Qin Jiuye walked in one breath from the south of the city to the Governor’s Office in the east.
As summer approached, the air grew hot earlier each day. By the time she arrived, she was drenched in sweat and her throat was parched, but she did not dare stop. She felt that if she paused even for a moment, she would lose the courage to see this through to the end.
Finally, the grand gates of the Governor’s Office came into view.
Before the wide stone steps, a young officer returning from the night patrol was yawning as he led his horse. A short deer-tail tassel swayed at the back of his head. Qin Jiuye recognized him as Du Shaoheng, the man who had shared a table with her in the back courtyard and served her soup that day.
Du Shaoheng had just finished tethering his horse when he saw a thin, small figure rushing toward him. His instinct was to intercept her, but once he recognized her face, he paused in surprise and stepped back.
"Miss Qin? To come so early... do you have urgent business with our Governor?"
Qin Jiuye waved a hand dismissively, leaning against her knees to catch her breath for a moment before speaking.
"It isn't exactly urgent. Is the Governor inside?"
*If it isn't urgent, why the frantic look?*
Suspicion rose in Du Shaoheng’s mind. Normally, he would have questioned her further; if it pertained to a case, any delay would be grave. But then he remembered his Governor’s unusual behavior lately and recalled Lieutenant Lu’s bet from that night. The questions he intended to ask were swallowed back down.
Not just anyone was allowed to stay overnight in the Governor’s private quarters. He decided it was best not to meddle.
With that thought, Du Shaoheng spoke politely. "He is indeed inside, but the Governor is returning to the manor today. He’ll be heading out shortly."
Qin Jiuye blinked, her mind failing to track for a moment. "Returning to the manor? Isn't he already inside?"
Du Shaoheng scratched his head and glanced left and right. Confirming that no one else was around the gates so early in the morning, he leaned in and lowered his voice.
"To the Qiu Manor. Our Governor is going home."
Only then did it dawn on Qin Jiuye.
Of course. This place was merely where he stayed while handling cases. His actual home was within Jiugao City; he had simply been too occupied with official duties to return until now.
Fine. Perhaps not seeing him today was the will of Heaven. Tomorrow. She would come back tomorrow.
She paused, then cupped her hands in thanks. "Thank you for telling me, Brother Du. It seems the Governor is busy today. I shall return tomorrow."
As Qin Jiuye turned to leave, a familiar voice drifted out from the inner courtyard.
"There is no inconvenience."
Qin Jiuye turned back to see Qiu Ling standing on the stone steps in plain clothes. He seemed to have heard the commotion and had just walked out.
Seeing him, Du Shaoheng hurried to bow. Qin Jiuye followed suit, bending her waist before attempting to explain.
"Greetings, Governor. I came today because—"
"Come inside and speak," Qiu Ling interrupted.
Qin Jiuye looked up to see him already walking back toward the inner courtyard. She could only nod to Du Shaoheng and quicken her pace to follow.
The courtyard in the early morning was cooler than the streets, the chill of the stone tiles seeping through the air as they walked. He was not wearing his black armor, nor the official robes that signaled his status as Governor. Instead, he wore light-colored casual attire, looking almost like a different person. The sunlight falling across the roof tiles cast a warm, golden glow behind him, outlining him like a jade statue inlaid with gold.
Qin Jiuye finally began to believe that the man before her and that flower-clad dandy were indeed biological brothers.
As she was lost in thought, he suddenly turned around.
"I intended to wait until I returned from the manor to speak with you, but I didn't expect you to come so early."
Qin Jiuye withdrew her gaze, feeling a sense of bewilderment. "The Governor knew I would come?"
"I know why you have come."
As Qiu Ling spoke, he produced a pre-prepared cloth pouch and held it out.
The pouch had some weight to it, and she could hear the faint clinking of metal. It was a sound Qin Jiuye knew all too well.
But she stared at the pouch in his hand for a long time without reaching for it. Instead, she asked, "What is this?"
"The salary you are owed for these past days. Calculated at twenty taels a month for an assistant, plus the medical fees for treating He Yuanzhou—seven taels in total, rounded up. When Zi Can first sought you out, it was understood that your duties would end when the case concluded. Now that He Yuanzhou is dead, the matter is considered closed. As for the secret formula..." Qiu Ling paused for a moment before continuing, "We never made a specific agreement regarding that. There is more than one physician in Jiugao City; I can find another helper."
If He Yuanzhou’s symptoms were merely the ghostly wails at the entrance of hell, then Su Lin’s words and that empty vermilion bottle were the first stones laid on the path into the abyss itself.
She was a physician, and one of uncommon intelligence; she naturally saw the danger inherent in this. To quit while one was ahead, to retreat in the face of difficulty, and to understand how to judge the situation—these were always the best strategies for self-preservation.
And these were the strategies she had believed in right up until she watched the sunrise this morning.
The courtyard fell silent for a moment before the woman, her head lowered, spoke softly.
"Does the Governor think I came today to beg for silver?"
Qiu Ling looked at the top of her head, unable to discern her expression. "Is that not so?"
