Chapter 563

"Master, is it... that person?"

Xu Zaijing stood by the wooden railing and asked softly.

Under the candlelight,

Uncle Yin nodded and said in a hoarse voice, "It is her."

Thinking of the elegant handwriting on the note, Xu Zaijing did not ask his master how he had determined it.

After gently patting the neck of the Li horse, Uncle Yin walked toward Xu Zaijing with a limp.

After leaving the stall,

Uncle Yin stood beside Xu Zaijing, letting him untie the straps on his winter clothes, and said:

"She has lived in the deep mansion for a long time; she neither knows the full story of what you and Qingyun understand about the events of that year, nor does she know your relationship with the Imperial City Guard. She thought about things too simply!"

"Sigh!" Uncle Yin sighed again: "To be so reckless as to use a note written with her own left hand to give a warning."

Xu Zaijing put away the straps and said to his master, "Master, actually, the most critical thing is that she also doesn't know that the person who can distinguish her left-handed handwriting is still alive."

Uncle Yin, who was about to take a step, froze there, and only after a while did he slowly nod.

The master and disciple walked and talked.

"Master, you also understand calligraphy; presumably, you have already seen from the handwriting that the person who wrote it was very heavy-handed at the time, presumably feeling very anxious."

"Mm."

"Brother Zhao just said that since she chose to send the message to Qingyun secretly, it might be out of kindness, but she had reservations and didn't want anyone to know her identity. Or it could be malicious, a diversionary tactic by an opponent to make me guard day and night and exhaust myself."

After speaking, Xu Zaijing frowned, his eyes filled with worry.

Uncle Yin nodded, tilted his head, and looked at his disciple's expression with his single eye, saying, "Jing'er, do you have reservations in your heart?"

Xu Zaijing nodded:

"Master, for Second Miss Qin to know and remind Qingyun to be careful, the news most likely came from the Marquis Dongchang's mansion or the Duke Anguo's mansion."

"The disciple is afraid that if I point out these two families directly, and Brother Zhao goes to investigate them, will it implicate Second Miss Qin?"

"There is no reason for us to repay kindness with enmity when someone else has kindly reminded us."

After speaking, Xu Zaijing looked at his master again.

Uncle Yin shook his head: "Jing'er, you are overthinking."

Xu Zaijing: "Master, but I heard my father say that Qingyun's appearance is somewhat similar to yours when you were young, and before Qingyun's child was born, Second Miss Qin also sent gifts..."

Uncle Yin waved his hand and said, "Jing'er, you think too poorly of the Imperial City Guard, and you think too highly of some people."

Looking at Xu Zaijing's confused appearance, Uncle Yin's eyes showed a hint of recollection, and he said, "Hmph! None of those people in the Qin family know what her true nature is."

Xu Zaijing looked at his master and nodded.

Actually, Xu Zaijing himself had some thoughts about the Little Madam Qin from his previous life: she was actually more like a tragic, dark version of Minglan.

She was equally calculating, patient, forbearing, decisive, and, moreover, very good at disguising herself.

In the eyes of outsiders, she was always gentle, weak, without opinions, fair in handling matters, and looked like a little lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

If the opponents of the Little Madam Qin in his previous life hadn't been the two protagonists, she would have long since become the venerable Madam whose son inherited the title, who retired successfully, and who was kind-hearted and well-regarded by all.

After Xu Zaijing was startled, his eyes turned, and he said, "Master, are you saying that no one will guess that it was this person who sent us the warning?"

Uncle Yin nodded.

"Then, the disciple understands."

"Mm, go."

Xu Zaijing nodded and continued: "Master, I will find a way to repay this favor."

"Good."

Inside the wooden house,

Looking at Xu Zaijing, who was pushing the door to enter, Zhao Meifeng asked:

"Jingge, have you thought about who sent the message?"

Xu Zaijing shook his head with a melancholy look and said:

"Brother Zhao, there are quite a few people who have grudges against me these past few years! Like the Qin family of Marquis Dongchang, isn't their Qin Chi Han lame because of me?"

"And the heirs of those two princely mansions, whose shoulders were both pierced."

"When the Jin envoys came to the capital, I also had conflicts with several disciples of the Duke Anguo's family."

