Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

Upstream of Jizhou.

The dam had been blown apart, its murky yellow waters spilling over the riverbed, surging downstream with the force of the torrential rain.

The downpour was like a waterfall. The camp after the night's fierce battle held only corpses and an oppressive silence.

The surviving soldiers were clearing the battlefield in the rain. An old man stood with the general responsible for building the floodgate dam, both gazing at the roaring floodwaters and the recruits who had fallen in battle that night, their faces heavy with unspoken grief.

After a long silence, the general finally asked the old man, "Grand Tutor, do you think releasing these floodwaters downstream will still serve any purpose?"

The one who had been trapped in this camp with Fan Changyu these past days was none other than Grand Tutor Tao, who had resigned from office and retired many years ago.

Raindrops slid down his wrinkled eyelids as he clasped his hands behind his back and looked skyward. "We can only do our best and leave the rest to fate."

Suddenly, the soldiers clearing the battlefield stopped their work, murmuring as they looked in one direction. Grand Tutor Tao and the camp's commanding general turned to see a woman riding slowly through the dark curtain of rain.

In the flashes of lightning, as she drew nearer, everyone could see several riders following behind her, all wearing Jizhou military uniforms, with heads washed clean of blood by the storm hanging from their saddles.

The woman was Fan Changyu.

Grand Tutor Tao seemed to guess what had happened. He raised his aged eyes to meet hers, his gaze showing three parts surprise, three parts admiration, and four parts self-satisfaction at having recognized her potential.

The riders reached them. The soldiers dismounted and knelt in the rain to report, unable to suppress their joy: "General, when we went to pursue the three fleeing scouts, we found this young lady had already intercepted and killed them all! We brought back their heads."

The general overseeing the dam construction was first startled, then overjoyed. He stepped forward through the rain and cupped his hands respectfully toward Fan Changyu. "By preventing these rebels from reporting back, you've saved countless soldiers and civilians in Lucheng from disaster. On behalf of Lucheng's people and troops, I thank you, honored warrior."

Fan Changyu held the reins of a chestnut warhorse taken from the scouts. "You honor me too much, General. I was merely fulfilling the dying request of that officer from the mining camp."

Raindrops fell from the general's eyelids as he sighed heavily. "That was General Andingbei."

Andingbei? Fan Changyu thought. Now that's a name befitting a great general.

The soldiers who had died this rainy night—whether generals or common troops—could perhaps rest in peace knowing their desperate struggle hadn't been in vain.

Her main reason for returning was to retrieve her pack. When she'd crossed Witch Ridge to intercept the three scouts, she'd left her belongings on her horse. Upon returning, her steed wasn't where she'd left it at the mountain's base. Thinking the old horse knew its way home, she'd followed the cavalry pursuing the scouts back to camp.

After brief pleasantries, Fan Changyu stated her purpose. But the night had been too chaotic, and no one had noticed if a horse had returned on its own.

The camp commander arranged a separate tent for Fan Changyu to rest in while ordering his men to search for her belongings. Having traversed mountains and valleys through the stormy night, Fan Changyu was bruised in many places, her clothes thoroughly soaked. She needed to clean up, so she gratefully accepted the offer.The military camp had no suitable clothes for her, so the commanding officer ordered a new set of soldier's attire to be brought to her. The smallest size fit Fan Changyu perfectly.

Once she had tidied up, she couldn’t wait to personally search for her belongings in the camp’s stables. Even when Grand Tutor Tao came looking for her, he found her already gone.

That night, the rain poured down in torrents. Despite the victory report being sent back, the entire army had no time to rest—clearing the battlefield, searching for the wounded, digging mass graves to bury the fallen soldiers...

Even the stables were bustling with activity. Some warhorses had been slashed, others had stepped on sharp objects during battle. The camp’s veterinarians were as busy as the army doctors, not even having time to take a sip of water.

Fan Changyu was asking a soldier where General An’s warhorse was kept when she heard a familiar, aged voice: "There’s a wooden wedge stuck in this horse’s hoof. Fetch me a pair of pliers."

Peering over, Changyu was overjoyed and quickly called out, "Uncle Zhao!"

Zhao Mu Jiang was tending to an injured warhorse. Startled by Fan Changyu’s voice, he thought he must have misheard. Squinting his aged eyes, he looked outside and was both surprised and delighted to see it was indeed her. But noticing she was dressed in a soldier’s uniform, his expression instantly darkened.

