Chapter 3, To Jiangnan

Who

"What are you laughing at?" Seeing the corners of his lips slightly rise, his smile as faint as a gentle breeze, Mo Yan became increasingly annoyed and exclaimed, "Is Lord Bao planning to abandon my senior brother and preserve Zhang Yaozu, isn't he?"

"Those two have left..." she murmured, a glint of cunning laughter flickering in her eyes, and she asked him, "Did they bid you farewell?"

After burning a stick of incense, meet in the lobby. Zhang Zhao ignored her and turned back to her own room.

"Not at all!" Mo Yan hurriedly said, "It's just that I can't not go to Suzhou."

The fish is to be sent to Jiangning Distillery.

The following sentences he spoke very slowly, paying attention to the expressions of the two... Although the two were somewhat confused by what they heard, they vaguely sensed that he seemed to be hinting at them. Bao Zheng, considering the stability of the court, did not wish to expose Zhang Yaozuo, so they need not be so anxious.

Before Mo Yan could react, the peasant woman had already let out a terrible scream, her grip on her hand immediately loosening as her body flew straight out of the tea house.

Since Lord Zhang has dispatched the two of you to Jiangnan, you might as well accompany me, Zhan. Zhan Zhao said with a smile. He wanted to ascertain whether the mastermind behind this matter was indeed Zhang Yaozuo, and thus intended to test them.

Zhan Zhao shook his head: "I do not recognize them"

Certainly! Esteemed guest, please hold on for a moment, the dishes will be served shortly

On this day, the two rode swiftly along the official road, just having left the borders of Jiangning. Suddenly, Zhan Zhao faintly heard someone calling from behind. He pulled on the reins and looked back, seeing dust swirling on the road, making it difficult to discern the faces of the approaching figures.

Fifth junior brother has been imprisoned!" Xiao Chen was slightly taken aback, "For what reason?"

Mo Yan saw him come out, her eyes brightened, and she jumped up to grab him, saying: "Brother Han Er, would you accompany my master brother to Kaifeng?"

It is said that Zhan Zhao is about to set out again, which does not surprise Wang Chao and Ma Han, as he spends half of the year traveling outside. However, upon hearing that Mo Yan is actually accompanying him, both of them could not help but show their astonishment

Zhan Zhao had been waiting nearby for half a day, noticing that she still had not finished ordering the dishes. At this moment, two burly men entered through the door. The waiter wanted to step forward to greet them, but was hindered by Mo Yan, who was still placing her order, displaying a look of difficulty.

"Brother Han, do you have important matters to attend to?" Zhang Zhao asked with a serious expression

Zhan Zhao was also eating steamed buns, which he had bought at noon. By this time, they had long since become cold and hard, naturally lacking any flavor. Fortunately, having spent many years outdoors, he had long since grown accustomed to it.

At this moment, Mo Yan was in the stable, repeatedly instructing the stableman to take good care of her chestnut horse, which had an injury on its leg, completely unaware that she was incurring a favor from Zhan Zhao

"What you just said, I heard it very clearly." Mo Yan bit her lip and said, "You officials are all unreliable. On the surface, you pretend to uphold the law impartially, but deep down, you are all the same."

Han Zhang shot her a glare, saying, "Isn't it all to chase after you?" He had originally been resting at a roadside tea house when he saw Zhan Zhao and Mo Yan rush past him. In a hurry to catch up, he mistakenly grabbed the wrong reins and ended up riding someone else's donkey.

Seeing her like this, Zhang Zhao not only did not get angry but instead smiled, and then said: "Could it be that you really cannot tell? I was deliberately saying that just now in order to elicit their words."

The Imperial Guard, holding the official rank of the fifth grade, and lacking conclusive evidence, how could they apprehend the two individuals

I insist on saying... how can Lord Bao be above reproach! Not to mention Lord Bao, even the Emperor, if he commits a wrongdoing, do you think he can silence the voices of the world!" The more she spoke, the more enraged she became. Thinking of how, out of concern for her senior brother, she had been deceived by Bao Zheng in a moment of panic, foolishly following Zhan Zhao to Jiangnan. If it weren't for overhearing Zhan Zhao's words tonight, she would have continued to be used by them.

I fear that those ghosts might mistake me for someone else she said softly, responding with great seriousness

Mo Yan was taken aback and questioned, "Second brother? Isn't he in Shu? How could he possibly be here? Don't deceive me."

Zhan Zhao nodded slightly

Xiao Chen lightly adjusted his sleeve, not even glancing at him.

"Looking for me?" Mo Yanqi asked, "What is it?"

Zhang Zhao indeed went to Jiangnan, most likely for that matter, one person inside said irritably

I heard it

Prepare to set off on the road" he said calmly, continuing to speak.

You are clearly deliberately shielding them

Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Han Zhang shrugged his shoulders, touched his nose, and could only return to his room in boredom

Upon hearing this, the two paused their sword strikes. To speak frankly, they had no chance of winning against Zhan Zhao, and naturally, they did not wish to engage in a direct confrontation.

