Carp Tower was heavily guarded. Of course, a large, living human wouldn’t be able to travel freely around. The good thing was that Wei WuXian had once learnt a certain technique of the dark arts—the paper metamorphosis.

"So even since you're still in Yunmeng, you already know dark arts?" asked Meng Yao.

"I only know it's a dark arts but I use spiritual energy when using it." said Wei Wuxian.

"Still." said Meng Yao.

Jiang Cheng send him a glare.

Although it was indeed useful, it had a number of restrictions as well. Not only was the time strictly limited, the paperman must also return as it were, after it had been released. There mustn’t even be a single scratch on it. If, on its way, it was torn apart or broken in any way, the soul would receive the same degree of harm—from a year of unconsciousness to a whole lifetime of lunacy. Thus, one must be extremely careful.

"What?" asked Sizhui.

"A-niang." he called worriedly.

"It's not like something bad will happen to me." said Wei Wuxian.

"Wei Ying won't do something like that again." said Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian pouted.

"But it was fun." he said bjt the two Lans just shook their heads.

Jiang Cheng laughed at him.

Wei WuXian possessed the paperman’s body. At times, he stuck to the hem of a cultivator’s robe. At other times, he flattened himself to pass through closed doors. At times, he unfolded his sleeves and looked down at the ground, pretending to be a piece of used paper, a butterfly that danced amid the night sky. Suddenly, still airborne, he heard faint sounds of crying come from below him. Looking over, he saw one of Jin GuangYao’s residences, Blooming Garden.

"That looks fun." said Nie Huaisang.

Nie Mingjue send him a glare.

"I'm only saying it was fun." said Nie Huaisang.

Wei WuXian flew below the roof and saw three figures sitting in the living room. With Lan XiChen in one hand and Jin GuangYao in the other, Nie HuaiSang cried in a drunken state, complaining about things unknown. Behind the living room was a study. Seeing that nobody was inside, Wei WuXian went in to look. Sketched designs annotated in red covered the entire desk. On the walls were the four sceneries of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In the first place, Wei WuXian didn’t intend to pay them any attention. After he glanced at them, however, he couldn’t help wanting to praise the artist’s skills. Both the colors and the brushstrokes were gentle, yet the landscapes appeared vast. Although only one scene resided on each paper, thousands of miles seemed to extend from it. Wei WuXian thought to himself that such skills were almost comparable to Lan XiChen’s, and couldn’t help taking a few more looks. Only afterward did he realize that the artist of the four sceneries indeed happened to be Lan XiChen.

"I made that?" asked Lan Xichen.

The juniors nodded their heads.

"My brother-in-law is such an artist." said Wei Wuxian.

Lan Xichen smiled at him.

"Of course my a-die is. He even painted him and a-niang wearing a wedding robes. He put it in a-niang's study." said Jingyi.

"But Jiang Cheng hate paintings." said Wei Wuxian.

"Well, that's the only painting I saw on Lotus Pier." said Jin Ling.

Nie Huaisang and Wei Wuxian started to tease Jiang Cheng.

"Are you jealous?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Why would I? I know that Lan Zhan can paint me too." said Wei Wuxian.

They just looked at one another then scoffed.

Flying out of Blooming Garden, from a distance, Wei WuXian could see a grandiose five-ridged palace. The roof of the palace was covered in glazed, gleaming tiles. Outside of the palace, there were thirty-two golden pillars. The scene was magnificent. This was probably one of the most guarded areas of Carp Tower, the bedchamber of each of the LanlingJin Sect’s leaders, the Fragrant Palace.

Aside from the cultivators dressed in robes of Sparks Amidst Snow, Wei WuXian could also feel that arrays had been packed into the space above and below the palace. Flying toward the base of a pillar, also carved with the peony, he rested for a moment. He only slipped into the door slit after a while of huffing.

Compared to the Blooming Garden, the Fragrant Palace was a classical building of Carp Tower. Sumptuously ornamented, the building was almost majestic. Inside the palace, layers and layers of gauze curtains cascaded onto the ground. The beast-shaped incense burner sat on top of its stand, exuding clouds of aromatic smoke. Amid the extravagance, there was a sweet yet languid sense of decadence.