He instructed the soldier helping him lift the horse’s leg, "Go get the pliers."

Once the soldier left, he motioned for Fan Changyu to come assist him. The young soldier who had escorted her to the stables was about to refuse, but Changyu quickly explained that she and Zhao Mu Jiang were from the same hometown and eagerly stepped forward to help.

Uncle Zhao was nearly frantic with worry. Under the guise of having her assist, he lowered his voice and asked, "Why are you in the military camp? If anyone finds out you’re a girl, it’ll mean your head!"

After changing into dry clothes, Fan Changyu had taken down her hair to dry it before tying it up again.

This was a military camp. Wearing a soldier’s uniform, it wouldn’t do to style her hair like a woman’s, so she simply tied it up haphazardly. She wasn’t deliberately disguising herself as a man, but with her naturally heroic bearing, at a glance, she did resemble a delicate-featured young man.

Seeing Uncle Zhao’s misunderstanding, Fan Changyu quickly summarized everything that had happened to her recently.

Relieved to learn she hadn’t disguised herself as a man to join the army, Uncle Zhao finally relaxed. But hearing about the bandits’ massacre in Qingping County and that his wife had been injured, his heart ached, and he repeatedly wiped his tears with his sleeve.

After treating the horse’s injured hoof, the two found a quiet spot to talk.

Fan Changyu asked, "Uncle Zhao, were you also conscripted to build the dam?"

Zhao Mu Jiang sighed. "Originally, I was in Lu City crafting defensive equipment. Later, when Yan Province requested 20,000 troops, even an old bone like me was sent along. After days of marching, when the army stopped here, I learned it was for dam construction. Along the way, warhorses would fall ill, and the mules hauling stones would often get pebbles stuck in their hooves, needing treatment. That’s mainly why I’m here—to tend to the livestock."

Fan Changyu had been confined to digging and transporting earth and stones, never venturing into the heart of the camp, while Zhao Mu Jiang hadn’t visited the outer camps either, so they hadn’t crossed paths until now. Both sighed at the circumstances.

Remembering Yan Zheng, Fan Changyu asked another question: "Uncle Zhao, since you’ve been in the camp, have you heard any news about Yan Zheng?"When this topic came up, Zhao Mu Jiang hesitated for a moment before glancing at Fan Changyu and saying, "He was among the first batch of soldiers loaned to Yanzhou. I had someone deliver the items you entrusted me with to him. I initially thought he was also here repairing the dam, but after asking around for days, it seems he’s been transferred to Yanzhou."

Yanzhou bordered the frontlines and was engaged in battles with the Northern Turks, making it, in some ways, even more perilous than Lucheng.

After a brief silence, Fan Changyu said, "With his skills, he should be able to carve out a good future for himself."

Unaware that the package contained divorce papers, Zhao Mu Jiang chuckled, "If he makes something of himself, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits too, girl."

Fan Changyu decided not to hide the truth any longer and pursed her lips before saying, "Uncle Zhao, we’ve actually already divorced."

Zhao Mu Jiang had been holding a coarse clay bowl of hot water to ward off the cold, but at these words, he nearly dropped it. Raising his wrinkled eyes, he asked, "What happened?"

Fan Changyu answered truthfully, "The marriage was never real to begin with. It was just to deal with Fan Da and protect the family property."

Zhao Mu Jiang set down the bowl and remained silent for a long while, digesting the news. Finally, he sighed deeply and said, "Changyu, girl, from what I’ve seen, that lad Yan Zheng didn’t seem indifferent toward you. Young couples are often impulsive and prone to taking wrong turns. If you ever meet again in the future, clear things up properly. Don’t leave behind a mess of regrets when you’re old."

Fan Changyu thought of the day Yan Zheng left—she hadn’t even exchanged a proper word with him. A pang of regret stirred in her heart, and she lowered her eyes, murmuring an agreement.

Outside the tent, soldiers led over an injured warhorse, shouting for Zhao Mu Jiang to come quickly.

Having retrieved her own bundle, Fan Changyu had nothing else to do, so she went to assist Zhao Mu Jiang, acting as his helper.

Grand Tutor Tao waited and waited at the military tent but saw no sign of Fan Changyu returning. When he came looking for her himself, he found her in the stables, unbothered by the filth, helping an old veterinarian lift a horse’s leg. The enthusiasm she showed here was a stark contrast to the aloofness she displayed toward him—it was like night and day.

