Chapter Sixteen: Playing Him for a Fool

Jiang Xiao paused, standing two steps above Yun Shuang on the staircase, his eyelids lowered and his gaze cold as he looked down at her. He was already much taller than her, and now, from his elevated position, he seemed like a lofty deity surveying the ants below.

Yun Shuang’s expression remained unchanged. She kept her head bowed and spoke in a calm, quiet voice, “Deputy Yan just mentioned that the notice on the wall was posted by the missing Lady Luo’s husband. Although that was Lord Fan’s personal action, it shows his intention to seek help from the common people. In my humble opinion, anyone who wishes to respond to his plea can hardly be considered an outsider to this case.”

Beside her, Yan Fang was so taken aback he nearly wanted to kneel before Lady Yun. Heavens, she was even braver than he had imagined! Not only did she dare to contradict the General, she didn’t even tremble under that deadly gaze. Every year, countless new recruits were frightened out of their wits by the General’s glare—it had become a highlight of their training!

Jiang Xiao looked indifferently at the crown of her head, suddenly finding the situation somewhat amusing. His voice was low and deep, “Lady Yun, you certainly have a sharp tongue. So, are you saying you wish to respond to Lord Fan’s plea for help?”

Yun Shuang’s brows twitched slightly. She didn’t care for his condescending manner, as if he never regarded anyone else, but she also knew he was not someone she could afford to offend. Moreover, this case seemed to be connected to them, and in all of Xia Prefecture, only their side could provide her with the fastest and most complete information about the matter.

She secretly pursed her lips and softened her tone a little. “Indeed, I am in urgent need of some silver to make ends meet. The thousand taels Lord Fan is offering would tempt any mere mortal.”

Jiang Xiao suddenly recalled Wu Qi’s words from the night before—“She seemed to think the General hadn’t paid her enough”—and fell silent for a moment. He glanced down at the little dog egg, tightly gripping Yun Shuang’s skirt and watching him with the wariness of a wolf cub ready to pounce on an enemy at any moment. His voice was calm, “This case is not as simple as it appears. For all your cleverness, Lady Yun, you have two children to consider. You should be cautious and not force yourself into matters that do not suit you.”

Yun Shuang couldn’t help but laugh softly, lifting the corners of her lips. In their eyes, she was nothing more than an ordinary village woman, perhaps a little brighter than most, but hardly capable of solving a case.

She replied gently, “I only wish to try. I wouldn’t presume, after yesterday’s events, to overstep myself before the General. But I heard Deputy Yan say that the General is also very concerned about this case. Why not give me a chance? Should I be lucky enough to find Lady Luo’s whereabouts, it would be a great help to you as well, wouldn’t it?”

Hearing her soft words, Jiang Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly. Yesterday, her demeanor before him was nothing like the docility she showed now.

Even when she contradicted him earlier, her tone had been much colder than it was at this moment. As she spoke, Yun Shuang lifted her gaze ever so slightly, her almond-shaped eyes misted with sorrow as she cast a brief, pleading glance at the man before her, then quickly lowered her eyes as if she dared not meet his gaze. Her voice was low, “It is only because the General showed kindness to me and my two children that I dare to make such a presumptuous request. Why not simply think of me as an errand runner at your side? I swear, I will not reveal a single detail of the case to anyone outside.”

Yan Fang, watching from the side, was completely bewildered. Lady Yun seemed to have changed in an instant, but he couldn’t say exactly how. Suddenly, he exclaimed, “Ah! So you want to investigate the case with us? Why didn’t you say so earlier? You suddenly became so soft and delicate, it’s unsettling!”

As he spoke, he thumped his chest as if truly frightened by her earlier demeanor.

Yun Shuang was speechless. Yesterday, she had been so grateful for his simple-mindedness; now, she could have strangled him. She couldn’t help but glance sideways at Yan Fang in irritation, missing the dark undercurrents in the eyes of the man before her.

Suddenly, the man’s deep voice sounded, “Very well.”

She was momentarily stunned, thinking she had misheard. She looked up instinctively and saw that his dark, bottomless eyes were still fixed on her, his face unreadable.

She raised an eyebrow inwardly. Did he really not know what she was thinking? No doubt he suspected she was deliberately trying to get close to him.

Xia Prefecture bordered Jinmeng, and faced constant invasions. Each year brought not only large and small battles but also numerous spies slipping into the region. As the commander of Xia Prefecture, it was natural for him to be sharp and suspicious.

But this played right into Yun Shuang’s hands. She could use this opportunity to gain access to their intelligence network and, with luck, pocket the thousand taels reward.

She instantly put on a wide, bright smile, feigning delight. “Thank you, General, for giving me this opportunity!”

She was so caught up in her performance, she didn’t notice her son Dog Egg staring at her in astonishment.

What had gotten into his mother today? He hardly recognized her!

Jiang Xiao’s eyes darkened as he watched her. He did find her suspicious, but her acting was almost too exaggerated. It made him wonder if, rather than being a Jinmeng spy, she was simply making a fool of him.

He fixed her with a steady gaze. “Since that is the case, you will follow Yan Fang these next few days—”

Before he could finish, two agitated voices rang out from not far away.

“…It’s really not what you think! Lianxin, Lianxin!”

It was a young man’s voice, flustered and uncertain.

“Get lost! You must be one of Fan’s men, aren’t you? Our lady has been missing for days, and that Fan has been putting on a show for just as long! Now that I’ve finally caught you, I’ll say it straight: our lady’s disappearance was orchestrated by Fan. For all we know, our lady… our lady might already be dead at his hands!”

They all turned instinctively toward the commotion and saw two people approaching in a tussle. One was a youth of seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a dark blue, long-sleeved short robe, with a long face and narrow eyes that gave him a sly look. The other was a delicate-featured young woman with a pleasant, round face, lightly but properly made-up, in a pale pink short jacket and emerald green skirt, her hair neatly arranged in a simple high bun.

Her attire marked her as a maidservant of some wealthy household. Her eyes were red and swollen from recent tears, her face filled with undisguised anger as she strode quickly toward them. When she saw Jiang Xiao, she paused in surprise, then suddenly dropped to her knees with a thud, her voice trembling with tears.

“Your humble maid greets the General! I never expected to see you here. Back then, it was because our master trusted you that he brought our lady to settle in Shanyang County. Every year, he donated a large sum to the Xia Prefecture garrison. Even after his passing, the donations never ceased. Please, General, you must get justice for our lady! Now, our lady’s whereabouts are still unknown, her fate uncertain, and that Fan has already ordered a coffin to be made, preparing for her funeral. He’s worse than a beast! Our lady’s disappearance is surely connected to that Fan!”