As Mo Yan was escorting Xiao Chen to the inn room, just before entering, Xiao Chen suddenly spoke up

Farewell! After the two spoke, they slightly cupped their hands in salute and turned to leave

Inside the roadside tea house, the steaming almond tea on the table remained untouched. A young man in a blue shirt sat quietly at the table, allowing two middle-aged peasant women to hurl insults at him without any sign of movement.

After having breakfast in the lobby, the two settled the bill and then took their horses and left

The latter was slightly taken aback upon seeing him come out, seemingly not expecting him to rise so early

After scrutinizing him thoroughly, Mo Yan finally let him go, turned around, and slowly walked back, murmuring softly to herself...

The two peasant women lived in the countryside, and when their donkey was stolen, they were naturally furious and spoke quite coarsely. Even the tea house owner could not help but frown and shake his head. However, that young gentleman in the blue robe, despite his icy demeanor, never uttered a word nor even glanced at them.

Han Zhang did not dare to say that Xiao Chen's personality was reclusive and difficult to get along with, and could only force a smile and say: "Your second brother is so capable, how could you possibly be afraid that he would be bullied by others?"

Zhan Zhao looked at her, feeling both amused and helpless, knowing that she must have overheard the earlier conversation and developed doubts about him

No

"Do not deceive me!" After a slight hesitation, she continued, "Those two are most likely here for the account books, which indicates that our movements have been exposed. If it were not for someone in the Kaifeng Prefecture informing them, how would they know?"

She did not commit any offense. This matter has had its complications, and it is a long story; I will explain it to Brother Han later

However, they seem to recognize you. She idly fiddled with the chopsticks in her hand; it is not surprising that someone would recognize Zhan Zhao, who has quite a reputation in the capital.

It is sufficient to be able to eat well; this is merely a small rural shop, and it is likely that the methods of preparation are not too elaborate, so why make things difficult for them

Zhan Zhao was momentarily taken aback, then smiled faintly and turned to enter his own room

"It is rather unfair to strike at those who are unskilled in martial arts," said Zhang Zhao as he stepped into the tea house.

Xiao Chen displayed an expression of displeasure, yet did not say anything

How is it that Mo Yan's internal strength is not on par with Zhan Zhao, and yet no cries were heard

Upon hearing this, everyone pondered carefully and nodded in agreement

Before Zhang Zhao could speak, Wang Chao struck Ma Han with a punch, expressing his dissatisfaction: "If you do not allow him to travel, do you expect him to remain unmarried and childless?"

Left?

Before Xiao Chen could speak, Mo Yan had already interrupted Zhan Zhao's words, while pushing Xiao Chen into the room

Zhan Zhao felt a chill in his heart; he had only intended to provoke them into revealing the mastermind behind the scenes, but unexpectedly, they disclosed their identities, which was beyond his expectations

The door slammed shut with a bang, Han Zhang shrugged and patted Zhan Zhao on the back, laughing as he said, "Don't you think this sounds very familiar?"

Why are you unwilling? She did not expect that the groundhog would be so ungrateful

"It is getting late, let's sleep," he said gently

Wang Chao sighed, "I can't see anything peculiar about that girl; she is quite nice to her senior brother."

"What is so difficult to say! It is simply a prearranged collusion! Furthermore, these two individuals wield swords that match those of the person who killed Bai Baozhen. Why have you not arrested them and brought them to justice?"

A person floated down lightly from the tree, glaring at him with an angry expression; it was Mo Yan.

Zhan Zhao sighed quietly. Although Lord Bao had ordered Mo Yan to heed his commands, she acted with such capriciousness that she did not take his instructions to heart at all, which was truly exasperating. At this moment, upon hearing that "Second Brother" had arrived, she immediately left, completely disregarding the importance of their current official business

The three hurriedly finished their breakfast and mounted their horses to ride swiftly. Indeed, it was still before noon when they could see the city gate of Suzhou from a distance

"By the way, how did you end up with this girl? What did she do wrong?" Han Zhang slowly approached, leading the donkey.

The Jiangning distillery is famous far and wide. Upon hearing this, the fishermen, without a hint of doubt, quickly exclaimed: "You are indeed fortunate today; I just caught two baskets of fish. Please, both of you, come aboard, and I will take you across the shore together."

Mo Yan was taken aback, and the footsteps of the two in front, Zhan Zhao and Han Zhang, also came to a halt.

Did you hear the cicadas calling

Just as I was thinking, someone inside said, "Who is the little girl next to Zhan Zhao? Why have I never seen her before?"

Watching the exhausted flower donkey panting, Mo Yan couldn't help but laugh continuously: "Brother Han Er, why are you acting like those little wives, riding a big donkey? Are you planning to go back to your mother's house?"

Xiao Chen gave a faint "Hmm" and still had no expression.

At last, I have caught up with you!" Han Zhang jumped off the donkey and let out a long sigh of relief

"I am not making things difficult for him," Mo Yan muttered, turning her face away and looking elsewhere. After a while, she still turned back and said to him in a low voice, "The people at that table are also from the capital."

