Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

Tao rubbed her eyes, looking impatient. "Excuse me, what do you guys do?"

"What time is it? Can't a person get any sleep?"

The night wind made the lanterns at the entrance of the inn sway, casting flickering shadows on the ground.

Three men in black stood outside the door; the one in the lead had a gloomy face and eyes like knives.

Have you seen an injured man?

The leader of the men in black asked coldly, his face expressionless, like a zombie.

Tao'er yawned, but her eyes quickly swept over the three people.

Dressed in black, with a sharp blade at his waist and muddy boots, he had clearly traveled through the night.

Her heart skipped a beat, but she showed no sign of it on her face.

"Aren't you staying at the hotel?"

Why are you knocking on the door?

Disturbing someone's peaceful sleep will bring down a vengeance!

Tao'er said this deliberately, her voice full of impatience after being woken up.

It has to be done in a convincing way.

The next instant, one of them drew his knife and pointed it at her. The blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight. "Boss lady, enough nonsense!"

"Tell me quickly, has an injured young nobleman come to stay with you?"

The knife tip was only three inches from her throat, and Tao'er felt the chill; she was still somewhat afraid.

After all, if the other party were to make even the slightest move, her life would be in danger.

These three people clearly had ill intentions, so she'd better be careful!

That would be best if we could get rid of them!

Thinking of this, she quickly put on a fawning smile, raising her hands exaggeratedly, "Good sir, let's talk this out! I'm just not fully awake yet!"

As she spoke, she deliberately picked at her ear and pushed away the knife tip in front of her with her hand, the blade flashing between her fingers.

She acted as if nothing had happened, saying, "Hero, please calm down. What question did you ask me just now?"

I didn't hear you clearly, could you please repeat it?

"Brother, don't waste words with this woman, just charge in and search."

"Another man in black said impatiently, his hand already on the hilt of his knife.

Tao'er made a terrified expression and involuntarily took a step back.

In his mind, however, he was quickly calculating that these three people were quite skilled, and a direct confrontation would definitely not work; he could only try to stall them for the time being.

The leader didn't instruct the others to do so, but patiently repeated, "Boss lady, we are from the government office, chasing a fugitive. He's injured; have you seen him?"

It wasn't that he had a good temper, but rather that he didn't want to disturb the guests at the inn; having too many people would only expose them.

The adults said to keep a low profile and not reveal our identities.

People from the government office?

Tao'er sneered inwardly. People from the government office would wear night clothes?

Would someone just pull out a knife and point it at a woman without saying a word?

That's a lie.

"An injured man?"

Tao blinked, then shook her head. "I've never seen her before."

A mother and child came into the store today; they're asleep now.

"A mother and child?"

The man in black narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure?"

His eyes clearly said, "I don't believe it."

"Of course I'm sure," Tao'er said matter-of-factly. "I'm the only one looking after this inn. How could I not know if guests have come or not?"

If you're staying at the hotel, come in.

If you're not staying at the hotel, don't disturb my sleep.

The men in black exchanged a glance, something flashing in their eyes.

"Search." The leader of the men in black waved his hand and gave the order.

Tao'er's heart tightened, but her face remained calm. "What are you searching for?"

I already said there's no one here. If you don't believe me, come in and see for yourselves.

But I must warn you, don't wake the guests, or they'll complain about me tomorrow, and I'll never forgive you.

She stepped aside, and three men in black filed in.

The inn is small; the first floor is the main dining area, and the second floor has guest rooms.

Tao'er followed behind, watching them kick open doors and search room by room, her heart pounding with anxiety.

Fortunately, she hid the man under the bed before going downstairs and also sprayed air freshener from her space in the room.

That thing was brought from the modern world; it had a strong chrysanthemum scent, which should be enough to mask the smell of blood.

"We are the people who came after him from the government office. That person is a wanted criminal by the imperial court. If you dare to protect him, you will be guilty of the same crime!"

Get out of the way!

One of them glared coldly at Tao'er, his gaze capable of killing.

Tao'er was so frightened that she quickly turned to the side, but in her heart she spat: A wanted criminal of the imperial court?

I think you're the ones who look like fugitives!

The three men searched the upper room, pushed open the door, and found only a bed inside. A child of a few years old was sleeping soundly on the bed, his little face rosy.

The boy said without changing his expression, "That person is only five years old. Don't wake him up, or I won't be able to soothe him if he starts crying."

The man in black scanned the room, looking under the bed, in the closet, and even outside the window, but found nothing.

There was indeed a faint chrysanthemum fragrance in the room, but no trace of blood.

"Where is the child's mother?" someone asked.

"She probably had diarrhea and went to the outhouse," Tao'er said. "She ate something bad tonight and has been there for about fifteen minutes."

Where is the outhouse?

Take us to search for it.

The leader of the men in black continued speaking.

Tao'er obediently led them to the outhouse in the backyard.

The wooden door to the outhouse was tightly closed, and there were faint sounds coming from inside.

She knocked on the door and called out, "Sister-in-law, the police are here to arrest bad guys! Come out quickly!"

Immediately afterwards, the sound of a woman singing came from inside. It was a folk song, the melody melodious and clear, especially distinct in the quiet night.

The three men in black looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Good sir, you heard it too, she's singing in there, probably because she thinks the outhouse smells too bad!"

Singing helps relieve stress.

Tao'er said with a smile, her face full of flattery.

Only then did the three men in black believe that there was a woman inside, and they turned and left the outhouse.

Actually, there was no one inside. Tao'er had her back to them and secretly pressed the button to turn on the radio.

The radio was a stash of songs she had stored in her online space. It contained hundreds of old songs, and she casually played a folk song, which unexpectedly came in handy.

The group stood in the courtyard. The leader looked left and right, still somewhat disbelieving. "Really not?"

The others also looked at Tao'er, waiting for her reply.

Tao'er crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame, looking languid. "I've already said no, don't you still not believe me?"

You've already searched all of these guest rooms.

Why don't you tell me what the person you're looking for looks like?

I might have seen him during the day.

Tao'er knew that they wouldn't give up until they found some clues.

"The man was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in brocade robes, and had a wound on his chest."

One of the men in black said.

Tao tilted her head and thought for a while, as if trying hard to recall, "Early twenties, in brocade robes..."

Oh, I remember now, I think I saw someone like that in the woods this afternoon.

Another large man helped him and they headed east.

"East?" The man in black's eyes lit up.