{"id":3860,"date":"2026-06-05T15:29:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T15:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pursuit-of-jade-83\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T15:30:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T15:30:53","slug":"pursuit-of-jade-83","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/chapter\/pursuit-of-jade-83\/","title":{"rendered":"Pursuit of Jade 83"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 83

Before the army set out, orders were given for the cooks to light the fires and prepare a meal so the soldiers could eat their fill.

Fan Changyu went to help slaughter pigs. One of the veteran cooks, who was still enthusiastically spreading stories of her exploits, said to a newly transferred recruit, \u201cMiss Fan possesses the courage of Mulan herself!\u201d

The recruit was illiterate and scratched his head. \u201cWho\u2019s Mulan?\u201d

The veteran gave him a disdainful look. \u201cYou don\u2019t even know Hua Mulan? A great hero from the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Her father had no sons, and when the court conscripted soldiers in his old age, she feared he would die on the battlefield. So she disguised herself as a man and took his place in the army for eleven years, winning tremendous military achievements!\u201d

The recruit stared in amazement.

\u201cHow did a woman stay in the army for eleven years without anyone finding out?\u201d

The question clearly stumped the veteran.

Impatiently, he replied, \u201cThat\u2019s how the opera stories tell it! She just had that kind of ability. In the end, she was even personally honored by the Emperor!\u201d

The speaker meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart.

Ever since learning that the army would be marching out, Fan Changyu\u2019s heart had remained suspended with worry.

Now, after hearing the story of Hua Mulan, her hand paused while wiping blood from her butcher\u2019s knife, and a bold idea slowly surfaced in her mind.

Earlier, she had noticed that Xiao Wu seemed particularly close to Yan Zheng. After asking, she learned that they had once served in the same squad.

Knowing Yan Zheng\u2019s bad temper, she had worried he might offend people and have no one to rely on in battle. She had asked about the others in his unit, intending to help maintain good relations between him and his comrades.

Unexpectedly, Yan Zheng had told her that all the others were dead. Only he and Xiao Wu remained.

Now that the entire army was mobilizing, he and Xiao Wu would be reassigned to different units.

With new formations and not a single familiar face around, finding support on the battlefield would be even more difficult.

Given Yan Zheng\u2019s injuries, this campaign might very well be a one-way journey.

But if she fought in his place while he stayed behind with Changning among the supply troops attached to the cooks, their chances of survival would be much higher.

If she took his place, he technically wouldn\u2019t be deserting.

Besides, apart from Xiao Wu, no one in the new camp knew Yan Zheng. Xiao Wu would certainly keep the secret. If she fought under his name, nobody would notice. Once the campaign ended, they could simply switch back.

The moment the idea appeared, she could no longer suppress it.

Along the way, she had already lost too many friends and family members.

Just imagining Yan Zheng being hacked to death on the battlefield made her chest tighten painfully.

After leaving the cook camp, Fan Changyu headed straight for the medical camp.

The military physician was absent. The half-grown boy there was busy brewing medicine for the severely wounded soldiers who still couldn\u2019t leave their beds.

The boy\u2019s name was Wu Sanjin.

It was said that his mother had given birth to him while fleeing famine. During those desperate days, even adults were skin and bones. There was no nutrition to spare for a child. When he was born, he weighed only three jin. His parents had thought he wouldn\u2019t survive.

Yet he grew up healthy, so they named him Sanjin.

After joining the army, his small stature landed him in the logistics corps.

Seeing Fan Changyu, Wu Sanjin immediately greeted her warmly.

\u201cSister Changyu, are you looking for Physician Han? He\u2019s gone out.\u201d

Physician Han was the military doctor who had examined Xie Zheng.

Fan Changyu said, \u201cI\u2019m actually looking for you.\u201d

Wu Sanjin held a palm fan used to tend the fire and looked puzzled.

\u201cLooking for me?\u201d

Whenever Fan Changyu felt guilty, she appeared even more righteous than usual.

With a perfectly serious expression, she asked, \u201cDo you know where the sleeping powder is kept?\u201d

Wu Sanjin had been working in the medical camp for days and knew exactly where every medicine was stored.