Seeing him gnawing on the steamed bun just like herself, Mo Yan tilted her head and laughed, "To be honest, I didn't expect someone like you, a fourth-rank official, to be willing to eat cold steamed buns in this desolate wilderness. Don't you officials usually enjoy soft beds and sumptuous meals?"

Have you ever killed someone?" After a moment of silence, she asked again.

Unaware of the two farmers beside them amidst their conversation, the farmers grew increasingly annoyed. Noticing that Mo Yan was slender and petite, and also a young woman, one of the farmers stepped forward and suddenly grabbed Mo Yan's arm

Zhan Zhao smiled and nodded: "Indeed, it is fresh." He then took out some silver coins and handed them over.

He has already left.

Indeed, they were calling each other brothers and speaking warmly. From a distance, I could hear them pleading for more care for her senior brother, even offering money to smooth things over, simply asking them to add some dishes for Li Xu

She hesitated for a moment and said, "What reason do I have to believe your words! If the time comes and you deny it again, it would not be impossible."

The small shop still has fresh wild duck meat, stewed until tender. Young lady, why not give it a try?" The shop assistant patiently said.

Brother Ma is also well-intentioned.

Han Zhang was momentarily stunned. As soon as he recovered, he shook his head vigorously, like a tambourine.

So what are you afraid of

Zhan Zhao sighed quietly, wondering how this young lady could be so innocent and carefree. Although it is said that the emperor and the common people are equally guilty under the law, which dynasty has ever had an emperor who truly adhered to this principle? At this moment, however, how could he possibly explain all this to her in a way that she would understand?

Xiao Chen

Let the young lady decide

Mo Yan expressed her dissatisfaction, saying, "You are ordering food so carelessly, without asking for clarification. What if it doesn't taste good?"

As expected, the two of you indeed recognize me. Zhang Zhao smiled faintly.

Ma Han is pragmatic. He went back to his room and flipped through the old imperial calendar. He came out and patted Zhan Zhao on the shoulder, saying, "If we want to leave tonight, we should return tomorrow when the mysterious bird returns. It is inauspicious to travel towards the east."

This is really a smooth favor, the cat brings fish, interesting, interesting. Mo Yan is standing aside, laughing secretly, but unexpectedly Zhang Zhao has already galloped ahead, busy whipping the horse, catching up.

Mo Yan has been accustomed to his appearance since childhood, and he has long been accustomed to it without any objection. He still smiled and joked with Han Zhang.

"Whatever they say, you just listen. When did you become so close to these officials? He obviously became impatient and emphasized, 'Return the broken signboard to the Kaifeng Prefecture after we return to Kaifeng. We avoid those people as much as possible, and you still want to get involved with them.'

Four people mounted their horses and hurried on the road. Zhang Zhao lagged behind, with half a horse's length between him and the others. He carefully observed Xiao Chen's movements and noticed that although Xiao Chen had impaired vision, his hearing was remarkably sharp. He rode alongside Mo Yanze without any difficulty.

The words of Zhan must be followed.

Big Brother Zhan, don't speak for him. Last year, he scared me with a book called "The Record of the Jade Casket". He said that from the first to the ninth day of the first lunar month, it was the time when the Nine Emperors of the Northern Dipper descended to the world, and people should fast and eat vegetarian food. He forced me to eat vegetarian food, saying that this day was more auspicious than usual and would bring immeasurable merits. On the eighth day, I was so hungry that my legs were trembling, but he insisted on taking me to release animals, saying that it was Nirvana Day and releasing one animal on this day would bring ten million merits, much more than on ordinary days. The result was disastrous. He caused me to fall into the river in the cold winter, and I got sick when I came back.

The silver has already been paid, so it is only natural to make the purchase

Wild duck meat ... ... can it be added with dried tangerine peel

"The important thing is to focus on the matter at hand," Zhan Zhao interrupted her briefly.

After an unknown amount of time, Mo Yan shrank his shoulders and whispered, "Zhan Daren, Zhan Daren... Are you asleep?"

Of course not! She shook her head, "If they truly cared about the people, it would be acceptable for them to live a little better. Unfortunately, most people only think about how to exploit the wealth of the common folk, with no regard for the lives of the citizens." She forcefully tore off a large piece of steamed bun and stuffed it into her mouth

"... ... but my second elder brother... ..." Mo Yan thought of Xiao Chen's blindness, traveling alone to the capital, and felt a deep sense of unease in her heart

"Do you recognize it?" Mo Yanqi asked.

"You have an old injury on your waist, don't you?" She yawned wearily, sat up, stretched her body, and said sympathetically, "You can still endure it now, but it will be hard to bear when you are old"

As they traveled along the way, Mo Yan had already informed Xiao Chen of the events that transpired. Although Zhan Zhao, who was nearby, heard her express some criticisms of the Kaifeng Prefecture, he did not find any words that crossed the line. He noticed that Mo Yan intentionally downplayed the situation and did not mention the matter of the imperial guards from last night, presumably to avoid causing Xiao Chen any worry

Zhan Zhao stood alone by the river, lost in thought. He had originally thought that these two men were just hired thugs by Zhang Yaozuo. Even if he couldn't get any information out of them, he could still control them. But he didn't expect that they were actually imperial guards from the inner palace!

