The Marquis of Nanguo looked up and saw Bai Yin standing at the door.

He was pounding his fist on the doorframe.

With great force.

His knuckles were bleeding!

He had heard the conversation inside the room just now.

He asked: “What do you mean you can’t find him? What do you mean he’s suffering a fate worse than death?”

His voice trembled.

Unable to hide his worried emotions.

The Marquis of Nanguo’s brow furrowed as he signaled with his eyes to the man in blue robes who had come to report.

Telling him to leave first.

After the man withdrew, the Marquis of Nanguo’s expression was grave as he told him: “Though we can’t find him, at least it’s not bad news!”

“Then… what do we do now?”

“He must still be in the prince’s residence. I’ll think of other ways. In any case, if he’s alive we must see him, if he’s dead we must see his corpse.”

Ugh!

Bai Yin’s chest shook. He immediately said: “I’ve at least been to the Second Prince’s residence before. I’m quite familiar with the layout inside. Tonight I’ll go in to find him.”

“No!” The Marquis of Nanguo stopped him. “You cannot get involved in this matter anymore! Now that day has broken, you must hurry out of the city.”

Bai Yin became anxious: “How can I leave at a time like this? He was captured because he was covering for me. I won’t leave without seeing him.”

Resolute!

The Marquis of Nanguo’s face showed a solemn expression: “A’Jin, if Lian Que knew you wanted to risk going to the prince’s residence again for his sake, even if he died he wouldn’t want to implicate you! If something happens to you again, what would you have me do?”

“…”

“I promise you, I definitely won’t let anything happen to him! You go back to the bamboo house first and wait for my news.”

Bai Yin’s emotions gradually calmed down.

Suppressing his impulse.

He agreed to leave the city first!

However—

The Marquis of Nanguo worried: “Right now the city gates have tight security. Leaving the city requires inspection. You can’t just go out like this.”

Hmm?

Soon, the Marquis of Nanguo found him a worn set of ordinary hemp clothing to change into.

Disguising him!

He also stuffed an old yellowed bundle into his hands!

It was like he had changed into a different person.

The dagger he carried with him was hidden in his waist clothing.

Never leaving his person.

“If the guards ask, just say you came to Gaoding to visit relatives and are now returning.”

After arranging everything, Bai Yin quietly left the marquis’s residence through the back door.

Heading toward the city gate. Because of the mountain collapse outside the city, plus the assassin incident in the city, the city gate strictly inspected those leaving the city, so fewer people were leaving. Even the merchants coming to do business were fewer. It had just barely gotten light, so very few people were entering the city, and Bai Yin was the only person leaving.

The guards on duty stopped him.

“Where are you going?”

“Going home.”

“Home? What did you come to Gaoding for?”

“Visiting relatives.” Bai Yin answered smoothly, his gaze kept lowered to the ground.

The guard looked him up and down, noticing the bundle on his body: “What’s inside?”

Bai Yin: “A few worn clothes.”

“Open it and let me see.”

“Officer, it’s really just a bundle.”

“Whether it is or not, we’ll know once we open it and look. Hurry up, don’t waste time.”

Bai Yin unhurriedly untied the bundle.

Handing it to the guard for inspection.

Inside were indeed a few worn clothes and a pair of shoes.

Nothing unusual!

The guard returned the bundle to him: “All right, go on.”

“Thank you, officer.” Bai Yin hugged the bundle, hunching his back, hurrying to leave.

But after just a few steps, suddenly—

“Wait!”

Ugh!

His steps paused, stopping in place, his back to those guards.

A guard with fierce eyebrows and vertical eyes walked behind him: “Turn around.”

Bai Yin’s hands holding the bundle tightened somewhat.

He slowly turned around: “What other orders does the officer have?”

The guard pointed at his waist: “What’s that at your waist?”

Hmm?

The bundle of clothing at his waist seemed to be pressed against by something!

Inside was hidden that dagger!

He said calmly: “Nothing, just an ordinary item.”

“An ordinary item? What is it? Take it out and let me see.”

Bai Yin’s palm tightened as he slowly reached toward his waist.

He was about to grasp that dagger.

A trace of ruthlessness and killing intent also rose in his lowered eyes.

Preparing to use force to escape!

Suddenly—

“Thud!”

A loud sound.

Instantly dispelling Bai Yin’s thoughts!

Everyone looked toward the sound to see a luxurious carriage about to leave the city, but a small box had suddenly fallen from inside the carriage.

The contents also scattered out as a result.

All sheets of paper covered with writing!

When they scattered, they were blown everywhere by the cold morning wind.

Flying in all directions!

The coachman quickly pulled the reins and got down to pick them up.

The woman inside called out asking: “What happened?”

The coachman answered while picking up: “Miss, this box was originally on the carriage floor, somehow it fell to the ground, and everything inside flew out.” “What?” The woman immediately pulled back the curtain to look outside. Seeing things flying everywhere, her face showed anxiety: “Oh my, these are scriptures I’ve been copying for several months, waiting until today to take to the temple for prayers. How did they get so scattered? Hurry and pick them up.”

“Yes yes yes, this servant will pick them up right away.”

“How long will it take you to pick them up alone?” The woman’s clear, clean eyes suddenly looked toward the guards at the city gate, seeking help: “Officers and brothers, could you please help pick them up together?”

Her voice was gentle and soft.

Very pleasant to hear!

Making one’s heart melt!

The guards at the city gate all recognized this woman!

The second young miss of the Duke’s residence, Zhao’er!

What was she doing here?

One guard immediately showed a flattering smile: “So it’s Miss Zhao, what are you doing?” Zhao’er explained: “A few days ago some large trees fell outside the city, so all carriages couldn’t get on the main road. Today they said it’s been cleared, so I planned to leave the city to pray at the temple. I wanted to go to the temple early while it had just gotten light to get good fortune! Who knew this useless box would roll off the carriage? Inside the box are all scriptures for prayer, now they’re blown everywhere. What should I do? If even one sheet is lost, the prayers won’t be effective, and then… Father will definitely blame me.”

Looking pitiful!

Tears glistening in her eyes.

Such a piteous appearance—who wouldn’t feel sorry seeing it?

Everyone knew Zhao’er’s father was Duke Wangguo!

Who wouldn’t want to curry favor?

Hearing this, the guards naturally hurried to show their eagerness.

Each bowing at the waist: “Miss Zhao, don’t worry, we’ll help you right away!” Calling out: “Quick quick quick, hurry and pick them up.”

Everyone rushed forward, competing to help pick up the scattered scriptures.

The guard who had been inspecting Bai Yin naturally couldn’t miss this opportunity. He waved impatiently at Bai Yin: “All right all right, hurry and go.”

Then he ran off!

Seeing this, Bai Yin naturally wouldn’t linger and quickly left the city.

To prevent that guard from coming back to his senses!

The scriptures were collected neatly in a short while and placed one by one into the box.

The guards then lifted the box onto the carriage floor.

Full service! “Miss Zhao, everything’s been picked up. Take a look—do you have any other instructions?”