As the sun dipped toward the west, barely half an hour remained before the northern gate of Que City would be shuttered for the night.
On a narrow path some dozen li outside the city, a carriage accompanied by a dappled grey horse moved at a brisk pace.
Inside the carriage, Xiao Nanhui was busy taking stock of her belongings.
Once they entered the city, they would go their separate ways. The final moment had arrived, yet the man before her seemed to be either playing dumb or testing her, for he had not breathed a word regarding the disposal of the Imperial Jade Seal.
While her hands remained busy, her eyes stole frequent glances at him. She knew she could delay no longer; one way or another, she had to make things clear.
"Sigh."
Xiao Nanhui let out a deliberate, heavy breath.
"Why does Brother Yao sigh?"
The man finally spared her a glance, offering a lukewarm response.
She held up her withered purse, shaking out the solitary piece of broken silver and the few copper coins remaining inside. "I was just thinking of my thousand taels of gold—gone before they were even won."
Zhongli Jing’s brow arched slightly. "Gold?"
She looked at him listlessly, her tone growing more aggrieved. "Back at the Pingxiao Pagoda, I kicked three men to their deaths. They were the three bandit leaders for whom Tiancheng had previously offered a thousand-gold bounty. Unfortunately, we were on the Shen family's turf then. I feared that if I didn't get the goods first, I’d only bring trouble upon myself, so I didn't report it to the authorities to claim the reward. Thinking on it now, it truly breaks my heart."
She watched him from the corner of her eye as she spoke. Seeing that he still offered no reaction, she could only steel herself and press on. "You don't seem to lack for money, but you don't know how meager the stipends are for those of us in the military. We have to break a single silver ingot into several pieces just to make ends meet..."
"What is it you wish to say, Brother Yao?"
His cool voice cut through her performance. Xiao Nanhui clicked her tongue, her fingers digging hard into the square hole of a copper coin. She didn't dare look up.
"What I actually meant was... this... since you are already so wealthy, you surely didn't go through all that hardship for the Imperial Jade Seal just for the sake of money, right? Let's discuss this. What reward did the Grand Chancellor promise you for this task? Tell me, and if I can..."
"And how does Brother Yao intend to handle the seal?"
He countered her question with one of his own, cutting her off directly. She suddenly felt that being straightforward might be better. After a moment's thought, she answered truthfully, "In the end, it must be handed over to the Emperor."
"In the end?" Zhongli Jing’s sensitivity to wording was frightening. "It seems that before you hand it over, you still have things to do."
She nodded, and the words about investigating the old case of the Xiao family nearly tumbled out of her mouth. She caught herself just in time, a cold sweat breaking out across her skin.
She must have spent too much time with him these past few days; her wretched habit of letting her guard down around those near her had flared up again, nearly causing a disaster.
In Huozhou, this man might have been called an "ally." But back in Que City, it was entirely possible he was a mortal enemy of the Marquis's Manor.
Composing herself, she threw the question back at him. "And you? Do you intend to fight me for this treasure?"
"Treasure?" Zhongli Jing smiled, but the expression lasted only a fleeting moment before vanishing. "To call it a treasure is fitting; I have indeed seen many bleed and many families perish in the struggle for it. Yet, in the end, they do not even know where the 'treasure' truly lies. Is that not foolish? Master Yao is a sensible person; surely you won't make the same mistake."
His words were sharp, and Xiao Nanhui did not miss the underlying warning, but she had no intention of backing down.
"I seek no wealth, nor do I do anything that violates my conscience. I only wish to uncover the truth. Furthermore, I have no desire to claim what does not belong to me; my heart is clear. On the other hand, Brother Zhongli, you hold onto this thing so tightly—how are you any different from Zou Sifang?"
Her retort was blunt, yet the man showed no sign of anger. He merely gave her a faint look. "There is no need for Master Yao to jump to conclusions. I never said I intended to keep this object for myself."
She froze, murmuring, "Could it be... you're willing to give it to me?"