Gusu

After a peaceful night, until dawn, Zhan Zhao finished getting ready and stepped out of the room, only to see Mo Yan outside Xiao Chen's door.

As they spoke, the waiter had already brought the dishes to the table, with a large bowl of fragrant wild duck meat, fresh river clams cooked with sprouted grass, and two bowls of white rice arranged on the tray

Mahān drooped his head in dejection: "How can you blame me! Even if there are discrepancies in the 'Jade Box Record', the old imperial calendar should be correct, right"

The almanac states it this way, what can I do about it

The two fell silent for a moment. Mo Yan quickly finished the steamed buns, spread the cloak on the ground, and lay down fully clothed.

Killed

The town is quite small, and with a light touch of his toes, Zhang Zhao effortlessly leads the person to the outskirts after just a few nimble leaps

Zhan Zhao was taken aback, thinking that he had been discovered by them. He leaped up, only to find that there was also a shadow on the other side of the room fleeing in a disheveled manner, which swept past him. The figure was slender, and it was none other than Mo Yan!

As they spoke, the two had already drawn their swords, the silvery blades reflecting the cold moonlight, striking towards him like venomous snakes

Hehe... it's nothing important, just a small matter that I need to discuss with this girl. Han Zhang is unwilling to lose face in front of Zhan Zhao

If the young lady does not trust me, does she also not trust Lord Bao?

Her expression was unmasked, and Zhang Zhao naturally knew what she was thinking. However, how could she understand it now? Perhaps in the future, she would gradually come to comprehend it.

"It's just a minor old ailment, no need to trouble yourself," Zhang Zhao declined. The injury was in his lower back, making it inconvenient for him to massage himself. By nature, he was not fond of bothering others, so he only went to the clinic to ask the doctor for a massage when he had some free time

Zhang Yaozuo is a high-ranking official in the imperial court, and you officials protect each other!

The square scarf worn by the person on the right seems to be from the Silk and Emerald Workshop in the capital. It is said to be as thin as a cicada's wing and as light as floating clouds, costing a few silver coins for a piece

Having reached the zenith of the moon, the horses were exhausted, and the four of them found a small inn in the town ahead to take a rest.

Mo Yan played with the reins in his hand, secretly laughing in his heart: "This cat is quite cunning, knowing that if he says he wants to cross the river, the fishermen will definitely ignore him. He only says he wants to buy fish, tricking the fishermen to come over."

A faint rustling sound was heard, and suddenly someone shouted in a stern voice, "Who is it? Come out!"

Zhan Zhao sat down and lifted his robe, sitting directly across from Xiao Chen, and poured himself a cup of tea.

Zhan Zhao walked behind her and barely understood a sentence or two.

The copper waist badge had some weight to it. Xiao Chen tiptoed and lightly brushed his finger over the raised word "catch" on the badge, feeling its clear friction against his fingertip. "Why did you become a catcher? Didn't I tell you not to deal with those officials?"

Second Brother! It's really you! Mo Yan dismounted and took a step forward. It had been many days since she last saw her senior brother, and she never expected to encounter Xiao Chen here. "How did you come here?"

Sorry for the inconvenience, but we don't have sea bass in our small shop. However, we do have a carp in the backyard. Would you like to try a soup made from braised and steamed fish head?

"Second Brother!" She was momentarily speechless and embarrassed, "After Fifth Brother's matter is resolved, I will naturally resign from this job."

Mo Yandao: "Second brother didn't intend to hurt her. Besides, it was her rudeness first." At this time, Han Zhang from the outside had already arrived, smiling and explaining to the two peasant women about the misunderstanding of the donkey, thinking that the peasant women would not come to make trouble again.

Mo Yan immediately felt a great sense of guilt and stammered, "Because the horse was injured, I couldn't bear to ride it, so I had to lead the horse instead, which is why I was delayed for a few days"

We can arrange to take a fishing boat.

I don't know why he came here, but he is indeed in the tea house now... Han Zhang didn't say the rest of his words. He was traveling with Xiao Chen, riding someone else's donkey. He didn't know if it would cause trouble for Xiao Chen.

Lord Zhan, I ask you, what does "abandoning the car to protect the handsome" mean? Who is the car? Who is the handsome one?

The next day, the genius Meng Mengliang, the two of them set off from Kaifeng and raced along the official road leading from Kaifeng to Jiangning. At noon, they only bought a few steamed buns in a small town to satisfy their hunger, and then continued on their journey. They missed the accommodation in the evening due to rushing on the road, so they traveled for half a day under the cover of night before finding a place to spend the night.

"Are you really going to buy this fish?" After disembarking, Mo Yan watched as Zhan Zhao loaded two baskets of fish onto the horse's back, puzzled.

The shop assistant was afraid that the customer would keep asking questions endlessly, so he hurriedly went to take care of another table.

