Chapter 84 Tracking

Chapter 84: Pursuit

Overnight, the imperial capital was suddenly engulfed in chaos.

While the common folk still lingered in their dreams, in the dead of night, the streets were abruptly shattered by thunderous hoofbeats and rumbling carriages, as if a massive force were sweeping through.

Some were jolted awake, but before they could step outside, martial law had already descended upon the city—sentries posted every five paces, guards standing rigid at attention, an air thick with dread.

The people trembled, yet dared not pry. In haste, they retreated into their homes, praying this was not something earth-shattering.

At that very moment, His Majesty Jingxi swiftly issued orders to the military garrisons under the provincial administration’s jurisdiction: a traitor had fled the capital, and all outposts were to deploy elite troops to seal off key checkpoints, ready for immediate action. Secret commands were also dispatched to the Twelve Imperial Guards, instructing them to cast a dragnet for pursuit and capture.

These Twelve Imperial Guards were his personal imperial forces, now fully mobilized.

As for the emperor himself, he spurred his horse out of the city, leading three hundred elite members of the Imperial Guards, riding straight toward the True Martial Daoist Temple to find someone from A Wu’s past.

He had woven an inescapable net—he would never allow A Wu to slip away.

Jingxi and his men arrived swiftly at the temple, quickly tracing A Wu’s childhood sweetheart, Ye Han. Upon learning that Ye Han had escaped during the day, the emperor left a contingent behind to conduct harsh interrogations while the Imperial Guards rode out in pursuit.

As Jingxi drove his steed forward, the wind lashed against his face. Teeth clenched, his knuckles turned white, nearly crushing the reins in his grip.

After agonizing all night, he had finally made his decision—he would no longer hesitate. This heartless, ungrateful wretch, this viper he had raised, had actually run away!

She had fled with some man, abandoning everything!

The pain stabbed through him like a dagger.

Had he not treated her well enough? Had he not given her everything?

What had become of their love? Of their babes still in swaddling clothes? She hadn’t even spared them a second glance before callously leaving them behind!

He remembered how she had once tried to escape with Nie San. Always the same trick!

But—

This time was different.

Memories of their tender whispers and honeyed words, of lingering embraces and whispered confessions, now surged uncontrollably into his mind, each one slicing through him like shards of broken glass, leaving him bloodied and broken.

How could she do this to him?

Rage boiled within him like a storm tide. If only A Wu stood before him now—he would tear her apart with his bare hands!

**************

Meanwhile, far from the capital, Ye Han and A Wu traveled south, moving by night and lying low by day.

At a bustling market, Ye Han sold their donkey and managed to secure a horse at great cost—A Wu carried gold with her.

“Brother,” she said, “I have plenty of gold. They gave it to me.”

Ye Han knew exactly who “they” were—the men who had once been close to her.

He helped her mount the horse, then climbed up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Keep it if you like, but I’ll work hard to earn money for you too. From now on, I’ll make sure you live well. We can leave their gifts behind.”

He understood why those men had given her jewelry and valuables; though the thought pained him, he couldn’t bring himself to blame her.

After their hometown had been ravaged by floods, they had been left to drift like duckweed on the current, enduring years of wandering exile. That she had survived those years at all was nothing short of miraculous.

A Wu froze for a second, then said, "Alright, I’ll only take what Father and Eldest Brother gave me, and yours—nothing from anyone else."

Ye Han lowered his head to kiss her hair. "It’s over now. What’s yours is yours."

As they spoke, Ye Han also asked about Lu Yunjian. He hated Lu Yunjian with every fiber of his being, always suspecting that he had harmed the villagers. Now that he knew A Wu had once dealt with Lu Yunjian, he naturally wanted to inquire.

A Wu recounted everything from the past in detail. Ye Han frowned. "So it *was* him! I knew it!"

A Wu bit her lip. "He’s pure evil. But Brother Ahan, I don’t want you to throw your life away. You’re no match for him... With his power, how could you possibly win?"

She thought the Jingxi Emperor would deal with Lu Yunjian.

Hearing this, Ye Han said nothing more. He just pulled her closer. "I know. Alright, from now on, I’ll stay with you. We’ll forget about those outsiders."

He held her so tightly, as if trying to mold her into himself, desperate to keep her close.

A Wu could feel how tightly he held her.

Ye Han had spent his life by the sea, doing hard labor. To protect his family and fight pirates, he had trained in martial arts and was a tough young man.