Grand Tutor Tao’s expression darkened immediately. Not only had this girl refused to formally acknowledge him as her teacher, but now she was turning her attention to learning from some old veterinarian? Was her judgment really that poor?

He stood outside the stables and coughed several times, but the noise of the stables and the thunder drowned out his attempts.

As one veterinarian was extracting an arrowhead from a warhorse’s leg, the horse suddenly panicked. Not only did it kick the vet, but it also bolted wildly through the stables, knocking over a wooden pillar and causing the entire stable roof to collapse. In an instant, all the warhorses spooked and stampeded outward, with the soldiers unable to stop them.

Fan Changyu reacted swiftly, dragging Zhao Mu Jiang out of the way of the collapsing roof. But when she looked up, she saw the old man standing dumbfounded at the entrance, with horses charging straight toward him. Without a second thought, she rushed over and hauled him to safety.

After setting him down, Fan Changyu wiped the rain from her face and asked Grand Tutor Tao, "What brings you here, sir?"

Zhao Mu Jiang asked, "Who is this?"

Fan Changyu replied, "This is the elder I mentioned earlier—the one I met while being forced to quarry stones here."

Grand Tutor Tao had practically been carried over in Fan Changyu’s frantic dash. His stomach churned, and his head spun from the ordeal. Struggling to maintain his dignity, he busied himself straightening his robes, refusing to acknowledge her.The startled warhorses were all calmed down by the soldiers in charge of the steeds, and a nearby military tent was cleared to temporarily treat the injured.

Fan Changyu intended to help Zhao Mu Jiang and Grand Tutor Tao take shelter from the rain, but when she touched Zhao Mu Jiang's arm, he let out a pained "Aiyo!"

Fan Changyu quickly asked, "Did I hurt you when I pulled you earlier?"

Zhao Mu Jiang waved his hand. "These old bones aren't what they used to be. The joints get injured at the slightest touch."

Changyu realized she must have pulled too hard in her urgency, straining the old man's joints. Feeling guilty, she found him a chair to sit on as soon as they entered the tent.

The army veterinarian who had been kicked by a horse was rescued by soldiers and was now lying in the tent having his bones set, wailing loudly and pitifully. Seeing it would take a while before he could be bandaged, Changyu fetched a basin of hot water, wrung out a cloth, and applied it to Zhao Mu Jiang's arm to ease the pain.

Grand Tutor Tao had been standing in the tent for quite some time, watching Changyu bustle about taking care of Zhao Mu Jiang while he was completely ignored, receiving none of the same attention. His displeasure was evident as the corners of his mustache drooped downward.

He walked over and sat in the chair opposite Zhao Mu Jiang, letting out an exaggerated "Aiyo!"—even louder than the veterinarian who had been kicked by the horse.

Changyu, busy as a spinning top, turned her head at the sound and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Grand Tutor Tao closed his eyes and said, "This old man has a headache."

Changyu replied, "It must be from getting caught in the rain—you've caught a chill."

She then turned to the army doctor and asked him to check Grand Tutor Tao's pulse and prescribe some medicine.

The personal guard who had accompanied Grand Tutor Tao knew his true identity and dared not let anything happen to him. He quickly suggested taking him back to the main tent to have the army doctor examine him properly, but Grand Tutor Tao stubbornly refused to leave.

When the army doctor finally checked his pulse, he realized the obstinate old man was already running a fever and hurriedly sent a subordinate to fetch a packet of medicine for colds to be brewed.

With not enough hands to brew the medicine, Changyu volunteered to prepare the decoctions for both Zhao Mu Jiang and Grand Tutor Tao.

Since Grand Tutor Tao adamantly refused to return to the private tent assigned to him by the commander and insisted on staying in the infirmary tent, the soldiers, seeing that both he and Zhao Mu Jiang were elderly, arranged their beds side by side.

Zhao Mu Jiang was amiable by nature, but Grand Tutor Tao, suffering from fever and headache, grew increasingly irritable. Even when Zhao Mu Jiang tried to strike up a conversation, he ignored him.

Only when Changyu went to brew the medicine did Grand Tutor Tao, enduring his headache, declare, "This old man's medicine must be brewed first!"

Changyu found the old man as childish as a kid, competing over such trivial matters, and sighed, "Both pots are brewing at the same time. There's no 'first' or 'second.'"

Only then did Grand Tutor Tao fall silent.