Second brother? ... ... I still have to go to Suzhou

She responded vaguely from inside, and after a while opened the door, looking at him with sleepy eyes, and said: "At this hour, where is there a ferry?"

"Minor matters, minor matters... we will discuss this later." Han Zhang waved his hand, "At the moment, there is still someone waiting for you at the tea house."

"Is there any bass? I want more than 1 jin; I won't pay for anything less than 1 jin!" Mo Yan had been staring at the menu on the wall for half a day, and after asking for half a day, still had not decided what to eat

It turns out that Sister Ning is also in Suzhou, how wonderful!

As Mo Yan enthusiastically ordered dishes, Zhan Zhao looked around. Perhaps due to its location by the riverside ferry, this small inn, though rather simple, surprisingly had a good business. In the lobby, several tables were occupied by guests in small groups, their accents varied, clearly indicating that they came from different places.

She picked up some branches, started a fire, and took out a steamed bun from her bundle to roast by the fire, happily munching on it.

Zhan Zhao sighed inwardly, reflecting on the tone of Xiao Chen from yesterday. This time, going to the capital alone would surely not bring any good fortune, and he wondered how much trouble it would add to the Kaifeng Prefecture.

Mo Yan finished her tea and hesitated, saying, "So, did you come out specifically to find me?"

"Miss Mo," he reprimanded her sternly, "how can you insult Lord Bao!"

Mo Yan ate with great relish, finishing in just a few bites. She said she was worried about the horses and needed to go check on the stable, and then turned to leave. Zhan Zhao finished eating alone and then returned to his room

Han Zhang nodded

As soon as the words were spoken, a nearby fishing boat indeed turned around and slowly made its way towards them

Zhan Zhao truly did not know how to explain it clearly to her, "If the young lady has doubts, then I, Zhan, can promise you that after obtaining the account book, it will be entrusted to the young lady for safekeeping"

She grew up in the mountains under the guidance of her master since childhood, and this was her first time descending the mountain. Although she was exceptionally intelligent, she was ultimately too naive and understood very little about the deceit and treachery of human nature. At this moment, recalling what Zhan Zhao had said earlier, she pondered for a long time but remained confused and unclear.

The fisherman, seeing him so straightforward and decisive, was naturally delighted, and with full sails, ferried the two of them across the river

As soon as the two left, Zhang Zhao went to knock on Mo Yan's door: "Miss Mo, we should set off now"

Xiao Chen has always lived in the mountains, and due to his poor eyesight, he has a peculiar temperament, often being taciturn. Han Zhang, who has been accompanying him, has truly been feeling stifled. Now, encountering Mo Yan, the two engage in casual conversation and laughter along the way, making the journey light and enjoyable

Zhan Zhao had just fallen into a light sleep when he heard her calling him, so he had no choice but to open his eyes again

... ... does not have ... ...

"Esteemed Zhang, this is a matter between our senior and junior disciples, please do not interfere"

"I just saw her at the prison gate," Zhao Hu said with a smile, "She is the first female constable in the Kaifeng Prefecture, a brilliant idea from the esteemed official"

Not!

"How can you leave him alone in the tea house!" Mo Yan exclaimed anxiously, without explaining much to Zhan Zhao, and with a flick of the whip, she hurried back along the same path.

Second brother is proud and arrogant, and he despises others looking down on him. Mo Yan thinks this makes sense, so she has no choice but to give up. She shot a glare at Zhan Zhao in annoyance before hurriedly returning to her room to pack her belongings

After a moment of silence, the short man remained wary of Zhan Zhao, and thus revealed the golden badge of the imperial guards, coldly stating: "What you say, Sir Zhan, I do not understand. We are merely carrying out orders from above, and we do not interfere with each other."

The moonlight resembled water, reflecting on his face... She gazed at him for a long time, finally nodding, yet still added a line: "What if you regret it?"

"Prepare yourself, and set off early; we can reach Suzhou by noon." Zhang Zhao clearly noticed that her eyes were slightly red, indicating that she had just been crying. He did not want to ask directly, so he pretended not to see and said, "Is your senior brother still not up?"

"What are you..." the tall man wondered, but he was interrupted by the short man, who coldly said: "What Lord Zhang and Lord Li? We don't recognize them at all."

At the entrance of the prison, Zhang Zhao furrowed his brow and asked, as Mo Yan's temperament was peculiar and strange; if it were said that she had intentions to break into the prison, he would not be too surprised.

Zhan Zhao merely smiled and remained silent

Han Er Ge?

Her voice was small and low, as if she were sneaking around someone else's house: "Have you ever heard that cicadas are actually the souls of the wronged, crying out for justice?"

Mo Yan was taken aback and hesitated, saying, "Parrot their words?"

