the high-ranking official, and as they passed the miserable West branch, they couldn’t resist mocking them. A Shu soon found a house that suited her, but when she presented her household registration, the agent informed her that the document she showed was a contract for a servant's household entry. If she wanted to rent the house, she would need her master Yuan Mo's permission.

It was then that A Shu realized she had been deceived. Furious, she bought many rare items, and the merchants all billed Yuan Mo. When she returned home, Yuan Mo was both angry and apologetic. A Shu was determined to seek revenge. Yuan Mo explained that the household registration process was not as simple as A Shu imagined. There were many details that even she couldn’t clarify, and Sifang Hall wouldn’t accept her application.

However, if she remained a servant for one year, the contract could be canceled, making it easier to register her household later. A Shu reluctantly agreed and stopped being so aggressive. Yuan Mo invited Lao Ji and Shen Bailian to drink lamb soup on the street. The three of them tried to pass off the bill to each other, but in the end, Wang Kunwu paid for everyone.

Wang Kunwu then tossed a sum of money to Yuan Mo, wanting to have the West branch take on the task of welcoming the high-ranking official. Yuan Mo accepted the money and assured Wang Kunwu that he had a plan. Back at home, Yuan Mo asked A Shu to invite Yuchi Hua to drink at Ruyi Tower.

Yuan Mo and Wang Kunwu intentionally talked in the neighboring room about how the An family had a strong influence in Changle, even surpassing the Yuchi family, which allowed them to secure the prestigious task of welcoming the high-ranking official. Yuchi Hua, who was secretly eavesdropping, was visibly annoyed. The next day, Yu Deshui received word that Dou Chun had personally assigned the task of welcoming him to the West branch.

Yu Deshui assumed that Wang Kunwu had some connections, but both Wang Kunwu and Yuan Mo pretended to know nothing about it. When the task was announced, no one in the West branch even believed it at first. It was only when Yu Deshui assigned the East branch to handle miscellaneous tasks that everyone began to realize what had happened.

Wang Kunwu immediately started making arrangements, while Lin Susu discovered that Yuchi Hua had been the one to snatch the task of welcoming the official. She vowed to repay her in kind. The clerks in the West branch were busy for several days, worn out from the effort. Lao Ji took the steward to view twenty different houses, only to find out that Dou Chun had already chosen one and secretly moved in.

Wang Kunwu encouraged his subordinates not to lose heart, while Yuan Mo only cared about the promised reward. Wang Kunwu told him that while there was no money for now, the Grand Governor would be hosting a banquet the next day, and there would definitely be various fine wines. Yuan Mo was immediately interested at the mention of wine.

The next day, at the Grand Governor's banquet, Cao Huo presented the rare incense, *Fanhun Xiang*, and the famous dancer Hua Xiaoniang from Changle performed to entertain the guests. During the toasting session, a sudden violent wind arose, and Cao Huo, as if possessed, began to kill people indiscriminately. Dou Chun suddenly drew his sword and killed him. Yuchi Hua began investigating the incident.

Many people believed that the spirit of General Wei Yunqi had possessed Cao Huo to seek revenge. A Shu found the *Fanhun Xiang* to be quite strange, so she stayed behind to perform an autopsy.

A Shu used Yuan Mo as a test subject to experiment with the toxicity of combining Longlincao and Fanhun Xiang. After Wang Kunwu reported to Yu Deshui, he accidentally ingested a potion made from Longlincao. As expected, he began to exhibit the same symptoms as Cao Huo, becoming agitated and violent. In his daze, he saw his deceased comrades and was filled with a desire for revenge. A Shu quickly scattered some Dizziness Powder, preventing the situation from worsening.

After Wang Kunwu regained his senses, he mentioned that during the poisoning, seeing red ropes made it difficult for him to control himself. Yuan Mo recalled that when Cao Huo went berserk, there was a red carpet spread across the central hall, and Hua Xiaoniang had deliberately thrown a red folding fan while dancing to entertain the guests. This led them to conclude that the real target was Dou Chun, and that Hua Xiaoniang was highly suspicious.

