Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

The morning light filtered through the military tent, casting a soft glow inside.

Changning blinked sleepily awake. When she had fallen asleep the night before, Fan Changyu hadn't returned yet. Now, seeing her elder sister lying soundly beside her, she rubbed her eyes with her chubby little hands and, confirming it was indeed Changyu, broke into a delighted grin.

Too well-behaved to wake Changyu, she carefully draped her own red velvet cloak over her sister before crawling to the foot of the bed on all fours, slipping into her shoes, and climbing down.

She dressed herself in her outer clothes too.

In the past, she had needed Changyu’s help with winter clothes because the sleeves always bunched up inside. But after being kidnapped by those villains, she had learned to dress herself—though she still couldn’t do her hair.

Changning tugged at the little bun atop her head and fetched the small wooden basin from the corner of the tent for washing her face.

After getting dressed in the morning, one had to wash their face.

She was about to leave the tent when she suddenly sniffed the air and turned toward the source of the aroma—a package wrapped in banana leaves on the table.

Standing on a small stool, Changning fumbled with the banana leaves, struggling for a while before undoing the palm leaves tied around them. Inside, she found a grilled fish with all the fins neatly removed. Her eyes sparkled at the sight, but her sister had taught her that cold meat shouldn’t be eaten directly—it would give her a stomachache.

After a moment’s thought, she rewrapped the banana leaves with the palm leaves, carefully placed the bundle in the wooden basin, and then carried it out of the tent with quick, pattering steps.

She needed to fetch water to wash her face—and heat up the fish so she could eat it with her sister!

Changning didn’t know where to get hot water, but Xie Qi had been very kind to her yesterday, coaxing her and even taking her to see the falcon. So, instinctively, she toddled off on her short legs to find Xie Qi.

Today, the army was preparing to march, and the cookhouse camp had already started preparing rice porridge and steamed buns early in the morning.

Some of the troops stationed at the foot of the mountain had already withdrawn, leaving those on the mountain to depart last. The soldiers were taking their time packing up.

When Changning arrived, wooden basin in hand, Xie Qi was dismantling tents with the other personal guards. Spotting the little figure squeezing through the crowd, he wiped his hands on his waist and led her to an open area, crouching down to ask, “Here to see the Gyrfalcon again?”

Changning’s eyes brightened even more. She nodded, then immediately shook her head, thrusting the wooden basin toward him.

Xie Qi saw the banana-leaf-wrapped bundle inside. When he opened it and found the fish, the satisfaction of looking after the child yesterday resurfaced. He patted Changning’s head with an exceptionally gentle smile. “You eat it. I’ve already eaten.”

Realizing he hadn’t understood, Changning grew anxious and pushed the basin toward him more insistently. “Cold,” she said.

Xie Qi felt the fish through the banana leaves and finally grasped her intention. Taking the basin, he asked, “You want me to heat this up for you?”

Changning nodded eagerly, then pointed at the basin. “Ning Niang needs to wash face.”

Feeling a mix of amusement and chagrin at the misunderstanding, Xie Qi handed the fish to a nearby comrade to take to the cookhouse camp for reheating. Then, from a freshly filled kettle of hot water, he poured some into the basin for Changning to wash her face.He had taken care of his younger sister before and had experience with children. Originally intending to help Changning wash her face, he instead watched as she rolled up her sleeves high, revealing two chubby arms like sections of lotus root. She pressed her hands into the basin, splashed water onto her round, plump cheeks, and only after her entire face was wet did she wring out the small cloth Changyu had cut from old clothes to use as a face towel, cupping it in both hands to wipe her face.

She scrubbed so hard her cheeks turned slightly red, and the fine baby hairs at her forehead, now damp, clustered along her hairline like a fuzzy patch.

Several personal guards nearby who were tidying up the camp stopped their work, unable to hide their envy. "If I could have such an adorable daughter in this lifetime, I'd die happy!" one exclaimed.