Exhibition Zhao opened his eyes wearily, and just wanted to get up. A sharp pain came from his waist and back, forcing him to sit back. He silently gritted his teeth. This was an old problem, an old injury that would ache every day when he got up. If it was in the cold winter, it would be as stiff as iron and he would need to use a hot towel to apply heat for a while before he could move. It was only early autumn now, probably because he was in the suburbs, where the dew was heavier and the cold air entered his body, making the pain even worse. If it was in the cold winter, it would be as stiff as iron and he would need to use a hot towel to apply heat for a while before he could move. It was only early autumn now, probably because he was in the suburbs, where the dew was heavier and the cold air entered his body, making the pain even worse.

Second Brother, this is Lord Zhanzhao from Kaifeng Prefecture. Mo Yan smiled at Xiao Chen and said, "Now I am a constable from Kaifeng Prefecture, do you believe it?" As he spoke, he took out the constable's waist badge and handed it to Xiao Chen.

How could these two people appear here? Zhang Zhao was suspicious in her heart, but remained calm on the surface. She only smiled at Mo Yan and said, "You are new to the capital, but you seem to know a lot about fabrics."

Mo Yan squinted his eyes and tried hard to see through the dust to find out what was going on. After waiting for a while, he finally saw a big flower donkey coming towards him, with a person on it who was covered in dust and dirt. It was Han Zhang.

Mo Yan turned his head and said to Xiao Chen, his eyes shining brightly. Senior Sister has left Shu for several months, and the thought of being able to see her in Suzhou makes her truly happy.

She seemed to mumble something softly, wrapped her clothes around herself, buried her head in her robe, and then fell into a deep sleep

"Esteemed Sir, if we continue on this path, how many days do you think it will take to reach Suzhou?" she asked while nibbling.

The door on the other side was pushed open, and Han Zhang, yawning and stretching lazily, walked out slowly. Upon seeing Mo Yan glaring at Zhan Zhao, he smiled and said, "Xiao Qi, why are you so angry so early in the morning?"

It is said that ... ... it sounds pleasant ... ... yet cannot defeat him ... ... one must think of a way ... ...

"Hairy fish?" She propped her chin and thought for a while, then shook her head and said, "No!"

It seems to be the voice of Master Han Er from the Floating Island.

Mo Yan shrugged, said no more, packed up her things, and the two set off on their journey

Zhan Zhao smiled faintly and, instead of answering, asked in return: "Is it just because of this that you disdain those in power?"

Outside, Han Zhang had to spend some silver coins to finally enjoy a moment of peace. The two peasant women took the silver, led their donkey, and only then did they let him go, walking away with a swaying gait.

At this early hour, Zhang Zhao did not head to the ferry terminal, but instead went straight to the riverbank after leaving the small town. On the river's surface, there were a few fishing boats casting their nets to catch fish in the morning light

The young lady's words are biased. Although there are corrupt officials, they cannot obstruct this clear sky. Zhan Zhao's tone was gentle, the firelight casting a soft and warm orange-red hue on his face. I hope that in the future, there will be even fewer...

Having just returned to the house, Zhang Zhao deliberately made some noise, pretending to extinguish the candle and go to bed. After a moment, he pushed open the window, leaped onto the roof, and silently made his way east along the ridge. When the two big men returned to their room earlier, he had taken note and secretly remembered the room they were staying in. ... At this moment, he arrived above the room, executed a backflip down, and pressed himself against the window, listening to the conversation inside ...

... ...

Under the bright moon and gentle breeze, the reeds by the river sway lightly in the wind, while the waves lap against the shore. Zhan Zhao stands quietly, holding his sword, waiting for the two individuals to catch up...

It is like this. "Zhang Zhao finally felt relieved.

So, are you afraid of ghosts

The recently arrived Zhan Zhao leaped off his horse, caught the peasant woman, and gently placed her safely on the ground

If everyone were as honest as you, following the old almanac every day, we would never have to work at all

Mo Yan glared at his retreating figure with annoyance, still troubled by the events of last night. However, being inexperienced in the ways of the world, she could not make sense of it all, which left her with lingering resentment towards Zhan Zhao.

Zhan Zhao smiled and said, "What should we do tomorrow?"

Hearing her voice, Xiao Chen's icy demeanor softened slightly as he pushed the tea bowl in front of him towards her and then asked in return: "How is it that you are here? Li Xu sent a message back to Shu, saying he had been waiting for you in Kaifeng for over ten days without seeing a trace of you, fearing that something might have happened to you."

"Even if you are a royal cat, you can't possibly eat this much fish, can you?" She tilted her head and looked at the two baskets of fish, smiling cheerfully.

The autumn breeze was slightly chilly. He turned and took a few steps back, arriving beneath an old tree. He let out a light sigh and said, "... come down."

Where to

Zhan Zhao followed her gaze and saw, separated by three tables, the two big men who had just entered.

What she said is indeed the truth, but it is also somewhat unpalatable

It is appropriate to marry and to open the granary

Zhan Zhao's gaze swept across the boat, and he smiled, saying: "We need two baskets of fresh fish, urgently required by the Jiangning winery on the opposite bank."

Upon her remark, he also faintly sensed that the sound of the cicadas carried a certain malevolence

In the profound silence, apart from the occasional crackling sounds erupting from the campfire, one can also hear the occasional calls of autumn cicadas. Although it is early autumn, the chill of the night is undeniable, penetrating from the soles of the feet and seeping into the body like silk and cotton.

