The next day.

Li Cheng was woken up very early by Li Wenshu.

She urged him to pack his things and set off immediately!

Before leaving, he had wanted to say goodbye to Ji Yunshu, Jingrong, and the others.

But because it was so early, the doors to their rooms were still closed.

So he couldn’t very well disturb them.

He could only instruct the inn’s attendant: “When those young masters wake up, remember to tell them that I’ve left, and we’ll meet again if there’s a chance in the future.”

The attendant bowed: “Yes, guest, rest assured. I’ll definitely deliver your message!”

“Not a single word should be missed!”

“Yes!”

The attendant memorized it carefully!

Li Cheng reluctantly looked up at the second floor a few more times.

Seeing this, Li Wenshu tugged at him and urged: “Hurry up and leave!”

“Sister…” His tone was wheedling and pitiful.

“You promised me that we’d leave early this morning. We can’t delay any longer.”

“But…”

“No more ‘buts’!”

The hole Li Cheng had dug for himself, he could only fill himself.

In the end, he sighed helplessly, left the inn, and boarded the carriage.

But he was thinking that once he first took Li Wenshu back to Gaoding, he would definitely find another opportunity to come out.

To find that young master!

Li Wenshu followed him onto the carriage and immediately saw through his little scheme.

She spoke in a warning tone: “Acheng, you’d better rein in your heart.”

“What does Sister mean by that?”

“Do you think I don’t know what you’re thinking? After returning to Gaoding, don’t even think about coming out again.”

“Isn’t that like putting me under house arrest? I’m not a three-year-old child.”

“If you had even a third of your elder brother’s qualities, Father and I wouldn’t worry so much about you.”

She brought up the Marquis of Pingyang again!

Li Cheng rolled his eyes and leaned half his body against the carriage wall.

Looking completely dejected!

Since birth, people had constantly been comparing him to his elder brother.

And of course, he was the one who lost every time!

Seeing his appearance, Li Wenshu’s expression became somewhat more serious, and she said solemnly: “Acheng, I’m telling you, that young lady is not an ordinary person!”

Hmm?

Li Cheng immediately sat up straight and asked: “What does Sister know?”

“And those traveling companions of hers—every one of them is highly skilled in martial arts and extraordinarily capable. They’re definitely not ordinary traveling merchants. I’m afraid there’s a significant background behind them. Right now the court’s power is divided in two. Whether they’re enemies or allies is still unknown, so you’d better not get too deeply involved with them, lest you invite trouble!”

Li Wenshu, after all, considered things more thoroughly than he did.

Li Cheng stroked his chin: “I’ve thought about what you’re saying too, but… who exactly are they? Sister, you’re well-traveled and intelligent, and you read people very thoroughly. Have you already guessed something?”

“I’ve only met them a few times. How would I know so much? Moreover, they act cautiously and haven’t revealed any clues. But my intuition tells me they’re definitely not simple people.”

“But I asked, and they wouldn’t say.”

“Do thieves carve the word ‘thief’ on their foreheads?”

Li Cheng was embarrassed!

Of course not!

Li Wenshu took a breath: “All right, stop thinking about this matter. We’ve stayed in Yiwu for several days. Father definitely knows by now. When we get back, you must behave yourself and not anger Father, understand?”

Reminding him!

Li Cheng nodded obediently: “I know.”

Then Li Wenshu knocked on the carriage wall and instructed the driver to speed up their journey!

Soon, the carriage left through the gates of Yiwu.

…

At the same time, after Song Zhi returned home in the late night, he lit several oil lamps on his desk.

He spread out paper and ground ink.

He lifted his brush and wrote things on paper for the entire night.

Dense writing, many pages!

It wasn’t until dawn that he finally finished the last character!

He carefully checked it several times.

After confirming there were no problems with what he’d written, he was finally satisfied and closed it.

He stretched with a big yawn!

From the night he wrote the new script for Ji Yunshu until this morning, he hadn’t closed his eyes for two whole nights.

His whole body was exhausted!

So tired his eyelids were fighting each other.

But he didn’t have time to rest now. He went out and splashed cold water on his face to refresh himself a bit, then went inside to start packing his belongings.

He had very few things!

So few that apart from his several worn books, all he could take were his few coarse cloth garments and a pair of shoes with soles worn to a shiny gleam. He packed them into a bundle!

He had wanted to bring those books too, but because there were too many and they were too heavy, he had to give up!

Then he rolled up his sleeves and cleaned the house from top to bottom.

Very meticulously.

Completely looking like someone about to travel far away!

He gazed at his small room, feeling somewhat reluctant.

Although it contained only one bed, one desk, two chairs, and one bookshelf, and all were extremely shabby.

But after all, this was the place where he had lived for so many years.

No golden nest or silver nest could compare to one’s own doghouse!

He sighed: “I’m leaving!”

Then he slung the bundle over his back, took what he’d written all night, and left.

He placed the key under a water jar at the doorway.

Only then did he leave with peace of mind!

Arriving in Yiwu town, he went directly to the Zhao Family Troupe.

At this time, the people in the Zhao Family Troupe were busy inside and out.

Some were dismantling the stage!

Some were taking things that were still worth something to pawn shops!

Others were sorting through belongings!

It seemed they really were disbanding.

Song Zhi didn’t want to disturb them, so he headed toward the back courtyard on his own.

Just then—

“Master Song?” Someone saw him.

They walked over.

He explained his purpose: “I’m here to find the troupe master.”

“The troupe master!” The person said, “Because of Gao Dali’s matter, the troupe master fell ill yesterday. He only got a bit better this morning. He should be in the back courtyard now. Go look for him there.”

“All right, thank you. You carry on.”

“Okay!”

Song Zhi then went to the back courtyard.

The back courtyard was also busy as a pot of porridge.

He saw Troupe Master Tao standing in the courtyard, constantly instructing the people moving things: “Be careful, don’t bump the things. Move them over there first. Slowly, gently. Those things are all very important. Watch where you’re walking. Don’t drop anything. Be careful!”

Those people were all extremely careful.

Song Zhi walked up behind Troupe Master Tao and called out: “Troupe Master.”

Hearing the voice, Troupe Master Tao turned around and saw him, slightly surprised: “Master Song? Why have you come?”

“I have something to discuss with you.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Troupe Master Tao looked worriedly at the people moving things, gave a few instructions, then pulled Song Zhi along.

“Come, let’s go inside to talk.”

The two went inside and sat down.

Troupe Master Tao poured him a cup of water while asking: “Master Song, what matter do you have for me?”

Song Zhi didn’t say anything else and directly took out what he’d written overnight.

He handed it to him.

Hmm?

Troupe Master Tao didn’t understand: “What’s this?”

“This is my new script!”