Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

Xie Zheng turned to Fan Changyu: "You know that Constable Wang. Go find him quickly and have him bring the Yamen Runners to guard the city gates. We must not let the rioters enter the city."

Fan Changyu was puzzled: "If the rioters enter, they'll likely only cause trouble for the magistrate and those Yamen Runners. Why should we help the magistrate stop them?"

Xie Zheng's expression turned icy in a way that was hard to describe: "They've staked their lives on this rebellion—do you really think they're only after justice? What they want now is power and wealth! Every household in this city is richer than those peasants, and that alone makes them objects of bitter hatred. One more step, and they could become a rampaging rebel army that kills, burns, and loots without mercy. If you don't want to see this county plundered, do as I say."

Hearing this, Fan Changyu felt a momentary heaviness in her heart at the complexity of human nature. Pressing her lips together, she said, "Constable Wang has already been dismissed by the magistrate. His orders carry no weight in the Yamen now."

Xie Zheng frowned but still insisted, "Just go and deliver the message. Tell him the magistrate has been sidelined and to first lead the Yamen Runners to set up defenses at the city gates. If they encounter the rioters, focus on placating them—promise that the government will return all the levied grain and won't hold them accountable for their crimes."

"But what if the government doesn’t return the grain?"

"First, stabilize the rioters. I'll figure out the rest." His calm gaze was inexplicably convincing.

Fan Changyu thought for a moment but still had reservations: "Didn’t you say they’ve rebelled because they’re after wealth and status? Will this really work to calm them?"

Xie Zheng glanced at her: "The rioters are fighting desperately because they have no way back. Promise not to punish them and return their grain—if they can go back to their old farming lives, those with ambition will keep inciting them, but those who were just forced into this and only want to farm in peace will start hesitating."

Fan Changyu finally understood—he wanted the rioters to turn on each other first.

For a moment, the Yan Zheng before her felt unfamiliar, as if she had never truly known him.

Xie Zheng noticed her gaze and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Fan Changyu shook her head and asked, "How do we get out?"

The soldiers were still guarding the back alley of the Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion. If they left through the alley entrance, they would surely be spotted by the soldiers outside. If they knocked out the soldiers and fled, the unconscious soldiers would soon be discovered, still exposing their tracks.

Unfortunately, the other end of the alley was sealed off—it was extremely narrow, meant only for draining rainwater between the eaves of two buildings, barely wide enough for one person. Perpetually damp and sunless, the walls were covered in slippery moss, and one misstep could send them tumbling.

Xie Zheng glanced at the high wall sealing the alley and said to Fan Changyu, "Step on my shoulders and climb over."

Fan Changyu sized up their heights and nodded. "Alright. Once I’m up, I’ll find a ladder for you."

As Xie Zheng crouched by the base of the wall, she braced one hand against it and stepped onto his broad shoulder.

Their combined height finally allowed Fan Changyu to reach the top of the wall. She pushed herself up with her arms and flipped over. When she scanned the courtyard, she spotted a man writing at a desk in front of a room with wide-open windows. Suddenly, he sharply looked up in their direction.

With lightning speed, Fan Changyu grabbed a loose tile from the wall and hurled it straight at his pressure point.The man looked stunned, unable to utter a word before collapsing face-first onto the writing desk.

Only after striking him did Fan Changyu belatedly realize the man looked somewhat familiar, though she couldn’t immediately recall where she had seen him before.

Xie Zheng, hearing the commotion from inside, asked, “Someone’s on the other side of the wall?”

Fan Changyu nodded with a quiet “Mm,” then said, “I’ve already knocked him out. There’s a bamboo ladder in this courtyard—wait a moment, I’ll fetch it.”

With that, she leapt down from the wall, agile as a cat.

The bamboo ladder was just the right length to reach the top of the wall. After climbing up, she passed it over to the other side so Xie Zheng could also make his way into the courtyard.

He stepped inside and glanced at the man Changyu had knocked unconscious, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. “It’s the bookstore owner.”

How had the Zhao Family’s residence ended up right next to the Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion?

This small suspicion made him take another glance at the unfinished letter on the desk. The brushstroke Zhao Xun had left when he collapsed had smeared much of the ink, but the general content was still legible.

