Throughout history, cities backed by ports have generally thrived economically. The county seat of Huangyou County wasn’t particularly large, but its streets were wide and straight, bustling with people.
Xu Qi An stood at the pier, watching porters and laborers coming and going, sweating profusely.
His gaze swept the area, locking onto a foreman sitting in a cool shed, holding an account book and drinking tea. Xu Qi An walked over casually, one hand on his sword, looking down at the foreman.
The foreman stared at Xu Qi An and the silver and bronze badge emblems embroidered on the chests of the Night Watchmen behind him. Even if he didn’t recognize the Night Watchmen’s uniforms, their reputation was well-known even among common people.
Are these the legendary Night Watchmen? The foreman wondered, standing up and bowing: “How may I serve you, gentlemen?”
As he spoke, he took out a handful of silver pieces from his pocket and offered them with both hands.
Xu Qi An didn’t look at the silver, asking directly: “Are you the foreman?”
The foreman continued bowing, “Yes, I am.”
Xu Qi An nodded slowly, looking at the busy porters, and asked, “Have there been any refugees from the north recently?”
“Refugees?” The foreman thought for a moment, shaking his head: “No, but I’ve heard that there’s fighting in the Northern Border. The barbarians are burning and looting everywhere. Fortunately, we have the Northern Border Prince guarding us, otherwise Chu Prefecture might have been lost already.”
“You admire the Northern Border Prince?” Xu Qi An asked without emotion.
“Of course. The Northern Border Prince is the God of War of Great Shang, and also its top martial artist. It’s because of him that the north remains stable,” the foreman said with reverence.
When did the Northern Border Prince become the God of War? The God of War of Great Shang is Lord Wei… Xu Qi An left with the silver and bronze badge constables.
In the cool shed, the foreman watched their retreating figures, puzzled: “They didn’t even take the silver? Are they crazy?”
After wandering around the city for an hour, Xu Qi An sat in a tavern, visited a brothel, and even chatted with beggars. The accompanying Night Watchmen realized that Xu Qi An had another purpose for this trip.
The brothel visit was just a cover.
“Sir Xu, what are you investigating?” a silver badge constable asked.
“Investigating refugees, of course,” Xu Qi An stood by the street, one hand on his sword, frowning. “There’s something strange. I wonder if you’ve noticed.”
An experienced silver badge constable thought for a moment and answered:
“No refugees? That’s not strange. We’ve just arrived in Jiangzhou, still at least ten days away from Chu Prefecture. And that’s by water; by land, it would take at least half a month. Refugees might not have been able to escape from Chu Prefecture to here yet.”
Xu Qi An shook his head, looking at him and snorting: “Have you forgotten what case we’re here to investigate?”
The four silver badge constables were startled, immediately understanding Xu Qi An’s meaning.
Actions like the “Blood Massacre of Three Thousand Li” usually occur in prolonged, large-scale battles involving considerable military forces.
If such a large-scale war had occurred, it would inevitably cause widespread displacement. Even though Jiangzhou is far from Chu Prefecture, it’s unlikely that no lucky refugees would have successfully escaped here.
But there were none…
This case is even more complex than I imagined… Xu Qi An’s heart sank, his mood inevitably becoming heavy. But looking at his colleagues’ worried expressions, he immediately let out a “heh” and said in an extremely arrogant tone:
“Interesting. This is the kind of case I want to handle. Too simple would be boring.”
Sir Xu is so experienced. Although his time in service is short, he has been through more than others would experience in a lifetime… The Night Watchmen recalled the major cases Constable Xu had handled, and their hearts immediately calmed, feeling much more at ease.
Before lunch, Xu Qi An returned to the official ship carrying a food box and several pieces of uncarved Butter Jade.
He first put the Butter Jade in his room, then took the food box up to the third floor, coming to a corner room and knocking on the door.
“Who is it?” came the older maid’s irritable but weak voice from inside.
“It’s me,” Xu Qi An smiled.
Hearing his voice, there was no movement inside, and the door didn’t open. It seemed she was giving him the cold shoulder.
“Fu Wenpei, open the door. I know you’re home. You have the guts to seduce men, you should have the guts to open the door.”
Xu Qi An was being a jerk.
“Bang…” The door opened. The older maid, wearing a green maid’s dress, her eyebrows furrowed in anger, shouted: “What nonsense are you talking about?”
This scoundrel, saying things about seducing men in front of her door, was too much. Although she was now just an ordinary maid, even maids have their reputation to consider.
No one heard it anyway… Xu Qi An grinned: “You’re not Fu Wenpei, why are you angry?”
Seeing the older maid roll her eyes and try to close the door again, Xu Qi An quickly said: “I brought you lunch.”
The older maid sneered: “Are you that kind?”
