"Miss, Madam sent word that they're staying at Yunlai Inn," Bai Zhi said as she looked at Gu Yan's expression and relayed the message she had just received.
"Mm, got it. Let's ask around up ahead where that inn is," Gu Yan said lazily.
The two had been riding for quite a while and were already starving. Smelling the aroma of wontons from nearby, they decided to sit down and rest for a bit.
"Boss, two bowls of wontons!" Gu Yan called out to the kind-looking old woman running the stall.
"Coming right up, honored guests! Please have a seat—your wontons will be ready in a moment!" the old woman replied as she dropped the wontons into the pot.
Before long, two steaming bowls were placed on the table.
Gu Yan had barely taken a bite when two sword-carrying men who looked like guards walked over.
They asked the stall owner, "Have you seen the person in this portrait?"
Gu Yan peeked from behind them. Wasn't that the ungrateful man she had saved last night?
She didn't know whether these people were enemies or allies.
Since she had no idea who that man really was, it was best not to get involved.
If these people were his allies, he would surely have left them some useful clues.
If they were enemies, that man was hiding in a cave—not too far away, but not easy to find either.
Besides, by now he had probably woken up and would have made his own plans.
Bai Zhi also saw the portrait and was about to say something, but Gu Yan stopped her.
The old woman waved her hand, saying she didn't recognize the person, and the two men left.
Gu Yan lowered her head and continued eating her wontons, then heard the old woman say, "Things haven't been peaceful lately. A few days ago, there was a group of fierce-looking people in the city. And those two just now didn't look easy to deal with either!"
Gu Yan asked, "So it's been unsettled in the city?"
"Not really—just these past couple of days," the old woman said casually.
Seeing how thin and frail Gu Yan and Bai Zhi looked, she couldn't help but advise, "You two young masters should try not to go out too much these days."
Gu Yan thanked her, then asked, "Do you know where Yunlai Inn is?"
"You're staying there? Yunlai Inn is the biggest inn in Wanyi City. Just keep going straight ahead, pass this street, and you'll see it!" the old woman said enthusiastically, pointing down the road.
"But you'd better be careful. I heard that a group of assassins showed up at Yunlai Inn last night—terrifying stuff!" she added in a low voice, glancing toward the street entrance.
"Were the assassins caught?" Gu Yan asked.
"I saw the constables patrolling this morning. Probably not. You must be careful!"
"Thank you for the warning!" Gu Yan said, cupping her hands in thanks.
Her parents were staying at that inn. She didn't know if they had heard anything.
Thinking of this, Gu Yan quickened her pace.
In the cave.
Xiao Chengze looked down at his completely naked body and ground his teeth in anger.
How audacious—how dare someone strip off his clothes!
A thin layer of dry grass covered him, and his clothes lay beside the extinguished fire.
He got up to retrieve them and suddenly realized that his legs could move.
Slowly, he stood up and tried to walk. He really could.
Excited, he took a few more steps—no problem at all!
Every month on the fifteenth, his poison flared up. For several days before and after that date, his legs would be paralyzed.
Could it really be that person who had saved him?
He recalled that before leaving, that person had said something harsh…
Something like, "You don't know a good thing when you see one?"
Forget it. There was no point thinking about it now—walking around naked was hardly appropriate.
He picked up his clothes and put them on piece by piece.
He remembered many assassins coming after him. His guards had been too few, and with his poison acting up, he had no choice but to jump into the river.
The current was strong. He struggled for a long time before losing consciousness.
He didn't remember what happened while he was unconscious. The urgent priority now was to find his guards.
This time, there had been more assassins than ever. It seemed the enemy was truly determined to take his life.
After getting dressed, he realized the jade pendant at his waist was gone.
He frowned slightly. Had it been lost in the water?
That pendant had been prayed for by his grandmother, meant to bring him good marriage fortune.
With his noble status, women flocked to him every day—why would he need to pray for romance?
His grandmother had always doted on him. She wouldn't scold him for something as trivial as losing a jade pendant.
He stepped out of the cave, leaving behind his unique markers along the way.
Since he had gone missing last night, the assassins were probably desperately searching for him as well.
At this moment, the safest course was to head for the contact point.
Wanyi City was no longer safe—going straight to the capital would be more secure.
This time he had fallen into a trap. There were probably traitors among his own people. When he returned, he would have to clean house.
Xiao Chengze sped along with lightness skill, not daring to pause for even a moment.
Finally, just before reaching Wanyi City, he met up with Liuyun and Liu'an.
The two immediately knelt. "Master, your poison—"
"It's fine. Avoid Wanyi City. Head straight for the capital!" Xiao Chengze said decisively.
"And there may be a traitor among our people. Other than you two, do not reveal my whereabouts."
"When we return, Liu'an, you will investigate thoroughly."
"Yes!" Liu'an accepted the order.
"Liuyun, you're fast. Go buy a few good horses. We ride straight to the capital."
Liuyun went off at once.
"Is there any news from the city?" Xiao Chengze asked, closing his eyes briefly.
"The lord of Wanyi City, Li Ling, has launched a large-scale patrol. We don't know if he's friend or foe. Our people are secretly searching for you. Should we pull them back?"
"No need. Let them think I'm missing—isn't that better?"
"Oh, right. We encountered the Gu Family Army returning to the capital at Yunlai Inn."
"Oh? They've reached the capital already?" A hint of amusement appeared at the corner of Xiao Chengze's lips.
"Could this assassination be related to them?" Liu'an voiced his suspicion.
"No. General Gu is loyal to the throne and the country. He does not associate with the corrupt officials in court. He is a rare good official who truly thinks of the people," Xiao Chengze said, a trace of admiration in his heart whenever he spoke of General Gu.
He had fought on the Mo Bei battlefield and knew how brutal it was, how hard the soldiers' lives were.
A single decision from those in power could change their entire fate.
General Gu had risen from an ordinary soldier step by step to become a general—it had not been easy.
He was extraordinarily talented in military matters and upright in character. He had guarded the southern borders for many years, earning much praise from the local people, and keeping the frontier stable.
When he was young, he and Xiao Chengze's father—then still the Crown Prince—had shared a deep bond, having defended the southern border together.
But in recent years, the emperor's suspicion had grown. He no longer trusted even those he himself had promoted.
In the end, even an emperor's sentiments could not stand against power.
Xiao Chengze despised his father's petty calculations—wanting to use General Gu while also being full of suspicion.
General Gu's abilities far surpassed those of the capital's powerful nobles.
Moreover, he was truly loyal.
Liuyun soon returned, leading three horses.
They mounted quickly and headed straight for the capital.
Dust billowed up along the road…
Meanwhile, in the city, Gu Yan stood at the entrance of Yunlai Inn, pondering what sort of story she should use to get inside…