Probing indirectly

Little Willow Lane, Liu Residence.

Jiang Zhizhou was not dead.

He had been certain he would die, never imagining that someone would save him at the very last moment.

And the person who had saved him was someone he had never expected—Yang Qing.

Now, Jiang Zhizhou reclined crookedly on the Soft Couch, his eyes turned elsewhere.

He had yet to decide how to face Yang Qing.

"Little Zhou, since when did you become so timid?"

Standing beside the Soft Couch, Yang Qing watched Jiang Zhizhou awkwardly turn his head away, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"How am I timid?"

Jiang Zhizhou could not help retorting.

"If you aren't timid, why won't you even look me in the eye? Where did that boldness go—the boldness that drove you through barrier after barrier to deliver that top-secret intelligence to me?"

At those words, Jiang Zhizhou's expression dimmed. "I simply didn't want the people of Northern Liang and Western Chu to suffer needless slaughter."

"But did you realize that your actions would plunge the Marquis of An's Residence into deep water and scorching flames? If you could remain hidden in Western Chu for so many years, there must have been a few people in Northern Liang who knew your identity."

A bitter smile rose to Jiang Zhizhou's lips. "We both serve as subjects. There's no need to spell out what that entails."

Yang Qing nodded. "True. Fortunately, that young emperor of yours still has some backbone. He censured you in public while commending you in private, and placed your clansmen under protection."

"His Majesty naturally knows which choice is best. Sadly, with a fierce tiger lurking at his side, every step he takes is like treading on thin ice."

Jiang Zhizhou sighed softly.

"Now that you've torn away all pretense with that person, I'm afraid you won't be able to return for the time being."

Jiang Zhizhou smiled faintly. "Indeed. Might I ask whether His Excellency the Military Commissioner would shelter me for a few days?"

"I keep no idlers here." Yang Qing shot him a sidelong glance.

"That's easily settled. We'll do as we used to: you handle things outside, and I'll manage things at home."

Jiang Zhizhou spoke quite casually.

"Ahem!"

Yang Qing did not know how to respond to those words. Jiang Zhizhou, meanwhile, slowly sat up on the Soft Couch after saying his piece.

"I've been lying here for so long. It's time I stretched my limbs."

With that, he made to get up.

"No hurry."

Yang Qing pressed a hand onto Jiang Zhizhou's shoulder. "The gong hasn't sounded for the real show yet. What harm is there in waiting?"

Jiang Zhizhou narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

With an air of nonchalance, Yang Qing said, "Wei Li was badly wounded in the last battle. He's staying here in Yan Prefecture to recuperate."

"Oh? Is that so?"

At the mention of Wei Li, Jiang Zhizhou's expression changed. "Rather than guard Yan Pass, Deputy General Wei came all the way to Yan Prefecture. Like the drunken old man whose heart wasn't set on the wine, he must have something else in mind!"

Yang Qing smiled too. "Naturally. If we don't play along, wouldn't we be letting all his 'kind intentions' go to waste?"

Jiang Zhizhou nodded. "Then let's watch for now and see how he intends to open this little opera."

As Yang Qing turned to leave, Jiang Zhizhou reached out to stop him. "The people of Yan Prefecture contributed a great deal to this battle at Yan Pass. I heard the Murong household did the most. They must be deeply attached to you, Lord Yang. In the future, if..."

Yang Qing spoke up. "In the future, I'll still be nothing more than Lord Yang. That is all."

With that, he gazed distantly outside. "For a dead man to return and bring up the past would only add to the sorrow."

Jiang Zhizhou parted his lips, wanting to say something, but in the end, no words came out.

Yang Qing withdrew his gaze and looked at Jiang Zhizhou again. "Just rest easy and recover."

Then Yang Qing strode out of the room, his figure soon disappearing around the corner.

Watching Yang Qing leave with a trace of haste bordering on panic, when he had always been so calm and composed, Jiang Zhizhou could not help sighing softly again.

Time flowed away like water. In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed as Jiang Zhizhou recuperated in the Yang Residence.

That day, as usual, Jiang Zhizhou took a fishing rod and strolled leisurely toward Pearl Lake, not far from the Yang Residence.

Pearl Lake was secluded. Like Little Willow Lane, it seldom saw visitors and was an ideal place for fishing and quiet contemplation.

It was also one of Jiang Zhizhou and Yang Qing's favorite peaceful retreats.

This time, however, Jiang Zhizhou had only just extended his fishing rod over the water when he noticed the faint reflection of another person on its surface.

He looked up in surprise, so startled that he nearly sent the Veil Hat on his head tumbling to the ground.

Murong Qian approached slowly and looked him straight in the eyes. "Jiang Zhizhou, you certainly seem to be enjoying a refined bit of leisure."

Jiang Zhizhou set down his fishing rod and said to her, "Qianqian, what brings you here?"

Murong Qian turned her gaze toward the still, unruffled waters of Pearl Lake and said softly, "What? You can come to Pearl Lake, but I can't?"

Jiang Zhizhou fell silent.

In the past, Pearl Lake had not only been his and Yang Qing's favorite retreat, but also the favorite retreat of this eldest young lady of the Murong Residence.

In that instant, a flicker of regret swept through Jiang Zhizhou's heart.

Perhaps he had lived at ease for so long that even his most basic vigilance had nearly worn away.

"Of course you can, Qianqian. Saying that makes us sound like strangers."

After a moment's surprise, Jiang Zhizhou regained his composure.

He smiled at Murong Qian. "It's been a long time since we last met. Qianqian, you've grown lovelier than the flowers themselves."

Murong Qian turned and spat in his direction. "None of your honeyed words! Ever since Brother Qing passed away, my heart has been like that of an old woman in her twilight years. What vitality could I possibly have left?"

Jiang Zhizhou's lips parted and closed again, but he made no sound.

Suddenly, he did not know what to say.

"But Jiang Zhizhou, I am rather curious. Why have you appeared here again?"

Murong Qian abruptly turned to face him, her eyes bright and piercing.

"I remember perfectly well how you said back then that, with Brother Qing gone, you would never return to Pearl Lake."

"Why have you come back here now? What's more, I hear you've had quite a few dealings with that military commissioner, Lord Yang?"

Faced with Murong Qian's pointed implications, Jiang Zhizhou said, "Back then, the Yang Family's greatest concern was the situation within and beyond Yan Pass. Now that I've heard of the great victory there, naturally I wanted to come and offer some comfort to an old friend's spirit. What's wrong with that?"

"Comfort an old friend's spirit? Your old friend remains where he always was. Whose spirit have you come here to comfort?"

Jiang Zhizhou sighed faintly. "The man living in Little Willow Lane may also bear the surname Yang, but he isn't someone you and I knew. Though I've had many dealings with him, it's only for the sake of the people of Yan Prefecture."

"Lord Yang has little support in Yan Prefecture. Naturally, we ought to lend him what help we can."

Murong Qian suddenly demanded sharply, "And nothing more?"

Jiang Zhizhou said, "Nothing more."

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