Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

Gongsun Yin was responsible for commanding the central army's rear guard during this campaign. Midway through the battle, he suddenly saw a cavalry unit charge in, breaking through Chongzhou's infantry formation and assisting him in completing the encirclement at the rear.

When the two forces joined, Gongsun Yin spotted an elderly man standing composedly in the heavy rain, dressed in plain clothes and holding an umbrella. Surprise and delight simultaneously appeared on his face as he hurried forward with a cupped-hand salute: "The Marquis had mentioned earlier that there was a mastermind among the reinforcements from the mountain. I never expected it to be Grand Tutor Tao here!"

His personal guard quickly followed, holding an umbrella for him. Rainwater cascaded from the ribs of the umbrella as a cold wind lifted the hem of his robe, giving him an air of effortless grace reminiscent of Wu Daozi's flowing brushstrokes.

Grand Tutor Tao said, "I happened to be traveling through this area and thought I'd stop by."

He examined the young man before him with an appreciative gaze: "I've long heard that the Gongsun family of Hejian produced a worthy talent. That boy must have some skill to have persuaded you to join his ranks."

Gongsun Yin nodded and said, "The Marquis cares deeply for the world and shows compassion for all people. I admire his integrity and willingly serve under him."

After speaking, he guided Grand Tutor Tao toward the carriage: "Shi Yue has an exceptionally strong general under his command who tore through our vanguard and helped Shi Yue escape. The Marquis has gone in pursuit and should be on his way back soon. Grand Tutor, please accompany me up the mountain first for some ginger tea to ward off the chill."

It was already evening, and after this major battle, the soldiers needed rest. With ready-made camps and defensive walls already established on the mountain, staying there for now was the best strategy.

After expressing his gratitude, Grand Tutor Tao boarded the carriage with Gongsun Yin. Raindrops pattered against the canopy like scattered beans as the carriage swayed along the mountain path. Grand Tutor Tao's voice was unhurried amidst the rain: "I must trouble you, young friend Gongsun, to help me find someone."

Gongsun Yin, who was pouring tea for the grand tutor, smiled warmly and said, "Please go ahead, Grand Tutor."

Grand Tutor Tao said, "Among the Jizhou troops who escorted provisions up the mountain half a month ago, there was a young girl—my half-disciple. She rashly came up the mountain that day and must have endured considerable hardship since."

Gongsun Yin's hand paused mid-pour. He thought to himself that among the recent reinforcements delivering supplies, Fan Changyu was the only woman. Could Grand Tutor Tao be referring to her? Or was there another woman disguised as a man on the mountain now?

He slid a cup of tea toward Grand Tutor Tao and asked, "Might I ask the name of your esteemed disciple?"

Grand Tutor Tao replied, "Her surname is Fan, named Changyu. A sincere and honest child."

Gongsun Yin suddenly felt as though the tea he had just sipped had turned into century-old vinegar, so sour it nearly locked his jaw. After a long pause, he managed to say, "I heard you have rather high standards when accepting disciples?"

Being the astute man he was, Grand Tutor Tao immediately sensed that Gongsun Yin must have met Fan Changyu. Not wanting to admit that he had offered to take her as a disciple only to be refused, he cleared his throat and stroked his goatee, saying, "That girl has excellent foundations—a once-in-a-century prodigy in martial arts. It's just that her wisdom is somewhat lacking, which is why I say she's only half a disciple."

Hearing this, Gongsun Yin's envy dissipated, and he smiled. "I've met your disciple, esteemed elder."

As soon as Fan Changyu returned to the military camp, she went looking for Changning. Unable to find her, she inquired and learned that Changning had been taken away by Xie Qi.She immediately went to look for her and entered the tent, only to find Changning asleep on Xie Qi's military cot. Beside the bed was a bamboo basket of unknown purpose, filled with some dry grass, where the Gyrfalcon was perched, dozing. At the sound of footsteps, it instantly opened its round, beady eyes.

Fan Changyu was momentarily stunned at the sight of the Gyrfalcon, unable to tell whether the large falcon had been tamed by Xie Zheng or if it had originally belonged to him.

Xie Qi, unsure whether the Marquis's identity had been exposed, tentatively called out, "Miss Fan."

Fan Changyu glanced at him but said nothing, simply picking up Changning and carrying her back.

The presence of the falcon here meant he was also aware of Xie Zheng's identity. She had been completely deceived by them all this time.

Seeing Fan Changyu's expression, Xie Qi knew she must have figured everything out. Half guilty and half ashamed, he didn't dare stop her as she left.

Changning, feeling herself being moved, drowsily opened her eyes and, upon seeing Fan Changyu, murmured "Big sister" before nestling into her shoulder and falling back asleep.

Fan Changyu carried Changning with one arm, freeing the other to hold an umbrella. Xie Qi quickly stepped forward, saying, "Miss Fan, let me hold the umbrella for you."

Fan Changyu studied the young man's stiff, ingratiating smile for a moment before relenting. With Xie Zheng above him, deceiving her hadn't been his own choice.

The rain pattered softly against the umbrella. Though the weather was uncooperative, every tent in the victorious camp was lit. Unable to celebrate outdoors, the soldiers feasted on wine and meat inside.

Through the curtain of rain, the sounds seemed both distant and clear.

Ever quick-witted, Xie Qi cautiously said, "Miss Fan, I understand you must be upset with the Marquis for hiding his identity, but he had no choice. The Marquis is constantly surrounded by wolves. After Changning was kidnapped by rebels, he feared you might also come to harm, hence this last resort."

Fan Changyu paused slightly and asked, "Was Changning's kidnapping related to him too?"

Xie Qi hesitated, unsure how to respond, but Fan Changyu already had her answer from his momentary silence, her heart growing even more unsettled.

