The Flower-Between Pavilion building was brightly lit.
The sounds of string and wind instruments leaked out from the carved windows, the aroma of wine mingled with the scent of cosmetics, and the laughter of the guests grew louder and louder.
There was hardly anyone in the back building.
Rainwater dripped down the eaves, soaking the blue bricks until they turned dark.
Madam Chun, wearing an overcoat, stood in front of the hidden door. When she saw Eunuch Zhang, she lowered the lantern in her hand by half an inch.
" Eunuch Zhang?"
Eunuch Zhang bent over at a 15-degree angle.
" Madam Chun."
Madam Chun glanced behind him.
"If someone from the palace comes to the Flower-Between Pavilion in the middle of the night and is seen doing so, my place will be bustling with activity tomorrow."
Eunuch Zhang said, "Don't worry, I always do things cleanly. But Madam Chun should be prepared, it will only get more lively every day."
Madam Chun pressed her eyelids together.
"What's the meaning?"
Eunuch Zhang looked up at her.
"I need to see the big boss."
Madam Chun did not open the door immediately.
Eunuch Zhang said, "If I don't see him tonight, Flower-Between Pavilion will be dragged into the imperial court by Danyao."
Madam Chun tightened her grip on the lantern.
"Pills?"
Eunuch Zhang said, "His Majesty's longevity elixir contains a hidden pattern of the Flower-Between Pavilion."
The sound of rain drowned out the music coming from the building in front.
Madam Chun stared at him for a long time.
"Come with me."
The hidden door opened.
The two walked through the first narrow corridor, and half of the sounds from the building in front were swallowed up by the walls.
There was a faint scent of osmanthus blossoms behind the second door.
Behind the third door, only the dampness of old wood and the smell of ointment remained.
Eunuch Zhang walked very slowly.
Madam Chun turns back.
"Is your father-in-law afraid?"
Eunuch Zhang said, "This old servant has simply not been here for a long time."
Madam Chun said, "Last time you came, you stood outside the door for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn without knocking."
Eunuch Zhang didn't stop walking.
" Madam Chun remembers too."
Madam Chun sighed.
" Flower-Between Pavilion keeps records of both cash transactions and transactions that don't require payment."
Eunuch Zhang stopped in front of the secret room door.
He raised his hand, his fingertips hovering in front of the door.
This time it only lasted three breaths.
The sound of a severed finger tapping on a table came from inside the door.
one time.
Two times.
Three times.
The person inside the door spoke, very slowly.
"Come in."
Madam Chun pushed open the door.
There was only a single lamp in the secret room.
The light shone on the tabletop and on a missing left hand, but not on the person's entire face.
After entering, Eunuch Zhang knelt down, pressing his forehead against the cold floor tiles.
"Gentlemen."
Madam Chun paused as she closed the door.
Behind the table, Liu Huaijin tapped three more times with his missing finger.
"Stand up."
Eunuch Zhang didn't move.
Liu Huaijin said, "What? Have you been kneeling in the palace for so long that you've forgotten how to straighten your bones?"
Eunuch Zhang said in a low voice, "This old servant is guilty."
Liu Huaijin removed his silver mask, revealing his grotesque, burned face.
"I should thank you."
Madam Chun stood to the side, her gaze sweeping between the two of them.
"Boss, this time it's about the elixirs..."
Liu Huaijin closed his eyes, as if he were smelling the scent on Eunuch Zhang.
"Cinnabar, sulfur, palace incense, rainwater, and the calming incense from the Hanzhang Hall."
Eunuch Zhang raised his head.
"Sir, His Majesty's elixir contains the old patterns of the Flower-Between Pavilion."
Liu Huaijin asked, "Explain in detail."
Eunuch Zhang answered very quickly.
"One of three boxes of Longevity Pills, with a subtle pattern on the edge of the wax seal."
Liu Huaijin said, "It can't be the current pattern of the Flower-Between Pavilion."
Madam Chun frowned.
"But the boss hasn't seen it yet."
Liu Huaijin said, "The seal on the Flower-Between Pavilion was changed three years ago. Moreover, Flower-Between Pavilion has not produced any pills for a long time."
Eunuch Zhang said, "Sir, you guessed correctly. That one has an old pattern on it. Shen Ling'er has already examined it."
Liu Huaijin asked, "What was the result?"
Eunuch Zhang whispered, "It will make the person who takes the medicine suspicious, experience palpitations, nightmares, and undergo a drastic change in temperament, gradually making them feel that everyone around them is trying to harm them."
Madam Chun cursed.
"Dare they send this thing to the palace?"
Liu Huaijin spoke slowly.
When did it start?
Eunuch Zhang said, "After His Highness Prince Yi's wedding, this scheme will likely be used to deal with His Prince Yi."
Liu Huaijin's severed finger paused for a moment.
Eunuch Zhang continued, "His Highness has arranged marriages with six families, outshone Ye Qingyun at the poetry competition, and secured connections with the Crown Prince's Residence Second Prince's Residence at the free clinic in the south of the city."
Madam Chun added, "Let's also add the subtle Flower-Between Pavilion."
Eunuch Zhang whispered, "Miss Liu is also at Prince Yi's Residence."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Liu Huaijin tapped the table again with his missing finger.
Gu Moran cannot die.
