Chapter 2

As Xiao Wenhou, who had just lifted the car curtain to see what was happening, gazed into the vast twilight, he beheld a face as beautiful as spring flowers, and could not help but be momentarily stunned

Ji Yao Hua gazed at him, and in her dark, deep-set eyes, a fleeting expression of complexity that Xiao Wen Hou could not comprehend flashed by, but it vanished in an instant. She then spoke softly: "I too have no choice. Yao Guang's leg ailment is worsening, and I wish to extract the jade marrow to treat him. Even if the tales of resurrection are merely rumors, I still want to give it a try"

He had almost never spoken in such a gentle manner, yet the guard's voice sounded not only unkind but also strangely eerie. His companion couldn't help but burst into laughter. In the dim twilight, the post road was deserted, and a group of boisterous, armed men appeared not only peculiar but also frightening. The young lady clearly did not understand what they were laughing at; her vigilance was further heightened by panic. She bent down to carry her brother on her back and gritted her teeth, saying fiercely: "Stop making noise, let's hurry up and leave!"

Ji Yao Hua raised her head to look at him

He returned the jade green sprout to Ji Yaoguang's embrace.

Her younger brother cried out with a sobbing voice: "I have endured for a long time, I really cannot bear it any longer. Sister, please let me take another dose!"

The station attendant, drenched in sweat and about to explain, was interrupted by a sudden clap of thunder, followed by a series of heavy knocks on the door. The guard who had been left behind saddled his horse to the carriage, shouldered the old horse that had injured its front leg while pulling the cart, and trudged back to the station in a huff. This disheveled appearance naturally drew laughter from his companions.

However, the young man who fell from the car replied: "I am fine, sister. Look at yourself, you are all dirty, and your elbow is scraped as well."

Inside the package is a jade stone that is lush and vibrant, and under the light, it seems as if water droplets are faintly shimmering within the jade body

Xiao Wenhou hesitated for a long time before uncertainly asking: "Is this... Qingmiao Jade?"

The station officer replied with a smile, "Not many, not many. Apart from the young lord and a few passing officials, there are no idle people."

The guards laughed and said, "Brother, there is no need to worry; this is quite natural for humans!"

Lord Wen of the Xiao family opened the package

Xiao Wenhou let out a gentle sigh, simultaneously hearing the sighs of his several attendants

After a brief moment of astonishment, the young lady gracefully fell to the ground: "This humble woman, Ji Yaohua, has met the young lord."

The smile that floated at the corner of Ji Yao's mouth was gentle yet melancholic: "This jade is the lifeblood of Yao Guang. I managed to persuade him to agree to extract the jade essence, with the condition that not a single bit of this jade is damaged. I believe there is only one person in the world who can accomplish this."

The station manager noticed his unusual expression and couldn't help but feel uneasy, hesitantly saying: "Before the young lord arrived, a pair of siblings came to seek lodging. Normally, it would not be appropriate to accommodate idle individuals, but—"

Her younger brother lazily said: "Sister, you wanted to ride that horse, but now you don't want to anymore. I told you not to trust that smooth-talking horse dealer, but you wouldn't listen. Now look, how are we going to leave?"

The courier, feeling a sense of relief, exited and closed the door behind him

A blue canvas-covered cart ahead of them suddenly lost its footing, throwing the occupants out. Just as they were about to fall into the rocky thicket by the roadside, the person in the driver's seat leaped forward to catch the one who had fallen from the cart. However, he himself was knocked off balance by the force and stumbled into the pile of stones.

He could not break free from his sister's slender yet strong grip. Suddenly, he lowered his head and bit down on her arm. The young lady squinted in pain but still refused to let go. Little Wen Hou felt a surge of heat in his mind, and by the time he regained his senses, he found himself standing in front of the couch, having already knocked out the young man he increasingly found displeasing.

Xiao Wenhou was taken aback, quickly turning to grasp the short spear that had flown close to him, using it to block the falling rocks

Two days ago

There are countless jade craftsmen under heaven, yet none possess hands as steady and strong as those of Xiao Wenhou, nor eyes as sharp and precise as his

In legend, the Qingmiao jade contains precious jadeite as exquisite as nectar, and it is said that consuming this jadeite can bring the dead back to life and even grant immortality. Young Lord Wen, having seen all kinds of treasures in the world, originally thought this was merely a mythical stone with no basis in reality, but the jade before him made him hardly believe his own eyes

He lowered the car curtain, and a group of people whizzed away, leaving the unfortunate guard standing there in a daze. After a long while, he finally came to his senses and shouted, "How could you leave me all alone! At least leave someone to help!"

Xiao Wenhou then said to Ji Yaohua: "Such precious jade, why do you carry it with you? If word gets out, it may bring about a fatal disaster for you."

The speed of the flying stones varied, some fast and some slow; although not as swift as a rain of arrows, it took Lord Wen more time to deflect them.

