The Road to Glory

Chapter 23

"A Yu, teach me."...

Wen Yu knew this wasn't the time for further questions, so she obediently went to remove the firewood from the hearth.

While she was doing this, Xiao Li had already closed all the windows and doors of the main room.

Outside, the north wind howled, sweeping over the roof ridge before rushing elsewhere, its mournful wails sounding unsettling in the darkness of night.

Xiao Li seemed to lean against the door for a moment to catch his breath before rising to find the tinder. With practiced ease in the dark, he lit the oil lamp on the square table, its faint glow once again illuminating the small room.

When Wen Yu turned around, she saw him clutching his abdomen with one hand, blood visibly seeping through his fingers.

Had he been injured this badly? No wonder the smell of blood on him was so strong.

Xiao Li picked up the oil lamp and staggered toward the inner room. The frost and cold air clinging to his clothes had melted, turning into a dampness mixed with the heavy scent of blood. His disheveled hair hung wetly across his forehead and ears, and his face, illuminated by the dim candlelight, remained pale and bloodless.

Hesitating for a moment, Wen Yu took a basin from the wooden rack, poured in the warm water from the kettle, and brought it to him.

The window in the room where she slept was covered with light-proof oilcloth, and the oil lamp was dim. With the lamp lit, anyone passing by inside or outside the alley beyond the courtyard wall would be completely unable to see in.

But as she lifted the curtain, she happened upon Xiao Li removing his clothes. Wen Yu quickly lowered her head. Though it was just an accidental glance, she saw that his half-worn inner garment was already mostly stained with blood.

She set the water basin on the floor, enduring the overwhelming smell of blood assaulting her senses, and lowered her head to wring out a cloth before handing it to him, saying, "Wipe yourself."

Xiao Li, wearing only his inner garment, sat on a stool. He had been stabbed in the abdomen, and on his way back, he had torn off part of his middle garment to tightly bind the wound. Now, he was trying to undo the tight knot of the cloth strip.

But the dried blood had glued the cloth strip to the flesh of the wound, and as he tugged at it, the scab tore, causing fresh blood to seep out.

The disheveled hair on his forehead was indistinguishable whether it was wet from melted snow or sweat. Hearing her voice, he lifted his eyelids, heavy with fine beads of sweat, and saw Wen Yu with her eyes half-lowered, as if she dared not look at him, yet stubbornly holding out a wrung cloth.

The hand holding the cloth had a delicate, slender wrist and elegant joints. It appeared fragile, yet like her, it carried an indescribable resilience.

The last time he was in such a wretched state, it was also her who handed him a cloth like this.

Xiao Li felt as if his heart had been gripped tightly by a large hand, aching and swelling with pain, leaving him suffocated and struggling to catch his breath.

He had always known that she was like a white egret lost and temporarily resting on his roof, waiting only to find her flock before spreading her wings and leaving, destined not to stay here.

Yet she was also like the wind in the warm spring of March—no matter how high the walls he built around his heart, it could always find a way to blow in, stirring ripples in a once-calm pond.

Xiao Li stared at that hand for a moment, his eyes tinged with a faint redness, as if he had severed some thought, before reaching out to take it, his voice hoarse as he thanked her.

Wen Yu lowered her head, about to wring out another cloth to wipe the blood from his body, when she heard him say, "There's a bottle of wound medicine under the chest where the clothes are stored. Can you get it for me?"

Wen Yu then stood up and went to search through the chest.When she returned with the bottle of wound medicine, Xiao Li had not yet managed to untie the cloth strip that was caked with dried blood and soaked anew. Losing patience, he was about to tear it off by force, but the cloth had been wrapped tightly from the start. As he pulled harder, the pressure on the wound instantly caused more blood to gush out.

Beads of sweat the size of soybeans rolled down his temples, and his eyes were tinged with red—a mix of ferocity and shattered exhaustion.

Seeing this, Wen Yu set the medicine bottle on the nearby table, took a pair of scissors from the sewing basket, and said, "Don’t pull it. You’re making the wound bleed again. Let me cut it with the scissors."

To get a better view in the light, she moved the oil lamp closer to the table.

Though Xiao Li was still wearing his inner robe, it was already soaked through with sweat. The collar hung open, revealing his sturdy chest glistening with fine beads of sweat that shimmered like honey under the dim lamplight.

He was, after all, not made of iron. Injured, having lost so much blood, and having braved the wind and snow all the way back, he was now utterly exhausted. Leaning back in the chair, he let Wen Yu take over.

