Chapter 14

Chapter 14: You Saw the Body with Your Own Eyes?

The newcomer was clearly here for the Xie family.

Some prisoners watched with cold satisfaction. Others looked uneasy, worried it would become everyone’s problem—which, in an exile convoy, it usually did.

The young master wore splendid clothes, and guards stood flanking him. He wasn’t ordinary.

Xie Yu Chuan studied him and didn’t recognize him.

Huai Ting Pass lay more than fifty li from the capital. It was the last relay station many officials passed before entering the city.

Compared to the previous station under Song Jiang Town, it was even more shabby—built for officials and couriers to stop briefly, rest, and move on. People rarely drank and amused themselves here.

Xiong Jiu Shan had escorted exiles this way before and never once run into a scene like this.

This time, he’d wanted to avoid trouble and simply bypass the relay station’s “benefactors.”

But that young master had waited by the roadside, watching for the convoy to set out.

When a subordinate reported it, Xiong Jiu Shan cursed under his breath and hurried from the back of the line to the front.

He hated dealing with people who didn’t follow rules—especially the kind who thought rules existed for everyone else.

He remembered the man. This was the same one who’d asked at the relay station whether the Xie family was among the exiles.

Xiong Jiu Shan’s head throbbed.

Ever since the Xie family left the capital, the road hadn’t been quiet for a single day.

And if this was what happened near the city…

He didn’t want to imagine the rest.

As for Huai Ting Pass, Xie Yu Chuan wasn’t unfamiliar with it.

When he had been carried back to the capital with severe wounds, he had changed dressings here, straightened his appearance, and then gone on to the palace to see the emperor.

Now, passing through again a month later, he was a condemned man in chains.

He couldn’t imagine who had nothing better to do than wait here just to mock him.

He didn’t bother responding. His cold gaze slid past, and he kept walking.

A folding fan snapped open and slid into his path.

“Young General,” the man said pleasantly, “why rush?”

Xie Yu Chuan’s eyes dropped to the fan held before his shackles.

Green bamboo ribs. A white jade pendant. A gold-wrapped tassel.

A token of the Guan Xi You clan.

Xie Yu Chuan’s brows tightened. “You’re from the You family?”

The young master’s smile widened. “Young General has sharp eyes. I’m You Zhan.”

He fanned himself lightly as if they were meeting at a garden party, not on a road lined with chained prisoners.

Xie Yu Chuan’s expression didn’t change. “I have no dealings with the You family.”

“Doesn’t matter,” You Zhan said easily. “Knowing you’re Xie Liu Lang is enough.”

His purpose was unclear. Xie Yu Chuan’s gaze darkened, and he tried to walk around him.

You Zhan froze, then quickly stepped back and cut him off again, like a man determined to argue with an ox cart and win.

Xie Yu Chuan looked up, impatience flashing. “I’m already an exile. Young Master You—do as you please.”

Behind them, heavy footsteps approached, followed by a shout.

“What’s going on up front?!”

Xiong Jiu Shan’s voice was directed at the prisoners—but it was meant for the man blocking the road.

You Zhan watched him approach and smiled politely. “Official Xiong, apologies for the disturbance. I am You Zhan. I have some questions for the Xie family. Please do me a favor.”

One of the guards behind You Zhan produced a money pouch and offered it.

Xiong Jiu Shan didn’t take it. The yamen runner beside him didn’t dare either.

Xie Yu Chuan stood between them, steady and unruffled.

Xiong Jiu Shan looked at You Zhan, then turned to Xie Yu Chuan. “What’s your connection?”

“I don’t know him,” Xie Yu Chuan replied.

Xiong Jiu Shan’s gaze flicked back to You Zhan.

Seeing the bribe ignored, You Zhan’s smile thinned. He thought for a beat, then tilted his head toward his guard.

“Go invite Official Han.”

The convoy couldn’t be held up for a single person. Xiong Jiu Shan ordered his men to drive the other prisoners forward. As for the Xie family—especially Xie Yu Chuan—he kept four soldiers to guard them, determined to see what You Zhan was really after.

