Chapter 9

The fire tongs glowed bright red in the charcoal fire, and even approaching it, one could feel the heat radiating from the fiery iron.

Zheng Xuanfu instinctively struggled, but Qi Yun anticipated his move and was a step ahead, locking the acupoints on both his wrists. Sensing his resistance, Qi Yun pressed down with some force. In an instant, Zheng Xuanfu felt his hands go numb and weak, the strength he had just summoned instantly drained away.

With his strength gone, Zheng Xuanfu refused to show weakness and sneered, “I told you I was right. You’re just driven by lust.”

“Lusting and forgetting friendship!” Qi Yun suppressed him from behind, bending his knees to press firmly against Zheng’s back. The force pushed Zheng Xuanfu face-first onto the edge of the fire pit, causing him to inhale a mouthful of charcoal ash.

“You still dare speak?” Qi Yun’s fire tong stabbed heavily beside Zheng Xuanfu’s cheek.

Though the iron wasn’t touching the skin to burn, the proximity of the flame caused a burning sensation to flare up mysteriously where the heat brushed his face.

This time, Zheng Xuanfu learned his lesson and shut his mouth tight, saying nothing.

Qi Yun lowered his head, still holding Zheng’s wrists locked behind him.

“Do you know why I have to be like this?”

Pressed down and barely able to move, Zheng Xuanfu sneered in frustration, “How would I know?”

Qi Yun raised an eyebrow. “It’s because you’re shortsighted. Your mind thinks only of beauty.”

“Though I’ve never met the Prefect of Jingzhou nor dealt with him, others have told me that this lord is very conservative in his ways and not one to act rashly.”

“His policies and dealings all follow the style of his father’s tenure. Except for appointing Yang Zhijian, there’s nothing out of the ordinary. A man’s conduct cannot change overnight. So that nighttime raid must have been on Yang Zhijian’s advice.”

“So what?” Zheng Xuanfu’s face pressed to the ground, stubbornly turning his neck to retort.

“So what?” Qi Yun smiled and bent down.

The pressure on Zheng’s back increased as Qi Yun bent, forcing him fully to the ground, unable to move an inch.

“Has Lord Zheng been so exposed to the cold wind that he’s become dull-witted?”

Qi Yun grasped the young man’s wrists tightly, pressing again on the acupoints. This time, Zheng Xuanfu truly could not muster any strength. Though furious inside, he could only glare angrily at Qi Yun.

“I think the one blinded by the cold wind is you. If the Prefect of Jingzhou truly listened to Yang Zhijian and launched a night raid on the camp, then we have a grudge with Yang Zhijian! And yet you’re so kind to an enemy’s family. Jing Yue, are you fleeing in such panic that you’ve lost your mind?”

Qi Yun wasn’t angry either. He pressed the acupoints again.

“I quite admire him. To make the Prefect risk alienating local powerful families just to appoint him as chief clerk—it shows he must have real talent. Don’t you think so?”

Zheng Xuanfu’s hands twisted behind him, face pressed to the ground, rolling his eyes relentlessly. “So what? I heard that back then, eunuchs in Luoyang wielded power recklessly, and even castrated men could boss around the highest officials in court. If Yang Zhijian has that power, what’s so surprising?”

“Oh? So you think from his actions he’s like those Luoyang eunuchs, playing with power but without real ability?”

Zheng Xuanfu was momentarily speechless, unable to retort.

They were all defeated under Yang Zhijian’s hands, venting frustration and even bitterness toward his family. But if Yang Zhijian were truly incompetent, what does that make them, defeated by him? Incompetent fools?

“I admire him,” Qi Yun said with a slight smile, his grip unyielding. “There are thousands of mediocrities in this world, but truly capable men are rare.”

“To be able to act, to accomplish something—these are so hard to find. Even achieving one is uncommon.”

“So you want to recruit him under your command?” Zheng Xuanfu asked back.

He strained his neck painfully, catching Qi Yun’s smile. “No wonder!”

Zheng Xuanfu wouldn’t give Qi Yun any satisfaction. “But what good is being kind to his family? We know nothing of his temperament. Who knows what he thinks of his own kin?”

“He’s chief clerk in the city but leaves his family in the suburban residence, not bringing them to enjoy the perks. Jing Yue, you might be doing a useless thing.”

“You live too well to understand his hardships,” Qi Yun said calmly. “You don’t really think that just because he’s chief clerk, others will willingly cede the position, do you? If they can’t lay a hand on him, do you think they won’t strike at his family?”

“Leaving him alone there means that if they strike, he’ll be the first target.”

Zheng Xuanfu sneered coldly. “I’ve said all this for you. What you’re doing now, if he doesn’t even know, what’s the use?”

“It still must be done. If you don’t even try, how will you know it’s useless?”

Qi Yun loosened his grip. Zheng Xuanfu felt the shackles on his wrists vanish suddenly. But after being twisted so hard, even freed, he had no strength left and collapsed weakly to the side.

“Damn you, Qi Yun,” Zheng Xuanfu groaned, rolling on the ground, powerless.

Qi Yun quickly grabbed his collar to stop him from rolling into the fire pit.

“You want to win over Yang Zhijian,” Zheng Xuanfu said bitterly, his arms limp like soft porridge, completely immobile.

Qi Yun made him uncomfortable, and Zheng made sure Qi Yun didn’t feel at ease.

