After the conversation ended, Fan Wuzhe felt quite melancholic for a while. It was still the same issue—worrying that whatever the other party wanted him to do might not be good.

Looking at the bright scenery outside the window, he felt exhausted and suddenly didn't want to go out after already stepping out of the door.

However, before long, Dong Liangze arrived, knocked on the door, and called out to him, "Cousin, it's time for breakfast."

Eating again? Fan Wuzhe didn't know when he had become so averse to eating meals. He actually wanted to ask this family if anyone had ever realized that Big Cousin's cooking skills weren't that great. The whole family respected her culinary efforts so much that it might be hard for her to improve.

What he didn't know was that some people even praised Dong Liangyi's cooking in person and very much enjoyed coming to eat, such as Wu Jinliang.

It was just that Wu Jinliang was smarter and would bring his own ingredients.

However, some opinions could only be kept to oneself. On the surface, Fan Wuzhe also showed great respect for Big Cousin's culinary efforts, becoming one of the obstacles preventing her from improving, as he happily responded, "Coming."

The door opened, and he laughed heartily with Dong Liangze as they headed to the kitchen area.

But today, there was an exception in the form of criticism at the dining table.

The Dong family's upbringing was good, allowing the elders to start eating first.

Dong Wenshu took a bite of food and immediately his eyebrows twitched, lifting his gaze to Dong Liangyi and sighing, "Girl, did you overturn the salt shaker today?"

The somewhat distracted Dong Liangyi made a sound of surprise and tentatively asked, "Is it salty?"

Dong Wenshu nodded with his chopsticks, indicating she should taste it for herself.

Dong Liangze, with the eagerness of youth, immediately hurried to try it and also frowned, "Sis, just drop the 'is it' part; it's definitely salty."

Others also started eating, and soon after, the sound of awkward amusement echoed sequentially.

After trying it herself, Dong Liangyi felt embarrassed and quickly went to replace the dishes, her ears turning red as she hurried. She bit her lip, silently blaming Shi Chun for talking nonsense and causing her to lose focus and add too much salt without realizing it.

She wanted to have her younger brother give the overly salted dish to Shi Chun, but it was just a malicious thought, after all, she ultimately didn't dare to do it.

For a family living a simple life, it was their own food; whether it was too salty or bland didn't really matter.

The ban in Dazhi City had been lifted, and the news spreading in the streets reached the dining table. Dong Wenshu still cautioned the family to be careful, saying that the matter hadn't blown over and advising them not to wander around unnecessarily.

But Fan Wuzhe really couldn't avoid wandering. After lunch, he barely managed to settle his emotions.

On the mountaintop representing the city's highest authority, things were not as calm as they seemed.

"City Lord, another report from the outside: a group of bandits from Piliang Mountain was suddenly brought to the outskirts of Dazhi City, setting up an ambush,"

"City Lord, Luo Ti has reached the gatehouse of East Gate; the Inner Court troops are still intensifying their inspections. There's no unusual movement, except for Junior Tax Supervisor Mei You, who's running busily about at his side."

"City Lord, Luo Ti secretly deployed a 'Mother and Child Magic Plate,' relocating it to the gatehouse at East Gate."

"City Lord, Luo Ti ordered a fine steed with a black cloth tied to its tail to be prepared at the East Gate entrance, purpose unknown."

The maidservants of the City Lord Mansion were constantly appearing before Li Xianghong, reporting the newly gathered information.

"Fine steed, black cloth tied to its tail; could it be that this Lou Xiu really intends to negotiate with the kidnappers to save Huang Yingying?" Bai Qiru, who was listening, muttered hesitantly.

Not just her; Li Xianghong was also feeling increasingly puzzled but maintained a skeptical attitude towards the idea of negotiating with kidnappers, reiterating that no kind deed should be done in secret.

Furthermore, the person behind the report was obviously intent on mischief, and what they said might not be true...

The time was about right; Fan Wuzhe eventually left through the front hall.

He greeted Dongliang Ying at the counter but glanced not once at the helper Shi Chun.

Nevertheless, Shi Chun cast a sideways glance, watching him leave.

As soon as Fan Wuzhe stepped outside, Xiao Sheng, who had been waiting at a nearby alley to prevent Fan Wuzhe from leaving through the yard's side door, immediately followed.

He was now Shi Chun's eyes and ears, tasked with observing what Fan Wuzhe did along the way or with whom he spoke and to report all findings back to Shi Chun.

In the past, Shi Chun didn't have the means to do this, as the 'Mother-child Talisman' was unreachable for him; he would have had to do it personally. The conditions now, however, were different, enabling him to monitor someone's every move from afar without having to leave home.

Fan Wuzhe encountered no interference on his way to the city gate.

Xiao Sheng followed neither too near nor far, escorting him to the city gate before buying something at a nearby stall and turning into another alley to head back.

At the stalls near the city gate, Chu Jingtang was already seated enjoying his meal, having already observed the area thoroughly, ready for this moment to replace Xiao Sheng and continue monitoring Fan Wuzhe's activities at the city gate to promptly report back to Shi Chun.

Within the earthen tower of the city wall, Mei You periodically moved to the lattice windows to observe outside and inside the city.

Lou Xiu was also in the tower, calm, standing at a table and gazing at a copper mirror shaped like a toad offering treasure, the toad holding a 'Mother-child Talisman' in its mouth, with a point of white light in the mirror.

