Chapter 38

“General!” Yan Fang immediately turned to Jiang Xiao and said, “It’s an alarm outside the city! Those brutes from Jinmeng Kingdom are stirring—we need to head back at once!”

Damn it, just as expected. Come autumn, those bastards always start getting restless. Two days ago, they secretly sent someone to turn Wu Chengqi against Da Qi and stole their troop deployment maps. Then another one appeared—Chang Zijun. And now? They’re making even bigger moves. They couldn’t afford to let their guard down for a single moment.

Jiang Xiao looked out toward the city’s edge, his gaze falling on the faint plumes of smoke rising far in the distance. His face turned cold and grim. Then, as if struck by a thought, he turned toward the woman beside him. She was furrowing her brows, clearly wanting to say something but holding back. That gaze—it was like a hook tugging gently at his heart.

He stared at her for a moment, then spoke in a low voice: “Miss Yun, are you afraid again?”

Yun Shuang’s eyes shifted instantly. He’s the one who should be afraid!

Xiazhou, being a frontier town, was surrounded by numerous beacon towers. Whenever enemies invaded, the flames were lit and drums beaten—standard alarm procedures. Locals had long gotten used to it. Whenever they saw smoke or heard the drums, they would immediately rush home, seal up doors and windows, and avoid going out unless absolutely necessary.

The original owner had lived in Xiazhou for many years and had often experienced this. While Yun Shuang inherited those memories, this was her first time facing it firsthand—especially after such a brutal fight earlier. A little unease was only natural.

But before Yun Shuang could speak, Jiang Xiao suddenly leaned in slightly and said with a quiet intensity: “If Miss Yun has the guts to set me up, then she ought to have the guts to face a situation like this.”

Yun Shuang’s eyes widened slightly, startled that he’d bring up old grudges at such a moment.

At that point, the soldier who hadn’t been tasked with escorting Chang Zijun approached and handed Jiang Xiao his horse’s reins.

Jiang Xiao took the reins, smoothly placed his foot in the stirrup, and mounted in one graceful motion—bringing with him a gust of wind scented with blood and faint soap from his clothes, blowing straight toward Yun Shuang.

Once Jiang Xiao was steady on horseback, he lowered his gaze to the woman glaring at him in displeasure—her eyes practically accusing him of what he’d just said. His lips curled faintly, and he spoke in a soft voice.
“It’s just a minor skirmish. Those savages won’t breach the defenses. Don’t return to Changsheng Village tonight—stay in the county for one more night.”

Having delivered his words with a natural sense of entitlement—as if it weren’t up for debate—he gave the reins a sharp tug. The stallion beneath him neighed with renewed vigor and galloped off in a burst of energy.

Yan Fang, still somewhat puzzled by the exchange between the General and Miss Yun, quickly cracked his whip and followed after him.

Yun Shuang furrowed her brow, still mulling over Jiang Xiao’s last words, when something hanging from his waist suddenly caught her eye. Her gaze locked onto it, and her eyes widened in shock—as if thunder had roared in her ears. Dangling from the man’s waist was a fine, oval-shaped piece of white jade. Though he had already ridden a fair distance away, she could make out the intricately carved frost blossoms on its surface.

It must’ve slipped out from his clothing or belt during the recent fight. And yet—it was exactly like the jade pendant the original owner had kept close since childhood. How could Jiang Xiao have that pendant? It was supposed to have been taken by the man in the mountain cave all those years ago!

Could Jiang Xiao truly be… No—that’s impossible! A dignified regional general of Xiazhou, an esteemed third-rank official of the court, how could he be that wild man from the cave?

Yun Shuang’s heart pounded faster and louder, her thoughts blank, unable to process a single thing.

Suddenly, from behind came Yang Yuanyi’s anxious bellow, “Miss Yun! Are you alright? You’ve totally spaced out! Oh no, don’t tell me you’ve been scared silly…”

Yun Shuang’s senses were finally yanked back into focus by that booming voice. She closed her eyes briefly to compose herself, then turned to face Yang Yuanyi, who looked at her with concern.

“I’m fine,” she said. “General Jiang just asked me to stay another night in Shanyang County. I was just wondering where I’ll sleep.”

“Oh, I see. I was worried you’d end up like Magistrate Ding, too scared to move a step…”

Before Yang Yuanyi could finish, a furious voice rang out nearby. “You brat! Try being nearly sliced apart by those blades! You lot hung back and dodged the danger just fine!”

Yun Shuang turned and saw Magistrate Ding’s face pale as paper, being carefully helped along by two constables.

Noticing Yun Shuang’s gaze, Magistrate Ding instantly broke away from their support. But his first step was so shaky he nearly toppled over. Somehow managing to steady himself, he dared not walk another inch. Straightening his back with visible effort, he raised a clenched fist to his mouth and coughed lightly.

“This time, we have to thank Miss Yun. Without her, this case wouldn’t have been solved so swiftly.”

Though Magistrate Ding did care about saving face, he wasn’t petty. Having the case resolved benefited him too—what harm was there in swallowing a bit of pride?

Yun Shuang’s lips curved slightly. “I only acted in my own interest. Magistrate Ding doesn’t need to be so polite.”

Magistrate Ding nodded again and gave another light cough. “Having such an astute woman in Shanyang County is truly our good fortune. If we face another case in the future, I hope Miss Yun will lend us her aid.”

Yun Shuang raised an eyebrow with amusement.

Yang Yuanyi couldn’t hold back. “Yes, exactly! Our county’s case-solving reputation is the worst in the region—the yamen scolded us multiple times! But now with Miss Yun, we can finally stand tall…”

“Yang Yuanyi!” Magistrate Ding ground his teeth and hissed each word like pulling thorns. “Though the case is solved, we still have much work to do. It’s getting late—we should return.”

If that rascal kept talking, he might just reveal what color underwear he’d worn today.

Watching their banter, Yun Shuang couldn’t help but think of her old colleagues back at the police bureau. A smile tugged at her lips.

“Then I won’t keep you. If the county ever needs my help again, just say the word.”

Her household registration was still tied to Xiazhou—one of the hardest categories to relocate. She wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.

Building good relations with the county yamen could only be a benefit. After she finished speaking, Yang Yuanyi looked as though he wanted to say more—but was swiftly dragged away by his ear by an irritated Magistrate Ding.

Once they were gone, Yun Shuang dropped her mask. Her brows drew together once more in a troubled frown.

If Jiang Xiao were indeed the man from the mountain cave, then that would mean he’s the biological father of Goudan and Erya. But still—it was hard to say whether this was all just a misunderstanding. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t imagine how a high-ranking regional general could’ve ended up in that remote cave and had relations with a woman so casually.

Maybe that jade pendant had simply ended up in his possession by coincidence. There were still so many unanswered questions. Thinking further would only create trouble where none might exist.

Yun Shuang gave her head a sharp shake, clearing away the jumble of thoughts, and hurried off toward Tongxintang. For now, the most pressing issue was figuring out where she’d sleep tonight.