His hands were rough, entirely unlike the Jingxi Emperor’s, with faint blue veins bulging and a nasty split in the nail of his left middle finger from past hardships.

When he held A Wu like this, his arms locked around her like iron, tight enough to ache.

But to A Wu, it felt like home.

She’d always known Ye Han would come for her—no matter what happened to her, he would never reject her but would accept her as she was.

He was different from the Jingxi Emperor, different from the Crown Prince, different from Lu Yunjian.

That was why, when she sought his help to escape, she didn’t think twice.

This was family, kin—someone she could truly rely on!

A Wu broke down sobbing, all her pain pouring out. "Why didn’t you come for me sooner? They all bullied me! No one cared about me!"

At that moment, she realized all the riches in the world meant nothing compared to his arms around her. She needed him to hold her—forever.

Ye Han gripped the reins, holding A Wu tightly, resting his chin against her hair before lowering his head to kiss her cheek.

His voice was thick with guilt. "It’s my fault. I should have come for you sooner, before others could hurt you."

In truth, just thinking about what they’d done to her made him want to gut them himself!

A Wu cried even harder. "And Father, and Eldest Brother—they never came back! Without you all, anyone could bully me!"

"They might be in trouble—that’s why they haven’t come back," Ye Han said. "But it’s alright—I’ll take you to find them."

A Wu managed a teary nod. "Okay!"

Right then, she knew—*this* was where she belonged.

Not with Lu Yunjian, not with the Crown Prince, not even with the Emperor.

The Emperor had showered her with affection, asking her to call him Zelang or husband—yet when he spoke of her father, it was always "your honored father," a stiff, formal title.

He never realized it, but she understood. Because she was merely a concubine, her father could never be his father-in-law.

Besides, he was the Emperor. All under heaven were his subjects. So he could casually say, *When your honored father returns, I’ll grant him a favor—hand him some official title.*

How utterly condescending of him.

Of course, an emperor was expected to act that way, but she wasn’t sure she wanted such a husband.

Dabbing her tears, she said, “Let’s leave this place and never come back.”

Ye Han hesitated before replying, “All right.”

He wanted revenge—he needed to kill Lu Yunjian.

It was the Lu family who slaughtered their villagers, and it was the Lu family who had disgraced A Wu. This was vengeance for his father’s death and his wife’s disgrace. Unless he killed Lu Yunjian, he’d never rest easy.

But A Wu wanted to leave, and she had also angered the emperor of Great Hui. So he decided—they should leave first.

First, he had to keep A Wu safe and get her settled. Later, he could still find a way to kill Lu Yunjian.

Of course, maybe he wouldn’t be able to kill Lu Yunjian at all. He still had to live—only by living could he protect A Wu.

A Wu’s panic had begun to subside. She could tell Ye Han was bent on revenge, but she knew they stood no chance alone. Run now, enjoy a few days of peace, and figure out the rest later. Her heart pounded with fear—she felt trapped, as if escape were impossible.

As for Lu Yunjian, the Jingxi Emperor would make sure he paid—in blood.

But she didn’t want to bring that up with Ye Han yet. The situation was too tangled, and she couldn’t explain what kind of man the Jingxi Emperor really was.

The Jingxi Emperor inspired equal parts fear and trust in her.

Some part of her believed he cared for her, yet she also knew he was ruthless and calculating.

She couldn’t wrap her head around this man—over a decade older than her, an emperor, with such depth and schemes. How could she possibly understand?

Ye Han, though, wore his heart on his sleeve. How could someone like him grasp an emperor’s duality—gentle one moment, merciless the next?

There was no one like that in their village.

Dawn was breaking by the time they reached a stretch of open water, reeds ahead and wild grasses behind.

Ye Han scanned the area. “We’ll need to get across this water.”

“Swim?” A Wu asked.

Ye Han stayed silent, eyes fixed on the distant surface where a faint outline of a boat emerged in the morning light.

A Wu followed his gaze and saw it too.

They had only traveled at night, avoiding people all along. The sudden sight of a boat sent her pulse spiking.

She was afraid.

Ye Han sensed it. His fist tightened as he stepped slightly in front of her. “We’re fine. That boat’s our ticket across.”

A Wu had just had a baby six months back—he knew that. In their village, women weren’t supposed to go into the water after childbirth, especially not now, when summer hadn’t arrived and the river would be icy cold. The boat was their best bet.

A Wu nodded. “Okay.”

Right now, she’d follow his lead without question.

Still, she murmured, “If we’re caught… let’s die together. I’m the one who dragged you down with me.”

