Soon, Gao Qiao found Shao Fengzhi’s corpse at the foot of a low ridge not far away.

His throat had been cut, with a large pool of blood on the ground—he had been dead for some time.

Gao Qiao and his men searched everywhere nearby, but found no trace of Xiao Yongjia.

Darkness fell, but the search continued. By midnight, Li Xie had also received word and arrived with many men, joining the search.

The next day, they searched the surrounding area for tens of li in all directions, but still had no news of her.

The search area continued to expand.

Three days passed with Gao Qiao getting no sleep or rest, his eyes so strained they nearly bled.

But Xiao Yongjia had vanished like a drop of water under the sun, completely without trace.

The situation grew increasingly severe.

The western front at Wangjiang Commandery was in crisis. The Jingzhou rebels advanced unstoppably. In just a few days, the defending forces continuously requested reinforcements, but Jiankang could no longer spare any additional troops.

Previously, all available forces under Gao Qiao’s command had been forced to split into four divisions: one at Wangjiang Commandery, one at Jiankang, one defending the triangular defensive line of Jurong-Qu’e-Piling, and another operating in the interior regions.

Almost all commanderies and counties in southeastern Yangzhou had fallen into the hands of the Celestial Master sect. This force had originally moved through the central regions to block the sect’s plague-like expansion toward Great Yu’s heartland, but now, faced with renewed severe threats from the Xuan City direction, Gao Qiao had no choice but to temporarily abandon this plan. He ordered Poyang, Yuzhang, Linchuan, Jian’an and other central commanderies adjacent to the southeast to organize local forces for self-defense, and yesterday recalled this army.

The troops were not sent to the western front. Even if they rushed there now, it would not significantly change the overall situation.

Though the Jingzhou rebels had returned defeated from their previous northern expedition and suffered losses then, their foundation remained. Gao Qiao understood this force’s strength all too well. Without sufficient troops to oppose them, his original purpose in deploying defenses at Wangjiang Commandery was merely to delay the rebels’ advance down the river, buying more time for Jiankang.

This recalled army was now incorporated into Jiankang’s defenses and the triangular line. Behind this line were the Emperor and Empress, hundreds of officials, hundreds of thousands of civilians evacuated from Jiankang, and countless refugees who had earlier fled from the southeastern commanderies due to the Celestial Master rebellion. It absolutely could not fall.

Gao Yin was the supreme commander of this defensive line.

Qu’e, where the Emperor and Empress resided, occupied the innermost position of the triangular defense and had solid fortifications. Gao Yin entrusted it to Lu Jianzhi, who had come after hearing the news while in mourning. These days, he had been traveling constantly between Jurong and Piling.

This evening, having just incorporated an army of about a thousand men, he was traveling from Jurong to Piling through the night. Passing near a village that had been mostly abandoned by fleeing residents, he saw a mounted soldier clutching a clucking speckled hen and a bundle that clearly didn’t belong to him, mounting his horse to flee while being pursued by a white-haired old woman.

Though the soldier had removed his helmet, his clothing was immediately recognizable as coming from the Guangling Army. The old woman was lame—how could she catch such a strong mounted soldier? Seeing herself left further and further behind, she fell to the ground wailing. The soldier didn’t look back, spurring his horse to gallop away into the wilderness.

Though the Gao family’s Guangling Army had achieved many merits over the years and maintained stricter discipline than other southern armies, Gao Yin knew that many mid and high-ranking officers from lesser aristocratic families who relied on the Gao clan, while brave in battle, carried some unavoidable aristocratic shortcomings. With influence flowing downward, not every unit could follow military regulations.

Even his uncle Gao Yun, though valiant in battle with great service, was hot-tempered, enjoyed flattery, and was proud by nature. Despite Gao Qiao’s frequent reminders, he sometimes couldn’t help but indulge his subordinates’ harassment of civilians.

Uncle Gao Qiao was not unaware of these issues. He had previously tried to rectify military discipline. But the deep-rooted personal relationships between aristocratic families, like chronic ailments, were extremely difficult to eradicate completely. Often Gao Qiao would enforce discipline and everyone would comply, but gradually old habits would return in endless cycles.

Uncle could do nothing about it either.

Gao Yin had long observed these issues. But if even Uncle couldn’t cure the root cause, what could he do? Normally he could only restrain his own subordinates.

At this time of national crisis, for Guangling Army soldiers to still abuse civilians—clearly a deserter at that.

Gao Yin was furious. He immediately halted his march, ordered pursuit of the fleeing soldier, had him surrounded and captured, returned the hen and bundle to the old woman, and after she stopped crying, wiped her tears, and left with profuse thanks, he turned and lashed the soldier with his riding whip. In extreme anger, he ordered the deserter beheaded on the spot.

The soldier rolled on the ground, wound medicine falling from his clothes. Crying and begging for mercy, he claimed he was a messenger, not intentionally deserting, but had reasons.