"As well as that group of people from the former Bai Gao who entered the capital; before, under the Jinglong Gate, I beat up quite a few of them."

Zhao Meifeng glanced at Xu Zaijing sideways, then pretended to sigh with worry:

"Yes, and the plans of Northern Liao in the northern military prefectures were also disrupted by you, Jingge."

"Thinking about it this way, it is indeed a bit difficult to find."

After speaking,

looking at Xu Zaijing, who was nodding repeatedly, Zhao Meifeng glared at him and said, "I say this, and you really nod?"

"Jingge, based on our friendship of fighting side by side all these years, you still won't tell the truth, right?"

Looking at Xu Zaijing's stunned expression, Zhao Meifeng continued: "The way you looked when you just walked out of the wooden house, you might as well have written 'I know who sent the letter' on your face!"

Xu Zaijing opened his mouth to speak.

Zhao Meifeng said in a solemn tone: "Think clearly before you tell me!"

Xu Zaijing did not continue, thought for a while, and said: "Brother Zhao, to tell you the truth, there are indeed two families in the capital who might deal with me."

Zhao Meifeng nodded, signaling Xu Zaijing to continue.

"One is the Marquis Dongchang's mansion, and the other is the Duke Anguo's mansion."

"The reason?"

Xu Zaijing shook his head.

"Can't say?"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "There are hidden reasons, I really cannot say more."

"Good, then the office will investigate these two families first."

As he spoke, Zhao Meifeng stood up, looked at Xu Zaijing, whose expression was somewhat embarrassed, and said:

"I understand, brother. But regardless, before things are clarified, Jingge, you had best go out less and eat less food from outside."

"Tonight, the office will rearrange the soldiers who were withdrawn."

"Also, even for the kitchen in the mansion, pay more attention when purchasing things."

"Many thanks for the reminder, Brother Zhao, I will keep it in mind."

Zhao Meifeng nodded, took the cloak handed over by Qingyun, and said: "But don't be overly suspicious, scared to the point of not being able to eat."

Xu Zaijing laughed: "Brother Zhao, you look down on me too much."

That evening,

in the Great Zhou Imperial Palace,

in Consort Rong's sleeping palace,

the Emperor, wearing pajamas, heard Zhao Meifeng finish speaking and said: "This kid didn't say why he suspected the Qin family and the Tan family?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, he did not."

Looking at Zhao Meifeng, who was bowing and cupping his hands not far away, the Emperor didn't know why he thought of the snow lion outside Consort Rong's sleeping palace.

"Hmph!"

After the Emperor gave a light snort, he said:

"Sort out the errands these two families have done in the past few months and see if there is anything amiss."

Zhao Meifeng was about to reply, but the Emperor waved his hand and said:

"No! Check the situation of all those families that Xu Wulang mentioned to you! A legitimate son of a Marquis who has achieved merit for the country must never have any accidents."

"Yes!"

After Zhao Meifeng exited the sleeping palace,

the Emperor sat behind the desk and said softly: "Just because of a warning note, am I making too much of a fuss?"

The Great Eunuch bowed and replied: "Your Majesty, this servant feels that you are not making too much of a fuss!"

"Speak."

"Yes, Your Majesty! What Xu Wulang said to Chief Zhao today about the grudges with those families is not nonsense!"

"The young masters of the noble families in the capital are mostly arrogant! They are not old, and they are at the age when their tempers are most fiery."

"And Xu Wulang has achieved merit for the country many times, and his skills are excellent!"

"If someone really seeks revenge and angers Xu Wulang, it's hard to say if Xu Wulang might really get blood on his hands, and that would not be good!"

The Emperor shook his head gently, his eyes thoughtful as he said:

"Anyone who is well-informed knows what this kid did in Bai Gao and Beizhou. If anyone still dares to make trouble for him, I would actually think more highly of them."

After speaking,

the Emperor stood up to prepare for bed.

After walking just two steps,

a female official walked into the room from outside.

"What is it?" the Great Eunuch beside the Emperor asked in confusion.

The female official bowed and said: "Great Official, the palace guards on duty have sent two urgent reports, saying that the matter is of great importance."

