Futile Devices Scans

Chu Guang knew that the Third Prince was expressing dissatisfaction with him. He pursed his lips, then asked Fu Xi Yan, “I heard you once invited a physician from Peijie Town to treat you. What illness did you have, and which physician did you hire?”

The Fu family had never deliberately concealed the fact that they had once gone to Peijie Town in search of a physician. Anyone determined to investigate would uncover it eventually. Fu Xi Yan saw no reason to lie over such a minor matter, so he replied, “Father disliked how fat I was and invited many physicians to examine me. As for which one specifically… I was young at the time and don’t remember clearly.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Guang glanced at the Third Prince.

The Third Prince nodded faintly.

Chu Guang said to Fu Xi Yan, “Come closer.”

They were grown men. Why did they need to whisper? Complaining inwardly, Fu Xi Yan nevertheless tilted his head toward him.

Chu Guang leaned closer and murmured several sentences.

Fu Xi Yan cried out involuntarily, “What?!”

Caught entirely off guard, Chu Guang received the full force of the shout directly in his ear. He said displeasedly, “Why are you making such a fuss? Where are your manners? This is a matter of great importance. You are forbidden from speaking of it!”

With a trace of mockery, the Third Prince said, “A princess raised within the depths of the palace somehow vanished beneath the eyes of more than a thousand people… With a military camp managed this carelessly, whom do you imagine you can hide it from? Whom are you even capable of hiding it from?”

Chu Guang was at fault and did not dare argue. He could only signal Fu Xi Yan with his eyes.

Only then did Fu Xi Yan learn that the Third Prince’s supposed affair was merely a rumor. There was also a princess traveling with the procession, and she was the one who had “departed from the proper track.” But how could he possibly dare wade into such muddy water?

There were only two likely explanations for the princess’s disappearance.

First, the princess had run away of her own accord.

In that case, failing to find her might actually be preferable. Finding her would only cover the rescuer in filth. What fugitive thanked the constable who dragged them back for being exceptionally bold and skilled? Especially when the fugitive was a princess—wouldn’t pursuing her be the very definition of outrageous audacity?

Second, someone had abducted the princess.

If an abductor could remove her beneath countless watching eyes and through layer upon layer of guards, then that person had to be an expert capable of passing in and out of the camp as though it were completely deserted. What virtue or ability did Fu Xi Yan possess that qualified him to rush over and die?

He stammered, “This matter is extremely serious. This subordinate fears his abilities may be insufficient…”

Chu Guang interrupted him. “My esteemed nephew Fu need not be modest. The Yellow River forms a natural barrier to the northwest. The princess is accompanied by two palace maids, and they left blood along the road, so someone among them must be injured. They cannot possibly have gone far. Shao Yang has already deployed men at the ferry crossings and Sun Bridge. Presumably, they will be able to welcome the princess back in time.”

From his tone, Chu Guang appeared certain that the princess had fled voluntarily.

Sure enough, the Third Prince said angrily, “The reason for the princess’s disappearance remains unknown. How dare Commander Chu jump to conclusions?”

Chu Guang immediately bowed and apologized.

Both Fu Xi Yan and the Third Prince could see that the old fox admitted fault readily but never corrected his behavior. Yet Chu Guang controlled the troops and answered directly to the emperor. Even someone as noble as the Third Prince could do little beyond reprimanding him.

Fu Xi Yan continued trying to decline. “It has been around ten years since I last invited a physician from Peijie Town. Wouldn’t claiming to return for a follow-up consultation sound rather forced?” Eason Chan had sung that after ten years, even lovers could become strangers—or perhaps strangers could become friends. Who knew what the physician from back then had become by now?

Chu Guang looked him up and down. “Judging by the results of the treatment, isn’t a follow-up consultation perfectly reasonable?”

Fu Xi Yan: “…”

Chu Guang continued, “I have made other arrangements. Sending you to Peijie Town is merely a precaution. Rest assured, I will assign someone carrying messenger pigeons to travel with you. You may receive word halfway there and return immediately. Whatever happens, the mission will still count as one of your accomplishments. However, remember this: you must not reveal your identity, and under no circumstances may you allow news of the princess’s disappearance to leak!”

Fu Xi Yan: “…” There was no need to credit him with an accomplishment. He was far too ashamed to accept it. Since Chu Guang intended to send someone with him anyway, why not simply send that person alone? Was the fact that Fu Xi Yan had once registered for an appointment ten years ago truly so important? It was not as though this era kept medical records.

