Fu Shen silently stared at the box and smiled foolishly for a while. The carriage stopped at the side gate of the Duke’s mansion. As he got off, the servants rushed to carry his belongings. Fu Shen carefully held the bow case himself, instructing as he walked, “Take it to my courtyard. Later, sort out half of it and send it to each residence, saying it’s a gift from a friend.”
Whether he was from the Flying Dragon Guard or the Imperial Guard, Fu Shen had accepted this friend. As for the Duke’s mansion’s reputation, let it be tarnished.
The next day, Fu Shen woke up early and went to find Yi Siming. He was concerned about the maidservant and child that Yan Xiaohan had mentioned yesterday and wanted to personally confirm their safety.
Yi Siming was meticulous and well-connected. The two had been brought and arranged by him initially. Yi Siming simply settled the two in a small courtyard in a rural county, looked after by an elderly couple. They were introduced as orphaned niece and nephew coming to seek refuge.
The two rode their horses swiftly. When they arrived, the maidservant Cai Yue was helping the elderly woman with embroidery. Seeing her benefactors, she quickly stood up, serving tea and water with exceptional diligence. Fu Shen looked around, saw that she was living without worry, and the infant was well-cared for. He was slightly relieved and subtly advised her to go out less frequently.
Cai Yue understood that her master was doomed and unlikely to be vindicated. She bowed to them with tears, saying, “The life-saving grace of the two young masters, Cai Yue will never forget.”
With such great kindness, I can only offer prayers and eat vegetarian meals, praying daily for the young masters. In the next life, I wish to be a cow or horse, willing to be driven by the young masters.”
Fu Shen turned aside, not accepting her gratitude. Yi Siming sighed, “No need for this. Just raise this child well, and our efforts will not have been in vain.”
The half-grown infant crawled on the bed, somehow inching next to Fu Shen, gumming his sleeve. Fu Shen picked him up, watching him wave his arms and babble, looking adorably silly. The gloom in his heart slightly dispersed, and he couldn’t help but smile softly.
Fu Shen was surprised to find he was good with children, letting the baby play freely.
After their playful moment, the elderly woman took the child. Yi Siming, unwilling to stay long, took the opportunity to bid farewell. Fu Shen left some silver for them, indicating no need to see them off. The two tried to leave as inconspicuously as they had arrived.
However, midway, Fu Shen casually touched his waist and realized his jade pendant was missing. If it were any other item, it would be fine, but this jade was a memento from his deceased mother, carried since childhood and never separated from him.
Yi Siming said, “It might have fallen off while playing with the child. I’ll accompany you to look for it.”
Fu Shen glumly waved his hand, “No need to trouble you. Brother Yi, please return first. I’ll retrace my steps and look for it. I’ll return once I find it.”
Yi Siming knew the item’s significance to him and would not give up until found, so he did not insist and rode away. Fu Shen turned his horse back towards the county city.
Chapter 22: Falling Out | You and I, Such Jade
Perhaps by some predetermined fate, Fu Shen’s jade pendant was left in the small courtyard in the county city. Unpredictable destiny, like a giant hand, stirred the winds and clouds, turning everything upside down, and severed this young friendship that had not yet fully warmed.
Fu Shen still did not want to recall the exact circumstances of that day. He had encountered many obstacles in his life, matters of life and death, each heavier and bloodier than this. He was not a weak person who would indulge in memories. However, perhaps the first injury always hurts most exceptionally, and this incident was an exception because it brutally announced the end of his youth.
Returning to the county city would take only half a time-unit. However, from the moment Fu Shen entered the city, he felt an unprecedented subtle atmosphere. The city seemed less populated, the streets nearly empty, with every household’s doors tightly closed.
The closer he got to Cai Yue’s courtyard, the more unnaturally silent it became.
As Fu Shen led his horse into the alley, the small courtyard’s door was pushed open from inside.
Two people who should not have been there unexpectedly met.
He stood rooted to the spot, as if struck by a sudden blow, his gaze dispersing, his lips moving but only producing breath sounds—
“Yan, Xiao, Han.”
Fu Shen felt like he had fallen into an ice cave, having to bite his teeth and clench his fists to control his trembling. His subconscious had understood everything the moment he saw that person, but his mind seemed unable to process, hazy and unclear. He could only call out Yan Xiaohan’s name, unable to say anything more.
Why are you here? What are you doing? Why did you deceive me?
Yan Xiaohan was much calmer than Fu Shen, with a look of surprise flashing across his face before being suppressed by his deep, heavy gaze.
He pushed the door open wider, and dozens of Feilong Guards poured out. In a scene of chilling blades and swords, Yan Xiaohan casually asked, “Why are you back?”
Fu Shen said, “I dropped a jade pendant and only noticed it on the way, so I came back to look for it.”
Yan Xiaohan seemed to tap his palm in annoyance, shaking his head, “No wonder. It was supposed to be foolproof.”
Fu Shen gritted his teeth, “Yesterday, you deliberately reminded me that the imperial court was strictly searching for fugitives, and today you sent people to follow me, tracking me here. After I leave, you’ll capture everyone in one net. This way, you’ll capture the criminals without anyone knowing. And I, being kept in the dark, would never suspect you.”
“What a brilliant strategy of distracting at the tavern while attacking Chencang! What a perfect ambush! Lord Yan, with your careful planning, it’s truly beneath you to be just a mid-ranking military officer.”
Yan Xiaohan ignored the sarcasm, cupping his hands, “To capture fugitives, I had no choice but to use such a strategy. Please don’t blame me, Young Master Fu.”
Fu Shen laughed briefly, “I don’t blame you.”
“If there’s blame, blame me for meddling, inviting the wolf into the house,” he stared at Yan Xiaohan, his gaze sharp, slowly saying, “I must have been blind to have mistaken a wolf for a sheep.”
Yan Xiaohan stood with his hands behind his back, showing no emotion, and said flatly, “I’m sorry.”
Fu Shen rejected him mercilessly, “No need. I can’t accept it.”
After a long standoff, Yan Xiaohan finally extended a hand from behind, opening his palm to reveal a smooth, lustrous white jade pendant with two hollowed-out, carved clematis flowers.
The cord was loose, and the color was old and dim, clearly a frequently worn item.
“Is this it?” he asked.
Fu Shen remained silent, picking up the pendant by its tassel. At this point, they had nothing more to say. Betrayal and deception were laid bare. Whether feeling guilty, apologizing, or being righteous, the facts were settled, and attitudes would change nothing.
Given Fu Shen’s usual temper, cursing or even throwing punches would not have been surprising. But now he only felt exhausted, wanting to find a place to close his eyes and sleep. Yan Xiaohan’s strike was too precise and ruthless, pinning him down completely.
Perhaps it wasn’t entirely Yan Xiaohan’s fault. Fu Shen himself was completely unprepared, practically inviting the strike.
“Fu Shen,” Yan Xiaohan called out as he was about to leave.
“I once told you that our identities are as different as the sky and earth.”
Fu Shen stopped.
