Shen Rui woke because the carriage stopped.
Again.
He opened his eyes slowly and stared at the curtain.
Outside, horses neighed, soldiers moved, and someone was giving orders in a voice far too energetic for the hour.
I have begun to suspect that these people are deliberately stopping the carriage whenever I fall asleep.
He pulled his cloak over his head.
Across from him, Minister Han was already sitting upright.
“Young Master Shen, get out.”
“No.”
“Get out.”
“Minister, I am currently occupied.”
“Doing what?”
“Breathing.”
Minister Han closed his eyes briefly, as if praying for patience.
The carriage door opened, and a young soldier appeared.
“Minister, we’ve reached the old stone bridge. The captain requests permission to inspect the crossing before we proceed.”
Minister Han nodded and turned to Shen Rui.
“You will remain here.”
Shen Rui immediately sat up.
“Why?”
“Because you have a talent for wandering into danger.”
“I have a talent for finding danger before it finds you.”
“That is not reassuring.”
Shen Rui stepped out anyway.
The old stone bridge stretched across a narrow gorge. Beneath it, a river rushed over dark rocks. The road beyond the bridge curved through a thick stretch of woodland, where the trees blocked most of the morning light.
Several soldiers were examining the bridge.
Shen Rui stood beside the carriage and looked around.
The convoy had stopped in an exposed position.
Too exposed.
The bridge had high stone walls on both sides, leaving little room to maneuver. The forest ahead provided excellent cover, while the gorge below offered no easy escape.
Whoever selected this route had either never studied military strategy or was trying to kill us.
He looked at the bridge’s surface.
The stones were uneven, but the dust covering them had been disturbed in several places.
Fresh wheel marks.
And near the right edge, a thin line of black powder.
Shen Rui’s expression changed.
“Stop.”
The nearest soldier turned.
“What is it?”
“Don’t cross the bridge.”
The soldier frowned. “Why?”
Shen Rui pointed toward the stones.
“Because someone has prepared a surprise.”
The soldier crouched and brushed away the dust.
His face turned pale.
“Explosives.”
The warning came too late.
An arrow flew from the forest and struck the ground beside the soldier.
A flame ignited.
“Ambush!”
The soldiers rushed into formation as arrows rained from the trees.
Shen Rui grabbed Minister Han by the collar and pulled him behind the carriage.
“Stay down.”
Minister Han stumbled against the wheel.
“You could warn me more politely!”
“I’m trying to save your life, not improve your manners.”
A loud explosion shook the bridge.
Stone fragments flew into the air. The front section of the bridge cracked, sending several horses into panic. One carriage tilted dangerously toward the edge.
“Secure the horses!” the captain shouted.
Attackers emerged from the forest, their faces covered by dark cloth. They moved in organized groups, aiming to separate the guards from the carriages.
Shen Rui crouched behind the wheel and counted them.
Ten.
No—twelve.
Two were archers positioned in the trees. Four were advancing toward the documents. The others were keeping the guards occupied.
They’re not here to destroy the convoy. They’re here for the ledger.
He glanced at Minister Han.
“Where is the evidence?”
“Inside the carriage.”
“Which carriage?”
Minister Han’s face tightened.
“The third.”
Shen Rui looked toward the third carriage.
Two attackers were already approaching it.
Of course. Why would they make anything easy?
He picked up a fallen shield and ran forward.
A masked man swung his sword toward him.
Shen Rui raised the shield, allowing the blade to strike its metal rim. The impact jolted his arm, but he used the force to shove the attacker backward.
“Stay away from the carriage!”
The attacker stared at him.
“You’re the marquis’s seventh son.”
Shen Rui frowned.
“Why does everyone know my name?”
The man attacked again.
Shen Rui ducked, grabbed a handful of dirt, and threw it into his face.
The attacker stumbled.
Shen Rui kicked him in the stomach and immediately retreated.
That was exhausting. I should charge people for making me exercise.
Another attacker approached from the side.
Before Shen Rui could move, a sword flashed between them.
Minister Han blocked the strike.
“Behind me!”
Shen Rui stared at him.
Why is everyone suddenly trying to protect me? I’m beginning to feel suspicious.