He emerged from the tent with worry written across his face.

The tree wished for stillness, but the wind refused to cease. Fu Xi Yan wanted peace, but he could not defend himself against other people’s shamelessness. Chu Guang might be advanced in years, yet whenever he decided to stir up trouble, the demonic wind he produced remained remarkably powerful.

After walking for a while, Fu Xi Yan was stopped by a servant who suddenly darted out from behind a tree.

The servant bowed with refined courtesy. “This humble one serves beneath the Third Prince. His Highness instructed me to convey several heartfelt words to you.”

Fu Xi Yan possessed no deeply rooted concept of rulers behaving as rulers and subjects as subjects, nor did he subscribe to the principle that a gentleman should die for one who truly understood him. However, he still had to follow local customs outwardly and put on a moved expression. “This subject listens respectfully.”

The servant looked around. Only after confirming that no one was nearby did he lower his voice. “His Highness said that ever since the procession departed, the Commander has managed the camp extremely loosely. Some guards have even slipped away at night to nearby towns to purchase wine. The Brocade Guard has only just been established, and many matters remain unsettled. His Majesty has placed great expectations upon it, so this should be a time to correct conduct and enforce discipline. Commander Chu’s behavior is therefore highly abnormal. His Highness suspects that the princess’s disappearance may be connected to his deliberate indulgence. If that is truly the case, recovering her may not be easy.”

Fu Xi Yan: “…”

Was this sort of speculation truly something he was permitted to hear?

This subject—no, this humble nobody—was merely the concubine-born son of a minor count’s estate!

Seeing his startled expression, the servant hurriedly continued, “As her elder brother, whenever His Highness thinks of the princess’s unknown whereabouts and uncertain fate, his five organs burn with anguish. He wishes he could personally go and rescue her. Unfortunately, the camp is crowded with watching eyes, and His Highness’s status is too important. He fears attracting the attention of those with ulterior motives and therefore cannot act rashly. Looking across the entire camp, only you can be entrusted with this heavy responsibility. My lord, for the sake of the friendship forged over drinks at Zizui Tower, please do everything within your power to bring the princess safely back.”

Fu Xi Yan could only reply that he would naturally do his utmost.

After delivering the message, the servant bowed and departed.

Fu Xi Yan watched him go.

Fu Xi Yan had walked in a straight line. For the servant to intercept him halfway meant that the Third Prince had prepared this speech beforehand and deliberately stationed the man there to wait.

Fu Xi Yan could not help sighing.

In Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, the unfortunate victims were usually impoverished scholars. Yet the demons great and small in this place had no sense of propriety whatsoever. They even deceived a wealthy, plump young man like him.

⸻

When the servant returned to the Third Prince’s tent, the prince had already come back and was seated there handling correspondence.

Upon seeing him enter, the Third Prince put down the letter in his hand and asked, “You have worked hard, Mister Chen. How did he react?”

Chen Yi was originally a strategist from the Third Prince’s residence and had disguised himself as a servant to avoid attracting attention. Hearing the question, he immediately straightened his back, revealing a confident and spirited bearing. “When I said that Your Highness had several heartfelt words for him, he put on a respectful and obedient expression. In my judgment, however, it was merely an act.”

By then, the Third Prince had shed the gentleness Fu Xi Yan had witnessed. He said coldly, “Such are the nobles. Even a minor concubine-born son dares obey publicly while resisting privately.”

Chen Yi said, “Later, when I mentioned the camp’s loose management, he appeared somewhat surprised. It seems the Fu family truly did not insert many people into the Brocade Guard. Even if they did, those people do not answer to him.”

“Fu Xi Yan bullies the weak and fears the strong. Whenever trouble arises, he avoids it. Presumably, Fu Xuan also understands that he cannot accomplish anything significant.”

“Then why does Your Highness think so highly of him?”

The Third Prince smiled. “Whenever one wishes to ruin something, there must always be a stick to stir the shit.”

At that very moment, Fu Xi Yan—who had been deemed the shit-stirring stick—was earnestly stirring the shit.