Xie Zheng’s gaze abruptly turned cold. Whether intentionally or not, as he turned to leave, his sleeve knocked over the inkstone, spilling thick ink across the desk and staining the unfinished letter, along with Zhao Xun’s sleeve and half his face.

Already feeling guilty upon learning this was the bookstore owner, Fan Changyu nearly panicked when she saw Xie Zheng topple the inkstone. Stuttering, she said, “I—I hit your employer, and now you’ve ruined his inkstone… Will he hold a grudge against you?”

She remembered Xie Zheng had been writing Eight-legged essays at the bookstore—hadn’t there been a deposit in that forty taels last time?

Xie Zheng was momentarily taken aback, not expecting her to worry about that. The coldness in his expression eased slightly as he replied, “It’s fine. He may not remember you, nor will he know I was here.”

Changyu thought it over—she had barely recognized him herself. As a wealthy merchant, he must meet countless people daily and likely wouldn’t remember her either. Relieved, she exhaled deeply.

The Zhao residence was a two-courtyard house, yet there were hardly any servants in sight. Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng easily slipped out through a side gate.

Changyu mused that all this trouble was because both the front and back alleys of the Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion were guarded by officers. Unable to hold back, she said, “Shopkeeper Yu and the other workers have already been thrown into prison by that corrupt official. Why are they still watching the pavilion? Could it really just be to find Yu Bao’er?”

Xie Zheng’s expression darkened. “It’s possible.”

Changyu’s face twisted with anger. “Those corrupt officials are downright vicious!”

Were they really making an example out of a child?

Xie Zheng didn’t respond, only saying, “I’ve temporarily left the child with the old man who drives your cart.”

Changyu had rented the old man’s oxcart for a month to deliver goods, so he was at least somewhat trustworthy.

Still, having an old man care for a young noble boy would easily raise suspicions. “I’ll take Bao’er with me when I go to Head Constable Wang’s place,” she said.

Xie Zheng nodded. As they parted ways, he looked at her as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.

Noticing his hesitation, Changyu asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”The overcast sky made Xie Zheng's eyes appear darker than usual as he said, "If the rioters enter the city, just focus on protecting yourself."

After a pause, he added, "Don't trust anyone lightly."

Fan Changyu's heart skipped a beat as she looked up at him. "Are you leaving?"

His sudden words felt particularly ominous.

Xie Zheng choked slightly, his expression turning unpleasant. "Though I'm not exactly someone trustworthy either, for now you can still believe in me."

After he left, Changyu stood dazed for a moment before fetching Yu Bao'er from the old coachman and heading to Head Constable Wang's house.

Upon hearing about the rioters, Head Constable Wang was equally shocked. After pacing back and forth several times in the room, he said to Wang Furen, "Bring me my constable uniform."

While Wang Furen went to the inner room to fetch the clothes, Head Constable Wang looked at Fan Changyu and remarked, "Your husband, with such insight and sharpness, must be no ordinary man..."

Changyu replied, "His family used to run a security company. He's probably seen more of the world than most."

Head Constable Wang muttered "No wonder," and after changing into his uniform, immediately went out to gather his former subordinates.

Wang Furen saw him off at the door, her face filled with worry.

Changyu didn't know what Xie Zheng's next plan was, but sending a dismissed constable like Head Constable Wang out for such tasks carried risks.

Yet once rioters entered the city to loot, with no way back, their ambition and greed would surge like beasts tasting blood—unstoppable unless crushed before they could act.

After some thought, she said to Wang Furen, "Earlier you mentioned having maps of the County Government Office and the magistrate's residence?"

Wang Furen hesitated before nodding. "Yes, but child, what are you planning?"

Changyu explained, "From what my husband implied, the magistrate has likely been sidelined in this grain levy mess. What if we rescue him? At the very least, we should reinstate Uncle Wang's position as constable to make his tasks easier."

No matter who was secretly in control now, to ordinary citizens and yamen runners, the magistrate remained the highest authority in Qingping County.

Wang Furen didn't know if the girl was naturally bold or something else. While her own heart still raced with fear, this girl was contemplating even bolder actions. Thinking of her husband going to stop the rioters, she steadied herself and said, "That's too dangerous. I'll go with you."

Changyu pondered and said, "There's a less risky approach, but I'll still need your help, Auntie."

Wang Furen's expression shifted—

Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion.

A carriage pulled into the back alley of the pavilion, stopping not far from the entrance, yet no one emerged. The guards at the back door eyed the carriage warily.