Born from noble families and always admired since youth, they might find it hard to be considerate, but piercing others’ hearts was effortless.

“I doubt he even wants to be won over by you now. After this, he’ll rise swiftly in Jingzhou. Who cares for such trifling favors?”

“Besides—” Zheng Xuanfu raised his voice, “he doesn’t even know.”

“Who told you I intend for him to know now?” Qi Yun chuckled. “I have no such plan.”

“Besides, each serves their own lord; his loyalty to the Prefect of Jingzhou is rightfully so.”

Qi Yun sat by the fire, and before Zheng Xuanfu could speak, he looked up. The dim room’s firelight reflected in his eyes.

“Listen carefully. Do not harm Yang Zhijian’s family. I’ve warned you once; if you don’t heed this, don’t blame me.”

Among the Qi Xun brothers, Qi Yun was known for his decent temperament. His subordinates and the gentry regarded him as courteous and mild.

But now Zheng Xuanfu’s whole body stiffened, feeling a chill rising from the nape of his neck.

He knew Qi Yun was serious this time. He no longer taunted but sat quietly by the fire, poking the charcoal with him.

Leaving the courtyard where the two men stayed, A Yuan shielded Yan Nanjing like a mother hen protecting her chicks, arms spread wide to envelop her completely, hurrying back to Yan Nanjing’s quarters.

Once indoors, A Yuan pushed her inside quickly, only poking her head out to look around cautiously. Only after confirming safety did she return fully.

“Don’t go out lightly anymore,” A Yuan said, lighting the fire pit and placing red-hot coals inside the fire cage before Yan Nanjing, so she could warm her hands.

The cold was biting; even standing outside for a moment, the chill crept through her shoes and up from her feet. Staying longer risked catching cold.

“Those two men aren’t easy to deal with,” A Yuan shivered at the memory of their armored forms.

Seeing A Yuan trembling, Yan Nanjing took her hand and placed it over the fire cage to warm it.

“Don’t worry, I know my limits.”

A Yuan still looked doubtful. “You really scared me just now. What if they really meant to harm you?”

The older man was tolerable, but the younger one was like a bamboo tube thrown into fire—fiery tempered and quick to attack. They seemed fiercer than bandits.

If they made a move, it would be a serious matter.

Yan Nanjing comforted her, patting the cold hand, then pushed the fire cage closer to warm it better.

Though not mother and daughter, Yan Nanjing had raised A Yuan with deep affection.

“Don’t go out anymore. If anything happens, just tell me.”

A Yuan said.

Yan Nanjing shook her head.

There were only a few people in the household. Usually, A Yuan managed fine. But now with two more, relying on A Yuan alone might be too much.

A Yuan warmed her hands, then got up to bring her breakfast—her favorite soup cake with an egg hidden inside, cooked just right per her preference.

The soup cake was freshly made and steaming hot when brought.

After eating and tidying up, they heard noise at the door. A Yuan’s heart leapt as she went to check, hearing Bai Suhou outside.

“Miss, it’s me.”

“You dare come again!”

A Yuan was furious at Bai Suhou. “What were you doing last night? Two grown men got inside, and you didn’t even notice!”

She grabbed Bai Suhou by the ear and dragged him in.

Bai Suhou’s parents had died early; luckily, Chen Yun took him in, and he grew up under A Yuan’s care. Though he grimaced in pain from the ear pinch, he didn’t resist.

“I really didn’t know,” Bai Suhou said, looking very aggrieved. “There were wolfhounds guarding the door. They’re very alert and bark at any movement. But who knows—”

He opened his mouth in frustration and stopped.

That night, A Yuan had found the wolfhounds knocked unconscious, lying in the snow.

“What kind of people could knock out wolfhounds?”

Bai Suhou looked incredulous. People might be lazy in cold weather, but wolfhounds were much more diligent. Even in sleep, any noise would wake them. These two wolfhounds were specially brought from the army by the young master—fierce and good fighters.

Leaning on the side table, Yan Nanjing said, “Likely those who attacked the city recently.”

If it were the defending generals, they wouldn’t appear here. Generals capable of wearing armor were from respectable families, and even if someone broke in, they wouldn’t dare harm them.

After all, taking a city depends on one’s own strength; whether one can stay in Jingzhou depends on the local aristocracy.

A Yuan and Bai Suhou grew paler upon hearing this.

“What should we do?” A Yuan whispered anxiously.

She had seen defeated soldiers before—they were like beasts, barely human. For now, it was manageable, but what about later?

“Maybe you should find the young master.” A Yuan glanced at Bai Suhou but immediately knew that was impossible.

There were only a few people in the house; adding or subtracting anyone would be obvious. Even making excuses would be difficult.

“Or maybe the miss should escape first…”

A Yuan suddenly slapped her own head. “No, that won’t do.”

With these two here, there might be other fleeing soldiers around.

Fleeing soldiers were the real bandits; if they caught her, it would be worse than death.

Just as they were troubled, footsteps approached outside.

Men’s footsteps differed from women’s—distinct and heavy.

The footsteps drew nearer, stopping at the door.

Seeing A Yuan about to rise, Yan Nanjing raised her hand to stop her.

She looked toward the door. “Is there something the honored guest wishes to discuss?”

“I have matters to speak with the young lady. May I know if she is willing?”