{"id":3892,"date":"2026-06-07T19:12:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T19:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pursuit-of-jade-94\/"},"modified":"2026-06-07T19:12:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T19:12:46","slug":"pursuit-of-jade-94","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pt\/chapter\/pursuit-of-jade-94\/","title":{"rendered":"Pursuit of Jade 94"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 94

Grand Tutor Tao considered himself fairly familiar with his stubborn disciple’s temperament.

But after Fan Changyu had been taken away, he suddenly found himself feeling uneasy.

He kept glancing out the carriage window, and eventually got out altogether, pacing around the carriage while repeatedly looking toward the direction in which Xie Zheng had taken Fan Changyu.

The young general leading the troops approached him and asked,

“Grand Tutor, the army has been resting here for quite some time. Should we… continue marching?”

With his hands clasped behind his back, Grand Tutor Tao gazed into the distance and replied,

“Let’s wait a little longer.”

The young general cupped his fists and withdrew.

Changning poked her head out of the carriage window and rested her chin on the frame.

“Grandpa, when is Big Sister coming back?”

Grand Tutor Tao’s own heart was unsettled at the moment. He couldn’t even be bothered correcting her form of address.

“They should be back soon.”

He reasoned that even if his troublesome disciple was furious and intended to drag Fan Changyu away on the spot, there was still a little one here.

Surely he wouldn’t leave the child behind.

The thought reassured him somewhat.

Suddenly, Changning, who was hanging out the window, cried out in delight.

“Big Sister!”

Grand Tutor Tao immediately looked up.

He saw that troublesome disciple of his, who had left with storm clouds hanging over his face, now calmly leading a horse as he escorted his newly adopted daughter back.

Watching the scene, Grand Tutor Tao couldn’t help thinking:

Everything in this world has its natural nemesis.

After dismounting at the gentle slope, Fan Changyu had walked beside Xie Zheng all the way back.

Her lips still tingled painfully.

Touching them lightly, she suspected they were swollen.

Fan Changyu felt she needed to learn her lesson.

She couldn’t keep biting him every time.

This time she had completely suffered a loss instead.

When he’d bitten back, he had been far worse than she was.

For one terrifying moment, she’d genuinely thought he might swallow her whole.

His breathing had been extremely unsteady.

He’d held her for a long time, breathing heavily, and had bitten her several more times near the teeth marks on her shoulder.

Well, perhaps “bitten” wasn’t quite the right word.

The skin wasn’t broken, and it didn’t really hurt.

But he’d left quite a few red marks.

The moment she saw Grand Tutor Tao, Fan Changyu worried he might notice her swollen lips.

She kept her lips pressed together as much as possible while speaking.

“Foster Father.”

Before Grand Tutor Tao could examine her carefully, Changning shot out of the carriage like a nimble little rabbit.

Opening her arms wide, she rushed toward Fan Changyu.

“Big Sister, carry me!”

Fan Changyu picked up her sister and laughed helplessly.

“Is Ningniang made of sticky rice cake? I’ve never seen anyone this clingy.”

Changning merely hummed and wrapped her arms around Fan Changyu’s neck, refusing to let go.

Then she noticed Xie Zheng watching her from the corner of her eye and obediently called out,

“Brother-in-law.”

Ever since she’d stabbed Xie Zheng awake with an embroidery needle and seen his terrifying expression afterward, she’d been somewhat afraid of him.

Hearing her call him that, Xie Zheng gave a slight nod before turning his attention to Grand Tutor Tao.

Although his gaze was much calmer now, Grand Tutor Tao still felt inexplicably guilty under it.

Xie Zheng said,

“I’ll leave her in Teacher’s care.”

Grand Tutor Tao understood immediately.

This was his way of asking him to protect Fan Changyu.

His expression grew serious.

“I finally managed to gain an adopted daughter. Naturally I’ll treasure her like a precious jewel. You don’t need to tell me that.”

After Fan Changyu and Changning climbed back into the carriage, the army prepared to move out again.

Xie Zheng sat atop his horse beside the road.

The wind sweeping through the forest billowed his robes around his tall figure.

Fan Changyu lifted the carriage curtain and looked at him.

“I’m leaving.”

Xie Zheng nodded.

“Be careful on the road.”

Changning squeezed her head out from a corner of the carriage window and clung to the frame.

