Chapter 58: Little Jade Sword: Blep~

From Hexi Prefecture, traveling east along Mawang Mountain, then transferring to a boat heading south, entering the Qu River from the Wei River waterway, all the way to the dock outside the west city gate of the Capital Prefecture.

It took Chen Ke half a month to return to the Capital Prefecture.

A bitter winter seemed to follow in his footsteps; the bone-chilling cold reminiscent of Mount Wuliang swept across the Capital Prefecture at this very moment.

The difference was that this place was far more vibrant.

Just like the porters on the docks, still dressed in single layers despite the severe weather, hoisting two heavy two-hundred-jin hemp sacks at once, their steaming sweat dispelling the cold.

Yet more people went about wearing thick cotton-padded coats and plush felt hats, their hands tucked into opposite sleeves as they threaded through the streets and alleys.

Compared to them, the long robe Chen Ke had worn on his journey to Mount Wuliang made anyone who looked at him feel cold, to say nothing of his slightly aged yet exceptionally calm face.

"Steward Chen, you've finally returned."

An elongated-faced servant in a cotton-padded coat, waiting here, greeted him with a fawning smile and enthusiastically draped a heavy cloak over his shoulders.

Then, scanning his surroundings and maintaining his smile, he lowered his voice. "The Marquis is in a towering rage. Please be careful."

Chen Ke fastened the cord at his collar and walked out toward the dock.

"Tell me something I don't know."

Trotting along behind him, the long-faced servant recounted the major and minor events that had occurred in the Capital Prefecture and the Marquis Jingye's Estate during his absence.

Most matters concerned the inside and outside of the Marquis's Estate, interwoven with quite a few details regarding the recruitment for the Jingye Army.

"Aside from that matter, the Marquis summoned you back primarily to make preparations for garrisoning the Beixiong Pass three years from now."

"The current Jingye Army has been newly established for less than ten years, and the majority of them have never experienced the demon battlefield. The Marquis worries that during the next border defense, the northern side will take advantage of the new recruits' weakness to launch a southern assault on Beixiong Pass."

Chen Ke gave a slight nod and asked, "Has the deputy commander been decided?"

"The shadow guard, Chou Long."

"If it's him, he should be able to detect the traces of demons in advance. Not bad."

"I heard the Marquis originally intended for Chou Long to head to the Taixu Dao Sect, but it didn't work out in the end," the long-faced servant said, hesitating for a moment before speaking close to his ear.

Chen Ke did not reply immediately. It was only after passing through the west city gate and getting into a carriage with the servant that he spoke.

"The Marquis has other plans. There's no need for me to trouble myself over them."

"It's good that you understand," the long-faced servant chuckled dryly. "This subordinate was merely worried that under the Marquis's great fury..."

"Tend to your own affairs."

The long-faced servant quickly shut his mouth, keeping a smiling face.

After cutting him off, Chen Ke pondered for a few seconds and continued, "Has there been any movement from the Marquis Wu'an's Estate?"

A trace of bitterness flashed across the long-faced servant's smile.

"Without your cover, and with the Marquis issuing several strict orders, quite a few of our skilled men were lost over there."

"Had we not kept a few backup plans in reserve, I fear that old fellow Chen Lixin would have seen through our foundations long ago."

"Even though we cut our losses in time, they should have uncovered some clues."

"As long as they haven't tracked it to Chou Long, there's no major problem." Looking through the carriage curtain at the bustling street corners of the Capital Prefecture, Chen Ke said indifferently, "What I fear most is that Marquis Wu'an Chen Taiping has been aware of this all along, but has simply chosen to conceal it without acting."

"This subordinate is also worried about this matter, especially since these past few days, the Marquis has already arranged for people to make a move against him."

Chen Ke frowned, a sharp, cold glint flashing through his turbid eyes.

"The Marquis has deployed those death-defying agents from that side again?!"

"It's probably not just that side," the long-faced servant said through clenched teeth. "Those two shadow guards who entered the Taixu Dao Sect should have received secret letters as well."

This was precisely what he had wanted to say earlier but held back.

Having painstakingly nurtured two shadow guards who successfully entered the sect, mobilizing them at this juncture—regardless of whether they succeeded or failed—would be a heavy loss.

"We aren't returning to the estate first. Go to Number Three's place!"

The long-faced servant hurriedly lifted the thick brocade curtain and stepped out. The coachman whipped the horse's back, turning south along Zhuque Street.

Chen Ke's brow remained tightly knitted, his mind still racing for countermeasures.