With each breath, the firm, well-defined muscles of his chest and abdomen seemed to pulse with life, rising and falling rhythmically.

Wen Yu lowered her gaze, not daring to look elsewhere.

If Hou Xiao’an hadn’t been drunk and Xiao Huiniang hadn’t been away from home, she would never have taken on this task herself.

But at this moment, she was indeed the only one who could help this Rogue.

Steeling herself, Wen Yu tried to lift the cloth tied around his waist to cut it, but the area on his abdomen was crusted with dried blood, and the cloth had stuck firmly to his skin.

After several failed attempts, she only elicited a pained grunt from him. Not daring to tug recklessly again, she looked up at Xiao Li and said, "The cloth is too tight and stuck with dried blood. Let me soften it with some warm water first."

Xiao Li, sweat beading on his temples, uttered a strained "Thank you." The veins on his arm, resting on the chair, bulged visibly from the pain he was enduring.

Wen Yu soaked a cloth in warm water and gently squeezed it over his waist and abdomen, waiting for the cloth and dried blood to soften.

But the water from the cloth seeped through the fabric and continued to drip down, further dampening his already bloodstained inner robe and trousers.

The winter night was cold, and the fabric, once soaked, quickly turned icy.

Yet moments later, another trickle of warmth flowed down.

The waist and abdomen are a sensitive area. Amid the alternating sensations of warmth and chill, the thick scent of blood filling the room, and perhaps because someone else had been living there for a while, a faint, elusive fragrance lingered in the air. Xiao Li felt as though his mind had been washed into a muddled haze by the warm flow.

Gazing at Wen Yu’s profile illuminated by the dim lamplight and the jade-like nape of her neck, he suddenly felt a sense of softness. Realizing what he was thinking, he closed his eyes heavily, a rare flutter of panic stirring within him.

Seeing that the cloth had softened enough, Wen Yu lifted a corner with her fingertips, ready to cut it. This unavoidably brought her fingertips into contact with the firm, warm muscles of his waist and abdomen.

Though somewhat embarrassed, she knew this was an urgent situation and suppressed her sense of propriety between men and women. Carefully, she pinched the cloth and began cutting it bit by bit.

When she reached the tightest part, she even had to slip a finger between his waist and the fabric to create enough space to cut.Xiao Li could feel the sensation of that finger pressing against his abdominal muscles—soft, gentle, and smooth.

Even with his eyes closed, he could imagine Wen Yu’s face bathed in the dim light, her expression focused and cool.

Like the golden full moon reflected on the water’s surface on a Mid-Autumn night—clearly out of reach, yet seemingly within grasp.

The emotion weighing on his heart suddenly grew stifling, making it hard to breathe. Xiao Li opened his eyes, snatched the scissors from Wen Yu’s hand, and said, “I’ll do it myself.”

Ignoring the pain from his wound, he picked up the remaining strip of cloth and cut it cleanly with one swift motion. After tossing the scissors aside, he forced himself to slow his breathing.

The pain had brought another layer of sweat to his body, but it seemed to ease the heavy, unspoken suffocation pressing on his chest.

Noticing his unusual behavior, Wen Yu asked in confusion, “Did I pull on your wound?”

Xiao Li didn’t look at her again. His bare shoulders and back glistened with sweat as he lowered his gaze, grabbed the cloth from the table, and wiped the blood from his waist haphazardly. “No,” was all he said.

After a quick wipe, he took the wound-healing powder and poured it generously over the injury.

The medicine was potent—as soon as it touched the wound, it burned like oil on fire. Sweat quickly beaded on his skin again, and the veins at his temples bulged. Yet the searing pain cleared his mind of distracting thoughts.

Once the worst of the pain subsided, he tore a clean undergarment into strips to wrap around the wound, his hands still trembling slightly.

Worried he might catch a chill, Wen Yu went outside to fetch the remaining embers from the fire pit and brought them inside in a brazier. Seeing him struggle, she hesitated before saying, “Let me.”

She took the cloth strip from him and wound it around his waist twice. The proximity, combined with his bare torso, made their breathing audible to each other.

Wen Yu kept her eyes down, focusing only on the cloth in her hands.

But whether it was due to the medicine or not, his body seemed to radiate heat. That warmth, carrying his scent, seeped into her senses, making her slightly uneasy.

The oil lamp cast their shadows slanting onto the wall by the bed—at a glance, they appeared entwined in an embrace.

