When Song Tuo, the River Embankment Commissioner, received the notification, he was fast asleep on a makeshift cot in the shipyard.
The shipyard was located right next to Xiuting Pier. He scrambled up, gulped down a mouthful of cold tea, and rushed outside. On the way, he nearly slipped several times on the wet mud. By the time he came to a panting halt and bowed in greeting, he realized he had put on mismatched shoes and socks. He hurriedly tugged his trouser legs down to hide them.
Du Shaoheng, with his thick brows and large eyes, was completely oblivious to these minor movements. He simply walked forward with his head down.
This Protector of Jiugao City was far too strict. Only a few days had passed, and he had already sent someone to inspect his work.
Song Tuo broke out in a mixture of hot and cold sweat. He watched fearfully for a while, and upon seeing no sign of the young Protector, he breathed a slight sigh of relief and began his report.
"Since the Protector personally issued the order, this official has not dared to be negligent for a single moment. However, planting a hundred acres of Golden Rain Bamboo is no small matter. If we rush to finish, I fear they won't survive the winter. Last night the wind and rain were heavy, which caused another delay..."
"Forget about the trees for now." Du Shaoheng had been rushing so fast his feet felt like they were on fire, and his speech was equally hurried. He briskly interrupted the River Embankment Commissioner's rambling self-justification. "The Protector wants you to make amends for your past mistakes. From today onwards, you are to guard everything in this shipyard. If anything goes wrong, the Protector will come to question you personally."
Having said that, Du Shaoheng turned toward the river and let out a sharp whistle. A massive tower ship was towed toward the shipyard behind him. He then stepped forward to direct the operation himself, acting as if he were anything but a guest.
Song Tuo watched in stunned silence as the tall roof of the tower ship narrowly cleared the shipyard's main beam. It took him a long moment to recover his senses and hurry after the man.
"I am but a lowly River Embankment Commissioner. I do not understand the Protector's intentions..."
Du Shaoheng answered with a question of his own. "Is this shipyard within your jurisdiction?"
"It is indeed, but..."
Song Tuo’s expression grew even more bewildered. He did not know what the other man intended to do, and his hands twisted together in anxious knots.
Catching this out of the corner of his eye, Du Shaoheng finally turned to look at him. He first offered a respectful salute, then spoke directly.
"I hear that Master Song has served as the River Embankment Commissioner for thirteen years. I wonder, after all this time, do you still remember your feelings from when you were a student toiling by the window, aspiring to become an official and serve your country?"
Song Tuo froze. The wind and rain of the previous night seemed to fall into the depths of his dull eyes, stirring a ripple.
If no one had mentioned it, he wouldn't have known if he still remembered. After all, the grind of officialdom could crush even bones made of iron. Yet today, at a mere mention, something stirred within him again. He remembered his fingers, now somewhat deformed by rheumatism; they had once wielded a brush with passion, writing bold criticisms and direct remonstrances. The thick calluses had yet to fade. Back then, he never felt inferior for coming from a remote, small county; he had dared to set sail against the greatest storms.
He had never been afraid of the wind or the rain, nor of guarding this lonely, bitter ferry far from home. He only feared that in a few more years, his bones would be completely softened by the water, and he would lose even the chance to stretch his limbs.
"My Protector is not like those other high officials. He told me to come to you first, not to demand repayment for a favor, and certainly not to bully you. Rather, he feels that although you have made mistakes, you are fundamentally loyal and upright—a man who can be entrusted with a task. Of course, if Master Song has many reservations, I shall simply find someone else."
Du Shaoheng finished speaking and watched Song Tuo quietly.
The latter kept his head bowed, his graying beard trembling. The hands hidden in his sleeves finally reached out. Though they still shook slightly, he firmly rolled up his official robes. Mud stains were faintly visible on the inside of the sleeves. One look told Du Shaoheng that this Master Song, who had tasted hardship, was a man of action. His Protector had not misjudged him.
