Zhao Chu had initially intended to leave.

The emperor's orders put Fang Linyuan in a dilemma. Zhao Chu worried that Fang Linyuan might either ruin his reputation by obeying or defy the decree to prioritize the people's welfare. Yet, to Zhao Chu's surprise, Fang Linyuan resolved the issue with remarkable composure and insight, swiftly identifying the root cause of the chaos and addressing it decisively.

Yes, why couldn't he release his feelings? That person was Fang Linyuan.

The only remaining challenges were the civil officials in the capital supporting Yu Gaomin.

However, Zhao Chu had never been afraid of confronting these individuals.

Reassured but still uneasy, Zhao Chu spotted Fang Linyuan riding alone out of the city to retrieve vital documents. Concerned for Fang's safety, he immediately gathered his men and followed.

Fang Linyuan's audacity in venturing alone from Jianyang to Ji Bei to secure such critical evidence astounded Zhao Chu. In his haste, Zhao Chu forgot the reassurance of "He is Fang Linyuan, after all."

By the time Fang Linyuan returned to Jianyang, Zhao Chu had already intercepted the assassins trailing him.

The group of assassins didn't anticipate that their target would be so elusive. Just as they were about to strike, several swift, shadowy figures emerged from the darkness. Each one moved with remarkable speed, like living ghosts.

The leader, in particular, was so quick that he seemed to materialize out of nowhere, disarming one of the assassins before they even realized what had happened. The lead assassin barely glimpsed Zhao Chu before his arm was violently dislocated.

The leader, injured and struggling, lifted his head to see the figure standing before him, shrouded in black cloth, his features hidden in shadow. He was looked down upon as if he were nothing more than a worm to be crushed. Nearby, the others quickly approached, binding and gagging the fallen assassins. As one of them moved to gag the leader, the man in black raised a hand, signaling for them to stop. The group stepped aside as the leader, helpless, watched the figure approach.

When it came to questioning, Zhao Chu, disguised and masked, was chillingly direct.

"Who sent you?" he demanded.

The lead assassin, gritting his teeth, refused to answer.

Without hesitation, Zhao Chu stepped forward, placing a crushing boot on the man's throat. Though Zhao's frame was slender, his strength was overwhelming, silencing the assassin entirely. The victim's throat crackled under the pressure, and his body convulsed as he hummed of pain.

*

So, why was Zhao Chu here in the first place?

At that moment, Fang Linyuan was struck by an overwhelming sense of disorientation, as though time and space were twisting out of place. It hit him like a blow, leaving him momentarily stunned.

His horse, Liu Huo, continued to move forward lazily, but only managed two steps before Zhao Chu turned around and strode directly toward him.

Zhao Chu grabbed the reins of Liu Huo, bringing the horse to a halt.

“Step aside for now,” Zhao Chu said.

Fang Linyuan, lowering his voice, blurted out, “What are you doing here?”

Zhao Chu hesitated briefly, unsure how to respond.

Before he could answer, Fang Linyuan seemed to realize something, leaning down from his horse and lowering his voice even more.

“Could it be that the situation in Ji Bei is worse than expected, and you’re here on official business as well?”

This brought the two closer, both physically and emotionally.

Zhao Chu’s throat bobbed as he swallowed and replied softly, “…Mm.”

To Fang Linyuan, this explanation made perfect sense.

Still, it was an incredible coincidence—not only had they run into each other during their respective missions, but Zhao had also encountered the assassins tailing Fang.

Just as Fang Linyuan was about to speak, Zhao Chu made a “shh” gesture and said, “Go wait over there for now. I’ll deal with them first, then come find you.”

Fang Linyuan felt bad about troubling Zhao Chu. “I can interrogate them myself. It’s no big deal.”

But Zhao Chu shook his head.

“They don’t know who I am, and they haven’t seen your face either,” Zhao Chu explained. “It’s safer this way.”

Since Zhao Chu insisted, Fang Linyuan didn’t argue further. He nodded, turned his horse, and retreated a bit.