\u201cOf course. Sister Changyu, what do you need sleeping powder for?\u201d

Still looking utterly upright, she replied, \u201cI want to hunt some wild boars to prepare a feast for the army when they return victorious. If I mix sleeping powder into some bran and set traps, it\u2019ll be easier to catch them.\u201d

Wu Sanjin believed her without question.

He quickly fetched a packet of powder and handed it over.

\u201cThis is enough to bring down ten wild boars.\u201d

Fan Changyu thanked him, tucked the powder into her clothes, and left.

\u2014

Inside the command tent, the personal guards who had been pretending to be sick for days had already changed into armor.

Xie Wu was reporting the situation at the front to Xie Zheng.

\u201cOur vanguard has intercepted the rebels and is waiting for the main force to encircle them. However, scouts report that the rebels secretly withdrew part of their troops last night. Yuan Qingyi is among them.\u201d

Xie Zheng\u2019s eyes darkened.

\u201cOrder Chen Liang to lead one thousand elite cavalry in pursuit.\u201d

Xie Wu cupped his fists.

\u201cI\u2019ll deliver the order immediately.\u201d

Xie Qi, standing outside the tent, suddenly called out,

\u201cMy Lord, Madam is coming!\u201d

The expressions of Xie Zheng and the guards inside changed slightly.

Fan Changyu entered carrying a bowl of soup and immediately noticed that all the wounded soldiers inside were fully dressed and equipped, as though preparing to return to their units.

After greeting her awkwardly, they quickly gathered their belongings and left.

Xie Wu glanced at Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng, then rose as well.

\u201cI should go make preparations too.\u201d

Soon, only Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng remained.

She set the soup on the table and asked,

\u201cHave you finished preparing your things?\u201d

Xie Zheng smiled.

\u201cWhat is there to prepare for battle besides weapons?\u201d

Fan Changyu picked up the battered suit of armor hanging by his bed.

After examining its condition, she frowned.

\u201cIt\u2019s damaged this badly. How can you wear it? I\u2019ll mend it.\u201d

This suit had originally been found by Xie Wu.

All the wounded soldiers in the medical camp kept their armor hanging beside their beds. If they didn\u2019t do the same, it would raise Fan Changyu\u2019s suspicions.

Xie Zheng had still been considering battle plans, but when his gaze landed on Fan Changyu, he unconsciously became absorbed in watching her sew.

The last time he had gone to war, he hadn\u2019t even exchanged a proper farewell with her.

Now, on the eve of another campaign, he finally understood what it meant to have a heart weighed down by attachment.

Neither of them spoke.

Fan Changyu lowered her eyes, carefully mending the ruined armor.

A loose strand of hair fell beside her fair cheek.

Her small white ear peeked through her dark hair.

At that moment, she looked gentle and peaceful.

Of course, if one examined her stitching, it was neither gentle nor peaceful.

Unfortunately, Xie Zheng wasn\u2019t looking at the stitches.

His gaze lingered on her half-hidden earlobe for a long time.

Something wild seemed to crash about inside his chest.

Almost unconsciously, he lifted a hand and tucked the loose strand behind her ear.

When his fingertips brushed her delicate ear, Fan Changyu looked up at him.

The impulse he had been suppressing suddenly became impossible to restrain.

Instead of withdrawing his hand, his fingers slipped behind her head.

He lowered his head and kissed her.

Gentle.

And not entirely gentle.

One hand buried itself deeply in her hair.

Because she didn\u2019t reject him, when they finally parted, a vein stood out at his temple. His breathing burned hot, and his eyes carried a faint redness.

He looked like a wolf desperate to devour her whole but forced to stop because the timing was wrong.

\u201cWait for me to come back.\u201d

His clear voice had become hoarse.

Fan Changyu\u2019s lips ached slightly from being bitten.

She wanted to slap him, but restrained herself.

Instead, she sincerely proposed,

\u201cYan Zheng, let me go to the battlefield in your place.\u201d

Xie Zheng\u2019s handsome brows immediately knitted together.

