Chapter Four: The Driver in the Mirror

When Shen Yan ran it through the player, it yielded the missing half sentence. Mingxi's voice, raw and urgent: "The driver worked for Manyi, but the order came from Father." Not Cheng Manyi. Or not Cheng Manyi alone. Before dinner, Gu Chongshan sent the program for the birthday recital. The envelope contained one blank sheet with a sentence printed at its center: WHOEVER MAKES THE NIGHTINGALE FINISH ITS SONG IS WORTHY OF THE GU FAMILY. On the back, in red ink: FIRST AUDITION: TOMORROW, 8:00 P.M. Every heir was ordered to attend. Xingyao had to play. At 11:40 that night, Shen Yan went to the clock tower alone, carrying the badge.