Zhao Yishi made a “be at ease” gesture to Yan Sanhe. “Chengyu, first accompany me to see Master Xiang.”

“Yes.”

Xie Zhifei shot Yan Sanhe a look, indicating she should wait a moment.

They waited for a good half hour.

When they returned, Yan Sanhe learned that Zhao Yishi had not only comforted Master Xiang but would also, first thing tomorrow morning, move several hundred of his Crown Prince’s personal guards over to protect the safety of the Xiang father and son.

She suddenly realized—the Xiang family weren’t commoners. This assassin was even killing officials without hesitation. Who gave him such audacity?

“Rest for the next few days and temporarily don’t continue investigating.”

Zhao Yishi: “Tomorrow I’ll dispatch some personnel to the villa to protect you all.”

Everyone in the room shuddered with cold.

Surely he wouldn’t go after even them?

Zhao Yishi walked to Yan Sanhe’s side: “Miss Yan, let’s leave it at this for now. Currently I have no better solution either. We can only pause.”

Yan Sanhe: “Then we’ll pause.”

Zhao Yishi: “Ding Yi and Huang Qi still can’t be moved. Let them rest at the Xiang residence for a few days. I’ll have my personal guards escort you back to the villa.”

As he finished speaking, Shen Chong entered and whispered a few words in Zhao Yishi’s ear.

After listening, Zhao Yishi’s expression changed several times.

Xie Zhifei’s eyes were sharp: “What is it?”

Zhao Yishi looked at him and sighed softly: “Just received news—the horses at the other two horse farms have also all weakened.”

Another chilling piece of news.

The same thought arose in everyone’s hearts: If enemy nations invaded now, what would Hua Kingdom’s warriors use to charge into battle and defend their homeland?

“Miss Yan.”

Zhao Yishi’s handsome face was covered with a layer of haze.

“It seems the Zheng family matter can’t be paused for long. You’ll still need to think about what method we can use to continue investigating.”

“There is one!”

Yan Sanhe: “Find a way to capture the assassin.”

Everyone’s spirits sharpened.

Even Li Buyan, who knew martial arts, said: “That assassin’s kung fu is so formidable—capturing him will be difficult!”

“Not difficult. We just need to set a trap.”

Yan Sanhe paused: “What’s difficult is—how should this trap be set? Should we use the next person connected to the case as bait?”

With that, she turned and walked out of the main hall, her expression and back tensed tightly.

She hadn’t told them that there was actually another strange aspect to this matter.

She met one person, the assassin killed one person—why go to such trouble?

Directly killing her would be much more convenient.

Or was it that the person only wanted to kill all those who knew about the case?

What was the assassin’s true purpose?

…

The atmosphere at the villa once again sank to rock bottom.

From morning to night, Yan Sanhe locked herself in the study. She didn’t even come out to eat—Li Buyan delivered meals to her.

Aside from court matters, Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao also frequently visited the Xiang residence.

Ding Yi and Huang Qi had followed them for so many years—their bond was no less than brothers. Their hearts were always concerned.

However, staying at someone else’s home for recovery was ultimately uncomfortable. Three days later, the two were moved back to the villa.

Once they returned, Tang Yuan was kept busy, putting thought into nourishing meals three times a day.

At this time, news came from Han Yong’s side—since its establishment, the Brocade Guard had never had anyone from the Qi Kingdom named An Ran.

As for hidden doors, that was even more impossible to investigate.

The reason it was impossible was—

If An Ran was Yu Shengyan’s hidden door, then with Yu Shengyan’s death, An Ran would also vanish without a trace along with his death.

Han Yong also mentioned something Xie Zhifei didn’t know: the stipends for hidden doors were also disbursed from their superiors.

In other words, An Ran’s existence was known only to Yu Shengyan alone.

As for forgery work, the Brocade Guard had too many skilled craftsmen who could forge things. Just those recorded in the registry numbered in the dozens.

