Troublemaker

"Do you know how an investigation works?" Xu Qi'an began with a topic he knew well.

"Observe the scene and gather clues, then make bold hypotheses and carefully test them. Bit by bit, you unravel the puzzle and uncover the truth behind the case."

The flickering candlelight illuminated the utterly baffled look on Second Uncle Xu's face.

Xu Erlang frowned in thought.

Xu Qi'an spoke at length. "What we need to think about isn't how to plot against Zhou Li. We need to observe him, gather information, and put it all together. Then we boldly draw up a plan and carefully scrutinize every step to judge whether it's feasible."

His words were clear and logically sound, leaving Xu Erlang with no rebuttal. Inwardly, he agreed that his elder brother's approach was correct.

So Ningyan is a resourceful, reliable child too. Xu Pingzhi was deeply gratified. He had previously worried that his nephew was too stubborn and rigidly attached to his principles, and would suffer for it someday.

Seeing that neither of them objected, Xu Qi'an continued, "Cijiu, you've earned the juren degree, so you can meet scholars and learn a little about officialdom. Go gather information on Zhou Li. No matter how big or small, don't miss anything."

"Second Uncle, the Zhou Residence is in the inner city, and the Imperial Saber Guard normally patrols both the inner and outer cities at night. You're responsible for keeping an eye on the Zhou Residence. Don't do it yourself; find a trusted confidant to watch it."

"I want to know where Zhou Li goes each day, what he does, and whom he meets."

Father and son nodded, then suddenly thought of something and stared at Xu Qi'an. "What about you?"

Xu Qi'an smiled mysteriously. "I'll find a way out for the Xu Residence. Cijiu, we'll discuss the details later, and I'll ask you about a few things while we're at it. I'll stay in your room tonight."

Drip, drip.

The sound of the water clock echoed in the silent room.

"Big Brother, are you asleep?"

"No."

"Oh."

"Big Brother, are you asleep?"

"No."

"Oh."

"Big Brother, you're poking me."

Xu Qi'an was startled, but then Xu Xinnian added, "Move your elbow."

"Oh, oh."

Another silence followed. Listening to each other's breathing, Xu Qi'an asked, "Can't sleep?"

"Mhm," Xu Xinnian replied. "I'm not used to this."

Me neither. Xu Qi'an sighed. "How long has it been since we shared a bed?"

Xu Xinnian thought for a moment before answering, "Since we were ten. After you started spending a hundred taels a year on martial arts and your relationship with my mother soured, we grew distant too."

I thought you'd act all proud and say, 'We've never shared a bed.' We can still sleep together now, but there's no chance of that with Lingyue anymore. Memories of the original owner's childhood flashed through Xu Qi'an's mind, and he sighed.

"Actually, you can't blame Auntie. There's not much to skim from a job in the Imperial Saber Guard. Even with all his efforts and his salary, Second Uncle only brings in a little over two hundred taels of silver a year. Half of that went to feeding me. The other half had to cover your expenses. It was only natural for Auntie to feel resentful."

Xu Xinnian changed the subject. "If we can't get through this crisis, the Xu Household might really be finished."

If Vice Minister Zhou didn't fall, disaster would descend on the Xu Residence after the Capital Evaluation.

"I'll make sure we have a way out. At worst, after the Capital Evaluation, our whole family can leave the capital. Second Uncle and I are good fighters; wherever we go, we'll be able to make a living." Xu Qi'an said regretfully, "It's just that, Erlang, you studied hard for ten years to earn your juren degree."

Xu Xinnian gave a dismissive laugh. "Rank and riches are but passing clouds. I am a scholar. I study the books of the sages and cultivate the Way of the sages. Why would I care about a mere degree?"

Xu Qi'an nodded in wholehearted agreement. "Had Heaven not brought forth Xu Xinnian, Great Feng would have remained a long night for all eternity."

The little boat of friendship capsized. Xu Xinnian's breathing quickened for a moment. Suddenly, he rolled over, taking the bedding with him, and pretended to sleep without a word.

"Hey, Cijiu, share some of the quilt with me. It's the dead of winter. Even at the Essence Refining Realm, your big brother is having a hard time."

Xu Cijiu curled up, wrapped the bedding tightly around himself, and ignored him.

In Xu Lingyue's bedroom, the fiercely burning charcoal fire from the night before had gone out, and the carbon dioxide filling the room made the air feel stuffy.

A window left slightly ajar let fresh air into the room.

The little-brush lashes on Xu Lingyue's exquisite, porcelain-white face fluttered. She opened her eyes and stared blankly at the bed canopy for a moment. A few seconds later, her dazed eyes regained their luster, and she propped herself up.

She stretched lazily, and the thick cotton quilt slipped down, revealing the thin white undergarment wrapped around her delicate body.

Her fair neck curved gracefully, and her tousled hair set off her delicate, pretty face.

Xu Lingyue covered her rosy little mouth with a slender hand and yawned.

The maid sleeping on the small bed across from her woke with a start, then calmly got dressed and rose.

"The air in here is stuffy. Open the window," the young lady instructed, rubbing between her brows.