Wang Kunwu prepared to report this to the Grand Governor Dou Chun, but Yu Deshui informed him that the case would be handled by the East branch from now on. An Xiuyi was finally relieved, and after working with Wang Kunwu for some time, Yuchi Hua had grown to trust him and, in her superior role, requested his assistance in the investigation. The four of them went to the crime scene to search for clues.

Steward Jiang, who was responsible for selecting the site, explained that the red carpet was laid out for a celebratory reception, which seemed reasonable. Yuan Mo and A Shu questioned the spice merchant, Guan Feng, about whether he was involved in the poisoning. Eager to leave as soon as possible, Guan Feng offered Yuan Mo a large sum of gold and silver to buy his silence.

Hua Niangzi played a pipa tune for Wang Kunwu, and when he asked her more questions, she explained that the piece she played, "Breaking the Formation," was a military song from ten years ago. When Wang Kunwu tried to ask further, she refused to say more. Wang Kunwu warned An Xiuyi to be wary of Hua Xiaoniang, but An Xiuyi was dismissive, particularly disliking Wang Kunwu’s self-assured attitude.

Wang Kunwu clarified that he wasn’t trying to compete for anything; he was only trying to solve the case quickly so he could return to the army, something An Xiuyi found difficult to understand. An Xiuyi ordered Steward Jiang to relocate Dou Chun, and Steward Jiang chose a secluded courtyard surrounded by water on all sides. An Xiuyi reminded Dou Chun to be cautious of Hua Xiaoniang, but Dou Chun dismissed his concerns, believing An Xiuyi was overthinking.

Steward Jiang then went directly to Hua Xiaoniang’s room to monitor her, while Lin Susu stood guard outside. The next day, Dou Chun was found dead in his room. Hua Xiaoniang had an alibi, leaving An Xiuyi convinced that Wang Kunwu had deliberately set him up to make a fool of himself. The two began to argue, and Wang Kunwu even became physical.

Yu Deshui intervened, ordering them to follow discipline and not let Sifang Hall fall into internal conflict before the case was solved. Tan Lin visited Sifang Hall to drink with Wang Kunwu. Wang Kunwu shared his frustrations, and Tan Lin, knowing Wang Kunwu was determined to avenge his brothers, suggested that Sifang Hall was not a cage for him, but rather the most informed place for gathering intelligence on foreign nations.

He advised Wang Kunwu to consider using this opportunity to investigate the Faceless Man and plan for his revenge over the long term. Yuan Mo once again offered to trade silver for information on solving the case, but after a lengthy explanation, Yuchi Hua was even more confused.

A Shu discovered that the wine Dou Chun drank the night before was tampered with; the wine in the cup and the wine in the pot tasted different, indicating that the cup had been poisoned. Soon after, Yuan Mo found a hidden underground passage. Yuchi Hua and Wang Kunwu entered the underground passage, surrounded by complete darkness. Yuchi Hua was nearly frightened. The next day, Wang Kunwu released all the imprisoned merchants, planning instead to monitor them secretly.

Wang Kunwu asked Yu Deshui about the causes and consequences of the treason case involving Wei Yunqi. Soon after, Yuan Mo led a group of people to surround Jiang Guanjia and Hua Xiaoniang at the Ruyi Tower. Hua Xiaoniang claimed that she and Jiang Guanjia had been in their room all night and couldn’t have been in two places at once. Yuan Mo brought up the secret passage in the room and the wooden doll found there.

Jiang Guanjia quickly stepped forward to admit that he was responsible for assigning the rooms and that he used the secret passage in Hua Xiaoniang's room to kill Dou Chun. Yuan Mo poured a cup of fresh blood on the ground, causing Jiang Guanjia to start convulsing. Yuan Mo had discovered on the night that Cao Huo was murdered that Jiang Guanjia had a phobia of blood, which was further confirmed now.

Hua Xiaoniang finally broke her silence and admitted that she was the one who actually killed Dou Chun. That night, Dou Chun drank drugged wine and fell into a deep sleep. Hua Xiaoniang then used the secret passage to enter Dou Chun's room and kill him. Hua Xiaoniang admitted that she was the qin player at the Wei residence back then, and Jiang Guanjia was a servant there.