Using the cover of the forest, Fang Linyuan dismounted in a grassy area, letting Liu Huo graze. With nothing else to do, he idly chewed on a blade of grass and peered through the trees in Zhao Chu’s direction.

The night was dark, and all he could see were faint shadows.

Just then, faint voices reached him from the side.

Turning his head, Fang Linyuan saw one of Zhao Chu’s subordinates approach—masked, with a token hanging at his waist, seemingly the highest-ranked among the group.

The man stopped in front of Fang Linyuan and presented a small bundle and a silver flask with both hands.

The bundle, made of fine silk, shimmered faintly, entirely out of place in the wilderness.

“General, please,” the man said.

Fang Linyuan accepted the bundle curiously and opened it to find several honey-flavored pastries, their aroma unmistakably indicating they were made by the palace’s famous Eunuch Wang.

Zhao Chu brought these along on a mission?!

“Thank you!” Fang said cheerfully but then paused in confusion, looking up to ask, “How do you know I’m the general?”

Wasn’t Zhao Chu supposedly here by coincidence? If Fang Linyuan’s guess was right, Zhao Chu’s men shouldn’t have recognized him at all!

The subordinate showed no emotional reaction as he replied, “A month ago, outside the capital, I accompanied my master in protecting you.”

A month ago? Outside the capital? Fang Linyuan immediately recalled the incident while capturing the White Lotus Sect—when a hidden projectile had severed a sword aimed at him.

“The White Lotus Sect raid?” Fang Linyuan asked.

The subordinate hesitated briefly, as if surprised Fang Linyuan was unaware, then glanced in Zhao Chu’s direction.

Fang Linyuan understood instantly. So it was Zhao Chu.

No wonder—such precision with a throwing weapon was a skill he’d only seen once before, during Zhao Chu’s earlier confrontation with bandits.

He couldn’t help but glance toward Zhao Chu. Even in the chaotic night, Zhao Chu’s distinctive presence made him stand out as he conducted the interrogation.

Fang Linyuan turned back to the subordinate, smiling as he patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, I won’t let your master know.”

The subordinate stiffened at the casual gesture, visibly not used to being treated like this, and replied stiffly, “Understood.” Then he withdrew silently.

Fang Linyuan, holding the bundle of pastries, turned to watch Zhao Chu again.

He thought to himself: Zhao Chu tried to maintain a tough exterior, but his true purpose for coming to Ji Bei, under the pretence of personal business, was clearly to protect him.

How could such a coincidence—running into Zhao Chu outside the city—truly be an accident?

The faint aroma of honey from the pastries wafted up, stronger now that they had gone slightly stale after a day. For the first time since his elder brother’s sacrifice, someone had gone to such lengths to ensure his safety.

Who would think he needed protection? He was the celebrated general who could spearhead through chaos, hailed in every corner of the city.

Even against twice as many assassins, he could fight his way out, unscathed, with his precious records in hand.

Surely Zhao Chu, as sharp as he was, understood this.

So why would he do it…?

*

Before long, Zhao Chu finished interrogating the captives and returned, only to find Fang Linyuan standing there, still holding the pastries, untouched.

“Not hungry?” Zhao Chu asked.

Fang Linyuan blinked, noticing the blood spattered on Zhao Chu’s collar.

"Are you hurt?"

"I didn’t kill anyone."

The two spoke almost simultaneously, both pausing in surprise.

Fang Linyuan noticed Zhao Chu lowering his head, tugging at his bloodstained collar. "They were too tight-lipped. I accidentally got splashed," Zhao Chu explained, glancing up again. "Not hungry? Why haven’t you eaten?"

Fang, startled from his thoughts, replied, "Ah, I forgot..."

The two of them sat at the edge of the forest while several of Zhao Pu's men went to deal with the killers.

They planned to hand these individuals over to the East Factory before dawn. After extracting all useful information, they would be locked up in the East Factory's prison.

Fang Linyuan took a piece of pastry for himself and offered Zhao Chu another one while asking, "Did they confess? Who sent them?"

