INCENSE OF HELPLESSNESS produced entirely different results depending on the person upon whom it was used.
Feng Xiao still remembered the way Cui Buqu had endured the bone-melting pain of the incense yet retained enough reason to meet him in a clash of wits. Indeed, perhaps Cui Buqu's biggest mistake was that he'd been too calm and sober under the effects of the incense. It had roused Feng Xiao's suspicions.
Yuxiu, too, had inhaled this incense thanks to Cui Buqu's scheming. He'd fought fiercely against Feng Xiao while poisoned and even managed to escape.
Lin Yong, on the other hand, crumpled like wet paper.
"Lin Yong told us everything he did as a member of the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai," Ming Yue said, relaying the results of his interrogation to Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu. "Each director has defined responsibilities, and his was finance. Xiao Lü provided him with financial resources, and he made a great deal of money for them. According to him, the Thirteen Floors are highly decentralized. As long as there were no pressing matters, the members didn't communicate; he knows very little. He can't even tell us what other pawns Xiao Lü might have planted in the north. The only somewhat useful lead he shared was the various methods by which Yandang Mountain Estate directly or indirectly contacted Xiao Lü."
Ming Yue paused. "But Xiao Lü never showed up to this meeting. We can only assume he noticed something suspicious about Fan Yun and declined to step into the trap. Now that we have Lin Yong, he's probably disposed of those methods of contact. I fear when we send people to investigate, they'll find an empty building. Of the current directors, Yuxiu, Lin Yong, Duan Qihu, Feng Xiaolian, and Yuheng have been eliminated. And Fan Yun, Xiao Lü's most valued strategist, has betrayed him; he can't use him either. Without Fan Yun, the Thirteen Floors is a dragon with one eye, a bird without wings. I doubt they'll give us any more trouble."
Although Ming Yue was the third chief of the Jiejian Bureau, he lived a simple life. He'd never made a name for himself in the jianghu, nor could he boast any grand achievements in the imperial court. He remained inconspicuous, and thus most people considered Feng Xiao the supporting pillar of the Jiejian Bureau and discounted the third chief as insignificant. But Cui Buqu knew better. Feng Xiao spent his days running hither and thither. Without someone in the capital to oversee daily operations, the Jiejian Bureau would have collapsed long ago. Thus he felt no surprise upon hearing Ming Yue's methodical analysis; indeed, it was wholly within his expectations.
Ming Yue's strength lay not in garnering glory or attention, but in standing guard behind the scenes. If Feng Xiao was the wings and fangs of the Jiejian Bureau, Ming Yue was its steadily beating heart.
"What about the guards and maids from the cave?" Feng Xiao asked. "Did we learn anything from them?"
Shaking his head, Ming Yue explained, "They were recruited to the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai after their own sects were destroyed. They're no elite forces. Besides, they've been trapped in that cave for years. Most of them know very little—but a man named Liang Feng gave us one clue. He said the pavilion leader had appeared at a previous gathering with someone else who wasn't present this time: a girl with a veil. He never saw her face, but he heard the pavilion leader call her Huan-niang. He said they seemed close."
Feng Xiao instinctively glanced at Cui Buqu. "Is there a woman in the jianghu with the surname Huan?"
Cui Buqu coughed a few times and frowned. After thinking for a long time, he said firmly, "No. Perhaps an alias."
He sat on the bed wrapped in a blanket, his face lined with fatigue. Ming Yue and Feng Xiao had channeled him a sizable amount of qi, but it would take some time for his severely damaged body to heal. Not only had he been made to hold his nose and take his medicine, whenever he pictured the displeased expressions he was sure to see on the faces of the Zuoyue Bureau's other members, his mood sank lower still.
As a powerful martial artist, Feng Xiao was far better off, yet even he was wrapped in layers of bandages beneath his clothes.
"Let me take care of the cleanup here," Ming Yue offered, seeing the poor state they were in. "Save the rest for when we return to the capital. One more thing though—we looked all through the caves, but we didn't find the Jade of Heaven Lake. Someone must have fled with it."
