This was a sensitive time, and Ming Lingyi was certain that no one would dare cause trouble in Shangjing City.

Unless they had a death wish.

Otherwise, no one who stirred up a commotion could escape the notice of the Jingzhao Mansion’s governor and the Black Armor Guards.

When Zhang Qi heard this, the color drained from his face.

"Go to the governor?" Zhang Qi completely ignored Ming Lingyi’s mention of the "Black Armor Guards." "We’re just common folk. W-without a major incident, how could we dare go to those officials?"

Ming Lingyi replied, "But isn’t this a major incident?"

A missing child was a major incident.

If she recalled correctly, the Jingzhao Mansion had just such a responsibility.

Since their duty was to protect the peace of Shangjing’s citizens and maintain the city’s safety and order, then if a citizen of Shangjing City needed help, the Jingzhao Mansion should naturally lend a hand.

"Th-that’s not possible." Although Zhang Qi looked big and burly, a strong man, he was still terrified at the mere mention of a government office. A missing child was a catastrophe for his family, but in the eyes of those officials, it was probably just a trivial matter. He worried that proactively seeking help might even displease those officials.

Ming Lingyi didn’t press the issue. She couldn’t force the Zhang Family to go to the government.

Just then, a squad of Black Armor Guards walked through the market.

The Black Armor Guards were clad in black armor, their bodies encased in heavy black iron plates. Every scale of the armor seemed quenched in cold light, reflecting a frigid, dark glint in the shadows. Their helmets concealed their faces, leaving only a narrow slit for their eyes, from which their gazes cut like blades, as if they could pierce a man’s very soul.

Their iron gauntlets rested tightly on their sword hilts, the metal ridges on their knuckles like fangs. Though the longswords at their waists remained sheathed, they radiated an aura of death and slaughter.

As they marched, the plates of their armor clanked together, creating a rhythmic, metallic tremor that sounded like the footsteps of Death itself. Their capes trailed behind them, black as the deepest night.

A single glance at such a sight was enough to send a chill through the common folk, who didn’t dare to approach.

These were the most powerful troops who served beside Emperor Jing’an.

Yet at that very moment, Ming Lingyi stepped out of her shop and walked toward the Black Armor Guards.

"Miss!" Xiao Chun saw what was happening and cried out in a hushed voice.

But Ming Lingyi had already reached the Black Armor Guards and even raised a hand to stop them.

Zhang Qi and his wife hadn’t gone far. Hearing Xiao Chun’s cry, they both turned around. As they did, they saw Ming Lingyi walk right up to the group of Black Armor Guards, who looked like stone-faced reapers.

Zhang Qi and his wife: "..."

Ming Lingyi, however, paid no mind to the worry of those behind her. She approached them with a calm and composed expression, showing little fear. Politely and directly, she said, "Sirs, I was wondering if you have seen a child of about seven or eight today? He’s about this tall, wearing dark blue clothes..."

The description of Zhang Hu’s clothing was the exact answer Ming Lingyi had received from Zhang Qi and his wife earlier.

After giving the description, she looked at the young man leading the squad.

The man Ming Lingyi was now staring at was Xiao Xiang’an, the leader of this small squad. When he heard what this delicate-looking woman who had suddenly walked up to them was saying, even his mind went blank for a moment.

The Black Armor Guards had followed Emperor Jing’an into battle for years. Nearly every one of them had crawled out from a pile of corpses and walked the line between life and death more times than they could count.

During the few days around the New Year’s Eve festivities each year, the Black Armor Guards were also responsible for patrolling Shangjing City.

But to be stopped and questioned by a woman like this was a novel experience indeed.

So novel, in fact, that no one reacted at first.

Meanwhile, the neighbors from Huaided Fang, who had also heard what Ming Lingyi was saying to the Black Armor Guards, couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat on her behalf.

Most of the people who were out and about right now had heard that the Zhang Family’s little rascal had gone missing and had come out to help with the search.

But no one had expected this newly arrived young lady to be so bold as to approach the Black Armor Guards directly.

These were the Black Armor Guards, whose blades had tasted blood countless times!

The Black Armor Guards that made common folk tremble in fear at the mere mention of their name!

After a moment of surprise, Xiao Xiang’an collected himself.

"We have not."

Although no one had ever "hit them up" for a chat during their patrols before, there was no rule stating that anyone who spoke to them should be beheaded on the spot.

Ming Lingyi furrowed her brow. "Then, could I trouble you to please keep an eye out for a child of that size during your patrols?"

Xiao Xiang’an: "..."

The Black Armor Guards behind him: "..."

The request sounded a bit outrageous.

But upon careful consideration, it wasn’t exactly out of line.

An awkward silence fell between Ming Lingyi and the Black Armor Guards. Ming Lingyi appeared perfectly calm, as if completely unaware of how shocking her request was, while the guards were collectively silent. As for the residents of Huaided Fang watching from a distance, they stared at the scene in stunned horror, breaking into a sweat for Ming Lingyi all over again.

A moment later, Ming Lingyi received Xiao Xiang’an’s reply.

"Alright. If we find him, we will arrange for someone to bring the child back."

A single squad of Black Armor Guards didn’t just patrol one market.

Hearing this, a look of delight appeared on Ming Lingyi’s face. She gave a slight curtsy. "Thank you."

After the Black Armor Guards had completely left the market, a crowd of people surged around Ming Lingyi.

The first to reach her was Xiao Chun, who anxiously grabbed her mistress’s arm. "Miss, you’re far too bold!"

’Even with all my strength,’ she thought, ’I would never have dreamed of proactively striking up a conversation with those soldiers.’

Next came Zhang Qi and his wife. Tears were already streaming down the wife’s face, and if Ming Lingyi hadn’t been firmly holding her arm, she might have already dropped to her knees to kowtow.

"Thank you, Miss Ming! Thank you, Miss Ming!"

Just now, Ming Lingyi had confronted the Black Armor Guards just to help them find their son.

The surrounding neighbors also gathered around. Their gazes, as they looked at Ming Lingyi, held not only admiration but also a hint of warmth.

Most of the neighbors living in the market had known each other for years.

With the sudden arrival of an outsider, everyone might have accepted her on the surface, but that didn’t mean they had accepted her in their hearts.

They didn’t yet know what her character was like or what kind of person she was, so most people had maintained a wait-and-see attitude.

Ming Lingyi, who had seemed so composed when speaking to the Black Armor Guards moments ago, now found her expression rapidly turning to one of panic as she was surrounded by her Huaided Fang neighbors.

The goodwill and kindness from so many people at once was enough to make her head spin.

Fortunately, finding the child was the most important thing, so it wasn’t long before everyone spontaneously dispersed to continue searching for Zhang Hu.