Deputy General Zhong stood in the courtyard and saw a young man being escorted by armored guards. The youth showed no trace of nervousness, striding forward boldly. When he spotted Deputy General Zhong, he even raised a hand in greeting: "Deputy General Zhong, we meet again."
In the night, his smile revealed gleaming white teeth, starkly contrasting with his grimy military uniform.
The scar on Deputy General Zhong's face twitched several times as he gritted his teeth and asked, "What are you doing here?"
A Jiu walked up to him and said, "Of course, I'm here to see General Chu."
Deputy General Zhong was about to say more, but A Jiu cut him off first: "Deputy General Zhong, some words are best not spoken in public."
Was that a threat? Would speaking openly tarnish the young lady's reputation? Deputy General Zhong glared at him, thinking, Just you try, kid!
"Has he arrived?" Chu Ling's voice came from inside.
Deputy General Zhong knew this was a reminder for him. He snorted coldly and stepped aside: "Go in. The General wants to see you."
A Jiu smiled at Deputy General Zhong and strode inside.
……
……
The room was brightly lit. A Jiu felt as if he had stepped from one world into another—this one warm and radiant, and the brightest of all was the man seated at the desk.
He wore a faded old robe, broad-shouldered and tall.
Hearing someone enter, he looked up, a gentle smile on his face: "So you are A Jiu?"
A Jiu nodded. Seeing Chu Ling's face, he had no particular thoughts or concerns about the Garrison General's early fame and sudden downfall. Only one thought crossed his mind: That Chu Zhao, she really resembles her father.
Especially in spirit—she appeared gentle and harmless, but there was a fierceness in her brow and eyes—
"General Chu," he saluted.
Chu Ling said, "My daughter traveled with you for a while. Thank you for looking after her."
A Jiu shook his head: "No need for thanks. We didn’t want to bring Miss Chu along; we were tricked into it."
Chu Ling chuckled. This lad spoke bluntly. It seemed he wasn’t—
His thought was cut short as A Jiu stepped forward and took a letter from his robe, placing it on the table.
"I’m here to deliver a letter for someone," he said.
But as soon as the words left his mouth, a gust of wind surged toward him. A Jiu inwardly cursed, sinking his waist and twisting backward, but he was a step too slow. With a thud, he crashed against a bookshelf, his neck seized by an iron-like hand.
"Brother?" Deputy General Zhong immediately called out from outside the door upon hearing the noise.
Chu Ling's voice remained gentle: "It's nothing. Don’t come in."
Deputy General Zhong fell silent.
A Jiu felt his breath fading too. The hand gripping his neck loosened slightly, allowing him to gasp for air, breathing rapidly.
"Young man, I don’t care which family you belong to," Chu Ling said, his expression still mild as he looked at the youth. "Using my daughter as a shield will only lead to your death."
After receiving the news, he had suspected that Chu Zhao’s departure from the capital wasn’t merely due to her fight with Miss Liang—she must have been ensnared in a plot. Now, this youth posing as a Courier presenting a secret letter only confirmed his suspicions.
He had sent his daughter to the capital to shield her from the impending turmoil, yet those people had targeted his daughter—
He, Chu Ling, was not dead yet.
Watching the growing ferocity in the man’s eyes, A Jiu forced out words through his constricted throat: "General Chu, you’ve guessed wrong. In fact, your daughter used this very letter to threaten me."
Chu Ling smiled faintly: "Oh? How did she threaten you?"Just like a familiar elder inquiring about a junior’s amusing affairs, it would have been even more amiable if his grip had been a little looser. Though struggling to breathe, A Jiu managed to force out a cold laugh: "She discovered my letter, first tried to steal it, and after I caught her, she threatened me to send her back to the Border Commandery. Otherwise, she’d tell everyone I was delivering a secret message to you—General Chu, I’m just a courier, but meeting Miss Chu was an accident."
Chu Ling gave the young man a deep look, then released his grip and straightened up.
A Jiu leaned against the bookshelf, gasping for breath and coughing several times.
The letter in his hand was taken by Chu Ling, who casually opened it and glanced at it. "Dongyang Xie family—are you from the Xie family?"
A Jiu grunted in affirmation.
Chu Ling smiled faintly. "Was this letter the Crown Prince’s idea, or the Crown Princess’s?"
