Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

Fan Changyu quickly set down her bowl and patted his back: "Why are you choking?"

This pat turned out to be a mistake—Xie Zheng immediately leaned over the bedside and spat out a mouthful of dark red blood.

Fan Changyu was terrified. She looked at her hand, then at Xie Zheng, before turning her head and shouting outside the tent: "Army Doctor! Call the army doctor, someone's coughing up blood!"

The personal guard stationed outside heard the commotion, lifted the tent flap, and upon seeing the blood on the ground, immediately ran to catch up with the army doctor who had just left the tent not long ago.

The other wounded soldiers in the tent began murmuring among themselves—some said Xie Zheng was experiencing a final rally before death, while others told Fan Changyu not to worry too much and to wait for the army doctor's assessment.

Fan Changyu hastily wiped the blood from Xie Zheng's mouth with a handkerchief, gripping his hand tightly as she muttered, "It's okay, it's okay..."

It was unclear whether she was saying this to comfort Xie Zheng or herself.

Xie Zheng had been carrying a clot of stagnant blood in his chest for days. This coughing fit had finally expelled it, instantly relieving the suffocating pressure in his chest and making his breathing much smoother. However, the violent coughing must have reopened his wounds, as faint traces of blood began seeping through the bandages.

He glanced at Fan Changyu's hand tightly clutching his. His originally pale lips had gained a touch of color from the coughing, but this only made his face appear even more ashen, evoking an inexplicable sense of heartache.

Lowering his eyes weakly, he asked, "You want to divorce me?"

Fan Changyu's eyes welled up with tears: "No, no more divorcing!"

Her voice even carried a sob: "You were only conscripted because you married into my family. If we had talked properly that day and you'd signed the divorce papers, the officers wouldn't have taken you away, and you wouldn't have been hurt like this. Don't be afraid—I won't abandon you in this state. On my way here, I'd already decided... if you died here, I'd take care of your remains. You have no family left, so I'd make offerings to you during festivals..."

As she spoke, her genuine fear that this person might die here caused large teardrops to fall onto the quilt, leaving small wet marks.

A hand pressed against her back, forcefully pulling her into an embrace that smelled of blood and medicinal herbs.

Afraid of aggravating his injuries, Fan Changyu pressed against his shoulders to push him away, but Xie Zheng only tightened his arms around her, pressing her firmly against his chest. He rested his chin on her trembling shoulder—still shaking from her crying—and said hoarsely, "Don't move."

Not daring to struggle further for fear of worsening his condition, Fan Changyu remained still. Yet an indescribable emotion filled her chest, making it feel tight, and tears continued to spill uncontrollably, soaking into the fabric on his shoulder.

Xie Zheng said, "Don't cry. I'm glad you came to find me."

After a pause, he added, "About that day... I'm sorry."

Fan Changyu knew what he was referring to. She pressed her lips together, about to respond, when the tent flap was suddenly thrown open. The personal guard rushed in with the army doctor, and Gongsun Yin, worried something might have happened to Xie Zheng, had also come to check. Upon seeing the scene before them, they all froze in place with varying expressions.

Hearing the noise, Fan Changyu turned her head and noticed the other wounded soldiers staring unblinkingly at them. Her face flushed red, and she hurriedly pushed Xie Zheng back onto the bed—perhaps a bit too forcefully, as he let out a muffled groan. Fan Changyu awkwardly withdrew her hands: "Did I hurt you?"

Xie Zheng, his face still pale, said it was nothing.The injured veteran inside the tent smiled and helped them out of the awkward situation: "The young couple just went through a life-and-death separation, they're still shaken by it!"

The other wounded soldiers also laughed good-naturedly.

The army doctor stepped forward to ask about Xie Zheng's coughing up blood, then took his pulse again. Not daring to be overconfident, he simply said it was due to physical weakness—his vitality severely depleted and in need of nourishment.

"Physical weakness, huh..." Gongsun Yin teased Xie Zheng with a glance, stroking his chin as he said, "Have the cookhouse camp prepare some meat dishes for the injured soldiers, let them all nourish themselves properly."

The wounded soldiers in the tent all expressed their profuse thanks.

Gongsun Yin continued, "Those with severe injuries and those with minor ones should be separated into different tents for care, which will also make it easier for the army doctors to prepare medicine."

As he spoke, he pointed at Xie Zheng: "Coincidentally, the soldiers set up several new tents this afternoon for the Jizhou troops coming down the mountain. They're not far from here—this man can be moved to one of the new tents."

Xie Zheng shot him a cold glare, to which Gongsun Yin responded with a mischievous grin.

Since Xie Zheng was injured, several personal guards disguised as ordinary soldiers carried him along with his bed to the newly erected tent.

Fan Changyu followed and was surprised to find that although the tent contained many military beds, no one else was currently staying there.

Gongsun Yin explained that more severely injured soldiers would be gradually assigned to this tent later.

