When Shen Zechuan and the Second Master were having their meal, several gentlemen in the side hall were drinking tea and waiting. Yu Xiaozi lowered his voice to Kong Ling and said, “Today, we only hope everyone can remain harmonious and not spoil the Governor’s mood.”
They had all been at the horse grounds earlier and clearly witnessed the intense contest. Fei Sheng held great prestige within the Jinyi Guard, and he had previously earned merit by following Shen Zechuan in battle. If Huo Lingyun had made a mistake here, he would not easily escape punishment.
Kong Ling covered his mouth with a handkerchief and set down his chopsticks. “Since the Governor has not spoken, this matter will not escalate. Do not underestimate Qiao Tianya. The Governor values him so highly; he must have exceptional abilities.”
Kong Ling understood Shen Zechuan’s intentions best. The horse race today had been casual, but the rewards were not. Fei Sheng had previously risked his life to protect the Governor, and he had also achieved military merit during the campaign against Fanzhou. Shen Zechuan would certainly assign him to a more suitable position. However, he would not allow Fei Sheng to become isolated. He needed Qiao Tianya and Huo Lingyun simultaneously, forming a triangular balance under his command. Today’s horse race was entirely within the Governor’s expectations.
Shen Zechuan separated personal feelings from official affairs with great clarity. From the Jinyi Guard to the Six Prefectures, he was quietly constructing a system of strategic balance. In governing subordinates, he was not as forcefully dazzling as Xiao Chiye, but he always sat firmly at the top, keeping everyone beneath him in delicate equilibrium.
Kong Ling could not help but sigh.
Zhi Huilian truly was an Imperial Tutor of genius.
Shen Zechuan tapped a chess piece and played against Xiao Chiye. They had regained their interest in chess after last time in Yuan Zhuo’s room, and now they were sitting here digesting their meal.
“Qiao Tianya was unexpected,” Xiao Chiye said. “When I saw him in Cizhou, he was neither competitive nor ambitious. I almost thought he had already attained enlightenment and was about to detach from worldly fame.”
“I thought so too,” Shen Zechuan replied, rotating a cold chess piece between his fingers. “But life is full of opportunities. Sometimes it’s just a matter of timing.”
Xiao Chiye leaned on his knees, listening attentively.
Shen Zechuan placed another piece and continued, “In the Jinyi Guard, Qiao Tianya holds the rank of deputy commander. During the Southern Forest hunting grounds, when he apprehended you, he could even independently deploy Jinyi Guard tokens. Ji Lei clearly favored him. He has been moving through the capital while bearing a criminal status, yet still managed to suppress Fei Sheng. Both strategy and drive are required. His retreat in Cizhou, I suspect, was due to Yuan Zhuo’s illness affecting him personally. But when he wanted to withdraw, Yuan Zhuo pushed him back into the game.”
During the decisive victory at Fanzhou, Shen Zechuan had hesitated over Huo Lingyun’s assignment. At that time, Yao Wenyu had suggested placing Huo Lingyun into the Jinyi Guard. Once Shen Zechuan agreed, he had to bring Qiao Tianya back into play as well, because Huo Lingyun alone could not suppress Fei Sheng within the Jinyi Guard.
“They’re an interesting pair,” Xiao Chiye said, thinking of the long-missing Master Yideng. “Yuan Zhuo’s chronic illness…”
Shen Zechuan gave a slight nod. “That’s precisely why Yuan Zhuo pushed Qiao Tianya back.”
Xiao Chiye fell silent for a moment. “Talented people are always envied by heaven.”
The atmosphere turned slightly heavy. Shen Zechuan, lit by candlelight, moved another chess piece. “All the physicians who treated him could not cure him. None dared give a definite answer.”
“The poison from Dancheng was meant to take his life,” Xiao Chiye said, tossing a chess piece into the box. “Since last October, we’ve had no trace of Master Yideng. I asked my master in Dajing, and he said he didn’t know either. The master clearly said he would return after the New Year to see the eldest brother again, but it’s already nearly March, and there is still no sign of him.”