He handed over the courier, who was suspected of leaking information, to the local county office for strict custody and interrogation. The courier cried out in innocence. An experienced old constable, after inquiring about the circumstances, cautiously reminded Young Lord Wen that the one who stole the Qingmiao jade was very likely Shi Qingquan, known as "Stone Madman." Only he would have the audacity to snatch the jade from under Young Lord Wen's protection, and only he was accustomed to using stones as concealed weapons with such mastery.

I only hope that Lord Wenhou will not hold grudges against the petty, that a good man does not quarrel with a weak woman, and that he will spare this ignorant young lady from outside.

The courier was so frightened that he trembled all over. Even as a mere courier, he had heard the rumors of the young Lord Wen's fury shaking the mountains. He hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Miss, this is the young Lord of the Divine Martial Marquis. You should quickly pay your respects and apologize!"

She raised her eyes and gazed intently at the young marquis.

Upon hearing her question and seeing the expression on her face, several guards could not help but reveal a sense of regret as if they had lost something

The shadow was forced to fall to the ground to avoid the whistling short spear, and Young Lord Wen had taken this opportunity to catch up.

As he feared, the Green Seed Jade has been stolen. The guards he arranged on both sides have all fallen into a deep slumber due to the intoxicating fragrance. Ji Yaohua, being cautious as always, places a Dragon Awakening Stone by her pillow every night to counteract various kinds of intoxicating scents, thus she was not affected. However, she still could not prevent that person from stealing the Green Seed Jade

Xiao Wenhou turned his head to look at him: "Oh?"

Leaving in haste while speaking

As the guard approached, young Lord Wen noticed the wariness and vigilance displayed on the young lady's face. It then occurred to him that his subordinates were all robust and fierce men from the Guanshi region. To put it nicely, they were imposing; to put it less nicely, they were fierce. It was no wonder that, despite her appearance suggesting she had some martial training, the young lady still dared not let his guards come close.

At the time of lighting the lamps, Young Lord Wen and his companions had comfortably settled down in the post station. The postmaster, called over by Young Lord Wen to drink together, felt greatly honored and beamed with joy. Young Lord Wen casually inquired, "Are there many guests staying here tonight?"

The side courtyard dwelling is narrow and simple, barely accommodating them. In the dim light of the *Picture* book's western chamber, shadows flicker, and they can hear the anxious voice of the young lady: "Yaoguang, hold on a bit longer; this medicine will take some time to take effect."

Ji Yaohua gently nodded: "This is a family heirloom."

Xiao Wenhou hesitated for a moment and said, "Take me to have a look"

The station attendant opened the door, and Young Lord Wen entered.

Xiao Wenhou finally said: "I need to think carefully about whether there is a way to extract the jade essence without damaging the jade."

It seems that the desire for beauty is something everyone possesses

In the midst of this pause, the shadow had already merged into the night.

Xiao Wenhou's face was ashen.

Her younger brother exclaimed, "You want to carry me? Of course, I know you can carry me, but I absolutely refuse to have so many people watching a dignified man like me being carried by a girl! It's too embarrassing!"

He smiled faintly

He signaled for a guard to walk over

Xiao Wenhou was unable to intercept in time, and with a loud shout, he threw a short spear. The dark figure, without looking back, raised a hand to launch a flying stone, which struck the short spear and shattered into three pieces. One piece fell to the ground, while the other two, maintaining their momentum, flew directly towards Xiao Wenhou, forcing him to cross his spear in defense. The two small stones flew out at an angle, and Xiao Wenhou gathered his energy and leaped into the air, throwing another short spear. This struck the previous short spear, causing the one that had lost its momentum to suddenly accelerate and shoot towards the dark figure, the sound of it slicing through the air was piercing. The other two pieces, however, continued their trajectory towards Xiao Wenhou, compelling him to cross his spear again, and the two small stones flew out at an angle. Xiao Wenhou gathered his energy and leaped into the air once more, throwing another short spear, which struck the previous one, causing the one that had lost its momentum to suddenly accelerate and shoot towards the dark figure, the sound of it slicing through the air was piercing.

The guard turned around with an innocent expression and said, "Young Lord, I didn't say anything wrong, why did she run away as if she had seen a ghost?"

However, without any indication from the young Lord Wen, the young lady quickly stood up. She did not check the injuries or mud on her own body, but instead helped the person who had fallen from the carriage, anxiously asking: "Yaoguang, are you alright? Did you hurt anywhere?"

Suddenly, the shadow turned over, raised both hands, and a shower of shattered stones came rushing toward him like a rain of flowers.

But he was still a step too late; he heard Ji Yaohua's furious shout and the sound of swords clashing. Shortly after, Ji Yaohua let out a cry of pain, and a dark figure flew out from the back window of the west wing where she and her brother were staying, leaping onto the wall.

The guard tried to make his loud voice sound a bit softer: "Our master asks if the young lady needs any assistance"

The young lady bit her lip and said, "The inn is not far away; I will carry you there first and then come back to tidy up this place. He - Tu - Shu"

The young lady was taken aback, and the young marquis waved his hand, saying: "Those who are unaware are not to be blamed; she merely acted out of deep familial affection and made a momentary mistake."