When Fan Yun had said the Jade of Heaven Lake could prolong his life, even Cui Buqu had wavered. He was no god or immortal—he was a human being, bound to the rules of the mortal world. And he would rather live than die. Yet at this news, his expression remained devoid of emotion. Perhaps he was already accustomed to the callousness with which the heavens treated him. Through all those trials and tribulations, he'd learned to rely on himself alone, not anything so hollow as hope.
Most ordinary men would be bedridden for weeks after being stabbed in the chest, yet here Cui Buqu was, sitting up talking to Feng Xiao and Ming Yue. This, too, was proof of his iron will: Even the heavens couldn't touch him.
Feng Xiao took a glance, then found he couldn't stop himself from taking a second and a third.
Eventually even Ming Yue noticed something was off. Puzzled, he looked at Feng Xiao, who promptly averted his eyes as if nothing had happened. "Two Zuoyue guards accompanied us up the mountain. Did you find them?"
Ming Yue sighed. "I did. Their bodies were found at the foot of Mount Tiannan—both suffered a fatal blow to the skull. The Thirteen Floors must have thought them too risky to keep alive, so they simply killed them and disposed of the bodies."
Feng Xiao considered this. "It's rare to kill barehanded rather than with weapons. Perhaps it was Yuan Sansi or Yuxiu."
"No matter who did it, we will collect payment for this debt from the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai," said Cui Buqu coldly.
"Xiao Lü only has a few people left now—Yuan Sansi and Ning Shewo, as well as some others," said Feng Xiao. "Knowing him, he would rather leave seats empty than fill them with inferior people. We merely need to find Xiao Lü, and we can eradicate the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai once and for all."
"I'm afraid it's not that simple." Cui Buqu's brow was heavy with fatigue. Even his voice had grown quieter. "Fan Yun implied that the scope of Xiao Lü's operation stretches far beyond the handful of directors we know. And he's smart enough to have anticipated Fan Yun's betrayal."
Feng Xiao chuckled. "Xiao Lü never showed himself this time. Perhaps he decided to let events take their course and exchange Yuxiu and Yuan Sansi's lives for our own. Fan Yun was like the mantis stalking the cicada, planning to snap up the prize in the aftermath, unaware that Xiao Lü was the oriole behind him, waiting to strike."
Ming Yue frowned. When Feng Xiao had left the capital, he'd only said he was going to find a new zither. Ming Yue had assumed him merely bored—he'd never imagined the journey would end in such a messy train of events. If Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao had been slightly less capable, or a little less fortunate, they would both have lost their lives.
The Thirteen Floors of Yunhai were like a looming beast hidden in the shadows. As they slowly lured the monster into the open, they realized to their horror that its great jaws were already open wide. At any moment, it would snap them shut and crush its prey between its teeth.
Xiao Lü's traces were scattered all across the north and south, from the halls of the imperial court to the depths of the jianghu. There was nowhere the Thirteen Floors couldn't touch. If even the governor of Boling Commandery belonged to them, what about the positions below governor? Were there spies among the county magistrates and lieutenants? And what about the positions above? Did agents of the Thirteen Floors also lurk within the capital?
Ming Yue's heart thudded. He suddenly understood why Xiao Lü was so determined to rid himself of Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu.
The Jiejian and Zuoyue Bureaus held the court and jianghu within their grasp. Their reach extended beyond the Great Wall, complete with a vast network of information channels both large and small. If their leaders were removed, the tiger would be declawed—it would still be a fearsome-looking beast to be sure, but one that had lost most of its power. With nothing to fear, the spies the Thirteen Floors had planted would silently flourish.
And despite everything they'd discovered, there were more oddities yet to be explained.
"I still think it's strange," said Ming Yue. "The Central Plains have been in constant upheaval since the two Jin dynasties. There's been no lack of officials rising to power overnight, and…ah, cases where relatives of the royal family have seized the throne. But all these possessed either supporters at court or great military power. Xiao Lü hails from the Southern dynasty, but he doesn't even merit Chen Shubao's regard. His reputation in his own nation is modest, and his connections fall far short of what's required to usurp a throne. What's more, the forces of the Thirteen Floors are not confined to any nation, but scattered across the land.