Zhao Mu Jiang, completely unaware of Grand Tutor Tao's inexplicable hostility toward him, chatted amiably: "For Changyu to encounter a teacher even in the army is her good fortune, and it's also your kindness to form this bond with her."

Grand Tutor Tao felt somewhat mollified by these words and asked, "What are you to that girl?"

Zhao Mu Jiang said, "We've been neighbors for over a decade. I watched that girl grow up—she's like my own granddaughter."

Suddenly, Grand Tutor Tao felt this seemingly good-natured old man was subtly boasting about his close relationship with the girl. Thinking of his own failed attempts to take her as a disciple, he sulked and fell silent again.Zhao the Carpenter sighed again as he spoke: "What a fine girl, but alas, fate has been unkind to her. Not only has she lost both parents, but she also divorced her live-in husband. Now her younger sister has been abducted and no one knows where she is..."

Grand Tutor Tao had initially only noticed Fan Changyu's exceptional resilience, but after hearing Zhao recount her misfortunes, he couldn't help feeling more sympathetic toward her. Even his resentment over her refusal to become his disciple lessened somewhat. He said, "I have a student in the army who's like a son to me. He holds an official position. If that girl can't find a good match in the future, I'll have that rascal find her a steady and ambitious young man from among his subordinates."

Hearing that the old man was willing to take charge of Fan Changyu's marital prospects, Zhao became even more convinced he was her benefactor. After expressing his gratitude, the two found themselves getting along remarkably well.

Free from prejudice now, Grand Tutor Tao found this illiterate veterinarian surprisingly insightful. Listening to his tales from decades as a vet and carpenter, he discovered unexpected rustic charm in them.

When Fan Changyu returned with the decoction, she was baffled to find the two men chatting like old friends who'd met too late in life.

Little did she know they'd already arranged a "steady and ambitious young man" as her future husband—

The next afternoon, news of the victorious battle at Lucheng arrived at the camp. The Yanzhou Army's ambush against the Chongzhou forces at First Line Gorge had also been overwhelmingly successful, even capturing the heir of Prince Changxin alive. Morale soared throughout the army, with jubilant celebrations everywhere.

However, spring rains had triggered mudslides, trapping the remaining Yanzhou troops on the mountain. Upon learning of Lucheng's defeat and realizing the Yanzhou reinforcements were a ruse, Prince Changxin—apparently driven to desperation—made a risky move by leading his remaining Chongzhou troops to besiege First Line Gorge, vowing to trap both the Yanzhou Army and Marquis Wu'an on the mountain until they perished.

Upon receiving this intelligence from scouts, the camp's commanding general urgently summoned all subordinate generals to discuss rescue strategies.

The twenty thousand soldiers sent to repair the dam were all recruits with virtually no combat experience. During the previous night's surprise attack by Chongzhou forces, they'd been thrown into such disarray that three enemy scouts had escaped.

If they rashly attempted to rescue those at First Line Gorge, the rain-soaked, mudslide-ravaged terrain would pose extreme hazards. One wrong move could lead them straight into a Chongzhou trap, potentially resulting in total annihilation.

As everyone struggled for solutions, Grand Tutor Tao—his cold slightly improved—dragged his ailing body into the central military tent and proposed a "relieve the besieged by attacking the base" strategy.

He said, "The twenty thousand troops stationed at the river mouth should march on Chongzhou as the main force. Merely besieging it would force Prince Changxin to turn back and defend his stronghold. After all, without Chongzhou, even if he slaughters every last Yanzhou soldier on that mountain, it would be meaningless."

The commander exclaimed joyfully, "Brilliant strategy! I'll order the camp to move out immediately!"

Grand Tutor Tao, still suffering from his cold, coughed hoarsely before adding, "The trapped Yanzhou troops likely have dwindling provisions. We must send separate units with supplies."

The Yanzhou-Chongzhou conflict had been mobile warfare, with neither side carrying much materiel. Only the mudslides following their victory had allowed Chongzhou to regain the initiative.

The frantic commander, enlightened by Grand Tutor Tao's suggestion, quickly agreed: "The Grand Tutor speaks wisely! But a large supply convoy might alert Chongzhou scouts. Let's dispatch a thousand troops with provisions as emergency relief."

