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Chapter 143: Chapter 143 Hei Yu Heads to Phoenix City
"Master, this is a message from Zhang Cheng." Hei Yu quietly handed the letter to Si Jun.
Si Jun opened the letter, a surge of delight in his heart. Zhang Cheng informed him that he would arrive in Lingnan in three days, proving himself to be loyal.
With Zhang Cheng’s advice and strategies, they could certainly overcome the numerous traps laid by their opponents.
Moreover, the letter from Zhang Cheng also mentioned Mu Yan and Zhan Lan.
Si Jun’s eyes narrowed as he contemplated the various contents of Zhang Cheng’s letter. Could it be that Mu Yan or Zhan Lan was the person targeting him?
At present, although he was in Lingnan, the confidants he had bought over were scattered throughout Nanjin.
Furthermore, just this morning, he had received a message from his confidant in Phoenix City.
Lowering his voice, Si Jun said, "Hei Yu, I have received information that a skilled group of Hidden Guards has arrived in Phoenix City, lurking near a midwife’s residence, which is highly unusual. In addition, Zhan Lan has left Ding’an City with people. You go to Phoenix City now; I want to see what they’re up to!"
"Master, but you also need protection..."
Si Jun sneered coldly, "No need. With the Emperor’s men watching over me, who would dare to kill me!"
"Yes, your subordinate will take care of it immediately!" With that, Hei Yu lowered his hood and left.
After Hei Yu’s departure, Si Jun’s eyes darkened like ink. He secretly swore in his heart to bide his time and one day return to Ding’an City and claim the throne!
...
Mu Yan was practicing swordsmanship in his residence, with Vermilion Bird watching over him with a look of concern.
Ever since the Master returned from Miss Zhan’s place that day, he had not said a word, starting from the fifth watch of the morning, he was still practicing his swordsmanship until noon.
Vermilion Bird knew it wasn’t good to go on like this without eating or drinking.
While Vermilion Bird was worried, suddenly, a Hidden Guard returned. Vermilion Bird immediately recognized him as the one sent to protect Miss Zhan.
Stepping forward, Vermilion Bird respectfully said, "Master, the Hidden Guard you sent to watch over Miss Zhan has returned!"
Mu Yan stopped his swordplay, and the Hidden Guard quickly approached Mu Yan, kneeling on one knee and reporting, "Master, Miss Zhan and a man have left Ding’an City."
"Are others following them?" Mu Yan sheathed his sword.
"Reporting to the Master, we maintained a distance and followed them," the Hidden Guard answered.
Mu Yan lowered his gaze, "Hmm, I see. You may leave."
"Yes!"
Hearing that Madam had run off with a man, Vermilion Bird’s heart raced. He saw Mu Yan pick up his sword again, his expression as calm as still water.
Despite himself, Vermilion Bird suggested, "Master, if you’re feeling bored, perhaps you could also leave the city to clear your mind."
Mu Yan’s swordplay was fluid like drifting clouds and flowing water, the swordtip pointing at Vermilion Bird.
Vermilion Bird immediately broke out in a cold sweat, feeling a chill in the air despite the heat of the summer.
He knelt with a thump, "Your subordinate spoke out of turn!"
Mu Yan withdrew his sword and said coldly, "Do not presume to guess my intentions again!"
With that, he resumed his sword practice.
Vermilion Bird bowed his head, daring not to speak further, but he could feel every move in the Master’s swordsmanship was lethal.
It seemed that his mood was far from good.
...
The next morning, Zhan Lan and Xiao Chen, along with ten Hidden Guards, arrived in Phoenix City, rushing all the way.
She stood amidst the towering mountains, gazing from afar at Phoenix City. It was a canyon surrounded by mountains on three sides.
Although not very bustling, its strategic location, easy to defend and hard to attack, was a highly contested spot for any military strategist.
Zhan Lan, wearing her hood, looked towards Xiao Chen, who was disguised.
The two of them were out in the open, with the Hidden Guards from the Dark Night Organization protecting them from the shadows.
Phoenix City was very unique, far from the Emperor’s reach, and the local customs were fierce.
Added to that, there were many outlaws who were also very brazen.
Though for others, Liu Jinxiu was just a common midwife, for Zhan Lan, she was someone who couldn’t afford any mishaps.
Zhan Lan entered the city and bought a carriage first.
This would make it easier to bring Liu Jinxiu along with them.
As soon as they arrived, Long Kong’s men, having received an emergency task, left after meeting with Xiao Chen. 𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑝𝘶𝘣.𝑐𝘰𝘮
Zhan Lan’s Hidden Guards from the Dark Night Organization secretly observed the situation around Liu Jinxiu’s home.
At noon, Xiao Chen disguised as a Coachman, started the carriage to head for the alley where Liu Jinxiu’s home was located, while Zhan Lan, dressed as a young maidservant in a pink dress, got off the carriage.
Liu Jinxiu’s doorstep was just twenty steps away.
But after a few steps, she noticed something was off—the egg-seller glancing at her from the roadside now and then.
Zhan Lan turned back and approached the vendor briskly: "Young man, give me a few tea eggs."
"Sure thing!" The vendor nodded, packed a few tea eggs for Zhan Lan, and she paid with Copper Coin.
She looked at the eggs, which appeared to have been soaked for several days. Not many people passed through this alley, so how much could an egg-seller earn here?
It then dawned upon Zhan Lan that Liu Jinxiu’s place was under surveillance.
Zhan Lan looked back at the vendor and asked tentatively, "Young man, my mistress mentioned a Wang Xiuniang living in this alley. Do you know where her house is?"
The vendor shook his head, "Miss, I’m just a stallholder; I’m here today, elsewhere tomorrow. Better ask someone else!"
"Oh!" Zhan Lan expressed her regret and got back on the carriage and left the alley.
While driving through a deserted alley, Xiao Chen in the carriage nodded and said, "Miss, do you feel something is amiss? Could there be something wrong with that vendor?"
Zhan Lan lowered her eyes and pointed to the slightly spoiled tea eggs, "Liu Jinxiu’s home is being watched."
"Just a midwife, could it be that someone already knows your origins and is deliberately obstructing?" Xiao Chen was surprised.
Zhan Lan spoke softly, "Let’s go and investigate."
Zhan Lan found a place where storytellers gathered, disguising herself as a scholar, and listening to the idle chatter among the crowd.
Soon, she picked up that there were many people with the surname Li in Phoenix City; the Li family was a major clan.
The Li family?
Zhan Lan immediately connected this to the Li family, perhaps this place was the hometown of her nominal mother, the Li family.
As a child, Zhan Lan had once asked the Li family about her maternal family’s whereabouts.
But the Li family told her that her maternal relatives, scattered due to famine, had long lost contact and were now unreachable.
Could it be that the Li family purposefully concealed the truth about their family, because Phoenix City was the place where her mother’s clan resided?
Could it also be the secret ace that the Li family guarded regarding Zhan Xuerou’s origins?
Zhan Lan did not know the extent of the Li family’s assets.
But if someone was watching over the midwife, it meant the Li family’s maternal clan had some influence.
Zhan Lan got back on the carriage and, stroking her fingers, said, "Let’s go. We’ll return to the inn for now and take action once it gets dark."
