บท 54: Passing Through

"What was the name of the count's maid in the fifth volume?"

"Bai Nuan."

"When the inspector was chasing down the suspect through the flower garden, which way did they take in the second fork in the road?"

"That's a trick question. They didn't take either path but instead went straight."

Hua Yan Ting's eye twitched at the scene before him. Hey hey, could someone explain to him why Duke Gui's eldest son was such a maniac when it came to Inspector of the Whistling Pines? He himself had read every volume of the series but could not even understand the questions, let alone recall the facts necessary to answer!

"To think that elder brother was only just saying that this would be a difficult challenge and now has handily answered all of the questions..." Yi Qiang Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Wei Tian Ao, aren't you embarrassed at having your friend answer all the questions for you?" Yan Chang Yuan asked, his eyebrows raised. But it was clear that he was actually excited to meet someone who was so knowledgeable about the books. If he'd really had a problem with it, he wouldn't have asked all 10 questions.

"Why should I be embarrassed? I'm proud to have such an intelligent friend." Wei Tian Ao smirked.

"Still, this won't do! I won't let you pass until you tell me an interesting piece of information about Inspector of the Whistling Pines."

"You're changing the rules?" Wei Tian Ao asked somewhat incredulously.

"This is my home ground. I can do as I wish. What can you do to me?"

"Hmm..." Wei Tian Ao thought for a moment, but then something occurred to him. He grinned and walked closer to Yan Chang Yuan to whisper in his ear: "Jade Laughing Dove is actually..."

"What!? How could you possibly know that?" Yan Chang Yuan's eyes widened in utter shock. "How can I trust such information?"

"I believe that if you investigate a little, you will find that this is the truth. Most people simply do not suspect and thus don't follow this line of reasoning to investigate in the first place." Wei Tian Ao was calm and didn't seem like a liar.

"Good, good! Go ahead and pass. If it turns out you've lied to me today, then see what I'll do with you!" Despite his fighting words, Yan Chang Yuan looked very happy as he waved the group over to pass through the garden.

"What on earth did you tell him?" Yi Cheng Rui asked his friend as they walked on through.

"Oh, Jade Laughing Dove's true identity." Wei Tian Ao's tone was calm and flat.

"Ah, I see..." Yi Cheng Rui nodded a few times...and then realized just what he'd been told and abruptly froze. "What!?"

"You... You know Jade Laughing Dove's true identity?" Hua Yan Ting gaped at him.

"Well..." Wei Tian Ao scratched his nose. "I happened to find out by chance and was told not to tell anyone, but I think that person would forgive me in these circumstances."

"But... How could you possibly find out?"

Wei Tian Ao was unwilling to say any more to his friends. Still, that person was related to him. The identity of Jade Laughing Dove probably was an open secret amongst the royal family. Knowing they couldn't get the information out of him at this time no matter how they coaxed, his friends gave up for the time being.

Once they passed through the garden, the next area in sight was the Lotus Courtyard where Duke Ning, his wife, and Madame Lin resided. This was where most guests to the estate were received, as the only courtyard closer to the gates was Yan Chang Yuan's Plum Courtyard and he didn't have too many guests. Most people coming to Duke Ning's estate were there to see the duke and thus would be received in one of the Lotus Courtyard's rooms.

As they approached the courtyard, the group could make out Yan Xiang Yi's imposing figure. So after facing Yan Qiu Yue's two cousins, next up was her eldest brother? So that would mean that the final challenge would be with Yan Qiu Heng. This was somewhat against custom, but it made sense that the last person would be the one closest to Yan Qiu Yue and who else would that be if not her twin brother who'd shared a womb with her?

Wei Tian Ao's friends took in a sharp breath as they tried to think of what challenge this eldest brother might have cooked up. However, once they stopped in front of him, Yan Xiang Yi still didn't say a word.

"Wei Tian Ao greets Duke Ning-shizi," Wei Tian Ao greeted solemnly.

Yan Xiang Yi nodded. "I am aware of the promise you have made to my father regarding my younger sister. You are still willing to uphold that promise, unreasonable as it may be?"

"I am willing."

"......"

"If you have something further to say, please speak."

"Well. I have been told that my younger sister holds another in her heart. Are you aware of this?"

Too direct!!! Yi Cheng Rui's eyes shifted back and forth between his friend and his friend's soon to be brother-in-law in abject horror.

"I...am aware."

"And what are you planning to do about it?"

"I am the one who will become her husband. If I cannot use that to my advantage to win her over, then I scarcely deserve her."

Yan Xiang Yi observed Wei Tian Ao in silence for a long time after the latter said these words. Though the words were well-spoken, his tone didn't seem totally confident. In the end, this was a young man who wasn't overly familiar with Yan Qiu Yue. He might have some good feelings towards her, but it wasn't from a place of knowing her well. Yan Qiu Yue was beautiful and came from a good family. That was enough for most people. Still, from what he'd observed, this Wei Tian Ao seemed to be an upright young man. And he'd promised...

"Well-said. You may pass. I have nothing else to say."

He might not fully believe in this Prince Rui-shizi, but Yan Xiang Yi believed in his younger sister--her resilience, ability to adapt, and strong heart. She would be just fine with this young man. And if she just couldn't bring herself to love him, then she still had her family behind her.

Still, the look of Wei Tian Ao's straight back as he walked past gave Yan Xiang Yi some comfort. He had always been averse to noble politicians' slick ways and Prince Rui was a slippery eel, indeed. But Wei Tian Ao didn't seem to be made of quite the same stock as his father. He was straightforward and honest...at least, he seemed so. This was pleasing to Yan Xiang Yi's eyes.

"That was no challenge at all!" Yi Qiang Li chirped happily. With that, there was only one hurdle left for Wei Tian Ao to surmount before he could fetch his bride at last.

"It wasn't a challenge, yet why do I still feel so much pressure from it?" Wei Tian Ao smiled wryly. Those words from Yan Xiang Yi hit harder than either of Yan Qiu Yue's cousins' quizzes.

"Come now, cheer up!" Yi Qiang Li clapped his hand onto Wei Tian Ao's back, patting him a few times in a comforting motion. "If you can get past Yan Qiu Heng, then you'll be able to make it all the way to Yan Qiu Yue's courtyard. Doesn't that get you excited?"

"...Well, yes." That much Wei Tian Ao couldn't deny. As they continued to walk, they were entering the part of the estate that he wasn't familiar with. The last time he'd been here, he'd gone no farther than Lotus Courtyard. He'd seen the pond in the distance, but now he was actually headed toward it.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't a straight shot from the Lotus Courtyard to the pond to Yan Qiu Yue's quarters, but they'd been directed to go to the pond last, so they had no choice but to progress that way. As they approached, they could see Yan Qiu Heng standing on the bridge, his arms and upper body draped over the side as he waited for them.

Once he saw the entourage approach, Yan Qiu Heng smiled easily and stood up a little straighter, pushing off from the side of the bridge. He dusted himself off a bit and bowed to the group. "You've finally made it. So, how has my Yan family been treating you?"