Chapter 319

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

It turned out the escort guards, carrying Song Miao's portrait, found Xu Shifu near Sanzao County Alley before long.

In the dead of night, this man was neither driving his cart nor going home, but sitting at a shared table with several others, who knows discussing what; waiting until the watch deepened, he led them, sneaking toward the back alley of Sanzao County Alley.

"A party of seven or eight, with lookouts posted; fearing to alert them, we didn't dare make a sound, nor follow too closely."

"They entered the back alley, stayed half a day, then slipped away quietly; they didn't go far, checking into Fulai Inn — that inn is right at the street head, directly facing our Sanzao County Alley, most likely used for surveillance."

"Today they split into two groups; one group remained at the inn, the other two took that cart driver to a mansion in City West; I and Xiao Tian followed together, watched half a day, and it just so happened that when someone came to deliver food, an old man came out to open the door; though his face was covered, I saw a scar on his right earlobe, looking particularly like the one marked on Song Xiaoniangzi's portrait!"

"Only pity the distance was a bit far, couldn't compare directly, also couldn't see if there was a mole on his face; if both match, then it's absolutely him!"

The escort guard hurriedly asked: "I had Xiao Tian stay there keeping watch, I came back first to report — Chief, Song Xiaoniangzi, how to handle this now?"

Qi Biaotou, ever steady, consulted with Song Miao: "Best to have Wang Sanlang go take a look; if it is him, then report to the authorities; otherwise if it isn't, not only would the officials have run a wasted trip, but letting someone with ill intent see it would instead alert them, letting the person escape or hide, and wanting to find them again might not be so easy……"

Wang Sanlang had already received word and come out; hearing this he hurriedly looked at Song Miao, saying: "Young Lady, why don't I go investigate once?"

Song Miao had long had suspicions in her heart.

She heard it was the place Xu Shifu went to, and the other party had a scar on his ear; although she couldn't confirm immediately, she knew there was already a six or seven parts certainty, so she first asked the specific location, pondered briefly, and said: "Better not wait any longer, just fearing the night brings many dreams — in a moment I'll go report to the Capital Prefecture Office, won't delay much, first let the yamen know, see how they arrange it, lest something sudden happens and we end up with our hands tied instead!"

Since there was a matter, and the place was far after all, she also worried the round trip would miss the hour, and couldn't attend to the Taixue side.

Because it was Cao Fuzi, with whom she was familiar day in and day out, and knew the other's personality, Song Miao was rather casual; she sent another person, just telling them if the hour came and she still hadn't returned, to alone bring steamed buns to Han Li, along with a few verbal messages; she herself then went to the Capital Prefecture Office with the two escort guards.

This time seeing Song Miao arrive, the runners relaxed a bit, and told her the progress.

"Just about to send someone with word — we have some connections here now; yesterday the craftsmen rushed the work for you, carving and printing through the night, already posted everywhere by early this morning, and at once got seven or eight people coming to report clues; heh, don't say it, your portrait really has some spirit!"

"Currently having people screen them; though clues are many, actually most are just random words, no help; but what can be confirmed is that the old man is most likely still in the capital, hasn't left……"

Song Miao hurriedly thanked them, but pointed at that escort guard, first told the matter of discovering the old man's tracks, then added: "……Only don't know if it is or isn't, just afraid it isn't, and the officials run empty-handed……"

The runners across from them, learning the tracks were found just like that, were truly quite surprised, hurriedly shouting for people, readying horses and mules, a flurry of arrangements.

As for whether they'd run empty-handed or not, everyone simply didn't care.

"Others saying this is fine, but how come Song Xiaoniangzi is also following along?"

"You forgot when we staked out in the food shop before? This time who knows how much easier; even if empty-handed, it's our duty anyway — what case doesn't have empty runs!"

"We'll be careful ourselves, have people watch tight, then use a method to confirm once — by your words, eight or nine out of ten it is him!"

The group kept that escort guard to lead the way, also brought Wang Sanlang; the rest stayed at the yamen each with their own business, but forcibly pulled out two men, each drawing manpower from below to make assignments, and set off first.

Song Miao here went and returned, back at the food shop, and sure enough the hour had long passed.

She called someone to ask, and someone had already taken steamed buns to Taixue; though she breathed a sigh of relief, her heart inexplicably felt a bit empty and hollow.

In Taixue, Han Li did not return to the study dormitory, but waited in Chen Fuzi's teaching hall.

He left home before daybreak this day, and by near noon hurried back from the Du Shui Jian, simply ate a little something, then began bending over the desk writing manuscripts.

Chen Fuzi, though not teaching classes, had many matters, going in and out many times; seeing his martial brother always burying his head working hard, he snickered several times; when he finally freed his hands, he couldn't help but go up front.

