{"id":4001,"date":"2026-06-14T21:39:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T21:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pursuit-of-jade-126\/"},"modified":"2026-06-14T21:39:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T21:39:13","slug":"pursuit-of-jade-126","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/fr\/chapter\/pursuit-of-jade-126\/","title":{"rendered":"Pursuit of Jade 126"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 126

Layer upon layer of gauze curtains obscured the view. The scent of borneol incense hanging in the air was heavy enough to make one drowsy.

Yu Qianqian was no stranger to this fragrance.

Her entire back felt as though it had been split open by an axe. She lay motionless on the soft bed, her eyes closed and her dark lashes lowered, appearing as though she were still unconscious.

A cold, low voice drifted into her ears from somewhere in the room.

\u201cXie Zheng took them away?\u201d

The Shadow Guard kneeling below the table was drenched in cold sweat.

\u201cYour Highness, while we were fighting Wei Yan’s trained lackeys, Marquis Wu’an’s men took the former Meng family subordinate. Please punish this subordinate.\u201d

Crack\u2014

A faint sound echoed through the room.

Qi Min had crushed the white jade thumb ring in his hand.

Half of his face was hidden against the light. His sharply sculpted features seemed even more sinister in the shadows.

Slowly raising his head, he spoke leisurely.

\u201cYou failed? Then why are you still alive to return and see me?\u201d

The air itself seemed to thin.

A bead of sweat rolled down the Shadow Guard’s temple and splashed onto the floor.

Hurriedly, he pulled an object from his robes and held it out.

\u201cWhen this subordinate rescued the former Meng family subordinate from Wei Yan’s private prison and revealed our identity, he gave this to me.\u201d

Another Shadow Guard hidden in the dark corner of the room stepped forward, took the item, and presented it to Qi Min.

It was roughly an inch high and three inches long, entirely black, shaped like a tiger or leopard. Ancient inscriptions were engraved upon it.

It was half of a tiger tally.

Qi Min recognized its origin from the inscriptions.

His long eyes narrowed.

\u201cThis is the tiger tally of Changzhou from seventeen years ago.\u201d

According to Great Yin law, every region possessed only one tiger tally. Only by obtaining the matching half from the imperial court could one mobilize that province’s troops.

He looked at the kneeling Shadow Guard.

\u201cWhat else did the former Meng family subordinate say?\u201d

Knowing his life had likely been spared, the Shadow Guard quickly replied,

\u201cHe begged Your Highness to clear Old General Meng’s name and wash away his injustice.\u201d

Qi Min’s brows lifted slightly.

On the bed, Yu Qianqian also tensed, listening intently.

Yet all conversation outside abruptly ceased.

Qi Min raised a hand, signaling the Shadow Guard to remain silent.

Listening to the trembling breaths coming from behind the many layers of curtains surrounding the bed, a faint smile tugged at his lips.

Suddenly, he said,

\u201cYou may leave. As for Xuan Jian’s arm, you will sever it yourself. Anyone who injures someone belonging to me ought to learn a lesson.\u201d

Yu Qianqian’s heart pounded.

Her instincts told her that the Xuan Jian Qi Min mentioned was the Shadow Guard who had tried to kill Bao’er.

The Shadow Guard outside asked no questions.

\u201cYes, Your Highness.\u201d

Then he withdrew.

Yu Qianqian heard the door close.

She did not understand why Qi Min had stopped the discussion about the truth behind the Jinzhou battle.

Anxiety gnawed at her, but there was nothing she could do.

When she heard slow footsteps approaching the bed, she hurriedly pretended to sleep.

One layer of gauze curtain after another was lifted and hooked onto golden clasps.

Even with her eyes closed, Yu Qianqian could feel the light around the bed suddenly become much brighter.

The mattress sank slightly.

Qi Min had sat down beside her.

Without opening her eyes, she could almost picture the way his gaze moved over her like a venomous serpent.

Her entire body instinctively tensed.

Beneath the blanket, her fingers clenched until they nearly turned white.

She tried desperately to continue pretending.

Unbeknownst to her, the man seated beside the bed watched her trembling eyelashes and curled his lips mockingly.

Her back was injured.

After applying medicine, Qi Min had not even allowed the maids to change her clothing.