"Though Xiuting Pier is not the largest pier on this section of the Huan River, this Baolin Shipyard is the largest in scale. I maintain it with all my heart; the supports and the drainage are in good condition. There are four empty docks in total, all fully operational. I wonder how many the Protector needs to borrow, and how I should cooperate?"
"Nothing else for now," Du Shaoheng said as he leaped onto the deck of the large ship. He reached out and lifted a corner of the oilcloth that tightly covered the cabin. "Do you see the thing inside? Keep a close watch on it. It must not leave the ship, and it certainly must not leave this shipyard."
In the dim cabin, a massive copper crate was faintly visible. Fine patterns were engraved on its exterior, which was stained with faint traces of blood. Several heavy iron chains were wrapped tightly around it. Song Tuo took one look, and an inexplicable chill rose in his heart. He was about to ask how a crate could possibly grow legs and walk off the ship when a loud *thump* echoed from within the box, causing the surrounding floorboards to shudder three times.
Song Tuo jumped in fright and asked stammeringly, "May... may I ask, Master, what exactly is inside the Protector's crate?"
Du Shaoheng jumped off the ship, pulled the man close, and whispered in his ear. Song Tuo’s weary eyes instantly widened. His feet, clad in mismatched shoes, tripped over each other. It took him a moment to steady himself. Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, he said, "I know someone who should be able to help."
With that, he hitched up his loose belt and personally ran to the shipyard’s workshop to find someone. A moment later, he returned with a man wearing a headcloth and sporting a fierce, bristling beard.
"Master, this is Wu Bin, the Shipping Overseer. He’s a veteran of this shipyard, originally from the Bureau of Carpentry. He’s an expert supervisor; there’s hardly a vessel in the Jiugao area he hasn't laid hands on. He knows every piece of equipment on those cargo ships like the back of his hand..."
This Wu Bin was not one for formalities. Before Song Tuo could finish, he had already followed Du Shaoheng onto the ship. Upon seeing the crate, he clicked his tongue in wonder.
"Judging by the size, it is indeed a crate used only by merchant ships for cargo. However, even for rare items, they would usually seal it with wooden boards for security. First, they wouldn't use a lid like a normal crate, and second, they wouldn't bother with such elaborate decorations on the outside. Such a refined style is truly rare. If it's meant for valuables, yet it isn't locked... how strange."
Du Shaoheng nodded, having already formed an assessment of this Wu Bin.
"It is indeed a strange thing. I must trouble Overseer Wu to secure this crate firmly and seal the cabin tightly. We will await the Protector's next instructions."
Wu Bin cupped his fists in a salute, his voice ringing out strong and healthy.
"I used to work in water transport. I assisted in moving three thousand *dan* of grain through the Feng River during a major flood. Leave this task to me, Master, and rest easy."
Du Shaoheng nodded. Before he could say more, another commotion broke out at the pier. He looked back to see Lu Zican arriving with a wide-planked Tiger-Head ship. Seeing Du Shaoheng from a distance, Lu Zican merely nodded in acknowledgment and, without stopping for a moment, squeezed the ship into the shipyard to join the "fleet."
"So this is Old Brother Song. Sorry to trouble you, Brother. Come find me in the east of the city later; I'll treat you to noodles and wine."
The thin Song Tuo was slapped twice by Lu Zican’s large palm, making his whole body wobble. Before he could ask any questions, he saw a two-story flower boat being towed into the shipyard.
Seeing this, Lu Zican hurried out. He had only walked a few steps out of the shipyard when he saw Gao Quan leading a mount. Carrying a person on its back was the ever-present Second Young Master of the Qiu family.
For some reason, he seemed naturally afraid of that Second Young Master Qiu. His small eyes darted around, confirming the other man’s leg was injured and he wouldn't be giving chase anytime soon. Only then did he pull Gao Quan aside and whisper, "Weren't you supposed to tow a ship? Why did you bring him along?"
