The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 677 Important Information
Throughout the journey westward, Tie Niu hardly ever made a move, staying close to Jia Huan as his bodyguard. He was honest and reliable, rarely spoke, and seemed almost invisible, making him easy to overlook.

However, at this moment, Tie Niu went from leaping onto his horse to drawing his bow to kill the enemy in just a short instant. His movements were fluid, powerful, and fierce, making Ahemaiti's heart pound. He never expected that Tie Niu, who was usually so quiet, would be so powerful.

After shooting and killing one of the desert bandits, Tie Niu did not continue the pursuit of the remaining two. Instead, he spurred his horse to meet the camels. At this moment, the merchant on the camel, whether exhausted or injured, fell headlong into the yellow sand.

The camel was quite intelligent; seeing its master fall, it stopped and stood there panting heavily. Just as Tie Niu reined in his horse and leaped down to help the merchant up, Jia Huan and Mu Yejinbao, the two servants, also rode over.

"Ouch! It hurts so much! It hurts so much!" The merchant grimaced and screamed in agony. As soon as Jia Huan heard the voice, he knew without even looking that it was Xue Pan, the big idiot. No, at this point he should be called Xue Pan's brother-in-law.

Jia Huan never expected to encounter this guy in the desert. However, although it was unexpected, it was also reasonable. From this, it can be seen that Xue Pan was indeed doing jade business. Moreover, judging from his dusty and travel-worn appearance, he must have suffered a lot as both a bandit and a lone boat in the desert. The key is that he could endure such hardship, which shows that this former domineering second-generation rich kid has indeed changed a lot.

"Uncle Xue, are you alright?" Tie Hu asked in a simple voice.

Xue Pan's expression changed. He looked closely and probably recognized Tie Niu. When he saw Jia Huan and the two servants, he was first slightly stunned, then overjoyed, and blurted out, "Huan..."

Jia Huan coughed hurriedly and gave a wink. Xue Pan immediately changed his words, saying, "Oh no... oh no, I think I've broken my leg."

At this moment, Ahemaiti arrived with several followers, curiously sizing up Xue Pan. Jia Huan then deliberately asked, "What's your name? Where are you from?"

Xue Pan's identity as a wanted criminal was something he couldn't reveal. Over the years, he had changed his name and settled in Chang'an. He finally managed to obtain a legal identity and replied, "My name is Pan Lixue. I am from Chang'an Prefecture and I am in the jade business. Recently, I went out to purchase jade, but on my return journey, I encountered bandits. Both of my employees were killed. If it weren't for this benefactor's help, I would have been dead."

Jia Huan nodded inwardly. Indeed, adversity and hardship are the best way to temper a person. The dull and domineering man who used to be more trouble than he was worth has now become not only hardworking but also clever and shrewd.

"Mu Ye, check his injuries," Jia Huan instructed.

Mu Ye quickly stepped forward, examined Xue Panshou's thigh, and laughed, "The bones are fine, the leg isn't broken, just a little bruised. You're lucky to have met our Third Master Huan!"

Xue Pan thanked him repeatedly. He must have fallen off the camel earlier, as his head and face were scraped by sand and gravel, and his lips were cut. With his weathered face, the young man in his twenties looked like a man in his thirties or forties, which was both funny and pitiful.

"May I ask how this benefactor is addressed?" Xue Pan asked, cupping his hands in greeting. He was filled with mixed emotions and probably realized his disheveled appearance. He lowered his head in shame, avoiding Jia Huan's gaze.

Jia Huan smiled and said, "My name is Jia Huan, you can just call me Third Master Huan."

"I will never forget your life-saving grace, Master Xie Sanhuan," Xue Pan said, getting up and kowtowing.

"It was nothing, not worth mentioning. It's fate that we met, and it's also because you weren't meant to die. As the saying goes, if you're going to help someone, help them to the end. Come back to our camp with us for the night, and leave tomorrow. I don't think those desert bandits will be chasing you anymore," Jia Huan said calmly.

Xue Pan quickly expressed his gratitude again, then led his camel and followed Jia Huan and the others, limping towards the camp, while secretly observing Ahemaiti with a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Are you in the jade business?" Ahemaiti suddenly turned his head and asked.

Xue Pan quickly averted his gaze and nodded, saying, "Yes, sir."

"Oh, where did you go to buy jade?" Ahemaiti stared at Xue Pan, his gaze unwavering.

Xue Pan felt inexplicably flustered and stammered, "The Hotan and Qiemo areas!"

Ahemaiti said, "But this is the road to Hami. To get to Hotan, you should take the southern route to Dunhuang."

Xue Pan smiled and said, "Yes, yes, but sometimes I also go to Hami to buy some goods. I just came back from Hami this time."

"Oh, did you find any good jade?" Ahemaiti seemed very interested.

Xue Pan said with frustration, "I had found a few good pieces of jade, but then I ran into those damned bandits, and I lost them all in order to save my life."

Ahemaiti said sympathetically, "That's such a pity. By the way, have you ever been to Turpan?"

Xue Pan quickly shook his head and said, "I've never been there, and I wouldn't dare to go. The people there aren't very friendly to Han people."

Jia Huan asked curiously, "Could it be that the wedding envoy is also interested in jade?"

Ahemaiti laughed and said, "I do have a hobby of collecting jade. Hehe, it's getting dark, farewell!" After saying that, he left and returned to his camp nearby.

