The Reticent Blade

Ye Beizhi glanced toward the moon gate of the inner courtyard and noticed a shadow flickering slightly. Then Fang Xiuju emerged from behind the wall, carrying a wooden stool—it seemed she had been eavesdropping for a while.

Wang Cuihong instinctively stood up when she saw Fang Xiuju enter. She walked over, took the stool from her hands, and placed it at the table. Only after Fang Xiuju had seated herself did Wang Cuihong sit back down.

Fang Dingwu's disdain for Fang Xiuju deepened as he observed their dynamics. He snorted before turning away.

Fang Xiuju had clearly overheard Fang Dingwu’s earlier remarks while outside. Her expression was sour, but she forced a smile and said, "Apologies for keeping you waiting, Master Ye."

Ye Beizhi placed the stack of silver notes on the table and then set his sword on top to hold them down. He slowly asked, "Where is the master of the house?"

Fang Xiuju’s squinted eyes stared fixedly at the stack of silver notes. When her gaze fell on the Tang sword, she couldn’t help but shrink back slightly. She answered cautiously, "My father-in-law is napping inside, and my husband is out in the fields... but someone has already been sent to call him back."

Ye Beizhi nodded, seemingly unwilling to converse further with Niu Fangshi. He turned to Wang Cuihong and asked, "Where is the battalion commander’s grave?"

The question visibly took Wang Cuihong aback. She hesitated before answering, "It’s... just on the back hill."

Ye Beizhi gave Wang Cuihong a long, meaningful look and said, "I want to pay my respects."

Before Wang Cuihong could respond, a man’s voice called out from outside the courtyard: "What’s the rush calling me back? Where are they?!"

The voice was quickly followed by its owner, who appeared at the entrance. The man wore coarse cloth garments, mud-stained straw sandals, and had his trouser legs rolled up to his knees. He held a hoe in his hand, clearly having just returned from the fields.