Receiving such a result, even though they had anticipated it beforehand, Yan Sanhe’s heart still went cold.

…

Early one morning, everyone was having breakfast in the flower hall when Tang Yuan led someone into the courtyard.

“Miss Yan, Young Master Han has arrived.”

“Han Xu?”

Before Yan Sanhe could speak, Li Buyan had already flown out like a little bird.

“I really didn’t expect you to come.”

“What, not welcome?”

Li Buyan glared at him reproachfully: “Been wishing on stars and moon for you.”

Han Xu drew a handkerchief from his bosom and handed it to her.

Li Buyan opened it and her face bloomed into a flower: “Oh, you’re really giving this to me?”

Last time in her room, she had seen a pair of earrings and was curious why this person, disguised as a man, would want earrings when she didn’t even have pierced ears.

Upon asking, she learned that after completing an escort job, she had been strolling the streets, saw them and liked them, so bought them.

Han Xu: “Where’s Sanhe?”

Li Buyan pointed inside, her hand conveniently grabbing Han Xu’s arm: “Come, keep me company for some breakfast.”

“I’ve already eaten.”

“Then eat some more.”

Li Buyan: “Tang Yuan, add a set of bowls and chopsticks.”

Yan Sanhe saw them enter and rose to make introductions for Pei Xiao.

“This is Han Xu of the Han Family Escort Agency, a close friend of mine and Buyan’s. Han Xu, you can call this one Young Master Pei—he’s from a family of generations of physicians.”

Han Xu cupped his fists: “Young Master Pei.”

“Master Han.”

Pei Xiao smiled as he cupped his fists back, then turning around, in his heart he created a little figure resembling Han Xu and viciously jabbed three needles into it.

Just for this person giving Li Buyan a pair of earrings, these three needles weren’t unjust.

At this moment, Han Xu shifted to the side: “Third Master.”

Xie Zhifei smiled without warmth: “Master Han.”

Their eyes met.

Xie Zhifei recalled the fight with this person in Yunnan Prefecture, his gaze stern: “Master Han coming so early in the morning must have important business.”

Han Xu’s inquiring gaze turned to Yan Sanhe.

Yan Sanhe knew what she was asking.

Are you certain you want to speak here?

Are you certain you want these two men to hear?

She nodded slightly: “I had Han Xu secretly investigate something.”

Having reached this point, there was no need to hide and conceal anymore.

Han Xu had helped her so much—she also wanted to do something for Han Xu.

Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao both had official family status. Letting Han Xu become acquainted with them would benefit both the Han Family Fort and the Han Family Escort Agency.

Seeing Yan Sanhe’s nod, Han Xu pulled back her robe and sat down.

“The matter has some leads. Over ten years ago, there indeed was someone in the capital very skilled at forgery. This person was surnamed Xu, given name Erlang, with the nickname Marvelous Hands Erlang.”

“Marvelous Hands Erlang?”

Xie Zhifei’s brows knitted tightly: “This name is very familiar. I seem to have heard it somewhere.”

Han Xu: “This person had a shop in East Elm Grove Alley in the north, selling all kinds of seals.”

Xie Zhifei suddenly remembered.

“Wasn’t this shop closed for a long time? When the lease expired and the landlord couldn’t find anyone, he broke down the door to enter, and passersby took him for a thief and dragged him to the Military Patrol Bureau.”

Yan Sanhe: “When did this happen?”

Xie Zhifei thought for a moment: “Three years ago. I had just entered the Military Patrol Bureau, so I remember it particularly clearly.”

“This shop wasn’t closed for a long time.”

Han Xu: “Rather, this Xu Erlang disappeared for a long time.”

Yan Sanhe: “Disappeared?”

“Disappeared!”

Han Xu: “He went missing in the eighth month of Yonghe Year Eight. To this day, he’s neither been seen alive nor found dead. No one knows where he went.”