The azure and white wine flags of Chunfeng Tavern still fluttered in the wind as before, while the wine patrons coming and going remained completely unaware that this famous establishment in the capital had quietly changed owners.

This time Shao Mingyuan entered through the back door, not even going to the front tavern area but directly entering a room in the rear courtyard, with two personal guards silently standing watch at the door.

The room’s layout was simple and bright. On the table by the window sat a fine white porcelain wine pot with a large belly alongside a pair of wine cups, while a pot of blooming peonies adorned the windowsill in brilliant colors.

Shao Mingyuan sat down, not pouring any wine, simply waiting quietly.

After about half an hour, sounds came from outside the door. Moments later, the door opened, and Shao Zhi led in a middle-aged man.

“General, Escort Leader Lin has arrived.”

Shao Mingyuan looked toward Lin Kun.

Yuanwei Escort Agency had operated in the capital for many years, even establishing branches in some major cities. As the agency’s deputy escort leader, this man could be considered a figure of some standing.

The middle-aged man before him was not tall but quite sturdy, with bright, spirited eyes in a face weathered by wind and frost.

“Escort Leader Lin.” Shao Mingyuan spoke first.

Lin Kun gazed intently at Shao Mingyuan, then suddenly prostrated himself: “I pay my respects to the General!”

His hands trembled slightly, as if struggling to contain his excitement.

Shao Mingyuan was somewhat surprised and reached out to help Lin Kun to his feet: “Escort Leader Lin need not be so formal—”

Lin Kun stood up, his eyes bright and filled with the fervor of meeting someone he had long revered.

Shao Zhi thought irritably: This man insisted on waiting to see the General before speaking—could it be purely because he wanted to meet his General face to face?

With this thought, Shao Zhi’s gaze fell on Lin Kun’s hands still gripping Shao Mingyuan’s.

Hmph, still not letting go!

Shao Mingyuan was much calmer than Shao Zhi.

Such expressions—he had seen too many of them in the Northern Territories.

“Shao Zhi, you may leave first.”

Since this person would only speak after seeing him he didn’t want others present.

“Yes, sir.” Shao Zhi glanced at Lin Kun and silently withdrew.

With only Shao Mingyuan and Lin Kun remaining in the room, Shao Mingyuan withdrew his hand and pointed to the white porcelain wine pot on the table: “Escort Leader Lin, shall we have a drink?”

“No, no need.” In the presence of the famous Marquis Guanjun, as an ordinary citizen who made his living escorting goods, Lin Kun was somewhat excited. Looking at that young, handsome face so close before him, he couldn’t help but confess: “General, you may not know—when I was still young, I had already heard of your heroic deeds and held you in special reverence—”

Shao Mingyuan: “…”

He lowered his eyes, reached out to turn over the wine cups, lifted the wine pot to fill them in turn, then pushed one across, saying with a gentle smile: “The honor is mine.”

His fingers touching the cool wine cup, Lin Kun finally came to his senses and couldn’t help but stare blankly.

What nonsense had he just been spouting?

“This wine is called ‘Intoxicated by Spring Breeze.’ Escort Leader Lin must have tried it before.”

“Oh yes, yes, I have.” Lin Kun took the wine Shao Mingyuan offered and drank it down in a daze.

Shao Mingyuan didn’t find it amusing; instead, his heart felt bitter.

This was how common people were—if you protected them, they held you in reverence in their hearts. Even men who stood tall and proud could show a childlike side.

No factional struggles, no wariness—these most simple emotions had always been his motivation for staying in the Northern Territories.

Understanding Lin Kun’s feelings, Shao Mingyuan didn’t immediately get to the point but chatted casually as if among friends. Seeing his mood gradually settle, he finally broached the subject: “Escort Leader Lin should know that my wife fell into Tartar hands because she took the wrong path—”

Lin Kun’s expression changed, and he set down his wine cup solemnly: “Yes.”

He had been present when the General’s wife was captured—how could he not know? Was it taking the wrong path?

Though the person before him was young, he was someone Lin Kun had long admired. Steeling himself, Lin Kun voiced the thought that had been circling in his mind: “General, this common citizen believes it wasn’t as simple as taking the wrong path—there was a problem with the person who came to escort Madam!”

“So, when the general who came as a replacement suggested changing routes, that’s why Escort Leader Lin strongly opposed it?”

“Exactly. General, you may not know—this common citizen is actually from the Northern Territories. I only fled to the capital as a refugee seven years ago. My current hometown is my wife’s natal family’s place. So while others knew nothing about that route, I knew it all too well. Taking that fork in the road, there’s a mountain pass that’s particularly suitable for ambushes.”

Hearing that Lin Kun was from the north, Shao Mingyuan wasn’t too surprised.

When he heard Shao Zhi’s report of the situation, he had vaguely guessed that this Deputy Escort Leader Lin, who had argued with Su Luofeng over changing routes, either had ulterior motives or had been to the Northern Territories.

No wonder when the marquis’ residence commissioned an escort, Yuanwei Escort Agency sent this Escort Leader Lin.

Shao Mingyuan poured another cup of wine and passed it over.

Perhaps having opened up, this time Lin Kun showed no awkwardness, taking it and drinking it down in one gulp.

Shao Mingyuan looked steadily at him, then suddenly stood and cupped his hands in salute: “Then could Escort Leader Lin carefully consider whether anything unusual happened before the convoy changed routes?”

Lin Kun was startled and sprang to his feet, saying helplessly: “General, you’re being too kind to this common citizen!”

He wanted to help Shao Mingyuan up, but felt it inappropriate, his face flushing red with anxiety.

Not wanting to make things difficult for him, Shao Mingyuan sat back down, his tone earnest: “Please think carefully, Escort Leader Lin. This is very important to me.”

Hearing this, Lin Kun racked his brain to remember.

He thought for quite a while before saying hesitantly: “Speaking of unusual… it hardly counts as such—”

“Please tell me, Escort Leader Lin.”

“It was when passing through Weeping Ghost Forest… General, you know Weeping Ghost Forest, don’t you?”

Shao Mingyuan calmly drew out a scroll from his chest, slowly unrolled it, and lightly pointed to a spot: “Is it here?”

Lin Kun’s eyes lit up as he nodded repeatedly: “Exactly, right here! When the convoy rested there, your residence’s head steward took several people, saying they wanted to improve their fare and hunt a wild boar in the forest. I suggested they shouldn’t go, but seeing their insistence, I didn’t say more. This matter, well, it wasn’t anything unusual—everyone else paid no attention, but I felt somewhat uncomfortable about it at the time.”

“Why?”

Lin Kun pointed to the marking for Weeping Ghost Forest and sighed: “Most locals only know that Weeping Ghost Forest produces a kind of miasma in summer, and nine out of ten people who enter lose their lives there, but it’s fine in winter. However, I knew another fact—entering this forest and following this path, you could traverse through a mountain belly and reach the border with the Tartars.”

Shao Mingyuan’s eyes suddenly contracted.

So that was it!

That area was Huirang territory. If traveling normally, one would need to detour for four or five days to reach it, and it wasn’t part of their planned route.

Seeing Shao Mingyuan’s expression turn cold, Lin Kun quickly said: “I meant nothing else by it—I just didn’t want unnecessary trouble. That shortcut is rarely known. Steward Shen and the others didn’t take long before returning. They roasted the wild boar they hunted, and I even got a piece to eat.”

Rarely known didn’t mean no one knew.

Thick waves of fatigue and coldness surged up. Shao Mingyuan smiled without revealing his emotions and raised the wine pot: “Come, let’s drink.”