"Of course it's possible, miss. You can rest assured. We'll definitely be able to find accommodation tonight."
Wei Shuxuan pursed her lips. "I'm not worried about where I'll sleep. I'll surely sleep in the carriage. It's you three who'll have to stay outside the carriage."
"There's an inn over there. The lights are still on. Let's go there."
Xin Shang was the first to spot an inn not far away. When they reached the inn's front gate, Xin Shang jumped off the carriage and politely knocked on the door. "Excuse me, is anyone there? We'd like to stay here!"
Soon, there came the sound of "tap-tap-tap" footsteps from inside. Then the inn's door was opened. The waiter with a towel around his neck greeted Xin Shang with a big smile. "Sir, how many of you are there?"
"Four of us. We need three rooms."
Wei Wei and Sima Yongheng carried their bundles from the carriage on their backs and followed the waiter into the inn. In contrast to the deserted street outside, the inn was bustling with many people drinking inside.
As soon as the four of them walked in, a strong man held a full bowl of wine and looked at them amiably. "Judging from your fine clothes, you must be on your way to the capital, right?"
"Yes. Do you have any advice?" Wei Wei stared sharply at the strong man. He didn't seem to sense the man's goodwill and thought the strong man was sent by someone to spy on them.
However, the strong man noticed Wei Wei's displeasure and quickly apologized with a smile. "I didn't mean anything else. I was just asking out of curiosity. If I offended you, I'm willing to apologize!"
Then the people sitting around the strong man laughed at him. "Hahaha, Lao Hu, look at your fierce appearance. No wonder people would be suspicious when you ask about others' whereabouts!"
This person turned to Wei Wei and said politely, "Sorry, Lao Hu just looks fierce, but he has a kind heart. He didn't mean to offend you. Please forgive him."
The speaker was a young man in very bright and colorful clothes. Seeing the young man holding a folding fan with a poem on it, Wei Wei thought he must be just a scholar.
Just then, Wei Shuxuan stepped forward. She looked at them with a smile. "I'm really sorry. I didn't teach my subordinate well. He didn't mean to be rude to you. It's me who should ask for your forgiveness."
The strong man and the others thought the young-looking boy was the master of the three. They didn't expect it was the girl who had been standing at the back all the time. The young man nodded slightly. "It doesn't matter. After you've settled down, you can join us for a drink and have a chat."
"Thank you for your kindness. My servants and I have been on the road all day. We're really exhausted. I just want to rest early. If my servants still have the energy, I won't stop them from chatting with you."
Wei Shuxuan's words were appropriate as she politely declined their invitation.
"That's really a pity. But we can do it next time."
"Waiter, please show us to our rooms."
"Sure, sir!"
Wei Shuxuan wasn't just being polite. She was really tired. After all, she didn't sleep much last night. She must have a good rest tonight, or she wouldn't have the energy to travel tomorrow.
"I said, if you want to go and drink and chat with those uncles, it's okay. As long as you can get up on time tomorrow morning."
"No, miss. I'm going to rest."
"It's more important for Miss Xuan to reunite with the master. I'm going to rest too."
"I've never been in a carriage for so long. I'm going back to rest too."
Just as they finished talking to Wei Shuxuan, they suddenly heard the noise downstairs getting louder. They looked down from the upstairs and saw a black-clad man walking in from outside. His face was covered.
"A masked killer?" Sima Yongheng exclaimed.
"Do you know him?" Wei Shuxuan and the others looked at Sima Yongheng in surprise, thinking the man was here to kill Sima Yongheng.
"I don't know. Generally speaking, aren't masked black-clad men all killers?" Sima Yongheng said matter-of-factly, not noticing the contempt in Wei Shuxuan and the others' eyes.
However, Xin Shang felt that this man looked vaguely familiar. Oh no, could it be...
Xin Shang rushed downstairs in a hurry. "Why are you dressed like this and showing up here! Xin Shi!"
"Is that someone Xin Shang knows? I heard him call this black-clad man Xin Shi?" Wei Shuxuan asked Wei Wei.
"Since he can call out his name, he should be someone he knows, right?" Wei Wei looked puzzled.
"However, this black-clad man is really strange. How dare he dress like this and swagger around in public? Isn't he afraid of being misunderstood?" Wei Shuxuan couldn't help but complain.
When Xin Shi saw Xin Shang and was about to bow, Xin Shang grabbed him and whispered to him, "Okay, stop bowing to me. There are a lot of people here."
"Got it, boss."
"Why did you come here this time?"
"The master sent me to deliver a letter to you, boss." With that, Xin Shi took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to Xin Shang. "If there's nothing else, boss, I'll go back first."
Xin Shang had many brothers, but the one who gave him the most headaches was this brother named Xin Shi. Maybe he was a bit stupid and not very smart, but he was extremely loyal. This was what Xin Shang valued most about Xin Shi.
"Wait. Don't go back. Come with us on the journey."
Xin Shang was really worried. He'd reply to the master later. "Now go back to the room with me and rest. We'll set off early tomorrow. We'll reach the capital soon."
"Yes, boss."
Leading Xin Shi in front of Wei Shuxuan, Xin Shang introduced him to Wei Shuxuan and the others. "This is Xin Shi, my brother. Xin Shi, you should call her Miss Xuan. Do you understand?"
"Got it, boss."
"Xin Shi, right? I think your name is quite interesting. What are you here for?" Wei Shuxuan asked straightforwardly. Then Xin Shi hesitated and looked at Xin Shang.
Xin Shang didn't know whether he should tell Wei Shuxuan about this. But even if he didn't say it, Miss Xuan would probably guess. "Reply to Miss Xuan. The master sent Xin Shi to deliver a letter to me."
"Okay, go back and rest."