Lu Chao didn’t dodge but instead beckoned with his hand.
The woman’s brows instantly furrowed, her eyes filled with wariness as she struggled to recall who this person was. Suddenly, a sharp glint of killing intent flashed in her gaze.
Just as tensions reached a boiling point, a loud shout erupted beside her.
"He made it!! He made it!! The eldest young master is on the list!!"
Liu Yao’s face was flushed red as he waved his arms frantically, shouting at Lu Chao from the upper floor.
The woman glanced sideways at Liu Yao, and the murderous intent in her eyes gradually faded.
She cast one last deep look in Lu Chao’s direction, as if confirming something, then turned and strode away without a word. Behind her, a small green bird with beady eyes flapped its wings and followed.
"Young Master!"
Liu Yao sprinted upstairs, panting heavily, his forehead damp with sweat and strands of hair sticking messily to his cheeks.
"Our eldest… eldest young master ranked sixth!"
Hearing this, Lu Yuanyi leaped up in excitement, gripping Liu Yao’s arm tightly, his face filled with disbelief.
"Are you sure?!" he pressed, his voice trembling with emotion.
Liu Yao took a few deep breaths to steady himself, patting his chest as the excitement still colored his cheeks. "No mistake! Lu Yuanzhao, native of Yingchuan—I saw it clearly with my own eyes!"
"Good man, Liu Yao!! Here’s your reward!!"
Overjoyed, Lu Yuanyi tossed an exquisitely embroidered pouch at him.
Then, grabbing Xingyao by the arm, he dashed out the door, muttering excitedly,
"Quick! Let’s hurry home to deliver the good news! Father and Mother are waiting!"
Lu Chao trailed behind, his mind seemingly elsewhere. Had the little bird lost track? And what of Xiao Zheng’s current situation? Had she run into trouble? That woman’s behavior was so suspicious—was she connected to the rebels?
Meanwhile, Xiao Zheng had been secretly following the woman. She watched as the woman first bought fabric at a cloth shop, then a box of needles and thread before heading straight home without further stops.
Hidden in the shadows, Xiao Zheng frowned, a nagging feeling that she had overlooked something crucial gnawing at her.
This wasn’t right. The Tartar envoys were about to arrive—why was everything so eerily calm?
That night, as Xiao Zheng, clad in black, stepped through the gates of the general’s estate, Zhang Hu hurried over, a gift list in hand and a broad smile on his face.
"General, you’re finally back!"
His eyes sparkled with urgency and delight.
"The Lu family sent word today—their eldest son passed the imperial exams with flying colors! I figured this couldn’t wait, so I took the liberty of sending congratulations to Lu Manor. I hope that was acceptable?"
Zhang Hu handed over the list. The Lu family was known for their integrity and kindness. Since they had always shown the general great courtesy and even hosted her coming-of-age ceremony, it was only right to reciprocate.
Recalling the scene at the results announcement earlier, Xiao Zheng was pleasantly surprised.
"That’s wonderful news! Well done, Zhang Hu! I didn’t know you had such a thoughtful side! You handled this perfectly—thank goodness you were here to keep things proper!"
Zhang Hu puffed out his chest slightly, his expression neutral but inwardly preening. So this cripple still had his uses after all.
"As long as you’re not upset, General. I may be called Zhang Hu, but I’m no fool. The Lu family isn’t just any relative—they’re practically in-laws! We must always be attentive!"
Then, as if remembering something important, his expression turned serious.
"Oh, General, I just heard that Young Master Xiao Huan has rushed back to the capital. With the Tartar envoys arriving soon, his sudden return can only mean one thing—he’s here for that."
Xiao Zheng nodded slightly. As expected, Xiao Huan must have obtained some "evidence" explosive enough to stir trouble—likely to use against her. But what exactly had that person given him? No matter. She would face whatever came her way.
After Zhang Hu left, Xiao Zheng sat at her desk, motionless, replaying the day’s pursuit in her mind. She closed her eyes, scrutinizing every detail, searching for any overlooked clues.
Suddenly, a dark shadow darted across the room. Xiao Zheng drew her blade, ready to strike—only to see a green bird stumble mid-air, nearly doing a split over the desk in fright.
Recognizing the bird, Xiao Zheng sheathed her sword, amused. The bird tilted its head, its beady eyes locking onto hers as if confirming something.
A moment later, it dropped a tightly clutched note from its beak and vanished into the night, its flapping wings almost frantic.
Unfolding the note, Xiao Zheng recognized the handwriting instantly—Lu Chao.
At the hour of Hai, Xiao Zheng, dressed in black, appeared outside Lu Chao’s window right on time.
"What’s this about?"
Tonight, the Lu household was celebrating, and Lu Chao had excused himself early, claiming drunkenness, before dismissing Liu Yao. The courtyard was conveniently empty.
"Shh, come inside first." Lu Chao gestured for Xiao Zheng to enter.
"What’s wrong? Did something happen?"
Seeing his hesitation, Xiao Zheng grew concerned.
Lu Chao lowered his voice.
"Were you tracking a woman in a green robe and a white veil today?"
Before Xiao Zheng could respond, he continued.
"We saw you following her near the exam results announcement, but there was another woman dressed exactly like her in the crowd!"
Xiao Zheng’s face paled.
Only after Lu Chao recounted everything did she realize she had fallen for a decoy—no wonder the trail had gone cold.
"Thank you for telling me this in time!"
Xiao Zheng clasped her hands in gratitude.
"I knew this woman was important to you, so I tracked her myself. But I didn’t want to alert anyone, so I held off telling you immediately."
Xiao Zheng shook her head. "You did the right thing. If they used a decoy, they must have spotted me. There could be accomplices nearby—acting rashly would’ve put you in danger."
With that, she narrowed her eyes, strategizing their next move.
Lu Chao summoned the little bird and grinned at Xiao Zheng.
"Do you want to know where that woman went?"
Xiao Zheng blinked in surprise, only now noticing the green bird perched on his shoulder.
"Let’s go. Curfew’s in effect—tonight, we’ll have to trouble General Xiao again!"
Xiao Zheng suddenly noticed that Lu Chao had already changed into a set of black night attire, with only a pair of bright, determined eyes visible above the fabric. The eager glint in those eyes matched the piercing gaze of the bluebird perched on her shoulder almost perfectly.
Moments later, the little bird flapped its wings and took the lead. With flushed cheeks, Xiao Zheng wrapped an arm around Lu Chao’s slender waist, their footsteps light and swift as they moved. The two of them blended into the night like shadows, leaping and darting between rooftops and alleyways.
Beneath that black mask, Lu Chao’s lips curled into a wide, unmistakable smile.