Zhongli Jing had just finished pouring out a cup of fresh tea. He set the warm cup gently onto the small table.
"Master Yao has shared this carriage with me for several days. Have you seen me frequently tending to my tea set?"
Xiao Nanhui nodded, puzzled.
During their journey, aside from the occasional low-voiced conversation with Ding Weixiang, the man spent his time fussing over that tea set. She didn't know much about tea, but the fragrance told her that those jars and pots contained only the finest leaves. Yet, not a single drop of that fragrant liquid ever entered his mouth; it was all poured away.
"I often brew tea, yet I do not drink it. Most of the time, I only wish to catch its scent. The matter of the Imperial Jade Seal is the same."
*What does that mean? You traveled all the way to Huozhou just to feast your eyes? Who would believe that?!*
Inside, Xiao Nanhui felt as if ten thousand men were roaring in disbelief.
Yet every movement and word of the man was so tranquil that even the slightest doubt felt like a slander against him.
"The item is right there. You may take it yourself in a moment." As if sensing her skepticism, Zhongli Jing added another calm remark.
Throughout the journey, the box had indeed remained there. Aside from checking it once a day, Xiao Nanhui had never moved it. She had been prepared to pay any price to get her hands on it, yet the resolution had turned out to be so simple.
She struggled to control her facial expressions. Swallowing hard, she began to sneak her hand toward the box.
The man caught the small movement from the corner of his eye, a flash of cunning crossing his lips.
"Master, there is a small troop ahead. By the looks of it, they are Tiancheng soldiers."
Ding Weixiang’s voice suddenly drifted in from outside.
At the words "Tiancheng soldiers," Xiao Nanhui shuddered. Her half-extended hand snapped back, and she seemed to shrink into herself. "Soldiers?" she asked frantically. "Who is leading them?"
Ding Weixiang paused before answering. "They fly the black-grounded coiled dragon flag. They should be from the Guangyao Battalion."
The Guangyao Battalion? That unit was always under the command of Duke Xuanyuan, which meant it had little to do with Xiao Zhun.
Xiao Nanhui’s spine straightened instantly, and her expression relaxed considerably.
The man beside her, however, spoke up. "Is Duke Xuanyuan himself leading them?"
Ding Weixiang took a moment to respond. "The one at the head wears silver armor and rides a white horse; it shouldn't be Duke Xuanyuan." After another pause, he added, "It should be a routine border patrol. Duke Xuanyuan would not come in person."
"Understood," Zhongli Jing said simply, closing his eyes once more.
Xiao Nanhui, however, caught a thread of unusual information. She slanted her eyes toward the man beside her. "What? It seems Brother Zhongli has some history with Duke Xuanyuan?"
"Hardly history. I am a guest of the Grand Chancellor’s Manor; naturally, I should avoid him when possible."
It was no secret that the court was divided into two major camps: Grand Chancellor Bai and Duke Xuanyuan. It stood to reason that Zhongli Jing was in Huozhou on the Grand Chancellor's secret orders and could not let Duke Xuanyuan’s people find out.
She wondered what the old Grand Chancellor was plotting now, and whether Xiao Zhun would be dragged into it.
Xiao Nanhui pondered deeply, but since she only knew bits and pieces of the situation, she couldn't make heads or tails of it in the end.
At that moment, the carriage met the troop. She peered through the crack in the door and saw a young general in silver armor leading the way. He rode a tall horse as black as ink, its saddle adorned with deep red tassels. He looked quite dashing.
Of course, in Xiao Nanhui’s eyes, this getup was as tacky as the dancers in Yaoyi Tower who drank milk to enhance their chests.
*Who wears such an outfit to a battle?* She rolled her eyes internally.
The young general reined in his horse about a dozen paces away. A soldier at his side shouted, "The Left General is here! Who goes there? Step down from the carriage at once!"
The title "Left General" flashed through her mind. She felt something was slightly off, but she couldn't quite grasp what that nagging thought was.