Xiao Wenhou had never been so indecisive in his life

He raised an eyebrow and looked at the courier.

His guards simultaneously tightened the reins and looked inquiringly at the young marquis

In the dim twilight, with spring rain drizzling, the young Marquis of Wen, on a mission from his father to travel to Xiangyang for ancestral worship, is currently on the post road back to the capital. The carriage of the Divine Martial Marquis's residence, with its spirited horses like dragons, effortlessly surpasses groups of pedestrians even in the muddy and difficult terrain

He withdrew.

The companions burst into laughter again, and Xiao Wenhou was left speechless with a smile: "How would I know? You might as well turn back and ask for clarification yourself. Now that you've scared everyone away, it's up to you to figure out how to get this horse and carriage to the post station!"

Little Wenhou couldn't help but exclaim "Oh." The flowers of the Yao Terrace? Her parents truly had foresight when they named her.

Ji Yao Hua gazed at his retreating figure, letting out a soft sigh. Her murmured words were almost inaudible: "Yao Guang was not wrong; you truly are a gentleman"

That night, Xiao Wenhou tossed and turned, unable to sleep. It was the faint sound suddenly coming from the side courtyard that startled him awake. He reached for a pair of short daggers by his pillow, climbed out the window, and rushed towards the side courtyard

Xiao Wenhou felt a considerable heat on his face; it seemed that the young lady had quite a strong grip. No wonder she could manage her unreasonable younger brother. However, perhaps it was precisely because of having such a brother that she was compelled to be strong.

Such a beautiful young lady has fallen among the scattered rocks, and in terms of both sentiment and reason, they all seem to have a duty to offer assistance

Xiao Wenhou turned his head and said to the stationmaster: "You go out first, this matter must not be disclosed to anyone"

The inn where they are scheduled to stay tonight is already visible ahead

Xiao Wenhou felt a sudden heaviness in her heart. The person she cared about so much appeared to be a young man; could he be her husband

Under the light, the young woman had already removed her soiled outer garment from the evening hours, now dressed in a somewhat worn, casual moon-white dress, which accentuated her slender figure. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead as she struggled to hold tightly onto her younger brother, who was writhing on the couch, preventing him from crashing into the wall or rolling onto the floor, completely oblivious to the person who had entered.

That stone madman not only angered Lord Cai but also provoked Young Lord Wen; he should just seek his own blessings

His hat fell to the ground

Ji Yaohua stood up, looking at him in surprise: "Young Lord, are you not going to hold this jade and ponder over it?"

As Ji Yaohua's brother struggled, a small package fell from his body. In the light, only a hint of green could be seen protruding from the package. Xiao Wenhou instinctively reached out to take it, while Ji Yaohua had already stood up. Upon seeing this, she opened her mouth as if to speak, but then quietly refrained from doing so.

Young Lord Wen has not yet responded, but Ji Yaohua has already knelt down, choking back tears as she said: "Please, Young Lord, save Yaoguang's life! I am willing to accept any punishment for the offense I have caused!"

The young woman let out a sigh of relief: "As long as you are fine, come on, get in the car, we still have a journey ahead."

Xiao Wenhou had concerns in his heart and did not wish to pursue any further, so he hurriedly turned back to the post station

Xiao Wenhou could not help but frown. He was certain that he very, very much disliked this person who only knew how to complain about his sister

Amidst the clamor, Xiao Wenhou suddenly heard faint and anguished moans coming from the side courtyard

The young lady stared in astonishment at the meddlesome individual who had knocked her brother unconscious, and it took her a while to comprehend the situation. Anger surged onto her face, and she raised her hand to slap the young lord, exclaiming, "How dare you strike Yaoguang!"

Xiao Wenhou immediately took the Ji siblings back to the capital and subsequently joined the team from the Kaifeng Prefecture in pursuit of Shi Qingquan

The steward immediately replied: "The side courtyard is where those two siblings reside"

Meanwhile, they also noticed that the young man and the young woman had almost identical faces. They were indeed a pair of siblings who looked exactly alike

However, his gaze was drawn to something on the couch

After listening to the explanation from the guards of the Hou residence regarding the ins and outs of the matter, Chief Ma could only let out a long sigh

Xiao Wenhou furrowed his brow and said, "From your accent, you are from Shu. There are many renowned physicians in Shu; why have you come all this way despite the hardships?"

Young Lord Wen smiled slightly: "Although the young lady trusts me so, I find it difficult to trust myself. Your brother would rather risk his life than damage this jade, which shows that this jade must possess a particularly captivating quality. The longer I stay with it, the harder it becomes to part with. I do not know if I can withstand such temptation; it is better to leave it in the young lady's hands, so that if I do not see it, my heart will remain undisturbed. I will assign a few of my guards to stand watch on either side, and the young lady must also be cautious"