Two of them exchanged glances and moved to investigate when suddenly a dark figure darted from the other end of the alley, swinging a club at the remaining guards' heads. They collapsed unconscious on the spot.

Having changed into boy's clothes at Head Constable Wang's house and smeared her face with soot to obscure her features, Fan Changyu kicked open the seal on the pavilion's back door and rushed inside.

The two guards who had been approaching the carriage shouted, "An accomplice is breaking into Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion to destroy evidence!"

They chased after her, only to find Changyu waiting for them just inside the door.As soon as the men entered, she hurled a club and knocked one unconscious. The soldier behind drew his sword to strike Fan Changyu, but she dodged sideways and kicked him into the slop barrel in the backyard. The barrel was deep, and the soldier folded inside, struggling for a long time without resurfacing.

Fan Changyu entered the house briefly, then emerged swiftly, clutching something wrapped in a cloak as she hurried out of the yard.

The soldier screamed hysterically, "The thief escaped! The thief escaped!"

The commotion had already alerted the guards at the main gate of the Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion. A group of men dressed as constables but clearly not real ones split into two groups, chasing from both ends of the alley. They only caught a glimpse of a small man holding what seemed like a child, hastily boarding a carriage waiting at the alley's entrance.

Before the soldiers could catch up, the carriage sped away.

Snowflakes drifted down as the driver, clad in coarse cloth and a bamboo hat obscuring his face, cracked the whip with the skill of a trained fighter. Soldiers attempting to block the front were met with another whip—over ten feet long—that lashed out, leaving bloody gashes. With a sweep, the surrounding soldiers collapsed by the roadside, howling in pain.

The officer in charge shouted, "It must be an accomplice from the pavilion escaping with that brat! Call for reinforcements!"

A whistling arrow shot into the gray sky, and soon, the County Government Office dispatched another squad of soldiers.

The people in the carriage were none other than Fan Changyu and Wang Furen.

Wang Furen, familiar with every street and alley in the county, quickly lost the pursuing soldiers with a few turns. Before jumping off, Fan Changyu said, "Auntie, please lead them on a chase for half an hour, then shake them off and escape on your own."

Wang Furen lifted her hat slightly and asked, "Half an hour—will you have enough time?"

Fan Changyu replied, "My husband must have gone to the County Government Office. I’ll head to the magistrate’s residence. With all the soldiers mobilized to capture Shopkeeper Yu’s son, we’ll surely find the magistrate."

There was no Yu Bao'er in the carriage. What she had wrapped in the cloak and carried out of the Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion was merely a small quilt.

Wang Furen only urged, "Be careful!"

Fan Changyu nodded, "You too, Auntie."

As the carriage slowed, Fan Changyu slipped out unnoticed and wound through several alleys toward the magistrate’s residence.

When she arrived, she spotted Mother Song there as well.

Hiding in the shadows, she saw Mother Song standing at the magistrate’s gate with a young maid, laden with packages, her face plastered with an ingratiating smile. "Young Master Yan is leaving for the capital exams and misses the young lady dearly. So, he asked me to bring these trinkets for her..."

The steward at the gate replied, "Scholar Song is most thoughtful."

He ordered a servant to collect the hairpins and jewelry Mother Song had reluctantly purchased but made no move to invite her inside.

Mother Song’s smile was stiff from days of rejection. Unwilling to let her silver go to waste without winning the magistrate’s favor, she added, "The madam admired my shoe patterns the other day. I’ve come today to share tea with her and deliver those patterns."The steward merely said, "Madam has caught a chill and hasn't recovered yet. If Mother Song has anything to deliver to Madam, you may entrust it to this old servant."

Mother Song had initially thought the county magistrate's family status was somewhat beneath them. Once Song Yan passed the imperial examinations with high honors, the daughter of a mere county magistrate might not be worthy of her son. However, given that they still needed the magistrate's support in this county, she maintained cordial relations with the magistrate's wife.

Previously, when the magistrate's wife was eager to settle the marriage between their children, Mother Song had secretly calculated her moves. She dangled the sweet prospects of being the wife of a provincial graduate and later a metropolitan graduate before the magistrate's wife and daughter, but never actually agreed to the betrothal.

