After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Ning Baixuan's carriage was not moving fast, but it was relatively smooth.

Before long, the carriage arrived at Kwong Yee Street.

Bamboo narrowed its eyes, its figure flashed, and it disappeared into an empty alley.

As he walked quickly, he took off his blue robe, turned it inside out, and put it on again, turning it into a cyan robe.

She let her wig down and tied it up again, changing from loose hair to a tied-up hair. She ran quickly for a while, then circled around to the front through another alley. She changed her pace, from taking big strides to walking with bowlegs.

As he approached the alley entrance, Zhu Zi suppressed his rapid breathing, turned around, and saw the porter and Tian Lao Si panting as they followed. He gestured for them to slow down.

Less than five breaths later.

The carriage and four horses of Ning Baixuan's family passed by.

Bamboo slowly emerged from the alley and entered the bustling main street, then followed them.

They hadn't walked for more than a short while.

The carriage in front suddenly stopped.

Bamboo remained calm and continued walking without stopping. Ning Baixuan got off the carriage and entered a wine shop. Oh, he wanted to buy wine. Bamboo thought for a moment, then realized he could send one of his brothers to work as a swindler at this wine shop later.

He swaggered over to a small roadside stall and ordered a bowl of tea.

He deliberately sat with his back to the carriage.

Just open your ears and listen carefully to the sounds of the carriage.

A moment later, a shout was heard.

Bamboo slowly got up, took out two copper coins from his pocket, and threw them into the teacup.

He turned around leisurely.

Several servants from the wine shop were loading wine onto a donkey cart, which already had about ten jars of wine on it.

Ning Baixuan was paying the wine shop owner's bill under the eaves.

A servant, seemingly leading the way, rode ahead on horseback, while a young servant drove the donkey cart behind, swaying and staggering away.

Only three servants remained beside the carriage.

The carriage wasn't moving fast, so Zhu Zi followed at a leisurely pace, silently glancing around to see if there were any patrolling constables, how many people were there, and figuring out where it would be best to make his move later.

After a while, one of the servants turned around and looked over.

He then casually turned into an alley.

Change clothes again.

However, this time it was somewhat unexpected for him; he thought he had circled around to the front of the carriage.

However, they did not see Ning Baixuan's carriage passing by on the main street.

He darted out and saw that although there were several carriages on the long street, none of them were the carriage pulled by Ning Baixuan's big yellow horse.

Zhu Zi frowned, still puzzled, when Tian Lao Si caught up, sweating profusely and panting, saying, "Brother Zhu Zi, Dianzi, Dianzi, we changed direction! They didn't go home!"

Bamboo was startled.

The man carrying the load followed the other man on another street.

Seeing that the bamboo was catching up, the man carrying the load slowed down and trailed behind the bamboo.

Bamboo wondered if he had revealed his true intentions.

He continued to follow, but kept his distance.

Not long after.

Ning Baixuan's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. Was he heading towards Jiangning County?

Bamboo didn't know what was going on, so out of caution, she increased the distance between herself and the other party again, only watching from afar, as she could lose track of them if she wasn't careful.

However, as far as he was concerned, losing track of him was no big deal. He could run away but not disappear. He could just continue to stake out Ning Baixuan's house.

I've been tailing countless important figures in the north, and that's how I've always done it. I'd rather lose track of them than get caught. It's a small matter if I die, but it's a big deal if I alert them and ruin the sect's important affairs.

The carriage left the stone city gate, crossed the Qinhuai River, and entered the territory of Jiangning County.

As they walked, Zhu Zi's expression grew increasingly strange.

This carriage... seems to be traveling along the Qinhuai River.

Bamboo had a vague guess in her heart.

Yet it also felt absurd.

After a while.

The carriage stopped under a willow tree.

Ning Baixuan leaned out of the carriage.

He appeared to be speaking to three mounted servants.

After saying a few words.

Ning Baixuan suddenly jumped off the carriage, and the three servants also dismounted.

Ning Baixuan seemed to be angry and began to punch and kick the three servants. Zhu Zi looked puzzled, not knowing what was going on. After a while, the three servants bowed and mounted their horses, looking at Ning Baixuan.

Ning Baixuan seemed to be waving his hand impatiently, and the three servants then rode away.

"Is this to drive them away?" Zhu Zi took a breath, glanced at a building in the distance, then at the three servants. The suspicion that had been lingering in her mind was beginning to surface, and a cold smile crept onto her lips.

After the three servants had gone far away...

Ning Baixuan got back into the carriage.

The old coachman drove his cart slowly toward the building in the distance, where customers came and went in a constant stream.

"Yanchun Pavilion".

Standing at a distance, Zhu Zi looked at the sign with gold lettering on a black background and couldn't help but let out a cold smile.

really.

Bamboo made a "tsk" sound.

He truly lives up to his reputation as a renowned romantic and talented scholar... When he was keeping an eye on some high-ranking officials in the Northern Dynasty, this kind of thing often happened. When they dealt with some people, they would often do it in brothels. Heh, he curled his lip, they're all the same kind of people.

Bamboo narrowed his eyes and gestured to Tian Laosi and the porters not far behind him, telling them to have some tea by the roadside first.

He then circled around Yanchun Pavilion.

Buildings like this usually have a back entrance, so it's best to take a closer look.

Bamboo exhaled a small breath, and a warmth welled up in its heart.

I looked through the back door for a while and found that no one came out.

He found a spot diagonally opposite, where he could see both the front and back doors.

Another cup of tea's time passed.

The bamboo stalks bounced up from the corner of the wall.

Ning Baixuan and a petite girl dressed in elegant attire went out one after the other.

The girl had a smile on her face.

With a small step, he stepped onto the low stool and climbed into Ning Baixuan's carriage.

Ning Baixuan's smile was also quite nasty, the kind of smile a spoiled young master would have.

He took a big step and climbed into the carriage.

The carriage continued its swaying and rocking journey.

This time.

Instead of taking the main street, the carriage slowly turned into a small alley.

Bamboo narrowed its eyes.

He first went to the back to ask the porter for the carrying pole, then pretended to be bent over by the weight and followed behind the carriage.

Not long after.

The carriage stopped in an empty alley.

Bamboo stopped walking and retreated to the corner.

Listen closely.

A voice came from behind: "Master, I'm going to have some tea now." Hmm, it was the coachman.

Then, footsteps sounded, and the coachman left, giving Ning Baixuan and the prostitute some time. A silvery laugh came from inside the carriage.

Bamboo cursed under his breath, "Pah!"

Gently put down the burden.

With his back against the wall, he pulled a three-inch-long dagger from his waist.

His footsteps were silent.

He peeked at the carriage against the wall and let out a small breath.

Following Chen San's orders, he went to work under Master Feng, only to keep watch. This was indeed the job Master Feng had assigned him, but the opportunity was too rare to come, so he couldn't help but hesitate.

In a few breaths, that hesitation turned into determination.

Bamboo's eyes sharpened.

Just as he took a step, the sharp knife in his hand gleamed white in the setting sun.

His gaze suddenly froze.

My whole body felt a chill run down my spine!

He glanced at it.

At that moment, another knife was placed against his neck.

"Move or die," a cold, stern voice said.

Bamboo's breath hitched, and his blood turned ice-cold. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a pockmarked boy staring at him with a calm gaze.