Standoff at Jiliang
A standoff between the Fan siblings, Du Rui Sheng, and the Zhang Family over the capture of Gao Zhong Hu, Ruya Ilkin, and Bai Xue Ying, with consequences that eventually led to the War of Eternal Day.
Chain of Events
Fan Jin Fei and her brother Fan You Qian traveled to Jiliang to confirm the association between Du Rui Sheng and the Zhang family, so Jin Fei could discredit the Dus and claim the new opening in The Censorate. Jin Fei received information about Rui Sheng's friendship with Zhang Huai Shi from the Du family bodyguard Liao Heng.
While Rui Sheng and Liao Heng visited the Zhangs for dinner, Liao Heng saw and recognized Gao Zhong Hu. Not wanting to bring the consequences of a confrontation upon his friends, Zhong Hu wrote a hasty note to Zhang Xiong explaining the situation and packed up to leave. Ruya Ilkin spotted him on the way out and offered to take him with her on her annual trip to Garal to visit her brother over the winter. Zhong Hu agreed. They stopped for the night at Ruya's house, which was also occupied by Bai Xue Ying. Back at the Zhang household, Rui Sheng took an opportunity that evening to steal the White Leopard Eye from the Zhang family treasury.
The Fans stopped at Ruya's house and commandeered it as a useful outpost due to its proximity to the Zhang estate. However, when they found Ruya was hiding Zhong Hu, they took all three occupants prisoner and conducted a more detailed search. You Qian expressed respect and admiration for Zhong Hu and treated him courteously. His men discovered a sizable cache of weapons in a hidden room under the stables. Not wanting the other two to shoulder responsibility, Ruya revealed her identity as a Garalese military leader, claimed she was storing the weapons for Garal, and that her motive in taking Zhong Hu to Garal was to turn him over to the Garalese government. Incensed, Zhong Hu berated her for her betrayal of the Zhang family's friendship.
"You owe them your life, Ruya. Are debts so easily forgotten as soon as opportunity presents itself?" - Gao Zhong Hu
You Qian and Jin Fei determined to hand Ruya, Zhong Hu, and Xue Ying over to the emperor, though You Qian hoped to speak to the emperor on Zhong Hu's behalf. However, Jin Fei also wanted to confirm Rui Sheng's association with the Zhangs, hopeful that in addition to discrediting the Dus with the association she could tie Ruya's action to the Zhangs and from them to her rival.
Rescue of Gao Zhong Hu
That afternoon, Xue Ying managed to escape imprisonment by changing his form into a fox. He arrived at the Zhangs in good time, but burned out a qi point and collapsed shortly after relaying the news of Ruya's betrayal and Zhong Hu's imprisonment.The Zhang family acted quickly. Xiong attempted to send his children and Xun Ying Ti away, but ultimately ceded to their wishes to stay and help. Rui Sheng, aware that she had attracted the Fans' attention, offered to talk to Jin Fei in an attempt to talk things down or, failing that, act as a distraction. She, Yin Da, and Ying Ti stayed at the Zhang estate with Xue Ying and received the Fans while Xiong took his children to liberate Zhong Hu. Xiong forced his way into the house and persuaded Yan Dingxiang, You Qing's soldier, that it was wiser to hand over Gao Zhong Hu without a fight.
"Fan You Qian is currently in negotiations with my wife at our home. We are here in anticipation of the outcome. We will leave with Zhong Hu." - Zhang Xiong to Yan Dingxiang
Not wanting his family charged along with Ruya, Xiong made a show of being angry with her for her betrayal, secretly giving her a knife in the process.
Rescue of Ruya
The next day, Ying Ti departed early. The Fans returned to the estate and offered to take the youngest Zhang children back to the White Sea Sect, a show of power and an insurance against further meddling. The Zhangs had no choice but to accept. An armed guard was left at the Zhang estate and at Ruya Ilkin's house. Xiong and Yin Da quickly made plans and sent off a letter to the Weis asking for help in rescuing Ruya. They then told Zhong Hu and Huai Shi the truth about the weapons cache and the two agreed to assist with the rescue as well. After their departure, Rui Sheng left with the stolen Eye.Upon seeing that Shu Qing and Ke Yuan were traveling with the Fans, Ruya quietly made up her mind to not try any kind of escape that could harm them in the process, and submitted to the poor treatment of the resentful soldiers. A few days into the trip, however, the rescue party attacked the camp during the night, dressed in Garalese military uniforms, and succeeded in freeing Ruya without harming the two youngest Zhang children. This act was the first positive interaction between Ruya and Zhang Huai Shi.
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