\u201cWhat nonsense are you talking about?\u201d

Fan Changyu said,

\u201cYou\u2019re still injured. What if you can\u2019t even swing your blade?\u201d

Remembering his earlier lie, Xie Zheng replied somewhat awkwardly,

\u201cI\u2019m an infantry swordsman. My job is just to clean up scattered enemy soldiers after the vanguard breaks them. There\u2019s not much danger.\u201d

Seeing how determined he was, Fan Changyu looked disappointed.

\u201cThen be careful.\u201d

After a pause, she asked,

\u201cWhich battalion are you in? Which general do you serve under?\u201d

Xie Zheng hadn\u2019t expected her to become familiar with military organization after only a few days in camp.

He knew he shouldn\u2019t continue lying.

But with events already set in motion, he had no choice.

\u201cThird Battalion of the Left Guard Army, under General Li Lian.\u201d

Fan Changyu silently memorized the information.

Then she brought over the bowl of chicken soup.

\u201cI secretly caught a wild chicken and stewed this for you. Drink it, then go back to camp with Brother Xiao Wu.\u201d

Xie Zheng suspected nothing.

He finished the soup in a few gulps.

Fan Changyu looked at him, her expression complicated.

\u201cWhile I\u2019m gone, please help me look after Changning.\u201d

The world suddenly seemed to tilt upside down.

Xie Zheng finally realized something was wrong.

His expression changed.

\u201cYou\u2014\u201d

But his body instantly went limp.

The moment he took a step, he collapsed.

Fan Changyu quickly caught him.

Looking down at the unconscious man, she whispered,

\u201cI don\u2019t want you to die.\u201d

Fan Changyu feared someone might inspect the wounded soldiers\u2019 tents and discover Xie Zheng\u2019s true identity. So she carried him on her back to the tent she shared with Changning.

When Changning saw Xie Zheng slung across her sister\u2019s back, her face immediately turned pale.

\u201cSister, is Brother-in-law dying again?\u201d

Fan Changyu nearly choked.

\u201cNo. He\u2019s just temporarily unconscious. He should wake up in about half an hour. Be a good girl and stay here to watch over your brother-in-law. If danger comes and he still hasn\u2019t woken up, use a needle to poke him awake.\u201d

She had used enough of the sleeping powder to knock out an entire wild boar.

Mainly because Yan Zheng\u2019s willpower was stronger than most people\u2019s. She was afraid a normal dose wouldn\u2019t be enough to bring him down.

After handing Changning a needle, Fan Changyu untied the dagger strapped to her leg and gave it to her as well.

\u201cJust in case, keep this dagger too. Remember, if there\u2019s danger, wake your brother-in-law immediately. Use the needle, not the dagger. Once he wakes up, he\u2019ll be able to protect you.\u201d

Changning gripped the embroidery needle in one hand and the dagger in the other, nodding vigorously.

Then she couldn\u2019t help asking,

\u201cWhat about you, Sister?\u201d

Fan Changyu replied,

\u201cI\u2019m going to fight the bad people who took Ningniang and Bao\u2019er away. Once I\u2019ve beaten them, I\u2019ll come back.\u201d

Changning tugged at the corner of her sleeve. Her grape-like eyes glistened with worry.

\u201cThen Sister has to be careful.\u201d

Fan Changyu rubbed her head.

\u201cDon\u2019t worry. I\u2019m going to avenge you!\u201d

After finishing her instructions, she tucked her butcher\u2019s knife and bone-cleaver at her waist and left the tent, heading toward the Left Guard Army camp.

By sheer coincidence, she ran into Xie Wu on the way.

The moment Xie Wu saw her dressed in Yanzhou military attire, he already had a terrible premonition.

\u201cM-Miss Fan…\u201d

Fan Changyu asked curiously,

\u201cBrother Xiao Wu, haven\u2019t you returned to camp yet?\u201d

Xie Wu stiffened.

\u201cI… I\u2019m going to look for Brother Yan.\u201d

Fan Changyu glanced around, then grabbed him and lowered her voice.

\u201cBrother Xiao Wu knows that my husband\u2019s injuries haven\u2019t healed. Sending him to the battlefield is no different from sending him to his death. I\u2019m going in his place. Just pretend you know nothing about it. Once the battle is over, I\u2019ll switch back with him, and no one will ever know.\u201d

Xie Wu thought bitterly, How could no one know?!