Wei Yunqi had discovered that Dou Chun was involved in a military equipment smuggling case, so he tried to obtain a list through Cao Huo. However, Dou Chun turned against him, tampered with the numbers, and falsely accused Wei Yunqi. Ultimately, Dou Chun killed Wei Yunqi before any report could be made. Originally planning to use Cao Huo to kill Dou Chun, Hua Xiaoniang was forced to implement the secret passage plan when Dou Chun struck first.

No matter what, she finally avenged General Wei. Jiang Guanjia and Hua Xiaoniang asked Yuan Mo to seek justice for the Wei family. Suddenly, Tan Lin arrived with soldiers, explaining that he had been monitoring the case for a long time and then took the two criminals away. During dinner that night, A Shu was upset because Yuan Mo was unwilling to overturn the Wei family’s case. Wang Kunwu also voiced his concerns.

Yuchi Hua was very displeased with Yuan Mo's attitude, so it was likely that they wouldn't receive the reward for solving the case. The next day, A Shu planned to go out with Yuchi Hua to go shopping. When Yuan Mo heard about this, he asked A Shu to help retrieve the reward money. A Shu used a little trick and managed to swindle a bag of silver from Yuan Mo. A Shu encountered Yuchi Hua at the West Market.

Yuchi Hua was still angry at Yuan Mo, so A Shu came up with an idea to help vent her anger. First, she had a large sum of reward money sent to Yuan Mo, an entire chest full of silver coins. Yuchi Hua didn’t allow the servants to help carry it, forcing Yuan Mo to move it inch by inch, exhausting himself completely. Yuchi Hua and A Shu laughed heartily after hearing from Steward Huang about Yuan Mo's miserable state.

When Yuan Mo returned home, he heard from Ji Mingli that Tan Lin had visited the house several times before Dou Chun's incident. Yuan Mo immediately took Wang Kunwu to visit Tan Lin. Tan Lin admitted that he had been a close friend of Wei Yunqi in the past and that he had written a letter exposing Dou Chun, which ultimately led to Wei Yunqi's death.

After Tan Lin voluntarily confessed, Wang Kunwu told Yuan Mo that he had a heart-to-heart conversation with Tan Lin, who strongly hoped that Yuan Mo would help overturn the Wei family’s case. The Honglu Temple awarded Sifang Hall’s West Courtyard with a certificate of merit, and symbolically gave a reason for commendation to the East Courtyard as well. An Xiuyi believed that the East Courtyard didn’t need to accept charity.

Wang Kunwu used the reward money to provide some extra funds for his brothers. Yu Deshui formally invited Yuan Mo to join Sifang Hall, but Yuan Mo was still haunted by the tragic deaths of his parents in the desert and was frustrated by the unjust outcomes of his efforts for justice. Therefore, he only believed in getting paid for his work. A Shu reminded Yuan Mo not to throw wine bottles on the bed. When she looked closer, she found that Yu Deshui had come to visit.

A Shu developed a new type of rouge and asked Shen Bailian from Sifang Hall to try it. Shen Bailian noticed that it smelled the same as the ones sold in the stores, but it seemed to be missing an ingredient. A Shu suggested that they go into business together, with her making the rouge and Shen Bailian handling sales to wealthy women.

After becoming busy, A Shu sometimes returned home very late, and despite Yuan Mo's repeated questioning, she didn’t offer any explanation. Yuan Mo saved up thirty guan of silver and planned to rent a larger residence so he wouldn’t have to sleep on the floor anymore. With Ji Mingli's help, he found a broker at Yaren Fang. Yuan Mo explained his requirements: the house should be secluded, have a courtyard, and be able to accommodate two bedrooms.

The broker, thinking Yuan Mo wanted to hide a beautiful woman, recommended a residence in Xiangguifang. After they agreed on the terms, Yuan Mo took out a chest of loose coins. As the broker worried about how to carry the money, Yuchi Hua arrived with people to arrest Yuan Mo, accusing him of selling inferior rouge that caused disfigurement.

In court, A Shu begged Yuan Mo to help her get out of trouble, fearing that if she were caught by the authorities, her identity would bring disaster. Yuan Mo firmly denied any involvement in making the rouge, placing all the blame on A Shu. Seeing that Yuan Mo wouldn’t help her, A Shu secretly applied some powder to her palm, making it look like she had been abused.

