Destined

Gu Jiusi forcibly dragged Shen Ming back and ordered the men to continue the large-scale search. Shen Ming sat in the carriage, leaning quietly against its side. After days of relentless travel, his body had long reached its limit. Now, leaning against the carriage, with Gu Jiusi remaining silent despite having much on his mind, he couldn't help but feel drowsy, drifting in and out of a hazy, half-awake state.

While flipping through the case files, Gu Jiusi glanced up at Shen Ming and sighed, "Don't overthink it. Get some proper rest first."

"Brother Jiu..." Shen Ming murmured with his eyes closed, "Did I do something wrong?"

"It's not your fault."

Gu Jiusi shook his head. "Everyone is just doing what they can within their means. You've done your best, and that's enough."

Shen Ming said nothing. Knowing that persuasion was futile, Gu Jiusi thought for a moment and could only add, "Rest well. Overthinking won't help. When we return, you still need to see Qin Nan. The path isn't completely blocked—we can still find a way."

At these words, Shen Ming stiffened slightly. After a moment, he lowered his head and replied hoarsely, "Alright."

Letting go of the matter entirely, since the outcome was already set, he quickly fell into a deep sleep once he released his worries.

Shen Ming drifted into a heavy, muddled sleep with his eyes closed. When he awoke, they had already returned to the residence. Gu Jiusi roused him, and after a dazed moment, Shen Ming straightened up and stepped out of the carriage.

They had barely taken a few steps inside when Gu Jiusi saw Li Yuchang blocking their path, his brow furrowed and expression grim. Gu Jiusi's heart sank at the sight of Li Yuchang's demeanor. He stepped forward and asked, "Has something happened?"

"Lord Qin has woken up."

Li Yuchang looked up at Gu Jiusi. "He insists on returning home, claiming he merely went out for a while and forgot to report his absence."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi's expression instantly turned cold. Qin Nan's explanation was a complete denial of his role as a witness, refusing any further involvement in the case.

After a moment of silence, Gu Jiusi finally said, "All his attendants have been replaced—there must be people from the Wang family among them."

"They've already been changed."

Li Yuchang spoke, and the two fell into a stalemate.

In Li Yuchang's investigation of the case, all clues led only as far as Wang Houchun before hitting a dead end. Wang Houchun pinned everything firmly on Fu Baoyuan. Given the current situation, the case could only conclude with Wang Houchun and Fu Baoyuan taking the fall.

But if the case ended with such a result, the court's authority would be severely undermined. The entire Yongzhou would know that the court was powerless against Wang Siyuan. It would become even more difficult to accomplish anything in Yongzhou in the future.

Yet, the key evidence lay with Qin Nan. If Qin Nan refused to provide it, further investigation might drag on until Fu Baoyuan could no longer hold out.

As the two stood in silence, the sound of carriage wheels and horses came from outside. Everyone turned to see Wang Siyuan stepping down from his carriage, accompanied by his servants, and heard his cheerful voice call out, "Lord Li!"

Wang Siyuan looked at Li Yuchang and said, "This humble official has heard that Lord Qin has returned. There is much official business I need to discuss with him. Would it be convenient?"None of the three spoke. Wang Siyuan entered the courtyard and sighed, "Previously, Lord Qin told me his mother was unwell and needed to be sent back to their hometown for recuperation. I advised him not to be so hasty, as his sudden departure for several days would leave many matters unattended. Fearing further delays, I had no choice but to come personally to fetch him. Many officials at the County Government Office are still waiting for Lord Qin to discuss administrative affairs."

Everyone understood the implication—Wang Siyuan had come to demand Qin Nan's release.

If Qin Nan did not declare his status as a witness, as a Regional Inspector, neither Gu Jiusi nor Li Yuchang had any legitimate grounds to detain him.

After waiting a moment, Wang Siyuan asked curiously, "Why are you both silent?"

"Lord Qin has just retired to rest," Gu Jiusi finally replied. "He is unwell today. Perhaps you could return tomorrow, Lord Wang."