The Great Eunuch looked at the Emperor, and seeing the Emperor nod, he waved his whisk and said: "Hurry and pass them in."

"Yes."

The female official turned and walked out quickly.

The Emperor also sat back on the dragon throne.

A moment later,

the urgent reports reached the Emperor's hands.

The Great Eunuch dismissed the female official.

After the Emperor on the dragon throne finished reading the contents of the two urgent reports, he took a deep breath, held one of the reports, and said: "Heh, this urgent report really came at the right time."

Looking up at the Great Eunuch, the Emperor said: "Tell Zhao Meifeng to stop investigating for now! Wait until he finishes reading these two urgent reports."

"Yes."

Zhao Meifeng had not yet left the palace city,

when he was chased down by a palace eunuch, given instructions, and received two urgent reports.

After reading them by the light of a lantern, a cold smile appeared on the corner of Zhao Meifeng's mouth: "Smart person."

That night,

the night sky after the snow was surprisingly clear.

The stars all over the sky were twinkling.

Although there was no moonlight,

the white snow reflected the starlight, making it barely possible to see.

Quyuanjie,

Marquis Yongyi's mansion,

in the large courtyard, most of the rooms had already extinguished their candles and were in darkness.

Xu Zaijing had also fallen asleep early.

In the warm bedroom,

Qingcao walked in carrying a candle stand.

"What is it?"

From behind the bed curtains, Xu Zaijing's voice sounded.

"Young Master, you haven't slept yet?"

"I woke up when you entered the door."

"Oh! A letter was sent in by the gatekeeper at the front courtyard; Mother Xia just received it."

"Mm!"

The bed curtains were lifted,

Xu Zaijing sat on the edge of the bed, put on his slippers, and said: "Let me see."

Qingcao hurriedly lit the candle on the table; the light released by this candle was much brighter than the one in Qingcao's hand.

Xu Zaijing also walked to the table, opened the envelope, and began to read.

While reading the letter, Xu Zaijing also reached out to take the warm tea cup handed over by Qingcao.

After reading it at a glance by the candlelight,

the letter was written by Zhao Meifeng; the general content was that the legitimate son of the fourth branch of the Duke Anguo's Tan family, who served in the Longwei Army, had sent an urgent report to the palace tonight!

The urgent report stated that a spy planted by the Longwei Army in the Wuyou Cave had sent a message that thieves were secretly offering a reward for Xu Zaijing, and the bounty for injuring or killing him was so high it was staggering.

Along with this Tan family urgent report, there was also a memorial from the Kaifeng Prefect, Lord Gu Lin, whose content was much the same as the Longwei Army's report.

This Lord Gu Lin was a good friend of Scholar Zhuang.

The Kaifeng Prefecture also wanted to get rid of the thieves in the Wuyou Cave of Bianjing, as the common people who were stolen from or robbed would all go to the government to report it.

Finally, the place to redeem the bounty was the Northern Liao relay station in the capital.

Zhao Meifeng said in the letter that although the two memorials were sent to the palace together, he had asked at the Kaifeng Prefecture, and the time the Kaifeng Prefecture received the message was two hours later than the Tan family.

The fourth son of the Duke Anguo's Tan family also asked for punishment in the urgent report, the reason being that he was drinking and feasting at home after the snow today, almost delaying important matters.

After reading the letter,

Xu Zaijing brought the letter paper to the candle flame.

Feeling this, Qingcao stooped down and picked up the copper basin placed on the ground to increase the humidity in the room.

After the letter paper was burned to ashes in Xu Zaijing's hand, it all fell into the copper basin.

"Sleep!"

After Xu Zaijing finished speaking, he walked back to the bed.

Soon,

Xu Zaijing's courtyard fell into darkness again.

At the entrance of the Marquis Yongyi's mansion,

the candles in the two large lanterns were still burning, and the light of the candles "drew" two circles of light on the ground.

On the street not far away,

a row of ten yamen runners wearing ear-protecting gloves and winter clothes, holding torches in one hand and waist knives in the other, walked over in an orderly fashion.

Beside the team, there were also two hunting dogs on leashes.

The movement of these ten people walking together seemed quite loud in the quiet and cold night.

