Examination

Xiao Jue fell silent. Zhou Heng could feel that scrutinizing gaze lingering on him for a long time, as if trying to see right through him.

Just when Zhou Heng was about to give up, Xiao Jue finally spoke again, but asked a seemingly unrelated question:

Where is your hometown? What did you do for a living before joining the army?

It's here! Zhou Heng's heart tightened. It was the problem he feared most.

"I...I don't remember very well." He used the same excuse as before, his voice dry from nervousness. "I think I fled from the north. My family...is all gone. Before...I helped my family with some small business." He tried to be as vague as possible.

"Small business?" Xiao Jue's voice was unreadable, neither believing nor disbelieving. "What kind of business?"

"It's... a groceries, a little bit of everything." Zhou Heng wished he could bite his tongue off; the lie was getting more and more glaringly obvious.

"He is literate, knows how to observe terrain, understands the importance of keeping wounds clean, and though his actions may seem timid, he occasionally displays extraordinary thoughts," Xiao Jue said slowly, each word like a small hammer striking Zhou Heng's heart. "Such a person, reduced to being exiled to the Dingzi Battalion..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: your explanation is not very credible.

Zhou Heng was sweating profusely and dared not utter a single word.

"What are you wearing on your chest?" Xiao Jue suddenly asked again.

Zhou Heng froze, his hand instinctively reaching for his chest—where the white jade safety buckle pressed against his skin through his clothes.

When he was getting his collar bandaged last night, it was a little loose. Could it be... that someone saw it?

"It's...it's a keepsake left by my mother, an ordinary jade buckle." His voice was weak.

"An ordinary jade buckle?" Xiao Jue remained noncommittal. "Take it out, let me take a look."

Zhou Heng's fingers trembled as he pulled a red string from his collar. The warm, white safety buckle seemed to shimmer faintly in the dim room.

He dared not untie it, so he just held the rope, letting the jade buckle hang in the air.

He could feel Xiao Jue's gaze lingering on the jade buckle for longer than on him.

The quality of the jade, the craftsmanship, the warm luster... it is definitely not something that can be described as "ordinary".

Even Zhou Heng, a novice, knew that this jade buckle would be quite valuable in this era.

After a long silence, Xiao Jue finally spoke calmly, "Put it away."

Zhou Heng felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and quickly stuffed the jade clasp back into his clothes, his heart still pounding wildly.

"Zhou Heng," Xiao Jue's voice returned to its initial calm and indifferent tone, "you contributed your strategy to this bandit suppression, and according to the law, you will be rewarded with five hundred coins and your merit will be recorded. Go to the quartermaster's office to collect it later."

"Thank you, Lord Marquis!" Zhou Heng was surprised to receive a reward and was stunned for a moment before he realized it.

"As for your taking hot water without permission last night..." Xiao Jue paused, "Considering this is your first offense and there are extenuating circumstances, I will not pursue the matter this time. However, the wounded soldiers' camp has its own rules, and you must not repeat this offense."

"Yes! I will remember! I will never do it again!" Zhou Heng quickly assured him, feeling a great weight lifted from his heart.

"Go down." Xiao Jue waved his hand, seemingly having lost interest in him, and picked up the documents on the table again.

Zhou Heng bowed blankly—his movements were crooked and awkward—then he backed away, almost shuffling out of the room with his hands and feet moving in unison.

It wasn't until he walked a dozen steps out of the brick house and was jolted awake by the slightly chilly morning air that he seemed to come back to life, panting heavily, his clothes soaked through and clinging tightly to his body.

Is that... all there is to it?

No beatings, no punishments, and even a reward? Although the interrogation nearly drove me to the brink of collapse, it seems... I got through?

He stood there blankly, the injury on his leg starting to throb again. He hadn't felt it when he was extremely tense, but now that he relaxed, the pain was particularly clear.

"Zhou Heng?" a voice rang out from the side.

Zhou Heng turned his head and saw the personal guard who had brought him there still waiting not far away.

"The Marquis has instructed," the personal guard said calmly, "that after you collect your reward, you do not need to return to your original unit in the Dingzi Battalion. Pack your belongings and report to the forward supply depot. You will be temporarily under the command of Captain Zhao Heita, responsible for some paperwork and miscellaneous tasks."

Zhou Heng was stunned again. Transferred from the Dingzi Battalion? To the supply train? Or to clerical duties?

What does this mean? A promotion? Or... being kept under close watch?

The weight that had just been lifted from my heart was lifted again.

"Your humble servant...yes." He lowered his head and replied.

The guard nodded, said no more, and turned to leave.