He could have lived peacefully in the Taoist temple.

Ye Han understood A Wu's meaning and held her even tighter: "It's alright, dying together wouldn't be so bad."

His family was gone, and nearly all the villagers were gone too. He was utterly alone in the world, and after finally finding A Wu, he could stay with her—even unto death.

A Wu lifted her face, resting it on his shoulder, and murmured softly, "I used to be so afraid of death, afraid I’d never find Father and Brother again. But now that you're here, I’m not scared anymore. At least I found you. Even on the road to the afterlife, you’ll still protect me."

Ye Han's eyes reddened: "When I heard you had entered the palace, become a noble consort, and given birth to royal children, I thought we'd never meet again. I snuck into the temple grounds just to tell you about home, so you'd know."

He hadn’t expected her to suddenly run out and ask him to take her away.

At that moment, it was like they’d stepped back into their old lives.

A Wu understood his meaning and nodded gently: "I always feel that if we went back to the village, it would still look just like when we left."

Everyone would still be there—some mending nets, others sorting the day’s catch, some even smiling as they welcomed them back.

A Wu hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, so she couldn’t imagine the villagers all dead, nor believe their home wasn’t the same anymore.

Because she hadn’t witnessed it, she could only picture the scenes of the past—the warm, vivid memories.

Listening to A Wu’s words, Ye Han felt his nose burn. He missed home too, longed for those days, and wanted to cry—but he choked it down.

With everyone in the village gone and A Wu’s father and brother no longer there, he was all she had left. So he had to suppress his emotions.

So he made himself smile: "Alright, let's take a look at that boat first."

**********

On the boat was a ferryman, his voice low and hoarse. He wore a bamboo hat and a raincoat, beneath which seemed to be a rough black robe—your average ferryman’s getup.

Still, Ye Han remained cautious. He sounded him out with some questions and asked about the fare. The ferryman said it would cost ten coins.

A Wu quickly said, "Here’s ten coins."

The ferryman glanced at her and gestured for them to board.

Ye Han helped A Wu onto the boat, then carefully took off his bundle and tucked it up by the prow for her to sit on.

Once she was seated, he positioned himself between A Wu and the ferryman, keeping the ferryman’s eyes off her.

A Wu was beautiful, and he feared someone might get any ideas.

Fortunately, everything seemed harmless enough—the ferryman looked ordinary.

But when A Wu took out a silver ingot and handed it to him, the ferryman said, "That’s more than enough."

A Wu replied, "Take it."

She didn’t have smaller coins, only silver ingots.

In truth, she didn’t have many ingots either—her real wealth was in gold.

The ferryman accepted it.

As he took the ingot, A Wu’s fingers accidentally brushed against his, and a strange feeling came over her.

She couldn’t explain it—just a hunch.

At that moment, the ferryman shoved off with the oar, and the boat drifted away from the shore, ripples spreading across the water.

A Wu stared fixedly at the ferryman's back, and suddenly, she realized something—a chill ran down her spine.

Ye Han: "What's wrong?"

A Wu quickly turned to the boatman: "Who are you? Do I know you?"

The boatman replied, "Let's go. Someone's coming. I have another passenger to pick up."

A Wu's heart plummeted.

That faintly shrill voice instantly reminded her of someone!

She blurted out, "You—why are you here?"

But the boatman said nothing. His boat had already disappeared into the reeds, and A Wu could only hear the oars splashing.

Ye Han frowned: "Do you know him?"

A Wu stared at the man's back. She was almost certain it was Nie San.

Why was he here?

Ye Han: "What's wrong?"

A Wu snapped back to reality and shook her head: "I don’t know either. Let’s go."

Ye Han gripped A Wu’s hand and stared at the opposite shore: "Hurry, someone’s chasing us. I hear horses approaching. We need to leave now!"

A Wu nodded hastily: "Okay, okay."

************

When the boatman’s boat reached the other side of the river, he spotted a man—Fang Yue, gripping a sword.

Fang Yue was dressed in official garb, a long sword at his waist, towering and stern.

Fang Yue also saw him: "Didn’t think I’d see you again."

The boatman was Nie San.

Nie San removed his bamboo hat: "The Emperor’s kindness knows no bounds."

The Emperor had personally left the city to capture his Imperial Noble Consort, yet only brought the Imperial Guard in pursuit. This meant he had left her a way out—if she returned, he could cover for her.

A woman who ran off with another man, yet the Emperor was still willing to forgive her. How generous.

Fang Yue: "If you go after them now, perhaps you can redeem yourself."