According to the laws of Dayong, a master who mistreats their servant could also face punishment. With Yuchi Hua fanning the flames on the side, Yuan Mo was in danger of going to prison. Shen Bailian leisurely greeted Yuan Mo from inside the jail. Yuan Mo scolded Shen Bailian for leading A Shu astray.

A noblewoman who regarded Shen Bailian as a close friend and noticed that her face was not severely damaged paid for Shen Bailian's bail, leaving Yuan Mo alone and confused. Half of Yuan Mo's money, which was meant for renting the house, was returned to the victims, while the remainder was taken by A Shu.

When A Shu learned that Yuan Mo was facing a year in prison, she felt guilty and looked at the empty courtyard, feeling even worse about how she had wronged him. The next day, A Shu, seeing that Shen Bailian had already been released, took the remaining silver to seek Ji Mingli’s help. Ji Mingli informed her that Yu Deshui had his own plans for rescuing Yuan Mo.

Yu Deshui mentioned to Duke E that Yuan Mo was the surviving son of Yuan Hanjing and that the plaintiff had already withdrawn the lawsuit. After verifying that Yuan Mo had not been involved in making the rouge, the Ministry of Justice agreed to release him. Yu Deshui also requested in front of Duke E that Yuchi Hua be temporarily transferred to Sifang Hall, where she wouldn’t be overly burdened, thus achieving his purpose while earning some favor.

Yuan Mo was in a miserable state in prison. Yu Deshui brought a roast chicken to visit him. As Yuan Mo hurried to eat, Yu Deshui, seeing his disheveled condition, proposed that Yuan Mo join Sifang Hall to atone for his actions. Yuan Mo immediately refused, but Yu Deshui didn’t press the issue. He took the roast chicken outside and invited Yuchi Hua to drink. Yu Deshui had prepared a thirty-year-old vintage wine and kept describing its aroma to Yuchi Hua.

Yuan Mo, hearing this, became restless. Yu Deshui pretended that a bug had flown into the wine and poured a full bowl of wine right outside Yuan Mo's cell door. Seeing that Yuan Mo still didn’t relent, Yuchi Hua began to describe the harsh conditions of exile to the frontier. In less than a month in prison, Yuan Mo had already suffered enough and couldn’t bear to think of the misery of exile. He finally yielded to Yu Deshui.

Yu Deshui then demanded that after Yuan Mo was released, he immediately join Sifang Hall, report daily, and start as a low-ranking clerk. After Yuan Mo was imprisoned, A Shu felt guilty and had a craftsman make a bed for him. When Yuan Mo returned home the next day, he casually mentioned that A Shu had caused him a lot of trouble. A Shu, realizing her mistake, packed her things and quietly left.

When Yuan Mo went to Sifang Hall to complete his onboarding, Ji Mingli and Shen Bailian teased him. Suddenly, they heard Yuchi Hua arguing with Yu Deshui, complaining about being assigned a meaningless position. Yu Deshui, with his silver tongue, quickly justified his actions.

Yu Deshui assigned Yuchi Hua to the West Wing, where she would work alongside Wang Kunwu to oversee duties. An Xiuyi requested that Yuchi Hua be reassigned to the East Wing, as the two had known each other since childhood. However, Yuchi Hua preferred the West Wing, where she could be on equal footing with An Xiuyi. Yuchi Hua insisted on sharing a desk with Wang Kunwu to demonstrate their equal status.

However, Wang Kunwu pointed out that Yuchi Hua would only have real authority when working on joint cases with the Jingzhao Prefecture. Wang Kunwu then assigned Yuan Mo a task in the city. Lazy as usual, Yuan Mo tried to find excuses to avoid going out, but with both Wang Kunwu and Yuchi Hua pressuring him, he reluctantly headed out.

Once in the market, he used a megaphone to announce that Wang Kunwu was coming, which scared the townspeople into staying indoors. Yuan Mo then used the deserted market as an excuse to finish his work early. The next day, Wang Kunwu scolded Yuan Mo for damaging his reputation. As An Xiuyi happened to pass by, hoping to witness the commotion, Wang Kunwu and Yuan Mo quickly changed their attitudes to avoid being looked down upon by the East Wing.

