Deputy General Zhong stood in the courtyard and saw a young man being escorted by armored guards. He showed no nervousness whatsoever, striding forward confidently. When he saw Deputy General Zhong, he even raised his hand in greeting. “Deputy General Zhong, we meet again.”

His smile in the night revealed white teeth, forming a stark contrast with the dirty military robe on his body.

The scar on Deputy General Zhong’s face twitched several times as he said through gritted teeth, “What are you doing here?”

A’Jiu walked up to him and said, “To find General Chu, of course.”

Deputy General Zhong was about to say something more, but A’Jiu blocked him first. “Deputy General Zhong, some things aren’t convenient to say in public.”

Was this a threat? That speaking publicly would damage the young miss’s reputation? Deputy General Zhong glared at him. You just try it, boy!

“Has the person arrived?” Chu Ling’s voice came from inside.

Deputy General Zhong knew this was a reminder to himself. He gave a cold snort and made way. “Go in. The General wants to see you.”

A’Jiu smiled at Deputy General Zhong and strode inside.

……

……

The room was brightly lit. A’Jiu felt as if he’d stepped from one world into another. Here it was warm and bright, and the brightest thing was the man sitting at the desk.

He wore an old robe washed until it was faded and white, with broad shoulders and back, tall in stature.

Hearing someone enter, he raised his head, a gentle smile on his face. “You’re A’Jiu?”

A’Jiu nodded. Seeing Chu Ling’s face, regarding this Guard General who had become famous in his youth only for his fate to take a sharp downturn—he didn’t care about these things and had no particular thoughts. Only one notion flashed through his mind: that Chu Zhao really resembled her father.

Especially in spirit. They both looked quite gentle and harmless, but actually their eyes were quite fierce—

“General Chu,” he said with a bow.

Chu Ling said, “My daughter traveled with you for a while. Thank you for looking after her.”

A’Jiu shook his head. “No need for thanks. We didn’t want to bring Miss Chu along either—we were helplessly deceived.”

Chu Ling laughed despite himself. This young man was quite straightforward in his speech. From the looks of it, he wasn’t—

His thought had just begun when A’Jiu stepped forward, took a letter from inside his robe, and placed it on the table.

“I came to deliver a letter for someone,” he said.

But as soon as his words fell, a fierce wind struck. A’Jiu silently cried out that this was bad. His waist sank as he twisted backward, but he was still a step too slow. With a bang, he crashed into the bookshelf, his neck gripped by a hand like an iron vice.

“Big Brother?” Outside the door, Deputy General Zhong heard the sound and immediately called out loudly in inquiry.

Chu Ling’s voice was gentle. “It’s nothing. No need to come in.”

Deputy General Zhong’s voice disappeared.

A’Jiu felt his breath was also about to disappear. The hand gripping his neck loosened slightly, allowing him to catch a breath as he gasped urgently.

“Young man, I don’t care whose family you’re from. Using my daughter as a shield will only lead to death,” Chu Ling said, looking at the youth with a gentle expression.

After receiving the news, he had speculated that Chu Zhao’s departure from the capital was definitely not merely because of fighting with Miss Liang—she must have been schemed against. At this moment, this youth with the identity of a postal soldier producing a secret letter undoubtedly confirmed his speculation.

He had sent his daughter to the capital to avoid the approaching whirlpool, yet these people actually made a move against his daughter—

Chu Ling wasn’t dead yet.

Watching the increasing ferocity in the depths of the man’s eyes before him, A’Jiu’s voice squeezed out from his constricted throat. “General Chu, you’ve guessed wrong. In fact, your daughter used this letter to threaten me.”

Chu Ling smiled faintly. “Is that so? How did she threaten you?”

Just like a familiar elder inquiring about a younger generation’s amusing story—if only his hand could loosen a bit, it would be even more amiable. Though A’Jiu was having difficulty breathing, he didn’t forget to squeeze out a cold laugh. “She discovered my letter. First she came to steal it, then after I discovered her, she demanded I take her back to the border commandery. Otherwise, she’d tell everyone I was delivering a secret letter to you—General Chu, I am a letter courier, but encountering Miss Chu was an accident.”

Chu Ling looked deeply at the youth for a moment, then released his hand and stood up straight.

A’Jiu leaned against the bookshelf breathing heavily in great gasps, letting out several coughs.

The letter in his hand was pulled away by Chu Ling, who casually opened it and glanced at it. “The Xie clan of Dongyang. You’re from the Xie family?”

A’Jiu made a sound of acknowledgment.

