The spring rain continued pattering endlessly. The spring days of the Great Jin Dynasty didn’t bring vibrant life because of the spring rain, but instead were shrouded in a heavy gloom. Fortunately, the porridge distribution in the city never stopped, and some kind-hearted wealthy merchants also joined the grain donation efforts. The city garrison doubled in size, and the troublemaking refugees decreased significantly. Apart from life still being difficult, everything else was no different from before the flood disaster.
The common people couldn’t eat their fill or dress warmly, so they paid even less attention to court affairs. However, even so, General Guan’s triumphant return to court had become the most talked-about topic on the streets and alleys of the capital recently. The valiant and battle-tested army led by Guan Lianghan would arrive in the capital tonight.
The Guan Lianghan spoken of by the people was currently in Dongfeng Tower, holding newly brewed Guanshan Clear Snow wine and drinking heartily. Mo Cong beside him looked at him and said: “Second Brother, everyone in the capital knows you’re returning to the capital today. Won’t you put on some pretense?”
“False pretenses,” Guan Lianghan scoffed: “I already returned to the capital long ago. What pretense should I put on? Besides, it’s already evening – who would pay attention to such things? Petty worries.”
Mo Cong shrugged: “With such heavy rain, I wonder where they are now, whether they can return to the capital on time.”
“Don’t worry.” Guan Lianghan wiped his mouth: “My men aren’t pushovers. No matter how heavy the rain, it doesn’t matter. Right now they should have reached Wulin Road.”
Wulin Road wasn’t the official road. The official road had been washed out by flood waters in recent days, and horses couldn’t pass through. Wulin Road connected to vast stretches of blackwood forest, extending for thousands of miles. The terrain was complex, with layers upon layers of dense trees. One could easily lose their way if not careful, and wild beasts roamed the forest. However, with an entire army there, it wasn’t a problem. Guan Lianghan tilted his head back and poured wine into his mouth, mumbling: “Just wait peacefully.”
In the Jiang Manor, Jiang Ruan was sitting by the window gazing at the rainwater in a daze. For some unknown reason, her heart had been restless since early morning. Though she forced herself to suppress it, she remained somewhat distracted.
Lian Qiao hurried in and said: “Miss, this servant saw an unfamiliar old woman enter Yanhua Courtyard. When she came out, she seemed very pleased, and the people in Yanhua Courtyard were also jubilant.”
Jiang Ruan’s eyes twitched: “Did you see clearly?”
Lian Qiao nodded. Jiang Ruan said: “I must go out immediately. Bai Zhi, Lian Qiao, come with me. Lu Zhu, you stay in the manor. If they ask, just say I went out with Miss Wen to pick jewelry.”
Lu Zhu nodded: “Miss, please be careful.”
These past few days, Xia Yan had been busy with her own affairs and had no time to pay attention to Jiang Ruan. Perhaps she thought Jiang Ruan couldn’t stir up any trouble. Once Jiang Xinzhi died, Jiang Ruan would be even less of a threat, so she was quite lenient with her. Jiang Ruan’s relationship with Dong Ying’er and the others had also become closer, so occasionally using this excuse to go out was very convenient.
The three of them left the manor. Bai Zhi found a carriage outside, and the three headed straight for the General’s Manor. Just as they arrived at the General’s Manor gates, they saw Zhao Yi and Zhao Yuanfeng leading a group of guards about to depart. Seeing Jiang Ruan, Zhao Yuanfeng was also slightly stunned, then said: “The spy father placed in the Xia Family sent word back that the Xia Family people went to Wulin Road early this morning.” After a pause, he continued: “The Li Family is also involved in this matter.”
Jiang Ruan raised her eyebrows. Zhao Yi also added: “Grandfather isn’t convenient to come out. Third Uncle and I are going together. These people are all Zhao Family soldiers, dressed this way to avoid attention. Cousin, please wait in the manor. We will definitely bring Xinzhi back safely.”
Jiang Ruan shook her head: “I’m going with you.”
Before Zhao Yi could speak, Zhao Yuanfeng firmly refused: “No, it’s too dangerous. You stay here.”
“Third Uncle, if I don’t go, I’ll never be at peace for the rest of my life. The situation is extremely urgent – Third Uncle shouldn’t waste time here. I can protect myself. If things are truly so dangerous that even I can’t be protected, then it must be even more troublesome. Dying together with my brother would be a blessing.” Her tone was indifferent, with a kind of disregard for life and death that made Zhao Yuanfeng’s heart sink. Seeing Jiang Ruan’s determined expression and remembering Zhao Guang’s assessment of Jiang Ruan yesterday, he steeled himself: “Fine, but you must be careful. Swords and blades have no eyes. If something really happens to you, how would I explain to your deceased mother?”