Otherwise, Wang Kunwu would have continued reprimanding Yuan Mo. Yu Deshui announced that the once-every-five-years examination for foreign scholars was about to begin. Sifang Hall was tasked with assisting the Ministry of Personnel in verifying the candidates' credentials. Many sons of the elite from Yanle would be participating, and though Wang Kunwu was reluctant, he accepted the task. A Shu was temporarily staying in the Lingxiao Room at Ruyi Tower. Lingxiao generously offered A Shu a peaceful stay.

When Lingxiao was forced to host Long Bina, the son of a Yanle chieftain, she was visibly unhappy. A Shu, noticing this, secretly added powder to the wine served to Long Bina. Before the drug took effect, Long Bina, ignoring Lingxiao's discomfort, began to mistreat her. Furious, A Shu, armed with a hidden weapon, was ready to teach him a lesson. However, Long Bina’s personal guard, Long Ge, was hiding in the room.

The moment A Shu entered, Long Ge threw a dart, injuring A Shu's back. She hurriedly hid in a corner of Ruyi Tower. Moments later, Long Bina started having severe diarrhea. After not seeing A Shu return home for several days, Yuan Mo began to realize he might have said too much and felt a bit worried. Injured, A Shu couldn’t return to Ruyi Tower and ended up collapsing in an alley.

Yuan Mo set off fireworks as a signal while searching for her. When they finally reunited, Yuan Mo carried the unconscious A Shu home. He used a magnet to remove the silver needles from her body and then cared for her as she rested. When he asked why she was so determined to make money, A Shu explained that she had relied on earning her way to reach Changle and was used to fending for herself.

Yuan Mo wanted to ask more about her injury, but A Shu had already fallen into a deep sleep. The next morning, Yuan Mo, almost late, noticed several foreign scholars whispering outside Sifang Hall. He approached them and learned that Ji Mingli and Shen Bailian had secretly accepted money to forge academic credentials. Yuan Mo, threatening to report them to Wang Kunwu, forced them to share some of the silver with him.

Just as the three were happily counting the money, they were caught red-handed by Wang Kunwu and Yuchi Hua. Thanks to Yu Deshui's plea for leniency, the three had three years of their salaries deducted. Yuan Mo returned home, dejected, where A Shu demanded her monthly wages as a maid. They sat down to do the math and concluded that A Shu owed Yuan Mo twenty guan of silver, to be gradually reduced through daily service.

A Shu, with her clever ideas, started making expensive breakfasts, setting up wake-up reminders, and arranging for a sedan chair to transport Yuan Mo, leaving him both amused and exasperated. As the examination approached, many scholars attempted to cheat. Yuchi Hua stationed herself at a popular inn where the scholars liked to gather. There, she unexpectedly ran into her cousin Bai Suqin and her fiancé Mu Yikuan.

Mu Yikuan was from Yanle but was well-versed in Dayong culture, making them a well-matched pair. The West Wing heard that An Xiuyi was preparing to interact with Long Bina, suspecting that he intended to secretly accept bribes. Wang Kunwu reminded everyone to focus on their own duties and not to gossip about others.

Wang Kunwu and An Xiuyi decided to have an archery contest, with the wager being half a year’s salary. As the competition began, Yuchi Hua arrived with Bai Suqin and Mu Yikuan to watch the fun, suggesting that the contest should be between the East and West Wings. In the first round, Mu Yikuan hit a pigeon, scoring a point for the West Wing.

Long Bina missed his shot entirely, and when it was Yuan Mo's turn—who knew nothing about archery—he became the laughingstock. First, he nearly hit Yuchi Hua with a wildly thrown knife, and then he cut his own finger before he could even throw. Yuan Mo, too embarrassed to continue, prepared to step down, but Wang Kunwu stopped him. Seeing the hidden throwing knife in Wang Kunwu's sleeve, Yuan Mo gained some courage. Ultimately, the West Wing won by one point.

Unconvinced by the outcome, Long Bina pulled out a dagger after the contest and aimed it at a pigeon. Mu Yikuan blocked the dagger, stating there was no need to harm animals out of frustration. This only made Long Bina angrier, feeling humiliated that someone with a lower status in Yanle was talking back to him. He grabbed Mu Yikuan by the collar, ready to teach him a lesson, but Yuchi Hua intervened.

