BXG - 29

◎ Rescue ◎

Yan Wuping had disappeared since that day.

Zhou Tan pressed his fingers against his temples, sitting upright in his study. A black-clad figure spoke softly before him, his voice raspy.

“Keep searching,” Zhou Tan closed the case file beside him and said wearily. “If she’s alone, Fu Qingnian and Peng Yue might not let her go so easily.”

“Yes,” the black-clad figure replied but couldn’t resist asking one more question. “The verdict has already been passed. Why would Miss Yan leave? Perhaps her note was simply a farewell?”

“No,” Zhou Tan answered. He looked up at the black-clad figure opposite him. “Has Boss Ai never told you about her background?”

The figure shook his head.

Zhou Tan held the bamboo brush in his hand, lost in rare thought. A drop of ink fell from the tip onto the page. Seeing that he didn’t wish to elaborate, the black-clad man quickly changed the subject. “A few days ago, I rode swiftly to Jinling City. Elder Bai asked me to return this to you.”

He took out a sandalwood box from his chest and gently placed it on the table.

Zhou Tan’s hand holding the brush trembled. “What else did he say?”

“He said this item was too precious to keep. If the Ren family ever comes to thank you for your financial aid, he won’t mention your name.” The black-clad man recalled. “Elder Bai said money isn’t important. He hopes you’ll take care of Shisan.”

“Mm. As usual, visit Chun Niangzi every month. Ask her to relay Shisan’s recent situation to Elder Bai.” Zhou Tan’s voice was slightly hoarse. He picked up the heavy sandalwood box and chuckled lightly. “Alright, I’ll visit him in person to express my gratitude another time.”

“My lord, after Elder Bai’s explanation, I finally understood.” The black-clad man paused for a moment, his disguised voice trembling slightly. “To demonstrate loyalty to His Majesty, you deliberately allowed the Ren family to hate you and sever ties with you. When I previously asked why you didn’t tell the eldest son of the Ren family… it was all part of your plan. If they knew, if they thanked you, His Majesty would seize this weakness and wouldn’t spare Lord Ren.”

“I’ve said it before,” Zhou Tan called to him in a tone devoid of emotion, carrying only a hint of warning. “This matter is not to be discussed further.”

Suddenly, a rustling sound of bamboo leaves came from outside the study.

The black-clad man was startled. Before Zhou Tan could stop him, he grabbed the young man in green robes at the entrance, pinning his neck and closing the door. His sword unsheathed with a sharp ring. Zhou Tan shouted behind him, “Black Cloak!”

With the blade pressed against the intruder’s neck, the black-clad man turned his head. Zhou Tan saw Qu You’s astonished face.

“My lord, he overheard us.”

“It’s fine. Release him.”

Zhou Tan walked over and personally pushed the sword down. Reluctantly, the black-clad man sheathed his weapon but still felt uneasy. “Why did you barge into the study without permission?”

“Zhou Tan,” Qu You ignored the black-clad man, calling his name with a trembling voice. “I heard everything you said.”

Zhou Tan’s expression froze.

She had heard.

Qu You had intended to ask about Yan Wuping when she arrived but overheard their conversation at the door. Her light footsteps went unnoticed as the black-clad man was emotional, and Zhou Tan distracted.

She turned to the masked figure. “Who are you?”

Under such close scrutiny, the black-clad man realized she seemed somewhat familiar. He stepped back and answered, “Your subordinate, Black Cloak.”

“One of Boss Ai’s people,” Zhou Tan sighed, explaining helplessly. “He once saved my life. He’s trustworthy. There’s no need to be alarmed.”

Qu You exhaled in relief, gripping the bamboo chair beside her, quickly processing the information.

No one understood better than her the malice the Ren family harbored toward Zhou Tan. After all, during Zhou Tan’s convalescence, it was the Ren family who delivered his marriage gifts. Their attitude was dismissive, their words mocking. Ren Shiming even used evidence Zhou Tan left behind to collude with Peng Yue, all to spite him—yet all this hatred was based on falsehoods.

Was there anything more ironic in the world?

Her mind was in turmoil, forgetting her original purpose. She turned and fled from the study. “You still have important matters to discuss. I—I’ll leave first.”

The black-clad man reached out to close the door she left ajar. “My lady… why are you leaving?”

