Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

Gongsun Yin thought to himself that Xie Zheng actually knew there were candies in the dish, but he didn’t consider eating a few pieces to be a big deal. He replied frankly, “Yes, what about it?”

Xie Zheng’s face turned icy as he ordered his men, “Throw him out!”

The two personal guards exchanged glances, took one look at Xie Zheng’s expression, and ultimately had no choice but to haul Gongsun Yin toward the exit.

Gongsun Yin was stunned. By the time he regained his senses, he was already being dragged to the tent entrance. Furious, he shouted, “Xie Jiuhang! Are you serious? I only ate a few of your candies!”

During his struggle, the candies he had tucked in his pocket spilled onto the ground.

When Gongsun Yin met Xie Zheng’s gaze, he felt the man’s expression grow even colder.

Seeing the usually arrogant man crouch down to pick up the scattered tangerine peel candies one by one, Gongsun Yin froze in surprise.

Straightening his expression, he shook off the guards’ grip and commanded, “You two, leave first. I have important matters to discuss with the Marquis.”

The guards had never truly intended to throw Gongsun Yin out in the first place. With his words and Xie Zheng remaining silent, they promptly withdrew.

Gongsun Yin walked back to the low table and frowned. “Did that Fan girl give these to you?”

Xie Zheng didn’t answer.

Gongsun Yin knew it must be true. Unable to hold back, he said, “They’re just a few tangerine peel candies. I’ll pay you back, alright?”

Xie Zheng placed the retrieved candies back into the porcelain dish, the hard sweets clinking unevenly against the surface. He lifted his dark, frigid eyes to Gongsun Yin—like sunless rocks buried deep in the ocean for millennia. Just meeting his gaze sent an inexplicable chill down one’s spine.

Gongsun Yin rubbed the goosebumps on his arms and finally shut his mouth.

Xie Zheng asked, “What did you come for?”

At this, Gongsun Yin’s expression instantly turned strange. He looked at Xie Zheng. “Do you have a daughter?”

Xie Zheng didn’t answer, only scoffed.

Gongsun Yin understood it must be a baseless rumor. He took out the letter from Jizhou and handed it over. “Changxin Wang sent this. He says your daughter is in his hands. If you don’t want her used as a sacrifice, trade Jizhou for her.”

Xie Zheng didn’t take the letter, clearly not even bothering to read it. He sneered, “Has Sui Tuo gone mad knowing he’ll never sit on that throne in this lifetime?”

Gongsun Yin also found the matter bizarre. Logically, if Changxin Wang dared to send such a letter, he must have been confident in his leverage. Yet, as things stood, the letter seemed utterly ridiculous.

He said, “Could he have mistaken some rumor and thought you had a daughter lost among the common folk?”

As he spoke, Gongsun Yin rummaged in his sleeve and pulled out a bamboo whistle, placing it on the table with a laugh. “Oh, right. This whistle came with the letter—supposedly a keepsake from your daughter.”

When Xie Zheng’s indifferent gaze swept over the whistle, it suddenly paused.

He recognized this whistle.

When he was severely injured at the Fan Family’s residence, Wei Yan’s martial assassins had ransacked the place for something, killing everyone in their path. As he fled with that child, she had been blowing this whistle the entire way.

Hadn’t she and her sister both escaped safely? Why would this whistle end up in Changxin Wang’s hands?

Xie Zheng picked up the whistle and examined it closely before coldly ordering, “Investigate. Find out what happened to the Fan child who was sent to Jizhou Prefecture.”Upon hearing it was related to the Fan Family, Gongsun Yin quickly grasped the situation and asked, "Could the one who fell into Changxin Wang's hands be that Miss Fan's younger sister?"

Xie Zheng pressed his lips together in silence, tacitly confirming it.

Gongsun Yin hadn’t expected such a misunderstanding either. His folding fan snapped open and shut in his hand before he finally looked up at Xie Zheng. "If it really is her sister, what do you plan to do?"

Jizhou

Though early spring had arrived, winter in the northern regions always lingered longer than in the south. A thin layer of unmelted snow still clung to the red plum blossoms in the courtyard, while icicles hanging from the eaves glistened under the sunlight, slowly dripping water.

Fan Changyu stood beneath the eaves, staring blankly at two sparrows hopping and pecking at food on the courtyard wall. Her back was straight, but faint shadows under her eyes betrayed her exhaustion.

She had barely slept since the day the courier station caught fire and Changning went missing.

Her sister had been abducted, yet she didn’t even know who the enemy was.

During the fire at the station, Aunt Zhao had carried Changning out, only to be stabbed and collapse in pain, helplessly watching as masked men snatched Changning away.

Fortunately, the wound wasn’t fatal, and Aunt Zhao had survived.

After investigating, the authorities speculated it was an act of revenge, reasoning that since the kidnappers had taken Changning rather than killing her on the spot, they must intend to use her as leverage.

But three days had passed, and the abductors seemed to have vanished without a trace, sending no demands.

Fan Changyu couldn’t think of any enemies she might have made. The only possible retaliation could have come from Clear Breeze Stronghold.

