Chapter 16

Jiang Xiao halted mid-step, standing two steps higher than Yun Shuang on the staircase. His eyes lowered slightly, gaze heavy as he looked at her. He was already tall to begin with, and standing above her now gave him the imposing aura of a god surveying mortals from a great height.

Yet Yun Shuang’s expression didn’t waver. She bowed her head slightly and said in a calm voice, “Vice Captain Yan just mentioned that Lady Luo’s husband put up the missing person notice posted on the wall over there. Though that was Mr. Fan’s personal action, it shows his intent to seek help from the public. Anyone willing to respond to that call—this humble woman believes—is no outsider to the case.”

Beside her, Yan Fang looked as if he might drop to his knees. Good heavens, he thought, this Miss Yun is even bolder than I imagined!

Not only did she talk back to the General, but under that death-stare of his, she didn’t even flinch. That same look from the General had made more rookie soldiers wet themselves than he could count—it was practically a rite of passage during basic training.

Jiang Xiao studied the top of her head for a moment, then murmured with a hint of amusement, “Miss Yun has quite the sharp tongue. So you intend to answer Mr. Fan’s plea for help?”

Yun Shuang’s brows furrowed slightly. She disliked the man’s aloof, superior demeanor—as if no one else was worth his regard—but she also knew he wasn’t someone she could afford to cross. Besides, this case seemed to be tied in with their unit in some way, and in all of Xiazhou, only they possessed the most complete and timely intelligence.

Suppressing a sigh, she muttered, “Yes. This humble woman is in urgent need of silver to get by. Mr. Fan’s thousand taels, I imagine any commoner would find that tempting.”

Jiang Xiao paused, remembering Wu Qi’s remark from last night: “She seems to think the General isn’t paying enough.” His expression darkened briefly.

He glanced down at Goudan, who clung to Yun Shuang’s hem like a little wolf cub ready to pounce. The boy was watching him with fierce, unblinking eyes.

Jiang Xiao said coolly, “This case is not as simple as it seems. Though you’re clever, Miss Yun, bringing two children along demands caution. You shouldn’t force yourself into something ill-suited to your situation.”

Yun Shuang couldn’t help but smirk. Of course—she was just a common village woman in their eyes. At best, maybe a little clever. How could she possibly be capable of investigating a case?

Softly, she said, “This humble woman only wishes to give it a try. I wouldn’t presume that yesterday’s events granted me favor before the General. But Vice Captain Yan said the General is also deeply invested in this case. Why not give this humble woman a chance? If by some stroke of luck I uncover Lady Luo’s whereabouts, it would be a great help to you, wouldn’t it?”

Her gentle tone made Jiang Xiao narrow his eyes slightly.

Yesterday, her demeanor had been far less agreeable—and even her earlier rebuttal had carried a colder edge. As she spoke now, her gaze lifted slightly. Her almond-shaped eyes shimmered with faint pleading as they swept across his face, only to drop again as if she dared not meet his gaze directly. “It’s only because the General showed concern for this humble woman and her children that I’ve dared to make such an unreasonable request. Why not simply treat me as another errand-runner at your disposal? I swear—I won’t leak a single detail of this case to anyone.”

Yan Fang stood there dumbfounded, feeling like Miss Yun had suddenly changed—though he couldn’t quite put his finger on what exactly was different. Then he suddenly exclaimed, “Ah! So Miss Yun wants to join us in investigating the case? You should’ve said so earlier! You suddenly turned all delicate and soft—it’s throwing me off!”

As he spoke, he thumped his chest dramatically, as if genuinely startled by Yun Shuang’s performance.

Yun Shuang: “…”

She had been so grateful yesterday that he was a harmless oaf—now she was sorely tempted to strangle him. Unable to hold back, she turned to shoot him a glare, completely missing the subtle storm brewing in the eyes of the man standing in front of her.

Then, the voice of that man—calm and deep—broke the moment: “Approved.”

Yun Shuang blinked, momentarily thinking she’d misheard. Instinctively, she raised her eyes toward the man. His dark gaze—like a still pool with hidden currents—remained fixed on her face, betraying no emotion. She arched a brow faintly. Does he think she doesn’t know what he’s suspecting? Surely he believed she was intentionally getting close to him.

Xiazhou bordered the Jinmeng Kingdom and faced constant threats of invasion. Every year brought skirmishes large and small—and plenty of spies slipping across the border. As the commanding General of Xiazhou, a touch of paranoia was understandable. Still, that suited Yun Shuang just fine.

She beamed, putting on a bright, delighted smile. “Thank you, General, for giving this humble woman a chance!”

Caught up in her own theatrics, she failed to notice Goudan staring at her in shock. What’s going on with Mother today? He barely recognized her.

Jiang Xiao’s gaze darkened as he watched her. He did think she was suspicious—but her performance was too exaggerated. So much so, it stirred an absurd thought: If she’s not a Jinmeng spy, maybe she’s just playing him for a fool.

Fixing his eyes on her once more, he said gravely, “In that case, you’ll follow Yan Fang for the next few days—”

Before he could finish, two voices rang out nearby, brimming with emotion—interrupting the moment entirely.

“… It’s really not what you think! Lianxin, Lianxin!” The frantic voice belonged to a young man, flustered and overwhelmed.

“Get lost! You were sent by that wretched Fan Youlian, weren’t you? Our lady has been missing for days, and that man has been putting on a show all this time! Now I’ve finally caught one of you! Her disappearance—it’s clearly all part of Fan Youliang’s plan. For all we know, our lady may have already met a tragic end!”

Instinctively, everyone turned to look. Not far away, two figures were struggling toward them—one a boy of seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a dark blue long-sleeved tunic. He had a long face and narrow eyes, and looked rather slick. The other was a refined-looking young woman with a round, pleasant face. Light but tasteful makeup adorned her features. She wore a pale pink short jacket paired with a green skirt, and her hair was styled into a simple, neat high bun. Her attire clearly marked her as a maidservant from a wealthy household. Her eyes were slightly puffy, evidently from crying, and her expression burned with indignation. As she approached the group, her steps faltered slightly upon seeing Jiang Xiao—surprised, perhaps. Then suddenly—thump!—she dropped to her knees and cried out:

“Your humble servant greets the General! I never expected to see you here. Back then, it was precisely because our master trusted the General that he brought our lady to settle in Shanyang County. Every year, he would donate a large sum to support the Xiazhou garrison. Please, General, I beg you—help us seek justice for our lady! Now, she remains missing, her life or death unknown—and that man Fan is already having a coffin built, preparing funeral rites! It’s inhuman! Her disappearance must be connected to him!”