Chapter 122

Fan Changyu had drunk too much the night before and still carried the scent of alcohol on her.

After changing into the clean clothes Xie Wu had brought, she noticed that Xie Zheng had already ordered a carriage prepared and seemed ready to leave. Without hesitation, she grabbed two large steamed buns from the breakfast that had been served and followed him outside.

The sight made Xie Zheng laugh.

“Are you really that hungry?”

Fan Changyu ignored him.

After climbing into the carriage, she sat there quietly eating her buns.

The buns from the City Lord’s residence were soft, fluffy, and slightly sweet—far better than the ones served in the army.

Xie Zheng had not felt hungry at all before.

But watching her eat somehow made him curious.

Leaning against the opposite side of the carriage, he stared at her for a while before asking,

“Are they really that good?”

Thinking that he had not eaten anything all morning either, Fan Changyu generously held out the second bun.

“Here.”

Instead of taking it, Xie Zheng suddenly reached over and caught her other hand.

The half bun she had been about to bring to her own mouth was promptly bitten into by him.

Fan Changyu glared at him.

Unfazed, Xie Zheng chewed and swallowed before nodding.

“It is rather sweet.”

The double meaning behind those words instantly made her cheeks warm.

Annoyed, she snapped,

“You’re living off someone else’s leftovers!”

Xie Zheng raised an eyebrow.

“How exactly does taking one bite of your food count as living off someone else’s leftovers?”

Seeing the confusion in her eyes, he paused before asking,

“Don’t tell me you’ve always thought that the phrase means taking a bite from food someone else has already eaten?”

Fan Changyu honestly nodded.

“Doesn’t it?”

Xie Zheng pressed a hand to his forehead.

“What exactly did the old man teach you?”

Fan Changyu muttered,

“I figured that one out myself from reading books.”

That answer actually made him laugh.

Half-lowering his phoenix eyes, he looked at her and said,

“Then you’re quite gifted.”

Fan Changyu was not stupid.

She could tell he was not complimenting her.

Finishing the last bite of her bun, she said,

“During wartime, hiring advisors costs money. Now that we’re not fighting, I’ll just hire myself a proper tutor when I get back.”

Xie Zheng replied,

“That’s hardly necessary.”

“‘Picking up’ means taking something. ‘Leftover wisdom’ refers to another person’s words. The phrase means taking someone else’s words and claiming them as your own. It’s generally used to describe plagiarism or imitation.”

His voice was low and pleasant as he patiently explained the phrase.

The usual killing intent of a military commander faded from him, replaced by an elegance that Fan Changyu could not quite describe.

Noticing her staring blankly, Xie Zheng reached over and lightly tapped her forehead.

“Come study with me for two hours every day from now on. Otherwise, when the old man comes back and sees what you’ve learned, he’ll probably be furious.”

Rubbing her forehead, Fan Changyu instantly forgot about being annoyed when she heard him mention Grand Tutor Tao.

“You have news of my godfather?”

Xie Zheng’s gaze darkened slightly.

“No.”

After a pause, he added,

“But whatever happened is certainly connected to Wei Yan.”

His voice turned icy on the final sentence.

Just then, the carriage came to a stop.

Xie Eleven’s voice sounded from outside.

“My Lord, we’ve arrived.”

Xie Zheng stepped out first.

Standing beside the carriage, he extended a hand to help Fan Changyu down.

Dressed in fitted military attire, she simply swung her long legs over the side and jumped down effortlessly.

Turning back, she flashed him a triumphant grin.

Sunlight filtered through the autumn leaves overhead and scattered across her face.

The smile on her lips was bright and youthful, carrying the radiant energy of someone standing between adolescence and adulthood—clear, warm, and full of life.

Seeing her smile, Xie Zheng’s lips curved upward as well.

“I was worried you’d pull your wound.”

Fan Changyu waved it off.

“It stopped hurting ages ago.”

She started down a secluded path carpeted with fallen yellow leaves.

Xie Zheng followed one step behind.

Then, with perfect precision, he reached out and took her hand.

“I know.”

His fingers tightened around hers.

