Scout B remained silent, but Yuan Li placed his hand on his neck. Though it was a light movement, Scout B felt a chill throughout his body and shouted, “In the north of the city, in the north of the city, preparing to ambush the approaching Shi Lei.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyebrows.

Scout B broke down crying, shouting, “Kill me, kill me, give me a quick death, kill me quickly.”

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes to look at him. “Is this your wish?”

Scout B nodded while crying.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Very well. Someone, carry him down with the previous scout and send them off together. Make it quick.”

“Yes.”

The guards immediately stepped forward to carry him away.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded to Yuan Li. “You may go down.”

Yuan Li bowed and withdrew. Before leaving, he raised his head to glance at Fu Tinghan.

Zhao Hanzhang noticed this and frowned slightly.

Ji Yuan also saw it and was quite displeased. He said to Zhao Hanzhang, “Yuan Li is cruel and narrow-minded. You shouldn’t keep him among your personal guards anymore.”

Zhao Hanzhang replied, “I know, but he’s quite capable. It’s useful to keep him by my side.”

Ji Yuan glanced at Fu Tinghan. Seeing that he showed no unusual expression or displeasure, he nodded and let it go.

Yuan Li was one of the many retainers Zhao Changyu had left for Zhao Hanzhang. After several major battles, he had quickly distinguished himself. Though he couldn’t compare with Ji Ping and Qiu Wu, he had rapidly become one of Zhao Hanzhang’s personal guards.

After all, he was someone Zhao Changyu had left behind, so Zhao Hanzhang naturally trusted them.

Originally, he had already become a squad leader, just one step away from becoming like Ji Ping and Qiu Wu—independently leading a matter and becoming a deputy general or holding another official position.

However, during the battle at the Yuzhou border with Prince Donghai, he had abused prisoners, which Fu Tinghan happened to witness. So even though he had rendered meritorious service in both the campaign to drive out the Xiongnu and the battle against Prince Donghai, he still hadn’t advanced further.

Meanwhile, others who had originally been retainer squad leaders like him—Ji Ping, Qiu Wu, and others—had all risen steadily. Needless to say, Ji Ping was now a deputy general independently commanding an army, currently garrisoning Ruyin.

As for Qiu Wu, though he had left on some unknown mission and was still a squad leader, everyone from the Luoyang retainers knew his prospects were no less than Ji Ping’s.

Because compared to Ji Ping, Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan clearly valued Qiu Wu more. Fu Tinghan especially liked to have Qiu Wu handle matters, making him truly the confidant of both.

After Qiu Wu left, Zhao Hanzhang’s personal guards were temporarily led by Zeng Yue, but without an official appointment and with Fan Ying also receiving orders alongside him, everyone felt they still had a chance.

Yuan Li was the one least favored.

Because he was the only person Fu Tinghan had criticized as too cruel, and afterward Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t used him much either.

No one expected Yuan Li to leap over everyone else and reach Zhao Hanzhang’s side. Even Yuan Li himself hadn’t expected to seize this opportunity.

So after withdrawing, he thought for a while before taking out the spoils of war he had collected during this period.

These were spoils he had obtained while cleaning up the battlefield. Zhao Hanzhang didn’t prevent her subordinate soldiers from keeping money and goods for themselves.

Since recruiting soldiers, she had only provided food and shelter and allocated them some land, without paying any military wages at all.

So if she didn’t loosen her grip on the battlefield, who would risk their lives for her?

Yuan Li took out some items and went to exchange them with others.

When Fu Tinghan finished his evening meal and returned to the adjacent main tent with a tired expression, just as he reached the tent entrance, a figure emerged from the shadows nearby. “Young Master Fu.”

Fu Tinghan was startled by this sudden voice, and Fu’an was also frightened. He instinctively blocked Fu Tinghan’s path.

Seeing it was Yuan Li, he couldn’t help frowning. “What are you doing here?”

The guard standing by the tent said, “Squad Leader Yuan has been waiting here for two quarters of an hour.”

Yuan Li bowed with cupped hands. “Yes.”

