Chapter 12

That was a dark red, silk-bound document. When opened, it reveals a piece of superior-quality silk on which several neatly inscribed lines in a small regular script appear.

Notice: Yang Ze, Magistrate of Liang County in Yiling Prefecture, Yuzhou, is hereby appointed as the Magistrate of Pingtao County in Guangyang Prefecture, Yizhou. By imperial decree, you are ordered to report for duty. (Dated: the 9th day of the 5th month in the 23rd year of Zhongping.)

At the lower right corner of the document, a square, vivid red seal was affixed with impeccable precision. It was unmistakably an appointment order.

An appointment order was nothing other than an official commission of appointment. Yang Ze, it seemed, was that young master who had been ambushed and killed on the river embankment.

How pitiful. Yuzhou, situated in the heart of the central Plains, was prosperous. Yet for reasons unknown, Yang Ze was marginalized—what was termed an “equal-level transfer” turned out to be an assignment to Yizhou in the far southwest, a clear demotion.

In the southwest, where rugged mountains crowd in, and the population was sparse—not to mention the presence of assorted non-Han tribes, which make governance exceptionally challenging—he lost his life en route to assume his new position.

“Husband, where exactly is Pingtao County in Yizhou?”

Beside the pillow lay two folded sheets of yellow paper. Shao Qing casually picked them up; the first was Yang Ze’s household registration, recording that he was born in the fourth month of the first year of Zhongping and is now twenty-three years old. The second, also a household registration, belonged to a young man named Yang Ni, who is nineteen. Following these were the travel permits for the two. A careful look confirms that they were issued for the exceedingly long journey—from Yuzhou to Yizhou— to assume office.

It appears that this young man, presumed to be nothing more than a servant, was, in fact, a kinsman of Yang Ze—a relative with promising prospects, serving essentially as an errand runner—and, alas, he too lost his life.

Wei Jing handed the appointment order to Shao Qing and remarked, “Pingtao is located at the confluence of three rivers, where barbarian tribes and other groups mingle like interlocking teeth, and the local populace is of a fierce disposition. Governing such a region is extremely challenging.”

He was an accomplished warrior, a true military commander who knew every mountain, river, and fortress of Great Chu by heart. He had meticulously studied the map of his territory, analyzing every province and county. Of course, he might not recall every single town, but he did have a clear impression of key locations like Pingtao.

As for Yang Ze, it seemed he had unknowingly offended someone. Not only was he exiled a thousand li away, but the place to which he was assigned was also exceptionally troublesome.

Shao Qing expressed her regret for the two young Yang family members. As she carefully stowed away the household registration documents and travel permits in her hand, she said with a hint of cheer, “These two Yangs are not far in age from us—if their identities remain unclear after the incident, we can conveniently borrow them for a while.”

Then, touching her cloth skirt, she remarked, “But I must first secure a set of men’s attire, or else my disguise will be exposed.”

Yet even adopting men’s clothing might betray the ruse.

Wei Jing cast a glance at her. Her freshly washed face, no larger than a palm, was pale yet pleasing. She had luminous skin, a delicately chiseled jade nose, cherry lips, and a pair of large, almond eyes glistening with moisture as she gazed on expectantly.

Still, he did not chide her; he simply murmured a soft “Mm” and said, “Have you taken your medicine? Why don’t you rest for a while?”

After all, he was there, the poison would soon be neutralized, and his wounds would heal—this issue was nothing more than a minor concern.

“Yes,” she replied.

Shao Qing then lay down, a deep, overwhelming fatigue spreading swiftly through her limbs and every part of her body. Rubbing her forehead, she added, “And you? You still have injuries—you should lie down and properly recuperate.”

Wei Jing said: “I’m not sleepy; I’ll begin my energy cultivation first.”

Since the remaining poison had begun to loosen, using energy cultivation to stimulate the medicinal effects and swiftly dispel the lingering toxins was the urgent priority.

Shao Qing knew little about martial arts, yet she understood the theory. Nodding in understanding, she turned away from him and curled up, almost instantly falling into a deep, sweet sleep.

Listening as her breathing grew shallow and measured, Wei Jing sat up with his legs crossed, closed his eyes, and continued his energy cultivation.