"Naturally not. I came today to ask the Governor a few questions." She lifted her head, her dark pupils reflecting the bright morning light behind him. "The man is dead, but the sickness remains, as does the person who gave Su Lin the formula. If another He Yuanzhou appears, is the Governor certain he can do better than this time? Are you certain you can find them before they succumb to the illness, to stop them before they harm or kill again?"
"I am not," his voice rang out coldly, as usual. "But these are no longer matters you should involve yourself in."
After saying this, he could barely restrain himself from letting out a long breath. Yet, at the same time, a part of him felt suddenly hollow.
That night in the small kitchen of Listening Wind Hall, the boy’s words had pricked his heart like a thorn. Though they could not truly sway his decisions, they left him restless.
Perhaps at the beginning, he had indeed viewed her as a piece on a chessboard to be weighed and measured. But at some point, every time he touched this piece, he felt a lingering sense of unease.
He attributed this discomfort to his conscience.
She was excellent. An excellent person should not be buried in the dust; jade must be carved to become a vessel. No one understood this better than he, which was why he wanted her to have the freedom to act.
But she was also innocent. An innocent, ordinary person who should have lived a mundane life truly ought not to be trapped with him, drifting in this endless sea of mud.
Finding the right moment to let her leave it all behind was the correct decision. And that moment was now.
Qiu Ling’s clenched fingers finally relaxed.
He was confident in the short, forceful rejection he had just delivered.
She was a clever person, after all. He didn't need to explain things in detail for her to understand the deeper meaning. Now that he had laid everything out so bluntly, she ought to know when to retreat.
Yet, for some reason, she acted as if she suddenly couldn't understand his words, continuing on her own.
"The matter of the secret formula is inextricably linked to the *jianghu*. Whether it was Yuan Shuqing’s chest or the fire at Baoshen Pavilion, these were the handiwork of martial world figures. That man Xin Yu was from the World’s Number One Villa, and the person Old Dog Du saw dumping the body was also a martial arts expert. The person we are looking for must be hiding within the *jianghu*. I know the Governor possesses great martial skill, but you are a man of the government; there are many inconveniences for you when walking the *jianghu*. I may be a nobody, but I have dealt with those wanderers for years. There are things I can do that you cannot."
The hand holding the silver slowly lowered. He finally began to understand.
It wasn't that she didn't understand him; it was that she, like him, had made a decision.
Qiu Ling remained silent for a moment before asking in a heavy voice, "Is it not better to put all this down, to withdraw while you still can, and return to your original life?"
"Just consider it that I can no longer withdraw," Qin Jiuye said, even letting out a soft laugh. "Is the Governor unwilling to investigate the case with me, or are you unwilling to continue the investigation at all?"
The lighter her tone became, the more his emotions threatened to spiral out of control.
"Qin Jiuye, you have a lot of nerve."
How much nerve did a person need to hold so much courage and tenacity within such a frail body and impoverished circumstances?
Had he not witnessed her actions before, he would have suspected this wasn't courage, but rather stupidity and ignorance.
He took a deep breath and gave one final warning. "Do you realize that searching for someone in the *jianghu* without even a name or origin is like fishing for a needle in a sea of mud? How much time, energy, and confidence can you invest? Can you bear the weight of everything you are about to face?"
His warning was heavy, but the woman before him seemed to have settled on her answer long ago. She replied almost without hesitation.
"I don't know. I don't know how much longer I can walk this path, either. I just feel that now is not the time to give up. I want to keep looking into that formula and the truth behind it. The road ahead is long, but if the Governor wishes to go together, we can share the path."
Having spoken, Qin Jiuye looked up steadily at the man before her.
Her gaze held an inquiry, an invitation. She was inviting him to walk the same path.
In the depths of the young Governor’s eyes, which were usually as cold and hard as ice, a ripple surfaced for an instant.
Compared to the generals at court who were laden with military honors and basking in success, he had far fewer personal guards and trusted soldiers. He had never tried to retain anyone who wished to leave him. This was because he knew in his heart that the things he had to do and the road he had to walk were incredibly difficult.
And on a difficult road, it is not easy to find a fellow traveler.
Qiu Ling stared at that face bathed in the morning light—a face marked with a bit of dust and sweat—for a long time before he finally moved.
He reached down and untied the jade pendant at his waist. It was a piece of water-azure jade with a concentric fret pattern, something he had worn since the first day Qin Jiuye met him.
Holding the jade in his hand, his long, powerful fingers pressed and twisted. The jade actually split along a seam, transforming into two halves with different yin and yang engravings.
Then, he slowly held out one of the pieces.
"This is Kunxu water-azure jade. The concentric fret pattern on it represents the Manor of the General Who Pacifies the South. When the General led troops in battle in the past, he often faced dire circumstances. When he needed to appoint a trusted lieutenant but lacked the means for a formal ceremony, he would split this jade in two. He would give one half to the person he trusted as a vow of alliance—to be of one heart and one mind against the enemy."
This time, it was Qin Jiuye’s turn to be speechless.
