On the third floor of the tea house, Yan Junyu watched the chaotic scene unfold, his brows furrowing as some extremely bad scenarios flashed through his mind. His previously languid expression turned severe.
Tucking away the Jade Bone Fan, Yan Junyu ordered the manservant with his head bowed, "Go to the WuChengBingMaSi and tell the one surnamed Xiao, just say that I was attacked. Have him order a check on every person leaving the city gates, and detain anyone suspicious."
Guan Yu blinked in confusion and was about to ask "Why?" when seeing his master’s stern expression, he quickly suppressed his questions, responded with an "Understood," and hurried out.
Glancing at the still chaotic street and having lost any desire to invite his hedonistic friends for a river excursion, Xiao Junyu left after laying down a silver ingot.
Assassination attempt?
In the WuChengBingMaSi, Xiao Ruiyuan’s eyelid twitched as he listened to his subordinate’s report. He hadn’t expected a playboy in common people’s eyes to be the target of an assassination, and wondered what tricks that person was up to now.
While thinking this, Xiao Ruiyuan was aware that the person in question would not use this to amuse him, so he quickly dispatched messengers to the four city gates to issue the order for a thorough search.
Afterward, he quickly gathered three hundred subordinates and personally led them towards Qu Shui.
Since the pacification of the troubles in the South, Xiao Ruiyuan, as the hero with the foremost contributions, naturally received the emperor’s generous commendation.
Not only was he promoted three levels to become a Third Rank General, but also, after a series of meticulous arrangements, he smoothly took over the Bureau of Military Office, becoming the commander in charge of three thousand government officers, managing the security of Jing City.
Every year on the Lantern Festival, some trouble would arise, so for the past few years, everyone in the WuChengBingMaSi had to be on standby all day during the festival. As the General, Xiao Ruiyuan had to set an example, so he did not return to Lord Wei Yuan House.
When three hundred soldiers arrived at Qu Shui, even though they were prepared for a dire situation, the sight of streets ablaze with fire, thick smoke billowing and bodies strewn about in unknown states of life or death, with cries and wails everywhere as if after a battle, still made them gasp in shock.
"Zhao Tong, Wang Xing, each of you take fifty men to evacuate the civilians. Niu Liu, San Yun, take fifty each to transport the injured to nearby hospitals. Zhanghua, lead the remaining hundred to fight the fire, and prevent it from spreading to the surrounding houses..."
Astride a tall horse and dressed in military garb, Xiao Ruiyuan’s face stern as he issued order after order, this disaster was clearly beyond his expectations.
"We obey the orders!"
The five named officers saluted and took their commands, swiftly delegating duties. In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, everyone took their positions, managing the disaster in an orderly manner.
Xiao Ruiyuan smoothly dismounted and checked the situation as he went along. Seeing many of the stricken civilians unwilling to leave, crying out for their lost children, he instructed his men to find a nearby tavern and arrange for these people to be taken there. He also ordered that any children found alone be sent there.
"Excuse me, sir, have you seen a girl about thirteen or fourteen years old, about this tall?"
Xiao Ruiyuan continued walking forward when suddenly, a familiar voice caught his ear. He looked up and saw not far away, a middle-aged man grabbing a passerby, frantically asking something with a desperate face.
"No, no, a girl that age won’t be lost easily. You should hurry home to check; she might have already returned," the passerby responded, showing patience and even offering a suggestion kindly.
Not getting the answer he hoped for, Mo Qingze let go in dejection, stepped back two paces, and then caught another passerby to ask the same question, but still with no luck.
"Wuwu... Big sister... Wuwu, where are you, big sister? Please come out. Zhenzhen will be good from now on, I won’t run off again, wuwu..."