If they succeeded, the eldest miss over there would undoubtedly go mad.

Even if they failed, the Wu'an Marquis Chen family would likely go mad as well.

With one side bound to go mad either way, he could only clean up the loose ends as thoroughly as possible.

Fortunately, the words he had left for the Unyielding Blade Yan Hai on Mount Wuliang should ensure that the latter would diligently instruct Chen Yuan.

As for what would happen in the future, Chen Ke could no longer afford to care.

...

Marquis Wu'an's Estate, Fanghua Garden.

As dusk approached, snowflakes began to drift from the sky, each flake striking the bluestone pavement and shattering into tiny white blossoms.

Holding a hand warmer, Xia Wanwan gazed at the weather outside, a lingering gentle smile on her tender face.

"Today is Yi'er's birthday. If only he were still in the estate."

"Indeed, Young Master Yi always loved snowy days. I remember hearing him talk about things like 'scattering snow' or 'flying immortals beyond the heavens' in the past."

The wet nurse, Luro, coaxed little Chen Fan while smilingly replying.

Xia Wanwan's smile faded slightly, as if recalling the days when Chen Yi was still by her side, and she unconsciously grasped the small jade sword on her wrist.

Falling into a brief silence, she came back to her senses and hurriedly instructed Luro to add an extra layer of cotton padding beneath Chen Fan to prevent him from catching a cold.

"Young Master Fan falls asleep for half a day at a time, and when he wakes up, he doesn't cry or make a fuss. He's just as well-behaved as Young Master Yi was when he was little."

"Yes, Sister Wanyi even remarked last time that Fan'er gives us less worry than Yuan'er."

With that, Xia Wanwan glanced out the window again.

"Judging by the time, she and the Old Madame should be returning from the Dacong Temple soon."

"It should be soon now."

Just as she spoke, Luro saw someone outside the window step past guards like Ding San and Si to walk inward, prompting her to say with a smile:

"Look, Madam, Chunlan has come. She must be here to take Young Master Fan back."

"Is that so?"

Xia Wanwan glanced over, handed the hand warmer she was holding to her, and smiled. "Warm her hands with it first; don't let little Fan'er catch a chill."

Luro acknowledged the order, took the hand warmer, and walked to the doorway. Just as she was about to speak upon meeting Chunlan, she felt a sharp pain in her chest.

Her smile froze stiffly. Dumbfounded, she stared at the dagger protruding from her chest, and the hand warmer dropped to the ground with a clatter.

Without waiting for her to fall, Chunlan flashed into the room. Ignoring Xia Wanwan, who had not yet reacted, she rushed straight toward the swaddled Chen Fan.

"Audacious!"

At that very moment, Ding San, standing guard outside, heard the commotion, his heart freezing as he let out an explosive roar.

This made Chunlan's expression grow even more anxious, while also snapping Xia Wanwan out of her stupor.

"Stop!"

Seeing Chunlan charge toward Chen Fan, Xia Wanwan cast all else aside, lunging forward to shield little Chen Fan behind her.

"Will you stop at once?!"

Seeing this, Chunlan wore a ruthless expression and thrust her dagger directly at her.

"Second Madam, since you're courting death, then go die!"

Xia Wanwan widened her beautiful eyes, a hint of fear flashing across her expression, yet the image of Chen Yi surfaced in her heart.

Yi'er, mother only fears she won't live to see you marry...

Before she could finish her thought, she felt a tremendous force transmit from her wrist, pulling her arm along to sweep forward.

Swoosh!

A cold glint swept out from her wrist, freezing Chunlan in mid-charge.

"You, you, how can this be?"

Incredulous, Chunlan stared at Xia Wanwan. Reflected in her gradually hollowing pupils was a small jade sword.

In a daze, she fancied she saw a little girl making a funny face at her.

What was that?

A ghost?

As Chunlan collapsed to the ground, lifeless, Ding San rushed into the inner chamber and anxiously checked over the scene.

Upon confirming that Xia Wanwan and Chen Fan were unharmed, a cold sweat broke out across his back, leaving him lingering in terror.

"Someone come!"

"Quickly take Luro away for medical treatment!"

"And go report this to the Second Master and the Second Young Master, ask them to come to Fanghua Garden immediately!"

Only then did Xia Wanwan snap back to reality, lowering her head to look at the small jade sword on her wrist.

This sword?

Yi'er, did you save your mother?

Seeming to sense her thoughts, the small jade sword spun around a few times and made a funny face at her as well.

Nyah nyah nyah...