Another guard tried bargaining with Xie Qi, "Brother Seven, you were on duty yesterday. Today’s your rest day. I’ll take good care of the little girl and the Gyrfalcon, I promise!"

Xie Qi laughed and scolded, "Get lost!"

Only after Changning finished washing did Xie Qi ask her, "Where’s your elder sister?"

Changning replied, "Sister hasn’t woken up yet."

Xie Qi had originally planned to bring breakfast to the sisters early that morning, but at dawn, the Marquis had returned covered in morning dew and instructed him to go later. Xie Qi didn’t think much of it, assuming the Marquis was being considerate of his wife. After all, according to Xie Wu, Miss Fan had fought fiercely on the battlefield—it was only natural she’d want to sleep in after such exhaustion.

He had Changning sit on a small wooden stump nearby, undid her half-fallen pigtails, and re-tied her hair. Having once cared for his sister, he had to admit his hair-tying skills weren’t bad. After securing the pigtails, he even picked two orange wildflowers and tucked them into her hair.

Changning was so delighted she crouched by the basin, turning her head left and right to admire her reflection for a long time before finally allowing Xie Qi to pour out the water.

By the time the cookhouse camp had heated the fish and sent over two bowls of porridge and two steamed buns, Xie Qi noticed Changning couldn’t carry everything alone, so he helped her by carrying the items back to their tent.

Just then, Changyu, awakened by the camp’s morning horn, realized Changning was missing. After a hasty cleanup, she was about to go search when she saw Changning skipping back with Xie Qi.

Spotting her sister, Changning dashed over, hugged Changyu around the waist, and looked up proudly. "Sister, look at Ning Niang’s hair!"

Changyu noticed the two little flowers in her pigtails and pinched her nose. "Where did you run off to so early? Who tied your pretty pigtails? Was it Gongsun?"

Changning beamed. "No, it was Uncle Seven! Ning Niang washed her own face, and Uncle Seven heated the fish I brought."

Xie Qi, standing nearby, quickly greeted, "Miss Fan."

Changyu, seeing him holding the basin in one hand and the banana leaf-wrapped fish in the other, said politely, "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Seven."

Xie Qi simply replied it was his duty.

Changyu invited him to stay for breakfast, but he repeatedly declined, saying he’d already eaten. So she told Changning to go inside and eat first.

Sitting on the stool, Changning sniffed the enticing aroma of the grilled fish but stubbornly waited for Changyu, refusing to start. Swinging her legs, she asked, "Sister, where did the fish come from?"

Changyu casually splashed cold water on her face to wash up. "Couldn’t sleep last night, so I went to the river and caught some."

Changning then dropped a bombshell: "Did Brother-in-Law grill it?"Fan Changyu froze mid-wipe, while Xie Qi standing nearby instantly widened his eyes.

The Marquis had gone out last night and only returned this morning. Had Miss Fan also gone out last night? Connecting this with the Marquis's instructions this morning, Xie Qi suddenly felt extremely awkward, not daring to look at Fan Changyu and pretending to be a wooden post with downcast eyes.

Fan Changyu asked Changning, "Why do you think your brother-in-law grilled it?"

Changning answered truthfully, "Before A-jie found Ning Niang, brother-in-law grilled fish for her, and it smelled exactly like this."

Without any guilt about deceiving a child, Fan Changyu said, "I grilled it."

Remembering Xie Zheng's words from last night, her discomfort grew stronger. She took a forceful bite of the steamed bun in her hand.

...

After breakfast, the troops stationed on the mountain began their descent.

Fan Changyu packed up her and her sister's belongings and helped Xie Qi and others dismantle the military tents. When it was time to descend, she was assigned to a carriage.

Inside sat an elderly man with completely white hair and beard, dressed in simple cloth garments. Every deep wrinkle on his face seemed filled with the wisdom and insight bestowed by time.

A chessboard was set before him as if he were playing against himself. Noticing the carriage curtain being lifted, his aged eyes swept over and he smiled, "Girl, we meet again."

