In the capital, there were always countless outsiders coming and going every day.
A few people casually glanced up and saw a gaunt old man dressed in tattered clothes, holding up a sign that read:
“Iron Truth Fortune-Telling.”
“Head west from Iron Horse Bridge,” someone said offhandedly, waving vaguely in that direction.
Iron Horse Bridge was where street performers and hustlers usually gathered.
The old man hurriedly thanked them but didn’t move. Instead, he fixed his gaze on them.
“Would you gentlemen care to have your fortunes told?” he asked. “I charge no money—just hoping to forge a good connection.”
The group chuckled dismissively, eyeing the old man with skepticism.
On any other day, Xiang Qi would have joined them in shooing away this wandering charlatan. But today, for some reason, his heart gave an odd thump, and he instinctively raised his hand.
“Tell me my fortune, then,” he said with a laugh, then explained to his companions, “My luck’s been rotten lately—wondering when it’ll turn around.”
At the mention of luck, they all understood, bursting into laughter before clamoring for the old man to tell their fortunes too.
The old man chuckled as he examined each of them one by one, offering vague and ambiguous predictions—half-truths wrapped in flattery. He spoke casually, and they listened just as casually, until it was Xiang Qi’s turn.
When the old man saw Xiang Qi, his cheerful expression suddenly stiffened.
“Young man, I fear things don’t look good for you,” he said.
“Oh? Does that mean his luck still won’t turn around?” someone nearby joked.
Xiang Qi forced a dry laugh.
“No, no—this is worse. Your brow is dark with ill omen. Misfortune is upon you,” the old man said gravely.
Xiang Qi, already troubled by his own thoughts, scowled at the words and spat in disgust.
“Get lost,” he cursed. “What terrible luck.”
The others laughed and joined in shooing the old man away.
“Young man, I speak the iron truth—real skill, no false words. Don’t dismiss it,” the old man insisted, waving a hand back and forth. “…Just ten coins, and I’ll help you avert this disaster. Otherwise, grave misfortune awaits…”
The more he spoke, the bolder he got!
“Scram! If you don’t, I’ll haul you to the magistrate’s office!” Xiang Qi shouted, glaring as he stood up.
Only then did the old man hastily grab his fortune-telling banner and scurry off—though he still lingered at a distance, watching them.
“Damn bad luck,” Xiang Qi spat.
“Serves you right for calling him over. These old swindlers are sharp as foxes—they sniff out desperation and pounce,” his companions teased.
“Got some trouble lately?” someone else asked curiously.
Xiang Qi cursed the old fraud in his heart again, then shook his head with a wry smile.
“Of course I’ve got troubles—I am trouble,” he said bitterly.
Being a live-in son-in-law was, after all, an exceptionally difficult lot in life.
The others chuckled and let the matter drop.
Xiang Qi finally stood up.
“My big mouth’s to blame,” he said. “Brought bad luck and ruined the mood. Can’t take it—gotta go gamble a couple rounds to shake off this foul luck.”
His companions roared with laughter, tossing out a few good-natured jabs as they watched him walk away, unfazed.
Once he left his companions, Xiang Qi’s face immediately darkened. To make matters worse, he spotted the fortune-telling old man winking and making faces at him from a distance. His temper flared instantly.
“You damn old…” He rolled up his sleeves and started toward him.
Seeing trouble coming, the old man turned tail and fled.
Xiang Qi chased a few steps before stopping, spat angrily, and turned away with a scowl.
But from morning till now, everything that had happened was downright aggravating…
Maybe he should just get away for a while…
Now that was a good idea!
Xiang Qi quickened his pace, only to have someone suddenly clap a hand on his shoulder.
“Xiang Qi, come with us.”
A man’s voice spoke.
The abruptness of it made Xiang Qi’s legs go weak with fright. He turned wide-eyed to see a stranger, flanked by two or three other men, all staring at him with grim expressions.
“Who are you people? What do you want?” Xiang Qi cried, his face draining of color.
Before he could finish, the men seized him and, without a word, shoved him into a waiting carriage.
Terror gripped Xiang Qi’s heart.
This is it, this is it…
Was that old man not a fraud after all? Had his doom really come…
“What are you doing in broad daylight?! Help—”
His shouts trailed behind as the carriage sped through the bustling streets, leaving shocked onlookers to point and murmur in its wake.
Just as Xiang Qi was nearly scared to death, the carriage came to a halt. Pushed out, he froze at the sight around him.
It wasn’t the desolate wilderness or some shadowy, secluded courtyard he had imagined—but a bustling street, and one he recognized.
“Right this way…”
A shop attendant at the entrance greeted them warmly. Though it was mealtime, the place wasn’t crowded, but people still came and went intermittently.
The sign of Immortal’s Abode swayed in the wind.
“Move along.”
The man shoved him from behind.
Staggering forward, Xiang Qi tore his gaze away.
“What do you want?”
“Grabbing people off the streets—is there no law anymore?”
Amid his shouts, Xiang Qi was shoved into a private room.
Three people sat inside, but his gaze immediately locked onto one of them—a girl.
“It’s you!” Xiang Qi exclaimed.
With his suspicions confirmed, his fear vanished.
What’s there to be afraid of? he thought. It’s already been said in private—this Tai Ping Residence won’t escape its doom this time.
“What is the meaning of this?” he demanded angrily.
Cheng Jiao-niang studied him.
“So it was you,” she said.
“What did I do?” Xiang Qi retorted, still feigning outrage.
But inwardly, he sneered.