The princess had fled with two palace maids, making three people altogether. His own party therefore could not be too small. At minimum, they needed two people for every one of them, which meant starting with six. Apart from the communications guard Chu Guang had assigned, a man named Zhang Da Shan, Fu Xi Yan selected the brothers Zhou Zhong Xin and Zhou Geng Geng. He was about to choose several more when Chu Guang’s confidant arrived.

The confidant said, “The Commander said that this mission is intended as a covert investigation. You must remain discreet and cannot expose your identities. Once you discover their whereabouts, do not alert them. Notify Commander Chu, and he will arrange the response.”

Fu Xi Yan understood. He was responsible for placing a ward and revealing the map, while Chu Shao Yang would fight the monsters and claim the kills.

Fine.

Fu Xi Yan answered obediently, “Understood.”

The confidant said earnestly, “Only by enduring the bitterest of hardships can one rise above others. I hope you can appreciate the Commander’s sincere care and protection.”

Fu Xi Yan smiled and nodded. The instant the man turned around, his smile collapsed and he rolled his eyes dramatically.

Once the man had gone some distance, Zhou Geng Geng spat on the ground. “He’s treating people like performing monkeys! Gathering firewood, lighting fires, and washing dishes can all be called sincere care? If those tasks are such wonderful opportunities, why didn’t he rush to do them himself?”

Zhou Zhong Xin said nothing, but his dark expression made it clear that he was equally displeased.

Zhou Geng Geng continued, “Only the young master is patient enough to endure this. Who else would remain here and swallow such humiliation?”

Fu Xi Yan nodded, then his expression suddenly changed. He hesitated before asking, “What did you just say?”

Zhou Geng Geng froze, then repeated his previous words with a remarkably accurate imitation.

Fu Xi Yan frowned. Perhaps he was overthinking it, but his uncle had specifically instructed him not to separate from the group and act independently. Chu Guang, however, seemed intent on driving him outside the camp. Following that train of thought, Chu Shao Yang’s earlier habit of assigning him endless miscellaneous tasks strongly resembled the methods used by modern workplaces to force an employee into resigning voluntarily.

Zhang Da Shan, the man sent by Chu Guang, finished arranging the pigeon cages and hurried over. Obliviously, he muttered, “Why is Guard Fu still sitting here? Don’t you know that saving a life is as urgent as fighting a fire?”

Fu Xi Yan looked at him and suddenly felt the urge to abandon the entire task. However, reason quickly suppressed it. Chu Guang aside, even the Third Prince, whom he had once regarded as his lifeline, clearly had some unknown scheme hidden in his gourd. Fu Xi Yan currently possessed no capital with which to act impulsively.

He stopped Zhou Zhong Xin, who was opening his mouth to speak. “The sun was too strong, and I felt somewhat dizzy. I’m much better now. Let’s depart.”

Nearly half of the camp’s manpower had already been sent away. Apart from the heavily guarded areas occupied by the Third Prince, Chu Guang, and other powerful figures, the outer perimeter appeared somewhat empty. When Fu Xi Yan mounted his horse, he naturally attracted attention.

Several colleagues who had been boasting with him earlier came over to gather gossip.

Fu Xi Yan sighed. “Company Commander Chu quarreled with the Commander and ran away from camp. They asked me to go find him.”

Having received an answer, his colleague departed in satisfaction.

Zhang Da Shan glared at Fu Xi Yan. The moment they left the camp, he demanded, “How could you fabricate a rumor and slander Company Commander Chu?”

Fu Xi Yan smiled carelessly. “Urgent circumstances require flexibility. I couldn’t think of another explanation at the moment. It doesn’t matter. Once Brother Chu returns with an accomplishment, the rumor will collapse on its own.”

Given the camp’s current condition, the princess’s disappearance could not remain concealed for much longer anyway.

Zhang Da Shan’s face remained dark and unhappy, while Fu Xi Yan and the Zhou brothers happily ignored him.

To reach Peijie Town, they had to cross the Yellow River. Fu Xi Yan had studied the map before leaving. Maojin Ferry was the closest crossing and could be reached within half an hour. But why should he take the shortest route? Wouldn’t it be better to let Chu Shao Yang fight three hundred rounds ahead of him and secure the victory, then stroll over afterward and collect an assist?

Thus, he changed course toward Sun Bridge.

Zhang Da Shan was about to complain again when Fu Xi Yan suggested, “Why don’t you take the boat while I remain behind and watch the horses?”

Zhang Da Shan looked at the strong, handsome horse beneath him and fell silent.

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