Jia Huan glanced thoughtfully at Xue Pan and said, "Come with me. I have some wound medicine in my tent. Apply it and it will heal faster."

Xue Pan thanked Jia Huan and followed him into the tent, where the latter ordered Mu Ye to fetch medicine for bruises and sprains to treat his wounds.

After finishing, Xue Pan knelt down with a thud, his eyes red, and said, "Brother Huan, you saved my life again."

Jia Huan quickly stepped aside, saying, "Get up! I can't accept this. If Aunt and Sister Bao see this, they'll be furious with me!" Xue Pan stood up awkwardly and said sheepishly, "Brother Huan, how are Mother and Sister?"

Jia Huan nodded and said, "Auntie is doing well. She was very happy when you sent her thirty taels of silver before the New Year."

Upon hearing this, Xue Pan grinned, his expression a mixture of laughter and tears, and said with shame, "I was so unruly before, always causing trouble and bringing misfortune to my mother and sister. Now I can't even go home, and I can't even fulfill my filial duties. I regret it so much." After saying this, he rubbed his eyes and burst into tears.

Seeing this, Jia Huan sighed, reached out and patted Xue Pan on the shoulder. To be honest, he used to dislike this guy, but now he suddenly didn't dislike him as much.

Xue Pan, whose face was already covered in dust, cried and rubbed his face with tears, making it even dirtier. It took him a long time to control his emotions before he asked, "Huan-ge'er only mentioned Mother earlier. I wonder how my sister is doing now?"

Jia Huan said, "You can ask her yourself!"

Xue Pan was taken aback for a moment, then exclaimed with delight, "Could it be that my sister is also here?"

Jia Huan smiled and nodded. Xue Pan was immediately excited and grabbed Jia Huan's sleeve, saying, "Brother Huan, take me to see her quickly!"

Jia Huan frowned and said, "Don't rush. Your identity cannot be exposed right now. When the time is right, I will arrange for you to meet."

Xue Pan calmed down and asked in confusion, "Huan-ge'er, why are you and your sister here?"

Jia Huan briefly recounted the events, and Xue Pan was stunned, saying, "How could this happen... What should we do? Huan-ge'er, you have to think of a way to save my sister. You promised to take good care of her."

Jia Huan said irritably, "Of course, you don't need to remind me. Sister Bao and Sister Lin are both my darlings."

Xue Pan rolled his eyes. You're quite greedy, but whatever, as long as Bao'er is willing.

At this moment, Jia Huan asked again, "By the way, Ahmaiti looked at you a little strangely just now. Do you two know each other?"

"Ahmaiti?" Xue Pan scratched his head and said, "Is that the hook-nosed Western Region man?"

Jia Huan nodded and said, "The one who asked you about jade just now!"

Xue Pan said with a strange expression, "That person does look somewhat familiar. Oh, right, I remember now, the Ahemaiti you mentioned looks a bit like Ahmaiti, the Taiji of the Turpan Khanate!"

Jia Huan's expression changed, and he blurted out, "Are you sure?"

Taiji is the same as "Prince", a transliteration in Chinese.

Xue Pan shook his head and said, "I can't be sure, but it looks very similar."

"When have you ever seen a Taiji from the Turpan Khanate?" Jia Huan asked, frowning.

Xue Pan recalled: "That year, I went out of the pass for the first time to buy jade. I didn't know anything and followed others to Turpan in a daze. I happened to meet the army returning in triumph. I heard from others that the man at the front of the team was Taiji Amahei, and he looked very similar to Ahemaiti from earlier."

Jia Huan's heart skipped a beat. He had always suspected that Ahmaiti's identity was not simple. If this person was really Ahmaiti, the crown prince of the Turpan Khanate, then it would make sense.

The Turpan Khanate was a powerful state among the Western Regions, far surpassing the Hami Kingdom in strength. In recent years, it had frequently sent troops to harass the Hami and Jiayuguan areas, and it did not submit to the Jin Dynasty, showing its ambition.

After Baiwa seized power in a coup, the Hami Kingdom often wavered between the Great Jin and Turpan. Baiwa even threatened the Great Jin to marry a princess to him by pledging allegiance to Turpan.

In other words, if Ahmaiti is indeed Turpan Taiji Amah, then it means that Baiwa has betrayed the Great Jin and completely submitted to the Turpan Khanate.

Tsk tsk, this is extremely important intelligence. If it is true, it wouldn't be unreasonable for the Great Jin to send troops to destroy Hami. Of course, this is on the premise that Xue Pan is not mistaken and Ahemaiti is indeed Ahmahei.

For a moment, Jia Huan was both surprised and delighted, and he found Xue Pan even more pleasing to the eye. He said, "Brother Pan, you should rest well here tonight. Someone will bring you food and drink later. I have some things to take care of now."

Xue Pan was flattered and hurriedly said, "Brother Huan, you go ahead with your work, don't worry about me."

Jia Huan hurriedly walked out of the tent, only to run into Duan Yong, who asked in confusion, "Jia Huan, we heard that you just rescued a merchant."

Jia Huan nodded and said, "That's right, I was just looking for you, Eunuch Duan. Come, let's talk in your tent."

Duan Yong had originally intended to reprimand Jia Huan for taking in outsiders so casually, but seeing Jia Huan's serious expression, he held back and led Jia Huan back to his own tent to see what urgent matter he had to attend to.

(End of this chapter)