Chapter 55

Yanzhou, Gaoling County, within the study of the Fan Manor.

"...What? Quanjie has betrayed us?!"

Fan Tianshi abruptly rose from his seat, his gaze fixed intently on Wang Jiang, who knelt before him.

The man in a blue robe sitting beside the low table frowned.

Wang Jiang kept his head bowed as he replied, "Yes, my lord. That night, everything was proceeding smoothly at first. We had infiltrated the Qin residence and even entered one target's chamber. But just as we were about to strike, Quanjie suddenly killed two of our own men. No one anticipated he would act this way. Not only did it throw our formation into disarray, but it also woke the northern general sleeping inside."

"What happened next? What was the outcome?" the eldest son, Fan Boliang, pressed.

Wang Jiang remained with his head lowered. "The alarm was raised, making it impossible to complete the mission. Naturally, we had to retreat immediately and wait for a better opportunity later. However, with Quanjie having just killed two men in front and northern guards swarming in from behind, escape was extremely difficult. Aside from your humble servant, none of the others managed to get out."

As if to prove the truth of his words, Wang Jiang removed his outer robe, revealing a bandage of coarse cloth wrapped from his left shoulder blade down his arm, already stained a deep red with blood. Judging by the area covered, the wound was not small.

Seeming to fear their disbelief, Wang Jiang then unwrapped the bandage on the spot to show them the injury beneath.

The wound was long, the flesh mangled and bloody.

Fan Boliang drew a sharp breath, unsure whether he was startled by the gruesome injury or shocked by the confirmation of Quanjie's betrayal.

Fan Tianshi's expression was grim. "Was anyone captured alive by the northerners?"

"I do not know, my lord. However, if there were, they would have followed your previous instructions and pinned everything on Qingzhou," Wang Jiang whispered.

Fan Tianshi pinched the bridge of his nose. "I am aware of the situation now. You may go and tend to your wound. For the time being, do not speak of Quanjie's defection. I will make the necessary arrangements."

Wang Jiang received the order and withdrew.

After he left, Fan Boliang looked at the two men in the room. "Father, Mr. Shi, do you find Wang Jiang's account credible? Where could Quanjie possibly go after leaving our Fan Manor? Who would dare take in such a stray dog? Once we publicly declare that Quanjie has turned traitor, his enemies will come hunting for him within a day. Even if he had nine lives, it wouldn't be enough."

Fan Tianshi rotated the thumb ring on his hand, remaining silent.

Shi Wuji said, "We have too little information. It's difficult to say at this point."

Fan Boliang speculated, "Could it be that the mission failed, Quanjie also died, and Wang Jiang fabricated this story to shift the blame?"

"That is certainly possible. This matter requires thorough investigation," Fan Tianshi said, his eyes revealing a terrifying malice. "If Quanjie has truly betrayed his master, I will make him long for death more than life."

...

"Has Quanjie still not returned?" Fan Muqi peeked into the small courtyard.

Ping Wei was so consumed by jealousy he felt sick. On the third day after Quanjie's departure, the Eighth Miss had come asking if he was back. She had asked every single day since. Sometimes she sent a maidservant, other times she came in person, even going so far as to sit for a while in Quanjie's room. It was clearly the infatuation of a young maiden, utterly besotted.

He couldn't understand it. They were all sons taken in by their foster father.

In terms of seniority, he had been with the Fan family a few months longer than Quanjie. In terms of looks, he was undoubtedly far more handsome than the disfigured Quanjie. In terms of personality, he was much more interesting than that wooden block.

Why did Quanjie get to win the Eighth Miss's favor!

"He hasn't returned," Ping Wei said, trying his best to sound calm.

Fan Muqi pouted. "Where has Quanjie gone? What is he doing now?"

Ping Wei maintained a smile. "My apologies, Eighth Miss. It's not that I don't wish to tell you, but the rules forbid it. Our missions are confidential. No one knows except Foster Father himself."

"Then I'll go ask Father," Fan Muqi declared before turning and leaving without a backward glance.

The gold and jade hairpins in the young lady's hair cast scattered golden reflections on the ground, much like the brilliant, fragmented thoughts of a maiden's heart.

