The sky was densely covered with dark clouds, so oppressive it seemed they might collapse at any moment.
On both sides of the street, shops were tightly shut; occasionally, pedestrians passed by hurriedly, reluctant to linger even a moment.
"Drive, drive, drive!"
The carriage sped along, kicking up billowing clouds of dust.
A troop of soldiers galloped past.
Onlookers by the road, dodging to the side, watched the soldiers rush down the official road with panic, and soon breathed a sigh of relief, rushing toward their homes for fear that a slower pace might cost them their lives.
A tall horse stopped at the roadside; a man dressed in a luxurious purple robe leapt from the horse, landing firmly on the ground.
"Master, the vicinity is mostly forests, what should we do now? We surely can’t just wait here, can we?"
The guard looked at the impressive troop following them, unsure of the best course of action.
The man spoke coldly and said, "First find an inn to stay in." He walked directly into the town.
The guard hurriedly led the soldiers into town to find an inn, and within a quarter of an hour, they finally located a clean and tidy one.
The innkeeper trembled when he saw so many soldiers arriving suddenly.
While instructing his staff to prepare things on one side, he asked on the other, "May I know if there’s anything the soldiers need?"
"Innkeeper, we will take over your inn. Have everyone else leave now, and we will cover all of their lodging costs," the leader of the guards stepped forward and said.
"Oh, very well, just give me a moment," the innkeeper said while mopping his sweat, thinking to himself whether this was a stroke of luck or misfortune.
The innkeeper instructed his staff to inform the guests, and although some were very dissatisfied, none dared to speak up after seeing the heavily armed soldiers.
"Does this arrangement work for the soldiers?"
"Is there anything else you need?"
"Prepare some meals."
"Alright, soldiers, is there anything else?" asked the innkeeper anxiously.
"Here, these silver notes are for your compensation."
The guard handed the innkeeper a stack of silver notes, and the innkeeper, seeing their thickness, gulped.
His hands trembled as he took the silver notes, moved, saying, "The soldiers are too kind, I truly cannot accept this."
"Keep it, rest assured, we won’t let you suffer any loss."
"Very well! Then I thank you, soldiers, thank you."
After the guards had left, the innkeeper looked at the money bag in his hands, chuckling, "Oh my, I’ve lived half a lifetime and never have I seen so much money."
On the second floor of the inn, Pei Huaian held a teacup and looked downstairs, wondering whether Shao He was still angry or whether she would feel relieved or worried to know he had left the residence.
"Knock, knock, knock."
A series of knocks interrupted his thoughts. Pei Huaian, composing his facial expression, said coldly, "Come in."
"Your Highness, there is news to report."
Pei Huaian reached for the note handed to him and saw it was written in blood: the Official Silver was robbed.
Pei Huaian clenched the note tightly in his hand, "It seems they are deliberately provoking the Imperial Court; otherwise, this note wouldn’t exist."
"Your Highness, what do we do now?" asked the guard anxiously. This journey was extremely perilous, and they had to act cautiously and precisely.
"First, send all supplies to Changzhou, and make sure they are absolutely safe."
Pei Huaian sat down at the desk, picked up a pen, and began to write a letter.
He did not immediately set out for Changzhou because he had two matters to attend to first: one was to dispatch a spy to infiltrate the bandits, and the other was to investigate the news of the Official Silver.
"Master, a letter has arrived," a guard hurried forward, delivering a letter.
Pei Huaian took the letter, opened the envelope, and pulled out the paper inside. As he read the contents, his expression drastically changed, and he shattered the desk at his side with a slap.
It turned out that a spy had appeared inside Changzhou City, making Changzhou highly dangerous, especially since the bandits had collusions with a neighboring country.
Thus, Changzhou might be lost at any moment.
Pei Huaian’s eyes were venomously ferocious, radiating a terrifying murderous intent that was chilling to the bone.
The guard stood by, shivering; he rarely saw His Highness so furious.
"Issue my order as the Prince, hasten our journey!"
Pei Huaian slowly unclenched his fist, then lifted his gaze to stare into the distance.
At the Fifth Prince’s Mansion.
Since returning, Shao He had been brooding alone, feeling as though something was missing.
Qingxia, seeing her mistress’s despondent mood, brought over the young master, "Go to mommy."
Xiao Linzhang toddled clumsily towards Shao He, gripping his hand and pointing toward the door, "Daddy, find, daddy."
Qingxia quickly took the child in her arms, initially thinking that the little master could improve her mistress’s mood, not expecting it to add fuel to the fire.
Shao He shook her head nonchalantly, lifted the child into her arms, and asked with a smile, "You miss daddy too, don’t you?"
"Miss, daddy." Xiao Linzhang pointed at the door again, his tiny body squirming continuously.
Carrying him, Shao He walked to the door, following his direction, they arrived at Pei Huaian’s courtyard.
"Daddy is not here," Shao He touched Xiao Linzhang’s head, smiling as she spoke.
Xiao Linzhang lay disappointedly on Shao He’s shoulder, no longer as lively as before.