Xiao Chiye felt a growing unease regarding Shen Zechuan’s health. Seeing Yao Wenyu’s frailty now, he could not help but feel a sense of shared vulnerability. He stood and brushed aside the chessboard, scattering pieces across the table, then stubbornly reached out to touch Shen Zechuan’s face.
“By April at the latest,” Xiao Chiye said, his gaze deep and steady as his palm rested against Shen Zechuan’s cheek. “Even if I have to turn the earth upside down, I will find that master.”
The office compound was lit with hanging lanterns, and the stone pavement had been swept clean. This courtyard had once been an administrative resting place within the Zhangzhou government offices and was now repurposed for the Jinyi Guard, with several rooms opened into a main hall.
Fei Sheng rested one foot on a stool, drinking wine inside. Several comrades surrounded him, scattering side dishes messily while glancing toward the outside.
Huo Lingyun sat on the steps with his back to them, eating dry rations with cold water. Halfway through, a cuju ball suddenly flew over and hit his water pouch, knocking it to the ground and soaking his robe hem. He swallowed the food in his mouth and turned.
A Jinyi Guard under the tree laughed and said, “It’s dark in the courtyard, didn’t see it clearly.”
Huo Lingyun picked up the cuju ball, stood up, and wiped his mouth.
The guard teased, “I’ll count to three, you throw it back—”
Before he finished speaking, Huo Lingyun had already thrown the ball. It flew cleanly over the wall and disappeared.
“Dark in the courtyard, didn’t see it clearly,” Huo Lingyun repeated.
Fei Sheng continued eating without turning around. Several guards beside him stood up instead. One of them walked over and bumped Huo Lingyun, laughing and cursing, “Damn it, you threw it that far—go pick it up yourself.”
The lantern in the courtyard suddenly went out. Darkness fell.
Huo Lingyun felt a blow to his abdomen. He rolled up his sleeves and struck back with a punch, but the uneven steps caused him to miss. The next moment, he was knocked to the ground and kicked repeatedly. He covered his head, enduring the blows.
Qiao Tianya strode in through the courtyard gate, not even adjusting his robe. He kicked one person aside after another and barked coldly, “All of you, get up!”
Fei Sheng finally turned his head lazily from the steps. “What’s going on? Why are you fighting here?”
Huo Lingyun stood up slowly, spitting blood mixed with ice fragments. He did not respond.
Qiao Tianya looked at Fei Sheng. Fei Sheng said calmly, “I didn’t hear anything. Xiao Huo, why didn’t you call for me?”
Huo Lingyun remained silent.
Qiao Tianya stepped forward, tore off a guard’s identity token, and held it up. Raising his voice, he said, “I said it years ago when we first received our tokens—brothers should stand together. Take them off. All of them.”
The guards did not hesitate and removed their tokens one after another.
Qiao Tianya tossed his token to the ground and kicked it aside. “Throw them. What are you keeping them for—so they can be trampled?”
The guards lowered their heads and threw their tokens down, none daring to meet his eyes.
Fei Sheng’s smile faded. “Isn’t this going too far? Can’t we talk things through instead of humiliating everyone?”
“Whose face is being trampled?” Qiao Tianya asked. “Everyone’s, or yours?”
Fei Sheng’s anger surged. He stood up abruptly. “So today it’s my face being trampled? No, it’s me as a person! What, am I supposed to be someone’s stepping stone? Even you, Qiao Tianya, think you’re so great!”
Qiao Tianya said, “Get out.”
The guards immediately withdrew, leaving only the three of them.
Fei Sheng slammed his chopsticks into the wine cup and kicked over the table. Pointing at Huo Lingyun, he said, “How does it feel to step on me, hm? You want the spotlight, you want rewards, you even want credit for my past achievements—your ambition is enormous!” He then pointed at Qiao Tianya. “Did you plan this with him?”
