Chapter Three: Bloodshed and Forced Marriage Chapter Twenty-Two: Assault on the County Office

Why did she mention Jade Ice instead of the Crown Prince? Luckily, I had heard this name from the Crown Prince; otherwise, things would have been troublesome!

"Very well, I’ll return soon!" Having received his orders, the young general surnamed Zhu quickly turned and left. His task was to protect Lord Xu, so he had to hurry back.

"Now, can you tell me?" Lord Xu looked at Kai Xin again, with no other intention than to figure out what dreadful things his son had done to make everyone cry out for his blood.

"If she won’t speak, then I will! Your son’s deeds are nothing short of outrageous—crimes beyond counting!" The ceremonial officer recounted everything that had happened in Yixiang Town since his departure, narrating the events in detail.

"Why are you only just arriving? Lord Xu and the others have been here for quite a while!" At the town gate, Zhang Huai complained upon seeing Jade Ice and her companions. "I fear Xu Liang has already spun his tale before his father, twisting facts to his advantage. We may not have any chance left!"

"We have evidence—what is there to fear?" Jade Ice was unconcerned; what she cared about was whether Lord Xu was truly the good official the people praised him to be.

"It seems you’re quite confident," Zhang Huai said, reassured by Jade Ice’s composure. He followed the group, heading towards the Xu residence.

"Damn it! Truly outrageous! How could this unfilial son never learn to behave?" Upon hearing the ceremonial officer’s account, Lord Xu was furious. Pointing at the group of men in black in the hall, he exclaimed, "Look, just look at what he’s done! Is this how a person acts? And the company he keeps—what sort of people are they? A disgrace, a disgrace!"

As Lord Xu berated his son, a column of blue smoke rose from the direction of the county office. "Not good! Father Ye may be in danger!"

Just as Jade Ice stepped into the Xu family courtyard, she saw the drifting smoke and paused. Turning to the county magistrate beside her, she said, "My lord, the county office has likely been taken over! You must return at once with your men. Once I’ve resolved matters here, I’ll bring Lord Xu to assist you. Make sure to guard the prison— their target is Ye Qing."

Upon hearing that the county office had been seized, the magistrate’s heart raced. He cared greatly for his official hat, so this time he was especially proactive, immediately leading his men towards the county office.

"Lord Xu, the men in black have occupied the county office! Why are you all still here?" Zhang Huai, arriving outside the ceremonial hall, saw soldiers surrounding an empty hall, weapons drawn and on high alert. He asked with some confusion.

"Wait!" Jade Ice quickly stopped his outcry and stepped past the stone screen at the entrance. "They’re all trapped in an illusion!"

"An illusion? A hallucination?" Zhang Huai looked around in astonishment but saw nothing amiss.

"A leaf before the eye," Jade Ice said, picking up an ordinary leaf from the ground and smiling slightly. "Interesting." She turned to Zhang Huai, "Do you have a fire starter?" Taking it from him, she lit the leaf, which didn’t belong to this season, and as the faint smoke dispersed, the soldiers looked around in confusion:

"Where are the men in black?"

"I don’t know! They were just here, and now they’re gone!"

"General Zhu, did you see how they disappeared?"

"Forgive me, I am ashamed—I saw nothing!"

"What’s wrong with them?" Zhang Huai was utterly bewildered by what he saw.

"The illusion has vanished, and with it, their enemies disappeared. What do you think?" Jade Ice didn’t waste words and strode before the assembled crowd. She immediately noticed Lord Xu’s attire marked him as the commander and addressed him directly, "Lord Xu, the county office has been taken by men in black and urgently needs official reinforcements. What do you say?"

"And you are?" The men in black had just disappeared mysteriously, and now a young man appeared out of nowhere, boldly demanding assistance. Lord Xu felt himself falling behind the pace of events.

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"Sister Jade Ice, you’re finally here! How is it? Have you discovered anything? Is my father wrongly accused?" The happiest of all upon seeing Jade Ice was Kai Xin, who immediately chirped with questions.

"Don’t worry. It’s confirmed—he was murdered; your father is innocent."

"So my father can be released?"

"Yes, but right now..."

"What’s wrong?"

"Xu Liang’s master has occupied the county office. I’m not sure what they’re planning."

"And my father?"

"Unclear at the moment."

"No, I must go to the county office!" Before her words had even faded, she was already at the door.

"Wait! It’s dangerous for you alone!" Even General Zhu, standing nearby, called after her in concern.

