Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

Fan Changyu was stunned for a good while after hearing his words.

Then, she suddenly cupped his face, stood on her tiptoes, and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

Before Xie Zheng could react, she yanked the door open and bounded a few steps away. Only then did she turn back in the dim yellow halo of the lantern under the eaves, her face taut as she forced a calm expression. "Um... I can go back by myself, you don't have to see me out. It's getting late, you should get some rest too."

Without waiting for Xie Zheng's reply, she turned and walked down a small path.

Xie Zheng raised a hand to touch his lips, still somewhat dazed.

With her back to him, he couldn't see the crimson blush covering her face, only the tips of her ears, which glowed a faint pink in the moonlight.

He called out, "Changyu."

Fan Changyu didn't turn her head. She simply raised a hand and waved it, her back still to him. "I said you don't need to see me out. I'll be there in a few more steps."

He tugged his lips into a slight smile and said faintly, "You're going the wrong way. That's the way to the kitchen."

Fan Changyu stumbled and nearly fell.

The air was silent for several breaths before she turned around, walked toward another path with a composed expression, and explained matter-of-factly, "It's too dark. I couldn't see the path clearly."

As she continued walking, she heard a very soft chuckle from Xie Zheng behind her.

Fan Changyu ignored him. She was half annoyed and half embarrassed by her own foolishness. For some reason, her heart was also pounding particularly fast, as if a small deer was trapped inside.

She trudged back to the east wing with her head down. The Blood-Clad Cavalry on night watch at the manor saw her return and immediately brought her hot water to wash up.

After a simple wash, Fan Changyu collapsed onto the bed. Staring at the dark canopy, she recalled the embarrassing incident on her way back and silently pulled the quilt over, covering her head completely.

How could she have made such a fool of herself?

Yet her heart was still thumping wildly. She was mortified, but at the same time, she was enveloped in an indescribable joy.

Perhaps she really was too slow when it came to matters of the heart, or perhaps she had simply had too much on her mind before. Now that everything was out in the open this night, she finally realized that liking Xie Zheng seemed to be an extremely joyful thing.

Just thinking of him made the corners of her lips want to curl up inexplicably.

It got stuffy after being under the covers for too long, and she was just about to poke her head out for some air.

Just then, the window made a soft sound. Fan Changyu was instantly on alert, her hand reaching for the boning knife hidden under her pillow.

A small section of the bed beside her dipped, and Xie Zheng's crisp, cool voice was especially clear in the darkness. "Asleep?"

Fan Changyu released her grip on the knife's handle and poked her head out from under the quilt.

Her hair was mussed, with a few strands sticking up. Her eyes were clear, and her face was flushed from being under the covers for too long. She had a certain charmingly naive air about her. "Why are you here?"

Xie Zheng lay down directly, still fully clothed. A large hand reached under the brocade quilt, wrapped around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace. "Don't worry, no one saw me come over. I'll go back before dawn."

Fan Changyu was slightly taken aback. "Aren't you afraid of the trouble..."

Xie Zheng's firm chest was pressed against her back. He lowered his head, inhaling the faint fragrance of her hair, and said, "It's no trouble."

His breath fanned across the nape of her neck, making her feel a little itchy. She tried to dodge, but Xie Zheng pulled her back into his embrace. After that, however, he was extremely well-behaved, as if he had truly come over just to hold her and sleep.

Fan Changyu had intended to let him be, but after being held like this for a while, she felt something pressing against her from behind. Her expression changed, and she couldn't help but say, "You... why don't you go back to your own room to sleep?"

Xie Zheng held her without moving. When he replied, his voice was deep and husky. "Don't talk. Sleep."

Fan Changyu detected the note of restraint in his voice and didn't dare to move or speak again. She lay there in his arms, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles. After a while, she must have been truly exhausted, as her breathing gradually evened out.

Listening to her steady breathing, Xie Zheng opened his eyes and gazed at her sleeping face in the darkness. After watching her quietly for a moment, he lowered his head and caught a piece of soft flesh on her neck, grinding it gently with his teeth. He sucked a red mark onto her skin before letting go.

He pressed her more tightly into his embrace, adjusted his position slightly, rested his chin in the hollow of her shoulder, and also closed his eyes, falling into a deep sleep.

When Fan Changyu woke up the next day, Xie Zheng was, as expected, already gone.

After washing up, she went to the front hall to have breakfast with Xie Zheng. It was about time for Xie Zheng to prepare for his "return to the capital." After her talk with Zhu Youchang yesterday, Fan Changyu also wanted to go to the prison to interrogate those loyal servants of the Sui family who had been escorted to the capital, to see if she could get any useful information out of them.

Zhu Youchang was keen to see Changning now that he knew she was also in the capital. But the current situation was unclear. To avoid exposing the manor's location and attracting more of Wei Yan's assassins, it was best to wait until Wei Yan's conviction was settled before arranging a meeting.

