Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

Sui Yuanhuai studied the child who had suddenly barged in. The boy bore no resemblance to him, yet the moment Aunt Lan laid eyes on the child, she'd claimed he was the spitting image of Yuan Huai in his youth.

Yuan Huai couldn't recall his own childhood appearance—his only memories were the searing pain after the fire and the scars that had left his face unrecognizable.

Resting his chin on one hand, he sneered at the timid child standing by the door. "Father? Who gave you permission to call me that?"

Yu Bao'er tightened his grip on the calligraphy sheets, clearly at a loss. His wide, innocent eyes—black and white like polished stones—stared at the man draped in a heavy cloak, seated imposingly above him. Unsure what else to call him, Bao'er simply pressed his lips together and stayed silent, looking pitifully obedient.

He had traveled south with his mother, only for their caravan to be intercepted by a troop of black-armored guards.

That day was his first encounter with this man. Snow fell thick as cotton floss as the man, sickly and pale, leaned against the carriage surrounded by guards. His unnaturally pallid fingers, weakened by prolonged illness, held back the carriage curtain as he fixed Bao'er and his mother with a gaze so dark it bordered on cruel—tinged with the vicious satisfaction of impending vengeance.

Bao'er feared him. His mother seemed even more terrified, trembling as she held him close.

From that day on, he never saw his mother again.

Brought here, he wasn't punished. Instead, servants attended to his daily needs. But whenever he asked about his mother, they avoided the subject. Only one kind-hearted nanny dared whisper snippets about her.

She told him this man was his father. If he behaved well and pleased him, he might be allowed to see his mother again.

Since arriving, Bao'er had been nothing but obedient. Yet no one ever mentioned reuniting him with his mother. Two days ago, he finally broke down—refusing to eat, crying in protest.

In the end, a stranger came and told him that if he studied hard, learned his characters, and excelled in his lessons, he might get to see his mother.

So he obeyed. Today, for the first time since his arrival, he was led out of his courtyard.

Yuan Huai watched Bao'er's timid demeanor with disdain, his gaze flickering to the calligraphy sheets clutched in the boy's hands. "I heard someone's teaching you to write. Bring them here."

Even seated, the man exuded an oppressive gloom that made others shrink back.

Bao'er was afraid too, but he still took small, determined steps forward.

The only feature he truly shared with Yu Qianqian was his eyes—round and dark, with slightly downturned corners that made him look gentle, harmless, and inexplicably pitiable.

As Bao'er approached, Yuan Huai's expression faltered. For a fleeting moment, it was as if he saw her —the woman who, even heavily pregnant, had never stopped plotting her escape.

Fragile enough that he could crush her with a finger, yet no matter how he punished her, she never learned. Given the slightest chance, she'd run without hesitation.

Like a captive deer, forever dreaming of returning to the wild.

Only when Bao'er thrust the calligraphy sheets in front of him did Yuan Huai snap out of it. His face darkened inexplicably as his pale, bony fingers flipped through the pages, making Bao'er nervously clutch the hem of his robe.A moment later, he scattered the stack of practice sheets Yu Bao'er had written as if they were scrap paper, sneering coldly, "What kind of nonsense is this? The characters are as limp as boneless—rewrite them."

Yu Bao'er looked at the sheets she had carefully written in hopes of seeing her mother, her eyes reddening slightly, but she remained silent.

Soon, a servant entered with bated breath, quietly setting up a small desk with writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. The entire process was nearly soundless.

Everyone serving in the courtyard knew Sui Yuanhuai was unpredictable in his moods. They entered to serve with their lives hanging by a thread, not daring to slacken even the slightest bit.

Yu Bao'er watched all this, still somewhat at a loss. Seated behind the desk, Sui Yuanhuai lifted his eyelids slightly to glance at her and said coldly, "Practice here."

Yu Bao'er mustered her courage to ask, "If I write well, can I see my mother?"

Sui Yuanhuai's smile grew even more mocking. "Who taught you to say such things to me?"

Tears welled up in Yu Bao'er's eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. "No one taught me. I just miss my mother."