When the magistrate's wife pressed her too hard, Mother Song would weep and bring up Song Yan's recent broken engagement, saying he was a filial son who had borne the reputation of being heartless by breaking off with the butcher's Fan family for her sake. Now the Fan family was going around telling everyone how the Song family had wronged them. She claimed that if Song Yan got engaged again so soon, it would only provoke more resentment from the Fan girl, who might spread malicious rumors that could harm Song Yan's official career. Since their families would eventually become in-laws anyway, why rush things?

This speech successfully intimidated the magistrate's wife, who had always been warm toward Mother Song during their tea gatherings and theater outings.

During the New Year, when Song Yan caused a scandal with the Fan family at the Lantern Festival, Mother Song felt utterly humiliated.

Fearing the magistrate's wife might look down on her son, though she had originally intended to keep her options open, Mother Song suddenly worried—what if her son failed the metropolitan examinations and couldn't become an official in the capital? In all of Qingping County, marrying into the magistrate's family would still be the most prestigious option. Thus, on the second day of the New Year, she brought gifts to the magistrate's residence to pay her respects.

To her surprise, she was turned away at the door.

Mother Song returned home that day seething with anger, nearly spitting blood in frustration. Afraid of disturbing her son's studies, she didn't dare tell Song Yan about the incident. Secretly, however, she resolved to mend relations with the magistrate's family and had been sending gifts to their home these past few days.

When she couldn't get through to the magistrate's wife, she tried currying favor with the magistrate's daughter instead. Yet despite her persistent gift-giving, she still couldn't even set foot inside the magistrate's residence.

Mother Song felt as if her face had been ripped off and trampled underfoot. By the time she left, she couldn't even force a smile, her expression dark with fury. Only after turning the street corner did she dare spit viciously on the ground: "Who do they think they are? Just the daughter of a county magistrate—as if my Yan'er is begging to marry her! They have the gall to accept my gifts but won't even invite me in for a cup of tea?"

Fan Changyu stood with her back turned at a street stall, pretending to browse goods while clearly overhearing Mother Song's words. She cast a sidelong glance at the retreating figure. Though she had long stopped caring about the Song family, seeing Mother Song's true colors only reinforced her belief that evil would be repaid with evil.

She thought to herself that the magistrate's family must have finally seen through the mother and son's true nature, hence their cold shoulder.

Changyu circled to the back wall of the magistrate's residence, climbed a tree leaning against it, and vaulted over into the compound.

Head Constable Wang, having served as a constable for over a decade under multiple magistrates, knew the layout of the estate well. After studying the map provided by Wang Furen, Changyu had a rough idea of the residence's arrangement—this should be the kitchen.

Moving silently along the wall, she slipped past a moon gate and spotted the steward entering. Quickly, she ducked behind a corner.The steward, carrying the items given by Mother Song, pleaded with a guard-like man: "Sir, these are all gifts from our future son-in-law to the young lady. Please be lenient and let me deliver them to her."

The steward of the County Magistrate's household had to beg a guard?

This was clearly abnormal. Fan Changyu pricked up her ears to listen.

The guard only sneered coldly: "Throw them into the side room with the previous items. If even a whisper of this leaks out, none of you will keep your heads!"

The steward was clearly frightened, meekly falling silent without another word.

Fan Changyu suddenly realized that the group controlling the County Magistrate's residence was anything but ordinary. She made her breathing even more subtle and prolonged.

She noticed that the snow in the courtyard of the entire County Magistrate's residence hadn't been cleared. It was unclear whether the magistrate's family had been taken control of, leading to the servants slacking off, or if someone had ordered the snow not to be cleared.

After all, with snow on the ground, no matter how lightly someone walked through the courtyard, their footsteps would inevitably make a sound.

As Fan Changyu was deep in thought, she suddenly heard footsteps approaching from behind.

Turning around, she locked eyes with a young maid carrying a tray.

The maid was about to scream when Changyu swiftly closed the distance and knocked her unconscious with a chop to the neck. Catching the tray with one hand and supporting the maid with the other, she glanced around before using her foot to push open the door of a nearby room and carried the maid inside.

Moments later, Fan Changyu emerged openly, dressed in maid's attire and carrying the tray.

As she turned the corner, the guard under the eaves glanced at her. Keeping her head down, Changyu passed by and headed in the direction the steward had gone.

Having studied the map beforehand and possessing a good sense of direction, she quickly located the steward's quarters based on the residence's layout.