Hearing the movement, the Xu family gatekeeper did not open the door,

but set up a ladder on the wall beside the gate, and poked his head out from the wall holding a torch to look at the situation outside the gate.

After the yamen runners passed,

the Xu family gatekeeper said in a loud voice: "Several constables, what is the situation tonight?"

"The Prefect has ordered that we patrol and guard against thieves near Quyuanjie tonight." Someone among the yamen runners said while cupping his hands and breathing out white air.

"So that's it, thank you for your hard work, constables!" the Xu family gatekeeper shouted from the wall.

The yamen runners waved their hands and continued to walk forward.

Watching the crowd go away,

the Xu family gatekeeper rolled his eyes on the wall, came down from the ladder, and walked toward the second gate.

Looking into the inner courtyard from the roof of the second gate,

the light in the mistress's courtyard room lit up,

and then a lantern walked toward the second gate.

Soon,

the Xu family gatekeeper returned to the main gate, and then many sundries, along with two fire basins and plenty of firewood and charcoal, were hoisted from the wall to the street.

Another gatekeeper's servant crossed the wall with a ladder, held a torch, used kerosene to light the firewood and charcoal in the fire basins, set up a rack on top, and hung a kettle full of water over the fire.

Then they began to set up a tent.

When the moon slowly appeared in the night sky,

the Kaifeng Prefecture yamen runners patrolled past again,

and seeing the heat and hot water from the tent at the entrance of the Xu family mansion, the yamen runners walked over.

The leading yamen runner even went to the main gate and said a few words to the Xu family gatekeeper inside.

After warming themselves by the fire in the tent and changing the water in their water gourds for hot water, the patrolling yamen runners began to patrol again.

The bright moon hung low in the west,

the sky was dark,

in the tent in front of the Xu family mansion,

yamen runners with hunting dogs sat on the benches inside,

the firewood and charcoal in the fire basin were still glowing red and emitting heat, and the sound of the night watchman reporting the time came from afar, sounding vaguely like the arrival of the Mao hour (5:00 AM).

Suddenly,

the hunting dog in the tent pricked up its ears,

which woke up the tired yamen runners in the tent, and then they looked at each other vigilantly.

The yamen runner leading the hunting dog walked out of the tent, took off his ear protectors, and listened carefully.

Then,

the yamen runner looked at the high wall of the Marquis Yongyi's mansion in confusion, listened for a while, and walked back to the tent, saying: "It sounds like someone is riding a horse inside the Marquis's mansion; it should be the Marquis's personal guards doing their morning exercises."

"Morning exercises so early? Impressive!"

The people in the tent nodded one after another.

"It's a good thing we have this tent and fire basin, otherwise I don't know how I would have made it through last night."

"How to make it through? Go to the patrol post not far away."

"During the patrol interval, if something really happened, we would be in big trouble."

While talking,

someone walked over carrying a lantern not far away.

The yamen runner who walked out of the tent looked at the tall figure of the man and hurriedly said: "Who is it?"

"I am a personal attendant beside the Fifth Young Master of the Marquis's mansion."

"Oh! So it's Steward Yin."

Qingyun walked over and said a few words to the yamen runners, and then entered the Marquis's mansion through the opened side door.

When the sky was just beginning to brighten,

although the east was only showing a fish-belly white,

under the reflection of the accumulated snow, the sky was much brighter.

The Kaifeng Prefecture yamen runners on duty thanked the Xu family gatekeeper and prepared to leave.

Before they had gone far,

they heard the sound of horse hooves coming from behind.

When they turned their heads to look, they saw a young man riding a magnificent Li horse, wearing winter clothes and holding a long spear, with a strong bow inserted in the bow case in front of him, and several quivers of feathered arrows carried before and after the saddle, riding over.

"Greetings, Fifth Young Master."

The leading yamen runner bowed and cupped his hands, breathing out white air.

The tall and magnificent little Li horse stopped nearby, breathing white air from its nostrils.

Xu Zaijing, who was on top, nodded and said in a muffled voice: "Thank you all for your hard work."

The yamen runners all said they didn't dare.

When Xu Zaijing was about to pass,

the leading yamen runner said: "Fifth Young Master, what are you...?"

"I'm going to the Northern Liao relay station for a stroll."

(End of Chapter)