Against the crimson silk bedding, half of her bare back was exposed.

Her snow-white skin was delicate and flawless, while the savage wound across it lent a cruel, twisted beauty\u2014like a fragile orchid crushed beneath someone’s hand.

Watching her struggle to feign sleep, Qi Min’s smile deepened.

His pale, cool hand reached out and rested against her back.

Sure enough, goosebumps instantly spread across her skin.

Yu Qianqian knew she could not keep pretending.

Opening her eyes, she shot him a cold glare.

\u201cTake your hand off me.\u201d

Not only did Qi Min fail to withdraw it, he instead seized her chin.

\u201cNo longer pretending?\u201d

Yu Qianqian felt as though she had been bitten by a snake.

Disgust filled her face.

\u201cIf I didn’t pretend, how would I hear your schemes? Even a tiger doesn’t eat its own cubs. Yet you want to kill your own son. I truly don’t understand why those people are loyal to you. Aren’t they afraid you’ll kill them one day too?\u201d

Qi Min released her chin and casually curled his lips.

\u201cSo you’re angry because I wanted to kill that little bastard?\u201d

Fury flashed across Yu Qianqian’s eyes.

He suddenly leaned closer.

His voice was cold and mocking.

\u201cIf you and he had obediently stayed by my side, wouldn’t he still be alive and well? You ran away with him and ended up falling into Xie Zheng’s hands. You’re smart enough to know that Xie Zheng can use him to command the realm, aren’t you?\u201d

Yu Qianqian remained silent.

But her face grew even paler.

She continued glaring at him with undisguised anger.

Qi Min’s eyes were cold and reptilian.

His thin lips nearly brushed her ear as he whispered maliciously,

\u201cIt isn’t me who wants to kill him. You’re the one forcing me to kill him.\u201d

He leaned back slightly and leisurely admired the way she trembled\u2014whether from fear or rage, he could not tell.

Then he spoke almost pityingly.

\u201cQianqian, the person who nearly got that child killed was you.\u201d

\u201cYou’re lying!\u201d

Yu Qianqian snapped angrily.

The sudden movement pulled at her wound.

Pain flashed across her face, and her complexion became even whiter.

Qi Min frowned slightly.

The mockery faded from him.

Supporting her shoulders, he said,

\u201cDon’t move. You’ll tear the wound open again.\u201d

Cold sweat formed on Yu Qianqian’s forehead from the pain.

Yet she suddenly laughed.

\u201cQi Min, why don’t you just kill me too?\u201d

His fingers tightened abruptly around her shoulders, nearly digging into her flesh.

For several moments, he stared at her darkly.

Then he said,

\u201cI won’t kill you. And you wouldn’t bear to die.\u201d

He released her.

After a pause, his tone softened.

\u201cIf you like children, we’ll have more in the future. As many as you want. That child was born at the wrong time from the very beginning.\u201d

Yu Bao’er had been born as a substitute for him.

Qi Min could never like a child who might someday replace his very existence.

To him, sparing Yu Bao’er’s life at all was already an act of immense mercy.

He would have heirs.

But they would only be born after he reclaimed everything that belonged to him and held absolute power in his hands.

He hated anything that threatened him.

Tears were forced from the corners of Yu Qianqian’s eyes.

Enduring the agonizing pain in her back, she spat fiercely at him.

Then she closed her eyes.

\u201cIf I’d known it would come to this, I should have left you to die by that lakeside!\u201d

The instant those words left her mouth, the atmosphere around Qi Min plummeted.

For a long time, he said nothing.

Finally, he merely sneered.

\u201cRegretting it now is far too late. You’re the one who dragged this evil ghost back into the world. Everything happening today is something you deserve to bear!\u201d

He rose and strode away.

Only the bead curtains he brushed past continued swaying gently behind him.

Yu Qianqian hugged the blanket tightly.

Though her face remained pale from her injuries, her gaze toward the doorway was clear and cold.

Calm.

Almost indifferent.


—

The moment Qi Min stepped out of the room, the Shadow Guard waiting outside saluted.

\u201cYour Highness.\u201d

Qi Min said darkly,

\u201cWatch her carefully.\u201d

\u201cYes, Your Highness.\u201d

Only after Qi Min had gone far away did the Shadow Guard glance at the tightly closed door.