As she concentrated on tying the knot, the back of her hand was struck by a drop of sweat. Lifting her gaze, she heard Xiao Li say hoarsely, “Sorry.”

Only then did Wen Yu realize he had been watching her intently. His breathing was heavy, sweat droplets clinging to his eyelids and chin. The muscles of his shoulders and back were taut as stone from enduring the pain.

His sharply defined face, drenched in sweat, took on a wilder edge.

In that position, if he were to raise his arms slightly, they would be in an embrace.

Wen Yu’s heart skipped a beat. Lowering her lashes, she murmured, “It’s fine,” and quickened her movements. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a scar on his shoulder—it looked like an old burn.

How did he get burned there, of all places?

The thought flickered through her mind only briefly. After securing the knot, she stepped back and said, “You’re injured. You should rest in the room tonight.”

She guessed that whatever he had done tonight—whether killing or stealing—was not something others should know about, so she made no attempt to inquire further. After bidding him farewell, she picked up the basin and prepared to leave.

But Xiao Li stopped her. “Wait.”Wen Yu turned her head and saw him leaning over to retrieve an object wrapped in oilcloth from his discarded clothes. Unwrapping it revealed a ledger.

Xiao Li handed her the booklet: "Help me transcribe this account book. I'll owe you a favor."

Wen Yu accepted it hesitantly: "What is this?"

Xiao Li replied: "My proprietor's leverage."

Wen Yu glanced at the words on the ledger's cover and asked: "Did you go out tonight for this account book?"

Xiao Li didn't respond, but didn't deny it either.

Wen Yu knew she shouldn't pry further, yet still frowned and asked: "Did it involve a murder case?"

This time Xiao Li shook his head, his expression darkening as he said: "I didn't kill anyone."

Boss Han had ordered him to kill Hu Xianbai and retrieve the account book, but when Xiao Li went to stake out the location based on Boss Han's intelligence, he realized it was a trap.

Hu Xianbai had long since handed the account book to the He family. His appearance there was merely as bait.

Initially unaware, Xiao Li had captured Hu Xianbai to interrogate him about the ledger's whereabouts. His plan was to obtain the account book and make the man return to his hometown, never to appear in Yongcheng again. Unexpectedly, to save his own life, Hu Xianbai confessed that the ledger was already in Master He's carriage, revealing himself as nothing but a pawn discarded by the He family.

Realizing he'd been tricked, Xiao Li abandoned the man and tried to flee, only to be surrounded by the canal gang members who had been lying in ambush.

The Han and He families had long-standing grudges, and their gambling house staff frequently clashed violently with the canal gang over territory disputes.

Having obtained Boss Han's account book, the He family anticipated that Boss Han would send his most capable subordinate to retrieve it. They deliberately set this trap, hoping not only to prevent Boss Han from recovering the ledger but also to eliminate one of his key operatives.

Relying on his martial skills, Xiao Li managed to escape wounded. However, Hu Xianbai was stabbed to death by the canal gang members, who intended to frame Xiao Li for the murder.

Though he had worn a mask, Xiao Li knew he was currently the most prominent and trusted operative under Boss Han. Even if the He family hadn't clearly seen his face, they would firmly identify him as the murderer to send him back to prison.

This time, it might not be hard labor but immediate execution.

If he failed to retrieve the account book, Boss Han - whose own secrets were now exposed to the He family - would certainly not protect him.

Therefore, he had to reclaim this leverage to have bargaining power with Boss Han.

After escaping, Xiao Li trailed the He family's carriage despite his injuries. Seizing an opportunity, he knocked out both the coachman and Master He inside, retrieved the account book from a hidden compartment, and returned through the snow.

Knowing Boss Han's unpredictable nature, Xiao Li wanted to transcribe the ledger as insurance, fearing his employer might still betray him after recovering the original.

Hearing he hadn't killed anyone, Wen Yu simply said: "Auntie has been very worried about you lately."

Xiao Li responded: "There won't be such incidents in the future."

Since he said so, Wen Yu asked no further questions. She retrieved the writing materials she had previously bought for sketching fan designs and began transcribing the account book.

The room's table was small. With Wen Yu using the only chair for transcription, Xiao Li could only sit on the edge of the bed.

Though this was his own room, even the blankets and quilts were his former belongings, he now felt entirely out of place, as if intruding upon someone's private chamber.