The battle plan had already been finalized. Several armies were advancing according to schedule.

If the Marquis never showed up at all, how could that possibly be explained?

Yet he didn\u2019t dare reveal Xie Zheng\u2019s true identity to Fan Changyu.

All he could do was persuade her.

\u201cMiss Fan, don\u2019t be foolish! This is a serious military crime. It\u2019s punishable by execution!\u201d

Fan Changyu looked at him.

Her slightly rounded almond-shaped eyes were sincere and resolute, yet they also carried the coldness of a hunting tiger.

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Brother Xiao Wu. I just don\u2019t want my husband to die pointlessly on the battlefield. If he weren\u2019t injured, I wouldn\u2019t have resorted to this. Right now, sending him into battle would accomplish less than sending me. This won\u2019t cause any real loss to the army. As for the punishment, I\u2019ll bear it myself when I return. My husband was drugged unconscious by me. To keep you from being implicated, I should probably knock you unconscious here too.\u201d

Seeing her raise a hand, Xie Wu hurriedly blurted out,

\u201cI\u2019ll keep your secret! We\u2019ll fight together. At least we can watch each other\u2019s backs on the battlefield.\u201d

Fan Changyu didn\u2019t understand why he changed his mind so quickly, but she lowered her hand.

\u201cThen let\u2019s return to camp.\u201d

Xie Wu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If they actually fought, he definitely wasn\u2019t her match.

For now, the best solution was to secretly pass word to the other personal guards and have them find Xie Zheng, while he stayed with Fan Changyu to protect her.

He let out several sharp whistles.

Fan Changyu immediately turned her head.

\u201cWhy are you whistling?\u201d

Cold sweat instantly broke out all over Xie Wu.

Fortunately, a hawk happened to fly across the sky.

He pointed upward and forced a smile.

\u201cI once heard a veteran soldier say falconers use whistles like this to give commands to hawks. I wanted to see if it was true.\u201d

Fan Changyu asked,

\u201cDoes it work on untrained hawks too?\u201d

Xie Wu pointed at the hawk overhead.

\u201cI just tested it. Looks like it doesn\u2019t.\u201d

Fan Changyu looked disappointed.

She had been thinking that if it worked, she might learn the trick herself and catch another falcon for Changning.

\u2014

The central army had already begun marching.

Following the military banners, Fan Changyu found the Third Battalion of the Left Guard Army.

When she and Xie Wu joined the rear of the formation, the squad leaders were counting their men.

A fully armored captain stood at the front, looking imposing and dignified.

When the squad leader at the rear reached Fan Changyu and Xie Wu during the headcount, he barked,

\u201cWhich squad are you from? Why are you standing in my formation?\u201d

Xie Wu wasn\u2019t intimidated in the slightest.

\u201cWe were reassigned from another infantry unit after the reorganization.\u201d

He said it deliberately to attract Li Lian\u2019s attention.

Sure enough, Li Lian noticed the commotion and strode over from the front of the formation.

\u201cThe army is about to move out. What\u2019s all this noise?\u201d

The squad leader replied,

\u201cGeneral, there are two extra men in the ranks. They claim they were reassigned here.\u201d

Li Lian had once served in the personal guard unit before being transferred to command the Left Guard Army. Naturally, he recognized Xie Wu.

Those who had been granted the surname Xie were former death warriors with no names or family backgrounds.

They were also the most loyal followers under Xie Zheng.

Xie Wu shot him a meaningful look.

Though Li Lian was puzzled by why he and an unfamiliar soldier had appeared in his unit, he asked no questions, assuming they were carrying out some secret mission.

Instead, he cursed at the squad leader.

\u201cA few days ago I lost a ton of men guarding the mountain. I finally got some replacements, and now you\u2019re complaining my unit has too many soldiers?\u201d

The squad leader immediately fell silent.

The other soldiers, who had been secretly examining Fan Changyu and Xie Wu, quickly straightened up and stopped staring.

Fortunately, the soldiers Fan Changyu had dealt with before were mostly from the cook camp and medical camp.

People from the other units had only heard her name but never seen her face.

