Ji Yinshu had no martial arts skills. If there really were bandits, she would certainly meet with disaster.

She was thinking of hurrying to catch up with Li Chuan.

But she also knew her own abilities were limited.

At Li Chuan’s speed, he could probably reach Yanjing in less than half a month, but she would likely have to walk for quite a while.

Moreover, it was already too late to leave the city now!

She said: “Thank you for the reminder. Since the mountain road can’t be taken, do you have another route?”

“There is one. Take the water route, but you can’t go directly to Yanjing. After reaching Liangzhou, you can transfer. Now that this incident has happened, everyone basically takes the water route.”

“Is there a boat available at this hour?”

“You’re really out of luck—boats leaving from Jiahe Town all depart in the morning, so you’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning.”

Tomorrow morning!

So she had to stay here another night?

The adviser said: “Taking the water route to Yanjing will be slower, but it’s better than miss traveling the mountain road alone in terms of safety. You’ll just have to stay here one more night.”

“That’s the only option then.”

Even if she went to chase Li Chuan now, she couldn’t catch up with him anyway!

The adviser said: “Since miss is unwilling to join the yamen, I won’t say more and can’t force you. But if miss ever changes her mind, you’re more than welcome to return.”

“Thank you.”

“Then may miss have a safe journey to Yanjing. I won’t disturb you further. Farewell.”

After seeing the adviser off, Ji Yinshu had no choice but to stay at the inn another night.

The yamen.

By this time, it was already afternoon.

The county magistrate, given his age, slept very soundly during his afternoon nap. Combined with being busy all day, he overslept.

After waking and eating a bite of food, he started playing chess in the rear courtyard of the yamen.

He always said no one else had chess skills as good as his, so no one in the yamen was willing to play chess with him anymore. Over time, he just played chess alone, quite happily at that.

From time to time, he would stroke his graying beard.

Very content.

Having solved a death case today, he was in an especially good mood.

Just as he was absorbed in his chess game—

A young servant from the yamen came running hurriedly: “Sir, Sir…”

Calling out several times.

The county magistrate stared intently at the chess board before him, making no sound.

“Sir, someone has come to the yamen, saying that…”

“Someone else died?”

“No, two people came to the yamen entrance, saying they want to see you. They have business.”

“What business could there be?”

The county magistrate lived a secluded life, usually just staying in the yamen playing chess. He basically went nowhere and had few friends. He’d already exchanged visits with his relatives, and the few he could visit had already been buried.

Who could be looking for him!

The servant said: “This humble one doesn’t know who they are either, but those two people don’t look like ordinary folk.”

The county magistrate was dismissive.

He continued playing chess.

Pondering how to make his next move.

Not making a sound for quite a while.

The servant waited beside him for a long time before speaking again: “Sir? Should I invite them in? Or not invite them in?”

“Invite what?”

“Didn’t I just say? Two people outside want to see you.”

“Oh!” He really was getting senile. With his advanced age, he could forget things in the blink of an eye. He lightly tapped his forehead, muttering softly, “It’s almost evening, who could it be?”

“Sir?”

“Never mind, never mind. Invite them in.”

“Yes.”

The servant hurried off to invite them.

Soon, two men dressed in fine robes came one after the other to the rear courtyard of the yamen.

These two were the same young masters who had been watching from outside the court hall earlier.

After the servant led them to the pavilion, he said to the county magistrate: “Sir, the two young masters have arrived.”

Having said this, he withdrew!

The county magistrate completely ignored the visitors and continued playing chess.

The gray-robed man standing in front, whose brows and eyes were handsome and spirited, curved his lips: “Magistrate Li is in such fine spirits.”

Hearing this, the county magistrate asked without lifting his head: “Who is it? What do you want with this official?”

He sounded rather impatient!

His chess game had been interrupted.

The gray-robed man wasn’t annoyed in the slightest. Taking a step forward, he said: “Everyone says Jiahe Town is an extremely comfortable place, and the people living here are all very content. Seeing Sir playing chess so leisurely now, it’s clear that Jiahe Town is indeed a fine place.”

The county magistrate only said: “If you have business, speak. If you have no business, don’t come to the yamen randomly.”

Anyone would feel uncomfortable hearing such words.

Though the gray-robed man wasn’t annoyed and instead found this county magistrate to be an interesting old ginger!

However, the green-robed man following behind him became somewhat angry.

Just as he was about to step forward and say something—

The man raised his hand, telling him to stand peacefully and not act impulsively.

The green-robed man’s face was full of fury, but since his master stopped him, he could only retreat.

The gray-robed man had a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, his eyes suddenly sharp: “I remember the last time I met with Sir was ten years ago. At that time, Sir went to Yanjing to report on matters. You and I met once at the residence of the Minister of Revenue. Though it was hurried, I’ve always remembered.”

Eh!

Hearing these words, the county magistrate’s squinted eyes suddenly opened wide.

His already somewhat stiff body froze for a moment.

The black chess piece pinched between his fingertips also dropped onto the board with a “thud”!

The county magistrate looked up, quickly rose, and came around from behind the stone table to the front.

Walking with faltering steps.

His back hunched.

Clearly looking flustered, he walked before the man and bowed: “So it’s General Wen visiting. This official failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me!”

He was about to perform a salute.

Seeing his advanced age, Wen Che worried that if he broke his back, that would be terrible.

He immediately reached out to hold up the hand he was raising, saying: “Please don’t! Magistrate Li is one of our elder officials. This junior cannot accept such courtesy.”

The county magistrate’s soul still hadn’t settled from fright!

He wheezed softly, taking quite a while to recover.

Raising his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, he asked: “How… how can General Wen be here? Aren’t you in Yanjing?”

Wen Che’s expression darkened: “Naturally I came out because of some business.”

The county magistrate quickly invited him to sit, then called for someone to bring tea.

“No need for tea.” Wen Che had the tea removed, then instructed the green-robed man following him, “Shu Tian, wait outside.”

“Yes.” Shu Tian then waited outside the pavilion.

“I wonder what matter brings General Wen to our Jiahe Town?” the county magistrate asked.

For someone with the title of general to come here, something major must have happened! And this person called General Wen was the eldest son of General Wen Lianggong, the Great General of Huaihua from Qujiang. From childhood, he went to battle with his father, achieving illustrious military merit! Unfortunately, some years ago he was injured in battle. It wasn’t treated promptly and became a chronic condition! If he exerted himself or became agitated, he would suffer severe heart pain. Even his uncle, who was known as having “divine hands,” could only preserve his life but couldn’t cure him. A fine war god had become a sickly person, but the Emperor didn’t dismiss him from重任 because of this.

Instead, he was transferred to the Ministry of Rites to be a civil official!

Also good for recuperating his health!

And he was none other than Wen Yu’s own elder brother! But why would he appear here?