Sui Yuanhuai picked up a bamboo scroll from the table, his voice icy. "Go practice your writing. Cry again, and you'll never see her again in this lifetime."

When Yu Bao'er obediently went to the low desk to practice, her small body turned slightly away from him. Struggling to hold the brush thicker than her fingers, her tears plopped onto the paper, leaving tiny watermarks. Afraid he would notice, she didn’t dare wipe her tears or let out a sob, only slowing her breath to cry silently.

She thought she was hiding it well, but the man seated in the high position saw every little movement. His eyes half-lowered, shadowed with darkness.

He disliked this child—not only because that woman had been ungrateful, but also because the child’s existence posed a serious threat to his position.

Compared to a sickly invalid who couldn’t even practice martial arts, a healthy, young, and easily controlled child was clearly the better choice.

The closer the Zhao mother and son grew to this child, the more wary he became.

Back then, to survive, he had endured the agony of fire, leaving him with lifelong ailments.

Later, to appear presentable, he had suffered countless inhuman tortures, slowly replacing the burned skin on his body. The pain of flaying was a torment only the dead should know, yet he had endured it while alive.

Having struggled so hard to survive, anyone who dared stand in his way would die!

With these thoughts, his expression grew even more twisted. The hand gripping the bamboo scroll clenched so tightly his pale knuckles seemed on the verge of snapping.

A maid entered to serve tea and, caught off guard by his expression, let out a short scream. The tea spilled, the cup shattering on the ground. The maid’s face drained of color as she prostrated herself on the floor, trembling as she begged, "Young Master... Young Master, spare me..."

Sui Yuanhuai loathed it when servants looked at him with horror, as if he were a ghost. His thin lips curled as he uttered blood-chilling words: "Drag her out and beat her to death!"

Someone entered almost immediately. The maid barely had time to scream before her mouth was gagged and she was taken away. The entire process was swift and silent, like a shadow puppet show.

Yu Bao'er sat at the low desk, staring blankly at the scene. A drop of ink fell from her brush, staining the nearly finished practice sheet.The person seated behind the desk watched his pale little face with a cold gaze before suddenly speaking maliciously, "If you don’t behave, your mother will end up just like her."

Yu Bao'er was clearly terrified. That day, after finishing his calligraphy practice in Sui Yuanhuai’s study, he fell ill for several days, crying out for his mother even in his nightmares.

Lan Shi, who had fled the Eastern Palace years ago and married a wealthy merchant to develop external forces for Sui Yuanhuai, had not been by his side during the worst of his burn injuries. Seeing Yu Bao'er, she felt as if she were looking at the little imperial grandson she had once cared for, and her heart ached with pity. She pleaded with Sui Yuanhuai to let Yu Bao'er see his mother, only to be met with a sneer: "A mere maid beaten to death scared him into illness? Aunt Lan, have you forgotten? When I was his age, I had just survived the Eastern Palace fire."

Lan Shi, seeing the cold, mocking glint in Sui Yuanhuai’s dark eyes, dared not plead further for Yu Bao'er.

Three days later, Yu Bao'er slowly recovered, but his temperament became withdrawn. He spoke little and barely interacted with anyone, his only unwavering routine being calligraphy practice.

Fearing the child might be permanently traumatized, Lan Shi ordered servants to find a few clever children to be his playmates. Yet Yu Bao'er ignored them all, focusing solely on his own tasks.

Zhao Xun, who had been tasked with monitoring Yu Qianqian’s every move in Qingping County, knew of her and her son’s ties to the Fan Family. Boldly, he suggested to Lan Shi, "What if we bring the Fan Family’s youngest daughter here? Perhaps she could get Yu Bao'er to speak?"

Lan Shi hesitated visibly. "That child is now publicly known as the daughter of Wu'an Marquis and is under strict surveillance by the Prince’s household. How could we bring her here as a playmate for the young master?"

Zhao Xun replied, "The heir apparent is close to His Highness and fond of the young master as well. Without trying, Mother, how can we know the heir apparent would refuse?"