Nie San, of course, wouldn’t chase them. Not only that, he wanted to help A Wu fend off the Imperial Guard.

"Don’t get it, do you? That I’d stoop this low for a woman."

Fang Yue looked at Nie San. He knew Nie San had suffered—gelded, turned into a eunuch, sent to hard labor, and after escaping, living like a stray dog in hiding.

Yet now, he was shielding the woman who ruined him, covering her retreat.

Nie San: "But I keep remembering her words. She said I was beneath her—that I, a full-grown man, was crushing a helpless woman to get ahead."

His voice cracked with shrillness: "I didn’t! I want to tell her—I didn’t!"

Fang Yue sneered: "Spare me the speech. Die."

Nie San and Fang Yue had known each other since their teens. They'd even been posted to the same guard unit, once thick as thieves. Back then, when the Jingxi Emperor bestowed Bai Lu tea as a reward, Fang Yue’s first instinct was to share it with Nie San.

But he never expected that his pursuit of that young woman would lead him to Nie San, who had actually eloped with her.

Fang Yue secretly observed the young woman for several days, unable to comprehend the situation. He wanted to understand.

He had even considered helping Nie San. In truth, if the Jingxi Emperor had never inquired about A Wu again, Nie San might have escaped punishment.

That day, when Fang Yue was summoned by the Jingxi Emperor and questioned about Lady Fifth’s origins, he knew Nie San was a dead man.

Of course, Fang Yue ached for Nie San, but for him, loyalty to the emperor and his own future seemed more important.

And this time, he would certainly not hold back.

The Twelve Imperial Guards were the emperor’s personal troops, and the Dragon Guard were the closest elite guards. This mission to capture the Imperial Noble Consort was top-secret. By taking part, he knew that if he succeeded, he would climb the ranks swiftly, becoming a trusted confidant of the emperor.

So, for this task, he felt pride, thrilling excitement, and even a sense of eagerness.

He had to give it his all!

Thus, he unsheathed his sword against Nie San.

During their fight, he struck with such force that even after Nie San was dying at his feet, he stabbed him twice more.

Only after those two strikes, as Nie San collapsed lifelessly, did he realize Nie San was truly dead.

Exhausted, he slowly withdrew his blade and gazed at Nie San’s still-warm corpse.

*“I actually understand you.”*

Sometimes, one wrong turn leads one astray.

But he never gave himself such an opportunity.

That was why, whenever he stood guard at the Hall of Heavenly Blessings, and the Imperial Noble Consort passed through the corridor—the only moment he could glimpse her—he never once looked, not even for a second.

**************

*The road ahead was rough,* so their galloping slowed. The young man’s steely arms tightened around A Wu’s waist, making her feel safe.

Leaning against him, she couldn’t help but recount scattered memories of the past, speaking whatever came to mind, whether trivial or significant.

She wanted to tell him everything—secrets and stories alike.

Since leaving her hometown, she had been through hell. Though she had found companionship, no outsider could ever measure up to family.

Now, reunited with Ye Han, she longed to spill her heart, to make him understand.

As she spoke, A Wu suddenly said, “He was cruel to me. He played me false. I should never have expected anything from someone like him!”

Ye Han listened silently. He knew she was speaking of the emperor.

That emperor was much older than A Wu, yet she had been with him, borne his children.

He could tell the man had once cared for her, even showered her with love. He had granted her the title of Imperial Noble Consort and cherished the children she bore.

Part of her still clung to him—otherwise, she wouldn’t be so heartbroken.

Holding her close, he comforted her. “A Wu, that’s behind us now. Once we’re home, we’ll live a good life.”

They were fishermen, no strangers to storms at sea. As long as they weathered the storm, everything would be fine.

A Wu wiped her tears. “I know. I’m just mad at myself for hoping. He didn’t deserve it.”

As she spoke, she turned and wrapped her arms around Ye Han’s waist, pressing her face against his: “Brother, A Wu won’t give them another thought. They’re nothing but dogs. It’s like a dog bit me—that’s all. From now on, A Wu will stay with you. A Wu wants to marry you.”

Her softness pressed tightly against Ye Han, setting his blood aflame with heartache and guilt.

His hardened face nestled against A Wu’s delicate skin as he rasped, “I’ll never let you suffer like this again. We’ll exchange wedding vows, and I’ll take care of you.”

A Wu: “Good. I want to exchange the wedding bows to heaven and earth. They never did that with me. I’ve never done it with anyone before.”

At this thought, she suddenly felt a fleeting ache of longing.