She demanded an apology, but Long Bina was dismissive until An Xiuyi quietly informed him of Yuchi Hua’s family background. Reluctantly, Long Bina apologized to Mu Yikuan. Later, Long Ge investigated the pigeon that Long Bina had shot, discovering that it had been drugged with Jingkuang powder, a substance unique to Yanle. He also noticed that A Shu, who had been present that day, bore a striking resemblance to someone he had previously injured.

Long Bina then requested that An Xiuyi investigate A Shu’s identity thoroughly after the exams concluded. On the day of the annual exams, Sifang Hall was tasked with maintaining order at the exam site. When Mu Yikuan presented his exam ticket, Long Bina ambushed him from behind, mocking his status and taunting him that even if he ranked first, it would be in vain. Bai Suqin urged Mu Yikuan not to lower himself to argue with such a disrespectful person.

A Shu arrived at the exam site to sell snacks. When it was Yuan Mo's turn, A Shu told him he had to pay 200 wen before eating anything. The hot weather forced Yuan Mo to comply reluctantly. On the way home, A Shu had a feeling someone was following her, so she tried to hide and escape. However, Long Bina intercepted her from another direction and harshly interrogated her about her true identity.

Due to his lack of martial skills, Long Bina ended up being taught a lesson by A Shu, who then poisoned him before demanding that he pay her one guan of silver every month. She then walked away nonchalantly. After leaving the exam site, Mu Yikuan accompanied Bai Suqin to the market. Remembering an urgent matter, he left Bai Suqin with her maid, Hongye.

An Xiuyi and Long Ge later discovered that Long Bina had died of poisoning in the street. A Shu was immediately arrested. Yu Deshui initially evaded Long Ge’s inquiries, but he was troubled about how to report the matter. An Xiuyi suggested handing over A Shu, but Yuan Mo believed she wouldn’t harm anyone. Wang Kunwu proposed assisting Jingzhao Prefecture in a thorough investigation, but An Xiuyi insisted the West Wing should avoid involvement.

Yu Deshui agreed to let the East Wing handle it. Ji Mingli suggested secretly gathering evidence to exonerate A Shu. Yuchi Hua and An Xiuyi interrogated A Shu, who denied killing Long Bina. When Long Ge tried to use underhanded methods, An Xiuyi, concerned for Yuchi Hua’s safety, intervened.

Yuan Mo began searching for clues in the streets, and Wang Kunwu learned from the coroner that Long Bina’s fatal injury was a blow to the back of the head, making it clear that someone had framed A Shu. Yuan Mo asked Yuchi Hua for help in meeting A Shu. Yuchi Hua locked Yuan Mo in the same cell as A Shu, which technically didn’t violate any rules.

Yuan Mo brought A Shu some incense and asked why she had provoked Long Bina. A Shu replied that she was just trying to make money to pay off her debts as quickly as possible. Yuan Mo and Wang Kunwu discovered that Long Bina had no academic records. Yu Deshui informed them that Long Bina had already been pre-appointed to a government position.

Yuan Mo recalled how Long Bina had mocked Mu Yikuan before the exams and began to suspect him. However, Mu Yikuan explained that he had gone to the Hongwen Pavilion at the time. When Wang Kunwu asked about A Shu’s past, Yuan Mo admitted that he didn’t know everything about her.

Mu Yikuan and Bai Suqin were about to get married when Yuchi Hua suddenly intervened to stop the ceremony. Yuan Mo asked Director Bai to bring out an essay written by Mu Yikuan and discovered that the ink used had a foul smell, typical of cheap, inferior ink used by commoners. In contrast, Director Bai’s ink had a pleasant fragrance.

On the day Long Bina was murdered, the essay Mu Yikuan wrote at the Hongwen Pavilion also had a foul smell, indicating that it had been written earlier at home. Bai Suqin questioned Mu Yikuan about what had really happened, and Yuan Mo recounted the events of the past two years. When Mu Yikuan first arrived in Changle, he quickly learned the court game of archery in order to make connections with the powerful.