Gao Quan didn't speak, but the expression on his face explained enough. Seeing this, Lu Zican immediately bolted back into the shipyard, calling for Song Tuo to pull the rigging, attempting to use the sails that hadn't been fitted yet to hide the ships completely.
Over there, Xu Qiuchi was still spinning in circles. The mottled beast beneath him was bullying him because he only knew how to ride in carriages, not on horseback; it stubbornly refused to take another step forward. Seeing the shipyard within reach, he steeled himself to roll off the horse, only to be held down by a hand.
"Did the Second Young Master not promise me that he would not act on his own or cause trouble?"
Gao Quan’s deadpan voice sounded in his ear. Xu Qiuchi straightened his back, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly.
"Adjutant Gao must be very busy. How could I dare trouble you constantly with my minor injury? Besides, I hear there is quite a mess in the city right now. At a critical moment like this, let's not waste time among family."
Gao Quan maintained his businesslike expression and merely nodded slightly.
"The Second Young Master is right. However, I heard that the Second Young Master has somehow become involved in the case again and risked his life alone. The Protector is worried about your safety, fearing that if anything goes wrong, it will be difficult to explain to the Commandant later. That is why he sent me personally."
The words seemed polite and respectful, but they were just short of writing the word "incompetent" on his forehead in red ink.
The curve of Xu Qiuchi’s smiling eyes slowly flattened.
"If a son of the Qiu family dies, who knows how many will weep? But losing the defense of Jiugao City is a crime of dereliction of duty. Whether the Protector can save himself is one thing, but I fear he will implicate the Water-Suppressing Commandant. If the entire household is executed for poor oversight in the future, how will the Protector respond? How will General Pingnan respond?"
The sharpness in his words could no longer be hidden, but Gao Quan did not panic in the least. Without a moment's pause, he lowered his head and spoke.
"The river bridges, waterways, and every nook and cranny inside and outside the city—doesn't the Second Young Master frequently visit them with the people from the Water Bureau? Do not worry about the case, Second Young Master. I have already sent men to summon the guards on duty at the various city and water gates. I expect we will have a clear understanding in a few days of who was derelict and who is guilty."
As soon as the words landed, Xu Qiuchi realized he had been played. He understood that his friendship with the Chief of Shipping and other such matters had long been investigated in secret. This meant his elder brother likely knew as well, saving him the trouble of maintaining a facade of peace.
"Lin Fang is young, but he is not inexperienced, and he certainly wouldn't be so stupid. Besides, if he really did something wrong, he would run faster than a shrimp in muddy water. Why would he wait for you to come knocking?"
Gao Quan thought about this for a moment. He had tested Lin Fang several times in private, and Xu Qiuchi’s words weren't false. However, he did not let up, pressing further.
"Perhaps he is confident because he has someone backing him. After all, at this juncture, the city's defenses are tighter than ever. Without an insider, how could such a massive loophole appear out of thin air?"
His interest in besting the other man was piqued. Xu Qiuchi stopped beating around the bush and stated his suspicion directly.
"You think your actions were swift and your response immediate, but you forget that behind the phrase 'those below follow the example of those above,' delays are common. A city with four gates, dozens of waterways, and thousands of patrol points is guarded by people. And wherever there are people, any kind of mistake is possible. If the thief traveled light and was skilled, it's very possible he escaped without using the gates. But if he was carrying goods, there is only one possibility. He walked out of the city gates openly and boldly, because the guards didn't dare stop him."
Having obtained the information he wanted, Gao Quan dropped his confrontational stance and replaced it with a polite smile.
"Thank you for the tip, Second Young Master. Since you have injured your leg, you should not be traveling about. I will have someone escort you back to the city shortly to reunite with Miss Jiang."
Xu Qiuchi instantly realized he had fallen into a trap. It had been a long time since he had been caught in a verbal snare. He froze for a moment before reacting, asking with some sentiment, "Adjutant Gao is truly capable, doing the work of four or five men. I hear you often pay for case expenses out of your own pocket. I wonder how many taels of silver my brother pays you a month?"
