Volume One, Chapter 17: Was He the One Who Saved Xiang Zhu?

“Brother? What are you doing here?”

Ouyang Yanwan was the first to react, fluttering like a dancing butterfly as she joyfully ran toward the newcomer.

The servants who had been holding the targets during the interrupted archery contest between the masters had been kneeling on the ground for a long time.

Xiang Zhu knelt, listening to Ouyang Yanwan’s calls, and in her mind, she recalled the person in question.

He was Ouyang Xiujie, the disciple of General Xiao Zhenhai, the Protector of the Nation.

General Xiao had taken Ouyang Xiujie as his last disciple because he saw in him exceptional talent and a keen interest in the mysterious arts of Qimen Dunjia. Despite his young age, he was one of only two prodigies the general had ever encountered.

The other was Mu Xingyuan, the legitimate grandson of the Duke of Dingguo.

Years ago, General Xiao had boldly visited the Duke’s residence several times to recruit Mu Xingyuan, but in the end, he had failed because Mu Xingyuan was to follow his grandfather to the battlefield.

When General Xiao discovered Ouyang Xiujie was another promising talent, he spoke to Marquis Changyong to take him on as a student.

Being connected to the Protector of the Nation was a rare privilege that Marquis Changyong welcomed warmly. He even thoughtfully gathered Ouyang Xiujie’s belongings and arranged for him to move into the general’s residence.

Since Ouyang Xiujie took his first running steps, he had stayed by General Xiao’s side, living in the Protector’s mansion for eight years.

Five years ago, when the Wonu invaders attacked, Ouyang Xiujie’s teacher, General Xiao Zhenhai, led troops to battle. The twelve-year-old Ouyang Xiujie secretly followed the army to Jinzhou City.

During a trap set by the rebels, General Xiao was nearly captured but managed to escape. However, the Wonu ambush wounded Ouyang Xiujie with poisoned arrows.

He remained unconscious for three days and, although he survived, lost all his internal strength and was no longer able to practice martial arts.

General Xiao was deeply regretful. Unable to attend to him personally, he sent Ouyang Xiujie back to Marquis Changyong’s mansion in Shengjing.

Over the past five years, Ouyang Xiujie rarely appeared in public, avoiding even palace banquets.

His inability to fight did not diminish his strategic talents or insight.

A year ago, the strategy he sent to Jinzhou helped General Xiao repel the Wonu forces, pushing them back fifty miles.

This feat brought Ouyang Xiujie renewed acclaim.

The Yonghui Emperor had intended to appoint him as a Grand Secretary, but before the decree was issued, news of Ouyang Xiujie’s illness at Marquis Changyong’s residence surfaced, causing the emperor to abandon the plan.

This was why everyone was so shocked to see Ouyang Xiujie appear.

Kneeling on the ground, Xiang Zhu could not fathom why Ouyang Xiujie would save her.

No—there was one reason.

Biting her lip, she struggled to steady her emotions.

Just moments before, Jiang Menghan had furiously demanded an explanation from Zhao Ye, but upon seeing Ouyang Xiujie, she seemed to transform completely.

Like a wild beast whose claws had been sheathed, she suddenly appeared obedient and sweet.

Jiang Tianzhi could barely bear to watch Jiang Menghan.

“I was playing chess with a friend here,” Ouyang Xiujie said, adjusting the fox fur coat slipping from his shoulder. He lifted his gaze to the distance and precisely locked onto Xiang Zhu’s figure.

So Wan’er had been investigating this palace maid all along?

At first, Ouyang Xiujie thought it was just childish jealousy, but seeing Zhao Ye’s and the others’ reactions, he found himself curious about what made this palace maid so special.

“Friend?” Ouyang Yanwan was both surprised and intrigued.

To hear her brother say “friend” indicated a high regard for that person.

For a moment, she couldn’t imagine who the companion playing chess with him deep in the bamboo grove could be.

“Fourth Prince, shall we talk in the woods?”