"You really entered his bedchamber." said Jin Zixuan in disbelief.

"That's outrageous." said Meng Yao.

"Well, I'm investigating so of course I have to enter it." said Wei Wuxian.

Jin GuangYao was with Lan XiChen and Nie HuaiSang in the Blooming Garden, which meant that the Fragrant Palace was empty, conveniently allowing Wei WuXian to inspect the area. The paperman flew around the interior of the palace, searching for anywhere that roused suspicion. Suddenly, Wei WuXian saw an agate paperweight on the table. An envelope was under the paperweight.

The envelope had already been opened. Nobody’s name was written on it, not even any crests. Yet, seeing from its thickness, it obviously wasn’t an empty envelope. Flapping his sleeves, he landed on the table, wanting to take a look at whatever was inside the envelope. But even as he attempted at dragging out the envelope, his “hands” holding onto the edge, the envelope remained still.

"Really? Have you forgotten that you're a paperman?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"But that envelope took my curiosity." said Wei Wuxian with a pout.

His present body was a piece of paper, almost weightless. He could do nothing to move the heavy paperweight.

Paperman WuXian walked a few more times around the agate paperweight. He shoved and kicked, hopped and leaped, yet it still refused to budge. Unable to do anything, he could only give up as of the moment, then go to check if there were any other places of suspicion. Suddenly, a side door of the palace was pushed slightly open.

Alarmed, Wei WuXian swept off the table, motionless against a corner of the table.

"A-niang." Sizhui called worriedly.

"Wei Ying." called Lan Wangji as he held Wei Wuxian more tightly.

"Nothing happened yet." said Wei Wuxian.

The one who entered was Qin Su. Wei WuXian finally realized that it wasn’t that the palace had been empty, but that Qin Su was quiet within her room.

The fact that the mistress of Carp Tower appeared in the Fragrant Palace was nothing unusual. However, right now, she looked as abnormal as one could. Her face was paler than snow, drained of all blood. Her figure was also on the verge of collapsing. She looked as though she had just received a substantial shock, like she had just awakened from a swoon and could swoon again.

Wei WuXian thought to himself, What happened? Her countenance was clearly great when she was in the banquet hall, just a while ago.

"What happened to her?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Did she received a threat?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"More like it is more unacceptable and scary than a threat." said Jin Zixuan.

"What could it be?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Maybe it's related to the letter." said Lan Xichen.

Leaning against the door, Qin Su stood blankly for a moment before she found her way over, hand on the wall. Staring at the letter under the agate paperweight, she reached for it, as if she wanted to grab it, but still took her hand back. Under the firelight, Wei WuXian could see the obvious trembles of her lips. Those elegant features could almost be described as twisted.

Out of the blue, she let out a scream, and snatched the envelope, throwing it onto the ground. Her other hand spasmed as it dug into the front of her robe. Wei WuXian’s eyes lit up, but he stopped the urge of darting over. If Qin Su was the only one who saw him, he’d be able to deal with it, but not if Qin Su shouted and brought over other people. His soul would be affected if the piece of paper received the slightest damage.

"Yeah, it's really related to the letter." said Jiang Cheng.

"And it's not a threat." said Nie Huaisang.

Qin Su was looking intently at her future self.

All of a sudden, a voice echoed through the palace, “A-Su, what are you doing?”

Qin Su’s head spun around. A familiar figure stood just a few feet behind her. No different from usual, the familiar face smiled at her as well.

She immediately dove to the ground, grabbing the letter. Wei WuXian could only cling tightly to the corner and watch the letter move once again out of his sight. It seemed as if Jin GuangYao stepped forward, “What’s in your hand?”

"He is looking creepy for me." said MianMian.

"What will happen now?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Are we going to fight?" asked Qin Su.

"It's more than that." said Jin Ling.

His tone was as kind as ever, as though he really didn’t notice anything, neither the strange letter in Qin Su’s hand nor the distorted expression on Qin Su’s face. It sounded like he was merely asking about a trivial matter. Still gripping the letter, Qin Su did not reply. Jin GuangYao asked again, “You don’t look too well. What’s wrong?”

"Yeah, what's wrong?" asked Meng Yao.

