So what if she's my sister-in-law? You seduced me first.

Qingfeng never expected His Majesty to come to Xianyang City in person. When he received the signal from his subordinates, he was almost speechless.

He's doomed. His wife ran away right under his nose, and he still hasn't caught up with her. He's going to get a dressing down when he gets back.

"Are you sure Madam took this official road?"

His collar was suddenly grabbed and he was lifted up. The assassin hurriedly replied, "I'm not mistaken, they did indeed escape from here."

Qingfeng straightened up on his horse and looked at the misty official road. Logically speaking, he should have been able to catch up faster on horseback, but why hadn't he seen any trace of the lady after chasing for so long?

"Eleven, you take men and continue the pursuit, while you and a few others search the nearby mountain villages with the hunting dogs."

"Yes."

Qingfeng dared not delay, turned his horse around and galloped back towards Xianyang City.

The assassin had originally planned to take the reward and run away, but who knew this matter would go on and on? The government officials kept questioning him, and he was afraid that his identity would be exposed, so he thought about running away.

But that cold-blooded guy called Eleven was extremely skilled in martial arts and forced him to lead the way, so he couldn't find a chance to escape.

Back in the city, Qingfeng headed straight for the governor's mansion. He rode his horse at breakneck speed and arrived back in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. He dismounted and quickly ran into the mansion.

In the hall.

The governor of Rongzhou remained kneeling on the ground, motionless. His Majesty's arrival in Xianyang City was sudden; he had not received any information from above. When he suddenly heard the news of His Majesty's arrival at the yamen, he thought he was hallucinating.

He quickly remembered the great effort his superiors had put into finding his wife, so he hurriedly put on his official robes and rushed back with several important officials under his command, even wearing his clothes crookedly.

Please, whatever you do, don't find out he's been accepting bribes from the river works and canal transport departments. And please, that damned wife, stop coming to Xianyang City!

The world is so big, why did you choose this place of all? Do you have a grudge against him?

With a sizzle, the tea lid fell back onto the teacup, startling the person on the ground. Xie Xun looked at the Governor of Xianyang, whose forehead was covered in sweat, and put the bowl down.

"Lord Rong, please rise."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty." The Governor of Rongzhou stood up with trepidation, and as he stood up, he secretly glanced upwards out of the corner of his eye.

He had never met Grand Commander Xie Xun before, and he had no chance to meet the emperor after the new emperor ascended the throne. The emperor was so young, and quite good-looking, and seemed abstinent and unapproachable.

A menacing gaze swept over him, causing him to flinch. He quickly lowered his head and stood respectfully to the side.

The announcement from outside quickly reached inside. When Qingfeng entered, he passed by the Governor of Rongzhou who was leaving, leaving only the people from Kyoto inside.

The entire governor's mansion had been occupied by troops from the capital. Governor Rong glanced at the heavily armed imperial guards, stood outside the courtyard, and awaited instructions.

Several officials from Xianyang City who were nearby saw their superior come out and hurriedly went forward to inquire about his well-being.

In the hall.

Qingfeng had already recounted all the information he had gathered and the details of the incident. The sudden increase in the oppressive atmosphere made everyone standing nearby afraid to even breathe, let alone speak.

Xie Xun lowered his eyelids and glanced at him, his slender phoenix eyes carrying an innate coldness.

"Are you kidding me?"

He traveled all the way from Kyoto to this godforsaken place just to hear the news that she had left Xianyang City.

The emotionless voice sent a chill down Qingfeng's spine, and he immediately slammed his head against the ground with a thud, drawing blood.

"Your subordinate has failed in his duties; please punish me, Your Majesty."

"Bring that person to me. I will interrogate him myself."

The assassin never expected that his attempt to steal a chicken would backfire so badly; he was eventually taken to the yamen (government office) and confessed everything.

When he heard that the woman had suddenly revealed her true colors while the two were fighting, the man in the seat of honor chuckled softly, with a hint of mockery, which frightened him into silence.

When he and his brothers went out to earn money to buy their lives, they had killed a few officials, but they were all minor officials and they still got into trouble, wandering around for several days without daring to show their faces.

The man inside gave him an even more ominous feeling. Outside, there were heavily armed imperial guards. He suspected that this man was from the capital, but he really couldn't tell what his background was.

"Go down."

The guards outside immediately came in and took the assassin away.

Seeing that his master's complexion had improved, Qingfeng vaguely guessed what was going on.

The big man just said that he saw the lady run down the mountain road with his own eyes, but he chased after her all the way but couldn't catch up with her. That means she's still near Xianyang. Where could she be? Maybe she's hiding in a nearby village?

"By imperial decree, all imperial guards at the city gates are to be withdrawn. Inform Rongcheng residents to go about their own business."

"Yes."

Sha Ying quickly understood his master's meaning: could this really lure out the fish he wanted?

He didn't dare ask any more questions and went out to take care of the business efficiently.

After a while, Xie Xun looked out the window at the scenery of Xianyang City and asked casually, "How many days do you think she can hold out?"

Qingfeng knew the question was directed at him, and replied, "This subordinate does not know."

"Go keep an eye on that guy surnamed Shen."

"I have investigated him. He spends his days at the academy and at home, and there is nothing else going on."

He squinted. "You've searched the entire city of Xianyang and still can't find her. In this unfamiliar place, in the dead of winter, who could she ask for shelter?"

Qingfeng bowed. "Your subordinate will investigate immediately."

She didn't want him, and was willing to come to this wretched place. What did she want?

And what's the relationship between that guy surnamed Shen and her? They've only known each other for a few days, yet they already know about Leshan?

Xie Xun's long, narrow eyes were filled with a terrifying, chilling malice. The other assassins in the room held their breath and dared not utter a sound as they watched the man's figure.

Ning Yu stayed in Shen Huijun's courtyard for two days and found that there were no more soldiers searching at night. The city, which was originally filled with tension, gradually became lively and peaceful after the departure of the court officials.

But she didn't dare go out and stayed in the house all day, thinking that once the storm had passed, she would go out and rent a courtyard again and live in Xianyang City for more than half a year.

Xie Yun? It's been so long, and there's still not a single word from him. Thinking of this, Ning Yu's face darkened, and worry settled between her brows.

"Miss, Young Master Shen has arrived."

Shen Huijun only dared to come looking for her after discovering that everyone in the neighboring courtyard had left and after inquiring at the city gate to confirm that they were all soldiers from Xianyang City.

Ning Yu frowned slightly when she saw him, but breathed a sigh of relief after hearing what he said.

Qingfeng, that lackey, is not easily fooled. I thought he would come back to investigate again, but I guess he was really lured away by the two people she bribed to impersonate them.

Thinking about it this way, Ning Yu was delighted, finally able to enjoy a few days of peace.

"There are lanterns in the city tonight, Miss Liu, would you like to go see them together?"