He said that at over thirty, he had never been with a woman. Returning from delivering a message two days ago, taking a shortcut through wilderness, he had encountered a severely wounded woman near death. She offered herself in exchange for rescue, and in momentary confusion, he went absent without leave to hide her. Today he came out seeking wound medicine for her. Passing this village and seeing it seemed inhabited, evil thoughts arose and he went in to steal.

The soldier wept bitterly, kowtowing continuously for mercy. He repeatedly promised that if spared, he would immediately return to camp and never desert again.

With battle imminent, Gao Yin had no time for such stories. Ordering his execution, he suddenly remembered something, his expression shifting slightly. He called a halt and inquired about the wounded woman’s age, appearance, injuries, and location. Suspecting a connection, he immediately ordered men to follow the soldier to bring the woman.

This place was only half a day’s hard ride from Jiankang. Seeing her, Gao Yin immediately sent word back.

Early the next morning, with dawn light glowing faintly, the sound of hoofbeats grew clearer on the road toward Jiankang as Gao Qiao arrived after riding through the night.

Gao Yin had gone to Jiankang yesterday and met Gao Qiao, only then learning of his aunt’s attack and disappearance during childbirth several days prior. Uncle had searched desperately for days without trace, and with military urgency pressing, could only leave others to continue searching while returning to duty.

Seeing Uncle yesterday, though his spirit seemed good, in just these few days he had grown gaunt and haggard beyond Gao Yin’s belief. Knowing he was wounded to the depths while facing imminent battle, forced to set aside personal matters to fully confront the enemy, Gao Yin’s own heart ached.

Before leaving, Gao Qiao privately described the Shao woman’s appearance and build, saying she should know Eldest Princess’s whereabouts and was being searched for everywhere, instructing him to keep watch if possible.

Yesterday, hearing the deserter’s description, he immediately thought of the Shao woman and notified Gao Qiao through the night. Seeing him arrive, he hurried forward.

“Uncle, your nephew suspects that woman is indeed the Shao woman. But no matter how I questioned her, she wouldn’t answer. I wanted to send her to Jiankang but feared she might die en route from her injuries, so I summoned you instead…”

Gao Yin led Gao Qiao to a broken-down house at the village entrance, pointing: “She’s inside, Uncle may go see.”

Gao Qiao stared at the door, strode forward, and pushed it open forcefully.

In the dim corner against the wall huddled a woman. Her neck leaned against the wall, clothes torn and shredded, chest stained with dried blood. Her exposed face and hands bore scratches everywhere, complexion pale as paper, listless expression, eyes barely open, half-dead with no vitality.

Hearing the door open, the woman slowly opened her eyes. When her gaze fell on the newcomer’s face, her eyes suddenly blazed with light, as if she had instantly come alive.

She quickly sat up, raising her hand to smooth her hair, trying to make herself look more presentable.

“Gao…”

“Evil woman! Where is Eldest Princess? What did you do to her?”

Gao Qiao’s eyes fixed on her face momentarily before he stepped inside with a shout.

The veins at his temples throbbed visibly, his voice hoarse like a torn drum.

The look he cast at her contained such restrained yet profound disgust and hatred as she had never seen.

How could Shao Yuniang not know that having lost that perfect opportunity years ago, given Gao Qiao’s exalted position and her own lowliness, she would never again have a chance to serve at his side in this lifetime?

It was precisely because of this that she hated Xiao Yongjia all the more.

But she still refused to give up hope, still harboring that small expectation.

At this moment, she suddenly understood completely and despaired utterly.

That day, seeing Xiao Yongjia escape, Shao Yuniang had struggled to crawl up and pursue her a few steps, then cursed Shao Fengzhi with no way out.

Under her pressure, Shao Fengzhi went to chase Xiao Yongjia.

Pursuing to that ridge, just as she thought Xiao Yongjia would be captured, she saw a young woman suddenly appear from the ridge top, blocking Shao Fengzhi’s path.

With just one gesture—before she could clearly see how the woman struck—Shao Fengzhi fell.

She only saw blood spray several feet high from her brother’s throat following the woman’s hand movement.

Shao Yuniang didn’t recognize this suddenly appearing young woman.

But it was her first time seeing someone, especially a woman, kill with such efficiency and skill.

She saw the woman turn to look in her direction. No longer caring about anything else, driven by intense survival instinct, she struggled to flee. There happened to be a cliff slope covered in wild thorns nearby. Regardless of everything, she jumped down, enduring the pain of thorn scratches, rolling to the bottom.

The woman pursued and stood above, unable to see her at first. Perhaps more concerned with Xiao Yongjia than killing her, she didn’t risk the thorns to search below and turned away. Shao Yuniang once again escaped death.

Recalling that day, after escaping from the prison matron, she returned to Jiankang. Taking advantage of the city-wide chaos, she lurked near the Gao residence, hiding in shadows to spy, then followed Gao Qiao bringing Xiao Yongjia here. Over the following seven or eight days, she had wandered nearby, studying the terrain and seeking opportunities.

