‘I don’t have the proper tools with me for a demonstration, but I can humor you with the help of copper coins,’ he said, taking several coins out of his pocket. ‘Heads and tails, you know. The result of your throws – in other words, the combination of heads and tails – make up the lines for yin and yang in a hexagram, and then you may consult the book for the meaning of that particular hexagram.’

‘Please enlighten me, Master. I’m intrigued.’

Judge Dee threw the coins a couple of times, recorded the number of heads and tails in sequence, and then turned to take out the Book of Changes for its meaning.

‘What?’

‘Well, quite a surprise. A hidden dragon should be careful in its movement.’

‘And its meaning?’

‘At this stage, it’s too early for the dragon to move about, so it won’t hurt to stay put.’

‘Another dragon! Too many mysterious coincidences for one night, Master,’ Yang said, looking ghastly pale.

‘Come on, you’re worrying yourself sick for nothing, Yang. There’s also a dragon in your nickname, isn’t there? Go back to sleep in your room. It’s late. And I’m getting really sleepy.’

Yang rose slowly with reluctance. He opened his mouth without managing to say anything. There was no disobeying his master.

As luck would have it, however, a loud, insistent knock on the door abruptly broke through the stillness of the night.

As Yang moved to open the door, Judge Dee hurried to put the knife and the note underneath a folder.

A middle-aged man in a gray cotton robe stood in the doorway, carrying a large envelope in his hand. He turned out to be a special messenger from Internal Minister Wu, Empress Wu’s nephew, also the most powerful member of the Wu faction.

‘Your Excellency’ – the messenger knelt down in front of Judge Dee – ‘Minister Wu knows that you are leaving the capital. He really admires your extraordinary talent as a judge, as you know, so he wants me to bring this special case report over to you tonight – the case report he has just received this afternoon of the sensational murder committed by Xuanji about ten days ago.’

‘The sensational murder committed by the well-known poetess Xuanji?’

Judge Dee was more than surprised. It appeared to be somewhat unconventional for a powerful man like Minister Wu to consult about a murder case with a newly appointed circuit supervisor who was leaving the capital. A considerable number of officials under the powerful minister could have easily looked into the investigation of the case for him.