Fu Tinghan didn’t know what business brought him here, but still said, “Come into the tent to talk.”

“I dare not disturb the young master’s rest.” Yuan Li kept his head lowered as he produced a pair of jade pendants and offered them. “These are a pair of jade pendants I obtained by chance. I felt they would suit the young master and the lady very well, so I’ve come to present them. Please do not disdain them, young master.”

Fu Tinghan looked down at the pair of jade pendants in his hands. After a moment of silence, he reached out to accept them. “Good, I like them very much.”

Seeing him accept them, Yuan Li breathed a sigh of relief. He bowed deeply and left.

Fu’an watched from the side in amazement. After Fu Tinghan entered the tent, he quickly lifted the curtain and followed. “Young master, what does Yuan Li mean by this? Why is he suddenly giving you gifts?”

Fu Tinghan casually placed the jade pendants on the table and sighed. “Seeking reconciliation, I suppose. Though I think it’s unnecessary, if he’s uneasy, I’ll accept them to put his mind at rest.”

Hearing this, Fu’an felt relieved. “It’s good that he wants to reconcile. I was worried he’d make himself your enemy. He looks truly frightening—I’d be scared to oppose him.”

Fu Tinghan smiled at him without further explanation.

Seeing Fu Tinghan sit down to remove his shoes, Fu’an hurried forward to serve him, placing the removed shoes and socks to one side. He went down to fetch hot water for him to soak his feet and wash.

Then he went down to wash the socks. When he returned, Fu Tinghan had somehow produced a pile of draft papers again and was sitting on the bed writing and drawing.

Fu’an stepped forward to brighten the lamp, but urged, “Young master, please rest early. If there’s fighting tomorrow, it will be very draining.”

Fu Tinghan sighed. “We didn’t bring much grain and fodder. I need to calculate more carefully. You go to sleep first.”

Fu’an laid a wooden board on the ground, spread out bedding, and sat down. Then, supporting his chin, he drowsily watched their young master.

As he watched, he felt the young master growing more and more distant, farther and farther away, until finally disappearing from sight. His body also tilted sideways, falling over, and he fell asleep without knowing anything.

Hearing the sound, Fu Tinghan looked up. Seeing Fu’an lying crookedly with half his body on the ground, he shook his head with a smile. He put down his paper and brush, donned his wooden clogs, and went forward to gently help Fu’an lie properly on the bedding.

He had only brought one quilt for himself on this campaign—half for padding and half for covering. Fu Tinghan covered him with half the quilt. Perhaps because he’d been too tired these past days, the usually alert Fu’an showed no awareness at all. Lying down on the bedding, perhaps feeling comfortable, he even began to snore.

Fu Tinghan turned to return to the bed. Passing the table, he saw the jade pendants placed there and couldn’t help picking them up to look.

This was a pair of mutton-fat jade pendants, pure white throughout, carved with sheep. Looking carefully, there seemed to be dark purple floating in the middle, right at the sheep’s head extending to its back—a very auspicious meaning.

Such a pair of jade pendants could serve as family heirlooms. Who knew which aristocratic family had lost them on the road for Yuan Li and his men to find.

Fu Tinghan held the jade pendants in his palm, deep in thought. In terms of understanding human hearts, he naturally couldn’t compare with Zhao Hanzhang, but that didn’t mean he didn’t understand.

Yuan Li’s seeking reconciliation was real, but his resentment toward him was also not false.

First, Fu Tinghan didn’t want to make enemies. Second, he didn’t want to conflict with people around Hanzhang. That’s why he accepted this gift to put the other person at ease.

He looked at the pair of jade pendants in his hand. However, these jade pendants were indeed beautiful.

He placed the jade pendants back on the table. After calculating everything he needed to, he finally put down his paper and brush, extinguished the lamp, and lay down.

The next day, Fu Tinghan took this pair of jade pendants to find Zhao Hanzhang, dividing one piece for her from the two jade pendants.

Zhao Hanzhang was pleasantly surprised. “Why are you suddenly giving me a gift?”