Orders for troop deployment and supply transport were promptly issued, and the army began preparing to break camp.Zhao Mu Jiang had to follow the army to besiege Chongzhou. Fan Changyu initially wanted to go along, but as a young woman currently settled here—having already made contributions—and with some surviving refugees also temporarily left in her care, staying with the army for too long would violate military regulations.

She had ambushed and killed those three scouts, but the commander could only reward her with money and couldn’t grant her an official military position.

She could have set out on her own, but Fan Changyu was now hesitating. Changxin Wang had led troops to the mountains to encircle the Wu'an Marquis, so Chongzhou’s gates were undoubtedly tightly shut. Even if she went, she wouldn’t be able to enter the city to find Changning.

Moreover, Zhao Mu Jiang mentioned that Yan Zheng seemed to be among the thousand soldiers borrowed by the Yanzhou Army. After a brutal battle and a subsequent mudslide triggered by heavy rain in the mountains, it was unclear whether Yan Zheng was alive or dead.

Should she go to First Line Gorge first to look for Yan Zheng?

When Tao Taifu returned and saw Fan Changyu standing outside the tent lost in thought, he asked, “Girl, this old man is about to accompany the army to deliver provisions to the Yanzhou troops in the mountains. Would you like to come with me?”

Only in the past two days had Fan Changyu learned that this eccentric old man was surnamed Tao. Due to his genuine talents, he had apparently become an advisor in the army, and even the commander treated him with great respect.

Staring at Tao Taifu’s wrinkled face, she thought carefully and finally nodded.

It wouldn’t hurt to see Yan Zheng one more time. If he had died there, she would bury him and erect a tombstone for him.

He seemed to have no other family. At the very least, they had known each other and been nominal husband and wife for a few months. During future festivals, when she burned ghost money, she could burn some for him too.

If he was still alive, they probably wouldn’t end up completely estranged.

The supply convoy set off first. Zhao Mu Jiang came to see them off, but to Fan Changyu’s bewilderment, he actually exchanged more words with the old man than with her.

To avoid Chongzhou’s scouts, the supply convoy had to take a detour through the mountains. Even so, they encountered several patrols. Fortunately, the army had archers who pursued the scouts for miles, ensuring the news of their march didn’t reach the Chongzhou forces too quickly.

Fan Changyu had gained some fame among the new recruits for crossing Witch Ridge and killing three Chongzhou scouts. Sometimes, when pursuing scouts, she was even invited to join.

She wasn’t skilled with a bow. When learning from the archers, her strength was so great she could snap a bowstring, but her aim was terrible—worse than throwing rocks from the ground.

Afraid of wasting weapons, she simply gave up. But after seeing the archers shoot wild rabbits for meals along the way, she grew envious and praised their skills.

The more seasoned soldiers laughed and said, “Miss Fan, you’ve never seen our Marquis shoot. His archery is truly unmatched. Within a hundred paces, forget rabbits—he can hit willow leaves.”

Fan Changyu had heard the legend of shooting through a willow leaf at a hundred paces, but hitting a willow leaf at that distance was unheard of. How could anyone shoot something so slender from so far away?

Shocked as she was, the image of the formidable Wu'an Marquis grew even more impressive in her mind.

After traveling day and night for a day and a half, they finally arrived at the entrance of First Line Gorge. Changxin Wang had likely already heard about the twenty-thousand-strong army heading to besiege Chongzhou, so the troops stationed at the mountain’s base had withdrawn somewhat. Their numbers didn’t seem large, but they were still more than the thousand-strong supply convoy could handle.To transport the provisions up the mountain, the only feasible plan now is to coordinate from within and without, catching the Chongzhou army off guard and forcing an opening to slip through.

However, their forces are weak, and it remains uncertain whether they can hold out long enough for those on the mountain to notice them and join in the coordinated attack.

Grand Tutor Tao and the young general leading the troops were at their wits' end when they encountered reinforcements from Yanzhou. Combining their forces, they now had two to three thousand soldiers and launched a massive assault up a strategic path at the mountain's base that was guarded by Chongzhou troops.

The commotion quickly drew the attention of the remaining Yanzhou forces on the mountain, who immediately coordinated with the reinforcements to attack the Chongzhou troops from both sides. Soon, they breached an entry point into the mountain, and all the provisions and wound medicine were swiftly transported uphill.

However, the supply-carrying reinforcements did not follow up the mountain. Once the remaining forces had moved all the supplies, and as Chongzhou troops from other positions rushed over, they retreated into the dense forest, playing a game of cat and mouse with the enemy. Their goal was to provide external support when the Yanzhou forces on the mountain later launched their descent.