Jiang Ruan nodded slightly. Zhao Yi hesitated, then had no choice but to lead a horse from behind, asking: “Cousin, can you ride?”
Before he finished speaking, Jiang Ruan stepped into the stirrup, executed a beautiful mount, and sat properly on the horse, then took the bamboo hat and put it on her head. Her skillful movements made all the surrounding guards’ eyes light up. In her previous life, a Western beauty who could ride horses had come to the palace. Her horsemanship was remarkably beautiful, causing a horseback riding craze in the rear palace. Unfortunately, no one had taught her horsemanship since childhood. In the end, it was Xuan Li who personally taught her. Though not particularly outstanding, in order to impress him, Jiang Ruan practiced day and night, ultimately becoming one of the best. Living a second life, she hadn’t expected her first display of equestrian skills would be to save Jiang Xinzhi.
Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao couldn’t ride horses and couldn’t follow. They could only stay at the General’s Manor to wait, both worriedly instructing Jiang Ruan: “Miss, be careful on the road.”
Time was urgent and they couldn’t stay long. Zhao Yuanfeng raised his riding whip: “Let’s go!”
The group spurred their horses and galloped toward the city outskirts. The splashing water kicked up by the hooves created crisp sounds all along the way.
Zhao Yi and Zhao Yuanfeng were initially worried about Jiang Ruan. After all, young ladies had delicate constitutions, and such rapid bouncing on horseback might be hard to endure. But Jiang Ruan showed no signs of discomfort along the way, so they relaxed. The horses ran even faster.
Meanwhile, Mo Cong and Guan Lianghan had just come down from Dongfeng Tower. Seeing Xiao Shao below, they greeted him. Just as they were about to speak, they saw a group of people on horseback galloping past. The splashing water got on Mo Cong, who jumped back a step and angrily said: “Hey, you’ve dirtied this young master’s clothes!”
Guan Lianghan laughed heartily: “Men shouldn’t be so petty. Eh, isn’t that the Zhao Yuanfeng kid?”
Xiao Shao was slightly stunned. Following Guan Lianghan’s gaze, he immediately spotted a slender figure among the mounted group, particularly conspicuous among all the big men. Though wearing a bamboo hat, seeing the nearby Zhao Yuanfeng and Zhao Yi on horseback, and thinking of the recently discovered frequent visits of the Jiang Family’s legitimate daughter to the General’s Manor, it wasn’t hard to guess the mounted person’s identity.
“What are they going to do?” Guan Lianghan pondered.
“The people behind him are Zhao Family soldiers,” Xiao Shao reminded. “Dressed as guards.”
“Using troops privately? Well well, isn’t this Zhao Family boy afraid of death?” Guan Lianghan said with amusement.
Xiao Shao frowned, then suddenly turned and left. Seeing this, Guan Lianghan quickly followed behind him asking: “Third Brother, where are you going? I still have things to tell you.”
Xiao Shao walked to the horse-tying area downstairs while untying the reins: “We’ll talk later.”
Guan Lianghan looked at him: “You want to follow Zhao Yuanfeng?”
Xiao Shao didn’t speak, only focused intently on his actions, which counted as tacit agreement. Guan Lianghan suddenly laughed heartily: “Interesting. I also want to see what that Zhao Family boy is up to. Seventh Brother, bring my horse.” After speaking, he patted Xiao Shao’s shoulder: “I’ll go with you.”
Mo Cong reluctantly led Guan Lianghan’s horse over and asked: “Second Brother, Third Brother, can you take me along?”
Mo Cong feared nothing except riding horses. When he was young, he had once been thrown from a horse and spent three months recovering in bed, so he never wanted to ride alone again.
Xiao Shao said: “No.”
Mo Cong touched his nose, hearing Guan Lianghan also say: “You just stay here obediently.” After speaking, he mounted his horse and without another glance at Mo Cong, raised his whip. The horse immediately galloped away. Mo Cong was left behind, his face livid with anger, but helpless.
The two horses followed the people ahead one after another. Guan Lianghan caught up to Xiao Shao’s horse, his expression changing as he asked seriously: “Third Brother, do you know something?” Xiao Shao usually had no relationship with the General’s Manor people, so he couldn’t be catching up to reminisce. Something must have happened. As a fellow military officer, Guan Lianghan, having been away from the capital for years, also wanted to know if the Zhao Family had any secrets.