"Maybe she wqs just sick." said Su She.

"A person who is sick doesn't act like that." said Wen Qing.

His voice was brimming with care. Qin Su held up the letter and spoke through her trembles, “… I met with somebody.”

Jin GuangYao, “Who?”

Qin Su seemed as though she didn’t hear him, “This person told me a few things, and gave me this letter.”

"Don't tell me that just because of that letter, we are going to broke our relationship." said Meng Yao.

"It's not just a letter." said Jin Ling.

"Then what?" asked Meng Yao.

"You'll know." said Jin Ling.

Jin GuangYao couldn’t help but laugh, “Who did you meet with? Are you really going to believe whatever things people tell you?”

Qin Su, “It couldn’t have been a lie. Definitely not.”

"Yeah, if you believe that person then that means you don't trust me that much." said Meng Yao.

"Really? If you also trust Aunty Qin, then you should've told her everything." said Jin Ling.

Wei WuXian also thought, Who was it? He couldn’t even tell whether the person was a man or a woman.

Qin Su, “Are the things written on here true?”

Jin GuangYao, “A-Su, if you don’t let me see the letter, how can I know what’s written on it?”

Qin Su showed him the letter, “Fine. Go read it!”

"Just what is it?" asked Qin Su.

"If it's not that trivial then I wouldn't act like that." she added.

"We're also curious." said Nie Huaisang.

In order to see the letter with clarity, Jin GuangYao walked another step forward. With the letter in Qin Su’s hand, he scanned it rapidly. His expression didn’t change at all. Not even the single trace of a shadow had fallen over his face. Qin Su, however, was almost screaming, “Speak to me, speak! Tell me that none of this is true! That all of these are lies!”

Jin GuangYao replied with certainty, “None of this is true. All of these are lies. This is complete nonsense, words of false charges.”

"It seemed like he is lying." said Jin Zixuan.

"Why don't you show us?" asked Wei Wuxian.

Qin Su bursted out crying, “You’re lying! Things are already like this and you’re still lying to me—well I don’t believe it!”

Jin GuangYao sighed, “A-Su, you were the one who told me to say so. Now that I’ve said so, you refuse to believe me. This is indeed quite troubling.”

"She's already in that state yet his husband is still acting like that." said MianMian.

"If I were her, I would also not believe him." said a female cultivator.

Qin Su threw the letter onto the ground and covered her face, “Oh Heavens! Oh Heavens, oh Heavens! You, you really… You truly are scary! How could you… How could you?!”

"I told you, a person like him could be scary and hides a lot." said Wen Rouhan.

"Just what is going on with them?" asked MianMian.

She couldn’t continue to speak, backing off to the side with her hands still covering her face. Holding onto a pillar, she suddenly started to vomit.

She heaved as though she was going to let all of her intestines out. Seeing such an intense reaction, Wei WuXian was shocked speechless, She was probably also throwing up when she was inside. Just what in the world is written in the letter? Jin GuangYao killed someone and dismembered them? But everyone knew that Jin GuangYao killed countless people during the Sunshot Campaign. There were quite a few lives in her father’s hands, as well. Maybe it was the thing with Mo XuanYu? No, it was impossible that Jin GuangYao had anything for Mo XuanYu. It was likely that Mo XuanYu being kicked out of Carp Tower was precisely his doing. Anyways, no matter what, her reaction wouldn’t be so extreme that she was disgusted to the point of throwing up. Although he wasn’t familiar with Qin Su, they had met a few times in the past, both being the descendents of prominent clans. Qin Su was the beloved daughter of Qin CangYe. Her personality was naive, but she had lived a comfortable life and was taught excellent manners. She’d never act in such a mad, violent way. It really didn’t make sense at all.

"And that made me wonder why my daughter acting like that. Did Jin Guangyao cheated on her?" asked Qin Cangye.

"I wouldn't." said Meng Yao.

"Then what?" asked Qin Su.

"Just watch." said the juniors.

Listening to the noise that she made, Jin GuangYao bent down in silence and picked up the pieces of paper that had scattered onto the ground. With a raise of his hand, he dipped them over the nine-lotus branched candle stand, and allowed them to slowly burn.

