On the very first day she arrived in Baolan Town, Wei Shuxuan had already sent Xin Zizhao a message to let him know she was safe. A few days later, she received his reply.
"Xuan'er, I'm relieved to know you're all well. Don't worry about the affairs in the court. I can handle those ministers. Regarding the mysterious messenger, I've received another letter from him. He told me that the Eleventh Prince has started recruiting soldiers and preparing to form his own army. Once the army grows stronger, the Eleventh Prince, together with Minister Zhang and Grand Scholar Jin, will launch an attack on me. But rest assured, I've made full preparations..."
Reading what Xin Zizhao had written in the letter, Wei Shuxuan's heart couldn't help but hang in the air. What? The Eleventh Prince had already started recruiting soldiers? Then Xin Zizhao's situation would become more and more dangerous. This letter from Xin Zizhao was quite long. Wei Shuxuan lowered her head and continued to read.
"Zi'an said he has something important to do and can't receive you. You just stay obediently in the inn in Baolan Town and investigate the case. As for Wei Wei, he hasn't sent us any messages yet. But don't worry. The secret guards I assigned to you can also help you find out Wei Wei's whereabouts. Don't worry about me. Zizhao."
Zi'an had something important to do. What on earth was he busy with? Could it be...
Wei Shuxuan immediately remembered the scene she saw today. Ge Zian was wearing clothes different from those in the Royal Dragon Country, and this place was the border between the Royal Dragon Country and the Qiangfeng Country. Could it be that... Zi'an was going to sneak into the Qiangfeng Country!
Just thinking of this possibility, Wei Shuxuan was so shocked that she didn't even hold the chopsticks in her hand tightly. They dropped to the ground all of a sudden. The expensive peach - wood chopsticks made a "clatter" sound when they hit the shoddy wooden board. Hearing this, Zhang Er, who was passing by outside, immediately knocked on the door nervously and asked, "Miss, miss, are you okay?"
".... Ah, I'm okay. Thank you for your concern..." Wei Shuxuan came to her senses and quickly replied to his inquiry. She bent down to pick up the chopsticks on the ground. If Zi'an was going to the Qiangfeng Country, then what about her godfather? She still vaguely remembered that Ge Long'an hated going to the Qiangfeng Country very much. If he didn't go, he should be in the military camp.
However, Wei Shuxuan couldn't figure out why Ge Zian was going to the Qiangfeng Country. Did something happen to Wei Wei? Or did he discover that the Qiangfeng Country was up to some tricks?
In the morning, Wei Shuxuan yawned and came downstairs for breakfast. Zhang Er immediately greeted her, "Good morning, miss. What would you like to eat?"
"Good morning~" Wei Shuxuan rubbed her still sleepy face. "Just give me a bowl of beef noodles."
"Sure thing!"
Before long, Zhang Er served Wei Shuxuan a big bowl of beef noodles. When Wei Shuxuan saw it, she was impressed by the portion. It was so big that she wasn't sure if she could finish it. Moreover, there were a lot of dried red chilies in it, which looked very appealing.
Wang Wu had long noticed that Zhang Er treated this young lady differently. Seeing Zhang Er coming over, he asked curiously, "Zhang Er, do you like that young lady? You always seem to be currying favor with her."
Zhang Er, who was wiping his face, paused for a moment but quickly regained his composure. "Wang Wu, you're overthinking. I don't have such feelings for that young lady. Didn't you also say that there are many guards around that young lady? She's obviously from a noble family. A commoner like me doesn't deserve her."
However, Wang Wu looked around, leaned over to Zhang Er's ear, and whispered, "As long as our boss's grand plan succeeds, there will surely be rewards for us. Then you don't have to worry about not getting this young lady."
"But..." Zhang Er hesitated a bit. "When will our boss's grand plan succeed? This young lady doesn't seem to be staying in Baolan Town for long."
Wang Wu pulled Zhang Er behind the counter and whispered to him, "I've received news that once our boss's last batch of loyal fighters are trained, we'll launch an attack on the military camp here at any time."
"I don't quite understand what you mean. Do we have to go too?" Zhang Er looked at Wang Wu with a confused face.
However, Wang Wu was a very patient and boastful person. "Don't worry. We don't have to go. We'll stay in the rear to command. If we do a good job, we might even become the boss's right - hand men, just like that Qiha'er. He's been entrusted with an important task by the boss!"
"Wang Wu, you know so much. I'll call you big brother from now on. You have to take good care of me in the future!" Zhang Er smiled shyly.
It felt great to be called big brother. Wang Wu couldn't help feeling a bit smug. He proudly patted Zhang Er on the shoulder. "Don't worry. From now on, big brother will protect you!"
"Thank you, Big Brother Wang Wu!"
While Wang Wu and Zhang Er were hiding behind the counter chatting, Wei Shuxuan was looking for that waiter everywhere. How did this waiter know that she liked beef noodles with a sour - and - spicy flavor, and the sourness wasn't too strong so as not to overpower the spiciness? The only people who knew her taste were Xin Zizhao, Wei Wei, and Ge Zian and his father.
Xin Zizhao was now in the palace. Zi'an had gone to the Qiangfeng Country, and her godfather should be in the military camp. It was impossible for them to order the sour - and - spicy beef noodles for her. Could it be... A possibility couldn't help but float into Wei Shuxuan's mind. Was it really him?
In Sima Tianhai's mansion.
The carved door that had been tightly closed opened, and Sima Tianhai walked out. There were tiny beads of sweat on his forehead. The guard standing beside him quickly stepped forward and handed Sima Tianhai a sweat towel. Sima Tianhai wiped the sweat off. "Hong Ying, pass on the order. We'll set off in three days."
"Yes, master!"
With this thought in mind, Wei Shuxuan paid even closer attention to the man named Zhang Er. But this man was hunched over and looked so thin. Could he really be Wei Wei, who had been missing for a long time? She remembered Wei Wei's figure. He was taller than Zhang Er and didn't act so timid. Wei Shuxuan didn't like this kind of man at all. He had no masculinity.
"Zhang Er! Come and help!" Wang Wu's voice came from the kitchen.
"Okay, I'm coming right away!" Zhang Er put down the work he was doing and quickly ran into the kitchen.
Seeing the man leave, Wei Shuxuan finally withdrew her gaze from sizing up Zhang Er. Since she came to Baolan Town, the doubts in her heart had been growing like crazy vines, coiling in her mind, leaving her not knowing where to start. But the main stem of the vines must be hidden among these messy vines. What she had to do now was to clear away the redundant vines.