“Xie Zhifei.”

Yan Sanhe: “How many days there and back to Tianjin Wei?”

Xie Zhifei: “Three days at most.”

Yan Sanhe calculated the distance: “We’ll depart at dusk, ride horses through the night, and should arrive at Tianjin Wei by daybreak.”

“Miss Yan, I’ll go prepare immediately.”

Zhu Qing lifted his leg to walk out. His hand had just touched the door when he suddenly paused. He yanked the door open and leaped out.

Everyone was startled by his action.

Li Buyan reacted fastest, drawing the soft sword at her waist and chasing after him.

“Hey, what’s going on?”

Pei Xiao instinctively stepped back, but before this step was steady, he suddenly realized something and quickly followed.

Xie Zhifei’s expression changed. He ordered Ding Yi and Huang Qi: “You two don’t follow out. Protect Yan Sanhe.”

With that, he also chased out.

In the courtyard, only Pei Xiao remained.

“Where did they go?”

Pei Xiao pointed upward: “On the rooftop.”

Xie Zhifei’s heart immediately lurched.

Zhu Qing wouldn’t act without reason—he must have discovered something.

Could there be someone on the rooftop?

Just as he was thinking, Zhu Qing and Li Buyan both landed.

“Master.”

Zhu Qing’s expression was extremely grave: “Someone was eavesdropping on our conversation from the rooftop. Their martial skill was extremely fast—I didn’t even catch a glimpse of their shadow.”

“You’re certain?”

“Certain. There are two very faint footprints on the roof tiles.”

Li Buyan sheathed her sword: “Third Master, we’re being watched.”

Xie Zhifei shuddered violently. Before he could say anything, he saw Yan Sanhe emerge from inside: “I’m guessing it’s the person who killed Chen Pi.”

Xie Zhifei’s first instinct was also him. “What do we do now?”

“Right. All our plans have been overheard by him.”

Pei Xiao scratched his head, worried: “He won’t get ahead of us and kill everyone in the Zhao family, will he?”

Li Buyan: “Very possible.”

Hearing these words, all the blood in Xie Zhifei’s body flowed backward.

The Zhao family was his maternal family.

“Yan Sanhe, don’t wait until dusk. Let’s depart now.”

Zhu Qing: “Third Master is right. We must be fast.”

Being rushed, Yan Sanhe couldn’t concentrate her thoughts, so she simply said decisively: “Then let’s depart.”

There was no time to prepare provisions. Li Buyan and Zhu Qing each stuffed some silver into their pockets and immediately set out.

They didn’t dare rest for even a moment on the road.

Young Master Pei’s five organs and six viscera were all jolted about, but he gritted his teeth hard and didn’t utter a sound.

When they reached Tianjin Wei, it was already the third quarter of the hai hour.

At this time, the city gates were tightly closed. Everyone was exhausted and hungry, but there wasn’t even a place to rest.

Xie Zhifei removed his waist token and tossed it to Zhu Qing: “Knock on the gate. Enter the city.”

Although the Five Cities Military Patrol Bureau had a low rank, they were capital officials. The city guards didn’t dare offend them and immediately opened the city gate to let the five people through.

Once in the city, they headed straight for the Tianjin Wei Prefecture’s government office.

Xie Zhifei only knew the Zhao family was in Tianjin Wei, but as for exactly where in Tianjin Wei, he knew nothing.

Originally they could have inquired leisurely without alerting the officials, but now it was a race against time—even if they didn’t want to alert them, they had to.

The night-duty bailiff at the prefectural office saw they were from the Capital’s Five Cities and assumed this group was pursuing some fugitive.

So when Master Xie ordered them to inquire about the Zhao family, they didn’t dare utter a word and immediately went obediently. When Master Xie said he was hungry, they woke the cook and had her prepare some simple hot dishes and rice.

To make the journey, they hadn’t touched food or water for an entire day. Even someone as slow and careful an eater as Yan Sanhe was wolfing down her food somewhat.

After Young Master Pei finished eating, he wiped his mouth, tilted his head sideways, leaned against the wall, and fell asleep.

Too tired.