Chu Ling smiled. “This letter—is it the Crown Prince’s intention, or the Crown Princess’s intention?”

The Crown Princess came from the Xie clan of Dongyang. The Xie clan remained aloof from the powerful families of the capital. The Crown Princess was young, and compared to the Yang clan from which the former Empress came and the Zhao clan of the currently favored Noble Consort, they acted in a low-key manner.

Of course, this was indeed just a facade.

When there wasn’t a single letter or person from the Yang clan, Zhao clan, or even the Crown Prince or Third Prince, the Xie clan’s letter had already reached him.

That the Xie clan could think to write a letter showing goodwill to him, this forgotten person—they were not simple.

A’Jiu said, “It’s Third Master Xie’s intention.”

Third Master Xie. Chu Ling raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced at the signature: Xie Yanfang.

Currently the Crown Princess’s uncle, the eldest son of the Xie clan patriarch, the clan’s third-ranked young master.

Regarding this Third Master Xie, even from his remote location, Chu Ling had heard of him—a refined, jade-like, talented and virtuous elegant young nobleman.

Third Master Xie’s own intention?

Third Master Xie hadn’t written much, only saying he had long admired his great name and expressing admiration and a desire to establish relations.

“I’ve delivered the letter. I don’t know what he means by it, and I don’t know the contents,” A’Jiu said, coughing once. His hoarse voice had mostly recovered. “I just came to deliver the letter. Now that it’s delivered, my mission is complete.”

Chu Ling looked at him. “Merchants and travelers pass through here constantly, and officials are everywhere in Yunzhong Commandery. It would be very easy to send a letter. A postal soldier, on the other hand, is rather conspicuous.”

A’Jiu smiled. “You may not believe it when I say this, but delivering a letter to you is my punishment.” He waved his hand. “Whatever. Think what you like. Can I go now? I need to get back before daybreak. Otherwise, if people discover me, I’ll be a dead man even without the General lifting a finger.”

Punishment? Chu Ling looked him over. “Young man, you’re not well-liked at home, are you?”

A’Jiu’s expression was lazy. “General, whatever you want to know, just ask Third Master Xie. Whatever you ask, he’ll tell you everything.”

Chu Ling asked, “Do you like my Zhao’er?”

A’Jiu, whose breathing had just smoothed out, felt as if his throat had suddenly been gripped again. He choked and coughed several times, glaring at Chu Ling. “Hey, what’s with you father and daughter? Why do you both like to slander people’s reputations! Do you think you can blackmail me this way?”

Chu Ling laughed heartily.

The laughter echoed around the room and carried outside the door.

Deputy General Zhong, who had been blocking the door waiting to rush in and silence someone at a moment’s notice, was somewhat surprised. How could he be laughing? And laughing so freely? The General hadn’t laughed like this in a long time—

As the thought flashed by, the tightly closed door opened and the youth strode out, his face set and clearly unhappy. Ignoring Deputy General Zhong’s strange look, he walked past him heading outside.

Deputy General Zhong also ignored him and hurried inside to inquire.

Low voices of conversation sounded in the hall. A’Jiu couldn’t hear clearly and was too lazy to listen. He strode outward, but somehow his steps grew slower and slower. He always felt there was still something he hadn’t finished.

That shouldn’t be right. He had just come to deliver a letter. Once delivered, he was done.

A’Jiu gritted his teeth and took heavy steps forward.

Other matters had nothing to do with him!

One step, two steps, three steps—walking out, going outside, mounting his horse, returning to Yunzhong Commandery.

He looked ahead. The night was thick, torches flickering with scattered points of light that faintly outlined a girl’s face. She looked at him, tears rolling down in large drops—

This was so annoying!

The guards in the courtyard stared at the youth, not quite understanding why he walked out with such a bitter and resentful expression. The next moment, they saw the youth’s raised foot stomp down heavily. His body turned and he walked back.

“General Chu!”

A’Jiu strode into the hall.

Chu Ling and Deputy General Zhong, who had been talking, looked over in surprise.

“Did you drop something?” Deputy General Zhong asked, glaring. “What are you back for?”

“There’s one more thing,” A’Jiu said with an impatient expression. “General Chu, when are you going to bring your daughter back?”

Deputy General Zhong’s eyes widened. So this young man’s visit really was related to Zhao’er after all!

Chu Ling was slightly stunned. He looked at this youth and smiled, then became somewhat melancholy.

Even a stranger was concerned about Zhao’er—how could he as her father not be concerned?

His Zhao’er—how was she doing now?