"Oh?" Wang Siyuan feigned concern. "Lord Qin is unwell? Then it is even more imperative that I see him. Since I am already here, it would be discourteous not to meet him at all."

His words cast a silence over the group. As Gu Jiusi pondered his response, Shen Ming suddenly interjected, "I will inform Lord Qin. He is likely still resting."

With that, Shen Ming turned to leave. Wang Siyuan chuckled softly and turned to Li Yuchang. "Lord Li, has the execution date for Lord Fu been set?"

Shen Ming's steps faltered. Li Yuchang remained composed. "New evidence has emerged. It is postponed."

"And if this new evidence disappears?" Wang Siyuan pressed, staring at Li Yuchang. "I've heard Lord Li is a staunch upholder of law and order, always relying on evidence and explicit regulations. Without new evidence, Lord Fu's case is conclusive. Shouldn't the execution be scheduled?"

Li Yuchang nodded. "According to the law, it should."

Wang Siyuan exhaled in relief, adopting an admiring expression. "I knew Lord Li was a man of high principles, the most reliable official in the Ministry of Justice."

Li Yuchang did not respond this time. Shen Ming clenched his fists and strode away.

After Shen Ming departed, Wang Siyuan glanced at the sky and mused, "Since it is getting late and Lord Qin is still resting, I shall return tomorrow." He smiled meaningfully. "By tomorrow, I hope Lord Qin will no longer be... unwell."

With a respectful farewell, Wang Siyuan led his men away in a carefree manner.

When only Li Yuchang and Gu Jiusi remained in the courtyard, Gu Jiusi turned to him coldly. "Even knowing Lord Fu might be innocent, you would still proceed with the verdict?"

Li Yuchang met his gaze. "Is there evidence?"

Gu Jiusi fell silent. Li Yuchang continued, "You claim he is wronged. Where is the evidence?"

"You know perfectly well Qin Nan has repeatedly changed his testimony..."

"And you know he has repeatedly changed his testimony."

Li Yuchang spoke calmly. "The Ministry of Justice operates on evidence and law. We follow legal statutes as they are written. To convict requires evidence; to exonerate a convicted person also requires evidence. How we judge depends on regulations; when we judge depends on regulations. If the Xia Code does not specify, I may act according to conscience. But where it is written, I must act according to the law."

"Then does your conscience not trouble you?!" Gu Jiusi's voice rose sharply. "Right and wrong—can you not distinguish them in your heart?"

"And is my heart always right?"Li Yuchang looked up at Gu Jiusi, the two standing calmly opposite each other: "Lord Gu, there are passionate officials like you in this world. You believe in your eyes, your convictions, your persistence—I understand and approve. But where there is sentiment, there must be reason. And reason can only be based on existing evidence, not on speculation. If everyone relied on their own eyes, their own hearts, their own sense of justice to decide who in this world deserves death, who does not, who should receive what judgment, and how one ought to live—then everyone would have their own standpoint, their own perspective. The same person, you see him as deserving death, I see him as not—how then should judgment be passed?"

"So-called law is merely the best method we have to approximate fair judgment. Even if it may err, since it is the best method we have, I must uphold its integrity. I cannot allow some to be dealt with by the law while others escape its reach because my heart believes in their innocence. Gu Jiusi, your justice lies in your heart," Li Yuchang's clear eyes held not a trace of emotion, "but my justice lies in my law."

"If you wish to save Fu Baoyuan," Li Yuchang emphasized each word, "bring me evidence!"

Gu Jiusi remained silent. The two stood facing each other quietly for a long time before Gu Jiusi raised his hands, placing them before him as he bowed deeply to Li Yuchang.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Li Yuchang's voice was stiff. Gu Jiusi straightened up: "Lord Li," he said earnestly, looking at him, "you are not wrong. Great Xia is fortunate to have you."

"As you said," Gu Jiusi said calmly, "I will go find evidence. I beg you, within the bounds of the law, to delay as much as possible."

Li Yuchang made no sound, tacitly consenting.

Gu Jiusi turned and had taken no more than two steps when Li Yuchang suddenly called out: "Lord Gu." Gu Jiusi stopped with his back still turned. After a moment's hesitation, Li Yuchang said awkwardly, "Great Xia is fortunate to have you as well."