Fan Changyu had initially been observing the battle alongside Grand Tutor Tao, but seeing how slow the supply transport was, she grew impatient and couldn't resist joining in. After hauling bags of grain up the mountain, she realized the exit had been sealed off again, leaving her and the other supply carriers stranded on the mountain.

Changyu wasn't too disheartened, though. She had come here intending to find Yan Zheng, and now she could gather information on the mountain.

The trapped Yanzhou soldiers had gone without food for two days. It was early spring, and the mountain yielded few edible wild greens. They had survived on thin broth made from the scant game they managed to hunt, barely tasting any meat.

Now that they had rice, the soldiers immediately set to work building fires and cooking meals.

Conditions in the wounded soldier camp were even grimmer. Many soldiers, drenched by rain, had developed high fevers, but the Army Doctor's limited medical supplies were insufficient. Others, injured in the chaos of battle or mudslides, had no hemostatic agents—only strips of torn undergarments wrapped around their wounds as they lay in various states of agony in the medical tents.

With the arrival of medicine, the Army Doctor urgently began preparing decoctions for the wounded.

Changyu, heartbroken by the soldiers' suffering—fathers, sons, husbands, their fates uncertain—volunteered to help brew the medicine, drawing on her past experience caring for Changning and Yan Zheng.

The Army Doctor prioritized Xie Zheng's treatment once medicine became available. Since the mudslide two days prior, which trapped them on the mountain and allowed the resurgent Chongzhou troops to block their escape, Xie Zheng had barely slept, constantly strategizing with Gongsun Yin on defense tactics.

His injuries were severe, but with supplies scarce, he had forgone treatment for two days, insisting the medicine go to more critically wounded soldiers instead.

Changning, fortunately, had responded well to the earlier dose of medicine—her fever broke quickly. However, with no proper food, she had visibly withered. The game caught by the personal guards, boiled without salt or seasoning, reeked so strongly of blood that she vomited at the smell and couldn't eat. Xie Zheng had meat roasted with grass juice to mask the odor, which she managed to stomach in small amounts.

Knowing Xie Zheng was injured and unable to care for Changning properly—and with officers frequently visiting his quarters for meetings—Gongsun Yin took the child to his own lodges and assigned personal guards to look after her.At this moment, the army doctor went to persuade Xie Zheng to change his bandages. Knowing that the soldiers currently had sufficient food and medical supplies, the dizziness from excessive blood loss and exhaustion from two sleepless days overwhelmed Xie Zheng all at once. He felt that if he closed his eyes, he would fall into a deep sleep immediately. Pressing his temples with his hand, his eyes bloodshot, he said, "This Marquis can still hold on. Give the medicine to the soldiers below first. The wounded soldiers' tent is too crowded—some can be moved to the main tent."

There weren’t enough military tents on the mountain either. Many soldiers had to cut branches on the spot to hastily build makeshift shelters from the rain.

The army doctor, worried about Xie Zheng’s condition, quickly said, "Marquis, there’s enough wound medicine. Your health is what matters most..."

Xie Zheng suddenly lifted his gaze to look at the army doctor. Struck by that cold, weary stare, the doctor lowered his head, all his words of persuasion stuck in his throat.

He knew that despite his lord’s fearsome reputation, Xie Zheng deeply cared for his soldiers. With a sigh, he left the tent, thinking he should ask Gongsun to persuade him later.

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Yin simply instructed that the already bandaged wounded soldiers be transferred to the main tent.

The army doctor, confused, complied. Only then did he realize Gongsun Yin’s intention—once Xie Zheng saw the wounded soldiers, he would believe there was enough medicine.

Xie Zheng was utterly exhausted. After the army doctor left, he propped himself up, intending to massage his throbbing temples, but succumbed to fatigue and fell asleep. He only woke again when he heard the commotion of the wounded soldiers being moved into the main tent.

The personal guards set up several makeshift military beds made of branches in the main tent and urged Xie Zheng to rest on one of the empty ones.

Noticing that his presence in the commander’s seat made the wounded soldiers keep glancing his way, Xie Zheng nodded in agreement.

His chest wound made wearing armor painful, so he only wore a thin inner robe.

Most of the wounded soldiers brought into the tent were low-ranking privates who had rarely seen Xie Zheng up close. Bewildered at being transferred here, they noticed his lack of armor and his injuries, mistaking him for another wounded soldier sent to recover.

