The Danyang Marquis Household stood beside the Imperial City, not far from the Directorate of Celestial Observation.
Linghu Qingmo landed in the Rear Residence in a great hurry. He had meant to ask whether Xie Jinhuan had returned, only to look up and see lights burning in Jinhuan Pavilion on the second floor of the Main Room, with shifting shadows visible inside.
Nangong Ye landed close behind. Seeing this, he knew what was happening, though he was unsure who was inside. After some thought, he said:
"He's already turned in. Why don't we ask tomorrow?"
Linghu Qingmo had always put the Righteous Path first, and they were all family now, so what did he have to avoid? Seeing his master's embarrassment, he hurried downstairs:
"Xie Jinhuan?"
"Ah..."
A startled, flustered cry immediately came from upstairs. It sounded like Manor Lord Ye...
Then Ling'er's voice rang out too:
"If you're here, come up. Why are you shouting downstairs in the middle of the night? You gave me a fright..."
"Huh? No, don't..."
"Don't worry. Qingmo is one of us..."
Linghu Qingmo froze, a little bewildered as to how those two had ended up together, but still replied:
"Are you finished? Word has come from the Directorate of Celestial Observation. Master wants to discuss it with Xie Jinhuan."
"Huh? All right..."
Standing in the corridor, Nangong Ye heard this jumble of noises and raised a hand to rub his brow. He could only feel that this was Patriarch Jinhuan's Acacia Valley, not somewhere he ought to be.
Linghu Qingmo did not quite dare go upstairs either, and quickly returned to him:
"It's not quiet here. Let's wait in my room."
Nangong Ye hardly knew how to respond. He silently went to the West Wing and lit the lamps, intending to chat with