Chapter Seventy: The Hidden Dragon Awaits

I couldn't decipher the smile on Zhao Yuanqiao's face. Even when Yue Leiting and Huo Qian went downstairs to see them off, I stayed behind, sitting numbly in my chair.

Yue Leiting returned from downstairs, bursting into the room, anxious.

“What’s gotten into you today? Why did you mention the Ming Thirteen Tombs out of the blue? Even if you did, you shouldn’t have given away such a great treasure for nothing—just a few words and you handed it all over.”

I took a deep breath, still unsettled. “Brother Ting, haven’t you wondered why, after inviting them so many times and they never showed up, suddenly today they all agreed to come, together?”

Yue Leiting paused, thinking, then shrugged it off. “I hadn’t thought about it, but maybe they just came around. Who doesn’t like money? Didn’t you see their faces when they saw the golden zodiac statues?”

“Brother Ting, disaster is looming and you don’t even realize it.” I pointed at the golden zodiac left behind on the table by Zhao Yuanqiao. “Even if they wanted something from you, these high-ranking officials wouldn’t be foolish enough to negotiate together. The fewer people who know about such shady things, the better. Have you ever seen officials and criminals colluding openly?”

“Yan Hui, are you saying something is wrong?” Huo Qian sat beside me, surprised. “But they seemed quite pleased with tonight’s banquet. Nothing seemed amiss.”

“You mean Zhao Yuanqiao, Luo Deyi, and Fan Liang?” I shook my head, steady. “Can’t you see? Tonight, they were mere supporting roles.”

“Supporting roles?!” Yue Leiting and Huo Qian exchanged bewildered glances. “You’ve calculated their fortunes—each is a high official. If they’re only supporting roles, then… who’s the main character?”

“Zhao Yuanqiao’s fate lacks official seals; in his destiny, the seal represents official rank. He was never meant to be an official, yet he’s become a mayor. Don’t you find that odd?”

“You once said Mayor Zhao had a face like a full moon, refined and radiant—a ‘rosy dawn face.’ Men with this appearance are destined for powerful benefactors. Everything he has is bestowed by such a benefactor, ensuring his career and fortune,” Huo Qian recalled.

“I only spoke of the first part. The rest, I didn’t mention,” I said, troubled.

“What… what else is there?” Yue Leiting asked, curious.

“Though Zhao Yuanqiao has a ‘rosy dawn face,’ his fate is like a vine entwining a tree; the vine’s height depends on the tree’s. His entire life will change according to this tree. His benefactor is the tree. Since he’s a high official now, his benefactor must be someone from the bureaucracy.” I leaned back in my chair, speaking calmly.

“That’s normal. Nowadays, everyone relies on others—climbing up the ladder needs connections. Why make a fuss?” Yue Leiting frowned.

“But the ‘rosy dawn face’ has a peculiarity: when the benefactor is present, both cheeks glow red. Since Zhao Yuanqiao walked in, I noticed red clouds covering his cheeks. Among those who entered, one must be his benefactor.”

“Among those who entered?” Yue Leiting shook his head. “Are you sure you didn’t mistake it? Fan Liang is just a district chief, Luo Deyi a department head. Their ranks are below Zhao Yuanqiao—they couldn’t possibly support him.”

“But it wasn’t only Fan Liang and Luo Deyi who entered!” I looked up, resolute.

“There’s also Secretary Wei!” Huo Qian shook his head, surprised. “Are you suggesting Secretary Wei is Mayor Zhao’s benefactor? That’s impossible.”

“‘Secretary’ is just what they call him. We don’t know what he truly is. But I noticed that although Wei Yong entered last, none of the other three sat until he did. Even though he sat in the corner, every time they poured wine, the first glass always went to Wei Yong. In official circles, rank is paramount—who would pour wine for a secretary first?”

Huo Qian pondered, then slowly raised his head, gazing at Yue Leiting with new understanding. “Now you mention it, that’s exactly how it was. Could it be… Secretary Wei outranks all three?”

“I don’t think it’s just about rank. To elevate someone like Zhao Yuanqiao, whose fate doesn’t carry official authority, to a mayor, Wei Yong’s influence must be far from ordinary. When I read his face, he knew I’d deduced the others’ fortunes and kept deflecting, not wanting me to uncover his secrets.” I glanced at the spot where Wei Yong had been sitting.