Minister Han forced the attacker backward.
“Get to the carriage!”
Shen Rui ran toward the third carriage.
The door had been forced open. One of the officials lay unconscious beside the wheel, while another was struggling with an attacker inside.
Shen Rui climbed onto the carriage step.
“Move.”
The official looked at him in confusion.
“Move!”
The official ducked.
Shen Rui reached inside and seized the wooden evidence box. The attacker lunged for it.
Shen Rui pulled the box against his chest and kicked the man’s knee.
The attacker fell against the seat.
Shen Rui jumped from the carriage and landed awkwardly.
Pain shot through his ankle.
Excellent. Now I’m injured. This investigation is becoming personally offensive.
He limped toward Minister Han.
“Take it.”
The minister grabbed the box.
At that exact moment, a sharp whistle came from the forest.
The attackers began retreating.
The guards attempted to pursue them, but the captain shouted, “Hold your position! The bridge is unstable!”
Within moments, the forest was silent.
Only the injured horses and groaning soldiers remained.
Shen Rui looked at the retreating shadows.
“They’re leaving too easily.”
Minister Han’s expression was grim.
“They got what they wanted?”
Shen Rui glanced at the evidence box.
“No.”
“Then why retreat?”
Shen Rui looked toward the broken bridge.
His eyes narrowed.
“Because the explosion wasn’t meant to kill us.”
Minister Han followed his gaze.
The cracked bridge groaned beneath its own weight.
“They wanted to delay us.”
“And separate the convoy.”
Shen Rui turned toward the road behind them.
A thin column of smoke rose in the distance.
His expression fell.
Please don’t tell me there’s another ambush.
A messenger came running from the rear.
“Minister! The supply wagon has disappeared!”
Minister Han’s face turned cold.
“What?”
“The guards assigned to it were found unconscious. The wagon and horses are gone.”
Shen Rui closed his eyes.
I withdraw my previous complaint. This is no longer merely troublesome. This is a disaster.
The convoy spent the next hour tending to the wounded and securing the bridge.
The supply wagon was eventually found abandoned several miles away. Its contents had been removed, but the attackers had left behind a single folded piece of paper.
Minister Han opened it.
His face turned pale.
“What does it say?” Shen Rui asked.
The minister handed it to him.
The message was short.
Return the ledger, or the next village will burn.
Shen Rui read it twice.
His expression became unreadable.
The threat was not directed only at the investigation team.
It was directed at civilians.
Minister Han folded the paper.
“We cannot allow them to dictate our actions.”
Shen Rui looked toward the distant fields.
“How many villages lie between here and the capital?”
“Several.”
“Then they don’t need to burn all of them. One would be enough.”
Minister Han said nothing.
Shen Rui lowered his voice.
“They want us to rush. If we rush, we’ll make mistakes. If we stop, they’ll attack civilians.”
The minister studied him.
“What would you do?”
Shen Rui glanced at the evidence box.
In my previous life, threats were simple. Find the target, identify the enemy, remove the threat. Here, every decision involves hundreds of people.
He looked at the soldiers.
“Send scouts ahead and behind us. Move the villagers away from the main road if we find signs of an ambush.”
Minister Han nodded.
“And the ledger?”
“Make a false copy.”
The minister’s eyes sharpened.
Shen Rui continued, “Let them believe they’ve taken the real one if they attack again.”
“You can reproduce the ledger?”
“Not perfectly.”
He paused.
“But I can make it convincing enough for people who only glance at it.”
Minister Han stared at him.
Shen Rui smiled innocently.
“I have excellent handwriting.”
And I’ve forged documents under worse circumstances.
Minister Han did not seem reassured.
Nevertheless, the plan was put into motion.
The original ledger was hidden inside a sealed compartment beneath the carriage floor. A copy was placed inside the evidence box, while the officials were instructed to act as though it contained the original.
The convoy resumed its journey before sunset.
But Shen Rui did not relax.
The threat had changed everything.
The enemy no longer needed to kill them immediately.
They only needed to force a mistake.
That night, the convoy stopped near a small farming settlement.
The villagers were frightened when the imperial soldiers arrived, but Minister Han assured them that the team would not take their food or supplies.