After discovering the small village, she finally devised a plan. That night she set the mountain fire, then reached the village vicinity to hide in advance. As expected, when Xiao Yongjia’s group arrived, she calculated the timing of their water consumption at dawn and secretly drugged the well.

For so long, she had endured, planned, and calculated for revenge, even harming her own body. Just as success seemed within grasp, she ultimately failed at the crucial moment.

Thinking that she would probably never again have an opportunity to come so close to successful revenge, these days she was filled with resentment and grief, hating heaven’s injustice.

But no blow compared to this moment when she could no longer see in Gao Qiao’s eyes the compassion he once showed her.

She was certain that not only twenty years ago, but even recently, even after knowing of her killing and arson, his gaze still contained a trace of reluctance to harm her.

Now it was gone, completely gone!

Only deep disgust and hatred remained.

The hand smoothing her hair slowly dropped.

Shao Yuniang stared at Gao Qiao’s tensed and distorted face.

“She’s naturally dead, along with the child about to be born in her belly! I ground their bones to powder and threw them in the river. You’ll never see her again in this life or the next.”

Gao Qiao’s blood ran cold, his entire body instantly rigid.

In the past days, he had deployed many people, searching everywhere her strength could have carried her from the incident site, then expanded the range, but never found her whereabouts.

As days passed, she seemed to have sunk without trace.

Everyone around him already assumed she was dead.

He had refused to believe it, unable to accept this outcome.

Deep in his heart, he still harbored the thought that she hadn’t died, only remained somewhere he hadn’t yet searched.

This was why he urgently wanted to find this woman.

Now hope was shattered.

He stared at her, his eyes slowly reddening: “Shao woman, say that again?”

“She’s dead!”

Shao Yuniang laughed coldly, her laughter somewhat chilling.

“She deserved it! If I hadn’t saved her husband years ago, she would already be a widow! Instead of being grateful and fulfilling my wishes, she repaid kindness with enmity, causing my current state—all her own doing!”

“That bitch Xiao Yongjia even tried to deceive me that day, claiming you called me shameless in front of her…”

“Pfft!”

A muffled sound of blade piercing flesh.

Gao Qiao suddenly drew his sword, the tip piercing Shao Yuniang’s heart, penetrating precisely between her chest ribs, the force carrying through the blade’s back to emerge from behind.

Shao Yuniang’s mouth was still open, but her voice cut off abruptly.

She widened her eyes, staring at Gao Qiao.

Gao Qiao’s eyes were blood-red but his face expressionless as he violently withdrew the sword from her chest.

Shao Yuniang’s body collapsed sideways with his sword withdrawal.

Gao Qiao didn’t spare her another glance, carrying the blood-dripping sword as he turned to leave. After just two steps, the not-quite-dead Shao Yuniang let out a mournful cry, using all remaining strength to struggle up from the ground, lunging forward to desperately grasp his foot.

“Lord Gao… before I die, please tell me truthfully—back then, didn’t you also have feelings for me but refused me because of Xiao Yongjia…”

She looked up, blood continuously flowing from her mouth corners. Her gaze at Gao Qiao was pleading, gentle, pitiable—just like her beautiful appearance when first meeting that white-robed man years ago.

Gao Qiao stopped, slowly turned his head, stared at the woman on the ground, and said word by word: “Shao woman, listen well—A’Ling didn’t deceive you. Compared to A’Ling, you’re not even worthy to be her shoe-carrying slave! Having such a wife, how could I possibly have feelings for you?”

“From beginning to end, only A’Ling has been in my heart!”

He kicked away her hand still desperately grasping him and strode out.

Gao Yin waited anxiously outside. Suddenly seeing Gao Qiao emerge, he approached: “Uncle, how was it? Any trace of Aunt…” Before finishing his question, seeing Gao Qiao stumble, sway, and turn pale, he was startled and quickly supported his arm.

“Uncle, are you feeling unwell?”

Gao Qiao felt sudden chest pain, darkness before his eyes, and hot, fishy liquid rising to his throat.

A fast rider suddenly approached from the distance. The messenger saw Gao Qiao and shouted: “Lord Gao, terrible news! Xuan City rebels have reached Liyang—only four hundred li from Jiankang!”

Gao Qiao swallowed back the hot liquid, closed his eyes, opened them, and gripped his nephew’s arm firmly: “I’m fine. I’ll return immediately. You also hurry back to Piling!”

Gao Yin watched Uncle hastily mount his horse and head back toward Jiankang, unease rising in his heart.

“Uncle! Li Mu—still no word from him?”

He couldn’t help shouting.

Gao Qiao paused: “He’s returning with his army but encountered pincer attacks from Xu Mi’s remaining forces and Beixia troops. When he’ll arrive remains uncertain!”

With that, he led his escort and galloped away at full speed.