The two burly men were both armed with swords. Although they were dressed in ordinary clothing and appeared to be like people from the rivers and lakes, their demeanor and conduct inevitably revealed a hint of official airs, making them seem more like individuals from the government.

Little Seven, return to Kaifeng with me tomorrow

"Esteemed guest, would you like some fish?" called out the burly fisherman as the fishing boat approached

Returning to the inn, although the bed was high and the pillows soft, Zhan Zhao could not fall into a deep sleep. He remained attentive to the movements outside. Just before dawn, he heard someone calling the innkeeper to check out. Peering through the gap in the window, he indeed saw the two individuals, who, for some unknown urgent reason, hurriedly departed.

"Zhang Zhao! You are perhaps overestimating yourself," the tall man said with a cold smile. "In a one-on-one fight, I may not be your match, but if the two of us join forces, you will gain no advantage."

No

Rest assured! Before I encountered him, he had already traveled alone for seven or eight days, and he was perfectly fine. Han Zhang chuckled, racking his brain for an excuse, "Moreover, with your senior brother's temperament, if he were to find out that you specially had someone follow him, he would only get very angry."

Ju Que spun around in Zhan Zhao's hand, but it was only the sword sheath that was used to parry, without drawing the sword. He leaped a yard away, standing with his sword in hand, and said calmly: "Gentlemen, you may have misunderstood; I have no intention of engaging in combat with you."

Mo Yan took the badge and set it aside, then forced a smile as she said to Xiao Chen: "I do not wish for this either, but Fifth Brother has been wronged and is currently imprisoned in the Kaifeng jail. I want to help them clarify this case and restore Fifth Brother's innocence"

I know of a type of medicinal wine that is quite good; you might as well give it a try. She furrowed her brows and pondered, "I wonder if there are any for sale in Jiangning or Suzhou"

In just two or three hours, several rays of dawn filtered through the gaps in the trees, the campfire had long since extinguished, leaving behind a wisp of curling blue smoke, mingling with the morning mist and dispersing all around

The Imperial Guard. Just now, Mo Yan also saw the golden medal held by the guard, so what? Even the Son of Heaven is not above the law, and the common people are punished equally; how can a mere Imperial Guard be exempt from capture?

I think he has gone to Kaifeng. She quickly glanced at him, turning her face away, "You don't need to ask me, I also don't know what he went to Kaifeng for"

Zhan Zhao gazed intently, and although he did not understand the material of the headscarf, he noticed the cat's eye embedded in the sword sheath, which indicated its considerable value. When he had just entered, he had paid attention to the footsteps of the two individuals, clearly indicating that their internal strength was not weak. Moreover, the fact that both were wearing slightly worn official boots further confirmed his suspicion that these two were disguised officials.

Mo Yan was still hesitating when she turned her head and saw Zhan Zhao looking at her helplessly, so she asked him: "Do you eat wild duck meat?"

As the three were conversing, Zhang Long and Zhao Hu happened to enter. Upon seeing Zhan Zhao present, Zhang Long smiled and asked, "Brother Zhan, are you going to accompany Miss Mo tomorrow?"

She was unexpectedly eavesdropping outside the window on the other side, yet she did not know when she had crouched there, nor how she had been discovered

Those who die under my sword do not die unjustly, I am not afraid... Have you ever killed someone?

So it was you! Zhang Zhao!

There was a hint of annoyance in his words, completely ignoring Zhan Zhao, and impatiently tossed the waist badge back to Mo Yan

Zhan Zhao heard that the two had already broken through the window and were in pursuit. Without time to think further, he deliberately revealed his presence and leaped to the side, intending to draw the two away from her first

Is he alone

The expressions of the two individuals were fully captured in Zhan Zhao's eyes, and he merely smiled faintly: "Since the two of you do not acknowledge it, I shall not press the matter. This time, Lord Bao has ordered me to go south, and he has mentioned the complexities involved, instructing me to act with utmost caution..." He paused before continuing, "The Lord's intention is clear; this high-ranking official is the lifeblood of the court, and he naturally understands the principle of sacrificing the pawn to protect the king."

"Let's have the wild duck meat, two seasonal dishes, and a bowl of soup," Zhang Zhao said to the waiter in a straightforward manner. "Make the soup light, please."

Do you also know the Jiangning grandmother

"How can one apprehend someone solely based on the similarity of their swords?" Zhang Zhao said helplessly, "Do you know who they are?"

"If it were not for her senior brother, she would not have entered the public office." Zhan Zhao smiled slightly, "It is evident that she is also a person of sentiment and loyalty." He understood that although she meant no harm, her way of speaking and acting was difficult to change due to her background in the martial world, where there were no taboos. He was only worried that she would offend everyone in the Kaifeng Prefecture, making it difficult for her to stay there, which would be a disservice to Lord Bao's efforts.