When Fan Changyu went to the cookhouse camp to help fetch meals for the wounded soldier camp, Gongsun Yin finally sat down on a military bed opposite Xie Zheng and asked with raised eyebrows, "Should I arrange a separate tent for that girl, or let her stay here with you?"

Xie Zheng had just drunk a bowl of medicine and was still suffering from the bitter taste. He sat up, poured himself a cup of water to drink, then held the cup and lowered his eyes in thought for a moment before saying, "Arrange another place for her."

Gongsun Yin smiled. "Fine, I nearly forgot—there's also a little kid at my place. Now that her sister is here, it would be good for the two sisters to stay together."

Remembering the scene he'd witnessed when lifting the tent flap earlier, he couldn't resist teasing: "That gunshot wound of yours was worth it—the girl even cried for you. There's no way she doesn't have feelings..."

At this point, his voice suddenly paused as he looked at Xie Zheng: "Even Sui Yuanqing thought to capture her sister to threaten you once he learned of her connection to you. If Wei Yan also hears rumors... you know his methods."

Xie Zheng's fingers gripping the earthen cup suddenly tightened. "Seal all information about today's events. Not a word is to spread."

Gongsun Yin said, "Only the army doctor and a few of your personal guards know. Those guards were personally promoted by you—they're tight-lipped. I've already warned the army doctor and have had people secretly watching him these past two days. There shouldn't be any problems. But the wounded soldiers in the tent all know that girl came looking for you. If they were to learn your true identity, it might be troublesome..."

Xie Zheng said, "Then keep it concealed for now."

Gongsun Yin asked further, "What about Miss Fan?"

Xie Zheng half-lifted his eyelids. "I'll find an opportunity to explain everything to her."

Gongsun Yin nodded. "As long as you have a plan."

After he left, Xie Zheng lay back with his arms behind his head, staring blankly at the tent ceiling for a long time.

He wasn't sure whether Fan Changyu would still choose to be with him after learning everything.

She might have accepted Yan Zheng who had nothing, but she might not choose Xie Zheng who bore a sea of blood feuds.

Much of her current kindness toward him stemmed from guilt—believing he'd been forced to join the army to avoid causing trouble for her and the neighbors.When she found out he was originally planning to return to the army as well, this sense of guilt should have vanished without a trace.

He knew how much she cared for her sister, but because of him, her sister had fallen into the hands of villains and nearly lost her life.

Whether she would resent him, he wasn’t sure. But one thing was certain—if she chose to stay with him, she would likely face such dangers again in the future.

Given her temperament, for the sake of her sister’s safety and peace, she would probably draw a clear line between them. She preferred tranquility, just as she had once said—to find a humble, dependable scholar as a husband and live a simple, ordinary life.

The kindness she showed him now felt like something he had stolen.

A thief would always be exposed one day.

He understood the consequences, but when he recalled the way she had looked at him while crying, the words she had spoken, his heart ached uncontrollably.

He had never wanted something so desperately, yet feared losing it so much.

For a moment, Xie Zheng even wished he really was just Yan Zheng.

In the end, he could only manage a self-mocking smile.

Fan Changyu returned with food to find Xie Zheng with one hand over his eyes, as if asleep.

But as she approached, he lowered his arm and looked at her.

Fan Changyu smiled at him. "You're awake? The cookhouse camp caught some wild chickens and made soup for the injured soldiers. Drink it while it's hot."

Holding a large bowl in one hand, she reached out with the other to help him up. Xie Zheng’s face was unnaturally pale from blood loss, with dark circles under his eyes from days without sleep. Yet his features were so striking that even in this state, he exuded a fragile, weary beauty.

After sitting up against the pillow, Xie Zheng reached for the bowl to drink on his own, but Fan Changyu, just as she had done when feeding him medicine earlier, scooped up a spoonful and brought it to his lips.

Xie Zheng hesitated briefly before opening his mouth to drink, then subtly frowned.

—It was scalding.

But Fan Changyu seemed completely unaware of this. After all, she had never fed anyone soup or medicine before. When her parents passed away, Changning was already five and didn’t need help with meals or medicine.

The previous medicine had cooled considerably, but this soup had just been brought from the cookhouse camp in a wooden bowl, making it hard for her to gauge the temperature.

When the second spoonful reached his lips, Xie Zheng’s mouth twitched as if he wanted to say something, but he drank it anyway before reaching for the bowl. "Let me do it myself."

Seeing his sickly pallor, Fan Changyu felt a pang of pity and refused to hand it over. She stirred the soup with the wooden spoon, scooped another portion, and insisted, "You’re badly injured. Just rest—I’ll feed you."

Xie Zheng stared at the steaming spoonful before him and resigned himself to drinking it.

By the time he finished the bowl, his tongue was numb from the heat.

Fan Changyu, however, looked at the empty bowl with an odd sense of accomplishment.

She was taking such good care of him!