Suppressing these disordered thoughts, Xiao Li leaned against the bedpost and watched Wen Yu's profile as she copied the accounts.When she held the brush, her back was always ramrod straight, like a resilient bamboo. Her thick, dark lashes were half-lowered, their tips catching a soft halo of light as they curved gracefully. The faint glimpse of her pupils resembled polished lacquer, appearing particularly cool and detached due to her intense concentration, making others hesitant to disturb her.

Her nose was elegantly straight, and fine downy hairs were faintly visible on her face. Under the lamplight, they seemed to emit a gentle glow, making even the faint rash marks appear lively and endearing.

Xiao Li realized he had once again been staring at her face, lost in thought, and quickly averted his gaze to the characters she was writing.

He knew few characters and had never learned to write, but he had seen many examples of others' calligraphy.

Wen Yu's handwriting was not delicate and graceful like that of most young women. Her father excelled at cursive script, and she had learned from him. Later, her mother remarked that it was improper for a young lady to write in such wild cursive and found her a female tutor skilled in the delicate "small regular script" style.

However, Wen Yu's brush style had already taken shape. Even after copying countless copies of the delicate script, her strokes never achieved strict regularity.

Her father had once teased her, saying that while others' delicate script resembled "carved flowers on hairpins," hers was more like "wielding swords and brandishing weapons."

Xiao Li watched for a while before suddenly saying, "Your handwriting is beautiful."

Wen Yu paused her brush, recalling her earlier lie that she had only learned a few characters from her elder brother. She replied, "I'm merely copying the forms. It's nothing to praise."

Xiao Li said, "I have eyes."

The conversation abruptly ended there.

Wen Yu did not respond further and silently continued copying the accounts for him.

Xiao Li watched her write for a while longer, his gaze settling on her hand holding the brush. He noticed how the back of her hand, illuminated by the dim lamplight, was as smooth as mutton-fat jade.

Realizing he was staring at her again, he grew agitated and was about to look away when he suddenly froze.

Something was wrong!

Where were the rashes on the back of her hand?

Xiao Li glanced sharply at the basin of water still in the room, then back at the lingering rash marks on her face, and suddenly understood.

No wonder she had suddenly wanted to buy rouge, yet he had hardly seen her use it.

Xiao Li felt the stifling sensation in his chest slowly rising again, so oppressive that his entire heart grew numb with pain.

He stared at her for a long time before asking, "Is A Yu your real name?"

Wen Yu did not know why he suddenly asked this. This time, her brush paused for so long that a drop of ink blotched the paper. She hurriedly set down the brush and lifted the sheet to prevent the ink from soaking through.

Unfortunately, the table was too small, and she accidentally knocked the account book to the floor.

As Wen Yu bent to pick it up, Xiao Li reached it first.

He lifted it by the spine, and the pages fell open, causing a sealed letter tucked inside to slip out.

Both of them stared in surprise.

Wen Yu picked it up and noticed the letter was sealed but bore no addressee's name. Only a private seal was stamped on the wax seal.

She handed it to Xiao Li, steering the conversation away from his earlier question, and said, "It's an unopened letter. I don't know if it belongs to your Proprietor or someone else."

Xiao Li did not take it. His eyes, under the lamplight, were inscrutable. After a moment's thought, he said, "Open it and read it to me."This ledger was given to the He family by Hu Xianbai. If there were any letters from his Proprietor inside, they would have been opened and read long ago. Therefore, this letter was either given to the He family by Hu Xianbai, or that old scoundrel from the He family obtained it from elsewhere tonight and casually slipped it into the ledger.

Xiao Li leaned toward the latter possibility. After all, if Hu Xianbai could already meet with that old He family scoundrel, why would he still need to write him a letter?

If this letter also contained some leverage against the He family, he could settle old scores with interest.

Wen Yu used scissors to break the wax seal, took out the letter inside, and unfolded it under the oil lamp. Just as she was about to read it aloud, her pupils suddenly contracted, and her face visibly paled in that instant.

Noticing her strange expression, Xiao Li quickly asked, "What's wrong? What does the letter say?"

Wen Yu carefully read the contents of the letter twice more, then picked up the envelope to examine it, as if searching for some clue. But the hand holding the envelope trembled uncontrollably.

Xiao Li frowned, grabbing one of her wrists to steady her, only to discover her skin was ice cold. In his memory, she had never been this panicked before. He asked again, "What exactly does the letter say?"

Wen Yu looked up, her face bloodless, and countered, "Who is Huo Kun? Where did you get this letter?"

