After meeting Teacher Xu, the next day, Li Ru brings his parents to meet with his future in-laws. Compared to Teacher Xu's house or Li Ru's house the Yue residence is like a palace to them. Mother Qing and Father Qi feel nervous. So rich! After seeing Yue Diu, they know that girl is good but why did they choose their son for their daughter? Just a small government official?
Li Zian goes visit Xu Yan, Teacher Xu's daughter. It is her mother that insists. Her mother thwarts her plan to tour the Imperial City with her first brother and his family. Li Zian comes to Teacher Xu's residence to visit Xu Yan but when she arrives, Xu Yan is being tended by a doctor. Li Xian manages to take a peek at Xu Yan's legs that the doctor bandage. There is a stinky odour coming from the room. Li Zian glances at
the servant that guides her. The servant guides her into the room but Li Zian stops and stands in front of the door.
"Hello! I am Li Zian, Li Ru's sister. Miss Xu Yan, can I come in?"
Xu Yan was shocked that Li Zian had already arrived, why did not the servants tell her. Xu Yan gives a death glare towards the servant that guides Li Zian towards her room. The servant quickly kneels and cries for forgiveness. She is very exaggerated.
Li Zian twitches her lips. Is she caught in some kind of conspiracy? Xu Yan did not speak, she just let the servant embarrass herself. The doctor ignores the commotion, he just carries on doing his job to bandage Xu Yan's legs.
The servant stops after everyone ignores her. She excuses herself and leaves Li Zian alone outside the door. Li Zian did not mind, she just enjoys the flowers in the garden in front of Xu Yan's room. One hour later, Xu Yan's servant comes and invites her into the room.
Xu Yan is a petite and cute Young Miss. Her voice is lovely and Li Zian likes to hear her voice. It is soft and gentle.
"Li Zian, I am sorry for my servant behaviour. Please take a seat."
"It is okay. It is I that come early. It should be me that apologized to you." Li Zian bows towards Xu Yan.
Xu Yan is amazed at Li Zian's polite manner, as expected of Brother Ru's little sister. He had mentioned that he has a clever little sister. Li Zian and Xu Yan are having a great time. Xu Yan loves to listen to Li Zian's story when she joins to find the divine deer. Xu Yan also told Li Zian about the interesting story in the Imperial City.
Li Zian asked about Xu Yan's legs and after a few seconds of silence, Xu Yan tells her that she has a skin disease. The skin on her legs will feel itchy and after that, it will swell and leak smelly puss. She has tried many solutions but it only makes it worse. Luckily it did not spread to the whole body.
"The doctor that come before is Doctor Bai Yun. He manages to stop the swelling but my leg still feels itchy. I need to take medicine to stop the itchy or I will go mad and scratch my legs."
"It is that bad? How long did you have this disease?" Li Zian wants to examine Xu Yan's legs. She smells familiar herbs despite the perfume smell that wants to cover the stinky smell.
"It has been two years. Because of this...sigh. Li Zian it is getting dark."
Li Zian understand that Xu Yan did not want to talk anymore and she excuse herself. That night. Li Zian goes to see his father and tells him about her suspicions. Her father tells her to not tell this to others, he will discuss this with the third brother.
Li Zian enters her room and takes a refreshing bath. Zhong is combing her hair like usual. Ling Ming Zhe is savouring the snack on the table.
"How is the assistant?"
"Everything is alright. I supervised them for a few days. By the way, this snack is delicious. Do you think we can sell it at our tea house? A sweet and tasty snack can definitely reduce the resentment of the people."
Li Zian and Zhong sit on the chair and she smacks Ling Min Zhe's right hand, "Leave some for me. It is Sister Diu that make this snack.
"Tsk! Stingy." Ling Min Zhe pours a cup of tea for himself.
"Ling Min Zhe, I want you to investigate the emperor. I can feel a small weak ripple coming from the Imperial Palace this afternoon. Someone is trying to harm His Majesty. We cannot afford to lose him now."