However, the remnants of the stronghold had already been eradicated by the authorities. Even if a few stragglers remained, they wouldn’t dare cause such a commotion in the heart of Jizhou.

At first, she had suspected the strangely behaving soldiers who rescued her were bandits in disguise. But later, Li Huaian told her that Lu City, fearing Jizhou’s weakened defenses after troop withdrawals, had sent a light cavalry unit to assist.

If bandits hadn’t taken Changning, Fan Changyu recalled the Clear Breeze Stronghold leader’s words—that it wasn’t her father who had escorted the treasure map back then, but a eunuch named Ma Taiyuan. This led her to suspect the still-mysterious enemies of her parents.

Over the past two days, she had inquired about the Four Seas Security Company and Ma Taiyuan, confirming the bandit leader hadn’t lied.

The only remaining lead was the official records of the interrogations of those black-clad men. With no other options left, Fan Changyu had come to seek Li Huaian’s help in accessing the files on her parents’ deaths and the two attacks on her family.

After a servant announced her arrival, she had waited in the front hall for the time it took to drink a cup of tea. The weight of her worries made sitting still unbearable, so she stepped out to the corridor for air.

A clerk hurried over from the other end of the walkway and, upon seeing Fan Changyu, said politely, "The magistrate is in the Literary Archives. Please follow me, Miss."

Fan Changyu thanked him and strode after him, paying no attention to the elegant scenery of the estate.

The Literary Archives were heated by an underfloor system, and warmth enveloped her as soon as she stepped inside, banishing the lingering chill of early spring.

Li Huaian sat at a desk in his crimson official robes, reviewing documents with a brush in hand. Compared to the gentle and amiable demeanor Fan Changyu remembered from their first meeting, the authority of his position now lent him an air of detachment and solemnity.

The clerk bowed respectfully. "Magistrate, Miss Fan is here."Li Huaian finally looked up from the pile of documents, setting down his brush as he said, "Apologies for keeping Miss Fan waiting. All the records of Jizhou Prefecture are stored in the Archive. It took some time to arrange for the subordinates to prepare them. We may proceed now."

As a member of the Li faction, temporarily filling in for He Jingyuan's position in Jizhou, it would not reflect well on him to be seen investigating the Archive's records upon arrival—let alone bringing an outsider along. It was necessary to dismiss any unrelated personnel for discretion.

Fan Changyu replied, "I've troubled you, sir."

Li Huaian smiled at her, once again resembling the gentle and earnest scholar he appeared to be. "If not for Miss Fan, I might have lost my life to the mountain bandits. Accessing these records is well within my authority. Please don't stand on ceremony."

As they were about to leave, he glanced at Fan Changyu's attire and instructed a clerk to fetch a cloak. "Any records borrowed from the Archive must be officially logged. Since you'll be accompanying me inside, it's best to wear this cloak to avoid drawing attention."

Understanding that he was bending the rules to help her—and not wishing to cause him trouble—Fan Changyu donned the cloak, pulling the hood over her head until only her chin and faintly rosy lips remained visible.

Li Huaian's gaze lingered for a fleeting moment longer than necessary.

On their way out, Fan Changyu encountered no one—likely cleared away by Li Huaian's orders.

Upon reaching their destination, they were met by a stern contingent of armored guards stationed outside the gates. Only after Li Huaian presented his token were they permitted entry.

Following him into the towering, somber structure, Fan Changyu noticed black cloth draped over all the windows and doors. The dim glow of a single lamp barely illuminated the endless rows of shelves crammed with bamboo scrolls and documents.

Li Huaian carried a candleholder ahead, searching through the labeled shelves before retrieving a scroll. "From last December—found it."

He handed it to Fan Changyu, who quickly began scanning its contents. Li Huaian moved closer to provide better lighting but maintained a respectful half-step distance, ensuring she felt no discomfort.

After swiftly reviewing the scroll, Fan Changyu's expression darkened. "This record states my parents were indeed killed by mountain bandits for the Treasure Map."

Li Huaian's eyes flickered, though he refrained from suggesting the records had been tampered with. The only one in Jizhou with the power to alter official documents so brazenly would be the governor, who had personally gone to guard Lucheng.

He offered gently, "Perhaps the bandit leader lied to save his own life."

Fan Changyu remained silent. She had already verified the bandit leader's claims before daring to approach Li Huaian.

Had the authorities deliberately recorded it this way, or was it a hasty conclusion to close the case? Finding no clues about her parents' enemies in the official records, her heart grew heavier. After leaving the Archive, she bid Li Huaian farewell and returned to her temporary lodgings.

Aunt Zhao, still injured, required constant care. In Fan Changyu's absence, the few surviving neighbors from the post station fire took turns looking after her.

The remaining survivors of Qingping County—mostly the elderly, weak, and women—had been relocated to the main city by Jizhou authorities, who provided monthly provisions.

Unbeknownst to Fan Changyu, news of her Archive visit had already been rushed by courier to Lucheng that very day.The night was cold and the dew heavy. He Jingyuan finished reading the letter sent from Jizhou under the lamplight, murmuring to himself after a long silence, "I've already given him the item. Those two children know nothing. Given the current situation, he shouldn’t make a move against them now."

