If you transfer Lou Xiu away without evidence, what does that mean?

Li Xianghong is no fool. If she doesn't allow the investigation, how can there be evidence proving Lou Xiu has a problem? It's clear someone wants to protect Lou Xiu.

Currently, in her view, Lou Xiu is the most suspicious, possibly implicating the mastermind behind the scenes. However, because someone above strongly intervened, covering up the now biggest issue, it basically means this matter has come to an end, and further investigation is basically impossible.

So many people have died, and the case hasn't even been roughly outlined. Just because of a word from someone above, it's ending like this?

She's a bit unwilling, but she has no choice. If she insists on holding onto it, in some ways, she'll be going against herself.

Even Po Yuan couldn't help but quickly move past the deaths of his two trusted subordinates, forced to face reality, so what else can she do?

After the matter was concluded ambiguously, Li Xianghong sent someone to Bai's Rice Shop to communicate.

With Po Yuan coming, Bai Qiru needed to avoid suspicion, and it wasn't appropriate for him to stay by Li Xianghong's side and get involved in the case.

Upon learning her husband was alive and had been found, Bai Qiru heaved a sigh of relief.

In the moonlit pavilion, she personally poured tea for Li Xianghong sitting opposite her as a sign of gratitude but was stopped by her opponent, who pressed the teapot back.

"Huang Yingying might not be able to reunite with you anymore. Po Yuan suspects Huang Yingying's involvement in this matter isn't simple and is determined to presume guilt from suspicion, intending to send him back to the Divine Mountain as a slave for life. He has reported it, and Divine Mountain has agreed." Li Xianghong said in a gentle yet resigned tone, expressing her helplessness.

Actually, regarding this matter, she couldn't really say she tried her best. She still felt Huang Yingying wasn't worthy of Bai Qiru. The dirty stuff about frequently visiting brothels—did he really think she, the City Lord, didn't know? She merely didn't want to bring it up in front of Bai Qiru.

Bai Qiru's expression changed; she put the teapot down, sat back, and said, "To convict before the investigation is clear, what is going on?"

Li Xianghong didn't hide anything from him either, "You also know who the main suspect points to. Someone is protecting Lou Xiu, and the investigation can't proceed. If you truly want to protect that nasty old man, it shouldn't be too difficult for you. You only need to be willing to bow your head and ask your family elders to pass a message to Divine Mountain; some things can actually be settled with just a few words."

Bai Qiru was silent; after a long time, he said, "Where is he? I want to see him."

This is easy to arrange; after a brief discussion with Li Xianghong, she arranged for someone to take him to the prison...

The flickering flame energy cast eerie shadows inside the prison. Bai Qiru puffed on his cigarette as he walked to a cell where Huang Yingying lay napping in a corner.

Clothes in tatters, covered in scars, utterly miserable—not treating his wounds yet sleeping soundly, clearly subdued.

She didn't wake him up, just quietly puffed on the cigarette, her eyes filled with confusion, pondering who knows what.

Later, Huang Yingying caught the familiar scent of smoke; his nostrils twitched a few times, then suddenly sat up as if a nightmare reflex, his gaze sweeping around. Upon seeing Bai Qiru, it was like the nightmare had become reality. He instinctively knelt down and said, "I didn't run away..."

He paused, looked around again at the surroundings, and then at Bai Qiru, his face suddenly awkward, "Madam, why are you here?"

Clang clang clang, Bai Qiru tapped the cage with her smoking pipe.

Huang Yingying immediately crawled over and leaned in, nodding, bowing, and smiling sheepishly, "Troubled Madam, truly troubled Madam. I will definitely repay you as a cow or horse someday."

He thought she was there to take him back, given the relationship with the City Lord.

Bai Qiru understood his meaning, slowly exhaling the smoke, "Even Li Xianghong can't help you; this time, I truly have no choice. When you get sent to Divine Mountain, take good care of yourself."

"Gah…" Hearing about Divine Mountain, Huang Yingying felt choked, his eyes filled with unease, panic-stricken, "Divine Mountain, what are you going there for?"

Bai Qiru didn't hide it from him; she relayed what Li Xianghong had told her, which frightened Huang Yingying into falling back onto the ground.

Although he had married into Bai's Rice Shop, he didn't know Bai Qiru's true family background. No one in Dazhi City really knew about it. Asking his convenient madam to interfere with Divine Mountain's decision? He couldn't even dare to think about it; it truly scared him.

Seeing her husband so helpless, Bai Qiru's always calm eyes also showed a bit of helplessness, or perhaps some trouble.

Of course, this time she didn't blame this old husband much either; she didn't think this matter could be blamed on him. She knew the truth offered by Fan Wuzhe, that he was framed for visiting the tax supervisor where he had been tortured; how can one reason this?

She could also guess why Huang Yingying went to the tax supervisor; it must be when she forced him to escort Spirit Rice, resulting in a disaster that could be considered her fault.

According to Li Xianghong, Huang Yingying still didn't know why he suddenly encountered this disaster.

How can he be blamed for this? There's no rational way to blame him.

"Help me find someone." Huang Yingying suddenly snapped out as if waking from a dream, hurriedly grabbing the bars and rising up, his face squeezed between the bars, "Help me find someone to help me; maybe he can help me."

"Can help you?" Bai Qiru puffed on the cigarette, genuinely unaware who her husband might know that could help with this, she wondered, "Who?"

Huang Yingying lowered his voice, "The horse ranch outside the city, a tall odd-job worker named Gao He. Tell him what happened to me; as a friend, let him help think of a way."