"The soldiers from the Shaoqing Mansion of Dali Temple," Zhao Pu mentioned, taking a bite of shortbread. "I had been waiting outside the city, not just to keep an eye on Yu Gaomin, but to prevent any unexpected situations."

Fang Linyuan nodded in agreement, saying, "I surrounded the Jianyang County Yamen today; they must have received the news."

Zhao Chu snorted and added, "They were planning to spread the word to the other six counties, but when you suddenly left the city, they followed you."

"Do they want to kill me?" Fang Linyuan asked casually, his tone almost light-hearted, prompting Zhao Chu to glance at him sharply.

"What if I did want to kill you?" Zhao Pu responded.

Fang Linyuan smiled inwardly at the efficiency of his own planning. If he hadn’t acted quickly today, the relief food wouldn’t have reached the other counties in time. Who knows how many would have starved.

However, seeing Zhao Chu still staring at him, Fang Linyuan paused.

"If I kill you, would you want to fight for your life?" Zhao Chu asked.

Fang Linyuan, who was initially joking, found his tone serious. He looked at Zhao Chu, surprised by how fiercely protective the man seemed of him, almost as though he regarded him as fragile and precious. He felt unexpectedly touched.

Fang Linyuan didn't respond but simply looked at Zhao Chu, slowly chewing the bite of pastry he hadn't finished earlier.

Then, Zhao Chu sighed quietly and reached over to brush a crumb from his mouth.

"I'm not blaming you," Zhao Chu said, picking up the silver flask at his side, uncorking it, and offering it to him. "But your life is something you should cherish."

Fang took it and sipped—sweet, floral peach-blossom wine filled his senses.

Zhao Chu didn’t drink alcohol... Did he?

Fang Linyuan glanced at Zhao Chu suspiciously, but the latter avoided his gaze.

Right. Now wasn’t the time for such questions.

“I’m fine, really. I know what I’m doing. Those ten or so men—even if they wanted to make a move—were no match for me.” Fang Linyuan's tone was casual, trying to reassure him. “You don’t have to worry.”

Perhaps Fang Linyuan wasn’t used to being treated so gently. Zhao Chu’s kindness left him unsure how to respond, so he quickly cleared his throat and shifted the topic.

“By the way, who is that Minister of Justice Deputy? How dare he brazenly send his men out like this?”

Zhao Chu paused briefly. “Sang Zhixin’s people,” he said.

Fang Linyuan froze.

Sang Zhixin—the righteous scholar, the celebrated child of humble origins, famously rising to top the imperial exams. His reputation for integrity was known even in the distant frontiers.

The tales of his virtue were legendary: one described a New Year’s visitor offering him new robes after spotting his patched coat, only to be politely refused. “To serve the Emperor, to eat my fill and dress warmly, is already a blessing. I cannot accept more,” Sang Zhixin had said.

The story of Master Sang was known even by the children in the streets and alleys—yet this same person was now orchestrating these officials?

Fang Linyuan's surprise was evident in his expression, but Zhao Chu, unfazed, continued speaking in a calm, steady tone. “That deputy? Just one of his pawns. Yu Gaomin was his recommendation. Sang Zhixin fears Yu might cause trouble and wants to make it clear where his loyalties lie. As for assassins, those are hired from outsiders—Sang Zhixin wouldn’t dare use his own resources.”

“So... even the turmoil in Jibei has Sang Zhixin involved?” Fang Linyuan asked, shaken. “He’s benefitting from it?”

Zhao Chu nodded.

Fang Linyuan clenched the remaining pastry in silence.

“What’s on your mind?” Zhao Chu asked.

“If even Sang Zhixin…” Fang Linyuan said, his voice heavy with disillusionment. “Then doesn’t that mean the court is rotten to its core?”

Zhao Chu’s lips twitched, almost curving into a cold sneer.

The court of Daxuan, tangled and festering for two or three centuries, had already decayed to its core. However, when he noticed Fang Linyuan’s expression, he paused, and the trace of a sneer gradually faded.