When she pushed the door open, the steward was sitting in a chair, lost in sorrow. Spotting Fan Changyu, he nearly died of fright, tumbling to the ground. Grimacing in pain while trying to maintain his dignity as the senior steward, he scowled and demanded, "Which household's maid are you? How dare you!"

Fan Changyu reasoned that since the County Magistrate was under surveillance, the order to dismiss Head Constable Wang couldn't have come from him. The magistrate was probably counting on Wang to save his life right now.

So she said, "I'm with Head Constable Wang."

The anger on the steward's face froze, and he nearly wept with joy. "Head Constable Wang is as shrewd as ever, seeing at a glance that something was amiss in the County Government Office these days..."

Seeing that he was about to launch into a lengthy lament, Changyu frowned and cut him off, asking only what she wanted to know: "What's going on here?"

The steward tearfully replied, "A few days ago, wasn't there a Grain Requisition Order from Jizhou Prefecture? A squad of soldiers bearing Jizhou military insignia came to oversee the requisition. When our master heard they were demanding one dan of grain per person, he pleaded that this would drive the common folk to ruin. But the officials from above pressured him with the Grain Requisition Order, insisting he comply.""My lord had no choice but to order the requisition of grain, but the soldiers sent to collect it ended up killing farmers in the countryside. Fearing that the matter might escalate to Lord He in Jizhou Prefecture and cost him his official position, my lord decided to go to Jizhou Prefecture in advance to plead guilty. However, he was detained by those soldiers who came from Jizhou. They claimed to be under the command of Wei Xuan, the Military Governor of the Northwest, and said everything must be done according to their orders. Now, even Lord He has been dismissed by the Military Governor. They accused my lord of obstructing the grain requisition and have placed him under house arrest in the residence. Even his wife and daughter are not allowed to leave or receive visitors."

Fan Changyu frowned even more deeply. She had heard of Wei Xuan's name before—it was his indulgence that led to the tragic grain requisition incident in Taizhou.

She wasn't sure in her heart. If Wei Xuan was truly so cruel and tyrannical as to forcibly requisition grain this way, what if—after Head Constable Wang temporarily calmed the rioters at the city gates—Wei Xuan turned around and led his troops to slaughter those commoners?

Fan Changyu thought for a moment and said, "How about we kidnap that high-ranking official sent by Wei Xuan and have the magistrate return the requisitioned military provisions to the people?"

If they captured the leader, he wouldn't be able to order the killing of civilians.

The steward's lips trembled, barely registering the latter half of her words—just the first part nearly scared the soul out of him. "K-Kidnap? There are over a dozen soldiers in this residence, each highly skilled in martial arts. The County Government Office is also filled with their men. How could we possibly kidnap anyone?"

Fan Changyu said, "If we can't fight them, can't we use knockout drugs or something?"

The steward couldn't help but scrutinize Fan Changyu, wondering if she was truly sent by Head Constable Wang to help.

Kidnapping a military officer from Jizhou Prefecture—what kind of crime would that be? If those men sought revenge later, all the heads in this residence combined wouldn't be enough to pay for it!

He waved his hands frantically. "No, no! How would my master explain this to those officers afterward?"

Fan Changyu knew the plan was a bit ruthless, but this magistrate had served in Qingping County for three years without committing any major evils—yet he hadn't done much good for the people either. Right now, this was the only way. It might screw over the magistrate, but why not use him?

She said, "People in Majia Village were beaten to death by soldiers. The troops have already provoked the surrounding villagers into rebellion. Thousands of rioters are gathering to storm the County Government Office. Do you think your master will be the scapegoat pushed out to die? And as the magistrate's steward, do you think those rioters won't hold a grudge against you too?"

The steward's lips trembled again. After weighing the situation, he said, "There's no knockout drug in the residence. Besides, those men are extremely cautious—they make the servants taste anything before they eat or drink."

Now Fan Changyu was at a loss.

Seeing this, the steward said reluctantly, "But we do have croton beans in the residence. The main kitchen is currently preparing white fungus and lotus seed soup."

A short while later, Fan Changyu carried a tray while a servant boy followed with a wooden bucket, heading to the front courtyard.

On Fan Changyu's tray was a white porcelain jar. Inside, a large snow pear had been sliced open at the top, hollowed out, and filled with white fungus and lotus seed soup before being resealed with the cut-off pear lid, then gently simmered.