Xiao Li's frown deepened. "There are countless people named Huo Kun in this world. How should I know which one you mean? Both the letter and the ledger were taken from the He family..."

He paused mid-sentence, then continued, "The deputy general of Yongzhou City... is also named Huo Kun. The He family relies on his backing for their canal transport business."

His gaze fell on the letter in Wen Yu's hand, his expression instantly turning grave. "Is this letter from Huo Kun to the He family?"

Wen Yu shook her head. With one wrist still gripped by Xiao Li, she braced herself against the table to stand steady.

Struggling to maintain composure while considering all possible solutions, she said, "Quick, go bring Auntie and the others here. I'll wake Xiao An. We need to find them a place to hide first..."

Though Xiao Li sensed the severity of the situation, he still couldn't imagine what could unsettle her so much. "You have to tell me what that letter says. Whatever trouble it is, I'll bear the consequences myself. Why are you panicking?"

Staring into his eyes, Wen Yu tried repeatedly to calm herself, but her voice still trembled. "Huo Kun is a follower of the rebel Pei Song. This letter is from him to Pei Song, stating that despite repeated attempts to persuade, the Governor of Yongzhou shows no intention of surrendering. Though the Governor has great talent, he cannot be used for their cause. Huo Kun asks Pei Song whether they should kill him and take his place, then announce to the world that Yongzhou has also submitted to the Pei family!"

Xiao Li seemed momentarily stunned, as if still processing this information. "Huo Kun is planning a rebellion?"

Wen Yu couldn't describe the helplessness she felt at that moment. "Yongzhou isn't under Huo Kun's control yet. Having lost such an important letter, even if he maintains his composure and doesn't desperately launch a mutiny immediately, he'll turn everything upside down to retrieve it."

"The He family, being supported by Huo Kun and engaged in canal transport, must have been secretly delivering these letters for him all along. Losing a letter is a capital offense—they wouldn't dare conceal it. They've probably already reported the loss to Huo Kun by now."She looked at Xiao Li: "The letter was tucked inside the ledger. Whoever finds the ledger will find the letter. And aside from your proprietor, who else would go to such lengths to obtain this ledger?"

Wen Yu left the rest unspoken, but Xiao Li's expression darkened instantly.

Getting involved in this mess, Boss Han might not even be able to save his own head—it was obvious he'd pin the blame on Xiao Li to save himself.

When Xiao Li had retrieved the ledger despite his injuries, he'd thought that with this bargaining chip, the murder charge the He family had falsely pinned on him could be cleared, and he could hope to leave the gambling house someday, just like Brother Song.

He had already brought his godmothers out of the Drunken Red Chamber. With a small business in the future, it would be enough to support them until their old age and provide for their funeral arrangements. When Xiao An grew a little older and the world outside became less chaotic, he would take that brat to see Luodu, the city he had yearned for all these years.

But in an instant, all of it vanished like a bubble.

Xiao Li reflected on his life, which seemed to have been toyed with by fate, and suddenly felt a sense of absurdity.

He regretted not having done more—why had he only knocked out the He family’s eldest master and the coachman?

But… what good would killing them have done?

If the He family’s eldest master failed to return for too long, the family would inevitably send servants to search for him. Yongzhou City was only so large; once the city gates were closed at night, where could two grown men and a carriage possibly hide?

Perhaps because he had already envisioned the worst possible outcome, Xiao Li felt an unusual calm wash over him. Staring at the letter that Wen Yu had already opened, he asked half-jokingly, "If I reseal this letter exactly as it was and restore the wax seal to match the imprint, could it still be salvaged?"

Wen Yu shook her head, her eyes tinged with a faint redness as she looked at him. "Whether you’ve read this letter or not, once it has passed through your hands, they would rather kill mistakenly than leave any witnesses alive."

Xiao Li seemed to ponder for a moment before standing up and pulling on his clothes. "Take my mother and Xiao An into hiding. I’ll take this letter to see the Governor."

Wen Yu called out to stop him, "No!"

Xiao Li turned his head to look at her, and she explained, "The only chance for survival does lie there, but if Huo Kun learns that the letter is missing, his first move will be to guard against it being delivered to the Governor of Yongzhou. Every road leading to the Governor’s residence is surely already ambushed. If you go recklessly, you’ll only throw your life away for nothing. Even if you miraculously reach the Governor’s residence, what if Huo Kun, cornered like a desperate dog, launches a military coup prematurely? Then everything we’ve done will be in vain. You won’t be able to save your own life, nor… will you be able to protect Auntie and Xiao An."

