The Emperor of Yan had issued an order:
The Five-City Military and Police Command had one month to capture the notorious criminal known as the Flying White Fox. If they failed, both the commander and deputy commanders would be dismissed from office.
And today was the final day of that deadline.
Lin Qianping, Lin Qianqian’s second uncle, served as a deputy commander in the Five-City Military and Police Command.
Unlike his elder brother Lin Qingyun, he was an upright and honorable man. Years of service had also given him a bold and straightforward personality.
At this moment, he was riding through the streets like a headless fly, rushing about in every direction.
He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
It’s over! It’s over!
Today’s the last day! If we don’t catch the Flying White Fox, my career is finished!
More than ten years of hard work will be wasted! How am I supposed to support my wife and children afterward?
For an entire month, Lin Qianping had barely slept because of this case.
His beard was untrimmed, and his face looked haggard and exhausted.
His stomach growled from hunger, but he had no appetite to eat.
Looking up at the sky, he silently prayed:
If someone catches the Flying White Fox today, I’ll worship that person like a living Bodhisattva for the rest of my life.
Meanwhile, Lin Qianqian’s carriage had just entered the northern district when it encountered another luxurious carriage coming from the opposite direction.
The curtains on the other carriage were pink.
Lin Qianqian guessed that a young noble lady was probably sitting inside.
As the two carriages approached each other, she suddenly sensed a gust of wind.
A figure dressed entirely in white leaped down from a rooftop on the right side of the street.
The movement was extraordinarily light and graceful.
The person’s hair was white.
A white fox mask covered his face.
His jade-like hand held a white folding fan.
On the back of that hand was painted a white fox identical to the one on his mask.
The appearance perfectly matched the official notices describing the Flying White Fox.
It was him.
The walking one-thousand-tael reward.
Today’s luck was excellent.
Lin Qianqian tightened her grip on the crossbow in her hands and prepared herself.
Inside the other carriage sat Zhang Hanyan, the daughter of the Minister of Personnel.
She had secretly slipped out of the house to have some fun.
When she saw her coachman knocked to the ground and the masked man drawing closer and closer, she nearly despaired.
Because of the Flying White Fox, she had stayed indoors for many days.
Yet the very first day she sneaked out, she encountered the villain.
What rotten luck!
It’s over! It’s over!
Once he dishonors me, my life will be ruined!
Zhang Hanyan picked up a pair of scissors she had prepared beforehand and pressed them against her throat.
She would rather die than suffer such humiliation.
Her maid Qingju hurriedly stopped her.
“Miss, don’t! Let this servant die in your place!”
Zhang Hanyan shook her head gently.
“It’s useless.”
“Every victim of the Flying White Fox has been a noble young lady.”
“If I die now, at least I can preserve my honor.”
The cold touch of the scissors made her shiver.
Gathering her courage, she was about to press harder when she suddenly heard—
Whoosh!
The sharp sound of something slicing through the air.
Then cheers erupted from outside.
“The Flying White Fox has been hit!”
“The Flying White Fox has been captured!”
Zhang Hanyan lowered the scissors.
Her racing heart nearly leaped from her chest.
A wave of relief washed over her.
Have I just been rescued by a hero?
And a hero saving a beauty at that!
She had not yet been betrothed.
Hopefully her savior was a handsome, unmarried gentleman.
After all, saving one’s life deserved repayment with marriage.
It would surely become a beautiful love story.
Zhang Hanyan adored the color pink.
She adjusted the pink gemstone hairpin atop her head.
Her face flushed crimson with embarrassment.
The pink dress she wore only made her palm-sized face look even redder.
“Wonderful! Miss is safe!”
Qingju lifted the pink curtain and looked outside.
Then she exclaimed in surprise,
“Miss, the person who saved you is actually a young lady!”
Zhang Hanyan hurriedly looked outside.
Several meters away stood a girl about her own age, holding a crossbow.
Though young, the girl’s posture was straight and confident.
Her bearing was extraordinary.
She perfectly embodied the phrase:
A hero emerges in youth.
Zhang Hanyan sighed internally.
This is completely different from what I imagined.
My savior isn’t a hero—she’s a beauty!