Watching the ashes fall to the ground bit by bit, he spoke in a somewhat dejected tone, “A-Su, we’ve been husband and wife for so many years. We’ve always respected each other in peaceful harmony. As a husband, I’d like to think that I treat you well. The fact that you’re acting like this really hurts my feelings.”

"A can hear the fakeness in his voice." said Jiang Cheng.

"Do people act like that when their wife is there suffering from something unknown to us?" asked a female cultivator.

"He can just simply confort her." said Jin Zixuan.

"There's no need for him to say something like that." said Nie Huaisang.

Qin Su had nothing left to vomit. She whimpered on the ground, “You treat me well… You do treat me well… But I… I’d rather that I never met you! No wonder you never… ever since… ever since then… You did such a thing— why don’t you just kill me?!”

"What?" asked Qin Su.

"Never what?" asked Meng Yao.

"It's giving me headache." said Jiang Cheng.

"Can't she just tell us what is really happening?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Be patient." said Zizhen.

Jin GuangYao, “A-Su, before you knew of it, didn’t we live perfectly fine? You only felt uncomfortable and began to vomit today, now that you know. We can see that this isn’t anything at all. It won’t be able to do any physical harm to you. Your mind is the only thing doing all this.”

Qin Su shook her head, her face ashen, “… Tell me the truth. A-Song… How did A-Song die?”

Who was A-Song?

"Who is that?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"My cousin." answered Jin Ling.

"Did Jin Guangyao killed his own son?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Who would do that?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"A lot of people can." said Nie Huaisang.

Jin GuangYao was startled, “A-Song? Why are you asking me this? Haven’t you known of this since a long time ago? A-Song was killed. I’ve already destroyed the one who killed him in revenge. Why are you mentioning him, all of a sudden?”

Qin Su, “I did know. But now, I’m starting to think that everything I knew was a lie.”

"Me too." said Nie Huaisang.

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng took a deep breath.

"I'm going to destroy this screen if they won't go straight to the point." said Jiang Cheng.

"My patience is running out." he added.

"You don't have one in the first place." said Jin Zixuan making Jiang Cheng glared at him.

Jin GuangYao’s face began to show fatigue, “A-Su, what are you thinking of? A-Song is my son. What do you think I’d do? You’d rather believe someone who’s been hiding this whole time, a letter from an unknown person, than believe in me?”

Qin Su pulled at her hair, shrieking, “You’re scary precisely because he is your son! What do I think you’d do? You could even do something like this, so what couldn’t you have done?! And now you still want me to believe in you? Oh Heavens!”

"Sometimes, those people could be the one who is telling the truth than the person you have trust for a long time." said a random cultivator.

"I bet he really killed his own son." said Jiang Cheng.

"Poor little boy." said Nie Huaisang.

Jin GuangYao, “Stop thinking nonsense. Tell me—who did you meet today? Who gave you the letter?”

Qin Su held onto her hair, “What… What are you going to do?”

"Don't tell him. I can say that nothing good will happen to that person if he knew who it is." said Nie Huaisang.

"She must be braven up in order to not get manipulated again." said Jiang Yanli.

Jin GuangYao, “If the person could tell you, then they can also tell other people. If they could write one letter, then they can also write a second, a third, a countless number of letters. What do you intend on doing? Allow such a thing to be leaked? A-Su, I’m begging you. Please, no matter for which feelings that have existed between us, tell me where the people mentioned in the letter are. Who was the one that told you to come back and read the letter?”

Who was it? Wei WuXian also wanted to hear Qin Su say just who on Earth it was. Someone who could approach the Chief Cultivator’s wife and earn her trust, someone who uncovered a hidden story of Jin GuangYao’s. The letter couldn’t have been something as simple as murder. It could make Qin Su so disgusted or scared that she vomited, and it remained so unspeakable even when the two of them were the only ones present. During the questioning, they still talked vaguely, not daring to be explicit. But, if Qin Su really decided to be honest and tell him whom had given her the letter, then she’d be truly foolish. If she said it, aside from dealing with whomever it was, Jin GuangYao would also silence Qin Su, either by fair means or foul.

"Stay away from my daughter." said Qin Cangye.