As the most doted-upon daughter, Fan Muqi enjoyed many privileges. For instance, while others needed repeated announcements to see Fan Tianshi, she did not. She only needed to call out from near the doorway, and as long as Fan Tianshi wasn't occupied with urgent matters, eight or nine times out of ten, she would be allowed in.

Today, after Fan Muqi called out for her father outside the door, it took much longer than usual for a response to come from within.

The news of Quanjie's betrayal had filled Fan Tianshi with fury. He had struggled for a long time to compose himself, to ensure he wouldn't meet his daughter while seething with anger. Yet, the moment his most beloved legitimate daughter entered, she asked:

"Father, where have you sent Quanjie?"

The question ignited the smoldering sparks of his rage, as if dousing them with a bucket of oil.

Fan Tianshi rebuked her sharply. "Chasing after a lowly slave all day long, Little Eight, look at yourself! What kind of state are you in? Have you no dignity befitting a noble young lady? This is utterly ridiculous and brings shame upon our Fan family!"

Fan Muqi was stunned by the scolding.

As a legitimate daughter, and the one most favored by her father, her family had always indulged her excessively, granting her every whim. If she fancied a dress or a piece of jewelry, it would be delivered to her room the very next day.

In fifteen years, this was the first time her father had ever erupted in anger at her.

It wasn't as if she wanted to marry Quanjie. She just wanted him by her side always. How could that possibly shame the Fan family?

Tears instantly welled up in Fan Muqi's eyes. The words spilled out: "Father, I just like his appearance. I know I'll have to enter a political marriage eventually. For now, I just want to look at him a little more. Is that not allowed either?"

Fan Tianshi narrowed his eyes. "You like his appearance?"

Fan Muqi belatedly realized her slip of the tongue and fell into a flustered silence.

"What appearance could a disfigured boy possibly have that you would like?" Fan Tianshi demanded.

Seven years ago, Quanjie had dragged his broken leg to the Fan Manor, kowtowing at the main gate, begging for mercy. Even then, large scars already marred both his cheeks.

Initially, possessing nothing, he naturally had no mask to hide his ugliness. It was only later, as he gradually distinguished himself from the crowd of orphans, rising step by step, that he earned special treatment.

He gained the privilege of living in a less crowded courtyard annex and could possess some inconsequential items, like a ghost mask.

Seeing his daughter remain silent, Fan Tianshi reprimanded her again: "Tell me the truth! If you dare conceal even a fraction of it, you will not set foot outside your courtyard until the day you marry. And when Quanjie returns, I will have him killed immediately."

"No!" Fan Muqi reacted violently.

Fan Tianshi said no more, merely watching her with a cold gaze.

Raised in the lap of luxury and merely an unmarried young lady, Fan Muqi couldn't withstand such a stern, authoritative stare. She slowly lowered her head. "Quanjie isn't ugly at all. No one is more handsome than him. The scars on his face... they're fake."

She had discovered this by accident.

That day, she had gone on a spring outing outside the city walls with a young lady from the Li family. Third Miss Li told her she had stumbled upon a treasure of a place. So, she followed her up the mountain, entered a cave, and walked through a not-so-short mountain path.

Beyond the cave was an open grassland, lush with grass and alive with birdsong, featuring a beautiful small pond at its center.

And it was there that she saw Quanjie.

The Fan Manor had many servants, so it was natural that she couldn't remember every single one. However, Quanjie's demon mask was very distinctive, and she had coincidentally seen him just the day before. Therefore, she immediately recognized the handsome young man with the demon mask hanging at his waist as her father's adopted son.

The shock and admiration she felt at the time need not be elaborated on. Afterwards, Quanjie begged her not to speak of it, and she agreed.

Later, she figured out the reason on her own: Quanjie was most likely hiding his true appearance to avoid attracting the attention of powerful nobles who had a penchant for keeping catamites.

She had once promised him to keep his secret forever. It was only now, with her father threatening his life, that she was forced to reveal the truth. Quanjie probably wouldn't blame her.

With her head bowed, Fan Muqi did not see the drastic change in her father's expression—a mix of shock and fury.