Seeing the many draft papers on the desk, he still joked: "How did you get free today, running to my place — didn't you write all night yesterday, still not finished? I see Xiao Song's things are already organized very properly, or is it that you yourself aren't capable enough, hence this dragging?"

Han Li's brush didn't stop, head not raised, but he said: "Sanzao County Alley's is already prepared — no matter what, it won't drag to today."

Chen Fuzi cocked his beard, laughing hehe: "Then what are you doing here? Last-minute rush."

Finished speaking, he casually picked up a sheet of paper, and went to scan the text on it.

But just a few glances, and the expression on his face changed at once.

He moved a chair over, carefully flipped through page by page; after reading the manuscripts on the desk in order from start to finish, he then asked with a serious tone: "You writing this thing, why not go to Du Shui Jian?"

Also said: "Your diagramming method is very good; where did you learn it? In future Master's manuscripts, we can also follow this to supplement."

Han Li said: "Didn't Martial Brother just say? Whose things were organized properly, I learned from them."

Chen Fuzi froze, about to ask, but across from him his martial brother had already rested the brush on the pen rest, stood up, went to wash hands and wipe face, then straightened his clothes and cap against the still water in the copper basin, even wiped his shoe uppers, a very meticulous appearance.

He felt something stir in his heart, and asked: "Who is coming?"

Han Li smiled, didn't speak, but that smile was already clear enough.

Chen Fuzi instantly perked up, hurriedly asking: "Is Xiao Song coming? When?"

Han Li nodded, and told the hour agreed upon yesterday.

Chen Fuzi hearing this, was quite annoyed, saying: "You rascal! Why didn't you say so earlier!"

He hurriedly rang the bell, repeatedly calling "Xiao You"; when the person came, he said: "Didn't you get many Dongting oranges yesterday? Those are raised in the cold springs of Dongting Mountain; Lao Fan boasts daily, saying his oranges ripen a season earlier than ordinary ones; though a bit sour, the orange flavor is full — this thing, suits you young people to eat; you keep some for yourself, bring the rest over."

"Also Xiao Hu got several boxes of Xian He Lou pastries this morning? Though not as good as Song Ji, still has some eating merit; you go a trip, see if he has any left; if so, say I'm asking him for a bit, will buy to repay another day……"

Seeing him send people one after another, Han Li hurriedly stopped Xiao You first, signaling the other not to fetch; waiting until only the two fellow disciples remained in the room, he said: "Martial Brother, in a moment I must go with her to pay respects to Cao Xiansheng; here is only a brief tidying, won't stay long; the other things needn't be fetched."

Also said: "But those oranges, I already took ten-odd yesterday; if Martial Brother eats, fear they're really a bit sour; better I take them to give to her……"

Chen Fuzi not too satisfied, said: "What matter to find him, can't they come find me?"

Also said: "Giving oranges I myself wouldn't send? Making you take them to give to Xiao Song! Truly best at borrowing flowers to offer Buddha!"

In the end his own martial brother; he complained a few sentences, then said: "I've been unable to leave lately, haven't gone to Sanzao County Alley for many days; in a moment if I'm not here, you also ask Xiao Song if she likes oranges; if she likes, I'll have someone write home to urge more."

Han Li agreed on one hand, while from time to time turning his head to look at the water clock in the corner,

Chen Fuzi, an old hand, how could he not know this person's shell was still here but his mind who knows where it flew; amused he said: "You wait here, Xiao Song may not know how to enter, might even have to ask directions……"

Han Li immediately stood up, saying: "I'll go take a look."

Speaking, he shook his sleeves again, just about to go out, when he heard someone knocking at the door outside.

Getting permission, the comer entered at the sound; just inside, he turned back to the person following behind and said: "Master and Zheng Yan are both here; Auntie, which one are you looking for?"

It was a short-term hire woman from Song Ji.

This person entered the door, performed a greeting first, asked after wellbeing, then said: "The proprietor has urgent business today, rushed off to the Capital Prefecture Office, told me to come relay a message to Young Master Han..."

She repeated what Song Miao had said, then waited until she set the food box she held onto the table to one side, and said: "Since it's been many days since seeing Old Sir Chen, the Young Lady also had me bring an extra food box of steamed buns, inside are newly made flavors, called 'Crispy Flaky Steamed Buns', asking Old Sir to also have a taste."

Upon hearing this, Chen Fuzi was delighted and proud to the extreme, cleared his throat, originally smiling broadly, glanced at Han Li, saw the other party standing in place, face revealing nothing, but for some reason, that delight also faded by two parts.