She had noticed the fret-patterned jade he always wore, but she hadn't known it could be split in two, let alone the history behind it.
With every word he spoke, Qin Jiuye felt the jade grow heavier. By the time he finished, it was no longer a piece of jade, but a mountain of stone pressing into her palm.
She had only invited him to walk the same path, yet he had handed over half of his status and legacy.
She looked at the thin piece of jade, hesitating to reach out.
"The Governor’s item is far too precious. I truly cannot accept it."
"What? You were so full of conviction just now, yet you're shrinking back already?"
There was a hint of a relaxed smile in Qiu Ling’s voice, but it lasted only a moment before his tone turned solemn again.
"This is not a reward, nor is it a badge of office. It is a pact and a vow. Think carefully: once you take this jade, you are no longer a minor assistant filling a temporary gap, someone who can come and go as they please or withdraw when it suits them. I have requirements for those who walk with me. If you do not intend to meet those requirements, do not touch this jade. Take the silver now, return to Guoran Residence to manage your business, and live your life well."
Qin Jiuye’s wavering heart suddenly stilled upon hearing those last words.
She thought again of the view from the wall this morning, and the bird hopping on the branches of the camphor tree.
"I have lived for twenty-five years. Aside from being a shopkeeper for Situ Jinbao, I have never held a higher position. But I believe that regardless of the position, the principles are much the same. If I have the confidence to keep a firm grip on the silver in Guoran Residence, I naturally have the confidence to safeguard the Governor’s jade."
As soon as she finished, Qin Jiuye snatched the jade from Qiu Ling’s hand and turned to leave, as if afraid he would regret it. Her movements were so hurried she looked like a thief who had just picked a pocket.
But after a few quick steps, she stopped. Remembering something, she turned back slowly and shuffled back to stand before him.
He watched her, unable to guess what she was doing, until she spoke in a low voice.
"This... this jade... how should I..."
Her voice was soft, and he didn't catch the end of the sentence, but he already understood what she meant.
From the time she could remember until now, she had hung water skins from her waist, tucked sickles into her belt, and stuffed leftover flatbreads into her clothes, but she had never worn a piece of jade.
She didn't know where to hang it, how to hang it, or if she even could.
After a moment’s thought, he stepped forward and took the half-piece of water-azure jade from her hand. He reached for the silk cord on his own waist sash, pulled a length free, and snapped it with a sharp tug. With solemn care, he threaded the cord through the jade and tied it securely. Then, stepping closer, he fastened the other end to her belt.
The morning breeze brought the faint scent of his soap. He kept the distance perfectly measured—not so close as to make her uneasy, yet not so far as to seem aloof.
"Is your cousin’s health any better?"
He suddenly spoke, asking a question that seemed entirely unrelated to the present moment. Qin Jiuye was momentarily dazed, blinking before she answered.
"He is much better now. Thank you for your concern, Governor."
Qiu Ling still did not look at her, seemingly focused entirely on tying the jade pendant.
"In that case, it is best he returns to his hometown soon. The winds are changing in Jiugao City; it may not be a good thing for him to remain here."
His tone was casual, as if they were merely chatting about family matters, but Qin Jiuye couldn't help but hear the subtext.
Though the incident at Baoshen Pavilion had been overshadowed by subsequent events, the man before her was meticulously observant. It was hard to say if he had sensed something and simply kept quiet until now. By bringing it up suddenly, was he warning her? That he hadn't pursued it then didn't mean he wouldn't in the future.
She had once been merely the shopkeeper of a village pharmacy, with no need to watch her shadow or align her posture daily. From this moment on, however, she would be working with him; she could no longer dabble in crooked paths. She needed to show her "loyalty" by drawing a line with Li Qiao immediately. Otherwise, if the boy’s tracks were exposed, it would be the moment she "betrayed" the vow and parted ways with Qiu Ling.
*Are these two truly not old enemies who have spent eight lifetimes accumulating blood debts?* They clearly had no real interaction, yet they always seemed to be at odds whenever the other was mentioned.
After pondering for a long while, Qin Jiuye finally spoke, her voice as calm as ever.
"I have a prior agreement with him. Once his three months are up, I will have him leave."
Her answer was neither humble nor arrogant; she neither promised anything outright nor spoke in ambiguities.
Qiu Ling said nothing more. A moment later, he stepped back. The silk cord was tied in a firm knot at her waist.
"There."
Qin Jiuye looked down at the jade pendant at her waist, then up at the man before her.
"Thank you, Governor. Then we..."
He looked at her, and a moment later, the corners of his mouth curved slightly.
"We have a long road ahead."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
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昆墟水苍玉 | Kunxu Water-Azure Jade | A precious type of jade associated with Qiu Ling's family.
平南将军府 | Manor of the General Who Pacifies the South | The official residence/title of Qiu Ling's father.
同心回字纹 | Concentric fret pattern | A traditional geometric pattern (leiwen) symbolizing eternity and unity.
来日方长 | A long road ahead | Literally "the days ahead are long"; implies there is plenty of time for a relationship or task to develop.