“Yes,” Qiao Tianya said evenly. “I did scheme against you.”
Fei Sheng trembled with rage. “I’ve risked my life for the Governor! I opened the gates of Danzhou, I held Fanzhou, I fought alongside the old master in Fanzhou! Why can’t I take this position? Why must it be you, Qiao Tianya? I even treated you like a brother!”
Qiao Tianya stepped forward. “If you treat me like a brother, then why say I schemed against you? I told you long ago—stop fixating on this. What’s yours won’t be lost.”
Fei Sheng shouted, “Then this position should be mine!”
The courtyard fell into chaos. Fei Sheng pushed Qiao Tianya and stormed out without looking back.
Outside the courtyard, he stumbled along the wall, drunk and unsteady. Eventually he squatted down, rubbing his eyes in frustration.
Then he heard someone sniffling.
He looked up and saw Elder Yin Chang standing there with his sleeves tucked in.
“Why are you crying?” Yin Chang asked.
Fei Sheng said nothing.
“Come on, let’s go drink somewhere warm,” Yin Chang said, stamping his frozen feet.
Fei Sheng refused.
Yin Chang sighed. “It’s just a broken tooth. Why hold a grudge?”
Fei Sheng finally forced a stiff smile. “I’m not holding a grudge.”
Yin Chang studied him carefully, then said, “That position went to him, so be it. You’re capable too. Why waste your energy fighting over it?”
Fei Sheng snapped, “He took my merit!”
“Then let him take it,” Yin Chang said quietly. “What use is it to me at my age?”
Fei Sheng fell silent.
Yin Chang continued, “You’ve got a future ahead of you, better than mine. Don’t keep looking upward and losing your footing. The Governor isn’t someone you can fool. If he keeps you, it’s because you’re useful.”
Fei Sheng’s eyes reddened.
He had never been acknowledged by his father, never truly belonged anywhere. All he wanted was to rise.
Yin Chang said, “Don’t pick fights with people who aren’t on your path.”
Fei Sheng muttered, “He stole my credit.”
“Give it to him,” Yin Chang said. “I don’t have many years left anyway.”
Fei Sheng went silent.
Yin Chang stopped walking. “Walk forward, Xiao Sheng.”
Fei Sheng turned back and looked at him.
“Walk forward,” Yin Chang said again.
Fei Sheng hesitated, then asked, “Why did your son die?”
Yin Chang exhaled slowly. “Starved to death.”
Fei Sheng froze.
After a long silence, Yin Chang said, “If he were alive, he’d be your age.”
Fei Sheng asked quietly, “Then why did he die?”
Yin Chang looked up at the night sky. “Because there was no food.”
Fei Sheng said nothing more.
Yin Chang continued, “I have no future left. But you do. Walk steadily. Don’t just look upward.”
Fei Sheng’s eyes reddened again.
The next morning, he still delivered medicine to Shen Zechuan. Shen Zechuan asked without looking up, “Drank last night?”
Fei Sheng hesitated, then answered honestly, “Yes… a little.”
Shen Zechuan handed him the completed document. “Go to the office and accept your punishment of forfeited pay.”
Fei Sheng was stunned. “Yesterday wasn’t—”
“Weren’t you assigned to recruitment?” Shen Zechuan finally looked at him. “The roster hasn’t been submitted yet. The task is not finished.”
Fei Sheng’s eyes lit up. He knelt immediately. “I understand, my Lord. I will complete it at once!”
He had thought his duties would be transferred to Qiao Tianya after the appointment of the new commander of the Jinyi Cavalry. But this important task remained in his hands.
Shen Zechuan adjusted his posture slightly and glanced out the window. Early March sunlight fell across the courtyard, melting the remaining snow. In the glow, a faint light flickered near his ear and neck.
Xiao Chiye stood in the courtyard, having just received new intelligence from Dujing.