His Highness had always been suspicious.

Even Lady Lan had lost his trust after suggesting he produce an heir.

Yet the woman inside that room\u2014

No one knew what spell she had cast on him.

For all these years, His Highness had always treated her differently.

After walking several steps, Qi Min was caught up by the Shadow Guard who had reported to him earlier.

Fresh blood still stained the man’s robes.

\u201cYour Highness, this subordinate has carried out your order and severed Xuan Jian’s arm.\u201d

Qi Min held the half tiger tally behind his back, turning it idly in his fingers.

He showed no interest in the report.

Instead, he asked,

\u201cWhat is the story behind this half of the tiger tally?\u201d


—

Each autumn rain brought colder weather.

Rainwater poured from the eaves, splashing beneath the corridor in bursts of white spray.

The cold wind carried damp mist against the walls.

The aged redwood beams, weathered by years, had darkened beneath the moisture.

Even the lower hem of the young man’s robes, where he stood leaning against the wall, was stained with faint wet marks.

The bronze wind chimes hanging beneath the corridor swayed wildly in the wind.

Their ringing sounded lonely and fragmented.

From inside the room came occasional cries of unbearable pain.

Xie Zheng seemed not to hear them.

Arms folded, he leaned against the wall and stared blankly at the sudden autumn rain.

The wind stirred the loose strands of hair by his temples.

A small cut on his jade-like face stung faintly in the breeze.

His lowered eyes were every bit as cold and sharp as the bloodstained wound on his face.

After some time, the physician treating the patient inside emerged carrying his medicine box.

Xie Zhong, who had also been waiting under the corridor, immediately stepped forward.

\u201cHow is General Zhu?\u201d

Xie Zheng’s gaze quietly shifted toward the physician as well.

The physician shook his head silently and sighed.

\u201cThe bones and tendons in his legs have been broken for over ten years. They’ve long since died. Standing again is no longer possible.\u201d

Having himself lost both an arm and a leg, Xie Zhong understood such pain.

After a moment of silence, he only said,

\u201cDo your best to treat him.\u201d

The physician nodded and left to prepare medicine.

A servant attending inside hurried out.

\u201cMy Lord, General Zhu wishes to see you.\u201d

The truth Xie Zheng had pursued for so many years now lay right before him.

Yet he hesitated briefly before finally stepping into the room.

The physician had scraped away dead flesh and reopened old wounds for treatment.

The smell of blood inside was overwhelming.

The man lying on the bed was covered in a thick beard.

His hair was tangled like dried grass, with lice crawling throughout it.

Apart from a pair of keen, spirited eyes, his facial features were almost unrecognizable.

Both of his legs were broken.

After being imprisoned in a dungeon devoid of sunlight for seventeen years, they had wasted away until only skin remained over bone.

Looking at this veteran general who had once served under Meng Shuyuan alongside his father, Xie Zheng spoke only one sentence.

\u201cGeneral Zhu, you’ve come home.\u201d

Zhu Youchang stared fixedly at Xie Zheng.

Suddenly, a broken sob escaped him.

\u201cSeventeen years… seventeen years…\u201d

Tears streamed down his face.

\u201cGeneral Xie’s descendant has grown into such a towering man! I, Zhu… in this lifetime… can still see General Xie’s descendant again!\u201d

At the height of his grief, this former battlefield veteran could only pound the bedside repeatedly while crying uncontrollably.

Limping forward, Xie Zhong steadied Zhu Youchang.

His eyes reddened.

\u201cGeneral Zhu, please restrain your grief for now. Why were you imprisoned by Wei Yan for seventeen years? Was there another truth behind the delayed grain transport back then?\u201d

The moment the old grain transport incident was mentioned, Zhu Youchang became even more emotional.

Choking back sobs, he said,

\u201cThat Wei Yan is worse than a beast! General Meng suffered a monstrous injustice that will stain history for ages! The old general died with hatred in his heart. The Meng family was filled with loyal heroes, yet not even a single bloodline remains!\u201d

His voice broke with anguish as tears streamed down his weathered face.<\/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-4001","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/4001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4001"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/4001\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4002,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/4001\/revisions\/4002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"novel","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/novel?post=4001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}