He had found her vaguely familiar earlier but now guessed her identity from Zhou Tan’s demeanor—they had only met through a screen before. This was his first encounter with Qu You in male attire.

Zhou Tan sat at the desk, dazed, his expression unreadable, neither sad nor happy. Under the hazy sunlight, his features carried a hint of panic.

“Let her go.”

After a long pause, Zhou Tan spoke.

Qu You ran straight from the study to the familiar rear hall of the Ministry of Justice.

Coincidentally, it was again Li Hongyu on duty. He was dozing off, leaning on his sword, and was startled awake by Qu You’s forceful opening of the door. “Young master! Long time no see! What’s wrong!”

Qu You steadied herself on the central screen in the rear hall and forced a smile. “Young Master Li is on duty again today?”

Li Hongyu yawned and grinned sheepishly. “Not originally, but Lord Liang went out of town today. I happened to be verifying the recent loss of a sword from the Ministry this morning, so I swapped shifts.”

Seeing Qu You hadn’t spoken, he continued enthusiastically. “Speaking of which, it’s strange. Lord Zhou said every sword in the Ministry is recorded. We must find out who took it, but no one admitted it. If it wasn’t taken by someone from the Ministry, then who?”

Qu You belatedly realized what he meant and frowned. “Where did Lord Liang go today?”

“That Peng guy is being exiled three thousand miles away. Today happens to be the departure date,” Li Hongyu replied. “The Ministry sent someone to escort him. Lord Liang said he and Peng were old acquaintances and wanted to see him off.”

Peng Yue’s exile—today?

“When was the sword lost?”

Li Hongyu scratched his head, puzzled. “Hmm… come to think of it, wasn’t it the day the falling case verdict was announced?”

Before he finished, Qu You had already dashed back the way she came.

Black Cloak, having just received Zhou Tan’s authorization to enter and exit the Ministry, opened the study door only to be pulled back inside by Qu You, who had rushed back. Zhou Tan stood by the window, watching them with a raised brow.

The mist thickened, and the sky darkened slightly, foreboding rain.

He reached out to close the window, watching strands of hair blown loose by her swift movement flutter in the wind.

“You mentioned earlier that Miss Yan refuses to let it go. Does she have a blood feud with Peng Yue?” Qu You released her grip and asked directly. “Dispatch some of your people who won’t be noticed out of the city. Perhaps we can still save her life.”

Zhou Tan’s heart sank. “Peng Yue is leaving the city today?”

Qu You answered, “The exile period ends at the end of this month. He should have gone with others, but suddenly it was moved forward, and Liang An insisted on accompanying him, likely sensing danger. If Miss Yan is targeting him, she will definitely leave the city today. It’s not exactly hidden, but it happened so suddenly. If you don’t ask, no one will inform you.”

Zhou Tan was silent for a moment before speaking. “Black Cloak, send some of Boss Ai’s men.”

The black-clad man wasn’t slow to understand their meaning but hesitated to move immediately. “My lord… She is alone. Whether the assassination succeeds or fails won’t implicate others. Rushing preparations—if it’s a trap or you get involved—what then? Do you think, why didn’t she seek your help?”

This was also Qu You’s concern. Peng Yue, now a commoner, even if Fu Qingnian still wished to spare his life, would never return to court. For Zhou Tan, this was a complete victory. Even if Peng Yue wasn’t killed, he was already a discarded pawn with no power to retaliate.

Would Zhou Tan, a politician more calculating than any merchant, take such a risk?

“Go.”

Once again, contrary to her expectations, Zhou Tan coldly uttered a single word, then added, “Since Liang An is also there, I can’t get involved. That group… need not return.”

His rarely frosty tone sent a shiver down Qu You’s spine.

After Black Cloak left to carry out the order, Zhou Tan turned around, silently watching her. “It will take some time to gather their forces. Will you accompany me out of the city now?”

“Alright, but…” Qu You was slightly surprised. “Without anyone to protect us, just the two of us—can we really save her?”

“Of course,” Zhou Tan replied decisively, his tone unusually confident yet grave. “I’ll ensure your safety.”

In the past, she had seen him as calm and unmoved, like a stream beneath stormy skies. But under the dim light today, the powerful minister in crimson robes revealed an arrogance and stubbornness she had never seen before.

Even a hint of fragile vulnerability.

She suddenly smiled.

“Zhou Tan, you’re not as bad as you think you are.”