Upon hearing this name, Bai Qiru's face also sank. She didn't turn a blind eye; this 'Gao He' was the kind of shady friend her husband made, often hanging around the brothel, even her shop's staff knew, how could she not?

Actually, many people in the city knew.

It's just that Huang Yingying thought she didn't know, but the punishments she imposed on him weren't without reason.

She couldn't help but snort coldly, "Those friends of yours, do they really think they're qualified to extend their reach to the Divine Mountain?"

Huang Yingying lowered her voice and said, "That's not necessarily the case. This person has some skills, he's no ordinary person. There seems to be another reason for his downfall; it's more like he's lying low. He owes me a favor and promised to repay it if the opportunity arises. Madam, just give it a try. What if it works? At this point, there's nothing to lose by trying."

Bai Qiru gave a sideways glance, "Last time, you did save Nanny Fan's daughter at the Divine Mountain, and Nanny Fan spoke on your behalf, allowing you to escape from there. If you were to return this time, for Nanny Fan's sake, no one would give you a hard time, and it shouldn't be too difficult."

Huang Yingying hurriedly said, "But I can't leave Madam. I will miss Madam dearly."

Bai Qiru couldn't be bothered to continue the conversation; she had said what needed to be said and seeing nothing more was to be done, turned and walked away, puffing on her cigarette.

Huang Yingying quickly lowered her voice again, "Tell Gao He that if he won't help, there's no point in continuing our friendship."

He was actually trying to threaten Wu Jinliang, saying that if you don't save me, I'll reveal everything.

As he had suspected before, he felt that Wu Jinliang might be from the Demon Path. With the Demon Path's power, it shouldn't be hard to fish him out, right?

Even if he's not from the Demon Path, he must be extraordinary. The things that happened before couldn't possibly have been done by one person alone; there must be some kind of power behind it.

Once he knew Wu Jinliang was after the Death Refusing Incense, he suspected that the Treasure Hunting Pavilion might be connected to Wu Jinliang, even doubting the bookstore clerk with whom Wu Jinliang frequently interacted.

Bai Qiru left quietly, without any intention of looking back, departing with an air of indifference.

Left behind, Huang Yingying sighed deeply, then slid down against the fence, feeling a bone-chilling fear at the thought of returning to the Divine Mountain…

Within the Chao Yue Hall, the forces that had surrounded the area suddenly withdrew, leaving completely and unexpectedly.

Shi Chun climbed to the top of the Octagonal Tower to gaze out. He looked at the light and shadow on the mountain, the bright lights in the city, and then over at Fan Wuzhe's bedroom where he was recuperating. A weight lifted from his heart, as he knew some of the remedial measures had taken effect, at least clearing the suspicions around Chao Yue Hall so he could continue lying low.

Coming down from the rooftop, he saw that there was light in the Book Collection Pavilion, so he went from downstairs to the second floor to check it out. Behind the rows of bookshelves, he saw someone holding a lamp, searching for something.

He walked over to take a look and found Miss Dong Liangyu holding a lamp, looking through the books.

Dong Liangyu glanced at him, said nothing, and continued searching book by book.

Shi Chun couldn't help but ask, "What's the second miss doing?"

Dong Liangyu said, "My health is really weak, so I'm seeing if there's a cheap way to cultivate, something to strengthen my body."

Shi Chun's lips curled slightly, thinking, don't you already know whether there's a cheap way? You must have searched countless times before, haven't you?

Dong Liangyu seemed to sense his thoughts and softly said, "There's no path in the world that people haven't walked out. Maybe there's a way to find it."

Shi Chun didn't know why she suddenly thought to cultivate, guessing it was related to tonight's incident, and had nothing more to say.

"Second miss should rest early," he advised before leaving.

He had other matters to attend to, needing to care for the injured Fan Wuzhe.

Dong Liangze was angrily resentful of his cousin's actions and refused to care for him. Since the other daughters were not suitable, all the affairs fell to him.

Dong Wenshu had already spoken. The bookstore would close temporarily tomorrow, clearly to sort out family matters first.

The next day, on the mountain within the city, Li Xianghong personally saw off Po Yuan and his group.

Lou Xiu, who was also being reassigned to the Divine Mountain, traveled along.

Before leaving, he gave a formal salute to Li Xianghong with a half-smile, saying, "Thank you for seeing us off, City Lord. The future is boundless!"

There was a deeper meaning in his words.

Li Xianghong, however, looked disdainful.

Bai Qiru also came, but she was there to send Huang Yingying off. It wasn't until the departure moment that Huang Yingying was brought out under guard.

No words were exchanged, and Bai Qiru did not want to say anything in public, so as soon as Huang Yingying was brought out, he was about to be taken away.

Seeing that going to the Divine Mountain was unavoidable, Huang Yingying became anxious and shouted toward her, "Madam, did you tell him? Did you say it?"

Others only assumed he wanted his wife to plead on his behalf, but only Bai Qiru knew Old Huang wanted her to go outside the city to find that Gao He, yet she hadn't gone, believing it futile.

After so many years of marriage, they were not entirely unfamiliar with each other. Seeing her demeanor, Huang Yingying knew she hadn't taken his words seriously, becoming even more anxious and couldn't help but shout loudly, "Go talk, madam, go talk! How do you know it won't work if you don't try? You must go talk, don't forget!"

His trailing voice lingered on the mountain as he was taken into the air and away.

Others just assumed he wanted the wife to find connections to plead, paying it no mind.

However, Bai Qiru was genuinely moved. After so many years of marriage, she did see a hint of hidden truth in Huang Yingying's desperation, furrowing her brows slightly.

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