Through the jar, one could smell not only the fragrance of the white fungus but also the fresh sweetness of the pear.

Fan Changyu could only marvel—wealthy households really came up with such novel ways to eat.

The servant boy's wooden bucket contained only ordinary white fungus and lotus seed soup.

Of course, all of it had been laced with croton beans.

The steward beamed at the guard under the eaves. "The weather is bitterly cold. The magistrate's wife, out of consideration for you officers, had the kitchen prepare some white fungus and lotus seed soup for you."

The guard, with a faint scar near the corner of his eye, snorted through his nostrils, maintaining an air of superiority—though it was clear he was rather pleased.

The steward seemed long accustomed to his cold demeanor. He had the servant boy scoop a bowl of the soup and drink it first to prove it was safe. Only then did the guard say, "Fine, leave it here."

Pointing at the tray in Fan Changyu's hands, the steward added, "This was specially prepared for the officer inside."The guard glanced at Fan Changyu. With her head slightly bowed, she did indeed appear to be a gentle and delicate beauty at first glance. The guard's smile grew colder as he said, "Just hand it over to me."

The steward fawned, "That esteemed guest has come from afar, and Qingping County is but a small place with little to offer. Let this girl serve him."

The insistence on sending Fan Changyu in wasn’t without reason. While croton beans could cause diarrhea, they couldn’t incapacitate an entire courtyard of people in a short time. If Fan Changyu entered to deliver the soup, she could get close to the officer in charge. If she could subdue him, the rest would be much easier to handle.

The guard’s mocking expression didn’t fade. Seeming to recall something, he gave Fan Changyu another glance and said, "I’ll go ask the master."

After knocking and entering, he addressed the young man who was propping his elbow on a chessboard, playing against himself. "Young Master, the household insists on sending a beautiful maid to serve you soup."

The one who had ambushed the Jizhou garrison troops and impersonated tax collectors to seize control of Qingping County for days was none other than Sui Yuanqing, son of the Rebel King of Chongzhou, the Prince of Changxin.

The Prince of Changxin had two sons. The elder, frail since childhood, left the title of heir to the younger. In earlier years, the prince had bided his time, and Sui Yuanqing was known only as a wastrel. But when the prince rebelled, Sui Yuanqing began to distinguish himself on the battlefields of Chongzhou, his ruthless tactics earning him the moniker "Little Wu'an Marquis."

Hearing his subordinate’s report, Sui Yuanqing also sneered, tossing the chess piece back into its box. "Wei Xuan’s reputation for cruelty and lust is well-known. It’s unlikely his subordinates would be paragons of virtue. Fine, let her in. What tricks could a mere county magistrate possibly pull?"

As the guard turned to leave, Sui Yuanqing asked, "Have the scouts reported back? Has Wei Xuan arrived with his men?"

"Not yet," the guard replied.

Sui Yuanqing frowned involuntarily. Given Wei Xuan’s explosive temper, wouldn’t he have charged here with his troops the moment he learned Qingping County hadn’t delivered the grain? Could something have happened in Jizhou?

The mob from Qingping County was nearly at the city gates. If that fool Wei Xuan didn’t show, this whole performance would be for nothing. Tapping the table with his long fingers, he said, "First, transport the money and grain seized from Qingping’s merchants and commoners out of the city. Station a thousand men at the slope outside the city. If Wei Xuan doesn’t come, we’ll ‘help’ him deal with the mob."

The guard was puzzled. "But those rioters intend to join Chongzhou. Why kill them?"

Sui Yuanqing scoffed. "No need to slaughter them all—just enough to shatter any remaining faith in the court. If we don’t strike them down, how many will vent their rage and actually join our cause? Only when pushed to the brink will they truly embrace rebellion."

The scholar they deliberately allowed to escape would carry news to Jizhou: imperial troops had forcibly seized grain, leaving the people no choice but to seek justice at Jizhou Prefecture, only to be massacred. No matter how the Wei Faction tried to explain, the world would believe the scholar’s account—especially since the Wei Faction’s infamy was long-standing. Behind the scholar’s tearful accusations lay the lives of tens of thousands in Qingping County. Facts grounded in reality always evoked greater empathy and credibility.

The guard quickly praised, "The Young Master is wise."