"Alright. I will send soul and blood assistants to infiltrate the Imperial Palace. I also arranged some new slaves to enter the Imperial Palace just like we discussed before."
"Good. Ah! One more thing, pay attention to a doctor named Bai Yun. His resentment is abnormal. Assign the crows to monitor him."
Ling Ming Zhe stands up and bows before leaving. Just a few seconds after he leaves, Li Zian's door is being knocked, "Zuan er, it is mother!" Before it is opened by Mother Qing.
-----
"Hiyah!" Two soldiers are riding horses. They seem to be in hurry. They will leave this forest in an hour.
"Swish! Swish!" Arrows flying towards the soldiers. Noticing the arrows, the soldiers skillfully used their swords to cut the arrows. One of the soldiers takes out a ball from his bag. He throws the ball to the ground and keeps doing it at every ten meters.
White smoke spreads after the ball are being thrown out. The soldiers are not affected by the smoke. When their horses gallop through the smoke, the smoke parted for them and the assassins cannot see them through the smoke.
"Keep attacking! They are in the smoke. We know how fast the horses are. Use your instinct. One week holiday and a bag of gold coins if you injured them. A month's holiday and three bags of gold coins if you heavily injured them. A year's exception of work and a big chest of treasure will be given if you kill them!" The Leader tells them using the communication talisman.
The assassins are fired up. They race to shoot arrows and knives into the smokes. They have to make sure those soldiers did not get out of this forest. The smoke only blinds their eyes, they can hear the sound of the horses running. One of the assassins focused and throws his knife. A scream can be heard.
"Damn it! Hang on!" The soldier that running in the front did not look back. He rushes his horse.
"I am fine. Just a scratch!" The soldier at the back grits his teeth and continues forward.
"Do not fall! The soldier at the front said in a grim voice. The smell of blood is heavy.
The assassins are getting excited. They tried to enter the smoke but it is too thick. They choked in the smoke and their eyes is stinging. So, they just keep attacking from outside the smoke. After a few attacks, there is no screaming or a grunt from pain. Are the soldiers dead? Who kills them? The assassins really want to have some time off. They are a dedicated worker, working non-stop for their organisation. A holiday is like a dream come true.
They have to wait for the smoke to spread out or find out whether the smoke stops being produced. The assassins wait for half an hour and found the smoke stop a kilometer from the legal road. Some guards guarding the road. It is to make sure no demonic beast or suspicious people roaming into the Imperial City.
The assassins only found the horses but did not find the soldiers. No blood can be smelled or traced. Tsk! They were fooled. The soldiers got away. The assassins carefully retreat. It seems that they are having punishment rather than a holiday.
-----
Inside a secret underground room. Two soldiers are laying on the bed. Two soldiers are laying on the bed. One of the soldiers is being shot in the shoulder and on the right side of the stomach with a lot of scratches. The other soldier only gets a few scratches. They are not deep.
Three people come in and see the doctor is tending to their wounds. Two blackguards are helping the doctor.
"Good job for staying alive." Grandpa Yue said in a solemn tone. He is also relieved seeing the soldier's wounds are treated quickly in time.
The soldiers want to greet Grandpa Yue or their former Great General Yue Cheng but the doctor smacks the soldiers and is forced to lie back to the bed. The guard takes a chair and Grandpa Yue sits beside the soldier that has the least injuries.
"Tell me what has happened? Just lie down." Grandpa Yue gently pat the soldier's shoulder.
The soldier tells Grandpa Yue that the enemy suddenly ambushed their camp at night and knows their escaping route. Luckily, they have a few native soldiers that know the secret terrain and caves on the mountain.
"Traitor! It is a traitor!" First Master Yue Cheng said it with anger.
"Big Brother keep calm. Let him finish besides, you are shouting at the father's ear." Second Master Yue Chao coughed a bit. Grandpa Yue is glaring at Yue Chang.