The villainous bosses from their past lives have all been reborn.

Traveling west from Liangshuipu, it takes about three days to reach the outskirts of Jinzhou City.

Jinzhou City is situated on the largest grassland in Jinzhou, a grassland rich in water and grass, suitable for both farming and animal husbandry. Outside the city, fertile fields stretch endlessly, making it relatively prosperous compared to other areas of Jinzhou.

The city walls are towering, surrounded by a moat, and the main city gate is surrounded by barbicans and outer walls, making it impregnable.

Xia Jin and Yuan Xiu rode side by side. They had known each other since childhood, and after the battle at Liangshuipu Post Station, Xia Jin had developed even more trust and admiration for Yuan Xiu.

"Sixth Brother, my elder brother has led the troops to the front lines and is not in the city at the moment."

The current commander of Jinzhou and head of the Xia family is Xia Jin's elder brother, Xia He. Xia He is in his thirties, and his cultivation has reached the eighth rank, almost reaching the ninth rank. He has a distinguished military record. Xia He commands eight hundred soldiers who have fought against the northern barbarians for many years and have established numerous merits.

"Who is in charge of the daily affairs in the city right now?"

"It should be Xun He, the chief envoy!"

The two men led more than ten soldiers into the city. Xun He knew that Xia Jin was coming back, so he was already waiting at the city gate.

"Brother Xun, why are you waiting here? You're being far too eager."

This was a middle-aged man dressed in a scholar's robe, with a mustache, exuding an air of refinement. Hearing Xia Jin's sarcastic remarks, he wore an expression of relief, as if he had just received a timely help.

"Natsumi, you're finally back."

Xun He's voice carried a hint of anxiety, and he seemed rather aggrieved.

"Xiahe is doing well. He went to fight the barbarians all by himself, leaving the entire rear area to me. He spends all his time supervising the supply of provisions. I'm getting annoyed to death."

Xun He and Xia He were childhood friends who grew up together, and both came from poor families. Later, Xia He recommended Xun He to enter the governor's office, and he worked his way up to his current position.

Upon hearing this, Xia Jin immediately understood why Xun He was troubled.

"Did your uncles and elders in the clan upset you again?"

Xun He nodded.

Yuan Xiu stood to the side, smiling without saying a word. Both families lived in the six northern states and had frequent interactions. Moreover, due to their years of working together to fight against the northern barbarians and the Demonic Sect, the two families had a close relationship and were even related by marriage.

Yuan Xiu could certainly understand that such families were rife with infighting. With Xia He gone and Xia Jin remaining in Liangshuipu, Xun He, being the only outsider, naturally couldn't command the rest of the group.

"A batch of grain needs to be sent to the front, and Xiahe has already sent a letter urging them to expedite the process. However, your uncles and aunts have been obstructing the shipment, preventing the grain from being collected and dispatched."

"Don't worry, I'll go!"

After Xia Jin finished speaking, he seemed to remember something, looked at Yuan Xiu, and felt somewhat apologetic.

"Sixth Brother, please forgive my negligence."

"It's alright, military affairs are more important. I will investigate Sanlang's matter myself. However, I still need a token so that I can move freely in Jinzhou City."

Upon hearing this, Xia Jin took out a bronze plaque with the character "Xia" on it from his sleeve and handed it to Yuan Xiu.

"Sixth Brother, with this token, you can go anywhere in the city."

Thank you!

Xia Jin bid farewell to Xun He and hurriedly entered the city.

After receiving the token, Yuan Xiu did not immediately go to see Yuan Cai, who was still in prison, but instead went to the governor's mansion.

The governor's mansion is now completely shrouded in mourning, filled with a sense of sorrow.

Led by a servant, Yuan Xiu arrived at the mourning hall and met the daughter of the governor of Jinzhou.

Ying'er!

This is a rather frail and petite woman, dressed in mourning clothes, sitting beside the coffin, keeping vigil.

After bowing before the altar, Yuan Xiu approached the woman and said:

"My name is Yuan Xiu. I have come today not only to offer my condolences, but also to inquire about something else: what exactly happened that night?"

Ying'er trembled slightly upon hearing Yuan Xiu's words. She raised her head and looked at Yuan Xiu with a complicated expression. The servants around her, however, were all filled with anger.

"What else can happen? Your third son killed my governor!"

"I have come here to clarify this matter. Consider this, my third son has no grudge against your governor, so why would he suddenly kill someone? Even if he did do it, there must be some reason behind it. I hope you can tell me the details of that night."

That night…

Ying'er stood up, but seemed to be exhausted from keeping vigil for many days, and her body slumped.

Fortunately, her maidservant caught her in time, preventing her from falling to the ground.

However, Ying'er turned pale and fainted.

The servants nearby rushed to fetch a doctor, and the maidservant rudely shouted:

"My young lady is unwell; please come again another day!"

It was clear that the people in the governor's mansion were not very welcoming to Yuan Xiu.

Sensing the unwelcome attitude of the governor's mansion, Yuan Xiu could only bow and slowly retreat. Just as he was leaving the gate, he brushed past the physician. After walking a short distance down the street, Yuan Xiu sensed something was amiss and turned back to the governor's mansion.

The guards at the governor's mansion saw Yuan Xiu and said:

"You are extremely rude, you made my young lady faint from anger, why have you come again?"

"Your young lady is in danger!"

"nonsense!"

Seeing the guards' behavior, Yuan Xiu ignored them and used her movement technique to head directly to the west wing of the rear residence.

Inside Ying'er's room, all the maids had collapsed to the ground. The doctor was holding Ying'er's head, performing the Heavenly Demon Soul-Seizing Technique.

Yuan Xiu's arrival interrupted the progress of the demonic sect members, who immediately abandoned Ying'er and exchanged blows with Yuan Xiu.

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, the thief couldn't withstand the attack and was sent flying backward, crashing straight into the wall. Yuan Xiu was about to step forward to capture him, but the thief, unable to resist, had already bitten open the poison sac hidden in his teeth, and soon died.

The guards from the governor's mansion followed behind, and they were all somewhat stunned by the scene inside the room.

Why is that?

Yuan Xiu explained:

"This man is a traitor from the Demonic Cult! Look at his calloused hands, the result of wielding a knife, how could they be the hands of a doctor? And look, his clothes clearly don't fit. This man must have been lying in ambush outside the manor for a long time. Today, the manor invited a doctor, and he intercepted the way and sneaked in. You should go and see where the real doctor is!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately began to believe it, and their attitude towards Yuan Xiu improved considerably.

……

As night fell, Xia Jin, having finished dealing with the grain supplies, learned that the governor's mansion had been attacked by assassins and rushed over.

"how?"

"The doctor is inside watching over you!"

Yuan Xiu stood outside the house, not daring to go in.

The doctor wasn't killed; he was simply knocked unconscious by the assassin and left naked in a pigsty in a nearby house. The governor's guards searched along the road and eventually found him.

It's all done. I just came to the manor not long ago to treat Ying'er's illness.

Xia Jin heard this and waited outside as well.

Shortly after, the doctor came out, looking rather grim.

The doctor recognized Xia Jin and bowed respectfully.

"Xia Qian's matter!"

"how?"

"Otherwise, I'm fine, but after keeping vigil for several days, I couldn't hold on any longer and my body is a bit weak. Besides..."

Seeing the doctor's hesitant manner, Yuan Xiu asked:

"Are there any other symptoms?"

The doctor sighed, and finally spoke, saying:

"The governor's daughter is pregnant!"

……