Gao Quan didn't speak, clearly having no heart for pleasantries. He looked up to see his Protector galloping toward them on his white-browed grey horse, brushing past Xu Qiuchi.
Xu Qiuchi didn't react in time. By the time the dust settled and he looked around, where was Adjutant Gao to be found?
"My Xin'er entrusted me to you! Is this how you fulfill your duty, Adjutant Gao?!"
Xu Qiuchi’s exasperated voice, punctuated by coughs, drifted over. The men in the shipyard turned a deaf ear, busy reporting their respective situations.
"Everything is as the Protector expected. The news of the fire spread through the city this morning. Master Fan insisted on interfering and led his men to the south of the city at dawn. We are indeed short-handed, so we went with the flow and temporarily dumped this hot potato on him. I've had trusted brothers keep a secret eye on things to ensure they don't pull any tricks, but once the fire is completely out, the Protector will need to make a personal trip. Otherwise, I fear Xiao Zhou and the others won't be able to handle the people from the Governor's Manor."
Du Shaoheng finished in one breath, and Lu Zican hurriedly stepped forward.
"Old Zheng is leading men to watch the Hall of Listening Winds. The news is still being kept under wraps, but it's hard to say if things will change later. The Protector should go there as soon as he has a moment. Also, I received word on the way here that Zhou Li intercepted another sand barge outside the city, but he was a step too late. The things on the ship have been released. Fortunately, the city guards were nearby, and it took seven or eight men to subdue the creature. They should arrive later."
Gao Quan waited quietly for the two to finish before speaking briefly.
"The ships and cargo from Huangniwan Pier have been brought to the shipyard. A total of fourteen guards and officers on duty at the various gates from last night until this morning have been brought to the manor. They are waiting for the Protector's questioning."
Three men, three mouths—in just a few moments, they seemed ready to "dismember" the tall Protector right then and there. Even so, it wasn't enough. Halfway through, Gao Quan wanted to report the Second Young Master Qiu outside who couldn't be invited in or driven away, but he swallowed the words. Just as he was thinking of how to deal with him privately, the "plague's" voice sounded behind him.
"I didn't realize it was so lively here. It makes me, the younger brother, seem a bit redundant."
He said "redundant," but his feet showed no intention of leaving. He dragged his injured leg, limping to the center of the group.
He had clearly fallen off his horse in his haste; there was dust on his backside, though his face remained clean. He kept peering into the shipyard.
"If your leg is injured, go back to the city for treatment. Don't get in the way here."
Qiu Ling took a step to the side, completely blocking the other man's view.
Seeing this, Xu Qiuchi knew he couldn't force his way in. He stepped back and spoke half-seriously, half-jokingly. "I also have a piece of news I'd like to share with my brother. I just don't know if you have the leisure to listen to me?"
Qiu Ling said nothing, his face grim as he walked past him, clearly having no intention of responding to his nonsense.
The Second Young Master Qiu, who was used to "nonsense," was not angered. He waited until the figure was seven or eight paces away before speaking slowly.
"I ran into Qin Jiuye at Huangniwan Pier just now."
As expected, the departing figure froze. The smile on Xu Qiuchi’s lips deepened as he continued leisurely.
"She boarded the same ship as I did. It was a narrow escape, a one-in-a-million chance. She didn't even stop to catch her breath before she hurried away. I wonder who she was so eager to see."
The young officers all lowered their heads in unison. A suffocating silence filled the vast shipyard, broken only by the distant sound of the wind and water on the Huan River.
Finally, Qiu Ling spoke in a low voice. "Where did she go?"
Xu Qiuchi answered with a question. "Doesn't the Protector have many things to attend to?"
Invisible sparks were already flying; dangerous emotions were on the verge of erupting.
Xu Qiuchi gave a wicked smile and heartlessly poured oil on the fire. "Very well. I thought she came to see you at first, but now I realize she didn't. Since the person she wants to see isn't you, how could you possibly find her?"
