The magistrate ordered the crates to be opened, expecting them to be filled with gold. But when they lifted the lids, every crate was filled with stones.
“Sir, they’re all stones,” a clerk reported.
All the crates were inspected. Only the nugget gold near the entrance remained untouched.
Although a bit disappointing, there was still a considerable amount of gold left—enough to fill seven or eight crates once processed, totaling over twenty thousand taels. The thieves had likely been in too much of a hurry to carry it all away.
With such a large quantity, the magistrate knew he couldn’t pocket all of it, but keeping a third for himself was feasible.
The magistrate first checked on the villagers who had been trapped. After learning they had recently escaped, he immediately sent a squad of soldiers to pursue the thieves.
The villagers, exhausted and terrified after days of forced labor, were more concerned with getting to safety than providing information. When asked about the thieves’ identities or appearances, they could answer nothing. They only knew they had been forced to work day and night, and over a hundred crates of gold had already been taken. Fortunately, the thieves had not killed anyone before fleeing.
Hearing this, the magistrate nearly exploded with frustration. The remaining gold was but a fraction of the total haul. All he could do now was hope his men could track down the culprits and recover the stolen treasure.
After resolving the situation on the mountain, the magistrate led the villagers and remaining gold down the slopes. According to the rescued villagers, the mountain’s gold veins had been fully exhausted—there would be no more nugget gold. There was no reason to continue mining.
Since then, no one dared enter that basin. Fear of the thieves returning was one thing; fear of wild beasts was another. A few reckless souls, hoping for a lucky find, still ventured in, trying to collect stray nugget gold or gold dust left on the rocks. Even that small amount, once smelted, could yield actual gold.
The magistrate’s men who had pursued the thieves returned empty-handed. Despite extensive investigation, the culprits could not be found. With too many witnesses, concealing the incident was impossible. He had no choice but to report it to higher authorities, downplaying the situation and ensuring the remaining nugget gold crates were swiftly sent to the capital.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yueli had no interest in what became of the thieves. Her focus was on returning home and overseeing Chu Fengchun’s treatment of her grandmother’s legs. Once her grandmother had fully recovered, she planned to take Chu Fengchun to Tongguan to join her father. With such extraordinary medical skill, he was far more useful there than merely staying by her side.
After a few days, when Jiang Yueli returned to the Shen family in Lingnan City, Chu Fengchun had already arrived. Jiang Yueli had assumed he would still be recovering, but despite relying on a cane, he walked normally. It was clear his leg was not fully healed.
“Your grandmother’s condition isn’t serious. It’s a common kind of wind-dampness affecting her legs. With a few acupuncture sessions and Chinese medicine, she should fully recover in ten days at most,” Chu Fengchun explained.
Though Jiang Yueli did not understand medicine, she recognized this “wind-dampness” as a form of rheumatism. Even in the modern world, it could be tricky to treat. That Chu Fengchun promised full recovery in ten days confirmed his exceptional skill.
“Then I leave it in your capable hands, Master Chu. If you need any medicinal materials, just say the word,” Jiang Yueli said with utmost respect, bowing.
Chu Fengchun stroked his graying beard, clearly pleased by her deference. Rarely did this young girl show such humility, and he accepted it graciously.
“Hmm, no rare herbs are necessary. But you’ll need to stay at the residence for now,” he replied.
Shen Huai’an had already arranged accommodations. Because of his leg injury, Chu Fengchun had also brought his young attendant, so the Shen family needed little involvement.
Although Jiang Yueli spoke politely, she silently hoped he would perform a safety pulse reading on the entire Shen household—she didn’t hold back, trusting his robust health.
After nearly ten days at the Shen residence, her grandmother’s legs had noticeably improved, allowing Jiang Yueli to breathe easier. Chu Fengchun’s leg had also fully recovered; he walked as if uninjured. Shen Huai’an and Shen Hua continued to be busy, leaving Jiang Yueli little reason to linger. When she prepared to leave, Shen Laofuren was reluctant to part with her, shedding tears as she sent Jiang Yueli off to the General’s Residence in Kyoto.
Jiang Yueli didn’t tell Shen Laofuren of her true plan to avoid worrying her. Shen Huai’an, however, quickly noticed her deviation from the intended route. Upon inquiry, he learned she intended to go to Tongguan. Though usually carefree, Shen Huai’an deeply cared for Jiang Yueli’s safety and immediately objected.
“No. Tongguan is in the midst of battle—you cannot go.”
“Second Brother, I’m just escorting someone. The master doctor wants to stay with my father. I must take him there. With Master Chu at Father’s side, Mother and I can rest easier. Just look the other way this once. My grandmother won’t even know, and I’ll explain to Mother when I return,” Jiang Yueli pleaded, batting her big eyes.
Shen Huai’an’s brow twitched but he remained steadfast.
“Even so, no. You must return to Kyoto. I can escort Master Chu to Tongguan safely. The battlefield is too dangerous for a young girl like you.”
Jiang Yueli pouted, “Second Brother, you know my skills. I can handle myself. Really, don’t worry. Two of us—Master Chu and I—will suffice. More people would make us less safe. Please, just this once. I’ll explain to Mother when I return.”
She deployed her trump card, tugging at Shen Huai’an’s sleeve and acting sweet. He sighed helplessly. How could he resist? One soft, affectionate “Second Brother” from her, and he would have given her his life. In the end, he relented.
“Fine. But you must be seen in a responsible manner. If you truly insist, I’ll escort you. Two of you alone are too risky; I won’t let you go without supervision.”