A carriage to take Fan Changyu back was already prepared outside the manor. She had arrived empty-handed, but on her return, Xie Zheng gave her all the annotated military strategy books and several maps from his room.

Fan Changyu didn't refuse and accepted them all with a clear conscience.

Xie Zheng still had to arrange the many details of his "return to the capital." He had to submit a memorial to the young emperor announcing his return, and then lead his army past the Zhengyang Gate. Only then could he appear in the capital in a legitimate and official capacity.

Thus, it was Xie Shiyi who ended up escorting Fan Changyu back.

She had already settled into the carriage when the heavy curtain was suddenly lifted.

Today was a rare day of fine weather. Xie Zheng held the curtain open with one hand, pressing it against the side of the carriage door. The warm sunlight fell on his dark eyelashes, making his stern face look much gentler.

He looked at Fan Changyu and said, "Take these military books back and read them slowly. If there's anything you don't understand, write it down on a piece of paper and ask me next time."

The stack of books rested on Fan Changyu's lap. The one on top was still open, a clear sign that she had started reading the moment she got into the carriage.

She nodded, glanced at Xie Zheng, then her gaze fell back to the open page of the book.

When she was focused on something, she exuded an earnest silliness that was inexplicably endearing. The sunlight shining in from the carriage door was a bit glaring, so her long lashes were half-lowered, forming a fluffy shadow. Her swollen lips looked even fuller.

Xie Zheng looked at her, his long eyes narrowing slightly. He suddenly said, "Is there something you don't understand already? Let me see."

With that, he dropped the curtain and stepped inside.

Fan Changyu stared at him, completely stunned. Since the carriage was right at the manor's entrance, the slightest noise would attract the attention of the guards at the gate. When Xie Zheng pressed the back of her head and kissed her, she was so startled she didn't dare struggle in the slightest.

When the kiss ended, Xie Zheng glanced at the open military book on her lap. His breathing had yet to steady, but his tone was as crisp and cool as ever, betraying no abnormality. "The highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans; the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces; the next in order is to fight the enemy's army in the field; and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill. Therefore, the art of war is to attack the mind."①

Fan Changyu listened to his sanctimonious summary of the page's strategy, panting slightly as she continued to glare at him.

Her hands were already clenched into fists, but thinking of Zhu Youchang and the others just outside, she ultimately held back.

It was the first time she knew that this man could be so shameless!

Xie Zheng seemed to read her thoughts in her wide, almond-shaped eyes. He tugged his lips into a silent smile, leaned in to kiss her on the lips again, and then said in a low voice, "I'm going."

After Xie Zheng jumped out of the carriage, Xie Shiyi, who had been stroking a horse's mane and checking the reins up front, mounted the driver's seat.

Zhu Youchang, in his wheelchair, was pushed out of the main gate by a Blood-Clad Cavalryman to see Fan Changyu off.

As the carriage drove away, Xie Zheng also mounted his horse and left the manor with several Blood-Clad Cavalrymen to rendezvous with the second wave of the returning army, creating the illusion that he had "just" returned from the northern territories.

Zhu Youchang said with immense gratification, "If the old general knew that his niece Changyu had attained the position of a third-rank official and earned the Marquis's high regard, and that the Meng family could continue to serve the Xie clan loyally, he would be able to smile when he meets General Xie in the netherworld."

Xie Zhong watched the carriage and the horses depart in opposite directions, one south and one north, without a word.

His Marquis's feelings for the General of the Cloud Banner were likely not as simple as mere camaraderie...

Fan Changyu had often been in military camps before, so Aunt Zhao, her husband, and Changning were already used to her being away from home for days at a time.

She had also given instructions to Xie Qi when she left the Office of Presentations yesterday. So when she returned, the old couple and Changning assumed she had been away on some official business and weren't overly worried.

Changning even excitedly held up a rabbit in a woven bamboo basket for her to see. "Big Sis, Big Sis, look at Ning Niang's little rabbit!"

Fan Changyu had previously told Changning not to keep pets, fearing it would be troublesome when they eventually left the capital. But now that the rabbit was already here, she didn't scold her. She just smiled and said, "Did you beg your Uncle Xiao Qi to win this for you, or your Uncle Xiao Wu?"

Changning's large, grape-like eyes shone brightly. She said gleefully, "Bao'er won it for me!"

Fan Changyu was surprised. "Bao'er knows how to play pitch-pot?"

That child wasn't much older than Changning and usually seemed so quiet and well-mannered. He had a good memory for reciting poems and books, but when it came to boisterousness, he wasn't even as playful as Changning.

Xie Wu, who had accompanied Yu Bao'er out yesterday, answered with a smile, "The young master spent the whole afternoon at the vendor's stall playing pitch-pot. He nearly pawned his jade pendant to the vendor, but he finally made a shot. The vendor was so happy he even threw in a rabbit lantern."