Qiu Ling still didn't turn around, but his voice suddenly rose. "I am the one who sent her, and I am the only one who can bring her back."
This time, Xu Qiuchi said nothing more.
He didn't need to. He could guess what had likely happened before. Since he was very young, he had seen that his brother, though appearing humble and patient, possessed a hidden pride. And proud people do not allow themselves to speak in such a nearly undignified tone unless someone has crossed their bottom line. That line used to be the words "Black Moon," but now...
Not far away, Song Tuo, who was busy working, also sensed something was wrong and looked over in confusion. The fire in Qiu Ling’s eyes finally died down. When he spoke again, his voice had returned to its usual calm and composure.
"Today is an emergency, so I will not settle scores with you. But stay out of my business."
Even at this point, the man refused to bow his head before him for even a moment. Xu Qiuchi watched in amazement.
*Fine, choke on it then.*
He thought viciously to himself, but his lips coldly spat out a few words. "The stone boat to the east, Minde Avenue."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Ling immediately walked out. But after only three steps, he couldn't help but stop.
Behind him, Lu Zican’s mind raced. He stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Does the Protector perhaps not trust Miss Qin?"
He trusted her, of course. But he did not trust that Li Qiao.
He didn't know how to describe his current feelings. He had clearly made a decision; he should be focusing entirely on the urgent matters inside and outside the city, waiting for her to bring back that suspect of complex origin and high martial arts. Yet for some reason, just hearing vague news of her made him restless and uneasy.
He was suddenly afraid—afraid of seeing her return together with that youth.
"He is, after all, a man from the World's Greatest Manor. Even if he has no ill intentions, it's hard to say he won't attract trouble."
He spoke in a low voice. Lu Zican understood and immediately stepped forward to volunteer.
"The Protector is right. He doesn't just attract trouble; that brat *is* trouble. It's still unknown if the Hall of Listening Winds case has anything to do with him, but he absolutely cannot be uninvolved in the matter of the secret formula. In that case, I shall personally..."
The offer had just begun when Lu Zican was pulled back by the silent Gao Quan.
"Since the other party is a key suspect in the Hall of Listening Winds murder, it is only proper for the Protector to personally take him into custody. Rest easy and go, Protector. Zican will watch the city, and I will look after the shipyard. There will be no major chaos. We will wait for the Protector to return and make the final decision."
As they spoke, Wu Bin had prepared a list and handed it to Du Shaoheng. The latter, having received a new task, was ready to head into the city to commission locks. Hearing this, he didn't suspect a thing. As he mounted his horse, he remarked boisterously, "With the Protector personally taking action, it's as good as done! I happen to be heading that way too; I can ride with the Protector for a bit."
Qiu Ling hesitated, but in the end, he said nothing more. He took one last look at Gao Quan and Lu Zican, then turned and galloped away with Du Shaoheng.
Once the two were far away, Lu Zican shook off Gao Quan’s hand, his voice tinged with anxiety. "Old Gao, have you gone senile? At a critical moment like this, the Protector should be staying in the city. How can he be distracted by that brat Li Qiao?"
Gao Quan ignored the questioning in his tone and said without looking back, "The warriors of Xiangliang are each worth a hundred men. If the commander must do everything personally, what use are the thousands of troops under his banner?"
As soon as the words were out, Lu Zican was speechless. He thought back to the scene on the shallows that morning; he had grievances he couldn't voice and tugged at his beard in frustration.
"You... what do you know! You didn't see what Miss Qin looked like when she left. How can you let the Protector go find those two now? What if... what if..."
What if he stumbled upon something he shouldn't? His Protector would be exhausted by the case on one hand and heartbroken on the other. How tragic would that be?
He was red-faced with worry, but Gao Quan had already walked past him toward the Second Young Master Qiu, who was looking around.
"The Second Young Master followed us even with a limp just to watch the show. Was it worth it?"