“But I’m afraid you’ll be in pain.”

The words caught Fan Changyu completely off guard.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Turning her head, she looked at him.

Yet Xie Zheng was simply gazing ahead.

“We’re here.”

At the end of the path stood a separate courtyard.

Dozens of armored guards stood watch outside.

Upon seeing Xie Zheng, they immediately dropped to one knee.

“Marquis.”

Xie Zheng nodded.

“Open the gate.”

The vermilion gates slowly swung inward.

Inside the courtyard, a woman and child looked toward the entrance.

Fan Changyu’s face lit up with joy.

“Qianqian?”

Yu Qianqian was equally surprised and delighted.

She rushed over and grabbed Fan Changyu’s hands, looking her over repeatedly.

“I never imagined I’d see you here again…”

Then she turned to the child beside her, who had grown noticeably taller.

“Bao’er, this is Aunt Changyu. Hurry and greet her.”

Yu Bao’er kept glancing toward the gate.

Only after confirming that Xie Zheng was the only person accompanying Fan Changyu did he finally turn toward her.

“Aunt Changyu.”

After speaking, he nervously squeezed the hand hidden inside his sleeve.

Then he asked,

“Where’s Sister Changning?”

The last time he had seen Changning had been at Prince Changxin’s Manor.

Nearly half a year had passed.

He had no idea whether she had been rescued or taken somewhere else.

Fan Changyu patted his head.

“I only just learned you were here myself. Ningniang is at home. We’ll bring her over later.”

The obvious relief on Yu Bao’er’s face made him look much more like a child.

“Okay.”

Yu Qianqian had likely already learned Xie Zheng’s true identity.

Facing him now, she appeared somewhat restrained.

“Thank you for saving us, Marquis.”

Xie Zheng sidestepped her bow.

“It was merely our duty.”

The subtle choice of words immediately struck both Fan Changyu and Yu Qianqian as unusual.

Just then, Xie Eleven hurried into the courtyard.

He seemed to have important news to report but found it inconvenient to speak in front of everyone.

Xie Zheng said,

“You two talk first.”

After he left, Yu Qianqian pulled Fan Changyu down to sit with her.

As she poured tea, she casually asked,

“The Marquis is still your husband, isn’t he?”

Since being recaptured by Qi Min, she had learned very little of what had happened.

Now that she knew Xie Zheng was Marquis Wu’an, she had no idea what the relationship between him and Fan Changyu currently was.

Holding her teacup, Fan Changyu thought for a moment.

“Not really. Our marriage was fake from the start.”

Yu Qianqian’s hand paused midway through pouring tea.

Immediately, she assumed Fan Changyu was now staying with Xie Zheng without any official status.

The sympathy in her eyes deepened.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring that up…”

Fan Changyu waved it off.

“What’s there to apologize for?”

Seeing that she genuinely did not seem bothered, Yu Qianqian relaxed slightly.

Then she shook her head with a helpless smile.

“You really are broad-minded. I can’t decide whether that’s a blessing or a curse.”

After a pause, she added,

“Still, you have military achievements to your name now. You’ll probably receive an official appointment someday and earn a government salary. There’s no need to worry about marriage.”

Fan Changyu looked utterly confused.

How had the conversation suddenly ended up on marriage?

Clearing her throat, she said,

“That’s still far off.”

Yu Qianqian sighed.

“Then what about you and the Marquis? Are you planning to continue like this?”

Fan Changyu scratched her head.

She carefully considered what Yu Qianqian meant by “continue like this.”

Grand Tutor Tao had not been found.

Wei Yan had not been brought down.

The Meng family’s name had not been cleared.

With so many important matters ahead, of course they needed to resolve those first before worrying about marriage.

So she nodded.

“This is fine too.”

The pity in Yu Qianqian’s eyes grew even stronger.

She smacked Fan Changyu’s arm.

“You silly girl!”

Then she sighed deeply.

“I know the Marquis is an extraordinary man. There isn’t a woman alive who wouldn’t admire a hero like him.”

“But one day he’ll have to marry.”

“If you keep following him without a title or status, you’ll be the one who suffers.”