Since Xie Zheng had lent the main tent for the wounded to recuperate, he didn’t want them lying there nervously under his gaze. He ordered his personal guards not to reveal his identity, then lay down in his clothes to catch up on sleep.

Worried he might catch cold but not daring to cover him with his thick brocade cloak, the guards deliberated before finally draping a tattered private’s uniform over him.

Fan Changyu, having finished brewing the medicine, learned that a group of wounded soldiers had been relocated. She came to deliver the medicine, handing out bowls one by one from the beds near the entrance. The soldiers, realizing she was a woman, grew shy and thanked her softly.

One of Xie Zheng’s personal guards glanced outside and, upon spotting Fan Changyu, widened his eyes in shock.

If he wasn’t mistaken, wasn’t this the woman their Marquis had personally gone to rescue from the bandit den in Qingping County not long ago?

Why was she here, dressed in a Jizhou soldier’s uniform?

The guard immediately imagined a heart-wrenching tale of a wife traveling thousands of miles to find her husband. He glanced at the sleeping Xie Zheng, then back at Fan Changyu still distributing medicine, hesitating whether to wake his lord.

Before he could decide, Fan Changyu had already approached with a bowl of medicine in hand.Xie Zheng found the light too bright and was sleeping with his face turned inward, most of his features hidden in shadow. Fan Changyu didn’t recognize him at first, only noticing that half his clothes were soaked with blood, and the bandages wrapped around his body were stained red in large patches. It didn’t look like a fresh dressing, and he seemed to have passed out.

Frowning, she quickly called outside the tent, “Army Doctor! This man’s wounds seem to have reopened. He needs to be rebandaged.”

Almost the moment he heard her voice, Xie Zheng abruptly opened his eyes.

Fan Changyu had been about to help adjust the position of this severely injured man, moving to the other side of the bed, when she unexpectedly met Xie Zheng’s gaze. She froze visibly, staring for a long moment before hesitantly saying, “Yan Zheng?”

The moment the name left her lips, seeing him covered in blood, Fan Changyu’s nose suddenly stung.

So he really had almost died here.

Xie Zheng looked at her without speaking, his brows instinctively furrowed. To others, it might seem unreadable, but those who knew him well could tell he was stunned.

The personal guard, after careful consideration, silently took a few steps back.

The other wounded soldiers, assuming Fan Changyu had traveled a great distance to find her husband, cast envious glances their way.

Xie Zheng studied Fan Changyu for a long time, as if confirming she had truly come here, before finally asking in a hoarse voice, “Why are you here? What are you doing here?”

He hadn’t slept for two nights, and his throat was rough.

Fan Changyu hadn’t expected to see Xie Zheng again under such circumstances. Staring at the bloodstains on him, her eyes inexplicably burned as she said, “I came to find you.”

It was the truth. When she learned he was also in this Yanzhou Army, she had feared something might happen to him and followed along to deliver supplies.

At her words, Xie Zheng’s pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. His heart felt as if it had been suddenly hooked tight—sharp pain followed by a dense, creeping itch, as though something was trying to take root and sprout within that mass of flesh and blood. His dark eyes remained fixed on Fan Changyu as he repeated, “Find me?”

Fan Changyu had already begun unwrapping his bandages. Seeing the gruesome wound stretching across most of his chest, mingled with herbal paste and darkened blood, her eyes reddened further. Ignoring his question, she pressed her lips together to suppress the ache in her chest and asked, “How did you get hurt like this?”

It looked even worse than the injuries he’d had when she first found him.

This was the first time Xie Zheng had seen such an expression in her eyes—like the first rays of dawn breaking through misty, rain-soaked forests: warm, tender, radiant, and full of pity.

The hook in his chest tightened further, pain and itch intertwining, as if the wound itself was urging new growth. His fingers twitched, an unconscious urge to reach for something, but he averted his gaze and said, “The wound looks worse than it is. It’s not that serious—didn’t hit any vital organs. A few days of rest and it’ll heal.”

Fan Changyu naturally didn’t believe him. Looking at his pale, blood-streaked face, she suddenly felt an overwhelming sadness and said, “Don’t stay in the army. Come back with me. I’ll raise pigs to support you.”

Gongsun Yin and the army doctor had just arrived outside the tent and were about to lift the flap when they heard this, freezing in unison.