Eventually, he seized the opportunity to meet Bai Suqin and, through various efforts, gained the favor of Director Bai, which gave him a chance to pass the annual exams and become an official. Unfortunately, Long Bina’s sudden appearance disrupted all his plans. Mu Yikuan realized that he had to remove this obstacle to achieve his dream of rising from a humble background. Hongye also confirmed Yuan Mo's analysis.

Mu Yikuan had given her a sum of money, asking her to find a way to get close to Bai Suqin. All the subsequent events were part of Mu Yikuan's meticulous plan. Bai Suqin fainted on the spot, and Hongye bluntly revealed that she had witnessed Mu Yikuan running out of the alley on the day Long Bina was murdered.

Finally relieved, Yu Deshui agreed to share some of the credit with the East Wing and asked An Xiuyi to help Jingzhao Prefecture close the case. Wang Kunwu, uninterested in taking credit, simply reminded them about how to explain the situation to the Yanle delegation. Long Ge wanted to take Mu Yikuan back to Yanle, but An Xiuyi informed him that they were in Dayong's territory, and Yanle had no authority to act recklessly.

Frustrated, Long Ge sought revenge on A Shu. On her way back home, A Shu’s driver suddenly disappeared. When A Shu got out to investigate, Long Ge ambushed her from behind and threw a powder into her eyes, causing her vision to go black. Yuan Mo found A Shu crawling back home and urgently asked her how to concoct an antidote. A Shu explained that Long Ge had used a special Yanle powder called Shiming San, which had no antidote.

The next day, Yuan Mo sent people everywhere to search for Long Ge but to no avail. Wang Kunwu suggested giving Long Bina a grand burial, although others thought it unnecessary. Yuan Mo believed it might lure Long Ge out and agreed with Wang Kunwu’s plan. While boiling water at home, A Shu nearly scalded herself, but Yuan Mo arrived in time to help.

A Shu said she would quickly adapt to living with blindness and wouldn’t be a burden on Yuan Mo. Yuan Mo scolded her for being too distant, reminding her that since they shared a household registry, they were practically family. Yuan Mo held an elaborate funeral for Long Bina, and as expected, Long Ge took the bait.

Yuan Mo was able to obtain the antidote and later took A Shu to the city gate at night to enjoy the dazzling lights. A Shu, overwhelmed with emotion, threw herself into Yuan Mo's arms. The next day, to celebrate A Shu regaining her sight, Yuan Mo took her shopping for new clothes. A Shu suspected that Yuan Mo had ulterior motives, so he reluctantly added fifty taels to his account.

Yuchi Hua and Bai Suqin planned to go to Nanshan to escape the summer heat, but they were knocked unconscious by their carriage driver and went missing. Wang Kunwu and Yuan Mo suspected that the maid, Hongye, was involved and went to the prison to question her. Mu Yikuan claimed ignorance but admitted that he had feelings for Bai Suqin and didn’t want anything bad to happen to her, so he shared some details about Hongye.

The first time Mu Yikuan saw Hongye, she was being beaten by a Hu merchant in the street. Unable to bear it, he gave all his silver to free her. Later, Hongye mentioned that she had been locked in a cellar for several years. Following this lead, Wang Kunwu divided his men into two teams to search systematically. A Shu accidentally recognized a hurriedly moving Hongye, knocked her out, and rescued the frozen Yuchi Hua and Bai Suqin.

Wang Kunwu used crushed ice to revive Yuchi Hua’s frozen limbs. An Xiuyi, puzzled by the method, asked why hot water wasn’t used instead. Wang Kunwu explained that hot water would actually trap the cold inside the body, a common military remedy. Slowly, Yuchi Hua regained consciousness. Faced with irrefutable evidence, Hongye finally confessed to her crimes. It turned out that she and Mu Yikuan were lovers.

To help Mu Yikuan achieve his goal of passing the imperial exams, she became a maid to get close to Bai Suqin. When Long Bina became an obstacle, Hongye killed him after his altercation with A Shu. Despite everything, Mu Yikuan truly fell in love with Bai Suqin and planned to marry her, which drove Hongye to extreme measures. Feeling betrayed, Hongye falsely accused Mu Yikuan of killing Long Bina and resented Bai Suqin, leading to the kidnapping. She could not forgive Mu Yikuan for betraying her feelings.