So Yu Bao'er had gone out yesterday to be a god of wealth for someone. Fan Changyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

She looked at Yu Bao'er, who was standing to the side with his lips pressed together, and crouched down to his level. "When Auntie has time, I'll take you back to that vendor and win back everything on his stall!"

Changning got excited at these words and clapped her hands happily. "Win everything back! Then Ning Niang will set up a stall too, and have people play pitch-pot!"

Fan Changyu couldn't help but laugh, pinching her soft, chubby cheek. "Is Ning Niang a little money-grubber now? You already know how to make money?"

Changning glanced guiltily at Yu Bao'er and wrung her fingers. "Bao'er spent all his money playing pitch-pot. I'm his little aunt, I have to earn money to give back to him."

This made both Aunt Zhao and Zhao Da Shu laugh.

Aunt Zhao praised, "Our Ning Niang is finally acting like a little aunt."

Praised, Changning's eyes narrowed into slits, her lips curled up, and she even puffed out her little chest.

Only Yu Bao'er glanced at Changning, seeming a little unhappy.

After checking on the two little ones, Fan Changyu went back to her room to put away the military books Xie Zheng had given her. Yu Bao'er, however, followed her like a little tail. "Auntie Changyu."

He clenched his fists, hesitating to speak.

Fan Changyu asked, "What is it, Bao'er?"

Yu Bao'er looked at her and said, "I want to learn martial arts."

This question gave Fan Changyu a small headache. Yu Bao'er's status was noble; the hardships of learning martial arts were many, and tumbles and falls were common.

She said, "Learning martial arts is very hard. Why does Bao'er suddenly want to learn?"

Yu Bao'er lowered his long lashes, pressing his lips together without a word. After a long while, he said, "I just want to learn. If I become as strong as Auntie Changyu, I can protect my mother in the future."

The day the imperial grandson's men came to seize Yu Qianqian and her son had, after all, left a considerable shadow in Yu Bao'er's heart.

Hearing him say this, Fan Changyu's expression also turned serious.

She said, "Learning martial arts is hard, but the most valuable part is perseverance. Studying is like rowing a boat upstream; if you don't advance, you fall back. The same goes for martial arts. How about this: I'll teach you the fundamentals first. If you can endure the hardship and stick with it, I'll teach you other things later."

Yu Bao'er nodded vigorously. "Okay."

Changning, who had been eavesdropping from who-knows-where, suddenly popped out. "Ning Niang wants to learn too! In the future, I'll flatten a bad guy with one punch and knock out a pig with one slap!"

As she spoke, she even brandished her little fists.

Hearing her still remember her old pig-slaughtering days, Fan Changyu couldn't help but press a hand to her forehead.

She said, "Your health isn't good, don't join in this nonsense."

Changning had a wheezing disease and used to have trouble breathing from time to time.

When their mother was pregnant with Fan Changyu, she had experienced the Jizhou incident. Rescued by their father, she had fled all the way to Jizhou, suffering injuries along the way. It was only because Fan Changyu was tough in the womb that she was born without mishap.

But their mother's health never improved despite years of recuperation. It wasn't until Fan Changyu was almost ten that she had Changning. Because the mother was weak, Changning was born small and frail, and with a congenital wheezing disease. Truly, from the moment she started eating solid food, she was constantly taking medicine.

When she was little, they fed her goat's milk, but she hated the gamy taste and refused to drink it. It was Fan Changyu who secretly mixed some sugar into it to coax her to drink.

After Fan Changyu joined the army and earned money, she never stopped paying for Changning's medicine.

When Changning heard Fan Changyu's refusal, she anxiously ran over, grabbing her sleeve and shaking it. "No, no, Ning Niang wants to learn."

Perhaps afraid that Fan Changyu would still disagree, her eyes reddened, and her voice became nasal, as if she was about to cry from grievance at any moment.

Fan Changyu's heart softened. She bent down and stroked Changning's head. "Be good, Ning Niang. Big Sis will find the best doctor in the capital to treat you. If the doctor examines you and says you can learn martial arts, then Big Sis will teach you, okay?"

Only then did Changning nod with a wronged expression.

After meeting Zhu Youchang, Fan Changyu now had a lead on investigating Wei Yan and was buried in tasks. But finding a doctor for Changning was equally urgent. That very afternoon, she had Xie Wu go out and inquire about famous doctors in the capital.

Fan Changyu went to busy herself. Yu Bao'er looked at the still-unhappy Changning and said, "It's okay if you can't learn martial arts. I'll protect you in the future."

Changning's face puffed up with anger. She said sullenly, "No."

Yu Bao'er asked, "Why not?"

Changning fiddled with the pearl buttons on her clothes with her chubby fingers and said awkwardly, "Then you'll be stronger than me. I'll never be able to beat you."