Xie Zhifei moved his shoulder toward Yan Sanhe: “Come, lean on me and close your eyes for a bit. Once we learn where the Zhao family is, we’ll head there immediately.”

At critical moments, Yan Sanhe was never coy. She rested her head on Xie Zhifei’s shoulder and closed her eyes to sleep.

Zhu Qing stood up: “Miss Li, you rest too. I’ll go outside to stand guard.”

Li Buyan also stood: “I’ll keep you company.”

“No need to stand guard.”

Yan Sanhe’s voice was very muffled: “This person’s target isn’t us. Everyone close your eyes and sleep.”

Zhu Qing and Li Buyan exchanged glances, each leaning against the wall to sleep. Anyway, whatever Yan Sanhe said was right—they just had to obey.

In the silence, Xie Zhifei slowly opened his eyes.

What Yan Sanhe said wasn’t wrong—that assassin wasn’t coming for them. If he were, with his martial skills, he would have made his move long ago.

But wouldn’t directly killing them be more convenient and effortless? Why go to the trouble of eavesdropping, then after eavesdropping, wait for an opportunity to kill people?

Was he being mindful of his and Mingting’s status as officials?

…

Very quickly, the bailiff sent out to inquire returned with the Zhao family’s detailed address.

Everyone rinsed their faces with well water, lifted their spirits somewhat, and set out.

At the fourth watch, Tianjin Wei’s streets were deserted.

Five horses galloped on the stone road.

From the sound of hoofbeats alone, one could hear the riders’ anxious urgency.

After searching for a full two hours, the five found the Zhao family’s residence built against a mountain in the outskirts beneath Pan Mountain.

At this moment, dawn had just broken.

Zhu Qing stepped forward to knock on the door.

A hunchbacked old man opened it, yawning while asking: “Who are you people?”

Seeing the old man’s manner and behavior, Zhu Qing knew the Zhao residence had no particular situation. He turned and nodded to those behind him.

The four people behind him simultaneously exhaled in relief.

Xie Zhifei stepped forward and produced his waist token: “From the capital, Five Cities Military Patrol Bureau, here to see your master to investigate the Zheng family case.”

The old man’s yawning mouth froze open, then he turned and ran.

A moment later, two middle-aged men were seen supporting a white-haired old woman as they hurried toward them.

From that old woman’s face, Xie Zhifei could vaguely make out a bit of Madam Zhao’s shadow.

This was Zheng Huaizuo’s maternal grandmother.

If his guess was correct, those two middle-aged men should be Zheng Huaizuo’s uncles.

At this moment, he heard Yan Sanhe speak: “Zhu Qing, Buyan, don’t go inside. Just walk around near this residence.”

Walking around was false—hiding in the shadows to observe whether that assassin had followed was true.

Zhu Qing went left, Li Buyan went right, and in three or two moves, both had vanished from sight.

At this moment, the old woman had approached.

Xie Zhifei presented his waist token: “Five Cities Military Patrol Commander Xie Zhifei, under imperial decree to reinvestigate the Zheng family massacre. Old Madam, you are…”

“I’m that child’s mother. These are her two older brothers.”

The old woman grabbed Xie Zhifei’s arm: “Master Xie, please come in quickly. I have a bellyful of things to say.”

Xie Zhifei looked at the hand on his arm and couldn’t bear to push it away. He turned to Yan Sanhe and Pei Xiao: “Everyone follow.”

…

The Zhao family’s residence was very large, but the buildings were quite simple. The main hall had only an Eight Immortals table and a few chairs. Compared to the Zheng family’s status, it was more than a little inferior.

The one serving tea was a middle-aged servant woman.

After serving the tea, the old woman suddenly turned to ask her son beside her: “What is this master’s name?”

“Master Xie!”

After that son finished speaking, he smiled helplessly at Xie Zhifei: “My mother is advanced in years and her memory isn’t good.”

“It’s fine.”

Xie Zhifei cupped his fists: “How should I address you?”

Pei Xiao’s eyes immediately glanced toward Xie Zhifei.

This guy was being excessively polite today.

Using the respectful “you” form with the old lady was one thing, but why also use it with the Zhao family’s son?

How strange!