After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

With the new emperor newly enthroned, the court is rife with undercurrents, and various factions urgently need to be balanced.

Although Xie Jinchen had the desire to retire to the countryside with Jiang Dusheng, as the Duke of Zhenguo, he was deeply trusted by the new emperor and could not extricate himself during this sensitive period. He had no choice but to postpone his retirement for three years.

In contrast, Jiang Dusheng, who served as the imperial advisor, was much more relaxed.

She had little interest in court intrigues, and the position of Grand Preceptor was more of a sign of respect from the new emperor.

She was even very down-to-earth, often setting up a simple fortune-telling stall on a street corner outside the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and only telling one fortune a day.

Regardless of wealth or status, those destined to obtain it have become an interesting anecdote in Changling City.

Many people even travel from afar just to ask for a divination.

As the year draws to a close, Changling City has been blanketed with the first heavy snowfall of the winter.

Snowflakes, as white as goose feathers, fluttered down from the sky, quickly covering the green-tiled streets and alleys with a clean, silvery-white layer.

All was silent except for the soft rustling of falling snow.

In the afternoon, the snowfall subsided slightly, and a faint, hazy light appeared in the sky.

Jiang Dusheng, unusually in a playful mood, led Wang Dazhuang and Ruan Guyan to build a snowman in the spacious courtyard of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

The snow was very thick, up to ankle-deep, and crunched underfoot.

Wang Dazhuang showed great enthusiasm for playing in the snow, rolling snowballs with great enjoyment.

Ruan Guyan stood quietly under the eaves, watching with a hint of a smile in her eyes.

Jiang Dusheng was bending down, carefully placing two round black pebbles on the snowman's face as eyes.

Just then, Wang Dazhuang, who was covered in snow from rolling around, suddenly leaned closer to her, lowered his voice, and made as if he were about to share a shocking secret:

"Master, I've noticed that Young Master Xie has been acting strangely these past few days!"

He widened his eyes to show the seriousness of the situation. "He used to be so reliable, always returning to dine with you at the appointed time, rain or shine. But these past two days, good heavens, I've almost finished resting before I even heard him return!"

"Could it be... that he's following in the footsteps of those spoiled brats and keeping a mistress outside?" He said this with great seriousness, and nervously looked around as if afraid that Xie Jinchen would hear him.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Dusheng paused slightly.

She had actually noticed Xie Jinchen's unusual behavior these past two days, but she hadn't thought about it in that way.

In the past, no matter how busy he was, Xie Jinchen would try his best to return to the mansion to have dinner with her. Even if he couldn't make it in time, he would send someone back to let her know.

But these past two days, he has been coming home later and later, sometimes even past midnight.

When asked what he was busy with, he always gave vague answers, only saying that he had a lot of official business to attend to.

After Wang Dazhuang mentioned it…

Jiang Dusheng blinked, tossed aside the pebble in his hand, stood up, and calmly brushed the snowflakes clinging to his fox fur sleeves and fingertips, speaking in a composed tone:

"Hmm, what you say makes sense. Since we have nothing else to do today... let's go see if Duke Xie really is keeping a mistress out there?"

Ruan Guyan had only been watching the spectacle, but upon hearing this, her eyes lit up, and she silently took a step forward.

Catching the mistress... that sounds more interesting than building a snowman.

Half an hour later, on Zhuque Street, the most bustling street in Changling City.

The snow resumed, falling thick and fast.

The signs of taverns and teahouses along the street swayed in the wind and snow, and pedestrians hurried along, their necks hunched over.

A three-story restaurant called Wenxiang Pavilion stands facing the street, its lights shining brightly and invitingly against the backdrop of snow.

Private room on the third floor.

Jiang Dusheng sat by the window, on a wide chair covered with thick, soft brocade cushions.

This location is excellent; just open the window and you can see the entire intersection below.

This place is the core area of ​​Changling City. It is the only way to get there, whether you are coming from the direction of the Imperial Palace, the Dali Temple, or back to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

Jiang Dusheng ordered a table full of signature dishes, steaming hot and fragrant.

She pointed to the table full of delicacies and said to the expectant Wang Dazhuang and Ruan Guyan, "You two eat. I'm going to take a nap and see how my luck is today, whether I can catch anything."

Wang Dazhuang stared wide-eyed at the table laden with chicken, duck, fish, and meat: "Master, catching a mistress like this is so enjoyable! I love it!"

After saying that, he immediately picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of braised pork, and took a big slurp.

Although they couldn't actually swallow it, their blissful expressions suggested they were truly tasting the finest flavors in the world. "Delicious! So good!"

Ruan Guyan also sat down silently, sipping the pastries in front of her, while keeping an eye on the commotion downstairs.

Jiang Dusheng leaned against the soft cushion by the window, closed his eyes to rest, and his breathing gradually became even, and he actually took a nap.

Time passed slowly, and the snow outside the window gradually fell heavier. Pedestrians hurried along the streets, and vehicles came and went.

Before we knew it, the city lights came on and night fell. The snow reflected the lights, creating a unique scene.

"Master, Master!" Wang Dazhuang gently nudged Jiang Dusheng, his voice tinged with a mixture of excitement and boredom. "Wake up! Prince Xie's carriage just headed towards the Duke's mansion. It seems he was alone, and the driver was An Yi. Should we... still arrest him?"

There was a hint of disappointment in his tone.

Jiang Dusheng slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and unwavering, showing no signs of sleepiness.

She glanced out the window in the direction where Xie Jinchen's carriage had disappeared. Only two shallow tire tracks remained on the snow, which were quickly covered by fresh snow.

He glanced at the dishes on the table, most of which had already been eaten, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Jiang Dusheng stood up and straightened his sleeves: "Hmm, bad luck today, didn't catch anything."

She paused, then, as casually as if commenting on the weather, said, "It seems that Duke Xie is quite cautious in his actions."

His tone didn't betray disappointment; instead, it conveyed a sense of knowing certainty.

Then, changing the subject, Jiang Dusheng looked at Wang Dazhuang and Ruan Guyan: "You two, you've been cooped up in the restaurant all afternoon, aren't you bored?"

Her gaze swept across the lights gradually coming on outside the window and the still-fluttering snowflakes:

"The snow scenery is beautiful today. I heard there's a winter lantern festival in the West Market. Although it's not as grand as the Lantern Festival, it's still quite unique. Would you like to go and have a look?"

Wang Dazhuang immediately perked up, nodding his head rapidly: "Think, think! Dazhuang, I haven't been to a night market in ages!"

Ruan Guyan nodded slightly, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Jiang Dusheng's smile deepened, like that of a cunning cat. "Alright, let's take our time strolling around. Until..."

She paused, then said in a light tone, "We strolled around until later than when Xie Jinchen returned to the manor last night."

After saying that, she took the lead and walked out of the private room with light steps, as if she really just wanted to enjoy the snow and lanterns on a whim.

Wang Dazhuang and Ruan Guyan quickly followed.

As Wang Dazhuang descended the stairs, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Master, did we fail to catch the mistress and instead punish Young Master Xie and the others at the gate?"

Jiang Dusheng walked ahead, and upon hearing this, he simply chuckled softly without turning around to reply.

She never took the rumors about having a mistress seriously.

Given Xie Jinchen's personality, there's absolutely no way he would do that.

Moreover, she and he share a soul contract, so she can naturally sense if he has any disloyal intentions.

She was just curious about what he was busy with, and also wanted to let him experience what it's like to wait for someone.

Thus, on a snowy night in Changling City, besides the pedestrians hurrying home, three figures strolled leisurely through the streets and alleys of the West Market, where various lanterns were gradually being hung.