Xu Qiuchi withdrew his gaze with a smile and replied unceremoniously, "What did Adjutant Gao mean just now? You knew exactly why I spoke, yet you didn't stop me. Instead, you went with the flow and let my brother chase after them. Was it really just to complete the show?"
Hearing this, Lu Zican became even more flustered. He glared at Gao Quan, hesitated for a moment, and then walked out, disappearing into the light in the blink of an eye.
Xu Qiuchi watched the bearded adjutant’s hurried departure and spoke leisurely with his arms crossed. "It seems Adjutant Gao has understood what Adjutant Lu still hasn't."
Gao Quan didn't speak. In an instant, he had returned to his businesslike expression and began studying how to secure the crate on the ship with Wu Bin.
Wu Bin had finished his preliminary inspection and was holding a ruler, ready to start work. He remarked as he worked, "Look at this thief; he really knows how to play with people's psychology. If the crate were locked, he'd be afraid no one would dare pry it open and the thing inside wouldn't get out. He had to leave it like this, an obvious cover-up. There will always be curious people boarding the ship to investigate. Falling into the trap is only a matter of time..."
Before Gao Quan could speak, Xu Qiuchi interjected with a smile.
"A locked crate is certainly secure, but sometimes it's even more dangerous. After all, if no one has ever seen what's inside, and it's accidentally released one day, no one will have the experience to deal with it. That would truly be terrifying."
Wu Bin didn't catch the hidden meaning in the words. He felt like he was in a fog and only nodded in agreement after a long while. "I heard someone once shipped several large crates of coconuts from the south. The weather was hot, the journey was bumpy, and they were packed too tightly. When they opened the crates to take the goods, the fruit nearly exploded in their faces!"
Beside them, Gao Quan was quickly taking notes on a diagram with a charcoal pen. Hearing this, he finally looked up at Xu Qiuchi and said seemingly casually, "The Protector's crate has always been secure. He won't let anyone open it easily."
The gates of his heart were locked, unbreakable.
Even he, the younger brother, had never opened them, let alone anyone else. But even the hardest jade will one day meet a grinding wheel.
The smile of a spectator faded slightly from Xu Qiuchi’s face as he limped toward the exit.
"It doesn't matter how closely you guard it. Once a crack is pried open, the thing inside will come out sooner or later. In that case, a short pain is better than a long one. I think today is a good opportunity to see what's really inside."
Whether the result was good or bad, he only hoped that the thing inside the crate wouldn't one day consume its master.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 宋拓 | Song Tuo | River Embankment Commissioner (河堤使). |
| 秀亭码头 | Xiuting Pier | A pier near the shipyard. |
| 宝鳞船坞 | Baolin Shipyard | The large shipyard where the tower ship is kept. |
| 杜少衡 | Du Shaoheng | A subordinate of the Protector. |
| 九皋城 | Jiugao City | The main city setting. |
| 督护 | Protector | A high-ranking administrative/military title (Duhu). |
| 河堤使 | River Embankment Commissioner | Song Tuo's official title. |
| 金丝雨竹 | Golden Rain Bamboo | A type of bamboo being planted. |
| 舟务监 | Shipping Overseer | Wu Bin's title (Zhouwu Jian). |
| 吴玢 | Wu Bin | An experienced shipwright/supervisor. |
| 木务府 | Bureau of Carpentry | A government department (Muwu Fu). |
| 虎头船 | Tiger-Head ship | A type of wide-planked vessel. |
| 镇水都尉 | Water-Suppressing Commandant | A title held by the Qiu family patriarch. |
| 参将 | Adjutant | A military rank (Canjiang). |
| 樊大人 | Master Fan | An official from the Governor's Manor. |
| 郡守府 | Governor's Manor | The administrative office of the commandery. |
| 沙船 | Sand barge | A type of flat-bottomed river boat. |
| 卫正 | Guard Captain | A rank of city guard (Weizheng). |
| 铭德大道 | Minde Avenue | A street in the city. |
| 石舫 | Stone boat | A boat-shaped stone structure, likely a landmark. |