Their tent was just ahead. At the entrance, Fan Changyu turned and said, "Thank you for escorting us, Brother Xie Qi. It's untidy inside, so I won't invite you in."

Xie Qi hurriedly replied, "You flatter me, Miss Fan. This is my duty."

Fan Changyu said no more. Entering the tent, she didn't light a lamp, placing Changning on the bed in the dark and covering her with a blanket. She then sat curled up beside the bed, staring blankly into the pitch-black night.

There was only one Marquis in the entire northwest—so Yan Zheng was the Wu'an Marquis who struck fear into the hearts of the Northern Turks?

Before, she had thought Yan Zheng was vivid and real—bad-tempered, sharp-tongued, picky about food, yet kind-hearted. He called her foolish but always helped her, and he rarely broke his promises.

He had read many books and understood much, the smartest person she had ever met.

Perhaps the time she had spent with Yan Zheng was the hardest period after her parents' death, which was why she often thought of him after he left.Sometimes she would braise pork intestines, imagining how he would frown while picking them up with his chopsticks if he were still here, and couldn't help feeling amused. Other times, while flipping through books he had annotated, she would hunch over only to immediately straighten her posture upon remembering his remark about how even reading sage texts couldn't make her sit properly. And sometimes, when buying pine nut candy for Changning at the sweets shop, the shopkeeper would ask why she no longer purchased tangerine peel candy. Though there was no one left at home who ate it, she would still instinctively buy some...

When facing difficulties, she would think how nice it would be if Yan Zheng were still here—he was so clever, he would surely help her find a solution.

The person she had traveled over mountains and rivers to find, the one she had braved life and death on the battlefield to protect—that person simply didn't exist.

She couldn't continue seeing Wu'an Marquis as Yan Zheng.

Behind that title lay illustrious military achievements, the admiration of countless people, and for her, an unbridgeable distance.

Her rain-soaked hair hadn't been fully dried yet, and droplets fell from the ends, dampening a small patch of the dry clothes she had just changed into. The wet fabric clung to her skin, bringing a chill that only made Fan Changyu feel more awake.

As soon as Xie Zheng returned to camp in the heavy rain, a personal guard stepped forward to take his horse. "Marquis, Gongsun sent word asking you to see him upon your return. He mentioned there's an important guest."

The soaked cloak was uncomfortable. Xie Zheng removed it and tossed it to the guard. "I'll change into dry clothes first."

Striding into the central military tent, he found hot water for bathing and fresh clothes already prepared by his personal guards.

After a quick wash, Xie Zheng roughly dried himself with a towel and pulled on an arrow-sleeved long robe from beside the bed. "How was she after returning?" he asked.

Xie Qi, who was attending inside, carefully replied, "The lady still seemed rather upset. I tried to console her, but she barely spoke."

Xie Zheng frowned slightly as he fastened his belt. "I'll go see her."

Fan Changyu was still sitting in the tent, lost in thought, when footsteps splashing through the rain approached outside—more than one person, it seemed.

Moments later, the footsteps stopped at the tent entrance. Xie Qi's voice came through: "Miss Fan, the cookhouse camp has prepared ginger soup. I've brought you a bowl."

Her mind was in turmoil. "My constitution is strong. I don't need it. Give it to the other soldiers," she said.

But the person outside didn't leave. Instead, the tent flap was lifted as someone entered directly.

When Changyu looked up, she met Xie Zheng's beautiful yet willful eyes.

He carried the ginger soup inside, followed by Xie Qi carefully shielding a candleholder with one hand. Xie Qi gave her an awkward smile, placed the candleholder on the table, and retreated.

The warm glow of the candle seemed to dispel the cold gloom filling the tent.

Changning, always a heavy sleeper, was bundled in a crimson cloak with only her chubby little face visible. Sensing the light, she turned away from it, smacked her lips a few times, and her breathing grew deep again.

Changyu looked at Xie Zheng. He had always looked good even in simple cloth garments, but now, dressed in an embroidered brocade robe, his noble bearing was unmistakable—though the bruise near his eye was rather conspicuous.She had completely calmed down by now and had carefully weighed the pros and cons. Knowing he was after all a Marquis, and that the punch she'd thrown in her anger and distress had been inappropriate, she pursed her lips and said, "I'm sorry for hitting you like this."

Xie Zheng raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise. "Compared to the last time you hit me, this should count as light."

Fan Changyu naturally knew he was referring to when he was forcibly conscripted and taken away. She repeated, "I'm sorry."

Xie Zheng had only been half-joking when he said that. Hearing her apology, his brows furrowed. "Why keep apologizing to me? That time I really was a bastard."

His dark eyes locked onto her, the casual expression masking something like a vicious dog that had retracted its fangs. "I've read many books of sages and understand propriety and shame. But with you, sometimes I just can't control wanting to do bastardly things."

There was even a hint of self-loathing in his words.

Fan Changyu instinctively glared at him fiercely. After two beats of silence, she softened her tone. "Yan... Marquis, let's talk."

Hearing her change in how she addressed him, Xie Zheng lifted his eyelids, his gaze deepening. "Alright. Drink the ginger soup first."

He handed her the bowl.

Fan Changyu took it and downed it in one go. The bowl of ginger soup indeed warmed her entire stomach.

Only then did Xie Zheng speak. "Deceiving you wasn't my intention originally. I was being hunted and ended up in Qingping County, where you happened to save me. Telling you my true identity would have brought disaster, so I kept hiding it."

Fan Changyu said, "I don't blame the Marquis for hiding it back then."

Her sudden display of being extremely reasonable inexplicably made Xie Zheng feel uneasy.