Madam Chun looked at him.
Liu Huaijin said, " Liu Ruyan shouldn't be used as a pawn in a scheme."
Eunuch Zhang bowed low.
"Gentlemen."
Liu Huaijin did not look at him.
"Those who know the old patterns have all bought information from the Flower-Between Pavilion. If someone wants to frame someone, they should use the new, hidden patterns."
"Unless, he doesn't know that Flower-Between Pavilion has been replaced."
"He understands alchemy, knows the ancient runes, can apply hidden runes to elixirs, and hates the people of the Flower-Between Pavilion."
Madam Chun was startled. "He knows alchemy? Could it be him?"
Liu Huaijin said, " Tao Wujiu."
Madam Chun's face turned pale.
"Didn't he die twelve years ago?"
Liu Huaijin asked, "You saw the head?"
Madam Chun's lips moved slightly.
"The body was intercepted during transport, leaving behind half a charred corpse."
Liu Huaijin raised his severed finger and put the mask back on.
"No one who hasn't seen the head with their own eyes is considered dead."
"Otherwise, how could I have survived until now?"
Madam Chun fell silent.
Eunuch Zhang asked, "Who is Tao Wujiu?"
Liu Huaijin said, "An alchemist."
Madam Chun took over the conversation.
"Twelve years ago, he sold 'energizing pills' at the Flower-Between Pavilion, catering exclusively to the sons of the powerful and wealthy who indulged in all-night revelry."
Eunuch Zhang frowned.
Why did Flower-Between Pavilion take him in?
Madam Chun sighed, "Before the Grand Tutor's mansion was raided, he worked as a slave. He had several connections with alchemists outside the palace. The big boss wanted the connections, not his people."
Liu Huaijin continued, "Later it was discovered that he was using beggars to test his medicine."
Madam Chun gritted her teeth.
I originally intended to drown him in the river.
Liu Huaijin said, "He was kidnapped during the transport."
Eunuch Zhang asked, "Who robbed them?"
Liu Huaijin said, "I couldn't find anything."
Madam Chun asked in a low voice, "The head of the household has never let go of this line."
Liu Huaijin's severed finger twitched slightly. "Dead people are too clean, which makes them look fake."
Eunuch Zhang felt an even heavier weight pressing on his chest.
"Sir, if this person is still alive, putting the old patterns into the Imperial Elixir now is an attempt to force the Flower-Between Pavilion to act."
Liu Huaijin remained silent.
Eunuch Zhang felt a tightness in his throat.
"Sir, there's one more thing."
Liu Huaijin looked at him.
Eunuch Zhang knelt down and moved forward half an inch.
"Her Majesty already knows that the Master is still alive."
Madam Chun almost dropped the handkerchief from her hand.
" Eunuch Zhang!"
Liu Huaijin's severed finger rested on the edge of the table.
The lamp flickered, revealing the outline of half of the scar in the shadows.
He asked, "Did you tell her?"
Eunuch Zhang knelt even lower.
"This old servant did not say it explicitly."
Liu Huaijin said, "That means you let something slip."
Eunuch Zhang closed his eyes.
A hint of shock appeared in Madam Chun's eyes.
Liu Huaijin remained silent for a moment.
"She's still so smart."
Eunuch Zhang said in a low voice, "Your Majesty is not a fool. This old servant has kept this a secret for so many years, and I've reached the limit."
Liu Huaijin smiled bitterly, "She knows that my being alive is of no benefit to her."
Eunuch Zhang looked up.
"But time is running out."
Liu Huaijin asked, "Time?"
Eunuch Zhang said, "It belongs to His Majesty, His Highness, Miss Liu, and also to the gentleman."
Liu Huaijin slowly raised her face.
Before you entered the palace, I taught you a piece of advice.
Eunuch Zhang whispered, "In a crisis, we must not act rashly."
Liu Huaijin said, "But you've messed things up."
Eunuch Zhang choked up. "Because there are two children in the bureau this time."
Liu Huaijin looked at him.
Madam Chun also lowered her head.
After a long while, Liu Huaijin opened the hidden compartment under the table.
There was a black wooden box inside.
He picked up an old booklet with his thumb and forefinger and placed it on the table.
A few words were written at the beginning of the book.
Register of those who serve in the alchemy furnace room.
When Eunuch Zhang saw those words, his breath hitched.
"Sir, you were prepared?"
Liu Huaijin said, "Sixteen years is enough time to prepare a lot of things."
Madam Chun leaned closer to take a look.
Eunuch Zhang asked, "If Tao Wujiu is still alive, would he be inside?"
Liu Huaijin opened the old book, his fingertip pausing on a line of old names.
He used to work at a private furnace in the suburbs of Beijing.
Eunuch Zhang lowered his voice even further.
"The private furnace that remained after the Grand Tutor's family was wiped out?"
Liu Huaijin said, "Hmm."
Madam Chun's face turned pale.
Eunuch Zhang asked, "Who's behind him?"
Liu Huaijin slowly closed the old book.
"If Tao Wujiu were still alive, he would definitely be supported by top-tier nobles."
Eunuch Zhang asked, "The Crown Prince?"
Madam Chun asked, "The Second Prince?"
Liu Huaijin looked up.
"This still needs to be investigated."