A few days later, the waters of the Yan River in the Zhili region outside Zhaojing also began to rise.
The Yan River connected to the sea downstream and flowed into Zhaojing upstream. Cities, towns, and villages lined both of its banks.
Levees had been built along the riverbanks, and for more than ten years they had successfully kept flooding at bay. But they had never been repaired, and this year had brought unusually heavy rainfall. Thus, Emperor Qianning planned to send an official to inspect the waterways of Zhili to prevent floodwaters from reaching the capital.
Without the slightest hesitation, Shu Changyu submitted a memorial to the emperor, volunteering to lead the inspection himself.
Inspecting riverways was a thankless assignment.
There was no money to skim, and it only offended people.
Besides, Zhili lay directly beneath the Son of Heaven’s watchful eye, making it nearly impossible for anyone to manipulate things for personal gain.
Emperor Qianning approved the request immediately, harboring not the slightest suspicion.
From then on, Shu Changyu began preparing for the journey.
Those days, his mind was already restless.
He found himself thinking about Jing Mu constantly—
and even more often than before.
Even the little chubby bird he kept beneath the corridor seemed able to guess what was on his mind. It hopped around all day long, chirping noisily.
One day, so annoyed that he stormed outside intending to chase it away, he took one look at its round, plump, innocent face…
…and couldn’t bring himself to do it.
He simply turned around and went back inside.
The day before he was to leave, Madam Li stopped him.
“Have you gone to visit His Highness the Second Prince these past few days?” she asked. “When you were imprisoned before, he came to see me often. And this time he was injured saving you. Since you’re leaving tomorrow, don’t forget to go say goodbye.”
Shu Changyu responded with a muffled “Mm.”
He neither said he wouldn’t go…
nor that he would.
Seeing how unlike himself he had been lately, Madam Li frowned ever so slightly.
After returning to his courtyard, Shu Changyu remained distracted.
Finally, he instructed Kongqing to send someone to Prince Dun’s Manor.
Before long, the servant returned with news.
“The Prince has already gone to the Court of Judicial Review.”
Shu Changyu lowered his eyes without saying a word.
The next morning, before dawn had even broken, the official escort arrived outside the General’s Manor.
The moment Shu Changyu stepped outside, he froze in surprise.
The procession itself matched his official rank.
But somehow, there were over a hundred additional guards.
Each wore black armor with silver saddles, mounted on tall warhorses, fully equipped and waiting.
“Why are there so many extra men?”
he asked the accompanying official.
“Replying to Lord Shu, His Majesty heard that bandits from the northern territories have recently been crossing into Zhili to cause trouble, so he assigned additional men to protect your safety.”
As he spoke, the official subtly glanced toward the mounted guard riding beside the left side of Shu Changyu’s carriage.
The sky was still dark, and Shu Changyu failed to notice the glance.
“Oh.”
He responded simply before moving toward the carriage.
Just then, he noticed a trace of white peeking out beneath the black wrist guard of the guard riding to the carriage’s left.
The man’s figure looked strangely familiar.
But in the dim light, hidden beneath heavy armor and a helmet, he couldn’t make him out clearly.
Shu Changyu paused.
Jing Mu’s image suddenly flashed through his mind.
The next moment, he smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Martial artists often carry injuries.
Why did I instinctively think of Jing Mu?
Determined not to dwell on it, he deliberately avoided looking at the man again and climbed into the carriage.
Once Shu Changyu had boarded, the accompanying official cast another glance toward the guard.
After receiving a nearly imperceptible nod from him, he finally ordered the procession to depart.
—
As soon as Shu Changyu entered the carriage, he fell asleep.
Including his previous life, he had traveled to Zhili three or four times.
He knew the route and travel time like the back of his hand.
So when he awoke drowsily and saw the sun already approaching noon, he could roughly estimate where they should have reached.
But when he lifted the curtain—
he was stunned.
They had only traveled a few miles beyond Zhaojing.
They hadn’t even left the outskirts of the capital.
At this pace…
…they were moving like pampered noble ladies out on a leisurely carriage ride.
“Guo Hanru!”
He immediately ordered the procession to halt and called sternly to the accompanying official.
Guo Hanru quickly rode over.
“Lord Shu?”
“What time is it now?”
Shu Changyu asked coldly.
“Why have we only just left the capital?”
His original plan had been to depart at dawn so they could reach the Zhili administrative seat before midnight, avoiding unnecessary stops along the way.
At this speed…
they would be fortunate to arrive within two or even three days.
Guo Hanru looked utterly conflicted.
He secretly glanced toward the left side of Shu Changyu’s carriage before forcing out,
“Th-that… this humble official was negligent.”
Inside, Guo Hanru was miserable.
The honored gentleman who had begged the emperor for permission to accompany them had insisted that the procession slow down, saying the lord inside the carriage was a light sleeper and mustn’t be disturbed.
Guo Hanru was only a sixth-rank official.
How could he dare disobey?
The problem was…
that honored gentleman had also forbidden him from revealing his identity.
Now the blame had landed squarely on Guo Hanru’s shoulders.
Sure enough, the meticulous and demanding Assistant Minister Shu frowned.
“You were negligent?”
His voice turned icy.
“Could mere negligence reduce our pace to this extent?”
“If this delay causes problems, can you bear the responsibility?”
Guo Hanru could only bow repeatedly, apologizing over and over.
“Don’t let it happen again.”
Shu Changyu frowned.
“Now hurry and order everyone to increase the pace.”
“Yes! Right away!”
Guo Hanru hurriedly spurred his horse toward the front.
Only after seeing him ride off did Shu Changyu lower the carriage curtain and sit back down.
As the curtain fell, he vaguely noticed the guard riding beside the carriage glance toward him.