---

That afternoon, Wei Jing immersed himself in his practice until the sun had set. Then he heard the courtyard gate open—a set of steps that sounded distinctly heavy, unlike Kou Yue’s and the others’ footsteps—prompting him to open his eyes slowly.

It must be the master of the Kou’s household returning—the very man who served as a clerk in the county, who is the husband of Madam Wang.

Sure enough, a few footsteps approached, and soon, a little girl giggled as she called out, “Father, Father!”

Immediately afterward, most of the footsteps headed toward the main building. It appeared they were about to discuss the matter concerning the two of them with the master.

Wei Jing uncrossed his meditation legs and leaned again against the head of his bed, lowering the half-curtained covering that concealed his legs. He cast a sidelong glance at Shao Qing, who was still sound asleep, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

A stranger, injured, had come to the house, and naturally, the master of the house would come over to see what was wrong—such is human nature. However, Wei Jing’s wife should never be treated in such a manner.

At the innermost part of the bed lay a neatly folded thin quilt. He pulled it aside, covering Shao Qing from head to toe so that no stray lock of hair was exposed. With her face turned inward, he gently pulled at the quilt to reveal her face—but from behind, she remained unseen. This measure was the utmost limit Wei Jing could accept under the circumstances.

After tidying up the quilt for a moment, he heard footsteps outside, followed by two gentle knocks at the door.

“Please come in,” he said.

The door was pushed open, and a man clad in a dark blue official’s uniform stepped in. He appeared to be about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, with a broad face and large ears. His features bore a slight resemblance to those of Kou Yue—while not handsome in the conventional sense, he carried himself with a refined gentleness. Upon seeing Wei Jing lying on the bed, he paused in surprise but quickly masked his expression.

“I am Kou Xuan, courtesy name Wenchang. Greetings,” he said.

Ever mindful of propriety, Kou Xuan bowed his head as he walked toward the wooden bed. He stood on the side where the bed curtain had been lowered, keeping his gaze straight ahead, and cupped his hands in a respectful salute.

“Also, I am Yang Ze, courtesy name Zikang. I had set out on a long journey with my wife and never expected to encounter bandits. I am deeply grateful for the help bestowed by your esteemed household,” added the newcomer.

Borrowing the name from the household registration documents, Wei Jing returned the salute and said, “I have sustained injuries—please forgive any rudeness.”

His voice was low and tinged with weakness, and although his earnest words of gratitude were delivered perfectly, the innate, unforced aura of command that comes with being born to lead remained unmistakably present.

However, Kou Xuan did not seem startled or lose his composure. With a casual wave of his hand and a smile, he said, “It was nothing more than a trivial effort, my good sir—no need to thank me. Just be sure to take good care of your wounds. And if anything seems amiss, do not hesitate to speak up.”

After the two men exchanged a few polite words, Kou Xuan took his leave so as not to disturb Wei Jing’s recovery. Before departing, he added, “My wife is cooking at the moment; the meal will be brought over shortly. Our humble household is very poor, so Brother Yang, please don’t mind the simplicity of our fare.”

With a smile that conveyed warmth and genuine thoughtfulness, Wei Jing slightly lifted his lips and replied, “I wouldn’t mind at all—thank you.”

Kou Xuan then exited the room, carefully closing the door behind him.

“Husband?” The vigilance Shao Qing had developed over these past days stirred her from her drowsiness as the two men spoke. Although she gradually became alert, she did not move or speak; she simply lay there quietly, listening. Only after Kou Xuan had left did she pull the quilt around her and sit up.

Wei Jing slowly subdued his smile, drawing his gaze away from the somewhat worn door. Then he told Shao Qing, “This Kou Wenchang—serving merely as an ordinary clerk at the county office—is a wasted talent.”

Despite Wei Jing’s imposing bearing and authoritative presence, he showed no sign of the slightest surprise. His behavior and conversation remained entirely composed, without a trace of timidity, and his face revealed nothing that might betray his inner thoughts. Truly, he was a remarkable man. But at this very moment, Wei Jing had no need to deal with overly clever individuals.

