Knowing One's Own Merits and Faults

Murong Qian kept her gaze fixed on Jiang Zhizhou's face, hoping to read something from it.

But Jiang Zhizhou's expression was utterly unperturbed.

After studying him for a long while, Murong Qian withdrew her gaze, her long lashes lowering. "If that is so, then my efforts were needless."

With that, she turned to leave.

Jiang Zhizhou reached out to stop her, only to find that Murong Qian had walked away without so much as looking back.

As he watched her retreating figure disappear, Jiang Zhizhou lost all interest in fishing.

He silently put away his fishing rod, then slowly left the shores of Pearl Lake.

That evening, at the Yang Residence in Little Willow Lane.

Jiang Zhizhou, Bu Er, and Yang Qing sat together, eating by the light of a small oil lamp.

Recalling what had happened by Pearl Lake that day, Jiang Zhizhou weighed the matter over and over before finally deciding to speak.

"I ran into Murong Qian by Pearl Lake today."

Yang Qing's hand paused with his chopsticks still raised. Beside him, Bu Er also cast him a worried glance.

But Yang Qing's hesitation was brief.

His expression soon returned to normal. "Oh? Did you? She came to see me a few days ago, too."

Jiang Zhizhou said, "She came to see you, too? Then she must suspect your identity. What do you plan to do next?"

Yang Qing glanced at him. "Plan? What is there to plan? Yang Qing has become a wandering soul. That man no longer exists in this world."

"But you clearly..."

Yang Qing's expression did not change. "And what if I am? You know, and I know. That is enough. The Murong family weathered decades of wind and rain before finally gaining the reputation and standing they enjoy today. They must not lose everything over someone who has already died."

"But we both know Murong Qian's temperament. Now that she suspects something, she certainly won't let the matter rest."

Yang Qing fell silent for a long while before finally saying, "In the end, it is my Yang Family that owes her. Precisely for that reason, we must never let her become entangled in this again."

Jiang Zhizhou sighed as well. "Very well. With Yan Prefecture now battered by wind and rain, you are right not to acknowledge her."

The three of them said no more about Murong Qian and continued their meal.

Suddenly, a soft knock sounded outside the window. Yang Qing rose and opened it.

A figure appeared.

"Young master, new word has arrived from the Capital City."

The visitor was Phantom Shadow, who had previously saved Jiang Zhizhou's life.

"What news?"

Phantom Shadow leaned close to Yang Qing's ear and whispered a few words.

Yang Qing frowned. "Is that true?"

Phantom Shadow nodded, utterly solemn. "Beyond any doubt. The special envoy is already on his way to Yan Prefecture. But ahead of him, another man is also traveling day and night."

Yang Qing's heart suddenly jolted. "Who?"

"Suotu, the first-class guard at His Majesty's side."

Suotu had always served exclusively within the palace. Why had he now left the Capital City in secret?

Yang Qing asked instinctively, "Suotu is coming to Yan Prefecture?"

"Indeed. Our people in the Capital City suspect that Suotu may be carrying a secret letter from His Majesty. He is coming to Yan Prefecture, and you are likely his intended recipient, young master."

Chu Jinghui had already sent a special envoy to Yan Prefecture, presumably because of the recent battle at Yan Pass. Yet he had also dispatched a trusted confidant in secret. This was no small matter.

"His Majesty must have a purpose in doing this. Pass down the order: protect Guard Suotu covertly along the way."

Phantom Shadow departed with the order. After closing the window tightly again, Yang Qing returned to the table.

His half-finished meal had gone completely cold. Bu Er rose to replace his bowl, but Yang Qing stopped him.

"His Majesty has sent a personal guard to Yan Prefecture separately. I believe he must have something else in mind, and it must concern the current situation here."

Jiang Zhizhou also set down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at Yang Qing. "That's right."

The three looked at one another in silence. The news had come so suddenly that it left them shaken.

Several days later, just as Yang Qing was about to go out, he saw a soldier from the County Office waiting outside his door.

The moment he emerged, the prefectural soldier bowed to him.

"Does Lord Dai wish to see me?"

The prefectural soldier replied, "You are correct, Lord Yang. Lord Dai sent me to inform you that the imperial envoy dispatched by His Majesty has reached the official posthouse in Yan Prefecture and will shortly proceed to the County Office. Please be prepared, my lord."

Yang Qing asked casually, "The imperial envoy has arrived? Do you know what brings him here?"

The prefectural soldier glanced around before lowering his voice. "Lord Dai instructed me to be sure to tell you this when I saw you: the imperial envoy has come because of the great victory at Yan Pass."

"His Majesty was greatly pleased by the great victory over Northern Liang at Yan Pass. He had originally decided to reward you and all the others involved."

"But who could have expected that a few words from the prime minister would make him change his mind completely?"

Hearing this, Yang Qing looked at the prefectural soldier. "Do you know the offense you commit by rashly discussing court affairs behind closed doors?"

The prefectural soldier jumped in fright and trembled as he started to kneel. "I—I only wished to say a few fair words on your behalf, my lord. Everyone knows that without you, not only would Yan Pass have fallen, but Yan Prefecture would already be in Northern Liang's hands..."

Yang Qing looked at him. "How could you or I presume to fathom His Majesty's mind?"

The prefectural soldier furtively wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Your admonition is just, my lord."

At the entrance to the lane, Yang Qing climbed into a sedan chair and headed toward the County Office.

The County Office of Yan Prefecture.

Dai Sheng wore an ingratiating smile as he looked at the imperial envoy seated in the place of honor.

Yet despite the smile on his face, he was thinking, Judging by the imperial envoy's expression, he seems deeply displeased.

When Yang Qing arrived at the County Office, he happened to see Dai Sheng hesitating.

He strode forward and said, "This humble official pays his respects to the imperial envoy."

Dai Sheng was wrestling with his thoughts. Seeing Yang Qing enter, he wanted to say something, but Yang Qing did not look his way, leaving him to fret silently.

The imperial envoy seated above raised his eyes to Yang Qing and asked impassively, "Are you Yang Chengming, the Yan Prefecture Military Commissioner?"

Yang Qing bowed again. "I am."

The imperial envoy slowly rose from his chair and took a golden-yellow silk scroll from the wooden box beside him. Addressing Yang Qing, he declared, "Yang Chengming, receive the decree!"

He unfurled the silk scroll and read aloud, "By the mandate of Heaven, the emperor decrees: Yang Chengming, the Yan Prefecture Military Commissioner, together with Chen Mu, commander of the Yan Pass garrison, and others, repelled the invading forces of Northern Liang and surrounded and defeated their commander-in-chief, Gao Yue. This was a great achievement and ought to merit commendation. However, this undertaking first lured the Northern Liang bandit chief to lead his troops into our Yan Pass before surrounding and attacking him. Had the bandit chief counterattacked, we would have handed Yan Pass over to him. Thus, this undertaking was in truth a gamble. Merit and fault cancel each other out. There shall be neither reward nor punishment. Respect this decree!"

Having finished reading, the imperial envoy looked coldly at Yang Qing. "Lord Yang, receive the decree!"