Chapter Twenty-One: Gou Dan's Concerns

Yun Shuang was momentarily at a loss for words, but she had already prepared herself—things would not go so smoothly. Her gaze shifted slightly as she spoke in a calm voice, “As I just said, for General Jiang to take time from his busy schedule to look into such a minor case means it holds a special significance for him. Now that I have a way to help General Jiang solve it, I am essentially assisting him.

“Secondly…” Yun Shuang extended two fingers. Unconsciously, Jiang Xiao’s eyes fell upon her slender, fair hand, which, at this moment, bore several unexpected calluses. This woman was indeed unusual—her hands were those of a lady of leisure, yet they carried the marks of hardship and toil.

“I said this is a transaction. If I succeed in claiming the thousand taels of silver reward, I will… I will…” Yun Shuang bit her lip, struggling to say, “I’ll split half with General Jiang. What do you think?”

The reluctance and inner struggle on her face were entirely unhidden. Even Jiang Xiao could sense the depth of her emotion. He parted his thin lips and said, “Is Lady Yun trying to bribe me?”

Yun Shuang abruptly looked up. Regardless of the era, bribing a court official was a grave crime. This man knew well that was not her intention. But given his current suspicion that she might be a spy from Jinmeng, his wariness was understandable.

She replied coolly, “If General Jiang fears accusations of taking bribes, I can donate the five hundred taels directly to the Xia Prefecture Garrison. Since the garrison accepted donations from the Luo family, I’m sure they can accept mine as well.”

The man before her suddenly let out a low chuckle. His features were rugged and stern, each part meticulously handsome, but his overwhelming presence always made others avert their gaze. Now, as he smiled faintly, the cold severity on his face seemed to melt away, making him even more striking.

It was only at this moment that one could remember that the fearsome General of Xia Prefecture, whose name commanded respect in all directions, was but twenty-six years old—a young man by any measure.

It was Yun Shuang’s first time seeing this man smile, yet she felt no joy. She was earnestly negotiating with him—what was there to laugh about? Did he not take her seriously?

“Lady Yun, you speak as if you have no doubt you’ll find Lady Luo,” Jiang Xiao remarked. “Such confidence is rare. I agree to lend you my men, but you need not split the five hundred taels with me.”

He glanced toward a short distance away, where Gou Dan had been keeping a watchful eye, as if afraid he might bully his mother. In a calm tone, he added, “As you said, if you can indeed solve this case, it would already be a great help to me.”

Yun Shuang paused, looking at him with suspicion. This man had been picking at her flaws just moments ago—why was he so agreeable now? Jiang Xiao shot her a glance but said nothing more, stepping past her and walking away.

Seeing this, Gou Dan immediately ran up and grabbed Yun Shuang’s hand, though his eyes couldn’t help but follow Jiang Xiao’s retreating figure. His mother had said she had important things to discuss with that uncle and told him to wait aside. Though the uncle had saved him, his imposing presence made Gou Dan instinctively wary like a small animal. He had even thought, had the man dared to bully his mother, he’d bite him!

But to his surprise, they truly had only talked, and the man hadn’t bullied his mother at all.

Noticing Gou Dan’s fixed gaze upon Jiang Xiao, Yun Shuang frowned, then suddenly understood his inner turmoil. She crouched down, smiling, and said, “Gou Dan, we’ll be leaving soon. Don’t you want to go thank that uncle?”

Gou Dan bit his lower lip, hesitated only a moment, then let go of Yun Shuang’s hand and ran toward Jiang Xiao. After taking only a few steps, Jiang Xiao seemed to sense something, paused, and turned to see Gou Dan approaching.

Stopping just a step in front of him, the boy nervously fiddled with the patched hem of his coat and mumbled, “Thank you for earlier.”

Jiang Xiao raised an eyebrow, seeming a bit surprised. In the next instant, Yun Shuang saw him, almost imperceptibly, curve his lips and reach out to gently ruffle Gou Dan’s hair.

In Yun Shuang’s limited impression, this man had always been cold, stern, and lofty. Who would have thought he possessed such a gentle side?

“General Jiang is truly a rare and good man,” a hoarse, emotional voice sounded suddenly behind Yun Shuang. She turned quickly to see a short, stout middle-aged man with kindly features standing there.

Seeing he’d startled her, the man quickly bowed and said, “I am the chief steward of the Luo family, Li Youcai. You may call me Steward Li. Did I startle you, madam?”

“No,” she replied. She wasn’t so easily frightened.

After a pause, she asked, “Does General Jiang often visit the Luo family?”

From the intelligence she’d just gathered, Jiang Xiao seemed to have deep ties with the Luo family.

“When the master was still alive, he greatly admired General Jiang. Were it not for his intention to find a live-in son-in-law for our lady, and General Jiang’s frank declaration of his disinterest in marriage, the master would surely have betrothed our lady to him,” Steward Li sighed. “Who would have thought, after all his careful selection, he’d choose a thankless wolf! Now our lady is missing… Had we known, it would have been better to choose Young Master Chen. At least his affection for our lady was more sincere.

“If only the master were still alive… In his last two years, he seemed to grow healthier and more spirited. Who could have foreseen that in the final year, his health would suddenly decline, beyond the help of any medicine…”

Uninterested in marriage? Though General Jiang was still young by modern standards, in ancient times he was certainly not considered so. And yet he had no intention of marrying? A man of his rank and power must have no shortage of women eager to enter his household.

These thoughts flashed through Yun Shuang’s mind for only a moment before she ruthlessly brushed them aside. She and this General Jiang would have little to do with each other in the future. Why ponder so much about him? Far more important was finding a way to claim that thousand taels of silver!

By now, Gou Dan had returned. Yun Shuang took his hand and said, “Let’s go. We still need to buy some things, then pick up Second Sister.”

Hand in hand, they walked toward the main gate. Lost in thoughts about the case, Yun Shuang failed to notice Gou Dan’s lips pressed tightly together, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on Jiang Xiao’s back.

Such a good man.

Even at his young age, after so many hard years, Gou Dan could vaguely sense the difference between people. That uncle was like the statue of Buddha revered in the temple—so powerful, so noble—while he couldn’t even step through the temple doors.

Whenever he tried, those inside would look at him with disdain, drive him away, and curse, “Where did this little beggar come from? Don’t defile the temple’s purity. Go, go, beg somewhere else!”

Occasionally, a kind soul might give him some food or a few coins, but never would they let him inside.

Perhaps children like him were not meant to gaze up at the Buddha in the temple—just as they could never approach someone like that uncle. To him, saving Gou Dan was no different from saving any little beggar on the street. He would not linger, nor would he think the child special. Surely, he would soon forget him.

What a pity, to meet such a good uncle only this once.

He wondered if his father, still lost somewhere, was as good a man as that uncle.