"Outrageous! Why didn't you tell me about such an important matter sooner?" Fan Tianshi's face darkened like a storm cloud, terrifyingly grim.

Fan Muqi was completely taken aback. She had confessed everything, yet her father was even more enraged than before.

"Father, I..."

Slap. He couldn't restrain himself from striking her across the face.

"Now, get out this instant!" Fan Tianshi was furious beyond measure; he had nothing more to say to this foolish daughter.

Fan Muqi ran off in tears.

Fan Tianshi took a deep breath and said to the servants outside, "Go and ask the Eldest Young Master and Master Shi to come here."

Earlier, his eldest son had questioned whether Wang Jiang was lying. Now it seemed that was no lie at all. This Quanjie clearly had major problems.

Over the past three years, Quanjie had become the most useful blade in his arsenal. He had looked at this blade no less than a hundred, if not a thousand times, yet he had never detected the disguise on his face.

Such a masterful disguise was not something a minor family could possess. Quanjie was undoubtedly a spy!

For seven years, a major faction had planted a nail in his household. Well done! They were truly patient, ruthless, and willing to sacrifice, even going so far as to deliberately break a leg to beg at his door.

The hunter who hunts geese all day long finally gets pecked in the eye by one.

Fan Tianshi was so angry he felt dizzy, his vision darkening, and a faint chill even seemed to spread from the back of his head.

Just then, Shi Wuji and Fan Boliang arrived.

Shi Wuji bowed with clasped hands, "My lord, for what matter have you summoned me?"

Seeing his father's dark expression, Fan Boliang's heart sank. Sure enough, the next moment he heard him say, "Quanjie is a spy planted in my household by another faction. What capability, to have lurked for a full seven years."

Fan Tianshi then told them about the disguise on Quanjie's face.

Both men were astonished.

Fan Boliang found it hard to believe: "The scars were fake? All these years, I never noticed."

Shi Wuji asked, "Do you know who is behind him?"

"I do not," Fan Tianshi took a deep breath. "But this style seems familiar to me. Do you remember the incident in Bingzhou a year ago? That General Kuang under Rong Bingzhou was actually Qin Shaozong's man. He lurked by Lord Rong's side for seven years, going through fire and water, doing everything possible... Hah, also a spy, also seven years."

Shi Wuji seemed thoughtful.

Fan Boliang murmured, "So it's Qin Shaozong? The possibility is indeed high. Such exquisite disguise techniques must come from a place with deep foundations, and the Qin family fits the bill perfectly!"

Shi Wuji then spoke up, "My lord, there is something odd about this. Why would he expose himself now? On the night of the assassination, Quanjie could have collaborated with the northern forces from within, capturing everyone in one fell swoop. Then he could have returned alone to continue his infiltration, waiting to turn traitor at the most critical moment."

"Perhaps Wang Jiang was just lucky. Their inside-outside collaboration failed, leaving one fish that escaped the net. His early exposure now might be a last resort," Fan Boliang said through gritted teeth.

"Aside from the escaped target, could Quanjie's reason for withdrawing also be..." Shi Wuji said gravely, "That he learned the person living in the West Tower was Li Zan, and that he discovered that matter."

Fan Tianshi's pupils constricted for a moment. "Impossible! I never sent Quanjie to contact those people. He absolutely could not know."

His words fell, and silence flooded the study, broken only by the sound of a few rapid, uneasy breaths.

"Regardless, we must take immediate action to minimize the fallout from Quanjie's betrayal. My lord, didn't Eighth Miss say she has seen his true face? Have her describe his appearance to a portrait artist. We should first issue public wanted posters far and wide, stating that Quanjie has betrayed his master and fled east with valuable treasures, offering a heavy reward for his head. In short, we must let the world and Quanjie's past enemies know that he is now a thorn in your side, someone you wish to eliminate at all costs," Shi Wuji said coldly.

"Furthermore, order the covert agents to take the portrait to Guoyun County for investigation. There was the prior incident of infiltrating the Qin residence, and Quanjie parted ways with Wang Jiang in Guoyun County. If he truly is Qin Shaozong's man, he will most likely linger in Guoyun County for a while. Stationing people there to watch might lead us to him."