Xiao Chen snorted and did not respond

After a prolonged silence, he finally said: "Rest early, for we must set out again tomorrow morning"

I have known the mother-in-law from Jiangning for a long time. This time, I was unable to visit her home, which is rather impolite. However, after walking a short distance, a porter approached from the roadside. Zhan Zhao called one over, gave him more than ten copper coins, and instructed him to deliver the fish to the Jiangning tavern

A mere little girl is not worth mentioning; just by looking at her figure, one can tell that her internal strength and cultivation are far inferior to yours and mine, so there is no need to pay her any mind

The fishing boat was quite spacious; the two men mounted the vessel without feeling cramped at all. The burly fisherman pointed to two baskets of lively fish nearby and said with a smile: "Sir, you truly arrived at the right time; we just pulled in the nets and happened to catch two baskets of fish, very fresh indeed"

Second elder brother

Zhan Zhao slightly furrowed his brows, having already considered this point while eavesdropping outside the window: "Is there an insider within the Kaifeng Prefecture, or has information leaked from somewhere? It is indeed difficult to say!"

The Imperial Guard, the Imperial Guard... Not only is he unable to restrain them himself, but it also indicates that this matter has already involved the inner palace. He must find a way to inform Lord Bao about this matter.

"You often say this yourself, don't you remember?" Han Zhangqing cleared his throat and, imitating the serious demeanor of Zhan Zhao, said, "This is a matter of the court, please do not interfere!"

He reached down to his waist and rubbed for a while, then he leaned against the tree and slowly stood up. When he raised his eyes, he saw that Mo Yan had woken up at some point, her dark, glistening eyes fixed on him

Regarding Li Xu's matter, we can find a way ourselves. Haven't we seen enough of the mutual protection among officials? By assisting them now, are you not afraid of being used and becoming an accomplice to the tiger?

The town is small, with only one inn. Zhang Zhao and Mo Yan have not had a hot meal for several days, so now they can finally have a good rest.

Another person's tone was somewhat hesitant: "I don't know..."

This matter is quite complicated and involves significant responsibility, Mo Yan furrowed her brows, understanding that it was not convenient to discuss here. She tugged at Xiao Chen's sleeve and said, "Second brother, we are on our way to Gusu. Why not accompany us? I will explain it to you slowly on the road."

Upon hearing this, Zhan Zhao merely smiled lightly, showing no concern. It was only when he noticed Xiao Chen's subtle movements that he realized the young man in the green robe before him seemed to have some difficulty with his eyes. He had observed Xiao Chen's eyes before; on the surface, there appeared to be nothing unusual, but they exhibited a greater degree of focus than those of an average person

"Bring out all the good wine and dishes, and open up two more rooms." One of the burly men said to the waiter, his gaze intentionally or unintentionally drifting towards the table of Zhan Zhao.

I originally intended to buy a piece for my second elder brother, but I did not have enough silver, so I had to give up. She lamented without reservation, having settled the jailer's fees, leaving only a small amount of broken silver on her person

Zhan Zhao approached and spoke, seeing Mo Yan's troubled expression: "Hero Xiao, I fear there may be a misunderstanding regarding this matter..."

Mo Yan continued to break the steamed bun with indifference, thinking to himself: This person has been in public service for many years and has experienced so much, how can he still be so naive

Mo Yan did not expect this; rubbing her eyes, she looked up towards the opposite room, where the doors and windows were all open, and the shop assistant was cleaning inside.

Mo Yan sneered: "Isn't Lord Bao also an official? He clearly knows that my senior brother is not the murderer, yet he still refuses to release him, presumably to keep him as a scapegoat for Zhang Yaozu. This shows that Lord Bao and Zhang Yaozu are indeed in cahoots!"

Zhan Zhao, not intending to say much, pulled the reins and spurred his horse to chase after Mo Yan. Seeing this, Han Zhang hurriedly mounted his donkey and clumsily followed behind.

The fishing boat is quite far from the shore. Zhan Zhao channels his energy and sends his voice out: "Brother on the boat, do you have any fresh fish?"

To question him in this manner is still rather childish... A hint of a smile lingered at the corner of his mouth; how could she be so impatient? If he truly were as she imagined, what purpose would her questioning serve, other than inviting unnecessary trouble upon herself?

Zhan Zhao added some firewood to the bonfire again, then leaned against a tree and closed his eyes to rest.

It should arrive in about four to five days

Although his skills are impressive, he is, after all, at a disadvantage due to his impaired vision

After traveling for another two days, they arrived at a small town by the river at dusk. As it was already late and they could not find a boat to cross the river, they had no choice but to settle in the small town.

Xiao Chen turned around and said coldly: "You don't even listen to my words anymore?"

Zhan Zhao could not help but smile silently, afraid of seeing a corpse, afraid of ghosts. The girl curled up beside the fire was clearly still a child. He bent down to pick up a few small stones, and when the cicadas began to chirp again, he threw the stones in his hand, producing two soft sounds of "pu, pu," and instantly, silence returned.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhao secretly thought: "How do these two know that I am going to Jiangnan?"

No