The Crown Princess was from the Dongyang Xie family. The Xie family remained aloof from the capital’s nobility. Compared to the Yang family, from which the former Empress hailed, and the currently favored Imperial Concubine’s Zhao family, the young Crown Princess conducted herself with low-key discretion.
Of course, this was merely an illusion.
While the Yang family, the Zhao family, and even the Crown Prince and the Third Prince had not sent a single letter or messenger, the Xie family’s letter had already reached him.
It was remarkable that the Xie family had thought to send him, a forgotten man, a letter expressing goodwill.
A Jiu said, "It was Young Master Xie the Third’s idea."
Young Master Xie the Third—Chu Ling raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced at the signature: Xie Yanfang.
The current Crown Princess’s uncle, the eldest son of the Xie family head, and the third-ranked young master in the clan.
Even in his remote location, Chu Ling had heard of this Young Master Xie the Third—a refined, virtuous, and talented noble young man, gentle as jade.
Young Master Xie the Third’s own idea?
Young Master Xie the Third hadn’t written much, only expressing long-standing admiration and a desire to befriend him.
"I’ve delivered the letter. I don’t know what he meant by it, and I don’t know the contents either," A Jiu said, coughing once, his hoarse voice nearly recovered. "I was just here to deliver the letter. Now that it’s done, my task is over."
Chu Ling looked at him. "Merchants and travelers pass through here frequently, and officials are everywhere in Yunzhong Commandery. Sending a letter would be easy enough—using a courier, however, is rather conspicuous."
A Jiu chuckled. "You might not believe it, General, but delivering this letter to you was my punishment." He waved a hand dismissively. "It doesn’t matter. Think what you will. May I leave now? I need to return before dawn, or else, if I’m discovered, I’ll be dead even without you lifting a finger."
Punishment? Chu Ling studied him. "Young man, you’re not very well-liked at home, are you?"
A Jiu looked indifferent. "If there’s anything you want to know, General, just ask Young Master Xie the Third. He’ll tell you everything without holding back."
Chu Ling asked, "Do you like my A Zhao?"
A Jiu, who had just caught his breath, choked as if suddenly grabbed by the throat, coughing several times before glaring at Chu Ling. "Hey, what’s wrong with you father and daughter? Why are you both so eager to tarnish my reputation? Do you think you can threaten me like this?"
Chu Ling burst into hearty laughter.
The laughter echoed through the room, spilling out the door.
Outside, Deputy General Zhong, who was blocking the door and ready to storm in for a kill order at any moment, was taken aback. Why was he laughing? And so heartily? The General hadn’t laughed like this in a long time—
As the thought crossed his mind, the tightly shut door swung open. The young man strode out, his face dark with displeasure, ignoring Deputy General Zhong’s bewildered stare as he brushed past him and walked away.
Deputy General Zhong paid him no mind either, hurrying inside to ask what had happened.Muffled voices murmured in the hall. A Jiu couldn't make out the words, nor did he care to listen as he strode toward the exit. Yet for some reason, his steps gradually slowed, haunted by the nagging feeling that something remained unfinished.
It shouldn't be this way—he'd only come to deliver a message, and that task was done.
A Jiu gritted his teeth and stomped forward with deliberate force.
Other matters were none of his concern!
One step, two steps, three steps—moving outward, leaving this place, mounting his horse, returning to Yunzhong County.
He gazed ahead into the thick darkness, where scattered torch flames flickered like stars, faintly outlining a girl's face. She stared back at him, large teardrops rolling down her cheeks—
How utterly irritating!
The guards in the courtyard watched the youth, puzzled by his expression of bitter resentment. The next moment, they saw him slam his raised foot down, spin around, and march back inside.
"General Chu!"
A Jiu stormed into the hall.
Chu Ling and Deputy General Zhong, who had been speaking, turned in surprise.
"Did you drop something?" Deputy General Zhong glared. "Why are you back?"
"There's one more thing." A Jiu wore an expression of utter impatience. "General Chu, when are you bringing your daughter back?"
Deputy General Zhong's eyes widened. So this boy's visit really was about A Zhao!
Chu Ling froze momentarily, then looked at the youth and smiled, though a trace of melancholy soon clouded his features.
Even a stranger remembered A Zhao—how could he, her father, not think of her?
His A Zhao... how was she faring now?
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