This item is indeed the 'Mother and Child Magic Plate', a component used in making the Mother-child Talisman. It can locate the position of the corresponding other half of the Mother-child Talisman. Generally, only organized groups use such talismans, as others usually don't want to buy ones that easily reveal personal whereabouts.

"Why is he here?" Mei You suddenly exclaimed while standing behind the hollow window.

This caught Lou Xiu's attention, and he walked over to take a look, asking, "Who?"

Mei You pointed at the man in white walking towards the city gate, "The one in white, that's Fan Wuzhe."

Lou Xiu naturally knew who Fan Wuzhe was, as well as what Mei You had done to him. However, he didn't know him personally before and didn't intend to know such a small character now. He just glanced a couple more times because he was pointed out.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, his gaze suddenly froze, and he turned back again to stare at Fan Wuzhe's actions, only to see Fan Wuzhe heading towards a Xilin steed tied beside the city gate. The steed's tail had a piece of black cloth tied to it, and a black cloth bag hung on its back.

Fan Wuzhe approached this Xilin steed because he had noticed the related characteristics.

He scanned the surrounding area and, apart from this Xilin steed at the east gate, he didn't see a second one.

According to the mastermind's instructions, he simply needed to ride away on this Xilin steed and no one would stop him.

Despite this assurance, doing such a thing in front of so many people made him quite anxious, but he had no choice but to gather his courage.

Nearby city guards saw him approaching the Xilin steed but only watched, indeed stopping no one.

Seeing this, Fan Wuzhe felt slightly relieved inwardly, his movements becoming bold and swift, as he untied the reins, led the Xilin steed away, then swiftly mounted it, nudging the horse's belly with his heels, and galloping away.

Once outside the city, he immediately urged the horse into a mad gallop; other than the road ahead, only endless grassland surrounded him. He glanced back and noticed no one was stopping or pursuing him.

Behind the hollow window, Mei You was already dumbfounded, "What the hell? The one to assist is actually Fan Wuzhe?" His mind was a bit slow to catch up.

Lou Xiu, not being blind, also saw this and suddenly lowered his voice to reprimand, "You better tell me clearly, what exactly is going on?"

"Ah?" Mei You suddenly came to his senses, flustered, "Commander, I don't know either. I... I... I'll go and fetch him back right away."

Lou Xiu kicked Mei You, who was about to run off, making him stagger away, "The person sent for the transaction, are you chasing after nothing? Do you want to interrupt the transaction? Is this the entry point you found against the library? Mei You, what are you playing at?"

"I really don't know, I can contact him, I'll ask him what happened right now." The panicked Mei You hurriedly pulled out the Mother-child Talisman to inquire what was going on.

Lou Xiu did not stop him in this regard.

Chu Jingtang, who was eating at a stall, also saw Fan Wuzhe leave, reached under his shirt on the table, cast a spell on his Mother-child Talisman, and sent a message to Shi Chun.

In the city on the mountaintop, the female attendant who received the message, after reading the transmission, immediately conveyed the content on the Mother-child Talisman to her superior for viewing, "City Lord, someone has ridden away on the Xilin steed by the city gate."

Li Xianghong, after reading it, said in a deep voice, "Immediately notify Lord Po Yuan to keep an eye on it. Investigate who rode away with the Xilin steed."

"Yes." The maid took the order and departed.

The library was bustling with guests coming in constantly. Shi Chun frequently brewed and served tea, but it didn't hinder him from checking messages. Noticing a message, he immediately returned to the stove to switch the teapot, taking the opportunity to sit behind a row of braziers and check the messages on the Mother-child Talisman.

The first message came from Chu Jingtang, informing him that Fan Wuzhe had successfully ridden the Xilin steed out, and there were no other unusual incidents at the city gate.

Following that was the message Mei You sent to Fan Wuzhe, which naturally now was transmitted to Shi Chun.

A line of words filled with palpable anger: Fan, what do you plan to do?

Shi Chun casually replied: What happened?

Mei You: Don't play dumb with me. I saw you with my own eyes riding off with the Xilin steed from the city gate. What are you up to?

Shi Chun responded: It's nothing much, my uncle asked me to ride off with it to do a little errand for him, it was hard to refuse a small favor.

Inside the corner tower of the city gate, Mei You and the peering Lou Xiu simultaneously exclaimed, "Uncle?"

Lou Xiu gestured quickly to the Mother-child Talisman.

Amazingly, Mei You instantly understood and immediately replied, asking: Is it Dong Wenshu?

Shi Chun, on behalf of Fan Wuzhe, replied: Yes, I only have one uncle.

Lou and Mei glanced at each other, dumbfounded. Is it really appropriate to mess with Dong Wenshu's ancestral property? Why does it feel like stepping into a Sky Pit? Is Dong Wenshu really as simple as he seems?

Regaining his composure, Lou Xiu quickly pointed again at the Mother-child Talisman in Mei You's hand, "Ask about the specific whereabouts."

Mei You exclaimed an "Oh," immediately sent a message asking: Why did your uncle ask you to ride that horse?

Shi Chun replied on his behalf: He asked me not to stop, to ride all the way to Zhelan Slope, saying someone would be waiting there.

"It's to Zhelan Slope." Mei You immediately turned his head to report.

Seeing this, Lou Xiu said seriously, "Immediately order the troops stationed on the periphery to rush to Zhelan Slope to set up a defensive position..." Pausing halfway, he raised his hand urgently, looking hesitant.

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