His aged eyelids were heavy with wrinkles, and as a certain possibility crossed his mind, his once refined face hardened slightly. "Could it be that Grand Tutor Li deliberately set this up to obtain what the Fan Family holds?"

After some deliberation, he finally picked up his brush and swiftly wrote a letter. Sealing it, he called for his personal guard outside the tent. "Deliver this letter to Jizhou at full speed and hand it to Wen Chang."

Zheng Wenchang was his prized disciple. Though He Jingyuan was not currently in Jizhou, Zheng Wenchang, who commanded the troops there, could act on his behalf. It was Zheng Wenchang who had informed him that Li Huaian had taken Fan Changyu to review the archives.

The guard took the letter and hurried away.

Gazing into the deep night, He Jingyuan sighed heavily. "The world isn’t yet in chaos, yet the people already suffer so. If true disorder comes, how many more will perish?"

In the camp of the Yanzhou forces stationed outside Lucheng, the central military tent was also brightly lit.

The scouts had confirmed the news: the little girl missing from the relay station was undoubtedly Changning.

Gongsun Yin pointed to the locations of Yanzhou and Chongzhou on the map and said, "I suspect deception here. Not only is Changxin Wang’s proposal to exchange a mere child for Yanzhou utterly absurd, but Yanzhou lies north of Chongzhou. The Northern Turks are currently attacking Jinzhou, and beyond Jinzhou, only Huizhou and Yanzhou stand in their way. You deliberately weakened Yanzhou’s defenses to lure him away from Jizhou and attack Yanzhou instead, relieving the siege on Jizhou, yet he didn’t take the bait. Why would he demand territory now? Even if Jinzhou, Huizhou, and Yanzhou all fell into his hands, he’d still need to divert forces to fend off the Northern Turks. Why would he let you shield him from foreign invaders while he marches south?"

Xie Zheng sat in an armchair, his cold gaze sweeping over the two locations Gongsun Yin had indicated before he suddenly chuckled. "They’re turning our own stratagem against us."

Gongsun Yin paused, then understood. Looking back at the map, realization dawned. "Changxin Wang saw through our feigned weakness in Yanzhou as a ploy to protect Jizhou. Now he pretends to target Yanzhou, but his real aim is to draw us away and continue attacking Jizhou?"

Unable to contain his excitement, he turned to Xie Zheng. "If we let Changxin Wang believe we’ve fallen for his ruse and rush back to defend Yanzhou, we can deploy our original tactic when the rebels attack Jizhou!"

Xie Zheng finished his thought. "The challenge lies in convincing Changxin Wang that we’re truly returning to Yanzhou."

Gongsun Yin nodded. "Exactly. Though Jinzhou is guarded by several of your brave generals, the troops stationed in Huizhou must not be moved as a precaution. Without a significant military maneuver, it’s hard to lure Changxin Wang into the trap."

Xie Zheng studied Yanzhou on the map for a moment before saying, "I’ll go to Yanzhou myself."

Gongsun Yin was startled—he intended to use himself as bait.

Concerned, Gongsun Yin asked, "What if Changxin Wang decides your life is worth more than Jizhou and truly turns to seize Yanzhou?"

Xie Zheng raised his eyes. "Didn’t you say Changxin Wang still counts on me to hold off foreign enemies so he can march south unimpeded?"Gongsun Yin wanted to say more, but Xie Zheng merely smiled, his careless expression carrying an air of arrogance: "If he truly dares to come for my life, I'll take his head on the battlefield—then the unrest in the northwest will be thoroughly quelled."

Gongsun Yin thought this man was utterly reckless, but then he suddenly realized something, his gaze turning complicated.

During the Battle of Chongzhou, Xie Zheng had fallen into a trap and nearly died on the battlefield. The rumors of his death had spread for so long that morale had long since wavered. The Xie Family Army had been handed over to that incompetent fool Wei Xuan, who then squandered it in countless defeats, further crushing their fighting spirit.

Now that he had returned, he needed to win an absolutely decisive victory to restore the Xie Family Army’s morale, which had been utterly ruined under Wei Xuan’s command.

Gongsun Yin even suspected that Wei Yan, unable to find Xie Zheng’s corpse and fearing his resurgence, had deliberately sent Wei Xuan to take over Huizhou and systematically dismantle the Xie Family Army.

Building an elite army took at least three to five years—but destroying one only required a few defeats.

Though Xie Zheng acted for the greater good, whether he also intended to help his beloved retrieve her sister in the process was something Gongsun Yin didn’t ask at this moment. Instead, he said, "Marquis, if you intend to use this strategy, you must either bring He Jingyuan under your command or... eliminate him. After all, the current military forces in Lucheng are all under his control. To create a trap capable of swallowing Changxin Wang’s fifty-thousand-strong army, we must mobilize all of Lucheng’s forces."

A hint of deeper meaning flickered in Xie Zheng’s half-lidded eyes. "After being in Lucheng for so long, it’s indeed time I met him."

The secret hidden behind the Fan couple—despite his men investigating for so long, they had found nothing. Aside from Wei Yan, only He Jingyuan likely knew the truth.