Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

Fan Changyu turned her head at the sound, her scalp nearly prickling with alarm.

To her misfortune, her clothes had snagged on a branch jutting from the steep slope. With a forceful tug, she managed to tear free, but the sudden movement caused the deerskin bracers tucked in her robe to slip out and tumble down, only stopping when caught by a snow-laden thicket.

Her heart inexplicably clenched when the vambraces fell.

They were Yan Zheng's gift for her sixteenth birthday.

Without hesitation, she rushed to retrieve them, unaware of the hidden pit beneath the snow and pine needles. Her foot plunged through empty air, sending her plummeting downward.

With her left arm injured and her right hand clutching the recovered bracers, she had no strength to climb. Fortunately, her collar suddenly tightened as someone hauled her up like a scruffed cat.

Dead branches and gravel tumbled into the dark abyss below, their echoes swallowed by the depths.

A shiver of fear ran through her as she twisted to see the one-eyed man who'd caught up. His posture was upright, but a vicious scar ran from his left eye across his nose to the right side of his face—terrifying to behold.

Pursing her lips, she met his gaze like a cornered leopard, eyes blazing with defiance.

Effortlessly holding her by the collar with one hand, his aura icy, his gaze lingered on the vambraces still clutched in her hand. "Willing to die for this?" he mocked, his voice unnaturally low and hoarse, as if his throat had been injured.

She thought bitterly that she hadn't known about the pit, but only snapped, "None of your business!"

Her right hand now free, she stuffed the bracers into her robe, preparing to defend herself.

Noticing this, his eyes darkened. "That important to you?" he asked abruptly.

Wondering why he cared, she retorted, "Obviously!"

Distracting him, she suddenly grabbed the wrist holding her collar, twisting to plant her feet against the pit wall to climb.

Better to seize control than leave her life in another's hands.

But anticipating her move, he leaned back, yanking her clear of the pit.

Crashing onto him, she was dazed by the impact with his hard armor. Before she could rise, he flipped her onto her back, pinning her down.

The complete domination made her hair stand on end. "Get off!" she snarled.

One hand pinned her wrist, the other pressed her shoulder, carefully avoiding her injured left arm. Barely a foot apart, he studied her as she glared back, chest heaving with rage and exertion.

The bracers stuffed in her robe accentuated the rise and fall, adding an unintended, provocative edge to the struggle.But the man restraining her seemed completely devoid of ulterior motives. His gaze fixed on Fan Changyu, his uninjured eye strikingly beautiful with pitch-black pupils that revealed no bottom, instinctively giving off a dangerous aura: "Who's that pretty boy down the mountain to you?"

Fan Changyu, burning with rage, refused to answer and kept struggling, only to be pressed down harder. Turning her head, she noticed the hand pinning her wrist bore a fresh ring of teeth marks on the index finger.

Memories surfaced of the two fake officers' conversation outside the old woman's house earlier. Could this be the "master" they mentioned? Not that bastard she'd stabbed full of holes?

So was it this man who saved her?

Her struggles weakened slightly as she couldn't help studying him, finding his dark eyes strangely familiar. She couldn't resist demanding: "Who are you?"

The man's voice was hoarse: "Answer my question first."

Calculating how soon the officers would arrive, Fan Changyu stalled by turning her head away, avoiding his gaze: "I don't know him."

The man scoffed: "Don't know him? Yet you risked your life protecting him on the river?"

Fan Changyu found this man utterly bizarre: "I was being chased by bandits when I came across his carriage. He kindly gave me a ride. When the bandits caught up, I helped him escape."

The pressure on her lessened slightly as the man glanced at the vambrace peeking from her collar, asking casually: "Who gave you this treasure you hold so dear?"

Fan Changyu cursed her injuries and hunger-weakened state—otherwise how could this bastard overpower her? Hoping the officers would hurry, she coldly parried: "Someone very important."

Thinking of Yan Zheng, her heart ached inexplicably.

The man seemed momentarily stunned by her answer. Noticing the redness around her eyes, he asked: "How important?"

Fan Changyu snapped: "None of your damn business!"

Snow cascaded from the pine tree as Xie Zheng rolled with her, one hand pressing firmly against her back—almost like seizing a chance to embrace her.

Seizing the perfect escape opportunity, Fan Changyu headbutted his chin hard. As he recoiled in pain, she scrambled up and kicked out.

Xie Zheng dodged nimbly—her powerful kick struck a thick pine instead, dislodging more snow.

Knowing she'd lost her advantage, Fan Changyu didn't press the attack. Using the snow as cover, she sprinted toward the official road below.

Their exchanges had revealed his martial prowess. Injured and exhausted, charging blindly would only invite humiliation.

She had to survive—had to return to Changning! No reckless heroics here!

Xie Zheng sat up in the snow, nursing his throbbing chin. More snow showered down as he tasted blood from biting his tongue during the impact.

Glancing toward Fan Changyu's fleeing figure, hearing approaching hoofbeats, he ultimately let her go.