The truth came to light, but instead of being relieved, Yu Deshui became even more worried, blaming the East Wing for investigating the case too thoroughly. Originally, they had framed Mu Yikuan as the murderer, which was a result of internal conflict within Yanle. Now that Hongye had been exposed, the fragile peace between Dayong and Yanle was on the verge of collapsing.

With Yanle’s senior official Kang Yunhai and his advisor Ma Zhiwen entering Dayong, there was no telling what trouble they might stir up. A Shu asked Yuan Mo to teach her how to play chess. Suddenly, Yuan Mo inquired whether A Shu would go to greet the Yanle envoys who were about to arrive in Changle. A Shu replied that Yanle's high officials had destroyed her family and left her wandering the streets, so all she felt was hatred.

Yu Deshui arranged for the East Wing to receive the Yanle envoys and planned to assign Yuan Mo to investigate a human trafficking case. Wang Kunwu wanted to fight for this responsibility, but Yu Deshui did not change his mind, repeatedly explaining that Yuan Mo was better suited for the investigation. Wang Kunwu sensed that Yu Deshui had other concerns, so he went back to the archives to review Yuan Mo’s background.

He discovered that Yuan Mo was the son of Yuan Hanjing, who, along with his wife, was killed during a mission to Yanle in the fifth year of Anle. This happened during the rebellion led by the powerful minister Long Tuqi, so Yuan Hanjing’s death was likely connected to Long Tuqi. Yu Deshui, wanting to avoid any suspicion of bias, deliberately reassigned Yuan Mo.

On the day Kang Yunhai arrived in Yanle, An Yuandao led the Sifang Hall in welcoming the delegation. However, the Yanle envoys were dressed in mourning clothes and refused to dismount from their horses even at the city gate. An Xiuyi ordered the formation to block their path, and only then did the Yanle envoys stop advancing.

Kang Yunhai, using the murder of Long Bina in Dayong as a pretext, tried to make things difficult for them, demanding that Dayong officials also wear mourning clothes to express their condolences. An Yuandao was at a loss for words, but Yuan Mo suddenly signaled for the central gate to be closed, forcing the mourning Yanle envoys to enter through the side gate like the local people.

Realizing he had lost the argument, Kang Yunhai reluctantly ordered his men to remove their mourning clothes. During the formal talks, Kang Yunhai made his intentions clear: he had to take Long Ge and the murderer Hongye back to Yanle. An Yuandao explained that Hongye was a citizen of Dayong and had committed her crime there, so she should be punished according to Dayong's laws.

However, Kang Yunhai was firm in his stance, insisting that since it was the first time such a high-ranking heir from Yanle had been involved in an incident in Dayong, both Long Ge and Hongye had to be taken back for punishment—neither could be left behind. Yu Deshui quietly advised An Yuandao that Kang Yunhai had clearly come prepared and that they needed to find a compromise.

They could allow Long Ge to be taken back to Yanle for trial, but Hongye must remain in Dayong. However, Kang Yunhai made it clear that he would not accept any negotiations. Ma Zhiwen discovered that Yuan Mo was Yuan Hanjing’s son. Long Ge was then placed under house arrest at the Yanle Pavilion, where Kang Yunhai ordered the guards to be as lenient as possible and to fulfill all of Long Ge’s requests.

As for taking Hongye back to Yanle, they would come up with another plan later. Yu Deshui scolded Yuan Mo for showing off at the city gate. Yuchi Hua asked who would represent the Sifang Hall in the negotiations with the Yanle envoys. An Xiuyi volunteered, stating that only the East Wing was suitable for the task.

Yuchi Hua sarcastically commented on An Xiuyi’s good connections, and An Xiuyi quickly explained that he had earned his position through his own abilities. Yu Deshui found the situation both amusing and frustrating but tried not to show it too openly. That night, Long Ge secretly slipped out of the Yanle Pavilion, broke into the prison, and killed Hongye. He was caught by the guards afterward.

The next day, they brought Long Ge back to the Yanle Pavilion to face judgment. Kang Yunhai pretended to be unaware of the situation, displaying an innocent expression, then scolded Long Ge for disregarding the peace and safety of the nation, and publicly executed him. With the two key criminals hastily dealt with, Yu Deshui could only instruct the Sifang Hall to prepare for the next round of negotiations.