Moreover, the riverbank was the very place where he and Shao Qing had come ashore; in fact, even Kou Yue had encountered them emerging from the river, and the Kou family was aware that he was suffering from serious injuries and poisoning.

Wei Jing squinted his eyes.

“Let’s first find out if the Kou family is native to this area, shall we?”

Shao Qing hadn’t seen Kou Xuan, but his words made her uneasy. She pondered that the earthen house underfoot looked rather old—if the Kou family were local, the risk would be greatly reduced.

“Some people are naturally clever, but whether they prosper depends on fate. He’s still young, and his opportunity might not have arrived yet. I believe Yue Niang and Madam Wang are genuinely good-hearted.”

Shao Qing replied, “I’ll ask Yue Niang tomorrow to feel things out.”

Wei Jing simply responded with a hum.

That matter was set aside for now. Then she asked him, “Are you thirsty? I’ll get you some hot water.”

He didn’t like cold water; he preferred it warm. As Shao Qing poured herself some cold tea, he stopped her by saying, “They’ll be bringing the meal in a little while. Since you’re taking your medicine, don’t drink anything cold.”

“Uh, alright then.”

——

In the west wing, Wei Jing and Shao Qing were discussing Kou Xuan and the Kou family, unaware that in the main hall the Kou couple were also talking about them.

“Husband, what do you think?”

Madam Wang, upon seeing Kou Xuan return to the room, immediately stepped forward and spoke in a low voice. Being older—and undoubtedly more perceptive than her younger sister-in-law—she recognized from the looks on Wei Jing’s and Shao Qing’s faces that they were probably not ordinary travelers, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit worried.
She was happy to help others but did not wish to invite trouble for no reason.

“Ah Mi, you must be especially attentive with these two. Serve them the very best food and drink we have—do not spare even an expense, and do not be suspicious. Ensure they properly recover from their injuries and send them off with care.”

Kou Xuan recalled the man he had just seen. Despite his weakness, the man still carried an unmistakable, commanding presence—and an extreme air of danger that sent shivers down one’s spine. His heart pounded as he quickly added, “At the very least, don’t rush them. Let them leave when they wish. Under no circumstances should we alert the neighbors; this matter must remain strictly within the household.”

Wearing a solemn expression that made Wang Mi visibly anxious, he quickly agreed and, lowering his voice, asked, “What does that mean? Have we already attracted trouble?”

She felt a momentary pang of regret. Her own younger sister-in-law was kind-hearted and simple, which wasn’t a bad thing; however, their family’s modest standing could ill afford to attract calamity.

“Sigh… Yue Niang—her kindness is truly praiseworthy, but still…”

Wang Mi stamped her foot, just about to ask for more details when suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps was heard. One of the guests continued, “I reckon your household might inadvertently stir up major trouble.”

It turned out to be Dr. Yan from next door—the two families being well acquainted. He immediately dropped heavily into a seat, poured himself some tea, and coldly snorted, “The poison that man carries is not something that ordinary people usually contract.”

Kou Xuan immediately pressed, “Cunshan, what poison is it?”

Dr. Yan, whose given name is Ming and courtesy name is Cunshan, curled his lips and replied, “I don’t really know; this poison is extremely potent. If that man weren’t now left with only a residual amount, I doubt it could be so easily countered.”

Regarding that fierce poison—and given that the pair of a man and a woman before them, who by their very appearance are far from ordinary, had fallen silent in the main hall—Kou Xuan finally let out a soft sigh and said, “I was born into a life burdened with misfortune; despite all the stumbles, I’ve managed to live in relative peace. I can only hope that this situation will turn out the same.”

What else can be done? The trouble is already in motion; he can only pray that once the two have properly healed, they will quietly slip away.

Dr. Yan snorted and added, “You keep praising Yue Niang—don’t let her be deceived. I also think that scholar in the rear room isn’t a reliable fellow.”

Kou Yue thought she had concealed the matter very well, but in truth, all three present were well aware. It was just that, compared to Mr. Sun from the Sun family, this scholar was rather mediocre.

Thinking of the nearly inescapable marital arrangement with the Sun family, Kou Xuan furrowed his brows. Truly, one wave of troubles followed another. Ah, they’ll have to take things as they come.