With urgent battles in Jinzhou, the commander appearing in Jizhou would hand Li Huaian and his faction damning evidence if recognized.Though he had turned against Wei Yan, he had still done much for him in the past. The Li faction could never win him over; they only wished to see him and Wei Yan destroy each other.

And yet... knowing that she did not utterly despise him was enough.

At the very least, she still cherished the things he had given her, calling him someone very important.

The personal guard, uneasy about Xie Zheng coming alone, had ridden out to find him. Following the tracks along the winding mountain road, he found Xie Zheng sitting alone beneath a snow-laden pine, his solitary figure resembling a lone wolf. Eventually, the guard spoke up: "Marquis, the troops from Jizhou Prefecture will arrive soon. Let us go."

Xie Zheng gave a faint "Mm" in response. He walked back to the road, mounted his horse, and cast one last glance at the winding path obscured by the pine forest before spurring his horse away.

Fan Changyu raced all the way to the main road, finally encountering the troops who had been ascending from the foot of the mountain. Seeing the Jizhou flag fluttering in the wind and the hundred or so soldiers, she confirmed they were indeed government troops and finally allowed herself to relax.

Li Huaian and a few soldiers approached her. "Miss, are you alright?"

Fan Changyu nodded, panting heavily, and pointed toward the steep slope behind her. "There’s a group of men dressed as soldiers who claimed to be merchants staying with a blind old woman. They’re highly suspicious—likely bandits in disguise. Please hurry after them, don’t let them escape."

Zheng Wenchang, leading the troops, immediately dispatched a large contingent to pursue them, leaving only a dozen or so soldiers behind to protect Li Huaian.

Seeing how out of breath Fan Changyu was, Li Huaian fetched a water flask from his horse and handed it to her. "Here, have some water."

Perhaps worried she might mind, he added, "This is a spare flask. It hasn’t been used."

Fan Changyu took it with thanks and gulped down several mouthfuls before catching her breath.

Li Huaian bowed slightly toward her. "My name is Li Huaian. I must thank you for saving my life yesterday."

Fan Changyu replied, "It was your kindness in giving me a ride first."

Li Huaian insisted, "A mere ride cannot compare to the debt of saving a life. May I ask your name, so I may properly repay you in the future?"

Fan Changyu had no choice but to answer, "Lin’an, Fan Changyu."

A flicker of surprise crossed Li Huaian’s gentle eyes. "The entire Qingping County was massacred, and Lin’an Town nearby suffered the same fate, with only a few elderly, women, and children surviving. Were you the one who lured away the bandits to protect those families?"

Fan Changyu had been worried about Changning and the others, but hearing that the neighbors hiding in the dry well had escaped, her face lit up with relief. "Yes, that was me. How did you know about this?"

Li Huaian said, "I am ashamed to admit it. With the rebels running rampant, after Lord He Jingyuan of Jizhou personally went to guard the pass at Lucheng, I was appointed by the court to temporarily oversee Jizhou in his stead. Unfortunately, I had just arrived in Jizhou yesterday when I encountered the bandits. Thanks to your protection, I was rescued and later heard about the incident in Qingping County."

Fan Changyu finally understood—this man was also an official, and a high-ranking one at that, like Lord He of Jizhou. No wonder he could appear here alongside the Jizhou troops.

Her tone grew noticeably more distant as she asked, "May I ask, sir, if my younger sister and the neighbors are safe now?"

Hearing her sudden shift in address, Li Huaian remained as warm as ever. "They have been temporarily housed at the courier station in Jizhou Prefecture. They are safe for now."After answering her, he smiled warmly and said, "Miss Fan, there's no need to be so formal. We're not in court; you don't have to address me as 'Your Honor.'"

Fan Changyu nodded, but the next time she spoke, she still called him "Your Honor." Li Huaian chuckled and shook his head, ultimately deciding not to correct her again.

They rested briefly where they were. Half an hour later, Zheng Wenchang returned with the soldiers from their search. He had found numerous footprints but hadn't caught sight of the bandits. Instead, he discovered the elderly woman Fan Changyu had hidden near the pine forest.

Questioning the old woman yielded the same answers Fan Changyu had given earlier. The woman, fearing damage to Fan Changyu's reputation, made no mention of the man among the bandits who had falsely claimed to be her husband and shared a room with her.

Though the bandits remained at large, at least Fan Changyu had been found. Zheng Wenchang left some men to continue searching the area while he escorted Li Huaian back to the main city of Jizhou.

It was only on the way back that Fan Changyu learned the truth about the magistrate of Qingping County. When the bandits stormed the city, the magistrate and his family had fled in panic without even attempting to organize the yamen runners to resist. After Song Yan left for the capital to take the imperial exams, Mother Song had moved in with the magistrate's family, claiming her own home was too lonely. That night, when the bandits attacked, she fled with them.

No one expected the bandits to chase them over ten miles to slaughter the magistrate's family. Mother Song ultimately met a tragic end under their blades.

The most heartbreaking fate was that of Head Constable Wang and his wife. Wang had rallied his yamen runners, intending to block the bandits at the city gates as they had done with the rioters outside the walls before. But the bandits struck first, breaching the gates. Outnumbered, the constable and his wife fell at the city entrance.