He couldn't help but ask: "When will Xiao Song return? Do you know?"

The short-term hire shook her head and said: "The Young Lady said it's not necessarily that fast."

Han Li thought for a moment, first invited the other party to sit a while, but himself did not have the other party help pass a message, instead using the ink originally ground, took out paper and brush, spent a moment writing a letter, sealed it, and gave it to that short-term hired woman to take back.

Watching the person walk far off, Chen Fuzi only then sighed: "Still didn't see her — you can't be anxious, but don't be too slow either, alright?"

But Han Li did not answer, only put the things on the table in order, exchanged a greeting with Chen Fuzi, carried the food box and went off to find Cao Fuzi.

When he returned from Cao Fuzi's place, tidied up things a bit, brought the freshly written manuscript, wrapped a few steamed buns, hurriedly went back to the Du Shui Jian again.

Han Li waited in vain for an afternoon, no matter how much he fretted in his heart, in the end there were many matters in the government office waiting, only when he returned did a bout of busyness ensue.

Even so, he still stopped twice along the way, had the miscellaneous laborers go outside to find helpers, did nothing else, only went to the Song Family Eatery at the end of Sanzao County Alley—which still had no proper signboard—to inquire whether Song Dongjia had returned.

The helpers Han Li found had just set off, right when they were anxiously helping inquire, in a house in the City West, several people had just finished inquiring and returned.

Just as they knocked, someone behind the door asked questions.

The group answered a whole string of questions in succession, only then could they enter the door, originally each and every one's face didn't look too good, waited until they sat down and each drank water, sat a while, discussed for half a day, still no sign of the person, couldn't help but start asking.

"Where's Lao Huang?"

"Where did Huang Er go?"

To one side, a man and a woman sitting on a bed frame, at this moment almost simultaneously answered.

"Lao Huang went out."

"Been out for an hour — said he'd held it in for two days, really couldn't bear it, went out first to get some air."

If Wang Sanlang, or the several people from the carriage that day were also here, most likely they would recognize the speaking pair of man and woman as precisely the son and daughter who swindled the old man that day.

The duo's words just left their mouths, the several people who just returned all became anxious.

"This old thing! Didn't we all tell him to stay properly in the room, don't run outside! What if he gets discovered??"

"Outside everywhere are people, one careless moment..."

That "son" said unconcernedly: "You lot are too careful, he put on a disguise before going out, even acquaintances, at a glance, wouldn't recognize him, moreover where would acquaintances come from here?"

The "daughter" then said: "No matter, this place is remote, those who saw him that day were only a few people, how could it be that easy to run into! Moreover even if they meet, Lao Huang has always been like a mud loach, who can catch him!"

The two being so optimistic, made those people opposite even more restless and agitated.

"You yourselves aren't afraid of death, don't drag us down!"

Among them one person was so anxious his face turned red, while speaking, pointed a hand toward the east side of the room, saying: "You go look outside yourselves, everywhere outside are pasted Lao Huang's sea capture documents, his head is stuck right on top, still saying no one recognizes! Who dares say such words!"

The "daughter" curled her lip and said: "You yourself are cowardly, still blame the sea capture documents! Sitting here, who doesn't have a few wanted documents on their back? Instead of worrying about being caught by some document, better fear a blind cat stumbling on a dead rat!"

She finished speaking, then called to one opposite: "Tu Laodi, you've always kept steady, you say yes or no? Advise your brother, tell him with that big build of his, don't have a heart like a mouse all day!"

But this time, "Tu Laodi" actually had not a bit of intention to respond, he shook his head, said: "This time truly a bit bad — that wanted poster's portrait outside, don't know how, drawn especially like, I walked close, just like Lao Huang glaring at me — his two sunken eyes, mole on face, is it right ear also has a scar? I've known him all these years, didn't know he had a scar on his ear!"

The "son" was about to speak, then heard someone knocking heavily on the door outside, from the sound, precisely Lao Huang.

The nearest hurried to answer the door.

Door opened, "Lao Huang" rolled in from outside like a boil, two motions bolted the door, whole person leaned against the door back, head and face full of sweat, clothes also messy, a look of lingering shock.

"Lao Huang!"

"Where'd you go? How'd you end up like this?"

Lao Huang wiped his face, said: "Almost got recognized — I just went to look at the sea capture document, accidentally got too close, wasn't careful, right ear wasn't covered well, someone grabbed it to ask if there's a..."

This sentence not yet finished, suddenly heard behind the door outside a burst of knocking.

The people in the room originally listening to Lao Huang speak through the door and wall, at this moment sensed something wrong, one after another stood up, held their breath, welcomed out.

Outside the courtyard, bang bang bang bang, sound extremely urgent.