“...It can still be saved,” Zhao Chu said softly after a moment, his initial derision transforming into a fleeting statement. It didn’t sound like comfort—more like a promise.

Fang Linyuan turned to him. “I don’t understand,” he said. “Before he entered the bureaucracy, Lord Sang was a commoner. How could he not know what life under harsh governance is like for the people?”

He hesitated, then added, “...He knows exactly what a good official should be.”

“He only knows what kind of man the Emperor likes,” Zhao Chu replied.

Fang Linyuan fell silent again.

After a moment, Zhao Chu asked, “Why don’t you suspect that I’m slandering him?”

Fang looked slightly startled, glancing at Zhao Chu. It hadn’t crossed his mind.

“What benefit would you get from slandering him?” Fang Linyuan asked.

There were plenty of benefits: using another’s hand to kill, eliminating rivals, manipulating a pure-hearted man like a blade. But when Zhao Chu saw Fang Linyuan’s overly sincere eyes, he found himself unable to voice those sordid calculations.

...Forget it.

Zhao Chu moved his lips as if to speak, then lightly tapped Fang Linyuan’s forehead with his hand.
“Be careful, or you’ll be snatched away by wolves.”

He spoke breezily, gazing at Fang Linyuan.

Caught off guard, Fang Linyuan flinched.
Why was Zhao Chu hitting him in the middle of a conversation?!

Snapping back to reality, Fang Linyuan grew indignant and blurted, “Don’t underestimate me! I could take down a wolf in three punches!”

At that moment, something cool and wet brushed his forehead.

This time, it wasn’t Zhao Chu’s doing.

Both of them instinctively looked up.

Under the pitch-black sky, drop by drop, rain began to fall—softly at first, then steadily.

The parched earth of Jibei, which hadn’t seen rain for half a month, was finally graced with its first summer downpour.

After the rain began as a light drizzle, it quickly intensified, drenching both Fang Linyuan and Zhao Chu. Knowing Zhao Chu couldn’t tolerate the cold or rain for long, Fang Linyuan decided to seek shelter.

However, staying at an inn required entering the city, and Zhao Chu's false identity meant he lacked the necessary documentation for entry. While Fang Linyuan could escort him inside, inns also demanded proof of identity. Bringing Zhao Chu to stay at the yamen posed another risk—many of the soldiers stationed there were from the capital, making it likely someone would recognize him.

Thus, without delay, the two decided to ride Liuhuo to the nearest village to find shelter instead.

Fang Linyuan spotted a house about half a mile from the village and decided they could take shelter there until the rain subsided. By the time Fang Linyuan and Zhao Chu reached the house, both were nearly soaked through, although the rain soon stopped.

When they knocked, the wooden gate opened, and a thin elderly woman appeared.

"Granny, we were caught in the rain while passing through. Could we take shelter here for a while?" Fang Linyuan asked politely.

Seeing their drenched state, the elderly woman quickly welcomed them inside without waiting for Fang Linyuan to mention payment. "Come in quickly! It’s late and raining—don’t catch a cold," she said in her Ji Province dialect, which was easy enough to understand due to its proximity to the capital. She directed Fang Linyuan to tie his horse, Liu Huo, in the barn.

The courtyard was humble, with just two small, straw-and-mud houses. Aside from the elderly woman, Fang Linyuan noticed two children peeking timidly from the doorway of the main house.

After securing the horse, Fang Linyuan returned to find the woman lighting a fire and boiling water. She insisted they sit by the fire to warm up.

“Please, there’s no need to trouble yourself, Granny. Have a seat,” Fang Linyuan said, trying to dissuade her.

She insisted on heating the water and handed them each a steaming bowl before finally sitting down herself.

“Thank you,” Zhao Chu said awkwardly, unused to such kindness.

Fang Linyuan, on the other hand, seemed entirely at ease.

The two children, no older than four or five, dark-skinned and thin, stared curiously at the visitors. Fang Linyuan smiled warmly and pulled out a small bundle of pastries from his bag, gesturing for the children to come closer.