Hearing this, Xiao Shao looked at him with surprise, his beautiful eyes slightly narrowing as he said coolly: “They’re heading out of the city.”
“Yes, so what?” Guan Lianghan asked. Currently, only refugees were entering the capital; no citizens were leaving. Compared to outside, the capital was already much, much better. And Zhao Yuanfeng and his nephew bringing Zhao Family soldiers disguised as guards must have some other reason. What could it be? Although Guan Lianghan was far away on the frontier, as a court official he could still figure out some colleagues’ personalities. Zhao Yuanfeng, the Zhao Family’s third young master, was usually rash and impulsive, but not a troublemaker. Moreover, the Zhao Family had strict family discipline and military discipline too – they couldn’t possibly use soldiers casually for other matters.
“Where would your army be right now?” Xiao Shao asked.
“The official road was destroyed, so they should be on Wulin Road. I came back via Wulin Road. Calculating the schedule, they should be passing through Wulin Road soon.” Guan Lianghan said, then thinking of something, looked at Xiao Shao in surprise: “Third Brother, you can’t be saying the Zhao Family is going after my army? The Zhao Family has no relationship whatsoever with my Guan Family Army. Currently, only you and Seventh Brother know about my return to the capital. The Zhao Family going to Wulin Road couldn’t be to welcome me – that’s definitely impossible.”
Xiao Shao shook his head: “No, it has nothing to do with you.”
“Then what do you mean?” Guan Lianghan was even more confused by his words.
Xiao Shao pressed his heels into the horse’s belly, and the horse shot forward like an arrow. He lowered his long eyelashes: “I can’t say clearly either.”
The continuous rain had made the roads along the way muddy and difficult to navigate. Landslides made the journey even more challenging, and what should have been a three-day journey would definitely take five days. The Guan Family Army had been traveling for days, and the soldiers already showed signs of slight fatigue. Ahead was Wulin Road. The rainwater had washed out the official road. Wulin Road was densely forested, easy to get lost in, and stretched endlessly. The army stopped in front of Wulin Road to rest.
With Guan Lianghan absent, the entire army followed Jiang Xinzhi’s commands. A soldier warmly greeted Jiang Xinzhi: “Deputy General, please sit down and eat something.”
Jiang Xinzhi smiled and shook his head: “No need.”
The soldier said no more. From a small cooking soldier to a deputy general commanding a section of the battlefield, Jiang Xinzhi had taken a full five years. The Jiang Family valued literature over martial arts. He had grown up reading the Four Books and Five Classics and had never practiced martial arts. Only when he couldn’t even protect his own sister did he understand the principle that scholarly pursuits were useless. Even after arriving at the military camp, he initially received many cold looks. On the battlefield, swords and blades had no eyes. With his qualifications, being able to keep his life was already heaven’s favor. However, Jiang Xinzhi had finally reached his current position.
He stroked the horse’s head, and strangely felt some trepidation in his heart. His initial decision to join the army had been a moment of youthful impulsiveness. Later, after going to the battlefield, he had been beyond his control and hadn’t returned to the capital for five years. Now thinking about it, leaving Jiang Ruan in such a man-eating environment as the Jiang Family really wasn’t a good idea. Over the years, he had secretly sent letters to Jiang Ruan under false names, but never received any reply. The closer he got to the capital, the more worried Jiang Xinzhi became. After so many years, whether Jiang Ruan had lived poorly, whether she had encountered misfortune. After Zhao Mei’s death, Xia Yan had become sweet-faced but bitter-hearted. Jiang Quan had never liked their siblings. With Jiang Ruan alone and helpless, would she be bullied by the Jiang Manor’s other brothers and sisters? The more he thought this way, the more an strange feeling arose in Jiang Xinzhi’s heart, an inexplicable irritation gradually rising.
Lost in thought, the horse beside him lowered its head and nuzzled his body with its mouth, pawing the ground intermittently with its front hooves. Jiang Xinzhi smiled: “I know, Black Wind. I’ll take you to drink water right away.”
There had been no water sources along the way. The water on the ground was mixed with too many dead animals and mud, and fearing illness from drinking it, all water was reserved for the weak soldiers and horses. Black Wind had been thirsty for a long time. There was a small stream in the Wulin Road forest. Jiang Xinzhi instructed a nearby soldier: “I’ll take Zhui Feng to get some water and come back. Have the brothers rest here first. I’ll return quickly.”
The soldier acknowledged the order and left. Jiang Xinzhi mounted his horse and affectionately patted Black Wind’s neck: “Go.”
