Before producing the Commander's Token in front of Zong Quanwu, Ye Jiao had retrieved a piece of jade from her sleeve. Under the gaze of the crowd, she had thrown it to the ground with apparent nonchalance. Yet now, in search of it again, she was turning the place upside down.
When word spread that the Commander had lost her jade, all the military officers sprang into action.
"What does the Commander's jade look like?""How big is it? What color? Where did she toss it?""Yes, yes, I remember—wasn't it in the grass?"
All the commanders, save for Bai Xianyu, bent down to scour the ground. One burly officer even crawled beneath a carriage, got stuck, and only managed to wriggle out after quite some time.
Bai Xianyu, meanwhile, opened the pastry box in his hands, selected the most intact piece of osmanthus cake, popped it into his mouth, and, chewing leisurely, said to Yan Congzheng beside him,"She looks frantic—most likely a gift from her sweetheart."
Yan Congzheng, who had just seen off Gao Fu, responded with seemingly casual indifference,"What does the jade look like?"
Bai Xianyu, familiar with Yan Congzheng, launched into a vivid description."About half a palm in size, fine sheep-fat jade, intricately carved with a deer motif. Must be worth a fortune."
He upended the remaining crumbs into his mouth, gloating,"Good that she lost it—serves her right for bullying me. Today, she nearly broke my neck. We're not done with that account."
As he spoke, he edged closer to Yan Congzheng and murmured,"Shift's ending soon. Want to join me for some flower wine?"
This Commander of the Imperial Guards was not easily persuaded, but Bai Xianyu never missed a chance to try. After all, he might just get lucky.
Yan Congzheng's eyes, however, never left Ye Jiao. She was half-squatting, her long crimson gauze gown fanned around her like silk flames. Her peach-blossom eyes brimmed with urgency, panic, and sorrow as she searched inch by inch, everything else forgotten. Everyone else forgotten.
Having long served in the imperial palace, Yan Congzheng remembered every noble's attire and accessories. White jade with deer carvings, palm-sized, exquisitely wrought—that jade belonged to His Highness, the Ninth Prince, Lord Chu.
He used to wear it constantly, until he replaced it with a peach-shaped gold pendant. Then the jade vanished—so he had given it to Ye Jiao.
Even if they had parted ways—even if she had slashed at his carriage with a blade—she still couldn't bear to discard the token he had given her.
"Commander, it's time to go," his subordinate reminded him. Yan Congzheng turned away, momentarily dazed.
"Let's go."
The noonday sun was harsh. He lowered his gaze, his fingers unconsciously brushing the front of the saddle—where a young lady had once perched sideways, her brows charming, her skirt fluttering like a flame.
The Imperial Guard took away Zong Quanwu and his dozen carriages. The officers practically turned the city gate plaza upside down, yet still could not find the jade.
"Stop looking!" Ye Jiao barked, frustrated. "Take our people to the physician, now!"
She didn't even know the name of the young commander who had been struck.
A group immediately dashed off to care for him.
Ye Jiao added, "The rest of you, return to the command post to divide the silver reward."
In an instant, even those tending the injured vanished without a trace.
Fuming, she declared,"Very well. Then we won't divide the silver until he's healed."
This time, the officers hoisted the wounded man up and bolted toward the pharmacy like their lives depended on it.
Her first day in command had gone reasonably well, except—
Ye Jiao glanced at the empty ground and slapped her forehead.Why had she thrown the jade?She hadn't truly meant to part with it. She had simply been upset in the moment.
So who had taken it?
Scoundrel!
—
In a secluded courtyard within Prince Zhao's residence, a man in his thirties, clad in a dark-blue short-sleeved robe and tall boots, knelt on one knee and presented the white jade with both hands.
His face was unremarkable—so much so that in a crowd, he would pass as a common man, completely unnoticed. But his narrow, slanted eyes betrayed a wary sharpness and quiet competence.
"Your Highness," he said, "I happened upon this on the road."