“Ningniang is leaving too.”

With her sister beside her, she wasn’t nearly as afraid of her brother-in-law anymore.

She even waved her little chubby hand goodbye.

Xie Zheng had very little experience dealing with children and didn’t know how to indulge them.

All he could say was,

“Listen to your sister.”

Changning puffed up proudly.

“Ningniang is very obedient!”

At that moment, an eagle’s cry sounded from the sky.

The sea eagle that had located Xie Zheng dove down from above.

He raised an arm, and the bird landed steadily on it.

Changning’s eyes instantly lit up.

“Falcon!”

To Fan Changyu’s surprise, Xie Zheng extended his arm toward the carriage window.

“Take the sea eagle with you. It delivers messages quickly.”

Fan Changyu asked,

“What about you?”

Xie Zheng replied,

“If you send it with a letter, it’ll find me.”

“But if I send it from my side, it may not be able to find you.”

Before Fan Changyu could respond, Changning had already shouted,

“Ningniang will raise chicks to feed the falcon!”

Beside them, Grand Tutor Tao said,

“Girl, this brat is being generous for once in his life. Don’t be polite.”

“So many years have passed, and he never bothered showing this old man any filial devotion. Now he’ll hand over any good thing he has…”

His tone was rather sour.

Sure enough, the old saying was true.

A son forgets his parents once he gets a wife.

As half a father himself, his treatment hadn’t been much better.

Then again, this half daughter-in-law was also his adopted daughter now.

Having a crafty brat with eight hundred schemes in his head protecting his simple-minded adopted daughter wasn’t exactly a bad thing.

The sourness vanished, replaced by genuine satisfaction.

In the end, Changning happily carried the sea eagle into the carriage.

The carriage rolled forward slowly among the infantry formation.

Xie Zheng turned to Xie Wu and Xie Qi, who sat mounted behind him.

“Go.”

“Protect her well.”

The two men cupped their fists.

“Yes, Marquis.”

Then they rode after the army.

Xie Zheng remained at the roadside with the rest of his guards.

Only after the tail of the Jizhou Army disappeared from sight did he pull on the reins and turn his horse around.

“Return to camp.”

\u2014

Yanzhou Military Camp.

When Gongsun Yin learned that Xie Zheng had personally chased after Fan Changyu and still failed to bring her back, he happily waved his fan and came over, intending to offer a few words of mock consolation.

Unexpectedly, the moment he entered camp, he found a tent packed with Yanzhou’s senior generals and advisers.

Xie Zheng sat at the head of the gathering in a black fitted robe.

Maps of Kang City and its defenses lay spread before him as he discussed military strategy with his commanders.

The dejected image Gongsun Yin had imagined was nowhere to be found.

Upon seeing him, Xie Zheng directly tossed a map over.

“Perfect timing. You can guide them on the siege tactics for the western gate.”

Gongsun Yin caught the map with both hands.

After glancing at the newly marked positions, he clicked his tongue.

“Wasn’t the plan to keep Kang City trapped and wait until He Jingyuan captures Chongzhou before making a move?”

After all, the entire purpose of besieging Kang City had been to occupy themselves after giving up the military merit from Chongzhou and provide the court with something to watch.

If they captured Kang City too quickly, they would still end up having to reinforce Chongzhou afterward.

That would risk dragging them back into the struggle between Wei Yan and the Li family.

Xie Zheng lifted his cold phoenix eyes.

A faint smile curved his lips.

“Who said I intend to take Kang City directly?”

Gongsun Yin studied the markings again.

Puzzled, he asked,

“Isn’t this a rapid assault strategy?”

Xie Zheng replied,

“If I remove every claw the rebels possess and leave them barely clinging to life afterward, that’s still considered wearing them down.”

Gongsun Yin pondered this.

The logic wasn’t wrong.

But their original plan had been to surround the city without attacking, exhaust the rebels’ patience, and then strike.

Why suddenly change tactics?

The discussion continued until deep into the night.

Eventually the generals and advisers departed one by one.

After draining a cup of tea to soothe his throat, Gongsun Yin finally asked,

“Failed to bring her back, so now you’re planning to vent your frustration through a battle?”

The central command tent glowed brightly under candlelight.

Reflections from the black iron bracer at Xie Zheng’s wrist shimmered coldly.

Holding a bamboo scroll, he said,

“Three days.”