Drawn by the delicious aroma, the children hesitated but eventually approached. Fang Linyuan handed each of them a piece and offered another to the elderly woman.

“These are just some leftover provisions from the road, Granny. Please share them with us,” he said kindly.

The elderly woman initially refused, looking embarrassed, but eventually accepted with a smile. “We’re not short on food, young master. You don’t need to be so kind.”

“Really?” Fang Linyuan asked, puzzled. “I heard on my way here that Jibei had a poor harvest last year and that many families are struggling for food.”

The elderly woman grinned, revealing her near-toothless smile. “Oh, that was yesterday’s problem!”

“Yesterday?” Fang Linyuan raised his brows in confusion.

“Yes!” the elderly woman replied.

“Speaking of last year, it was terribly hard. We barely made enough for the harvest, and after paying the rent and grain taxes, there was barely enough for two bags of food. You don’t know, but last winter, over ten people starved to death in our village. People were too weak from hunger, and no one could even bury the bodies in the courtyard.

Fortunately, my son worked at the docks in the capital and sent money and food back every month. Our family is small, and my husband is the village head, so we distributed the food to others in the village, which kept more from starving.”

The old woman’s eyes moistened as she recalled the hardships. “This year, the government demanded more rent. But with people already dead, where would we get food to pay the rent? A few days ago, the imperial decree came out, and the people from our village went to the government offices to protest.”

Fang Linyuan exchanged a silent glance with Zhao Chong.

The news had reached the capital, where it was claimed that the troublesome peasants in Jibei, suffering from the half-month drought, had used it as an excuse to demand reduced taxes.

Meanwhile, two children, holding the remaining pastry, saw the old woman’s distress and awkwardly tried to wipe her tears. “Grandmother, don’t cry, grandmother, don’t cry.”

The old woman quickly wiped her tears and smiled at Fang Linyuan. “But things are better now!”

“Why?” Fang Linyuan asked, puzzled.

“Today, the young men who came back from the government office were all carrying large bags of rice and flour! They said there’s still more to be distributed, and they’ve got receipts from the government. Tomorrow, they’ll drive carts to deliver it!” the old woman said.

“They all said it was because a great official came to the office today!”

Fang Linyuan blinked, surprised to hear this.

The old woman, no longer wiping her tears, looked at Fang Linyuan with bright eyes. “They even brought two bags of rice to our house, saying it was to repay the kindness they received last winter. I asked for more information, and it turns out that the official said we shouldn’t have been taxed last year, and part of the rent should have been waived. He also said the government should have provided us with grain!”

She looked at Fang Linyuan, her eyes moist again. “Young master, tell me, is that official a heavenly god?”

Fang Linyuan’s ears turned red, and he quickly replied, “He’s not a god; it’s just the way the government laws should be.”

The old woman shook her head repeatedly, saying, "He is a god, a god. Only a heavenly immortal could have saved us from water and fire like that!"

She pointed toward the window as if seeking evidence. "Otherwise, why would the food appear and the rain fall as soon as he arrived? Our lives improved instantly! He is truly our great benefactor in Jibei!"

At that moment, the so-called benefactor was trying to find a crack to hide in.

Just as he was flustered and unsure where to hide, a soft laugh suddenly came from beside him.

“Old lady, do you know the name of that official?” Zhao Chong, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

Fang Linyuan turned around, his eyes wide in surprise.

The old woman, unaware, thought for a moment before saying, somewhat regretfully, "I forgot to ask. I only heard they said he was a general, but I forgot to ask which one..."

"It's General Fang Linyuan," Zhao Chong said slowly.

Fang Linyuan turned to look at him. In the warm glow of the flickering firelight, Zhao Chong gazed back, and his smile softened, the warmth in his eyes like ice and snow melting on a mountain peak under the sun.

Though smiling, his words were earnest and respectful.

"It’s General Fang Linyuan, who pacified the northwest, captured eighteen cities from the Turkic barbarians, and saved thousands of people."

--

The author has something to say:

Zhao Chong: Hehe, such a good person, mine!

 

Translator : DarNan