Chapter Twenty-Four: Reunion

“Brother Jun!”

That single cry melted Qi Jun’s heart in an instant. He answered softly, opening his arms and drawing her tightly into his embrace.

Yunfei had not expected Qi Jun to suddenly envelop her in a hug. She was momentarily startled, her whole body trembling, but in the next moment, the overwhelming sense of safety and fulfillment washed away all her misgivings.

“Why did you come so late…” she pouted, tears brimming in her eyes, her voice tinged with reproach. Unable to restrain herself any longer, she wrapped her arms around Qi Jun’s waist, burying her face in his shoulder, letting her tears pour forth in a torrent, all her grievances finally released.

“It’s alright now. Liu Qi and the others have all been locked up…” Qi Jun soothed her, gently patting and stroking Yunfei’s back.

Yunfei was only just eighteen, a girl who had been doted on and sheltered all her life by her father and grandfather. She had never experienced such threats or intimidation.

After being kidnapped, she understood all too clearly how much malice the world could harbor toward girls like her.

Would she be forced into a brothel to endure endless humiliation, or defiled and then left for dead in the wilderness? She dared not imagine what form her misfortune might take. All she could do was pray, deep in her heart, that Qi Jun would be her pillar of faith.

Now, at last, she could lay down all her defenses and pride, wishing only to remain in the arms of the one she loved, to savor this rare moment of warmth and solace.

Once Yunfei’s emotions finally settled, Qi Jun helped her sit down at the edge of the bed.

Composing herself, Yunfei loosened her grip on Qi Jun’s arm, her cheeks flushed red as she briefly recounted the ordeal to him.

It turned out that the night she and Qi Jun parted ways by the riverside, Yunfei had followed her father Liu Kui’s instructions and supported her grandfather on their way home.

They had barely left the riverbank when Liu the Leper suddenly caught up with them, telling the clan elder and Yunfei that Qi Jun had prepared a special surprise for them and wanted to show them.

Perhaps swept up in the joy of the evening, the clan elder chose to believe Liu the Leper’s story without a second thought. Yunfei, though suspicious, could not sway her grandfather, and had no choice but to follow them.

When they reached the area near the western hills outside the village, Liu the Leper’s true colors were revealed. He drew a dagger and pressed it against the clan elder’s waist; by then, it was far too late to realize they had been tricked.

Just then, Liu Biao the hunter passed by on the mountain path above and called out to them. Yunfei instinctively tried to cry for help, but Liu the Leper threatened to kill the clan elder if they made a move.

Fearing for her grandfather’s safety, Yunfei had no choice but to give up her only chance to call for help.

A short distance further on, Liu the Leper forced them to swallow two pills. Afterward, Yunfei’s mind grew clouded, her limbs weak, and everything went black.

When she awoke again, she found herself and the clan elder bound in a shed piled high with firewood.

Liu Qi entered, checked the ropes, stuffed more rags in their mouths, issued a few vicious threats, locked the door, and left. He never returned.

They remained tied up in that woodshed until the captain of the county constables arrived with his men and rescued them.

Afterward, Magistrate Feng had them fed and sent men to escort the clan elder back to Dongling Village to reassure the family, but curiously left Yunfei behind.

“Lord Feng said he was acting at your request, and it was only right for him to take care of a friend’s… family…” Yunfei paused, her cheeks reddening further.

Then, her eyes clouded with doubt, she looked at Qi Jun and asked, “But… Brother Jun, how do you know Lord Feng?”

Qi Jun understood everything now and could not help but sigh inwardly, “That Feng Qinian is a real old fox!”

Every move had been perfectly calculated, tightening his grip on Qi Jun.

On one hand, he quietly sent people to rescue Yunfei and the clan elder. On the other, he concealed it from Qi Jun, using Qi Jun’s concern for Yunfei to pressure him into signing the recruitment order for the county constables. Then, he sent the clan elder home but kept Yunfei—the one Qi Jun cared for most—as leverage.

In this way, Feng Qinian had seized upon both of Qi Jun’s weaknesses. He controlled Yunfei, and Qi Jun owed him a great favor. With the recruitment order, he could command Qi Jun to do anything within his official capacity.

And that was not all. Afterward, he gave Qi Jun all the credit, both announcing their association and reminding Qi Jun of the debt he owed.

After all, Magistrate Feng was second-in-command in Anqiang County, with countless people eager to curry favor with him. Now that he had spoken thus, Qi Jun could hardly deny it without causing offense.

Qi Jun was not foolish. If Magistrate Feng had invested so much effort to win him over, he had no choice but to align himself with him.

“Yes, we know each other… I’ll explain it all later.” After a moment’s thought, Qi Jun nodded, answering Yunfei’s question.

Yunfei gazed at him with wide eyes, sensing something more from his reaction. She opened her mouth to press further, but was interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Young Master Qi, the master invites you to dine with him in the study. Please come with me,” a servant called from outside.

“Thank you! I’m coming right away.” Qi Jun ruffled Yunfei’s hair, rose to tidy his clothes, and said, “Shall we go together?”

“No, Brother Jun, I’ve already eaten. Besides, Lord Feng invited you, not me—it wouldn’t be proper for me to go.” Yunfei hesitated briefly, then smiled, reluctantly helping to smooth the creases in Qi Jun’s sleeve.

No sooner had they reunited than they had to part again; a trace of sorrow flickered across her face.

But she quickly composed herself, ushering Qi Jun toward the door. “Go on, quickly! It would be rude to keep Lord Feng waiting.”

The servant waiting outside glanced at Qi Jun.

Qi Jun realized his words had been out of place. Now that the joy of seeing Yunfei had faded, he recognized his own breach of etiquette.

For a commoner to be allowed to ride in the same carriage as Magistrate Feng was already an extraordinary honor. Yet Qi Jun knew Feng’s overtures were calculated, a show of favor with ulterior motives.

But that did not mean Magistrate Feng disregarded propriety.

Men like Magistrate Feng and Governor Song, as members of the gentry, were beneficiaries and defenders of imperial rule, and thus the staunchest upholders of social norms and ritual.

Unlike later generations, the era Qi Jun inhabited was steeped in rigid hierarchy and strict ceremony. Had he brought Yunfei to meet Magistrate Feng without invitation, it would have been a serious breach—unless the official chose to overlook it, the consequences could be dire.

Even sharing a room with Yunfei, which would be trivial in modern times, was a delicate matter in the tradition-bound Daliang dynasty. Every action required caution, lest he cause trouble for them both.

Daliang was especially patriarchal; women could not even dine at the table. Although being alone with a man outside her family was not illegal, it was a grave moral offense.

Yet despite all this, Yunfei, always so proper and modest, had rushed into his arms without hesitation.

Thinking of this, Qi Jun’s eyes grew moist, his heart deeply moved. Yunfei’s feelings for him needed no words. He resolved that once he fulfilled Magistrate Feng’s requests, he would return to the village and propose marriage to claim his beloved.

He was confident that, with his knowledge and skills—far surpassing his contemporaries—they would soon enjoy the life they dreamed of.

The lanterns hanging from the eaves of the county official’s residence cast a faint glow into the dense, chilly night.

Qi Jun followed the servant beneath the rows of lanterns. He knew that Feng Qinian’s invitation was not merely for dinner, but could not guess what urgent matter awaited.

Suddenly, the servant stopped, and Qi Jun, deep in thought, nearly walked into him.

“We’ve arrived,” the servant said, stepping aside and tapping gently on the door.

“Come in,” called Feng Qinian from within.

The servant pushed the door open and bowed toward the room, then gestured respectfully for Qi Jun to enter, stepping back to wait outside.