"You're saying the scout you sent was killed on the spot?" He Chunhua paused in thought. "That sparrowhawk's been with A'Hao for many years. He was always perched on his shoulder. I even fed him by hand once."
"He was tortured to death," He Lingchuan replied. The moment his father referred to the sparrowhawk monster as a "scout," a sense of reassurance settled in his chest. This meant that his father would not dismiss it as just a dead monster. "Nian Songyu and State Preceptor Sun definitely learned that he was acting on my orders from his mouth."
He could not afford to fight this battle alone. He had to remember that his father was his strongest backing.
If his father, with his official rank and power, could not do anything, then he could do even less.
However, He Chunhua said indifferently, "He was just a sparrowhawk. So what if he died?" He picked up his brush again and continued writing.
He Lingchuan was taken aback. "Father!"
He had not expected that reaction and hurried to plead his case, "They clearly need something from the He Family. They clearly knew Little Gray was acting on my orders. They clearly knew this was a simple misunderstanding, yet they still killed him!"
He struck the table lightly, making the inkstone, brush, and paper all jump. "Father, those two don't even see us as human beings. They think that they can mold us into any shape they want—round one moment, flat the next. Are we really just supposed to bow our heads and do their bidding without a word of complaint?!"
"Sun Fuping is a state preceptor. He is someone who basks in royal favor. Meanwhile, I'm just a backwater commandery administrator. The gap between us could not be any starker. On an ordinary day, if he wanted to mold me round or flat and crush you beneath his finger, then so will be done. That is what a rigid hierarchy means," He Chunhua said, not in anger but with a wry smile. "You've grown too comfortable in Heishui City. You've forgotten the weight of rank, forgotten the immensity of heaven and earth."
His voice turned icy by the last few words.
It was not that he did not care. Honestly speaking, he was seething. Their two guests did not just look down on He Lingchuan; they looked down on the entire He Family.
It was as if they said, "So what if we killed your scout? You still have to do our bidding and even die for us if that is what is needed!"
And, unfortunately, that was indeed the case. That was precisely the sort of superiority they wielded.
Even an official who was of a single rank higher could crush He Chunhua. And State Preceptor Sun had come under royal orders, so what other choice did Commandery Administrator He even have?
He Lingchuan was not convinced. "But Uncle Hao—"
"If you serve others, you must accept your fate." He Chunhua's brow furrowed. "Is he really taking it that hard?" The man is already well into his years.
Sensing that he was hitting a wall, He Lingchuan decisively switched gears. "You said it yourself, that is the case on an ordinary day."
"Enough complaining, and stop trying to be clever. Spend your energy thinking of solutions." He Chunhua set down his brush and rose to his feet. He gave his son a light knock on the forehead. "Still, we can't just stay on the defensive. This is our He Family's territory, after all. So tell me, what's your plan?"
"Well, Little Two, would be better at that. He's full of sneaky tricks. But if it were up to me…" He Lingchuan gave a cold laugh. "Even if we end up having to do their dirty work, there's no harm in dragging things out first. Who else but us knows where the sand leopards' keepsake actually is? Besides, they killed one of our men… well, a monster, but surely that still deserves a price?"
"A price?" A smile tugged at He Chunhua's lips. That word struck him right in the heart. "You're making sense."
His eldest son was finally showing some maturity. He felt a twinge of satisfaction.
"Oh, and what should we do with the two guards from Donglai Mansion?" He Lingchuan asked. He knew his father had initially planned to let them go.
"Leave them for now," He Chunhua replied. "We'll deal with them in a few days. They don't seem to be in a rush."
Nian Songyu and Sun Fuping care about the keepsake, Donglai Mansion cares about the Generous Pot, but as for those guards? They're expendable.
* * *
At the evening banquet held at the He Mansion, laughter rang out from both parties. The hosts and the guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Fueled by wine, He Chunhua all but slapped his chest and swore he would find the keepsake that would allow them to traverse the Panlong Desert no matter what.