Shen Rui noticed a young woman watching the soldiers from behind a wooden fence.
She held a sickle in one hand.
Her eyes were fixed on the evidence carriage.
Shen Rui looked away.
Not everyone watching us is innocent. Not everyone watching us is guilty either.
He entered the assigned farmhouse and sat beside the window.
His ankle throbbed.
A servant brought him a basin of warm water.
Shen Rui placed his foot inside and sighed.
At least someone in this world understands basic human needs.
Outside, the guards changed shifts.
A soldier passed the window, then another.
Shen Rui watched their shadows.
One guard walked with a slight limp.
Another kept touching the hilt of his sword.
A third never looked toward the farmhouse.
Shen Rui’s gaze sharpened.
That third one is avoiding the windows.
He waited.
The guard passed again.
This time, Shen Rui noticed a small black crow embroidered inside the man’s sleeve.
His hand moved toward the dagger hidden at his waist.
Then he stopped.
Don’t expose yourself. Find out what he wants.
The guard approached the evidence carriage.
Shen Rui quietly opened the window and slipped into the darkness.
He moved around the back of the farmhouse, staying close to the walls. The guard had already reached the carriage and was speaking with another soldier.
Shen Rui crouched behind a stack of firewood.
He listened.
“The false ledger is in the box,” the disguised guard whispered.
The other man nodded. “Then we take it before dawn.”
Shen Rui’s eyes turned cold.
So there are two of them.
He slowly reached for a loose piece of wood.
Before he could move, a voice spoke behind him.
“You shouldn’t sneak around at night.”
Shen Rui froze.
A hand rested lightly on his shoulder.
He turned his head.
Minister Han stood behind him.
Shen Rui looked at the minister’s hand, then at his face.
“Minister, you frightened me.”
“You were following a guard.”
“I was taking a walk.”
“Behind the evidence carriage?”
“It has a beautiful view.”
Minister Han looked toward the two disguised guards.
His expression hardened.
Shen Rui raised one finger to his lips.
The minister understood.
Together, they remained hidden and listened.
The disguised guards were not alone. A third voice came from inside the carriage.
“Once we have the box, kill the officials and set fire to the farmhouse.”
Minister Han’s breathing stopped.
Shen Rui’s eyes narrowed.
They’re going to burn the village.
He turned toward Minister Han and silently pointed at the farmhouse.
The minister nodded.
Then Shen Rui picked up a stone.
He threw it toward the far side of the settlement.
A loud crash sounded.
The disguised guards turned.
“What was that?”
“Go check!”
One guard left the carriage.
The other reached for his weapon.
Minister Han stepped out from behind the firewood.
“Imperial guards!”
The man’s expression changed.
Shen Rui kicked the evidence carriage’s wheel, causing the door to swing open. The third attacker inside was caught off guard as two guards rushed toward him.
The settlement erupted into shouting.
The disguised men fought fiercely, but they were quickly surrounded.
One attempted to flee toward the fields.
Shen Rui tripped him with a long branch.
The man fell face-first into the dirt.
Shen Rui looked down at him.
“You should really stop running toward people who are trying to catch you.”
The attacker glared.
“You little—”
Shen Rui stepped on the man’s sleeve.
“Careful. I’m easily offended.”
The guards dragged all three attackers away.
Minister Han stood beside Shen Rui, his expression severe.
“You disobeyed my orders again.”
Shen Rui looked toward the burning lantern near the carriage.
“I prevented a fire.”
“You also followed an armed spy alone.”
“I wasn’t alone. You were there.”
“I arrived after you.”
“Then you should be more punctual.”
Minister Han stared at him.
Shen Rui turned away.
He’s going to lecture me again.
But the minister said nothing.
Instead, he looked toward the captured men.
One of them had been searched and found carrying a small jade pendant.
Minister Han took it.
The pendant bore the insignia of a prominent military household.
The Marquis of Yong’an.
Shen Rui’s expression slowly changed.
His own family’s symbol.
His father’s household.
He stared at the pendant.
No.
The thought came quietly.
Don’t tell me my family is involved.
At the same moment, Minister Han looked at him.
And for the first time, Shen Rui saw something close to fear in the minister’s eyes.