Gu Jiusi didn't respond. After a moment, he turned his head and smiled at Li Yuchang: "Yes, you are quite right."

This country would have a bright future. Because it had such fine young people.

Having said this, Gu Jiusi took a deep breath and walked out.

While Gu Jiusi was speaking with Li Yuchang, Shen Ming entered Qin Nan's room.

Qin Nan was packing his belongings, his expression calm as if he had anticipated everything.

Shen Ming stood at the doorway, watching Qin Nan's back. After a long while, he finally spoke hoarsely: "I'm sorry."

Qin Nan paused in his movements. After a moment, he sighed softly: "You did your best," he said quietly. "I understand. You needn't blame yourself."

"I'm sorry..." Shen Ming gripped his sword, tears streaming down his face as he kept repeating, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

Qin Nan could no longer continue packing. He slowly straightened up and turned to see the young man standing at the door.

He looked like a child who hadn't grown up, sobbing quietly.

Qin Nan watched him silently for a long time before walking over to him. He handed him a handkerchief and said gently, "Don't cry. You did nothing wrong. You're just..."

Qin Nan smiled bitterly: "Too young.""You and Gu Jiusi have no idea just how wicked people in this world can be. You don't know how many of their people are entrenched throughout Yongzhou, nor do you understand the extent of their capabilities after occupying this territory for so long. Shen Ming, you've done your best. I once..."

Qin Nan hesitated for a moment, then finally smiled wryly: "It was the same with Baoyuan."

"Back then, Baoyuan, several other friends, and I were all transferred to Yongzhou together."

As he spoke, Qin Nan lifted his head and gazed into the distance, his expression nostalgic: "When we arrived, we were all filled with ambition. Twenty years ago, we prosecuted over a hundred officials in Yongzhou in rapid succession."

Shen Ming froze, astonished. He couldn't have imagined that Qin Nan and Fu Baoyuan had lived such lives.

He stared blankly at Qin Nan, who said calmly: "Baoyuan and I held the lowest official ranks, so there was little we could accomplish directly. There were six of us back then, passionately discussing every day how to solve the Yellow River floods and improve the lives of Yongzhou's common people. We were naive - after prosecuting over a hundred officials, among our group of six, some were assassinated, some were exiled, and one..." Qin Nan smiled bitterly, "was falsely accused in Yongzhou and had his kneecaps removed. He crawled all the way to the Eastern Capital and pounded on the gates of the Dali Temple."

"Then what happened?" Shen Ming listened in stunned silence. Qin Nan smiled gently: "Then he was thrown out by the Dali Temple guards. It was winter, and heavy snow fell that night in the Eastern Capital. When I found him..." Qin Nan paused, then turned away, his voice choked, "his body was buried in the snow, completely frozen stiff."

Shen Ming thought for a moment: "What about the last one?"

Qin Nan didn't speak for a long time before finally laughing softly: "The last one... Baoyuan and I jointly impeached him, and he was executed."

"You..."

Shen Ming's eyes widened. Qin Nan looked out the window and said slowly: "We knew we were being targeted. If we hadn't used him as our pledge of allegiance, none of the three of us would have survived."

"But he was your brother..."

Shen Ming murmured. Qin Nan said hoarsely: "He knew."

"We thought he didn't know, but when seeing him off, he told us he knew and was willing. He only asked one thing - that Fu Baoyuan and I remember why he died for the rest of our lives."

"Baoyuan and I have been in Yongzhou, biding our time and preparing for twenty years," Qin Nan took a deep breath. "We've always remembered how they died. Even though Baoyuan and I have long lost any notion of protecting the people or guarding the realm, we will still keep our promise."

"I'll leave the evidence with you." Qin Nan closed his eyes, speaking painfully. "I'll pretend to cooperate with them. Tell Gu Jiusi to prepare - once they're ready to pass judgment, Yongzhou will certainly fall into chaos. Whether they choose to boil the frog slowly or cut the knot quickly is their decision. I only ask one thing..."