The yamen runners tried to shove the rest of the Xie family forward.

The Xie family refused to move.

They would rather take the whip than leave Xie Yu Chuan behind.

You Zhan watched them, and something complicated flashed through his eyes.

Official Han arrived quickly, and the stink of alcohol hit before he did.

Xie Yu Chuan frowned. He recognized the man vaguely, and an ugly suspicion formed.

As soon as Official Han arrived, You Zhan greeted him with a smile. “Xie Liu Lang and I have a private grudge. It won’t take long. Official Han—please say a few good words for me in front of Official Xiong.”

Official Han laughed drunkenly. “Easy! Easy! Young Master You rarely comes to the capital. If you have business, Han will do his best.”

He pulled out a waist token and tossed it toward Xiong Jiu Shan, his tone rough and disdainful now.

“It’s just a bunch of exiled convicts,” he barked. “Delaying a little doesn’t matter. What rotten rules are you clinging to?”

Xiong Jiu Shan swallowed his displeasure, flipped the token, and stared.

His expression shifted.

The next instant, he returned the token with both hands, respectful to the point of stiffness. When he spoke again, his tone toward You Zhan was noticeably more polite.

“I only need Xie Yu Chuan,” Xiong Jiu Shan said.

At that, several Xie men surged forward, surrounding Xie Yu Chuan, eyes locked on You Zhan.

A yamen runner stormed over, furious, trying to drag them off. Punches, kicks—nothing moved them. The Xie men were trained, and they held their ground like stakes hammered into earth.

Xie Yu Chuan stared at You Zhan, eyes cold.

Then he spoke to his family without looking away. “You go first.”

He wanted to hear what this man had to say.

“Yu Chuan, no!” Xie Zhen’s voice broke.

“Sixth Brother, he’s not here with good intentions,” someone snapped.

Xie Yu Chuan’s jaw tightened. “It’s fine. Go. Young Master You won’t do anything to an exile like me.”

He turned his head slightly. “He Zhi—take everyone and go.”

Xie Wu Ying studied Xie Yu Chuan’s expression, weighed it, then nodded. He turned and led the family forward under escort, even as they looked back again and again, unwilling to leave.

Xiong Jiu Shan couldn’t leave. But with Official Han backing You Zhan, he also couldn’t stand nose-to-nose with the man. He retreated several steps and waited at a distance—close enough to intervene, far enough not to offend.

Official Han had made his display. Now he looked pleased with himself and wandered back to drink with his companions.

In the middle of the road, Xie Yu Chuan and You Zhan faced each other alone.

You Zhan’s smile faded. His eyes turned sharp.

“Sixth Young Master,” he said, voice low, “do you know what ties your Third Brother, Xie Yu Heng, has with my eldest sister?”

Xie Yu Chuan froze.

His third brother’s affairs with women? How would he know?

And besides—

His third brother had died on the battlefield. That much, he believed, was beyond question.

One look at Xie Yu Chuan’s face told You Zhan he didn’t know the history between You Zhan’s sister and the Xie family’s Third Young Master.

You Zhan’s voice dropped further, so only the two of them could hear.

“My eldest sister ran away from home with a You family treasure for Xie Yu Heng,” he said, each word clipped and controlled. “She has never returned. If you have any news of Xie San Lang, you will tell me truthfully.”

Xie Yu Chuan’s brows drew tight. His expression darkened.

“Young Master You,” he said, voice rough, “my Third Brother died fighting in the northwest.”

You Zhan gave a cold, unimpressed snort.

“You saw the body with your own eyes?”

Xie Yu Chuan’s head rang, as if someone had struck a bell inside his skull.

He grabbed You Zhan by the collar in a flash. “What did you say?”

You Zhan’s guard rushed forward.

Xie Yu Chuan kicked him back without even turning fully, yanked You Zhan aside, and hissed, “Say it again. Repeat what you just said.”

You Zhan hadn’t even had time to answer when a startled voice burst into Xie Yu Chuan’s ear.

“Xie Yu Chuan, what is wrong with your head?”