"Take Yuan Sansi—he's achieved the rank of commandery governor, but he's a long way yet from making his mark in the central government. There's no way he can initiate a coup. Then there's Yuxiu. If he were still alive—and if the two of you hadn't exposed him—he might still be the Prince of Jin's trusted aide. But no matter how much trust the Prince of Jin placed in him, he would never launch a revolt because Yuxiu urged him to. Without someone closer to the throne, it doesn't matter how many spies the Thirteen Floors have planted. They'll never be able to overthrow the emperor."
Cui Buqu was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "Yuan Sansi entered the court as an official. Who has he come into contact with over the years—who promoted him, and who is he close to? I assume the Jiejian Bureau can easily find out."
"An excellent point, Chief Cui. I'll investigate as soon as we return to the capital." This was indeed crucial information. Ming Yue hurriedly noted down everything about the case, lest he miss any detail.
The Zuoyue Bureau had no business interfering with the affairs of the Jiejian Bureau. In the past, Feng Xiao would have mocked Cui Buqu for his presumption, but now, he remained quiet and made no objection. Ming Yue silently wondered if the sun would rise in the west next.
"Yuxiu was with the Prince of Jin for several years," said Cui Buqu, "He may have influenced the prince to befriend certain people, or to make specific suggestions to the empress. Such things have nothing to do with the jianghu, and are therefore out of the Zuoyue Bureau's sphere. If the Jiejian Bureau wishes to investigate, they should start there. The Prince of Jin has a mercurial temper, so it may take considerable effort…"
His voice grew softer and softer, until Ming Yue could no longer make out the words. He looked up from his notes to find that Cui Buqu had fallen asleep sitting up.
While Ming Yue sat stunned, Feng Xiao had already stepped over. He helped Cui Buqu lie down and covered him with the blanket.
"He's exhausted himself overthinking," said Ming Yue. "If Cui-langjun keeps this up, I fear it…it isn't a good sign." He'd intended to say it was a sign he wouldn't live long, but it didn't feel right to speak it aloud. He swallowed his words back down.
"Without these things to busy himself with, he probably would have collapsed hours ago," Feng Xiao said.
When Ming Yue looked back at him in confusion, Feng Xiao changed the subject. "Fan Yun might not be loyal to the Thirteen Floors, but he's still an important player in this game. He knows many of their secrets; we can't let him slip through our fingers. Find him as soon as possible—he may be the key to tracking down both the jade and Xiao Lü."
Ming Yue nodded his assent.
***
Within his dream, Cui Buqu heard the murmur of voices drifting past like the shadows of a revolving lantern. The words slid by, faint and indistinct, like the various things and people he'd seen throughout his life. At last, they receded like the tide, and everything returned to silence.
Many times, Cui Buqu had felt that if he allowed himself to sleep, he would never wake again. A fatigue so immense it bordered on death would loom within his heart, wrapping around his body like dense silk until he was unable to breathe. But his life wasn't fated to end here. No matter how excruciating his dreams, he always struggled awake in the end and opened his eyes.
Today was no different.
Even he was impressed by his own tenacity sometimes.
Cui Buqu stared at the bed canopy overhead, blinking slowly. It took him a quarter of an hour to recall where he was, and why.
He was in a small town at the foot of Mount Tiannan. After descending the mountain, Ming Yue had needed time to deal with the remnants of the Thirteen Floors. He dispatched men to escort the guards and maids back to the capital for a thorough interrogation, while Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu stayed and recuperated before beginning their own journey.
At his bedside sat a letter stamped with the Zuoyue Bureau's seal, the wax still intact. Cui Buqu opened it and saw it was from Qiao Xian. The mark on the seal meant the contents weren't confidential, so it had likely arrived via official post. Either Ming Yue or Feng Xiao must have seen it and brought it to him.