"You will not touch even a strand of her hair." he added.

"Even if she is going to lie or tell the truth, she will still be silenced. People who wants to be in power doesn't show mercy to anyone." said Jiang Cheng.

Fortunately, although Qin Su had always seemed innocently ignorant since a young age, even to the point of being somewhat dense, she didn’t trust Jin GuangYao anymore. She stared blankly at Jin GuangYao, who sat still before the table. He was the Chief Cultivator above tens of thousands. He was her husband. As of right now, under the candlelight, he looked as calm and as picturesque as ever. He stood up, as though he wanted to help her up, but Qin Su slapped his hand away. Bent over on the ground, she couldn’t help another retching fit.

"How can he be so calm even in that situation?" asked MianMian.

"He's so good at it." said Jiang Cheng.

"I can say he manipulated a lot of people." he added.

The tip of Jin GuangYao’s brows twitched, “Do I really disgust you so much?”

Qin Su, “You’re not a person… You’re a madman!”

"Maybe being disgusting runs in the blood of the Jins." said Wei Wuxian.

"They do a lot of unacceptable things." he added.

"Excuse me." said Jin Zixuan and Jin Ling.

"Maybe except the two of you." said Wei Wuxian.

A mourning warmth filled the eyes that Jin GuangYao looked at her with, “A-Su, back then, I really didn’t have another path to walk. I wanted to keep you in the dark for your whole life. I didn’t want you to know about this. Now, though, it’s been entirely ruined by the one who told you. You think that I’m dirty. You think that I’m disgusting. All of these are fine, but you’re my wife. How would others see you? How would they talk of you?”

"That's entirely his mistake. He should've have tell her everything then maybe nothing like this will happen." said MianMian.

"Men should be really true to their partners." she added.

Qin Su buried her head into her arms, “Stop talking, stop talking, stop reminding me!!! I wish I never knew you, I wish that I’m not related to you at all! Why did you approach me in the first place?!”

"Can anybody tell what is really going on?" asked Qin Su.

"We don't know either." said Nie Huaisang.

"A perfect couple in the eyes of other aren't perfect behind closed doors." said Jiang Cheng.

"There's no such thing like perfect couple exists." he added.

"There is, you and a-die, and Wei-daijiu and shushu." said Jingyi.

Jiang Cheng just raised a brow at him.

After a moment of silence, Jin GuangYao answered, “I know that you won’t believe me, no matter what I say, but it was sincere, back then.”

Qin Su sobbed, “… You’re still speaking such blandishments!”

Jin GuangYao, “I’m speaking the truth. I’ve always remembered that you have never said anything about my background or my mother. I’m grateful for you until the end of my life, and I want to respect you, cherish you, love you. But, you have to know that even if A-Song hadn’t been killed, he had to die. He could only die. If we let him grow up, you and I…”

"Why? A kid is innocent." said Qin Su.

"Yeah, he is." said Jin Ling.

"Just because of people's selfishness." he added.

"So he really killed him?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"Take a guess." said Zizhen.

With the mention of her son, Qin Su couldn’t bear it any longer. With a raise of her hand, she slapped him on the face, “Then who’s the one that did all this?! Just what can’t you do for this position?!”

Without any avoidance, Jin GuangYao accepted the slap. A crimson handprint immediately appeared over his fair cheek.

"Of course, a power hungry people will do everything to remain above all." said Nie Huaisang.

"Stay away from him in the future." said Jiang Cheng while looking at Lan Xichen.

"I will." said Lan Xichen with a smile.

"You better be." said Jingyi.

Jin GuangYao, “What are you talking about? You must be feeling quite unwell. Your father has already gone to journey and cultivate. I’ll send you off sometime soon as well, and you can enjoy being in your father’s company. Let’s finish this quickly. There’s still quite a number of guests outside. There’s still the Discussion Conference tomorrow.”

Things were already like this, and he was still thinking of the guests outside and the Discussion Conference tomorrow!

"Ignorant people will always think about those what is more important to them rather than taking care of someone." said Nie Huaisang.

"Poor woman. She end up with more disgusting man." said Jiang Cheng.

"Like father like son. Both of them are disgusting." said Nie Huaisang.