Without the Fan Manor's protection, with his true face widely exposed, if he is not Qin Shaozong's man, jackals will surely catch his scent and hunt him down everywhere.

Shi Wuji stroked his beard. "Finally, I believe we now need to screen everyone in the manor, especially those close to Quanjie. I have a feeling Quanjie wouldn't be the only spy; there might be other agents hidden within the household."

He paused, then added a final remark. "If Quanjie is indeed Qin Shaozong's man, the situation will develop in the worst possible direction. I believe, my lord, you should then take the initiative to contact Mr. Diting."

Listening to each point, Fan Tianshi's expression finally improved somewhat. "Liuxian's words are most apt."

The Fan Manor launched a thunderous investigation.

And indeed, they discovered some things. For instance, a gatekeeper surnamed Zhang had left the manor this morning and never returned.

According to those below, this person was considered relatively close to Quanjie within the manor.

Qingzhou, Guoyun County.

"...Therefore, my lord, I believe Yanzhou cannot be trusted." Nalan Zhi bowed to Qin Shaozong. "One must pacify internal affairs before resisting external threats. I beg you, my lord, to first address the issue in Yanzhou."

"Your advice is sound. The matter of the Green Lotus Sect can be set aside for now." Qin Shaozong then turned to Kuang Ye. "Kuang Ye, you have always been meticulous. Go investigate how many enemies that lad Qin Yanzhou has made over the years."

Everyone in the study was shocked by these words.

He hadn't given this order privately but stated it publicly. Moreover, judging by the lord's tone, it wasn't merely an investigation.

Kuang Ye came from a scout background and was later trained as a sleeper agent, serving for seven years. No one understood the intricacies of that work better than he did.

Even for a sleeper agent retiring after success, the follow-up cleanup had to be thorough. Otherwise, even with a changed appearance, traces might be found.

"My lord, I heard Quan... Qin Yanzhou previously always wore a mask when acting, and his face was scarred. It's likely his enemies wouldn't recognize him," Bai Jianping privately felt such a large-scale effort was unnecessary.

Wearing a mask, sticking fake scars on his face, and even abandoning his former name—it's like he's a completely different person.

"That mask couldn't have been worn from his very first day entering the Fan residence," Qin Shaozong said calmly. "As for the scars, they certainly make people recoil and avoid looking closely at his face, but they won't stop any determined observers in the future."

Bai Jianping's brow twitched.

This really is about tying up every loose end! Although it's not something the Lord couldn't accomplish, it's undoubtedly a significant undertaking, especially since it involves both Nangong Qingzhou and Fan Yanzhou.

Which one of them is an easy mark? Seems like neither is.

Thinking about it carefully, this might be the first time the Lord has brought trouble upon himself, and he's gone straight for a major one right off the bat.

Well, perhaps that's not entirely fair to say. That young man is a huge trouble, but he has a remarkably capable mother behind him. Lately, the income from the saltpeter alone has been enough to make that tight-fisted Jin Duole grin from ear to ear.

"My Lord, Commandant Mo has returned," a guard announced at that moment.

Soon, the unkempt and bearded Mo Yanyun strode in. He had come straight after returning to the residence, still covered in the dust of travel and looking much more weathered, but his eyes shone like stars.

He held a scroll of mulberry-bark paper in his hand: "My Lord, I've brought back the maps of the area near Huai'an County. When do we set out on the campaign?"

After he finished speaking, he realized no one in the room responded.

Mo Yanyun: "?"

What's with their looks? Weren't we supposed to attack the White Lotus Sect?

Before he could ask, Mo Yanyun suddenly remembered something else. "Ah, right, My Lord, just as I was returning to the residence, I saw two suspicious individuals outside the gates."

Without much thought, he ventured a guess: "Could it be that the White Lotus Sect has learned we plan to attack them soon, and so they've sent spies to our door?"

His words fell, and the room remained silent.

Mo Yanyun was baffled.

What in the world is going on? I've only been gone a few days, yet it feels like something earth-shattering must have happened within the residence.