A month later, the four successfully entered Guangxi territory.

Upon entering Guangxi, the weather suddenly turned hot, like the capital’s sixth or seventh month—oppressively sweltering.

Yan Sanhe, who always feared heat more than cold, immediately couldn’t bear it. Her head spun, her eyes blurred—she nearly tumbled headfirst from her horse.

Xie Zhifei saw clearly and shouted: “Li Buyan, stop—rest!”

Li Buyan turned her head. Seeing Yan Sanhe’s paper-white face, she quickly said: “Third Master, you look after Miss. I’ll go ahead and see if there’s an inn.”

Xie Zhifei spurred his horse to ride level with Yan Sanhe’s. “Are you suffering heatstroke?”

Yan Sanhe nodded. “I fear heat.”

Xie Zhifei: “When we reach Nanning Prefecture, first buy some light clothing.”

Pei Xiao urged his horse forward. “After buying clothes, let’s have a good meal—wine and meat. Keep going like this and I’ll turn into a monk.”

“Miss, Third Master.”

Li Buyan galloped toward them. “There’s a herbal tea shop ahead—let’s rest our feet there.”

…

The herbal tea shop was set beneath tree shade at a ventilated spot, already full of people.

Yan Sanhe found a tree and sat down on the ground against it.

Just as Xie Zhifei was about to step forward to remind her “the ground is cold,” he saw her raise her hand to unfasten her collar buttons and quickly turned around, shifting his gaze away.

He casually shifted half a step sideways, his two straight long legs perfectly blocking everyone’s line of sight.

In broad daylight with a shop full of men—couldn’t she be a bit more careful?

Li Buyan brought over a tea bowl. “Miss, moisten your throat!”

Yan Sanhe drained it in one gulp. “Another bowl.”

“Coming!”

“Miss Li, what about mine?” Xie Zhifei felt envious.

“Third Master has hands and feet—get it yourself.”

Xie Zhifei’s expression went blank for a moment, his heart deeply missing Zhu Qing.

After two bowls, the oppressive heat immediately lessened considerably. Yan Sanhe nodded to Li Buyan and leaned against the tree with closed eyes to rest.

“Shopkeeper.”

Li Buyan walked over with a smile. “How much farther from here to Nanning Prefecture?”

The shopkeeper was a small old man in his fifties, dark and thin. “Not far—still two or three hours by horse.”

Li Buyan: “Then… where’s the most famous temple in Nanning Prefecture?”

The old man laughed heartily. “Our Nanning Prefecture’s most famous temple is on Mount Qingxiu—called Guanyin Temple. You’re also here to pray for marriage, right, miss? Better go early to grab the first incense stick—very efficacious!”

“Old man, you’re blind—with this miss’s looks, she needs to pray? The matchmakers would trample her threshold flat.”

“Exactly—such a face, such a waist.”

“Skin so tender you could pinch water from it.”

“Smack!”

Li Buyan’s flexible sword from her waist slammed heavily on the table.

Everyone in the herbal tea shop shut their mouths in unison. A middle-aged man in plain clothes tossed down two coins and left.

“Lord Zhou, I can’t take your money. Lord Zhou, Lord Zhou…”

The old man chased after him. That person waved his hand, mounted his horse, and rode away without looking back.

“Good official!”

The old man pocketed the money, sighing as he walked back. “If this world had a few more officials like that, us common folk would have easier lives.”

Looking up, the old man was dumbfounded. The previously packed tea shop now had only four customers left.

“Miss, you scared away all my customers.”

“I’ll compensate you.”

Li Buyan pulled two taels of silver from her chest and tossed them over. “Miss, Third Master, Lord Pei—let’s rest a bit then depart. Two or three hours’ journey—let’s finish it in one go.”

Xie Zhifei saw Yan Sanhe seemed to be sleeping and quickly responded: “Alright.”

Yan Sanhe wasn’t sleeping—she just didn’t want to open her eyes. Her moon cycle was probably coming, making her uncomfortable.

After a pot of tea’s time, she stood up. After two steps, she suddenly paused. “Xie Zhifei, come look at this.”

“What is it?”

Xie Zhifei walked over and, following her pointing finger, his expression changed drastically. “This is your…”

“My bundle for holding silver.”

“How could it be here? Could it be…”

Xie Zhifei instantly had his answer. “The thief is among these tea customers.”

Pei Xiao came over for a look and said offhandedly: “Could it be that Lord Zhou just now?”

“Oh my, I say, customer!”

The old man’s face darkened. “You can suspect anyone, but suspect our Lord Zhou and you’ll truly be struck by lightning. Lord Zhou is a good official.”

Pei Xiao was unconvinced. “Good officials can’t steal?”

“If he steals, I could fly to heaven!”

The old man was thoroughly enraged, so angry he wanted to charge at Pei Xiao and fight.

“He gives out porridge all four seasons, every season. I set up this herbal tea shop thanks to his money. Ten out of ten common folk in our Nanning Prefecture have received his kindness.”

With that, he threw the two taels of silver on the ground.

“Who wants your stinking money—get out, all of you get out!”

Pei Xiao was about to argue further but was stopped by Xie Zhifei’s look.

“Old man, don’t be angry. My brother doesn’t speak properly. You’re right—no one else could steal, but Lord Zhou couldn’t.”

“Of course he couldn’t!”

Xie Zhifei picked up the small bundle from the bushes, then retrieved the silver. “Don’t get angry over money, old man. Running a business in this heat isn’t easy.”

“You’re the only sensible one.”

The old man grudgingly took the money.

“By the way, what office does he hold in your Nanning Prefecture?”

“He’s our magistrate.”

“So it’s the Prefect. But shouldn’t the Prefect be in his office at this hour?”

“That’s exactly why he’s a good official—Lord Zhou can’t sit still in the office. Three days out of five he goes to the farms and mountains.”

“Just him alone? Such a high official doesn’t bring a few yamen runners?”

“How many yamen runners can stand this heat?”

“No attendants either?”

“Lord Zhou uses his money to help us common folk. Forget attendants—I hear there aren’t even many servants in his residence.”

“Truly a good official.”

Xie Zhifei stuffed the small bundle into Yan Sanhe’s hands. “Let’s go.”

The herbal tea shop fell far behind.

Xie Zhifei rode beside Yan Sanhe. “Do you think… it was him?”

Yan Sanhe glanced at him. “No evidence.”

“Even if it was him, that’s robbing the rich to help the poor—a hero’s deed. Our Great Hua Kingdom has too few such good officials.”

After Li Buyan finished speaking, she turned her head and smiled. “Third Master, for this last bit of journey, shall we compete?”

Being challenged like this, Xie Zhifei’s interest was immediately piqued. He’d long noticed this girl’s horsemanship was exceptionally skilled.

“What stakes?”

“Loser helps the winner grab the first incense stick at Guanyin Temple.”

Xie Zhifei laughed heartily: “Deal!”

The two exchanged glances, simultaneously raised their whips high, then galloped away.

“Yan Sanhe.”

Pei Xiao shook his head watching. “Don’t you think those two are fools? The first incense stick is just a matter of one word from me, the Right Auxiliary of Good, isn’t it?”

Yan Sanhe ignored him and cracked her riding whip.

“Hyah!”