Black Wind snorted through his nose and galloped forward. Although it was easy to lose direction in Wulin Road, old horses knew the way, so Jiang Xinzhi wasn’t worried.
Black Wind hadn’t run far when a winding stream appeared ahead. Being in the blackwood forest, the dense tree branches blocked most of the rainwater, so from a distance the stream looked crystal clear, completely unstained by mud. Jiang Xinzhi was delighted, but Black Wind stopped at this moment.
Jiang Xinzhi thought the horse was tired, so he patted its head: “We’re almost there, Black Wind. Walk a little further.”
Black Wind snorted several times through his nose, heavily lifted his front hooves and put them down, refusing to take another step forward. Just as Jiang Xinzhi was puzzled, Black Wind was already restlessly pacing in place.
Black Wind was a battle-tested war horse and had some spiritual intelligence. Jiang Xinzhi became suspicious and calmly stroked the mane on Black Wind’s neck. Black Wind felt Jiang Xinzhi’s comfort and gradually calmed down. Jiang Xinzhi furrowed his brow. He heard a “whoosh” sound as something broke through the air in the forest. Jiang Xinzhi quickly reached out and caught the object with a swish – it was an arrow with a red cloth bundle tied to it. Jiang Xinzhi suspiciously removed and opened the red cloth bundle, finding half a piece of amber inside. He was stunned, then clenched his fists tightly.
When Zhao Mei was alive, she had two crescent-shaped pieces of amber. The two pieces were complete individually but could also be fitted together to form a whole. The butterfly frozen in the amber was perfectly split – half wing on each piece, naturally formed and lifelike. Zhao Mei made the amber into necklaces, giving one piece to Jiang Xinzhi and one to Jiang Ruan. The amber before him was clearly the piece from Jiang Ruan!
Someone had taken Jiang Ruan’s possession. Though he didn’t know their purpose, it was related to Jiang Ruan.
Jiang Xinzhi’s hands touched the amber at his own neck, his eyes narrowing as he instantly emanated killing intent.
This place was very close to where the soldiers were resting, but going deeper could bring unknown dangers.
Rustling sounds came from the forest, and a corner of clothing flashed quickly through the deep woods, heading straight into the dense forest.
Jiang Xinzhi fiercely slapped the horse’s belly: “Hyah!”
Whether it was a conspiracy or not, with the other party using Jiang Ruan to threaten him, he couldn’t remain unmoved, and couldn’t even go inform the soldiers. At this moment, Jiang Xinzhi’s heart felt as if he had walked through flames, filled entirely with anxiety.
Black Wind sensed his anger. Even though unwilling to go forward, he still neighed loudly and charged into the dense forest.
The blackwood forest terrain was inherently complex, and this was Jiang Xinzhi’s first time traveling this route. The person ahead had excellent martial arts skills, specifically choosing rugged, narrow paths. As Black Wind followed, the deeper they went into the forest, the taller the blackwood trees grew, almost completely blocking out the sky with barely any light visible. In the dark depths, the figure ahead flashed and suddenly disappeared.
Black Wind stopped abruptly. Jiang Xinzhi sat upright on his horse, motionless. The forest was eerily quiet. From leaving the stream to this point, he no longer knew how far they were from the soldiers.
The disappearance of the person ahead could only prove this was a trap.
Who had set this trap, and for what purpose?
Jiang Xinzhi’s expression was calm. After the anxiety faded, his worry dissipated, and he actually felt somewhat relieved.
Since it was proven to be a trap, Jiang Ruan might be safe.
He slowly drew the blade from his waist. The sword edge emerged from its sheath, the three-foot blue blade reflecting his image. The young deputy general’s brow naturally carried killing intent – after all, he was someone who had seen bloodshed on the battlefield.
With a “swish,” Jiang Xinzhi held his blade horizontally forward while simultaneously ducking low, barely avoiding a sneak attack from behind. He instantly turned his horse around, looking at the group of strangers dressed as guards before him.
Five strangers in total.
He rode Black Wind back several steps: “Who sent you?”
“Young Master Jiang, if you’re sensible, leave your life behind so we five can return and report,” one of them said.
Jiang Xinzhi sneered: “Reckless fools!” After speaking, his body suddenly rose, leaping down from his horse and raising his blade toward one of the strangers before him.
That stranger couldn’t retreat in time. Though he tried desperately to dodge, he was still wounded on the arm by Jiang Xinzhi’s blade. None of them had expected Jiang Xinzhi’s martial arts to be so refined. They exchanged glances, said no more, and all rushed forward to join the battle.