Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

Xie Zheng didn’t answer her directly. After finishing the last annotation on the book’s title page, he set down his brush and said, “I’ve annotated all the obscure and difficult parts in these books. You should be able to understand them on your own now.”

Hearing this, Fan Changyu understood everything.

He had promised to teach her to read, but now that he couldn’t fulfill that promise, he had annotated all the books for her instead.

For a moment, her heart felt strangely hollow, though she couldn’t quite name the emotion.

But they weren’t related by blood or obligation. Their sham marriage had been a transaction of mutual benefit, with no debts owed. Besides, he had already helped her a great deal during this time.

Suppressing the odd feeling in her chest, Fan Changyu said, “There’s nothing I want. I already have everything I need. The pork shop is thriving, the braised meat has gained popularity, and there’s a steady income. Come spring, I can even raise pigs in the countryside…”

As she spoke of her future plans, she realized Yan Zheng wouldn’t be around to participate in the pig farming. Glancing up at him, she noticed he seemed to be listening attentively, his expression calm and gentle. A sudden wave of inexplicable sadness welled up inside her.

Perhaps it was because they had supported each other through the hardest times that his impending departure felt so unsettling.

She said, “The silver you left with me—I’ll go to the bank tomorrow and exchange it for banknotes. That way, it’ll be easier for you to carry when you leave.”

Xie Zheng’s brows furrowed slightly. “That money is yours to keep.”

Fan Changyu replied, “Traveling requires a lot of expenses. Besides, you’ll need funds to rebuild your security company. If you don’t take any silver with you, how will you survive? And I can’t accept such a large sum without reason. It wouldn’t sit right with me.”

Forty taels of silver was no small amount. It was one thing for him to leave it with her temporarily, but keeping it after he left was something she couldn’t accept in good conscience.

Including the six taels they had split from yesterday’s braised meat sale at the Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion, he had left a total of forty-six taels with her. She planned to add another four taels to make it an even fifty, exchange it all for banknotes, and give him some copper coins for travel expenses.

This way, she wouldn’t owe him anything.

Xie Zheng’s lips pressed into a thin line as he looked at her. “Wasn’t it for candy?”

Meeting his gaze with clear, unwavering eyes, Fan Changyu said, “If you ever come back and still want candy, I’ll buy it for you then.”

She smiled, her tone teasing yet earnest. “Otherwise, what if you meet a girl out there and don’t have money to ask her to buy you candy?”

Xie Zheng’s expression stiffened, the faint warmth in his demeanor vanishing entirely.

Fan Changyu pretended not to notice, yawning as she said, “It’s late. Let’s get some rest.”

Even after Fan Changyu had returned to her room, Xie Zheng remained seated at the table. After a long while, he closed his eyes.

No one else would ever buy him candy but her.

He wasn’t sure if he would survive this journey, so some words could never be spoken.

He Jingyuan’s investigation into the missing 200,000 dan of grain had led him to Zhao Xun, who had handed the grain over to his former subordinates. Though He Jingyuan hadn’t uncovered concrete evidence, the traces he found were enough to guess the truth.Wei Xuan's reckless actions could easily have been restrained by He Jingyuan's capabilities, especially within Jizhou Prefecture. Yet he chose not to act, clearly intending to use the suffering of the common people to force Wei Xuan into revealing himself with those two hundred thousand dan of grain.

To the Wei Faction, the hardships of the people and the infamy they bore were nothing compared to his life.

After all, back then, to eliminate him, the Wei Faction had their planted spy falsify military reports, leading the eight thousand soldiers who followed him into battle to be abandoned on the Chongzhou battlefield...

With such a mountain of corpses and sea of blood still unavenged, how could Wei Yan and his son rest easy without seeing his corpse?

He couldn’t give her a promise that he would return. Though she seemed carefree, she was a woman of principle—she wouldn’t involve herself with him without clarity, which was why she stubbornly refused his silver.

No debts between them, no lingering attachments.

He thought, Fine, no debts then. What’s so great about a butcher’s daughter anyway?

Rising to his feet, he paced toward his room. As he passed beneath the eaves, snowflakes landed on his brow, melting into a bone-chilling cold that seeped into his heart, eroding the last remnants of his pride.

His hand rested lightly on the wooden door, yet he couldn’t bring himself to push it open. Lowering his head, he shut his eyes heavily, concealing the moment’s wretchedness.

How could she not be great?

She was great in every way—

The courtyard was deep, snow blanketing the bamboo branches.

Zhao Xun strode briskly across the snow-covered courtyard and entered the Warm Pavilion. The room was brightly lit by candles. Beyond the arched, carved moon gate stood a pair of gilt Suanni Boshan censers, their perforated lids releasing tendrils of smoke.

Further inside, a golden gauze curtain hung halfway down before the daybed, obscuring the man seated there. Only the hem of his robe, woven with gold-threaded embroidery and extravagantly ornate, trailed onto the floor.

Not daring to look too closely, Zhao Xun bowed his head respectfully. "Master, as you instructed, Wei Xuan’s forced grain requisition has been widely publicized in the capital. Now, all scholars are denouncing the Wei Faction, and Grand Tutor Li has openly challenged Wei Yan in court."

A low table sat beside the daybed, bearing a teacup. The man reached for it, his fingers long and pale—unnaturally so, as if mere skeletal bones. He chuckled softly. "Well done."

Then he asked, "What of Wu'an Marquis?"

Zhao Xun recalled his last meeting with Xie Zheng, a fine sweat breaking out at his temples. Steeling himself, he replied, "Wu'an Marquis ordered me to inform He Jingyuan of Wei Xuan’s cross-border grain requisition, likely intending for He Jingyuan to stop it."

