"Sister, you worked harder last night. Have a good rest, and let me make breakfast this morning."

Madam Xiao, who was sleeping on the outer side of the bed, said.

Having been learning to cook for so many days, it was time to show Chen Mo her progress.

Making food for Chen Mo would also bring her joy.

Moreover, she needed to please him right now.

Not to mention, Madam Xiao was more than ten years older than Chen Mo.

In the Great Song Dynasty, this age gap was quite a serious matter.

And older women naturally tended to be more caring.

This was also related to women’s early maturity.

After tidying up briefly, Madam Xiao went out to the kitchen to work.

Seeing she was preempted, Madam Gan pouted with some dissatisfaction.

Chen Mo sat up and stretched. Seeing Madam Gan’s expression, he laughed and rolled over, pinning her beneath him, his hands supporting on either side of her head: "Since she’s off to cook, we shouldn’t just remain idle."

"Prince, you... what are you trying to do?"

"Playing dumb. By the time she’s done cooking, we’ll also be done here."

Madam Gan: "..."

...

Liu’s Bun Shop.

Huang Zhaodi got up early to pack. Although there wasn’t much to pack, just a few changes of clothes, she packed for nearly quarter of an hour, shedding tears as she did.

"Mom, why are you crying again?" Dai Feng, waking up to find his mother crying again, now somewhat understanding, hurriedly got up, took her hand and said, "Don’t cry, Mom, I’ll protect you."

"Good child." Huang Zhaodi hugged Dai Feng, stroking his head.

"Sigh." A light sigh echoed as Dai Ling entered with a basket of buns.

Huang Zhaodi quickly wiped her tears and turned around, addressing him as "Uncle Ling."

"Eat while it’s hot." Dai Ling placed the buns before her, hesitating for a moment before he said, "Zhaodi, are you really willing to just leave like this?"

"After all, he’s Xiaofeng’s father. He’s heartless to me, but I can’t be unkind to him, and I’m also afraid this matter will implicate Uncle Ling." Huang Zhaodi had contemplated many aspects, for if what he said was true, it would indeed implicate Uncle Ling.

"Sigh." Dai Ling sighed deeply again.

After finishing the buns, the three prepared to leave Xiangyang.

"Before leaving, let’s say goodbye to Brother Liu; he’s taken care of us a lot," Dai Ling said.

Last night, Old Liu provided them shelter without taking their money.

Upon stepping out, instead of Old Liu, they saw a young man in a long robe at the stand, rolling up his sleeves, opening the steamer, and handing out buns to the buyers.

Just as Dai Ling was puzzled, the young man, having finished his transaction, turned around sensing someone, smiled, and said, "You must be the Uncle Guo my father mentioned, right? Hello, I’m the son of the bun shop owner. My name is... Hmm..."

Speaking, young Liu Taoshu noticed Dai Ling’s stepson, suddenly recalling: "Did I see you outside the examination hall yesterday... I remembered, Brother Guo Ning told me, you were the one he spoke to yesterday, he said you were relatives of Guo Xian... Hmm? That’s odd, why are you here if you’re relatives of Guo Xian? Could it be you didn’t find the person? I can take you to them."

One query after another from Liu Taoshu left Huang Zhaodi and Dai Ling startled.

It’s no wonder Liu Taoshu felt confused; if they were indeed Guo Xian’s relatives, how could they have ended up being provided shelter by his father last night?

Dai Ling was about to speak when Huang Zhaodi intercepted. She greeted Liu Taoshu, addressing him as Young Master Liu, then said:

"Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Liu. Frankly, we mistook someone yesterday; today, we plan to leave Xiangyang."

Upon hearing this, although Liu Taoshu felt something was off, the acquaintance was shallow, so he didn’t probe further, saying:

"If that’s the case, I won’t hold you any longer. You came to bid farewell to my father, right? He’s visiting a friend today and left these buns for you. Take them on the road."

Saying this, Liu Taoshu handed a bag of buns wrapped in paper to Dai Ling.

Dai Ling could tell it was a gift and refused initially, saying, "How can I accept this?"

Seeing how he couldn’t refuse, Dai Ling simply paid.

Liu Taoshu didn’t accept the money, instead he smiled and said, "Father said everyone faces difficulties in life. It’s good to help when capable, although he doesn’t know what you’re going through, everything has a solution. Consider it forming good ties."

Though an elder, Dai Ling felt moved upon hearing these words, nearly tearing up, and said, "Thank you, Young Master Liu, and please thank your father as well. We’ll see each other again in the world someday."

"The journey is long, take care on the road," Liu Taoshu smiled.

...

On a street before the north city gate, a yellow cloth lay beside the road with an embroidered Eight Trigrams on it, divining sticks placed before it, and behind it sat a fortune teller, seemingly in character, but rather young, calling out:

"Fortune telling for love, good or bad fortune... Come take a look, no charge if inaccurate."

Traditional fortune tellers were usually older, or Daoists, making them seem more credible.

With someone as young as him, naturally, there were no customers.

At that moment, the young fortune teller suddenly stood up, blocking Dai Ling, gesturing after assessing him and the two behind him, and clicked his tongue: "I see this brother has a dark aura on his forehead, with black qi faintly swirling above him. Bloodshed disaster may be approaching if not addressed..."

Before the young fortune teller finished, Dai Ling, hearing such ominous words, immediately glared at him and left with Huang Zhaodi and her son.

Watching the three leaving toward the city gate, the fortune teller quickly packed up his stand and followed.

Yet he didn’t realize, while the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole watches from behind.

Someone was watching him from a short distance behind.

Due to the Court’s issuance of a population recovery policy,

newly appointed Wei Linchun, Prefect of Linzhou, established a series of measures upon taking office.

Among them was conducting a comprehensive census to minimize unregistered residents.

Vigorously combating the trafficking of women and children.

During this process, a man named Peng Si’Er was found involved in multiple cases.

Thus, the Xiangyang Government Office planned to use Peng Si’Er as a breakthrough.

Zuo Gang, head constable at the Xiangyang Government Office, and a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist.

In terms of strength alone, he could easily be a County Magistrate.

However, Zuo Gang wasn’t good with academics; though skilled, he couldn’t govern.

And Xiangyang, unlike other counties, being head Constable there was quite fitting for him.

"Boss, since we’ve found the man, why not capture him?" Zuo Gang’s two juniors, both in plain clothes, with one querying.

"To catch a thief, you need evidence. To catch an adulterer, catch them in the act. We’ve only identified him, no proof yet. Besides, fishing with a long line, from now on, just keep surveillance," Zuo Gang replied.

The first man who spoke said again, "Boss, why so troublesome, catch him, interrogate him, and the evidence will appear."

The other companion said, "Didn’t you hear the official say, the imperial examination just ended, results aren’t out yet, Xiangyang has many scholars now, and among them, many love to ’stand up for justice’; must be mindful of appearances."

"Not bad, kid, you learn quickly," Zuo Gang turned back, smiling.

"All thanks to your teachings, Boss."

"Stop buttering up. I didn’t teach you that."

"Boss, if we crack this major case, you should be promoted to County Captain, right?"

"For sure, Boss."

"Alright, stop talking; he’s leaving the city. Looks like he’s after that family of three, let’s hurry and follow." Seeing Peng Si’Er heading toward the city gate, Zuo Gang’s expression suddenly turned serious.

They quickly followed. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

...

Once outside the city, the crowd thinned considerably, Zuo Gang and his group didn’t dare stay too close.

Peng Si’Er, too, wasn’t closely tailing them; he changed his disguise, with other passersby nearby, not yet the best time to act.