"Let’s go! We should see for ourselves." Zhang Huai snapped his folding fan shut and turned towards the gate.

"This... too..." Lord Xu, only now noticing him, hurried forward to salute, but Zhang Huai quietly stopped him.

"Hurry, follow him!" Seeing Lord Xu and the two young newcomers depart, General Zhu immediately ordered the rest of his soldiers to follow.

And so, a large group marched towards the county office, with curious onlookers joining along the way. By the time they arrived, the crowd had grown, filling the entire street.

At the office gates, the county magistrate, who had arrived first, was leading his constables in a fierce battle with several men in black. The clash of weapons could be heard from afar.

"Xu Liang! Prepare to die!" Kai Xin wasted no time, drawing the soft sword at her waist and lunging at the Xu family’s notorious scoundrel, who was spectating nearby.

"This—?" The magistrate was dumbfounded. He glanced at Lord Xu, who had just arrived. The father was right there, and someone was trying to kill his son! Even if justice was on her side, wasn’t this a bit too bold?

"Father, save me!" Xu Liang, seeing his father, dodged left and right, running to hide behind Lord Xu and refusing to come out.

"Lord Xu! Jade Ice said you are a good official. I seek only the Xu family’s villain—the debt has a debtor; please step aside!" Kai Xin pointed her sword at Lord Xu, murderous intent blazing.

"My lord, be careful! She’s dangerous!" General Zhu warned Lord Xu, and the surrounding soldiers drew their weapons, ready for trouble.

"Kai Xin, the greater good comes first! Trust me, I will see justice done for you!" Seeing that a fight was about to break out, Jade Ice stepped to Kai Xin’s side, promising her.

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"You don’t have the authority—everyone here outranks you! Why should they listen to a commoner?" Kai Xin was uneasy, surrounded by officials and possessing no status herself.

"They don’t listen to her, but they must listen to me! And I listen to Jade Ice. So tell me—does her word carry weight?" Seeing Jade Ice falter, Zhang Huai quickly picked up the thread, helping her out and directing the soldiers, "Go help the magistrate deal with the men in black. There’s no need to worry about a fight here!"

Seeing Lord Xu nod in agreement, Kai Xin watched as the general led the soldiers into battle. She was puzzled—who was this man always by Jade Ice’s side? Lord Xu seemed deferential to him, hinting his status might surpass even Lord Xu’s.

"Let’s not stand here! We should help!" Jade Ice took a sword from a passing soldier and joined the fray, with Kai Xin and Zhang Huai following, weapons in hand.

After a chaotic battle, they reclaimed the county office, driving the men in black back towards the prison.

"Stop!" With a furious shout, the leader of the men in black dragged out an old man. "Or I’ll kill him!" The old man was covered in bloody whip marks, his clothes tattered, hair disheveled, spirit broken, his eyes vacant and entire demeanor defeated.

"Father?" Seeing the old man threatened by a blade, Kai Xin cried out in anguish, "Father! What have they done to you? Father, answer me!"

"Who among you is Jade Ice? To save this old man, she must bring my master’s item and exchange it!" The man holding Ye Qing shouted to the crowd without reservation.

"Sister Jade Ice!" Kai Xin turned her hopeful gaze to Jade Ice, awaiting her decision.

"So you’re Jade Ice?" Lord Xu finally scrutinized the woman disguised as a man before him.

"Jade Ice, you cannot give it to them! Their master is certainly no good. If they want it so badly, it must be important to him. Don’t give it up!" Zhang Huai realized the master of these men in black was after the same goal as Su Liuyun’s master—they must be the same person. He wondered what it was that Jade Ice had, which they were so desperate to retrieve.

It seemed that after Miss opened the bundle and Su Liuyun discovered it, she became murderous and tried to seize it. But unexpectedly, the item was hidden away again. Su Liuyun not only failed but lost her beloved, explaining her hatred. Perhaps, realizing she couldn’t accomplish the task alone, she told her master. Clearly, this journey would be fraught with danger, every day marked by bloodshed and peril.

"Jade Ice! Jade Ice…" Seeing her lost in thought, Zhang Huai waved his hand before her eyes and called, "Jade Ice!"

"Huh? What is it?" She snapped back, still somewhat dazed.

"What’s wrong? I’ve been calling you forever—are you alright?" Zhang Huai scrutinized her with concern.

"No, nothing! I know what they’re after now!" Jade Ice avoided his concerned gaze and changed the subject.

"Sister Jade Ice, what is the item they’re talking about?" Kai Xin urgently asked.

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