So far, everything had gone according to plan.

Excellent.

She had barely eaten half of her second bowl of licorice fruit water when a commotion erupted in the street. Someone shouted at the top of their lungs: “The rebel! The rebel is here!”

Immediately after, the chaotic sound of footsteps approached. Feng Miao Jun glanced out the window, just in time to see the fake-bearded man forcefully push through the crowd, striding toward the entrance of the Gan Lu Inn. He paused there momentarily as if hesitating whether to enter. But Feng Miao Jun understood that this move was intended to let more witnesses spot him.

This fellow knew how to play his part. Under the pretext of lifting her spoon, she allowed her lips to curve slightly.

Whistles sounded from all directions, coming from everywhere, varying in length but growing increasingly closer. The bearded man’s path had alerted those who needed to be alerted.

He looked back over his shoulder, ensuring he was visible from all 360 degrees to everyone nearby, then bypassed the front hall and darted toward the back of the Gan Lu Inn!

Just as his figure disappeared, a squad of soldiers in bright armor pushed through the crowd from a distance. Their leader shouted, “Where is he? Where did the rebel flee?”

A thousand fingers pointed toward the Gan Lu Inn.

The squad leader waved his hand, and over twenty subordinates spread out to surround the inn. Only then did he lead his men into the front hall, announcing loudly, “Our camp has orders to apprehend the rebel. The inn is sealed—no one may enter or leave. Those who obstruct official duties will be considered accomplices and punished accordingly!” He pressed his official tablet onto the counter for the innkeeper to see clearly. “Old Liu, my apologies!”

The innkeeper’s face fell, but understanding the temperament of these military men all too well, he dared not object. He could only dispatch several attendants: “Accompany the officers and explain the situation properly to our guests!”

The Gan Lu Inn was the largest in Tian Shui City. Just its stable area alone matched the entire grounds of other inns. It had over fifty ordinary guest rooms, with a row of red-brick buildings at the back—all of which were premium suites.

Hot weather made people drowsy, and many were startled awake from their slumber, quite irritated. Feng Miao Jun sat in the main hall, watching the entire Gan Lu Inn descend into chaos.

However, the abundance of rooms became a burden for the guards. They knocked on each door, and when there was no immediate response, they barged in to inspect. Shrieks from women frequently rang out from the guest rooms, accompanied by guests’ scolding. Located in a border region, many wealthy merchants weren’t citizens of the Yao Kingdom and didn’t feel obliged to show any courtesy to these Yao Kingdom soldiers.

By the time all guest rooms had been checked, more than half an hour had passed.

With the Gan Lu Inn in an uproar, many guests lost interest in their afternoon rest and came downstairs, yawning as they sought seats. Feng Miao Jun saw Young Master He looking displeased, descending with “Brother Zi Yao,” waving for a pot of citrus tea.

Other guards had similarly gone to search the rear area. More than one passerby claimed the bearded rebel had headed in that direction.

However, after searching thoroughly, they returned empty-handed. The squad leader’s face darkened. “Couldn’t find him?” From the outside, the Gan Lu Inn appeared to be a closed compound, and they had arrived promptly with men stationed at the base of every wall. The rebel should have been unable to escape, even with wings. Earlier, the shouts of “The rebel is here!” had resonated like thunder. How would he report back to his superiors today?

“Search again!” He pulled out the portrait and glanced at it. “Re-examine all the guests, and don’t just focus on the beard. Pay special attention to the mole at his temple!” A beard could be shaved, but such distinctive facial features were not easily altered.

The guests’ rooms had already been searched once, and now they needed to have their faces scrutinized to pass inspection. Those with fiercer temperaments immediately objected. Feng Miao Jun, tucked away in a corner, remained composed. As a young girl, she was immediately excluded from the list of suspects, making her the most relaxed spectator present.

That “Brother Zi Yao” also appeared leisurely as he sipped his tea. When he looked toward the entrance, his gaze swept over Feng Miao Jun. Their eyes met, and he smiled slightly at her, clearly remembering her.

Feng Miao Jun, however, furrowed her brow, displayed a look of disdain, and then averted her gaze.

Time ticked by, and there was still no trace of the rebel. Unwilling to give up, the squad leader personally headed toward the back hall after searching the front hall, examining each area meticulously. Since all witnesses claimed the rebel had run in here, this had to be the focus of their investigation.

The layout at the back was somewhat complex. Behind the guest rooms was a row of double-layered corridor courtyards where generous guests stayed, featuring bamboo groves, artificial mountains, and ponds, all exquisitely designed. Now, every corner seemed like a potential hiding spot. Further out, across two courtyards, was a large open space planted with fruit trees, housing stables, and miscellaneous rooms specifically for merchants to unload their goods.

Of course, there were also kitchens, food cellars, and latrines…

This detailed search consumed considerable time. Finally, when they reached the postal corridor, someone suddenly pointed at a locked room and asked, “What’s with this one?”

Though called a corridor, the postal section was a series of miscellaneous rooms for merchants to store goods. This row of eleven or twelve rooms all stood open, with boxes and cabinets already rummaged through by the guards. Their owners had hurried over early to prevent their goods from being looted amid the chaos. But this room in the corner was secured with an iron lock. The squad leader glared at his subordinate. “Didn’t you check this earlier?”

“We did. The door was open then.”

The storage room had a small window, just two palms wide. He peered inside, but unfortunately, the courtyard’s light had already dimmed. He could only vaguely make out a large, dark shadow, which prompted him to say gravely: “What’s inside here?”

“It’s my Fruit King, to be entered in the Water Festival competition!” Before his subordinate could answer, another voice interjected. The squad leader frowned as he turned to see Young Master He standing behind him.

“Open it.”

Young Master He had no choice but to call someone to unlock it. “Where were you earlier? Weren’t you supposed to be guarding this place?”

His attendant hung his head. “I suddenly had severe diarrhea, so I locked the door before heading to the latrine…” After returning from the toilet, he had decided to take it easy and hadn’t reopened the door. But now that he was brought over, after trying several keys, he was dumbfounded. “Young Master, I—I can’t open it.”

The squad leader’s face darkened. “It’s your goods, and you can’t open the lock?”

The postal corridor only provided space; merchants brought their locks for their goods.

The attendant hurriedly tried a few more times, but the more nervous he became, the less successful he was. With a pained expression, he said, “Officer, this truly isn’t our lock. Strange, perhaps someone replaced the lock while I was at the latrine…”

“Absurd!” The squad leader laughed cynically. “If it’s not your lock, is it mine? Men, break down the door.”

Soldiers brought a large axe and, with several loud crashes, shattered the wooden bolt.

This was the most spacious storage room in the postal corridor, with enough room to comfortably fit two four-horse carriages side by side. Currently, it housed only a specially designed wagon with a gigantic melon on it, nearly filling the entire room.

The space was so packed that not only would a person be immediately spotted, but even a dog would be visible if squeezed in.

The squad leader, preoccupied with his concerns, couldn’t help but be surprised at the sight of the melon. “It’s so large! Taller than a person!”