Now, dressed in battered armor with her head lowered among the ranks, she merely looked like a skinny little recruit.

Nobody paid much attention to her.

Li Lian returned to the front of the formation with his hands behind his back.

Xie Wu was growing increasingly anxious.

He wanted to signal Li Lian to find an excuse to kick them both out of the unit.

There was no way he could actually let Fan Changyu go into battle.

Unfortunately, before he could do anything, the front lines suddenly erupted into activity.

A scout came galloping back.

\u201cShi Yue has broken through the vanguard and is attempting to flee south! By order of the strategist, the Left Guard Army is to reinforce the vanguard immediately!\u201d

The commander of the Left Guard Army roared,

\u201cFirst three battalions of the Left Guard Army! Full-speed advance!\u201d

The neatly arranged formation instantly dissolved into columns of five men running toward the battlefield.

\u2014

The personal guards under Xie Zheng often used whistles to communicate simple messages.

The sharp, urgent whistle Xie Wu had sounded meant that Xie Zheng might be in danger.

The guards who heard it immediately rushed to find him.

When they discovered he wasn\u2019t in the medical tent, they followed various clues and quickly tracked him down to the tent where Fan Changyu and Changning were staying.

Changning had been clutching her embroidery needle while sitting beside Xie Zheng.

The moment she heard hurried footsteps approaching the tent, she immediately poked him with the needle.

The unconscious man opened his eyes almost instantly.

When the personal guard lifted the tent flap and saw Xie Zheng awake, he was overjoyed.

Without even noticing Changning\u2019s presence, he blurted out,

\u201cMy Lord!\u201d

Xie Zheng\u2019s expression was terrifyingly dark.

He immediately tried to leave the tent.

But the effects of the sleeping powder had not fully worn off.

His body weakened, and he had to grab the bedpost to steady himself.

The guard hurried over.

\u201cMy Lord, what happened?\u201d

Xie Zheng noticed the dagger beside the bed.

Without hesitation, he picked it up and slashed his palm.

Blood dripped from the tip of the blade onto the ground.

Changning let out a frightened squeak, her little face turning pale.

The pain noticeably weakened the effects of the drug.

However, Xie Zheng\u2019s expression only became darker.

\u201cWhere is Li Lian\u2019s army now?\u201d

The guard answered,

\u201cShi Yue recruited a powerful general from somewhere. The man possesses monstrous strength and was unstoppable. Using him as the spearhead, Shi Yue tore through our vanguard. The strategist ordered the Left Guard Army to fill the breach.\u201d

Xie Zheng could no longer remain seated.

He strode out of the tent.

\u201cBring me my armor. Assemble five hundred elite cavalry.\u201d

His own vanguard commander was one of the fiercest warriors under his command.

If even the vanguard couldn\u2019t stop Shi Yue, then the battle was likely going very badly.

A guard quickly brought over the heavy black-scaled armor and helped him put it on.

Changning followed him out of the tent in a daze.

When she saw the icy expression on his face, the words \u201cBrother-in-law\u201d reached her lips but never emerged.

She had never seen him look this frightening before.

He looked like he wanted to devour someone alive.

He was nothing like the brother-in-law she remembered.

And why were these people calling him \u201cMarquis\u201d?

What was a Marquis?

A guard led over Xie Zheng\u2019s warhorse.

After fastening his black cloak, Xie Zheng coldly ordered,

\u201cSend word to Gongsun Yin. Tell him to tighten the encirclement in the rear. No reinforcements are needed for the vanguard.\u201d

As he mounted his horse, he glanced at Changning, who stood at the tent entrance looking as helpless as a little cabbage.

He said to Xie Qi,

\u201cWatch her.\u201d

\u201cYes, My Lord.\u201d

Xie Zheng dug his heels into his horse and galloped away.

More than a dozen guards immediately followed.

Tears welled up in Changning\u2019s eyes.

She wanted to cry but didn\u2019t dare.

Why had Brother-in-law become so fierce after waking up?

<\/p>","protected":false},"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"novel":[],"class_list":["post-3860","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3860"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3861,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3860\/revisions\/3861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"novel","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/novel?post=3860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}