Only then did Fan Changyu realize Yu Qianqian had misunderstood.

Scratching the back of her head awkwardly, she said,

“He does want to marry me. I just don’t think it’s the right time yet…”

Yu Qianqian: “…”

So she had been worrying for nothing.

Pretending to be angry, Yu Qianqian made Fan Changyu explain everything about her identity.

After hearing the full story, Yu Qianqian’s expression changed several times.

Finally, she said with mixed emotions,

“Even with the hatred between your families, the Marquis still treats you this way. His sincerity is plain for anyone to see.”

Fan Changyu smiled.

“I won’t let him spend the rest of his life tormented by guilt.”

“And I won’t let my grandfather remain wronged for all eternity.”

Inspired by the determination and spirit in her eyes, Yu Qianqian smiled as well.

“Then keep investigating.”

“If you can’t find any leads, perhaps you should start with the Sui family.”

Fan Changyu looked surprised.

“The Sui family?”

Yu Qianqian nodded.

She had only learned Qi Min’s true identity after being rescued by the Blood-Clad Cavalry.

In the past, she had always found the relationship between Qi Min and Prince Changxin’s Manor strange.

Lan Shi and Zhao Xun appeared to be servants of the manor, yet they constantly guarded against the people there.

At first, she had assumed it was because the Sui brothers were not biological siblings and therefore did not get along.

Later, after Prince Changxin and Sui Yuanqing both lost power, Qi Min staged his disappearance.

To do so, he had even killed Princess Changxin, the aunt who had treated him like her own son.

Only then did Yu Qianqian realize how terrifying he truly was.

At the time, blood from the murder had covered his face.

He had placed the dagger into the dead princess’s hand and staged the scene as a suicide.

Unfortunately, Yu Qianqian had lifted the curtain and walked in at exactly that moment.

Even now, she still had nightmares about the look Qi Min gave her when he raised his head.

He was like a venomous viper hiding in the shadows, waiting patiently for the perfect moment to strike.

Yu Qianqian said,

“I’ve always felt that Qi Min especially hates the Sui family.”

“Perhaps there was a reason Crown Princess Chengde chose the Sui family as his hiding place all those years ago.”

The speaker had not meant much by the remark.

The listener, however, took it seriously.

After leaving Yu Qianqian, Fan Changyu remained distracted throughout the journey back.

Xie Zheng tapped the small table inside the carriage.

“What are you thinking about?”

Fan Changyu replied,

“Qianqian said Qi Min seems to hate the Sui family.”

“And Crown Princess Chengde probably didn’t hide him there on a whim.”

Xie Zheng narrowed his eyes.

“Prince Changxin is dead.”

“Sui Yuanqing is still in my custody.”

“Once we capture Qi Min, we’ll interrogate him properly.”

Fan Changyu asked,

“Was the message Xie Eleven brought earlier about Qi Min?”

Xie Zheng nodded.

“The Blood-Clad Cavalry has already tracked him down through Li Huai’an.”

During the previous pursuit, Qi Min had escaped with the help of Li family death warriors and imperial shadow guards.

Xie Zheng had lost their trail.

But Li Huai’an’s secret departure from Lu City to rendezvous with Qi Min had conveniently shown Xie Zheng’s men exactly where to go.

—

The torrential rain had finally stopped.

Water still dripped from the broken roof tiles of the ruined temple.

Yet beneath the eaves, the puddles had turned the color of rouge.

Corpses littered the ground.

Blood dyed the rainwater crimson.

Li Huai’an lay at the temple entrance, blood spilling from his mouth.

When he saw Sui Yuanqing advancing toward Qi Min with spear in hand, he struggled to rise and stop him.

But he was too late.

All he could do was cry out hoarsely,

“Your Highness, run! Run!”

Sui Yuanqing stepped on Li Huai’an’s hand.

Looking at his pain-twisted face, he sneered.

“The Li family really knows how to raise loyal dogs.”

“A pity you’ve chosen the wrong master.”

Step by step, he approached Qi Min, who remained seated beside the fire.

The blood-soaked tassel beneath the spearhead dragged across the stone floor, leaving thick crimson droplets behind.