When Xie Zheng reached for a cup of cold tea, she hurried to pour it for him, handing it over with a puzzled look. "You just drank a whole bowl of soup—are you still thirsty?"

Xie Zheng made up an excuse. "The taste was a bit strong. Just washing it down."

There was a little broth left in the bowl. Fan Changyu took a sip and realized the soup had no salt at all—it was so bland it was almost unpalatable.She frowned and said, "Probably the cookhouse camp was too busy and forgot to add salt. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Xie Zheng fell silent for a moment, his expression turning grave. "There is no salt."

Fan Changyu froze, then immediately understood his meaning. Their army had originally planned to fight one battle and leave immediately. They hadn't prepared any provisions, let alone salt.

The reinforcements from Jizhou had only brought food and medicinal herbs.

Here, survival itself was a luxury—who cared whether the food tasted good or not?

Before coming up the mountain, Old Tao had already told her about the dire situation here. First Line Gorge was close to Chongzhou. After Changxin Wang's defeat at Lucheng, he had staked everything on besieging First Line Gorge, aiming to push the Yanzhou Army on the mountain to desperation by cutting off their food supply.

Days of heavy rain had flooded Changxin Wang's fifty thousand troops, but it had also left many soldiers on the mountain soaked and ill.

Changxin Wang knew Tang Peiyi's siege of Chongzhou was just a feint, so he had only withdrawn half his troops as a precaution. Even so, twenty thousand Chongzhou soldiers remained at the mountain's base. If their army descended now, even with the aid of the two or three thousand scattered reinforcements, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock.

Fan Changyu didn't know what would happen once their food ran out. She looked at Xie Zheng earnestly and said, "Don't worry. I've heard Wu'an Marquis is exceptionally strategic. He's won so many battles—he won't just let the rebels trap him here. Even if we exhaust our food and the rebels attack, as long as I have strength left, I'll carry you to safety."

Xie Zheng's heart churned with mixed emotions. He looked at her and asked, "If it comes to that, just save yourself. Why bother with me?"

Fan Changyu replied matter-of-factly, "I told you I'd take care of you from now on."

The words struck some hidden chord in Xie Zheng. He stared at her for a long moment before suddenly saying, "Fan Changyu, you don't need to go this far out of guilt."

"I joined the army not because I feared you or your neighbors would face trouble, but because the power I seek lies here. My injuries were earned on the battlefield for military merit—they have nothing to do with you. What exactly are you feeling guilty for?"

His expression was almost cold in that instant.

Fan Changyu didn't understand why he'd suddenly become this unfamiliar version of himself. She asked, "You didn't want me to come find you?"

Xie Zheng's dark eyes were icy as he suppressed that foolish hope. "If it's just guilt, you shouldn't have come here. You owe me nothing."

Fan Changyu began to grasp his meaning. Pressing her lips together, she said, "Back in that army tent earlier, I didn't finish speaking. Before coming to find you, I'd already considered both possibilities—whether you were alive or dead. When you left, I'd beaten you so badly and said such harsh words... then I never saw you again. Every time I thought about it, it hurt, and yes, I did feel guilty."She paused, raising her eyes to look at Xie Zheng with a hint of confusion. "But coming to find you wasn’t just because of guilt. You don’t know—I almost died too. Qingping County and Lin’an Town were both massacred. That rebel who pretended to be a grain-collecting officer before was hiding among the bandits, seeking revenge on me. There were too many of them, and I couldn’t fight them all. So I hid Changning and Aunt Zhao away. That bastard dislocated my arm, and the bandit leader nearly drowned me in the water. Later, Changning was kidnapped. On my way to find her, I met Zhao Da Shu, who said you had come here. I was afraid you’d die here, so I thought, no matter what, I should come see. If you were dead, I’d bury you. If not, I’d talk to you properly—tell you Changning is missing, that I can’t find her, but I’ll keep looking..."

She rambled on, recounting everything she had endured after he left. Her vision inexplicably blurred, and when she blinked, a large teardrop rolled down her cheek.

How strange. She had rarely cried since childhood.

Unable to see the expression on the face before her, the next moment she was pulled into a fierce embrace—tighter than before, so tight it almost hurt her bones.

He pressed the back of her head, making her lean against his shoulder, his grip so forceful his fingertips turned white. He seemed to want to say something, his throat moving slightly, but in the end, he remained silent, closing his eyes heavily. Everything was conveyed in that wordless hug.

The mingled scents of blood and medicine were far from pleasant, yet in that moment, the embrace only deepened the ache in Fan Changyu’s eyes. Her chest swelled with an unfamiliar emotion, something akin to grievance.

After her parents’ deaths, she had endured many hardships, but she had never complained to anyone or shed a single tear in front of others.

Only today, nestled in his arms, did she finally allow herself to weep freely against his shoulder.

Outside the tent, Gongsun Yin led Changning to the spot. Hearing the sounds inside, he hesitated, torn between entering and leaving, his face twisted in discomfort.