The carriage slowed to a halt. She glanced at the man beside her. Zhongli Jing remained composed, his face showing not a single ripple of emotion.
She began to think he might have been born with that bland expression. After all, in all the time they had spent together, she had rarely seen him show any emotion. It was a chilling thought.
Through the crack, Xiao Nanhui saw Ding Weixiang jump down from the carriage. He bowed and said, "I am Ding Weixiang, a Lieutenant of the Yanchi Battalion. I was ordered to Huozhou to investigate a case and am now returning to the city to report."
The silver-armored general urged his horse forward. Xiao Nanhui leaned in closer, trying to see exactly who this flamboyant Left General was. However, his helmet obscured half his face, leaving only a sharp jawline visible. There was a hint of light stubble, marking him as a young man, yet his voice was remarkably steady when he spoke.
"From the Yanchi Battalion? I am on good terms with Captain Fufeng and visit his camp often. How is it I have never seen you?"
Ding Weixiang replied unhurriedly, "My appearance is ordinary, General. Even if you had seen me, it would be natural not to remember."
Ding Weixiang’s saber was hidden behind the carriage curtain. Seeing that he carried no weapon, the man on horseback became less aggressive, though he still scrutinized the unremarkable carriage with a searching gaze.
"Who is in the carriage?"
"A guest of the Grand Chancellor’s Manor, Zhongli Jing."
As Ding Weixiang spoke, he held up a waist token with both hands. A soldier took it and handed it to the silver-armored general. After confirming there was nothing amiss, the general asked coldly, "Is he alone?"
Ding Weixiang hesitated for a fraction of a second. The young general’s eyes were sharp; he noticed immediately and let out a cold laugh. "Lieutenant Ding, do not blame me for being suspicious. The area around the capital has been unsettled lately; people often pose as government officials to spy on the royal city. His Majesty has decreed that all main roads into Que City be strictly inspected to prevent any rebels from seizing an opportunity."
Listening from inside the carriage, Xiao Nanhui could no longer sit still.
That old Emperor was truly disheartening. She had gone through hell and back, surviving countless twists and turns to recover that blasted Imperial Jade Seal for him, and now he had people at his front door trying to intimidate her? Even suspecting her of being a rebel?
"Hmph, the Emperor's eyesight must be failing if he found such a greenhorn to guard his gate."
Without waiting for Zhongli Jing’s reaction, she threw back the carriage curtain and announced herself to the man on horseback. "I am of the Marquis of Qinghuai’s Manor, not some rebel. We are in a hurry to return to the city. I hope the General will not make things difficult for us and will let us pass quickly."
She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but she felt the silver-armored general and his horse recoil half a step upon hearing her words.
"From the Marquis of Qinghuai’s Manor? Is your surname Xiao?"
*Nonsense.* There were only a few people in the Marquis's Manor, and only two who ever traveled abroad. How could this man be so unfamiliar with military matters? He wasn't just a greenhorn; he was a total waste of space.
"Yes. I am Xiao Nanhui, the adopted daughter of the Marquis of Qinghuai."
The silver-armored general remained silent for a long time before squeezing a few words through his teeth. "So, it is Team Captain Xiao."
Now it was Xiao Nanhui’s turn to be surprised. She considered herself a low-ranking officer of little influence; no one usually recognized a mere Team Captain. Thus, when announcing herself, she didn't bother with formalities and simply used the Marquis's name to save herself the breath of explaining later.
Yet this man actually knew her rank within the battalion, which was rare. She grew suspicious.
"Does the General know me?"
The silver-armored general suddenly turned his horse around, leaving her with a view of the animal's hindquarters. "I do not."
If he didn't, he didn't. It was just as well; she didn't know him either.
As the silver-armored general rode off, one of his personal guards said to Ding Weixiang, "The General and the patrol are returning to the city. Would Lieutenant Ding care to join us?"
Ding Weixiang glanced at Xiao Nanhui, who was still poking her head out, and offered a polite smile. "Very well."
***
**Glossary**
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