And then, twenty whole hours went by.
To Nian Songyu, every hour felt like a year. He sent someone to follow up once. He Chunhua, with all the sincerity in the world, admitted that he had not found anything yet, but once again vowed to give it his utmost.
It was only then that he actually began dispatching people throughout Heishui City, ceremoniously posting notices and launching a citywide search.
He offered an excellent attitude but abysmal efficiency.
And naturally, nothing turned up.
After all, the He Family's true advantage was time. They were in no rush.
Eventually, even a dignified state preceptor like Sun Fuping could no longer sit still. He and Nian Songyu paid a personal visit to the He Mansion only to be told that Commandery Administrator He was out. They were instead received by his youngest son, He Yue.
At the sight of He Yue, both visitors lit up, showering him with flattering praise. Nian Songyu in particular struck up a lively conversation with the other party, and before long, he was tossing out lines like, "We're close in age; perhaps we should spend more time together."
He Lingchuan quietly sipped his tea, sulking. In terms of age, am I not actually even closer to Nian Songyu? Where does this guy get the nerve to pretend otherwise? Then again, Little Two has always had a more refined face, the type that people naturally warmed to. Still, aren't these two laying it on a bit thick?
He Yue, meanwhile, dutifully played the bureaucratic game just as their father had instructed. "The entire city has been mobilized. However, with the Hongya Trade Route about to close, traffic in and out of the city has surged. It's a chaotic mix of travelers and merchants, so the search has become a lot more difficult."
Worried his little brother might suffer under pressure, He Lingchuan stayed to accompany him. Watching He Yue's earnest yet impenetrable demeanor, he could not help but note how much the kid resembled their father, especially when playing hard to get.
Nian Songyu's patience wore thin. He could not be bothered to exchange pleasantries anymore. "Then lock down the city and search it! This concerns the fate of the entire state. What does a few days of closure matter?"
"We can't do that." He Yue offered a helpless smile. "The delegation from the State of Baling is expected to arrive in Heishui City within the coming days. From here, they'll begin their journey westward. This is their last chance to return home this year. If they're delayed, it could trigger a serious diplomatic incident. Baling has long eyed Yuan with hostility. There have already been several border skirmishes. They're practically looking for an excuse to escalate."
Nian Songyu gave a cold, disbelieving laugh. "So what, are you telling me that closing the city would start a border war?"
"Yes, it's very likely to happen should we choose to close the city!" He Yue replied firmly. "Qiansong Commandery can't afford that risk!"
Sun Fuping, annoyed by their roundabout stalling, opened the window screen and got straight to the point, "I've heard that Eldest Young Master He has been recovering from an injury? He was shut away in recuperation for the forty or fifty days?"
"That's right. I nearly lost my life." At last, after half an hour of tea-sipping nonsense, the topic landed on He Lingchuan. He pulled aside his collar to reveal his neck. "Take a look."
The scar from the sand leopard's bite still marred his throat. It was a vicious, ragged mark that had healed but remained jagged and grim. One look was enough to see how close he had come to death.
Nian Songyu stared at the scar. "How did you get that?"
"I was at Mount Hulu when—" He Lingchuan suddenly paused, as if confused. "Wait a minute… Commandant Nian, how did you hear about me getting injured? There shouldn't be that many who know about it."
Nian Songyu answered without thinking, "Our men picked it up. As you said yourself, there are too many mouths in Heishui City. Word spreads fast."
"They're spreading even my personal business now?" He Lingchuan slammed down his teacup. "Who exactly blabbered? Commandant Nian, please tell me. I'll make sure they pay for it!"
Nian Songyu fell silent, his gaze sharpening into a dagger.
That prickling sense of being stabbed by a needle returned. He Lingchuan met the look head-on unflinchingly.
What, you think you can out-stare me? Hmph, not a chance.