By the end, Wen Yu’s voice had grown hoarse.

That was an outcome she did not wish to see either—she hoped Xiao Huiniang and Xiao An could live safely and well.

Xiao Li’s tall frame stiffened where he stood, like a trapped beast with no way out. After a long silence, he finally spoke, "Then what can I do?"

With Huo Kun sealing the city gates, even if he took Xiao Huiniang and the others into hiding, it would only be a matter of time before they were found.

He closed his eyes and said slowly, "A Yu, teach me what to do."

"Just as long as my mother and the others are kept safe."

Wen Yu’s heart ached at his use of "A Yu." Setting aside the debt of gratitude she owed the Xiao family, and knowing that the Governor of Yongzhou remained loyal to the Great Liang, for the sake of Fengyang alone, she could not allow Yongzhou to fall into Pei Song’s hands.

Staring at the flickering flame of the oil lamp on the table, she said, "There is one more way we can gamble."

The wind whipped the heavy snow into goose-feather flurries. In the deep of night, the sound of chaotic hoofbeats echoed through the streets and alleys.

Every ordinary household had its doors tightly shut. If a child was startled awake and began to cry, the sound was quickly muffled.

The hoofbeats halted outside a grand mansion, and armored soldiers with swords at their hips began pounding violently on the gate.

"Coming, coming…" The gatekeeper, hastily pulling on his clothes, rushed to remove the bolt, but the gate was already kicked open roughly by the soldiers.

Seeing the torches blazing outside and the dark mass of troops, the gatekeeper panicked, his voice trembling as he asked, "Sirs, wh-what… what crime has my master committed?"The soldier who kicked the door open immediately drew his blade and stabbed the doorkeeper in the abdomen, shouting, "Han Tangzong has seized farmland, driven peasants to their deaths, and bribed the county magistrate for illicit dealings! We are here tonight to arrest him!"

The soldiers behind him swarmed in like black ants. Lanterns in the Han residence flickered on one after another. Maids and servants, not yet fully dressed, were kicked in by these armored, blade-wielding soldiers, screaming and crying in terror.

Boss Han, draped in a silver-furred cloak, pulled open the main door and demanded, "What is the meaning of this?"

Behind him, from behind the soft silk bed curtains, his beautiful concubine, bare-armed and clutching a brocade quilt to cover herself, peered out timidly.

The captain of the soldiers strode toward the main room, a blood-stained sword in hand, and sneered, "Your days of luxury are over, Han Tangzong!"

In moments, Han Tangzong, clad only in thin inner garments, was tightly bound and dragged outside the estate gate.

Forced to kneel on the frost-covered bluestone pavement, the cold seeped through the thin silk, needling his kneecaps with a piercing pain.

Straining to lift his head, he looked up at the man on horseback and rasped, "Lord Huo, what crime have I committed to warrant such a heavy-handed response?"

An attendant crouched beside the warhorse, and Huo Kun stepped on his back to dismount. He strode over to Han Tangzong, half-crouching to ask, "Where is my property?"

In his early thirties, with a short beard and a lean yet sturdy build from his military background, Huo Kun’s hawk-like eyes glared with an almost overflowing ruthlessness.

Han Tangzong, bewildered and panicked, asked, "What property of yours could I possibly have?"

Huo Kun backhanded him across the face with a whip, his voice venomous, "Still pretending? The item tucked inside the ledger you retrieved from the He family!"

Han Tangzong had never imagined that retrieving a ledger—a trivial matter involving the He family—would draw Huo Kun’s personal involvement. Only upon hearing about the hidden item did he realize the gravity. Hurriedly, despite the whip mark on his face, he pleaded, "My lord, please understand! The ledger was stolen by a traitor attempting to deliver it to the He family. I merely sent someone to retrieve it, but the man hasn’t reported back to me yet. I know nothing of any item inside!"

Huo Kun’s expression darkened further. "Who did you send?"

"Xiao Li!" Han Tangzong exclaimed hastily. "Xiao Li from South Third Lane! He holds a grudge against the He family. If something of yours stored with them is missing, he likely took it to exact revenge!"

Attempting to absolve himself, Han Tangzong’s motives were clear to Huo Kun, who only snorted coldly and ordered his subordinates, "Seal the Han residence."

He then remounted his horse and whipped it toward South Third Lane.