The maid immediately ran to open it.

Xu Lingyue threw back the quilt, got out of bed, and walked to the window, breathing in the cold air blowing in from the courtyard.

As the eldest daughter of a military family, she wasn't so delicate. Back when Xu Pingzhi taught Xu Qi'an to train his body, he liked to bring Xu Erlang and Xu Lingyue along.

Brother and sister had laid a solid foundation then, and both were in excellent physical condition.

But when they grew a little older, Auntie stopped her children from practicing martial arts with her ill-fated nephew. After all, Xu Pingzhi, the head of the family, had already decided that his nephew would practice martial arts and his son would study.

For a scholar to practice martial arts was to neglect his proper pursuits.

His daughter had even less reason to practice. If she developed a body full of unsightly bulging muscles, how would she ever find a husband?

Xu Lingyue was enjoying the fresh air when she suddenly saw a figure pass by the window, dressed in a constable's black uniform with red trim at the cuffs and collar.

Brother and sister silently stared at each other through the window for several seconds.

Xu Qi'an gave her a warm smile.

Xu Lingyue shrieked and slammed the window shut. Bang!

My little sister's all grown up! Xu Qi'an thought with satisfaction.

Though I didn't raise her myself, I did watch her grow up. Back then, she was just a little girl... But she was fully dressed. Was there any need to react so strongly?

Inside her bedroom, Xu Lingyue squatted on the floor, her face and ears bright red.

The maid chattered on. "Miss, you really should change that habit. You should get washed and dressed properly before opening the window. See? Dalang saw you. Luckily, he's your own brother. If an outsider had seen you, how could you go on living?"

"Stop it!" Xu Lingyue said, mortified and indignant.

Xu Xinnian didn't usually come this way, and her parents' main quarters weren't on this side either, so it was safe to open the window first thing in the morning.

Why was Big Brother in the inner courtyard? Sitting in front of her dressing mirror, Xu Lingyue was thoroughly puzzled.

The maid stood behind her, doing her hair and makeup. When she finished, she rummaged through the jewelry box and complained, "Miss, you don't have any pretty hairpins or hair sticks."

Xu Lingyue didn't answer. She sighed. The family had suffered one disaster after another, and their savings had been emptied. Feeding and clothing the whole household, seventeen or eighteen mouths including the servants, cost a great deal.

Where would they find the silver to buy jewelry?

"The hair sticks at the Treasure Artifact Pavilion are so beautiful. I went in to look yesterday and couldn't bear to leave. If you wore one in your hair, Miss, you'd surely, surely... shparkle together."

"It's 'sparkle together.'" A flash of longing appeared in Xu Lingyue's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.

The maid went on, "They're just too expensive: ten taels of silver apiece. The owner would only lower the price if you could solve the shop's word riddle."

Xu Lingyue listened absentmindedly, then suddenly asked, "Lan'er, don't you think Big Brother has changed a lot lately?"

The maid called Lan'er paused, then her face lit up with a smile.

"Dalang is gentler and more entertaining than before, and more capable too. He used to wear a stern face all the time and wasn't very nice to you or Erlang. He only smiled when he spoke to Master."

Xu Lingyue seemed very pleased with her maid's answer, and a smile blossomed on her pretty face. "That wasn't his fault either. Mother was always cold to him."

Xu Lingyue liked the feeling of her relationship with her brother growing warmer. It was like bathing in a spring breeze, and it lifted her spirits.

Her elder brother used to be rather unapproachable and dull, but now he was very interesting and pleasant to talk to.

Xu Qi'an came to Xu Lingyin's door. She wasn't yet old enough for the strict separation between men and women, so he pushed straight in without knocking. He saw Xu Lingyin squatting on the floor, a boar-bristle toothbrush in her little paw, brushing her teeth with a stern face and great seriousness.

It was as if this were some enormous undertaking.

The maid in the room was tidying the bedding.

"Ith Big Bwother!" She looked up and spoke indistinctly through a mouthful of foam.

"Why are you washing up by yourself?" Xu Qi'an asked, looking toward the maid.

"Daddy said a man must rely on himself to become good at martial arts."

"Do you know you're a girl?" Xu Qi'an asked carefully.

"I know." The little tot tilted her head, her face full of innocent bewilderment.

No, you don't. Xu Qi'an said, "Then do you know the difference between boys and girls?"

"Big Brother, I don't know." The little tot was very honest. She then asked, "What's the difference?"

This brought them to the subject of biology. A long explanation would go on forever, and Lingyin might not understand it anyway. Drawing on the profound foundation of nine years of compulsory education in his previous life, as well as his excellent upbringing, Xu Qi'an summed it up in an accessible lesson suitable for all ages.

"Simply put, um... boys grow up to be naughty, and girls grow up to be crybabies."

Understanding dawned on Xu Lingyin, and she said happily, "No wonder Mommy always calls me a troublemaker."

She ran circles around the room, shouting happily, "I'm a troublemaker! I'm a troublemaker!"

Xu Qi'an silently closed the door. He wasn't planning to eat breakfast at home today.