But when he looked carefully again…
all he could see was the man’s sharp jawline and tightly pressed lips.
Shu Changyu frowned.
Why is it that every random person I meet reminds me of Jing Mu?
—
Before long, it was time for lunch.
Fields stretched along both sides of the official road.
They traveled another half hour before finally coming across a roadside stall selling sesame flatbread.
According to Shu Changyu’s original schedule, they should already have reached a relay station where they could properly rest and eat.
But the sun was climbing higher and higher.
Having no better choice, Guo Hanru ordered the procession to stop at the flatbread stall.
Lifting the carriage curtain, he invited Shu Changyu down to rest beneath the stall’s shaded canopy, while the guards dispersed into nearby patches of shade.
The moment Shu Changyu sat down, Guo Hanru swiftly poured him a cup of tea.
“You’ve endured quite the exhausting journey, Lord Shu.”
The moment Shu Changyu heard that, his brows knitted together with his usual precision.
“When serving the court, one should never complain about hardship.”
“What is there to speak of exhaustion?”
Guo Hanru hurriedly agreed.
Just then, a guard placed a bowl of dough-drop soup before Shu Changyu.
Looking down, Shu Changyu immediately noticed the strip of white bandaging peeking from beneath the guard’s right gauntlet…
…and the bowl overflowing with more than twice the usual amount of cilantro.
Again…
…it was the very same guard who had ridden beside his carriage all day.
Having noticed the man so many times in a single day, Shu Changyu finally found it strange.
He looked up at him.
The guard’s head remained lowered.
Aside from the faint outline of his jaw, everything else was hidden beneath his helmet.
“What’s wrong with your hand?”
Shu Changyu asked.
Unexpectedly, the guard—who had repeatedly drawn his attention—proved astonishingly dull.
It was as though he hadn’t heard a single word.
Without answering, he simply turned around and walked away.
Guo Hanru didn’t scold him either.
He merely sat there pretending to be deaf.
“Why is there only one bowl?”
Shu Changyu frowned again.
“Where is Magistrate Guo’s?”
Guo Hanru nearly jumped in fright.
He absolutely could not let that honored gentleman serve him!
Yet the guard still acted as though he hadn’t heard.
Without even slowing his steps, he continued walking away.
Watching his departing figure, Shu Changyu inexplicably thought of Jing Mu again.
The shape of the man’s jaw looked far too much like Jing Mu’s.
Earlier he had only felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity without recalling who it resembled.
But now, even the man’s back reminded him somewhat of Jing Mu.
Even that injured hand…
Just then, the flatbread stall owner hurried over from the back, interrupting his thoughts.
“My apologies for keeping you waiting, honored sirs!”
He carried a tray bearing two bowls of dough-drop soup, a plate of flatbread, and several side dishes.
Setting the tray on the table, he suddenly noticed the bowl already sitting before Shu Changyu.
He blinked.
“So that’s why that soldier only took one bowl earlier. I thought he was starving and couldn’t wait.”
“I never imagined he was bringing it to this honored gentleman.”
As he spoke, he placed one bowl before Guo Hanru, set down the flatbread and side dishes, then carried the remaining bowl away.
Before leaving, he asked Shu Changyu,
“I noticed that soldier asked for a great deal of extra cilantro. Does it suit your taste, sir?”
Shu Changyu smiled.
“It does.”
Then he turned to Guo Hanru.
“The guard who brought the soup just now…”
“Do you know who he is?”
Of course Guo Hanru knew.
He simply couldn’t say.
Forcing himself to remain calm, he replied,
“Replying to Lord Shu, I’ve heard he’s one of the capital’s city defense guards. He’s been temporarily transferred to protect you on this mission.”
He paused before hastily inventing an explanation.
“I imagine the city defense forces don’t receive generous salaries, nor do they often encounter distinguished officials. He may simply be trying to curry favor in hopes of advancing his career. I hope Lord Shu won’t take offense.”
Seeing how confidently Guo Hanru explained it, Shu Changyu finally buried the ridiculous thought that the man might be Jing Mu.
No matter how reckless that brat was…
…surely he wouldn’t go this far.
He smiled faintly.
“It’s understandable.”
Then he added with a chuckle,
“Though if he’s trying to ingratiate himself, his methods are rather poor. I spoke to him, yet he didn’t even know enough to answer.”
Guo Hanru silently wiped away a cold sweat.
“Indeed… he was rather slow-witted.”
After that, neither of them spoke again.
—
By the time they finished eating, it was already afternoon.
The guards had also finished resting.
The procession resumed its journey.
Not until nightfall did they finally cross into Zhili territory.
Right at the border stood a relay station where travelers could spend the night.
If they passed it, the next stop would be over two hours farther on.
Although they traveled with a large party, night roads were difficult to navigate.
So Shu Changyu ordered everyone to rest there.
The innkeeper led Shu Changyu and Guo Hanru to the two innermost rooms on the top floor.
The remaining attendants were assigned to other guest rooms throughout the inn.
Not long after Shu Changyu entered his room, the innkeeper sent a servant knocking with a late-night meal and hot water for bathing.
Having served as an official for years, Shu Changyu was already accustomed to such attentive treatment.
He thanked the servant and stepped aside to let him carry everything inside.
As he moved aside—
someone entered his field of vision.
…That guard again.
Shu Changyu frowned.
The man stood outside his door like an iron nail driven into the ground, armor and weapons perfectly arranged, resembling a stone soldier guarding a tomb.
Whether intentionally or not, he stood half-turned toward the doorway, the side of his helmet facing Shu Changyu so that his face remained completely hidden.
“What are you doing here?”
Shu Changyu asked, his expression darkening.