Outside, the Blood-Clad Cavalry had already dealt with the remaining death warriors.

Seeing Sui Yuanqing preparing to kill Qi Min, one of them shouted,

“The Marquis ordered that he be taken alive!”

Sui Yuanqing flashed a grin.

His eyes burned with the madness and exhilaration of impending revenge.

“What does Xie Zheng’s order have to do with me?”

“You think I’m afraid of the poison you people forced into me?”

“Once I kill this bastard, I’ll go join my father and mother in the underworld!”

Several cavalrymen rushed in to stop him.

With a single sweep of his spear, Sui Yuanqing sent them flying.

Pointing the spear directly at Qi Min’s throat, he sneered.

“You’ve spent more than ten years living under someone else’s name.”

“I doubt you have any last words worth hearing.”

Qi Min calmly addressed him.

“Qingdi.”

A vein bulged violently on Sui Yuanqing’s forehead.

The spearhead slashed forward.

A bloody wound immediately opened from the corner of Qi Min’s mouth to his cheek.

“You don’t deserve to call me that!”

For half his life, Sui Yuanqing had deceived and manipulated others.

Yet this was the first time he had ever been deceived so thoroughly himself.

More than ten years of brotherhood had all been a lie.

The elder brother who had been disfigured by fire, moody and unpredictable, yet always called him Qingdi and urged him to study diligently—

That had all been a lie too.

Blood trickled from the corner of Qi Min’s mouth.

Yet his expression remained calm.

Lowering his eyes, he said,

“At this point, I should still apologize.”

“Believe it or not, I never intended to harm you.”

The words only added fuel to the fire.

In a rage, Sui Yuanqing abandoned his spear altogether and lunged forward, grabbing Qi Min by the collar.

“Never intended to harm me?”

His voice cracked from shouting.

“Or simply never got the chance?”

“My mother treated you like her own son!”

“How could you possibly—”

Before he could finish, a sudden chill pierced his chest.

Blood surged into his throat.

Looking down, he saw a dagger buried in the left side of his chest.

The hand gripping the dagger belonged to Qi Min.

Struggling to lift his head, Sui Yuanqing looked at him.

A smile more painful than tears appeared on his face.

“…Never intended to harm me… at all?”

Without blinking, Qi Min shoved the dagger another inch deeper.

Watching Sui Yuanqing’s body convulse, he said coldly,

“You actually believed that?”

“Then your death isn’t undeserved.”

Sui Yuanqing could no longer support himself.

He collapsed to his knees.

Tears rolled from his blood-red eyes.

“…I always… always treated you as my brother…”

Qi Min expressionlessly pulled out the dagger.

Without sparing the corpse behind him another glance, he said coldly,

“This is all a debt your Sui family owes me.”

Li Huai’an, lying at the temple entrance, was utterly stunned by the sudden turn of events.

When Qi Min stopped before him, he said,

“I originally assumed you were one of them.”

“But since you’re loyal to me, I won’t kill you.”

Blood covered half of his slashed face.

Looking down from that angle, he resembled a ghost wearing human skin.

For a moment, Li Huai’an felt completely frozen beneath that gaze.

Outside, the Blood-Clad Cavalry realized something was wrong and charged toward Qi Min.

Suddenly, another group of shadow guards descended from the temple roof.

Their attacks were as swift as lightning.

In the blink of an eye, the cavalrymen were dead.

A cold sweat broke out across Li Huai’an’s body.

Qi Min’s shadow guards had not been wiped out at all.

He had prepared a second contingency plan from the very beginning.

Watching a shadow guard retrieve a black iron command token from one of the fallen cavalrymen, Qi Min picked it up and tossed it to Li Huai’an.

His eyes fixed on him like a venomous serpent.

“Go.”

“Bring my people back to me.”

Li Huai’an accepted the bloodstained token.

Then he glanced behind him.

Lan Shi’s body still lay beside the fire, exactly where she had died protecting Qi Min at the very beginning.

A chill spread through his entire body.

If the person the Li family intended to place on the throne truly succeeded…

Would he really become a wise ruler?