“I want Kang City reduced to the point where it can only defend itself and no longer has the strength to send out troops.”

Looking up at Gongsun Yin, he continued,

“After three days, you’ll take command of the siege. Wait for news of Chongzhou’s fall, then break through the gates.”

Gongsun Yin thought over his words.

Suddenly his expression changed.

“You’re planning to dump this mess on me?”

Xie Zheng glanced at him.

“If I leave after crippling the rebels and you still can’t hold the siege, then you needn’t continue serving under me.”

At that point, how could Gongsun Yin fail to understand?

Xie Zheng had rushed back to arrange all of this for a reason.

Thinking about how he had ridden after Fan Changyu in such a hurry only to return defeated, Gongsun Yin suddenly felt much less wronged about being left behind at Kang City.

Waving his fan, he decided to offer some advice before his friend allowed emotion to cloud his judgment.

“Alright, alright.”

“So in three days, you’re heading to Chongzhou to see Miss Fan?”

“Don’t blame her for being heartless.”

“I actually think joining the Jizhou Army isn’t a bad thing for her.”

“Although He Jingyuan handed the military tally over to you, if Li Huaian truly discovers something in Jizhou and succeeds in bringing He Jingyuan down, that tally will eventually be reclaimed by the court.”

“If Miss Fan can become a general in Jizhou, and with Grand Tutor Tao supporting her, at least Jizhou’s military authority won’t fall into someone else’s hands.”

Xie Zheng replied,

“A man’s ambitions ultimately amount to little more than bringing honor to his wife and descendants.”

“This Marquis isn’t so incompetent that I need a woman to secure military power for me.”

“If I wanted Jizhou, I simply wouldn’t hand over the tally.”

“As for the Li faction and the Wei faction, do you really think court schemes can withstand iron cavalry and bloody blades?”

“In the end, it would only require killing a few more people.”

As he spoke, his expression remained utterly cold.

Only indifference remained in his eyes.

Even Gongsun Yin, who knew him well, felt a chill run down his spine.

Xie Zheng continued calmly,

“But if all those people are killed, the imperial court becomes an empty shell.”

“Government policies still need people to carry them out at every level.”

“Otherwise the common people will suffer even greater chaos.”

He casually rotated the white jade qilin ring on his thumb.

“Reforms throughout history have taken ten years, sometimes decades.”

“After all, you must first cultivate people capable of filling those positions before replacing everyone.”

Then he gave a faint snort.

“That’s a problem for the little emperor to worry about.”

“This Marquis has no interest in burdening himself with it.”

Gongsun Yin silently thought it was fortunate Xie Zheng had no interest in the throne.

Otherwise, with Wei Yan in front and this wolf behind him, the young emperor would probably live in constant terror.

The fact that he hadn’t already frightened himself to death was proof of heaven’s mercy.

Perplexed, Gongsun Yin asked,

“Then are you planning to bring Miss Fan back after three days?”

Given Xie Zheng’s temperament, if he truly intended to force her back, he shouldn’t have returned empty-handed today.

Lowering his gaze to the bamboo scroll in his hand, Xie Zheng replied,

“Her aspirations lie on this path.”

“I can protect her.”

“But I shouldn’t stop her.”

Gongsun Yin shuddered so hard goosebumps rose on his arms.

“Then let’s hope Miss Fan appreciates your feelings.”

Suddenly, Xie Zheng said,

“I’ve heard many women admire you.”

Gongsun Yin immediately sat up straighter.

Even the way he waved his fan became more elegant.

“Not many, not many. It’s only that every time I go out, admirers practically fill carts with gifts.”

Without even lifting his head, Xie Zheng continued reading.

“Has any woman ever admired you because of your wisdom and talent, and then resolved to study diligently so she could become a sage herself?”

Gongsun Yin opened his mouth.

Before he could think of an answer, Xie Zheng added,

“She said she wants to walk the road I’ve walked.”

“She wants to become someone like me.”

Gongsun Yin froze.

Only then did he finally understand what Xie Zheng had been trying to say all along.

No wonder he had returned in such a state.

Gongsun Yin’s face twisted with envy.

Flinging his sleeve dramatically, he stood up.

“Farewell!”<\/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-3892","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3892","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3892"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3892\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3893,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3892\/revisions\/3893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3892"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"novel","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/novel?post=3892"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}