If it were anyone else, the person in the woods might ignore the invitation, but Zhao Ye… only Ouyang Xiujie would come out to invite someone in.

“Alright.” Zhao Ye ran through many names in his mind before settling on one.

Could it be the elder brother?

He quickened his pace as he entered the forest.

Ouyang Xiujie guessed Zhao Ye had mistaken the person in the woods and chose not to correct him, following alongside.

Ouyang Yanwan quietly trailed behind as well.

Ouyang Xiujie saw but did not stop her.

The three disappeared from everyone’s sight.

Jiang Menghan instinctively stepped forward, wanting to follow.

Jiang Tianzhi tugged her sleeve, shaking his head slightly.

Jiang Menghan came back to herself, biting her lip as she looked toward where the arrow had just been knocked down.

Since the arrow was fired by Ouyang Xiujie…

By the time Jiang Menghan regained focus, she had already found the arrow.

There was indeed a faint mark on the shaft, resembling one made by a small stone.

As she prepared to collect the arrow, she noticed that the sharp tip also bore a mark, apparently left by a jade artifact.

She searched the vicinity but found nothing but scattered stones.

A shadow blocked the light in front of Xiang Zhu.

“Where is the hidden weapon that shot this arrow?”

Jiang Menghan pointed to the arrow in her hand and asked Xiang Zhu, who still knelt on the ground.

Without looking up, Xiang Zhu replied, “Miss Jiang, I did not see clearly.”

“You!” Jiang Menghan was furious and reached out to pull Xiang Zhu to her feet.

“Han’er!”

Jiang Tianzhi hurried over to stop her.

“Why are you troubling her again?” he asked in a low voice.

He reminded her softly, “She is the one protected by Young Master Ouyang. When have you ever seen Young Master Ouyang meddle in such matters?”

Jiang Menghan’s expression changed as a thought struck her. “Cousin means that Young Master Ouyang…”

“Han’er, be careful with your words!”

Jiang Tianzhi’s face darkened as he pulled her a few steps away, lowering his voice.

“Why do you become so confused when it comes to Ouyang Xiujie? A man like him, when has he ever had dealings with palace servants? How could he have any interest in this little palace maid?”

“Then why?” Jiang Menghan felt increasingly wronged.

It was one thing for Zhao Ye to protect her—he was known to have no other women—but why would Young Master Ouyang do the same?

She had just scrutinized Xiang Zhu’s appearance carefully—her posture refined, increasingly captivating—but so what?

A palace maid was still a servant, a plaything. Once tired of her, she was nothing.

“You’ve truly been spoiled!” Jiang Tianzhi wished he could cover her mouth to keep her from speaking nonsense and inviting trouble.

“They are playthings, but they are not our playthings!”

“The fate of palace servants is decided by the royal family. What right does the daughter of a minister have to meddle with royal possessions?”

Jiang Menghan felt rebellious but had to admit Jiang Tianzhi was right.

Seeing Jiang Menghan finally give up her intent to trouble Xiang Zhu, Jiang Tianzhi pulled her back, muttering as they walked.

Xiang Zhu listened with great interest.

She hadn’t expected Jiang Menghan to like Ouyang Xiujie.

General Xiao’s legitimate daughter was married to the Second Prince, also known as the Duke of Xiang.

The Fourth Prince’s consort’s close friend had fallen for General Xiao’s last disciple, who was also the Fourth Prince’s brother.

The Fourth Prince was the Crown Prince’s full brother. If Ouyang Xiujie truly married Jiang Menghan, would the Minister of War be aligned with the Crown Prince or the Duke of Xiang?

Xiang Zhu shifted her uncomfortable wrist, feeling a foreign object pressing painfully against her skin.

She doubted Ouyang Xiujie’s reason for saving her.

It resembled a shattered white jade chess piece.

Since Ouyang Xiujie had lost all his internal strength, he couldn’t have shattered the jade chess piece with his power.