“Seeing your complexion this morning, I knew you hadn’t slept well last night. You’re seasick, right? You probably didn’t eat lunch, so I bought you some food.”
Xu Qi An entered the room uninvited, glancing around. The room was clean and tidy, seemingly swept daily.
He put the food box on the table and opened the lid, arranging the dishes one by one.
The older maid glanced at them a few times, noticing dishes she hadn’t seen before, and couldn’t help asking: “What’s this dish?”
“Crystal lung. It’s quite tasty, one of the signature dishes of the best restaurant in Huangyou County. I bought you other signature dishes too,” Xu Qi An said.
“I don’t want to eat,” the older maid said coolly.
She felt unwell and had no appetite. Besides, having been pampered in the prince’s mansion for years, what delicacies hadn’t she eaten? Delicacies that common people could only dream of were ordinary to her.
“But you’ll like this bowl,” Xu Qi An placed a bowl of soup on the table.
The older maid looked at it. It was dark and unappealing. She immediately frowned in disgust and said: “Unsolicited favors… What’s your purpose? Just say it.”
Just waiting for you to ask… Xu Qi An sat at the table, coughed, and said: “Your Princess Consort is here too?”
Hearing the words “Princess Consort,” her eyebrows twitched slightly, but she calmly nodded, “Mm.”
“Why is the Princess Consort with the team? And why didn’t I, the chief official, know about it beforehand?” Xu Qi An asked with a smile.
“You think I would know?” the older maid said impatiently, seemingly unwilling to discuss further. She urged: “If there’s nothing else, hurry up and leave. I want to sleep.”
Xu Qi An had no choice but to take his leave.
After the annoying man left, she closed the door again. She was about to put the food back in the box when she suddenly smelled a sour and spicy aroma. This smell seemed like an invisible hand, gripping her stomach.
The scent was coming from the unappealing bowl of soup.
It seems the taste might be okay… She sat at the table and scooped up a spoonful with a porcelain spoon, taking a small sip.
The sour and spicy taste instantly opened up her taste buds, stimulating her appetite. “Gulp,” her throat swallowed involuntarily, and she took several more sips in succession.
After finishing the soup, she finally felt hungry. Looking at the dishes on the table, they now seemed appetizing.
…
“Knock knock.”
There was a knock at the door, followed by Chu Xianglong’s voice: “It’s me.”
“The door’s not locked. Come in yourself,” the older maid replied in a cold and calm voice.
Chu Xianglong pushed open the door and saw the Princess Consort sitting at the table, enjoying her meal with relish.
Deputy General Chu frowned slightly and transmitted: “What’s your relationship with him? Just nod or shake your head.”
He knew these dishes had just been brought by Xu Qi An.
The Princess Consort shook her head.
Chu Xianglong’s gaze sharpened, “No relationship, yet he brings you lunch?”
The Princess Consort shook her head again.
Chu Xianglong stared at her for a moment, reluctantly accepting this answer. He sighed inwardly at the Princess Consort’s immense charm, which made men unable to resist approaching and trying to understand her.
“Please remember your identity, Princess Consort. Don’t associate too closely with unnecessary people,” he transmitted a warning and left the room.
The entire process occurred without a sound.
Not only was there the gold badge Yang Yan on the ship but also other martial artists. Martial artists have keen senses; the saying “walls have ears” was most fitting.
…
“Knowing nothing is also a kind of information. I wasn’t wrong in my guess; the Northern Border Princess Consort’s journey to the north doesn’t seem so simple…
“Traveling in secret, even I, the chief official, didn’t know beforehand. Moreover, the number of guards accompanying her is abnormal, too few. This could be understood as keeping a low profile. Yes, traveling with the investigation team is both low-key and provides sufficient protective force.
“The question is, why go to such lengths?”
Xu Qi An returned to his room, and sat at the table, frowning in thought.
“Why does the Princess Consort’s journey to the north need to be so mysterious? Is it because the title of ‘the most beautiful woman in the world’ is too eye-catching? This isn’t the case. In Great Shang, who would dare to have designs on the Northern Border Prince’s legitimate wife? Even I, who has lived an unrestrained life, have never harbored such thoughts.
“Analyzing intent based on behavior, it seems Emperor Yuanjing doesn’t want news of the Princess Consort leaving the capital to be widely known. But this doesn’t make sense. It’s just a princess consort going to see her husband; what’s there to conceal?
“Unless this Princess Consort is not ordinary, involving some kind of secret? If so, there are only two reasons for secretly traveling with the investigation team: One, it involves some confidential plan, so secrecy is needed. Two, it might be accompanied by danger, thus requiring the protection of the investigation team’s strength?”
Thinking of this, Xu Qi An’s pupils contracted slightly, his gaze becoming sharp.