Ignoring the flattery, Sui Yuanqing asked, "Has that brat been caught yet?"The guard tensed up and said, "Half a quarter ago, someone broke into the Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion, injured our men, and seemed to have fled with a child in their arms. I’ve already dispatched troops to pursue them. We should have news soon."

Sui Yuanqing merely said, "Don’t harm the child. After all, it’s my elder brother’s flesh and blood."

The guard ventured another question, "And the woman in the prison cell…"

Sui Yuanqing lifted his cold, piercing eyes. "My elder brother’s concubine. How to deal with her is his decision once we bring her back. Let her suffer in the cell for a couple of days first, but make sure no one humiliates her."

The guard acknowledged the order.

After the guard withdrew, a maid entered carrying a tray.

Hearing the light yet steady footsteps, Sui Yuanqing’s lips curled into a cold smirk.

When he raised his eyes to look at the maid, though he had expected the county magistrate to send someone decent to curry favor with him, he was still surprised to see such a striking beauty in this backwater place.

Especially her eyes—they weren’t dazzling like stars nor lively like a deer’s. The first impression they gave was actually one of beauty and honesty, the kind that made you worry she’d be bullied if taken back to the manor as a maid.

Fan Changyu, perhaps accustomed to Xie Zheng’s sharp glances, didn’t feel the slightest fear when scrutinized by this unfamiliar man. She simply held the tray steady and approached.

As she placed the soup bowl on the table and reached to retrieve the tray with one hand, the man remarked with a faint smile, "Quite bold, aren’t you?"

Fan Changyu thought he had discovered the Croton beans in the soup. Her palms grew clammy with sweat as she inwardly noted that this man, though not as handsome as Yan Zheng, was clearly just as sharp and hard to fool.

Remembering the old saying "strike first to gain the upper hand," she suddenly swung the tray as if to smash it over his head. His eyes turned icy in an instant, and he raised an arm to block.

But the tray swing was a feint. She immediately kicked him in the abdomen. Sui Yuanqing’s face twisted in shock and pain as he doubled over, while Fan Changyu struck the back of his neck with her other hand.

A normal person would have been knocked unconscious by such a blow, but Sui Yuanqing still had the strength to overturn the table to block her. Clutching his neck, he staggered to his feet and bolted toward the door with surprising speed.

Fan Changyu hadn’t expected his neck to be so tough. The guards outside, hearing the commotion of the overturned table, rushed toward the room. "General?" they called.

Having already considered that she might not be able to subdue him up close, Fan Changyu swiftly pulled out a thin rope she had pre-knotted into a noose and looped it around Sui Yuanqing’s neck.

The thick winter clothing had concealed the rope hidden in her sleeve.

As the guards burst through the door, they saw Fan Changyu tightening the noose around their young master’s neck with a fierce yank. Sui Yuanqing, one arm wedged against his throat, gripped the rope and struggled against her, his face flushed red—whether from lack of air or fury, it was hard to tell.

Sui Yuanqing possessed astonishing arm strength. Normally, a single tug from him should have sent the audacious woman flying toward him like a rag doll. Yet she only stumbled briefly before steadying herself and matching his force, pulling back with the strength of an ox.Sui Yuanqing's neck was no match for the strength of her two hands. As she dragged him over like a dead dog, hoisted him up, and pressed the sharp knife against his throat, half of his handsome face was contorted from suffocation, while the other half burned with fury, wishing he could slice the person behind him into a thousand pieces.

He snarled viciously, "You'd better not fall into my hands, or I'll skin you alive and hang your corpse on the city gate!"

Fan Changyu, currently holding him hostage under the county magistrate's name, wasn’t the least bit intimidated. She jabbed the sharp boning knife into his thigh, drawing a shallow wound: "Then let’s see if you skin me faster, or I stab you faster."

Though the stab wasn’t deep, it still drew blood. Yet Sui Yuanqing didn’t make a single sound.

The guards outside, however, were terrified—both worried for him and shocked that Sui Yuanqing had been captured by a woman.

The guard who had entered earlier was his personal guard, named Mu Shi. He immediately shouted at Fan Changyu, "Don’t harm my general!"

Fan Changyu said, "Do as I say, and I won’t hurt him."

Mu Shi and the others looked to Sui Yuanqing for confirmation. Gritting his teeth, Sui Yuanqing forced out, "Do as she says."