Ye Han soothed gently, “They were scum—lower than dirt. When we return, we’ll do it right. We’ll get married and make A Wu a bride.”

Hearing his words, A Wu thought of the children she had borne for the emperor. For a moment, she felt a pang of sorrow—but only for an instant.

In this life, she had given birth to them in the imperial family, and that was enough. Their paths were never meant to cross forever. They would find their own fortune.

So she steeled herself and said, “Yes, we’ll exchange our vows as soon as we return!”

But just then, a sharp sound pierced the air, followed by the piercing scream of their horse.

Instinctively, Ye Han scooped A Wu into his arms and leapt aside, rolling hard as they hit the ground.

Her head spun from the roll, but when she steadied herself, she saw an arrow buried in the horse’s flank. The wounded beast writhed in agony, kicking wildly before bolting off in panic.

Ye Han’s reflexes saved them.

He glared ahead, but kept his voice low: “We’re being hunted. Stay behind me.”

Trembling, A Wu clung to his back and peered forward.

Figures lurked in the shadows.

“The Imperial Guard—they’ve found us!” Ye Han rasped.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her to run.

The Imperial Guard…

Sobs wracked her body. There was no escaping this. All their hopes had been a dream. How could they ever break free?

Her heart sank into despair as she cried, “Brother, just go. Leave me behind!”

“Quiet! I’m not leaving you,” Ye Han snapped. “Hurry—I’ll carry you!”

But A Wu shoved the bundle into his hands: “Take this. If you find my father or brother, give it to them. If not, keep it for yourself. You still have a chance.”

His jaw clenched in fury: “How could I abandon you? How could I leave you here to die?”

“I’ll manage alone!” A Wu shot back.

Ye Han ignored her, yanking her toward him and slinging her onto his back: “Then we die together. If they catch up, we die together.”

Helpless, A Wu clung to his shoulders and held on tight: “Then we die together.”

But at that moment, a voice rang out from ahead: “This is a dragnet. Did you truly think you’d escape?”

A Wu looked up—and saw Fang Yue.

Ye Han’s eyes turned to ice as they locked onto him.

Fang Yue, however, looked completely relaxed. He held a blood-dripping blade, its tip dripping with blood—whose blood it was, no one knew.

A Wu clung to Ye Han's shoulders, staring pleadingly at Fang Yue. "Commander Fang," she whispered weakly, "please spare us. I have many valuables—I can give you all of it."

Fang Yue gripped the knife, slightly lowering his head as he raised his eyes to look at A Wu, who was being carried by the young man.

Tears streamed down her face as she clung to the youth’s back, their closeness obvious.

He remained expressionless. "Imperial Noble Consort," he said flatly, "you're being way too naive."

Did she really think money would change his mind?

Even Nie San wouldn't be moved by wealth.

A Wu fell silent. She understood that for Fang Yue, capturing her meant fame, fortune, and fast promotion; letting her go meant certain death with no future.

Ye Han set A Wu down. "Go first," he said. "I'll deal with him."

Fang Yue was twenty-eight now, having served in the imperial court for ten years and seen his share of court intrigues.

Ye Han, barely older than A Wu at nineteen, was a tough kid who grew up by the ocean—outwardly strong, but Fang Yue could tell his martial skills were barely passable.

And he was way too green, lacking any real experience.

Fang Yue sighed and said, "You're just throwing your life away."

Ye Han turned his head slightly, clenching his jaw, his gaze fierce. "The emperor's lapdog," he spat. "I'm not afraid of you!"

Fang Yue smirked. "Just come, then."

Tightening his grip on the staff, Ye Han kept his eyes locked on Fang Yue but spoke to A Wu: "I'll hold him off. Run!"

But A Wu didn't move.

She knew escape was impossible. If Fang Yue was here, the other Imperial Guards couldn't be far. A weak woman like her didn't stand a chance.

Better to die together than get caught alone.

Suddenly, hoofbeats thundered in the distance—the sound of many horses galloping.

A Wu suddenly remembered hearing this sound once before.

Back then, she had been locked inside a carriage when the Jingxi Emperor appeared like lightning from the sky.

She turned her head slowly and saw a group of riders charging toward them.

The wind howled as the leader, clad in violet robes and a jade crown, rode with unstoppable momentum.

It was the Jingxi Emperor!

Through the swirling dust, his eyes found her with deadly precision.

Those eyes were sharp enough to kill her on the spot.

In an instant, A Wu's legs gave out, and all strength left her body.