Han Tangzong was hauled onto another horse by the guards and taken along to identify the location.

Upon reaching South Third Lane, Han Tangzong, shivering in his thin clothes after the windy ride, was now blue in the face and hands. Dismounting, he stumbled and collapsed to the ground.

From his saddle, Huo Kun coldly asked, "Which household is the Xiao residence?"

Ignoring the biting cold that wracked his body, Han Tangzong squinted in the torchlight and pointed a trembling finger at the outermost house. "That one."

Soldiers immediately rushed to break down the door.

The old wooden door, unable to withstand the force, soon had its bolt shattered, the panels slamming against the walls with a loud crash.

The small courtyard was pitch black, and the house within lay in utter silence.Soldiers holding torches surged in, kicking open the door to the main room.

Huo Kun sat on horseback with his eyes closed, waiting. Moments later, the squad leader who had gone to search hurried out to report: "General, there's no one inside!"

Huo Kun abruptly lifted his eyelids, his voice icy as he asked, "Have you checked the attic, cellar, and all such places?"

The squad leader nodded, saying, "We've searched every possible hiding spot!"

Huo Kun's cold gaze sliced toward Han Tangzong, who was shivering uncontrollably in the cold.

Han Tangzong knew that whatever Xiao Li had taken must be something critically important for Huo Kun to personally lead a midnight search. Since it was hidden in the account books, it was likely letters. Fearful for his own head, he quickly said, "That Xiao fellow is illiterate! He bought another property. If he's not here tonight, he must be at his new place!"

Huo Kun asked, "Where is this new property?"

Han Tangzong's heart tightened. "This... I don't know yet."

Sensing the sudden chill radiating from Huo Kun, he hastily added, "But his neighbors must know something!"

Huo Kun signaled to his guard, who understood and went to knock on the door of a house near Xiao Li's.

The man who opened the door nearly collapsed at the sight of the crowd of armed soldiers standing in the darkness. He answered every question the soldiers asked, his legs still trembling as he was hauled off to identify Xiao Li's newly purchased residence.

The newly bought house was an old property belonging to someone else. Soldiers broke down the door and swarmed inside like locusts to search. Emerging, one clasped his fists and reported, "General, still no one inside!"

Huo Kun's expression darkened further. He beckoned a guard, whispered instructions into his ear, and the guard mounted his horse and hurried away.

Only then did Huo Kun turn to Han Tangzong, who was shaking either from cold or fear, and slowly drew the sword from his waist. "If your man is illiterate, why would he flee with his entire family?"

A bitter wind rose. Han Tangzong's gaunt frame, draped in oversized white silk inner garments, seemed little more than a skeleton.

He retreated backward, offering every bargaining chip he had to save his life: "Sir... Sir, I can serve you like the He family! All my businesses in Yongcheng—I can offer them to you! Spare my life, and I’ll be your loyal servant, working for you like an ox or horse!"

Huo Kun remained unmoved. With a metallic ring, he fully unsheathed his sword and raised it to strike. But just then, urgent hoofbeats sounded from behind. A squad leader reined in his horse, dismounted, and half-knelt to present a letter: "General! As ordered, we went to seal the gambling house and found this pinned to its door!"

Huo Kun unfolded the paper. After reading it, his expression eased slightly. He tossed the letter to Han Tangzong and quietly instructed the squad leader, "Notify Huo Feng. There’s no need to mobilize troops into the city. Have them remain in camp on standby."

The squad leader clasped his fists, remounted, and galloped away.

Han Tangzong, reading the words on the paper by torchlight, felt life return to him. The cold wind pierced his lungs, yet he nearly wept with relief. Pointing at the letter, he exclaimed, "Sir, that Xiao is an ungrateful wretch! He got the account book and is using it to extort a large sum from me. That’s why he’s hiding with his old mother!"

The letter clearly stated: At 9:45 a.m., outside the Five-Mile Pavilion by the west city gate, prepare a carriage with five hundred taels in silver notes inside. The account book will be returned intact.Huo Kun tugged the reins to turn his horse around. Glancing at the sky, he said, "The city gates closed at the end of the You hour. That bastard must still be inside. After the gates open at dawn, guard all major gates strictly and continue searching within the city. We must capture him!"

His eyes swept over Han Tangzong as he raised his whip, pointing. "Have your men who recognize the bastard accompany them to the gates for identification. If he hasn’t appeared by the Si hour, prepare carriages, horses, and banknotes as he demanded, then set an ambush outside the city to seize him!"