This little brat thinks she can trick me into confessing? She’s still wet behind the ears.
“Who put you up to this?” Cheng Jiao-niang pressed.
Xiang Qi scoffed inwardly.
So this little girl is just fishing for information about her rivals—thinking this is some conspiracy targeting her precious Tai Ping Residence.
Dragging me here was nothing more than a blind stab in the dark.
“Just what are you getting at?” Xiang Qi snapped, his anger fading into impatience.
“You think I have no way to make you talk?” Cheng Jiao-niang said, rapping her knuckles lightly against the table.
Xiang Qi glanced over and saw several sheets of paper laid out on the table.
“These are the anonymous accusations I obtained from the authorities, and this is the document you wrote this morning…” Cheng Jiao-niang said, pushing the papers forward slightly. “Now, do you understand what I’m referring to?”
Xiang Qi could barely suppress his laughter.
This is ridiculous! What kind of proprietor is this?
Has the owner of Tai Ping Residence and Immortal’s Abode been so swamped that they’ve sent this little girl out to make a fool of herself?
Seems the mastermind behind Tai Ping Residence really won’t last much longer.
“Young lady, I truly have no idea,” Xiang Qi replied, a hint of amusement in his tone as he glanced at the documents. “But, little mistress, it seems Song Shan from the Archives isn’t here. Those low-ranking clerks can be quite slippery—are you sure you weren’t tricked into fetching the wrong ones?”
“So you can also write with your left hand,” Cheng Jiao-niang suddenly remarked.
What?
How did she know that?!
Xiang Qi’s smiling face stiffened, his heart tightening in his chest. For a moment, he was too stunned to speak.
“No wonder you’ve been so bold,” Cheng Jiao-niang continued, slowly gathering the papers in front of her.
In the quiet room, the crisp rustling of crumpling paper filled the air.
With each crinkle, Xiang Qi’s heart seemed to twist tighter.
She’s bluffing! Without proof, there’s nothing to fear!
“Just what are you trying to say?” He shook his head, forcing his expression into one of firm resolve.
“What a stubborn mouth!”
The young man who had been sitting quietly suddenly barked.
“You think I can’t pry it open?”
All bluster and no substance—relying on threats and intimidation. That’s the behavior of street thugs, nothing to take seriously.
Xiang Qi shook his head with a mocking smile.
“It’s not that I’m stubborn—it’s that I genuinely don’t understand what you want me to say,” he replied.
“Actually, wasn’t Fan Jianglin’s first meeting in the capital with you?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked. “You were the only one who knew they were deserters, weren’t you?”
“Are you guessing again?” Xiang Qi countered, ignoring the question with a calm smile. “Have you even asked Brother Jianglin and the others to confirm?”
“Indeed,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, her gaze steady on him. “But you also know that the Ministry of War has already taken them away, and no one can see them now, don’t you?”
Xiang Qi snorted inwardly.
Nonsense. Did she think everyone handled affairs like her—relying on bluffs?
It was true he was just a minor clerk, but even minor clerks had their own connections to dig up the information they needed.
“You’re remarkably well-informed,” Cheng Jiao-niang remarked. “Since you’ve prepared so thoroughly, do you really not know what I’m asking you?”
Xiang Qi’s expression flickered slightly.
“Actually, I didn’t bring you here to ask you anything—or to make you admit to anything,” Cheng Jiao-niang continued, her gaze fixed on him. “I just wanted to tell you what I know.”
She leaned forward slightly.
“I’m telling you that I know you were the one who anonymously reported Fan Jianglin and the others.”
All talk and no proof—just empty accusations in the end.
The flicker of panic in Xiang Qi faded.
“Young lady, this is pure slander,” he said, waving a hand dismissively. “Even if I don’t know who you are, the reason Jianglin and the others were arrested is no secret—ask anyone on the street, and they’ll tell you.”
He scoffed.
“This is just your Tai Ping Residence provoking retaliation from rivals—hardly the first time, is it?” he retorted. “Why insist on pinning the blame on me? What’s the point?”
Cheng Jiao-niang ignored his protests, her gaze steady as she continued.
“You, Fan Jianglin, and the others were sworn brothers. You had your eye on the Dong family’s daughter, but she favored Xu Maoxiu. Only after Xu refused to marry into their family did the Dongs settle for you as their live-in son-in-law.”
Xiang Qi opened his mouth to retort, but Cheng Jiao-niang didn’t give him the chance.
“…Yet the Dong family always favored Xu Maoxiu, and their daughter never let go of her old feelings…”
“…A year ago, Xu Maoxiu and the others came to the capital and sought you out, confessing their desertion. They asked for your help, but of course, you refused. Still, you didn’t report them—instead, you urged them to leave…”
“…But then, unexpectedly, you crossed paths again in the capital. Naturally, they became honored guests in the Dong household. Resentment festered in your heart, so you wrote those anonymous accusations…”
“…You’re the one who doomed those seven brothers. That’s what I came to tell you.”
Xiang Qi shook his head and laughed.
“Young lady, these are all your words. If you insist on this version, there’s nothing I can do,” he said.
“Exactly. This is what I say. Whether you admit it or not doesn’t matter to me—only the truth I’ve determined does,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
“In that case, since this has nothing to do with me, I’m free to leave, yes?” Xiang Qi said coolly.
Cheng Jiao-niang remained silent. Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked toward the door.
Just as he reached it, she called out to him again.
“Earlier, you said you didn’t know who I was—correct?” she said.