A low laugh came from behind the curtain, whether mocking or genuinely amused was unclear. "Wei Yan, that traitorous subject, actually raised a nephew who pities the suffering of the people?"

He took a sip of tea before setting the cup down. "No wonder Wei Yan fears him so. Under the guise of purchasing grain, he uncovered over a dozen of your contact points in Tai and Jizhou. Leaving clues for He Jingyuan during the handover was his way of repaying Wu'an Marquis’s ‘kindness.’ After all... if Jizhou Prefecture doesn’t continue to stir up the scandal of grain requisition, the stage we’ve set in the capital will have no actors."

Zhao Xun hesitated. "But if Wu'an Marquis discovers we were the ones who left a trail for He Jingyuan..."The person behind the gauze curtain remained indifferent. "What is there to fear? It's not as if we forced Wei Xuan to levy grain at saber-point. If we can make the Wei Faction lose public favor repeatedly while watching Wei Yan's two former blades perform on the same stage, why not? Besides, this could be considered helping the Wu'an Marquis. The deeper the people's resentment toward the Wei Faction grows, the more support he'll gain when he steps forward later to reclaim the northwest, won't he?"

Zhao Xun praised, "Your wisdom is unparalleled, my lord."

Then he cautiously added, "The Wu'an Marquis wishes to meet with you in person. What are your thoughts?"

Not a single word of Xie Zheng's arrogant remarks that day dared he repeat to the man before him.

After a moment of contemplation, the man behind the curtain said, "It's not yet time. Let him and Wei Yan fight it out like the snipe and the clam. Best if they both end up severely wounded."

Zhao Xun sensed his intent to merely use Xie Zheng and hesitated. "But the Wu'an Marquis is after all the sole surviving descendant of General Xie..."

The man's eyes turned icy. "A wolf cub raised by Wei Yan's own hands is no innocent. It's far safer to keep military power in one's own grasp than in another's."

Despite the freezing cold, cold sweat broke out repeatedly on Zhao Xun's back. He bowed deeply. "This subordinate understands."

That night, the lights also burned late in the He residence.

Dozens of soldiers under Wei Xuan's command surrounded the He Mansion, preventing anyone from leaving easily. Even the side gates and courtyard walls had patrolling soldiers.

In the darkness, arrows rained down like a sudden storm upon the troops at the mansion's entrance, throwing them into immediate chaos as they scrambled for cover. "Enemy attack!"

"Quick, report to the general!"

"Kill them—"

A squad of Jizhou Prefecture soldiers armed with sabers and halberds charged out from the night, catching the panicked Wei Mansion troops off guard and quickly gaining the upper hand.

Leading the Jizhou soldiers was Zheng Wenchang, who raised his saber high. "Follow me to rescue His Excellency!"

As a key general under He Jingyuan, he knew the He Mansion's layout well and soon led his men to the study.

He Jingyuan sat behind his desk, a bamboo scroll spread before him as if he were reading by candlelight. At the sight of Zheng Wenchang and his men barging in with weapons, his expression shifted slightly. "Why have you come?"

Zheng Wenchang dropped to one knee and clasped his fists. "This humble officer has come to help Your Excellency escape. Wei Xuan's actions are utterly intolerable! Your Excellency should write to the capital and inform the Prime Minister—let's see how much longer Wei Xuan can act so arrogantly!"

Hearing his intentions, He Jingyuan frowned deeply and sighed. "How foolish!"

Zheng Wenchang looked puzzled. "What does Your Excellency mean by that?"

But He Jingyuan said no more. After pacing the study for a while, he ordered, "Take your men and leave at once."

Zheng Wenchang was stunned. "And what of Your Excellency?"

He Jingyuan replied, "Wei Xuan wouldn't dare harm me. I have my reasons for acting this way. All of you should return and await orders."

Zheng Wenchang and the other officers exchanged glances, but out of respect and obedience to He Jingyuan, they clasped their fists and said, "As you command."

As they prepared to leave, He Jingyuan hesitated before adding, "If you see Wei Xuan's soldiers oppressing innocent commoners during grain levies, intervene—but avoid bloodshed."

Though puzzled, the officers merely acknowledged the order.

Only Zheng Wenchang, the last to leave, turned back at the door to ask in confusion, "Why should Your Excellency fear Wei Xuan?"He Jingyuan stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the plaque inscribed with "Virtue Alone Fragrant" above the desk, and sighed. "It's not that I fear him. Don't ask too much. Just do as I say."

Zheng Wenchang had no choice but to clasp his fists and withdraw, his mind filled with unanswered questions.

Yet He Jingyuan remained fixated on that plaque, unable to tear his gaze away.

His own sins mattered little. What truly weighed on him was whether the people of Great Yin would be forced to survive amidst the flames of war in the future.

When the Son of Heaven rages, corpses pile up by the millions.

The conflicts of those in power ultimately bring suffering only to the common folk.

If those two hundred thousand bushels of grain bought by that merchant surnamed Zhao were truly in his hands, this test would reveal whether he shared Wei Yan's ruthless determination—stopping at nothing to achieve his goals—or if he still held some compassion for the people of the realm.

If it was the latter, then perhaps, upon his return, it would be time to reveal what he knew about the Battle of Jinzhou sixteen years ago.

If it was the former, he would take that secret to his grave.

A man consumed by hatred, devoid of any mercy for the world, would only ignite more war once he learned the truth. And the people would suffer endlessly.