Hearing all this, Fan Changyu felt a heavy weight in her chest the entire journey.

Upon reaching the main city of Jizhou, she went to the courier station to find Changning, only to learn that someone had set fire to the station and kidnapped her in the chaos.

Endless wilderness stretched before them as six or seven riders emerged from the rugged mountain path. The sound of a babbling brook accompanied their brief stop to rest, their horses drinking from the stream after the long ride.

A five- or six-year-old girl was lifted off the horse by a handsome yet sinister-looking young man, still quietly sobbing.

Sui Yuanqing hadn't expected the child to cry so much—she hadn't stopped the entire journey. But with a child's fragile spine, he didn't dare knock her unconscious, fearing he might accidentally break it. After all, losing the girl would render the sacrifice of his last remaining forces in Jizhou pointless.

Holding the sniffling child like a kitten, he impatiently threatened, "If you keep crying, I'll throw you into the river."

Changning, terrified, pursed her lips, and her quiet sobs erupted into loud wails. Sui Yuanqing's face darkened instantly.

Just then, a guard handed him a flask of fresh water. Without hesitation, he tossed the child toward him. "Do whatever it takes to make her stop crying."

The incessant crying grated on his nerves, and the pain from his wounds on his waist and shoulder only fueled his irritation. If not for the child's usefulness, her delicate neck would have been snapped long ago.

The guard holding Changning looked miserable. Killing was one thing, but comforting a child? That was beyond him. Still, under Sui Yuanqing's orders, he forced a stiff smile and tried to soothe her. But Changning, seeing his unnatural grin, only cried harder, nearly choking on her tears.The guard noticed Sui Yuanqing's icy glare and broke out in a cold sweat, redoubling his efforts to comfort Changning.

But gradually, he realized something was seriously wrong with Changning. She didn’t seem to be crying anymore—she was genuinely struggling to breathe, her mouth gaping wide, her face and neck flushed red, yet still gasping for air.

Fearing the child might come to harm under his watch, the guard hurriedly called out to Sui Yuanqing, "Young Master, this child seems to have wheezing disease."

Sui Yuanqing glanced at the child, who looked as if she might suffocate at any moment, and his expression darkened further.

He had gone to such lengths to snatch this child away. If she died on the road now, all he’d gain was Xie Zheng’s hatred—no benefit at all.

"Check if she has any medicine on her," he ordered.

He had a half-sister who suffered from wheezing disease—she coughed every few steps, gasped for breath constantly, and rarely dared to leave her room, always carrying medicine with her.

After searching, the guard replied nervously, "N-none."

"Put her on the ground," Sui Yuanqing commanded.

Once Changning was laid flat, it took a while before her breathing gradually steadied.

Now aware of her condition, Sui Yuanqing refrained from frightening her further. He took a water flask from the guard and handed it to her. "Thirsty?"

Changning was clearly terrified of him. She nodded, then shook her head, her face streaked with tears, looking utterly pitiful.

Sui Yuanqing hauled her upright and pressed the flask to her lips. "Drink."

Still frightened but too exhausted from the attack to cry again, Changning took small sips. The water soothed her parched, aching throat from all the crying.

Sui Yuanqing screwed the cap back on and stood, heading toward the horses. "Keep moving. Just make sure she doesn’t die on the way."

When the guard lifted Changning onto the horse, her eyes were still brimming with tears, her lips pressed tightly shut. Though young, she was clever—she had gathered from their conversations that these villains had mistaken her for someone else’s daughter. If she revealed the truth now, they’d surely kill her, and she’d never see her sister again.

The thought of her sister made fresh tears well up. She fished out the bamboo whistle hanging around her neck and blew into it sporadically.

Three days later, in Lu City.

Gongsun Yin received a letter from Yanzhou. After reading it, his fan slipped from his hand in shock. "Since when did Xie Jiuhang have a daughter?" he muttered in disbelief.

But then again, the man had kept a lover hidden all this time—who was to say he didn’t also have a secret child? With a strange expression, he took the letter and went to find Xie Zheng. When he entered the tent, however, Xie Zheng was nowhere in sight.

He knelt on a cushion to wait. As he did, he noticed, for the first time ever, a small dish of tangerine peel candy placed on the low table.

Since when did Xie Zheng’s personal guards become so careless? he wondered. The man despises sweets—leaving candy here is just asking for punishment.

Out of boredom, he tried one and found the sweet-and-sour flavor surprisingly pleasant.

After eating three pieces, he magnanimously pocketed the rest to spare the guard from Xie Zheng’s wrath when he returned.

A short while later, Xie Zheng strode in, his armor dusted with snow. Spotting Gongsun Yin, he merely asked, "What brings you here?"

Gongsun Yin scrutinized him with a peculiar look. "Business, of course."Xie Zheng ignored his probing gaze, removed his cloak, and handed it to the personal guard behind him. As he sat down, he noticed the entire plate of tangerine peel candy was empty. His expression darkened instantly as he shot a glance at Gongsun Yin. "You ate them?"