"What?"

"Protect Fu Baoyuan." Qin Nan turned to look at Shen Ming, his expression serious. "I can die - my children are already settled, and my mother is old. But Baoyuan is different. He still has children and a family. I want him to live well.""They plan to have me step forward as a witness after Gu Jiusi and Li Yuchang execute Fu Baoyuan, testifying that they wrongfully killed him. Wang Siyuan will likely push a few scapegoats forward to take the blame, then use this charge to bring down Gu Jiusi and Li Yuchang. I'll pretend to cooperate with them, but I'll leave the evidence with you. Wait for the right moment to act—I'll be ready to assist at any time."

"What about your family?"

Shen Ming asked blankly, "Aren't you going to care for them anymore?"

"From the moment I returned and decided to do this," Qin Nan said calmly, "it was already beyond my control."

"It's just," Qin Nan added with a bitter smile, "having to come back and make this choice myself, to face this matter head-on, feels particularly cruel."

Shen Ming fell silent. Qin Nan gave him a push. "Alright, stop standing there. Go discuss this with Gu Jiusi. I don’t like talking to that kid."

Pushed forward, Shen Ming walked away in a daze.

A light rain fell outside, pattering softly.

Countless thoughts echoed in his mind. He had entered the world young, trained in prestigious schools, lived as a commoner, a bandit, and an official.

His master once told him that for those in the martial world, keeping one's word was the most important virtue.

And Qin Nan had also told him that he and Fu Baoyuan had made a promise—one they had kept for a lifetime.

A gentleman’s promise spans twenty years; why fear life or death to honor a friend?

He paused at the door, his mind flashing to Qin Nan’s mother—a gentle, kind woman who, even on her sickbed, would tell him stories of Qin Nan’s childhood.

He remembered Qin Nan in the past, sitting in a bamboo hut, carefully painting paper fans, keeping company with a memorial tablet, serene and content.

He wanted Fu Baoyuan to live because Fu Baoyuan had more to lose.

And what about him, Shen Ming?

His parents had died early, he had no siblings—the only attachment in his life...

A young woman flashed through his mind. The first time they met, her hands were stained with blood, her entire demeanor wary and fearful.

He couldn’t help but smile and said bluntly, "Killed someone?"

The girl remained silent. He walked up to her and handed her a white handkerchief. "Don’t panic."

He whispered, "It’s always like this the first time. The blood of a villain on your hands can be washed clean."

The girl was taken aback. Slowly, she lifted her head and looked at him in surprise.

"Th... thank you," she rasped.

Remembering that "thank you," Shen Ming smiled.

His only attachment wasn’t really an attachment after all. In the end, it was just a "thank you"—nothing more.

Without him, that girl would live just fine. He came and went alone, with no ties. If anyone here could afford to die, it should be him, Shen Ming.

Suddenly, he made a decision and said calmly, "Don’t worry."

Qin Nan looked up in surprise. Shen Ming, with his back to him, declared firmly and earnestly, "I always keep my word."

With that, he strode out. Qin Nan watched, bewildered, as Shen Ming rushed to the stables, grabbed a horse, and galloped away.

The first autumn rain drizzled down. Liu Yu Ru, returning to the manor with an umbrella, had just reached the gate when she saw Shen Ming charging out. Puzzled, she murmured, "Where could he be going in such a hurry at this hour?"

"Indeed," Yin Hong echoed, equally confused. "A letter from Miss Ye just arrived, and there’s no time to give it to him now."

Liu Yu Ru pressed her lips into a gentle smile. "He’ll return eventually."

And Shen Ming, riding through the wind and rain, felt in that moment a newfound courage surging within him.Ignorance is shouting loudly without knowing there are tigers in the mountains, while bravery is persisting forward despite knowing the dangers, driven by faith.

He just suddenly felt a tinge of regret.

He really wanted to see Ye Yun one more time, exchange a few words, and see her smile.

He thought he should have told Ye Yun:

"The first time I saw you, I thought you were incredibly beautiful."

"The moment you looked up and thanked me, my heart was captivated."