Yu Bao'er said, "Then in the future, when you hit me, I won't hit back."

Changning's round eyes slanted a glance at him. "Really?"

Yu Bao'er nodded. "Really."

Only then did Changning's lips curl up uncontrollably. She extended her fair, plump little finger. "Then let's pinky-swear. If you go back on your word, you're a little dog."

Yu Bao'er extended his little finger and hooked it with hers, saying solemnly, "Okay, it's a pinky promise."

The Imperial Palace.

Qi Sheng stared at the memorial that had just been delivered to the palace this morning, pacing anxiously around the hall. "Xie Zheng is about to return to the capital, and Wei Yan still hasn't told me what his counter-strategy is for these impeachments against the Li faction..."

His eyes were bloodshot with fury, and he kicked the Dragon Desk. "If Xie Zheng also sides with that old scoundrel from the Li family and the descendant of the Chengde Crown Prince, doesn't his return this time mean he's coming to kick me off this dragon throne?"

"I have to think of a way, think of a way..."

The newly appointed chief eunuch was a slick character. He immediately said fawningly, "Your Majesty, do not worry. The Wu'an Marquis holds great military power. If he truly defects to that descendant of the Chengde Crown Prince, whose authenticity is unknown, it's only to overthrow Wei Yan. Whatever the Chengde Crown Prince's descendant can promise him after usurping the throne, you can promise the Wu'an Marquis right now. As long as the Wu'an Marquis is willing to lend Your Majesty a hand, first to deal with the Li family, then to topple Wei Yan, and you give him the position originally reserved for Wei Yan, it's far better than him having to share power with the Li family after helping the Chengde Crown Prince's descendant."

Ever since Xie Zheng defied the imperial edict and cut off the ear of the eunuch who delivered it, Qi Sheng had held a grudge for this contempt of imperial authority.

He was a thousand, ten thousand times unwilling to let Xie Zheng take Wei Yan's position. But now, it was clear that Wei Yan was no match for the Li family. Qi Sheng was beginning to waver in his belief that Wei Yan could help him keep his throne.

His slightly bulging eyes stared deadly at the eunuch. "I am already on such bad terms with him. Can you think of a way for me to win him over?"

This question stumped the eunuch. Faced with Qi Sheng's man-eating gaze, he could only force a fawning smile and say, "Well, for men, what can be used to win them over but power, treasures, and beauties?"

Saying this was the same as saying nothing.

Qi Sheng, however, sat back down on the dragon throne. Propping his head with one hand, his slightly protruding eyes were webbed with blood vessels. "Beauties? I tried to decree a marriage between him and my Imperial Sister. How did he treat me then?"

The eunuch's eyes darted. He suddenly said, "The Eldest Princess seems to be in contact with the Wu'an Marquis..."

Qi Sheng's eyelids shot up, and he sneered, "He, Xie Zheng, rejected my decreed marriage, yet turns around and communicates with my Imperial Sister. What is he trying to do? Imperial Sister has also disappointed me greatly. I treat her so well, yet she's also looking for a way out for herself?"

His gaze turned cold as he suddenly looked at the eunuch. "And how did you come to know this?"

The eunuch's legs went weak, and he dropped to his knees. "This slave wouldn't dare deceive Your Majesty. This slave has a godson who formed a eunuch-maid pairing with a palace maid in the Eldest Princess's palace. It was that maid who, when she went in to pour tea, unintentionally overheard the Eldest Princess instructing her trusted eunuch to ensure a letter was delivered into the hands of the Wu'an Marquis's men."

Qi Sheng's fingers began to scratch at the armrest of the dragon throne, one tap at a time. The sound of his nails against the metal was particularly grating. "What has Imperial Sister been up to recently?"

The eunuch surreptitiously sized up Qi Sheng and said in a pinched voice, "This slave has heard that people from the Eldest Princess's palace have been frequently visiting the Cold Palace recently, and have gotten quite close to a deranged palace maid from the late Jia Guifei's palace..."

Qi Sheng's fingers dug harder into the armrest. His neatly trimmed nails were ground into jagged notches by the carved reliefs. He murmured, "She's helping Xie Zheng investigate the matter of the Sixteenth Imperial Brother... Why is Xie Zheng investigating the Sixteenth Imperial Brother?"

A piece of his fingernail, unable to bear the pressure, broke off.

This minor pain also caused Qi Sheng, who had been lost in his own thoughts, to abruptly raise his head.

His slightly bulging eyes shone with a terrifying light. The eunuch felt goosebumps rise all over his skin under that gaze.

Qi Sheng spread his lips into a smile, his expression holding a strange excitement. He stared sinisterly at the chief eunuch. "Go, bring that mad palace maid from the Cold Palace to me. Be clean about it. Don't let my Imperial Sister's side hear any wind of this."