Though Fan Changyu already knew the old man's identity from Xie Zheng last night, she instinctively addressed him, "Old Mr. Tao."

Changning, seeing his completely white hair and beard yet remarkably spirited demeanor—so unlike the frailty of ordinary elderly, more resembling sages from paintings or statues in Confucian temples—pointed at him in amazement and exclaimed, "Immortal grandpa!"

Her grape-like eyes widened round.

Grand Tutor Tao was amused by this childish remark. "The elder sister is simple, but the younger one has a sweet tongue."

He beckoned to Changning, "Come here, little one, let grandpa take a look."

Changning looked up at Fan Changyu. Around strangers, no matter how friendly they seemed, she always waited for Fan Changyu's permission before approaching.

Fan Changyu patted her head with a smile, "Go ahead."

Only after being helped onto the carriage did Changning approach Grand Tutor Tao.

Examining her features, his initially kindly expression suddenly grew more solemn. After studying Fan Changyu's features as well, he stroked his beard and said, "This little one is blessed. Your elder sister protects your first half of life, paving the way for great nobility in your latter half."

Changning didn't quite understand his words, but she puffed out her chest and declared, "Ning Niang loves A-jie most!"

Fan Changyu had always worried about Changning's health—her occasional breathlessness and wheezing disease that hadn't shown much improvement despite years of medication. Hearing Grand Tutor Tao's words lifted her spirits, and she asked, "Does Old Mr. Tao practice physiognomy too?"

The old man replied simply, "At my age, one reads many miscellaneous books and picks up bits of everything."

Fan Changyu said, "My sister was born frail with wheezing disease. I only hope she can stay healthy."

After some thought, Grand Tutor Tao said, "A future destiny too noble can be hard to bear, naturally weakening the body. With you anchoring her fortune, it's nothing serious."

This mystical talk left Fan Changyu even more confused. She scratched her head, wanting to ask more but unsure where to begin.Grand Tutor Tao noticed her hesitation and rephrased, "Just keep her by your side until she comes of age."

This version Fan Changyu understood. She nodded, "Naturally."

The carriage had already descended the mountain with the army. Though the road was uneven and the compartment rocked violently, not a single chess piece on Grand Tutor Tao's board had shifted.

He turned to Fan Changyu, "Girl, how about a game of chess with this old man?"

Changyu replied awkwardly, "I don't know how."

The mountain wind rushed through the carriage window, billowing Grand Tutor Tao's wide sleeves as he stroked his beard. "I'll teach you myself. Watch a game or two—how could you not learn?"

With the elder having spoken thus, Changyu had no choice but to agree.

As she gathered the pieces, she realized they seemed magnetically adhered to the board—no wonder none had fallen despite the carriage's violent rocking.

"In chess, black moves first. The entire game depends on 'qi'—the life force. Black and white battle to capture each other's 'qi'..."

Grand Tutor Tao's voice was aged yet resonant. His bony fingers placed pieces while explaining, but Changyu only half-understood, scratching her head and making moves through guesswork.

After several games, the old man's face turned green: "You were practically taught by my own hands—how can your play be this terrible?"

Changyu hung her head obediently under the scolding.

Having vented his frustration, Grand Tutor Tao sighed, "Never mind. Even the legendary Yuchi Jingde was a terrible chess player, yet he became a renowned general. Battle formations and chess can't be compared."

He then glanced sideways at Changyu, "Girl, I heard you killed the rebel general Shi Hu—a man famed for his valor across three armies. Though you're a woman, such remarkable skills shouldn't be wasted. Wouldn't you like to achieve glory?"

Changyu asked, "Are you asking if I wish to remain in the military?"

Grand Tutor Tao nodded, "Let me be blunt—someone petitioned me to adopt you as my goddaughter. Taking in a daughter means little to me, but learning my skills..."

He chuckled dryly, "That would be quite another matter!"

Studying Changyu, he asked, "Girl, would you be willing to become my disciple and learn to be a warrior who can face ten thousand foes?"