Qiao Xian explained that they'd found no traces of the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai in Donghai Commandery. This was hardly surprising, as it was Fan Yun himself who'd laid the false clues to lure him there.
After Qiao Xian had been injured during their adventure in the Western Khaganate, Cui Buqu had instructed her to stay in the capital. Apparently she couldn't bear to remain idle and had run off to Donghai Commandery with Zhangsun Bodhi. Cui Buqu could see her disappointment at having nothing to show for it in every stroke of her brush as she asked him what they ought to do next.
Voices rose outside.
Cui Buqu lit a candle and fed the letter bit by bit to the flame, burning the paper to ash. Then he got off the bed and stepped into his boots, planning to freshen up. The sweet fragrance of osmanthus wafted in through the window. After the time he'd spent in that dark, sunless cave, even an ordinary cloudy day was crisp and refreshing.
Cui Buqu was in a good mood.
When he opened the door, he found Feng Xiao and Ming Yue playing a game at a small table in the yard. Injured he might be, but Deputy Chief Feng could never be happy quietly recuperating in bed. Cui Buqu gave their game a brief glance before looking away in disinterest.
Ming Yue stood and cupped his hands in greeting. As he ranked below Cui Buqu, this was only proper. Cui Buqu acknowledged him with a nod. "No need to be so polite, Third Chief. Keep playing; I'm going to take a walk."
Feng Xiao called him back. "Care for a match?"
"I don't know how to play."
Feng Xiao was stunned. "You don't know how to play shupu?"
This and other board games like it had originated during the late Han dynasty. Nowadays, it wasn't just popular in the capital; master players roamed streets and marketplaces even in remote locales.
Cui Buqu answered Feng Xiao's question with a guileless expression—Is it strange I don't know how to play?
But it really was strange. Feng Xiao looked at him as he might regard a bizarre bird with four wings. After staring for a long moment, he said, "I left some food for you on the stove. I'll teach you after you eat."
Cui Buqu shook his head. "Why do I need to learn?"
"All you do is work. Are there any hobbies you enjoy?"
"Work is my hobby," said Cui Buqu, unfazed.
Feng Xiao shot Ming Yue a look, as if to say See?
Ming Yue was fully onboard. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Deputy Chief Feng, who was all play and no work, and Chief Cui Buqu, who was all work and no play, could rub off on each other a bit?
But in the face of Cui Buqu's dull response, no matter how he wracked his brain, Ming Yue couldn't think of what to say. Only Feng Xiao retained his enthusiasm.
"How about we make a bet?" he suggested. "I'll teach you the rules and we'll play a few rounds. Best two out of three. The loser must agree to one request made by the winner."
Cui Buqu finally grew interested. "Any request?"
Feng Xiao arched a brow. "Of course, as long as it's within my power to grant."
"Such a generous offer, Deputy Chief Feng. You mustn't go back on your word when the time comes."
Feng Xiao smiled a little. "What will you request—or could it be that you want me?"
A muscle in Cui Buqu's jaw jumped as he remembered what had happened in the array. He scrubbed it from his mind at once, refusing to dwell on anything so unnecessary. It had been an accident. Or perhaps Feng Xiao had acted on some desperate impulse. Maybe it was even a joke. The only thing it couldn't be was serious.
Feng Xiao was never serious.
Feng-er loved himself more than anyone. How could he hold any true regard for someone else? And Cui Buqu was destined for a life of solitude. Why worry about something so pointless?
"I want the names of Sui officials in every county and commandery, at every rank," Cui Buqu said languidly.
Feng Xiao's smile froze on his face.
The Ministry of Personnel had their own lists of officials, but the Jiejian Bureau's was more detailed. Their records included things like hobbies, number of concubines, and even secrets, such as if they snored in their sleep.
Cui Buqu had coveted such a list for a long time, and today, he finally had his chance. How could he let it slip by?
Ming Yue turned his head away. It took all he had to stop himself from laughing.