“With your expertise in physiognomy, what did you see in Wei Yong’s face?” Yue Leiting asked, tense.

“In terms of spirit: what’s hidden isn’t revealed, what’s obscure lacks vitality. Wei Yong’s gaze is clear and steady, his brows elegant and long, his complexion pure, his movements expansive, myriad expressions pass before him yet his heart remains constant. Such surplus spirit marks him as one of the highest nobility.” I raised my head, answering calmly.

“I know of this—it’s the ultimate realm in the Five Elements theory. In reading faces, spirit and energy matter most. I never thought Wei Yong possessed such surplus spirit!” Huo Qian nodded, anxiously.

“There’s more. Regarding energy: energy lies in substance, substance is shaped by energy. Perfect spirit breeds broad energy; calm spirit breeds quiet energy. Though Wei Yong sat in the corner, I kept watch—he was calm and composed, possessing tolerance and measure, a person of great fortune.” I poured myself a cup of tea and continued. “Finally, in terms of bone structure: Wei Yong’s left brow is the sun corner, right brow is the moon corner, with upright bones—‘city walls bone’—signifying a rank among the Three Dukes, wielding power and authority!”

Yue Leiting heard me out and slumped in his chair. Looking down, he saw the ‘field’ character Wei Yong had written in wine on the table.

“Wei Yong wrote this character. I didn’t think much of it at the time, just made a casual remark, and he actually drank. Did I guess right?”

“You read his ‘field’ character as steady, managing one's own small domain, but you were completely wrong!” I shook my head, certain.

“Then… what does the ‘field’ character signify?” Yue Leiting asked, curious.

“When Wei Yong wrote that character, I was shocked. Brother Ting’s casual comment shifted the focus—otherwise, I wouldn’t have known if I should speak the truth.”

Yue Leiting and Huo Qian looked at me, startled.

“What’s so special about this ‘field’ character?”

There are three ways to interpret the ‘field’ character, though all revolve around the same theme. First, by its form: it resembles an official seal—square and steady—indicating Wei Yong’s position is exceptionally secure. The character for ‘official’ has two mouths; ‘field’ has four. It suggests Wei Yong is skilled at manipulating truth and lies, all within his command.

“That… that actually makes sense,” Yue Leiting nodded, excited. “What about the other two interpretations?”

“The ‘field’ is pictographic—it resembles a military formation. If he holds military power, he would be unrivaled. Judging by the situation, Wei Yong already has command over the military…” I sighed, troubled.

“Military power? That’s unlikely. Even if Wei Yong is a high official, military power isn’t so easily obtained. Besides, he’s a government official—how could he wield military authority?” Huo Qian asked, puzzled.

“To command military power doesn’t mean personally leading troops; Wei Yong only needs to control those who do.” I smiled, meaningfully. “And I happen to know someone who possesses such power.”

“Who?”

“Luo Deyi!”

“Director Luo? How would a department head have military power?” Yue Leiting wondered.

“His fate carries the ‘side official’—martial authority. He’s definitely not just a department head!” I replied earnestly.

“And the last interpretation?”

“The final, most precise interpretation confirms Wei Yong’s identity.” I sipped my tea. “Wei Yong sat exactly in the room’s true southern spot. In the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, south is the ‘Qian’ position—the first hexagram in the Book of Changes, the highest hexagram. Its sign reads: ‘Heaven moves strongly, the gentleman strives relentlessly. Auspicious, prosperous, advantageous, upright.’ Qian governs prominence.”

Huo Qian seemed to recall something, his eyes lighting up excitedly. “The first line of Qian is ‘Hidden dragon, do not use!’—it means to keep one's talents concealed. Wei Yong truly hides his depths, claiming to be a mere secretary. From the start, we overlooked his presence.”

“What does that have to do with the ‘field’ character?” Yue Leiting was still puzzled.

“The second line of Qian is ‘The dragon appears in the field, it is advantageous to meet the great man!’” I put down my teacup, looking calmly at Yue Leiting. “When the dragon emerges in the field, a great person appears! When Wei Yong wrote the ‘field’ character, I knew instantly his identity was extraordinary!”