Li Ce turned his head slowly, his gaze briefly pained, though his expression remained calm.
"It's Your Highness's jade!" the attendant Qingfeng exclaimed, rushing over. "Brother Yanyun, where did you find it?"
"At the city gate," the man named Yanyun replied. "An extraordinarily beautiful young lady discarded it amidst the commotion. I recognized it—this jade was once Your Highness's personal belonging and also serves as the key to the hidden chamber."
A stunning young lady. It could only be Ye Jiao.
Qingfeng took the jade awkwardly and passed it to Li Ce, who did not accept it. He simply lifted his eyes and said solemnly,"You've had a long journey. How are things at the imperial tomb?"
Yanyun respectfully answered,"Upon hearing that the Third Prince, Lord Qi, was headed to guard the tomb, I withdrew all our people from there. Before leaving, a few mischievous children dismantled the fences and traps meant to keep beasts out. Lord Qi is bound to face some hardships."
"No need to make things difficult for him," Li Ce said.
Yanyun nodded repeatedly, though a hint of concern lingered."Your Highness used to say there was no danger in the capital, so you could return freely. But has something happened now?"
As the head of Li Ce's secret guards, Yanyun was no mindless subordinate. He thought deeply, worried sincerely, and dared to ask.
Li Ce gave no answer. After a brief pause, he instructed,"Summon them all back. There is work to be done."
Qingfeng brightened,"Then it'll be lively again! We can celebrate the New Year together like last year, drink and welcome the dawn!"
"I'm afraid not," Yanyun stood and cast a scornful glance at Qingfeng."You've grown taller, but clearly not wiser. With everyone in the capital believing His Highness has neither estate nor guards, suddenly producing a hundred men would be far too conspicuous."
Qingfeng's excitement deflated instantly."I have grown wiser too, you know."
Not only wiser—he also knew many of Li Ce's secrets. Like which girl he liked, what food she enjoyed, what clothes she wore, and what jewelry she favored.
Joking and chatting, Qingfeng and Yanyun stepped outside. Afternoon sunlight spilled across the windowsill. Though it was only early September, a chill already lingered in the air.
Li Ce's gaze landed on the jade that Qingfeng had casually placed on the table. He reached for it—but hesitated. Instead, he walked to the window and stood there for a while, then turned back and finally picked up the jade.
He had gifted it to Ye Jiao as a token of apology. When he gave it, he had asked if they could be friends. She had agreed.
Yet now, it seemed even friendship was no longer possible.
Perhaps that was for the best. When he left the capital after completing his mission, she likely wouldn't feel much sorrow.
—
In the courtyard, Yanyun was recounting what had happened at the gate.
"That girl was nearly hurt by a military officer, but thankfully a commander of the Imperial Guards arrived just in time and scooped her up."
"Stop talking," Qingfeng hushed him.
"Why not?" Yanyun protested. "Why was the jade with that girl?"
He abruptly fell silent, as though something had just dawned on him. He covered his mouth and said no more.
"You're the one who's dense," Qingfeng grumbled, bumping Yanyun as he led him away.
"Commander of the Imperial Guards…" Li Ce murmured.
It must have been Yan Congzheng—her childhood companion.
When Yan Congzheng returned home from duty, he liked to remove his black tiger-patterned uniform and headband, tie his long hair up, and don a simple white robe with a round collar. Only a discreet peach blossom embroidered at the sleeve hinted at any embellishment.
He carried no sword, wore no armor, and gave no hint of his true station as Commander of the Left Imperial Guard. In truth, few even knew he was a military official.
He had never truly wished to become one.
Upon entering his home, he followed custom and first greeted his grandmother. His mother was there too and informed him that his father, Assistant Minister of Revenue Yan Lian, had already returned from court and was waiting in the study.
Yan Lian, holding the rank of fourth-grade official, looked displeased today.
"Though the court may belittle military men, Zong Quanwu's position still outranks mine. Why would you…"