After a moment of silent exchange with her son, Lan Shi said, "Xun'er, even if it’s for the young master’s good, we must first seek His Highness’s permission."

Zhao Xun abruptly lowered his head. "I was only worried for the young master’s well-being and acted in haste."

Lan Shi admonished, "The entire Zhao Family’s future now rests in your hands. Your decisions determine our survival. Do not act recklessly."

Zhao Xun bowed respectfully. "I will remember your teachings, Mother."

When Lan Shi next sought an audience with Sui Yuanhuai, she found him, usually with little appetite, surprisingly enjoying a meal. The attendant beside him tasted each dish before he took a bite.

A glance at the peculiar dishes on the table told Lan Shi they were likely prepared by Consort Yu. That woman, soft as dough in appearance, was stubborn beyond measure. Lan Shi had tried to discipline her before but failed to soften her temper.

Her sudden overtures to Sui Yuanhuai now were likely due to learning of Yu Bao'er’s illness, hoping to see her child through this gesture.

As for how news had reached Consort Yu, whose courtyard was tightly guarded—it was clear Sui Yuanhuai had allowed it.

Lan Shi frowned. Even now, she couldn’t fathom Sui Yuanhuai’s true feelings toward Consort Yu. Back when his health had deteriorated, she had selected several concubines for him, fearing the worst.

Sui Yuanhuai understood her intentions. Though disgusted, he had no choice but to select one to bear his heir.Lan Shi sometimes thought that it was probably from that time onward Sui Yuanhuai no longer trusted her completely.

But if given another chance, she would still do the same. She was the Crown Princess's confidante. If the imperial grandson was on the brink of death, she had to ensure he left behind a bloodline to continue the cause of vengeance—it was the only way to honor the Crown Princess's spirit in the afterlife.

Back then, among the maidservants selected for intimacy, Sui Yuanhuai had bypassed all the glamorous and alluring ones, choosing instead Consort Yu, who was timid as a rabbit and obedient.

But perhaps frightened by his unpredictable temper, and already naturally timid, Consort Yu became listless after serving him and later fell gravely ill. The household whispered behind her back that she had been terrified into such a state by Sui Yuanhuai.

He punished those who spread rumors and even intended to dispose of Consort Yu as well. But when the physician examined her pulse, he detected a pregnancy.

That was how Consort Yu managed to keep her life. However, after recovering from her illness, her temperament seemed to change entirely. Outwardly docile, she harbored many schemes in secret. She seized every opportunity to flee, and even when caught, no matter how furious Sui Yuanhuai became, she focused solely on ensuring her own comfort to the greatest extent possible.

When morning sickness struck hard, she would tinker in the small kitchen to prepare her own meals. Even when confined, she ate and drank well, taking care of her health without the slightest neglect. And the moment she spotted another chance, she would vanish like a rabbit again.

Years ago, when Consort Yu successfully escaped while seven months pregnant, she had coaxed Sui Yuanhuai into staying at a manor for a while to relax. She personally cooked but laced the food with drugs. After drugging everyone at the manor, she gathered her jewelry, took her trusted maid and a guard, and fled.

When Sui Yuanhuai awoke, he nearly destroyed the entire manor, cursing her as nothing but a lowly servant. Yet he mobilized nearly all his forces to search for her. The search lasted five or six years before he finally found her in a small place like Lin'an Town.

Lan Shi had assumed that, given his temperament, he would eliminate the mother and keep the child after capturing Consort Yu and her son. But instead, he merely separated and confined them, neither mistreating nor questioning them. Apart from the occasional sarcastic remark, he seemed indifferent. Lan Shi couldn’t quite grasp his intentions.

As Sui Yuanhuai dined, he noticed Lan Shi standing nearby, hesitating for a long while. He asked, "Aunt Lan, do you have something to discuss with me?"

Lan Shi wasn’t sure if bringing up Yu Bao'er now was wise, but she steeled herself and said, "The young master’s condition still shows no improvement. I heard from Xun'er that while in Qingping County, Consort Yu was close with the Fan Family. I dare to suggest… since the youngest daughter of the Fan Family is currently in the residence, perhaps… we could let her be the young master’s companion temporarily, to see if his condition improves."