Fine. If she can’t become my husband, then she can become my good sister.
From afar, Hongdou spotted approaching officers.
She immediately shouted at the top of her lungs:
“Officers! Hurry over here! My mistress has captured the Flying White Fox!”
Lin Qianping, who had been drowning in despair moments earlier, instantly came back to life.
The crowd was too dense to ride through, so he abandoned his horse and ran.
Despite not eating all day, he moved with astonishing speed.
When he reached the scene, he looked closely.
It was indeed the Flying White Fox lying on the ground with an arrow through him.
The weight crushing his heart instantly disappeared.
Wonderful!
His prayer to Heaven had actually been answered.
He didn’t know which living Bodhisattva had captured the criminal and saved his official position.
Whoever it was, he would have to repay that kindness for the rest of his life.
As he restrained the Flying White Fox, Lin Qianping discovered something astonishing.
A bamboo arrow had pierced straight through both of the criminal’s legs.
He looked like a skewer.
Amazing.
Truly amazing.
That feat required at least a five-dan bow.
The only person he had ever heard of capable of wielding such a bow was the Champion Marquis.
Unfortunately, the Champion Marquis had long since become a fool.
He now needed assistance even to eat.
How could he possibly draw such a powerful bow anymore?
Since when did Great Yan gain another expert capable of using a five-dan bow?
Incredible!
Before long, he met the person responsible.
To his shock, it was a pretty young girl of thirteen or fourteen years.
Even more strangely, she seemed somewhat familiar.
Which family’s daughter is this?
To possess such skill at such a young age… truly formidable.
He wanted to thank her personally.
Unfortunately, she was surrounded by so many people that he couldn’t get close.
Zhang Hanyan stood before Lin Qianqian with stars shining in her eyes.
“This younger sister, my name is Zhang Hanyan.”
“If not for you today, I would certainly have been dishonored and likely died.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Where in the capital do you live? Tomorrow I’ll have my parents personally visit and thank your family.”
Hongdou answered cheerfully,
“My lady is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Assistant Minister’s residence. We live at Minister Lin Qingyun’s manor near Jade Bridge.”
Lin Qianping froze.
What?
Isn’t that my house?
Could this be the daughter my elder brother recently found—Lin Qianqian?
Such a remarkable girl was actually his niece!
What a lucky star she was.
She had solved his greatest crisis the very day she returned.
And more importantly, years ago he had entered the Five-City Military and Police Command thanks to the support of her maternal family.
Lin Qianping immediately ordered his subordinates,
“Take the prisoner back to the Five-City Command prison.”
“Make sure the commander is informed.”
“I have something extremely important to do today, so I’m heading home first.”
With such a fortunate niece returning to the family, he absolutely had to buy a proper welcoming gift.
Zhang Hanyan not only loved wearing pink—her personality was equally sweet and bubbly.
“Jade Bridge? What a coincidence!”
“My family lives near Jade Bridge too.”
“And my father also works in the Ministry of Personnel.”
“What perfect timing! Sister Lin, let’s go home together.”
“Alright.”
After the incident with the Flying White Fox, Zhang Hanyan had completely lost interest in sightseeing.
She was naturally friendly and sociable.
Without hesitation, she climbed into Lin Qianqian’s carriage.
Inside, she immediately became fascinated by the folding table.
The table could be folded away neatly without taking up any space.
She kept fiddling with it, completely forgetting the fright she had suffered earlier.
“Sister Lin, the interior of your carriage is ingeniously designed.”
“Could I have my family’s craftsmen make a copy?”
“Of course.”
“Wonderful! I’ll have them paint the folding table my favorite color—pink.”
Hongdou’s eyes widened into circles.
Heavens!
Can someone really love pink this much?
This Miss Zhang wore pink clothes, pink shoes, a pink hairpin, pink earrings, a pink pouch…
And now she even wanted a pink table.
Lin Qianqian looked at Zhang Hanyan’s apple-red cheeks.
The happiness overflowing from her smile was comforting to see.
It was obvious that Miss Zhang had grown up bathed in sunshine and affection.
She had never experienced real hardship or injustice.
That was why she remained so innocent and lovable.