Han Tangzong eagerly agreed, "Of course, of course! Once we catch that ungrateful wretch, everything will be at your disposal, sir!"

Ignoring his flattery, Huo Kun spurred his horse forward, his personal guards closely following. Lowering his voice, he instructed, "Keep a tight watch on the Governor’s residence."

The guard promptly replied, "As you ordered, I’ve stationed men to block all key routes. Any suspicious individuals approaching the Governor’s residence will be eliminated on sight!"

Huo Kun added, "If the Governor’s residence becomes aware and lets any fugitives slip through, report to me immediately."

The guard bowed in acknowledgment.

From afar, the crow of a rooster heralded the dawn. Huo Kun gazed at the still-dark sky and murmured, "Let’s hope for a prosperous New Year."

—

Madam Xu had stayed up late for the New Year’s Eve vigil and woke later than usual. As her maid brought in a basin of water for her morning ablutions, the stewardess entered and announced, "Madam, an embroiderer is here, claiming she’s delivered the finished fan panel."

Madam Xu had just finished washing her face and was applying makeup before a mirror. Pausing briefly, she thought for a moment before recalling she had commissioned an embroiderer for the fan panel. Calculating the dates, she remarked, "Isn’t there still a few days left until the month’s end?"

The stewardess smiled. "It’s the New Year, after all. Perhaps she wants to settle the payment early."

Having perfected one eyebrow but struggling with the other, Madam Xu wiped it off with a handkerchief to redo it, losing interest in the matter. "If that’s the case, inspect the fan panel for me. If there are no issues, pay her accordingly."

The stewardess said, "The embroiderer wishes to see you."

Madam Xu stopped applying her makeup and glanced at the stewardess. "Why does she want to see me?"

The stewardess’s smile widened. "She’s done a Double-sided embroidery. Probably hoping for a reward."

Hearing it was Double-sided embroidery, Madam Xu’s expression softened slightly, though she still remarked skeptically, "In less than a month, can the Double-sided embroidery even be presentable?"

The stewardess chuckled. "I’ve already inspected it for you, Madam. The stitching and needlework on that fan panel—if Luodu hadn’t fallen into chaos—could have been sent to the mansions of nobles in Luodu."

That was high praise indeed.

Madam Xu, born into an official’s family, had brought this stewardess from her maiden home—a woman of experience.

After a brief consideration, Madam Xu said, "Then escort her to the side hall. I’ll change clothes and join her shortly."

A quarter of an hour later, Madam Xu, adorned with tinkling jewelry and leaning on her maid’s arm, entered the side hall. At the sight of the slender figure standing with her back turned, gazing at the snowy lakescape outside the window, the words on Madam Xu’s lips froze.

She prided herself on having seen many beauties, but this person, with just her silhouette, seemed to blend into a painting, utterly overshadowing the wintry scenery beyond.

It was only when Wen Yu turned and greeted, "Madam Xu," that she snapped out of her reverie.The other party still wore a veil, her eyes as calm as still water. Yet in her own home, Madam Xu suddenly felt the illusion that she herself was the guest.

Disturbed by this inexplicable feeling, she sat down surrounded by her maids before barely managing to adopt a host's demeanor. "I heard you've embroidered a Double-sided embroidery. Show it to me," she said.

But the person standing by the window replied, "I came today to discuss another business matter with you, Madam."

Carried by the lake breeze, her voice was clear and crisp, like melting icicles from the eaves dripping onto jade tiles.

Madam Xu scraped the tea foam with the lid and chuckled. "On this first day of the new year, my household is still quite busy. If you wish to discuss a long-term business, come another day."

As she spoke, she signaled her subordinates to see the guest out.

But Wen Yu said, "Would Madam be interested in taking over the business of the Han family in Yongcheng?"

Madam Xu's hand, which had been scraping the tea foam, paused. She looked up and reassessed Wen Yu. "You speak quite boldly, young lady."

Wen Yu took out half an account book and placed it on the table. "With just this account book, Madam can already snatch a lucrative piece from the Han family. If you're willing to do this business with me, I will present the other half of the account book after the matter is settled."

Understanding the cue, a subordinate brought the account book to Madam Xu. After flipping through just a few pages, her expression changed.

She closed the account book, pressed it on the table, and asked Wen Yu, "Your condition?"

Beneath Wen Yu's calm gaze surged turbulent waves as she said, "I ask that Madam take me to the Governor's residence to pay a New Year's visit."