"You can't blame me for that; who told you to be bold enough to bathe in the clear daylight pool, completely naked, and not answer when called? Fortunately, I saw you. If another man had seen you, the loss would have been catastrophic. If a peeping Tom had developed some 'wicked intentions'—dǎi māo'er xīcháng—I wouldn't have been able to call for help!" I argued defiantly, sticking out my neck. (Wicked intentions: bad heart/malicious intent)

Tan Ping'er laughed radiantly. "That’s pure robber logic. Just because you saw me, the loss is somehow less catastrophic? Didn't you develop some sort of 'wicked intention' yourself?"

"This... this..." I was rendered speechless, but my courage suddenly swelled. "It's different for me... because I like you, I would never hurt you. Others are different. Among a hundred people, there are all sorts of types. Who can guarantee that someone else, seeing a flower like you, could maintain gentlemanly composure and refrain from plucking you?"

"Enough, enough, stop the sweet talk and let's get down to business. I haven't bathed for two days; my body feels sticky and greasy. I followed your instructions and wandered around the graves for ages, found nothing, and only managed to feel unbelievably uncomfortable all over. When I got here and saw how clear and bright the water in this pool was, and how secluded the surroundings are, I couldn't resist taking a bath. But I accidentally let you, you scoundrel, see everything. Judging by your words, you secretly watching me is somehow my fault?"

"Hehe, fifty-fifty. It’s partly your fault, and partly mine. Regardless of who is right or wrong, the fact is, today, we common folk are truly, truly happy. Hey, so happy..." As I spoke, I started gesturing wildly and singing.

"Look at you, acting like you just struck a gold ingot," Tan Ping’er chided, glancing at me with mock indignation.

"Wrong. Even if hundreds or thousands of gold ingots were laid before me, I wouldn't even spare them a look. In my eyes, gold ingots aren't worth as much as the sweat residue stuck in the corner of your smallest toe..."

Tan Ping’er burst into a fit of laughter, shaking so hard her body swayed. She pointed at me, laughing, and said, "You... you... I completely misjudged you. Your mouth... Oh, my stomach hurts from laughing so much... Look, aren't my skin covered in goosebumps?"

"Let me see!" I reached out to touch her skin, but Tan Ping’er suddenly leaped away. "What? Developing 'wicked intentions' again? Trying to take advantage of the situation?"

"They say this spring is called the 'Consort’s Spring,' maybe it was where the Tusi lords' consorts used to bathe. Since you’re already in the water, why don't you just become my consort!" I teased with a rogue’s grin.

"Dream on! A toad dreaming of eating swan meat? Besides, my status is just a consort? And you're certainly no Tusi lord!"

"With you as my consort, why would I want to be a Tusi lord anyway? ...Today, we common folk are truly, truly happy..."

"Please, stop singing? Give you an inch and you take a mile... Who knows how much happier you'll be in the future!" Tan Ping'er’s words stunned me into silence. I couldn't help but rush forward, embrace her tightly, and plant a fierce kiss on her. With a sharp cry, Tan Ping’er wrenched herself free and darted several steps away.

Between a man and woman who share affection, there is naturally only the distance of a single sheet of paper. Once that paper is pierced, those involved feel the sky is bluer, the wind softer, the clouds whiter, the trees greener—even the cow dung on the ground seems to possess character. Tan Ping’er smiling enchantingly before me undeniably evoked this heartfelt sensation within me.

Good times are always fleeting. Tan Ping’er brought up the pressing matter again. "What clues did you find?"

"Oh, it’s like this..." I meticulously explained to Tan Ping’er the contradiction between Elder Chen’s mention of the 'Three Streets, Eighteen Alleys, Thirty-Six Courts' and the 'Forty-eight streets holding simultaneous funerals,' along with my interpretation of the two 'Mǎo Wèi' blood characters recorded by Ji Ye. I concluded, "If the former Tusi Imperial City truly had forty-eight streets, it must extend beyond the area we currently see; there are likely other remnants of the city elsewhere. Furthermore, if the two blood characters written by Ji Ye confirm that the number 'Forty-eight' holds some special significance, it suggests he knew at least part of the inside story. What we need to do now is quickly find them and get a clear explanation."

Hearing my analysis, Tan Ping’er nodded. "Your reasoning is sound. I now also feel that the repeated appearance of the number 'Forty-eight' within the Imperial City ruins must have another meaning. Let’s go; we should find them right away!"

With the path newly illuminated, Tan Ping’er and I walked with much lighter steps. Before long, we arrived at Old Brother Xiang’s house.