Sui Yuanhuai didn’t believe Changning would live long enough to return anyway. Perhaps because the meal had been to his liking, he was in a relatively good mood and didn’t wish to grant that woman’s wish—to see her son—so soon. Resting his chin on his hand, he pondered briefly before suddenly smiling. "Aunt Lan already has a plan. Go find Qingdi, then."

As she stepped out of the room, Lan Shi still couldn’t quite believe it. Today, Sui Yuanhuai seemed far more agreeable than usual.Sui Yuanqing brought Changning back to the Changxin Prince Manor, casually handing her over to the servants with only a brief instruction to ensure the child didn’t starve or freeze to death. Lan Shi, using Sui Yuanhuai’s name as pretext, claimed she wanted to find a playmate for Yu Bao’er. Without further questions, Sui Yuanqing granted her request.

Led by a maidservant to fetch Changning, Lan Shi opened the door to the woodshed and found a little girl curled up in a pile of straw. She appeared unwashed for days, her hair in messy tufts, her face smudged with dirt, and her cheeks reddened from the cold. Yet her eyes were strikingly bright—clear and alert like a deer’s, watching them warily.

Having come from the palace, Lan Shi had seen countless beauties in her lifetime. But the sight of this child gave her pause—this little girl would grow into a rare beauty.

Jizhou.

Fan Changyu kicked open the door of the dungeon, sending the guard sprawling. With a single swing of her black iron cleaver, sparks flew as the lock on the cell door clattered to the ground.

Panting heavily, the soldiers behind her called out, “Miss, don’t rush ahead—there are many bandits up there—” Their words trailed off as they took in the scene of groaning bandits strewn across the ground.

Ignoring the belated arrival of the soldiers, Fan Changyu stepped into the dimly lit dungeon. She lifted the drowsy children, still groggy from the drugged fumes, checking each one while calling Changning’s name.

Recently, Jizhou had seen a sudden surge in child abductions and kidnappings. The authorities claimed a group of traffickers was taking advantage of the chaos to snatch children. Fearing Changning might have been taken, Fan Changyu clung to hope, following the soldiers as they raided trafficking dens day after day.

Though she hadn’t found Changning, her reputation for wielding a butcher’s knife with unmatched ferocity had spread far and wide. Every time a den trafficking children or women was dismantled, her bravery in battle earned her the highest honors. Yet, since she wasn’t an official, the government could only reward her with hefty sums of silver.

As the stack of banknotes in her pocket grew thicker, Fan Changyu’s anxiety deepened—Changning was still missing. Interrogations revealed some children had already been sold to different prefectures. She noted down every girl matching Changning’s description. Leaving half the silver with Aunt Zhao, she packed the other half along with several butcher knives, determined to traverse multiple prefectures in search of her sister.

To aid her search, the officials suggested commissioning a portrait of Changning. Only then did Fan Changyu recall the New Year’s painting done by a scholar, which she had framed and hung in their room. But when she returned home to retrieve it, turning the house upside down yielded nothing.

Previously preoccupied, she hadn’t given the painting a second thought. Now its disappearance sent a jolt of alarm through her. It wasn’t the work of a master—who would steal it? Moreover, after the massacre by Clear Breeze Stronghold, Lin’an Town was practically deserted. Thieves seeking loot would target wealthy households, not the impoverished homes in the western district.

After much deliberation, Fan Changyu realized the only person who could have taken the painting was that bastard she had ambushed that night—the one who had likely returned to block the escape route from the dry well!The painting depicted herself, Changning, and Yan Zheng, making it easy for outsiders to mistake them for a family.

After the people of Clear Breeze Stronghold were all captured, only that bastard and a female bandit managed to escape. Could it be that they had abducted Changning based on that painting, seeking revenge against her?

Fan Changyu considered that Jizhou was no longer a safe haven for that bastard. Since he was originally a soldier from Chongzhou, he might have fled back there.

With a direction to search for them, she bought a horse that very day and set off for Chongzhou, asking for directions along the way.