Then, in a voice only she could hear, he threatened, "I’ll remember you."

How had he ever thought this woman was meek at first glance?

Fan Changyu wondered why he only held a grudge against her and not the county magistrate. After all, she was technically acting on the magistrate’s behalf!

After a moment’s thought, she pressed the boning knife deeper into his flesh and called out to the guards outside, "Release the county magistrate now!"

Mu Shi shot a glare at the steward, looking as if he wanted to tear him apart on the spot.

The steward trembled so violently he nearly fainted.

Soon after, the county magistrate, who had been imprisoned for days, finally stepped out of the room. The moment he saw the scene in the courtyard, he almost passed out on the spot.

He’d rather stay locked up for another year than face this situation the moment he was freed!

A faint smile curled Sui Yuanqing’s lips as he asked, "My men have released the magistrate. Will you let me go now?"

As if to reassure her he wouldn’t retaliate immediately, he suddenly adopted the demeanor of a refined nobleman: "Don’t worry. Even if I were to capture you, I’d wait until you’ve fully escaped before doing so. I won’t act now."

Just then, a soldier rushed in through the main gate: "Report—rioters have gathered outside the county gates! The prisoners from the County Government Office have all been freed, and they’ve seized the military provisions meant for conscription, transporting them to the county gates to return them to the rioters!"

Sui Yuanqing’s face twisted with rage. He smiled coldly at Fan Changyu. "Whoever planned this was quite thorough."

Fan Changyu ignored him. The chaos at the County Government Office was likely Yan Zheng’s doing.

Right now, the man in her grasp was a hot potato. If she killed him, she’d be guilty of murdering a high-ranking official, and she’d probably have to spend the rest of her life hiding in a bandit den with Changning.

But if she let him go, she’d never have peace again.

She turned to the county magistrate. "Magistrate, the villagers of Qingping County have rebelled over the military grain levy. You must give them an answer to quell their anger."

As she spoke, her gaze flicked meaningfully toward the man she held hostage.The county magistrate turned pale upon hearing that the rioters had reached the city gates. If they entered the city, they would surely kill a few corrupt officials, and as the magistrate of Qingping County, he would undoubtedly be the first to be sacrificed as a scapegoat.

If he died, the higher-ups would demand an explanation and pin all the blame on him—after all, his governance had been mediocre at best, and the dead were the easiest to hold accountable.

When Fan Changyu gave him that meaningful look, the magistrate, though cowardly in the face of superiors, was shrewd enough to survive in officialdom. He instantly grasped her implication.

After considering its feasibility, his heart swelled with joy.

Indeed, he dared not act against these people, but the rioters needed someone to answer for their grievances. Why not just push this group out and let them bear the brunt of the rioters' wrath?

The magistrate, his belly protruding like a woman eight months pregnant, jiggled his chubby cheeks and avoided looking at Sui Yuanqing as he said, "The grain levy was ordered by you generals. Given the circumstances, I must trouble you to go to the city gates and explain yourselves to the people."

How the rioters dealt with them would be their own affair.

Sui Yuanqing merely sneered. "Fine, let's go to the gates and give them an explanation."

Mu Shi, meeting his gaze, understood and suppressed his visible anger.

They had a thousand soldiers lying in ambush on the slopes outside the city. At the signal of a single whistling arrow, their forces would descend and slaughter the entire Qingping County without hesitation!

Outside Qingping County, a contingent of troops bearing the Jizhou flag marched in a winding column along the official road. Leading them was the veteran general He Jingyuan, clad in heavy armor that overshadowed his usual scholarly demeanor, leaving only stern authority on his face.

Yet age had taken its toll—his hair and beard were streaked with white, and the exhaustion from sleepless nights left him looking weary.

Zheng Wenchang, riding half a step behind him, said, "Perhaps that scholar exaggerated. How could a mere magistrate of Qingping County dare to exploit the grain levy to oppress the people? I could have led the troops to investigate for you. Why trouble yourself to come personally?"

He Jingyuan shook his head, his gaze aged yet commanding. "Qingping County has salt lakes. For such an incident to occur during the grain levy suggests deeper complexities."

No sooner had he spoken than a scout galloped toward them from ahead. "Report—a hidden force of Chongzhou troops has been spotted in the forests ten li ahead on the slopes!"

Even Zheng Wenchang broke into a cold sweat at the scout's warning.