The first person to catch my eye was Man Niao Niao, lying splayed out on a pig-slaughtering bench, completely bare-chested, snoring loudly. Startled, I kicked him awake. "What’s the matter? Did you lose your trousers during the gambling?" Man Niao Niao rubbed his reddened eyes, let out a long yawn, and sighed, "Damn it, my luck is utterly awful. The trousers are still on, but all four money pouches feel equally heavy..." I was both annoyed and amused. "Has Ji Ye been here?"

"Don't know. Go ask Old Man Chen!" Man Niao Niao yawned again and slumped back onto the bench to sleep.

I gave his backside a swift kick and found Elder Chen, who was also dozing, amidst the crowd. After nearly a day and a night of noisy commotion, apart from the Daoist Master who was still forcing himself to beat the gongs and drums intermittently, everyone else in the mourning tent was slumped over, nodding off. There were barely a few people still wearing the white headbands. This wasn't due to disrespect for the deceased; it was because they had to pull an all-nighter that very evening, and besides the set rituals, there were ceremonies to meet the spirit, open the coffin, send off the body, and accompany the deceased up the mountain... The tasks were so numerous they’d barely have a moment to blink. If they didn't take a moment to rest now, when the work intensified later, they might literally start swaying on their feet.

Seeing the exhaustion etched on Elder Chen’s aged face, I hesitated to wake him, but the question was lodged in my throat. Finally, I couldn't resist shaking him awake, smiling apologetically. "I apologize, Elder, but I have a question that urgently needs answering!"

Elder Chen didn't show any impatience. He rubbed his sleepy eyes. "You're here. Did you rest well? Ask whatever you need to."

"Was the Tusi Imperial City truly composed of Three Streets and Eighteen Alleys?"

"Yes, it was. Why are you asking about that again?"

"You mentioned that forty-eight streets had simultaneous funerals when Tan City was buried?"

"That’s right."

"Then why is it sometimes three streets and sometimes forty-eight streets? There’s a contradiction! If there were originally forty-eight streets, having three streets hold funerals simultaneously makes sense. But now it’s reversed, and that’s the problem."

"Heh heh, many people have been puzzled and questioned this, but the old ways have been passed down generation by generation, and no one can clearly explain it. Of course, I don’t know either. When I guide visitors, I just recite what I’ve been taught. Most people don't ask this question. I didn't expect your mind to be so sharp. It must be because of the Blood Soul Stele, right?"

"So, you also don't know if there are other areas of the Imperial City?"

"Other areas of the Imperial City? How could there be? Didn't you see the city walls? Everyone who lives around here knows the Imperial City is just that limited area. Besides that slope, which is the ruin, where else could there be another section?"

Hearing Elder Chen’s definitive answer, the situation became even more bewildering to me. From his words, it was clear that the 'Forty-eight streets holding simultaneous funerals' was certainly true. Even if the coincidence of the Tangya Tusi system lasting four hundred and eighty years was just chance, there were still forty-eight wells with hoops, forty-eight sets of steps, and other features hinting at the number 'Forty-eight.' Could all of these be coincidences, or was it just a meaningless number? Then, how was the meaning of the characters 'Mǎo Wèi' to be explained?

"Has my Ji Ye been here?" I asked Elder Chen after a moment of deep thought.

"No. By rights, since Old Man Xiang is his master, he should have come to keep vigil and show filial piety, even if the way he became an apprentice is incomprehensible to ordinary people."

This was strange. Where on earth had that old fellow gone?

Seeing my hesitation, Elder Chen asked, "Why, is something odd happening?"

"Oh! You said the characters 'Mǎo Wèi' refer to the date and time of Xiang Ti Ma’s death. Didn't you realize that these two characters correspond to the numbers 'Four' and 'Eight' in the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches? Could that also be a coincidence?"

Elder Chen considered this and nodded slowly. "Hmm? That is indeed a bit strange. But what can the numbers 'Four' and 'Eight' really signify? Could it be the key to finding the true tomb of Tan City?"

"That's what I think, which is why I hurried here to find you and Ji Ye."

"This matter, I'm afraid, truly requires Ji Ye’s explanation. That fellow, I haven't seen him since yesterday afternoon. I don't know where he’s run off to. Logically, burying a 'Huā Shēng Zi' should have been completed long ago."

"Tell me about it," I muttered glumly.

"I suppose all we can do is 'wait.' Don't rush yourselves. Wait until Old Man Xiang goes up the mountain tomorrow morning, and then I’ll accompany you to look for him. You’re not familiar with this area; searching by just 'guessing at the heavens and estimating the sun' (xìn tiān gū rì)—you might get yourselves lost. Besides, perhaps your Ji Ye will show up here tonight; he wouldn't just abandon you, would he?" Elder Chen comforted me. (Guessing at the heavens and estimating the sun: having no clue/vague direction)

I nodded gratefully to Elder Chen, sighing inwardly that at this point, all they could do was wait.