Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

The next morning, Wang Ergou returned to the county government office, exhausted. As he entered the west courtyard, he suddenly stopped, his eyes wide open, and pointed at the huge, colorful figure in a cage not far away. His voice changed tone:

"Oh my god! What the hell is this?"

Ding Xu, who was following behind him, squinted his eyes and studied it for a moment before he mused, "Judging from its appearance, its mane is mighty, resembling a lion, but not quite. Ancient records suggest there may be a species of blue lion in the Western Regions, perhaps this is it."

"Blue lion?" Wang Ergou looked incredulous. "How could a lion appear in this Hedong area?" He turned and saw Liang Dahai directing several servants to reinforce the cage. He quickly pulled him aside and asked, "Brother Dahai, where is the young master? Why haven't I seen him all day?"

Liang Dahai wiped his sweat off his forehead and pointed towards the stable with a complicated expression. "Look, it's over there. The young master's precious donkey, 'Elvie', was frightened by this big guy yesterday and gave birth prematurely. The young master and the young mistress are watching over the little donkey."

In the stable, the smell of hay mixed with a hint of blood and the warmth of new life.

Zhang Jingwei and Huangfu Ling squatted side by side in a corner covered in thick hay, their eyes fixed on the two newborn donkey cubs nestled beside their mother, Ellewei. Their hair, still wet from the foal, was still wet. They trembled as they tried to stand, their spindly legs still unresponsive. Their appearance was both clumsy and endearing.

Huangfu Ling reached out and gently touched the back of one of the donkeys. It felt warm and soft, and a gentle smile spread across her lips. "So cute, soft like a cloud..." Then she wrinkled her small nose and added softly, "It's just... a little smelly."

Zhang Jingwei glanced sideways at her and took the opportunity to teach her a lesson: "Look, this is a proper pet. So cute and so popular. If you want to keep a pet in the future, keep one like this, okay?"

At this time, the groom Zhang Shiyi sighed and whispered, "What a pity! She was pregnant with three puppies, but one died at birth. But this Ellewei is also very fertile."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingwei instructed Zhang Shiyi, "Uncle Shiyi, go to the market later and pick out some of the freshest carrots and apples, and bring back some bean feed to nourish Ailewei. She was frightened and gave birth this time, so she's lost a lot of money."

"Okay, don't worry, young master, I'll do it right away!" Zhang Shiyi responded and left.

When I returned to the study, Wang Ergou and Ding Xu were already waiting there.

Seeing Zhang Jingwei come in, the two of them immediately stood up and saluted: "Young Master."

Zhang Jingwei sat down behind his desk, his expression returning to his usual composure. "Well, I'm back. Have you made any progress on the matter I asked you to investigate?"

Wang Ergou stepped forward and reported in a low voice, "We've got some clues! Although Li Yi hasn't found the exact whereabouts of the 'Qilin Blood' yet, he's followed the clues and found some information about the Saint Ladies of the Desert. It's said that they have a unique method passed down from generation to generation that can solve the problem of infertility and preserving offspring!"

"Saint?" Zhang Jingwei raised his eyebrows slightly, revealing an inquiring look.

Ding Xu took over the conversation and explained in detail, "Young Master, north of the Central Plains, there was originally a vast grassland, home to a unified nomadic nation. However, due to overgrazing, the grasslands degraded and eventually turned into a desert. Later, the desert served as the boundary between the two major regions, the Northern Desert and the Southern Desert. The tribes varied in strength and attacked each other, leaving the desert nomads living in hardship. Later, a woman known as the 'Saint' introduced Central Plains supplies and skills to the desert for the first time, allowing the people of each tribe to rest and recuperate."

Zhang Jingwei tapped the table with his fingertips. "So, this Saint is equivalent to the Queen of the Desert?"

Ding Xu shook his head. "She's not a queen, but more like a goddess in the hearts of the nomads. It's said that among her descendants, an outstanding woman will be chosen to inherit the title of Saint, supported by the kings and khans of the various desert tribes, holding a transcendent status. However, the abundant resources of the Central Plains are too tempting for the desert. When resources become scarce, some tribes are tempted to raid south. Over time, the Saint's influence in reconciling the tribes and stopping wars has gradually diminished."

Wang Ergou added, "Today, the Northern Desert people live north of the desert and still worship the Saint. They primarily trade with the Central Plains via the Western Regions official roads and pay tribute to our Celestial Empire every year. The two sides have always lived in peace. The Southern Desert people, on the other hand, whose land borders our northern border, mostly make a living by plundering and pillaging. Therefore, throughout the dynasties in the Central Plains, we have always called them 'Rong people'!"

Zhang Jingwei pondered, "So, it seems that this saintly woman who possesses extraordinary magic that you found is now in the Northern Desert?"

Wang Ergou replied, "It's still unclear at this point. However, Li Yi and Xiao Kewei both suggested moving our forces to the Northern Desert. Firstly, they could use the normal trade routes there to resupply the army with supplies like butter and beef, eliminating the need for hiding in the battlefields. Secondly, it would be easier to investigate further into the Saintess's whereabouts."

Zhang Jingwei pondered and said, "Northern Desert... is more than 3,000 miles away from here. It's really too far." His tone revealed deep concern.

Ding Xu thought he was worried about a weakening of his control, so he suggested, "Young Master, are you worried that they'll be so far away from the emperor that they might become disloyal? Project Abandoned Son can deploy a group of reliable personnel. After the experience and recruitment from the last Zombie Case, our team has indeed grown considerably."

Zhang Jingwei waved his hand. "It's not that I don't trust them. It's just that the journey is long and arduous, and the customs and laws of this exotic land are different from ours. I'm worried that if they run into any emergency, we won't be able to reach them and provide assistance in time."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ergou smiled with a hint of pride. "Don't worry, young master! Li Yi is a brave bandit leader who emerged from the green forests, and he's quite cunning. After several months of training in Rongdi, he's become even more skilled. Add to that Xiao Kewei's meticulousness and his ability to manage and negotiate, and the two of them are prospering in Rongdi. I heard that even the arrogant nobles of the Ulanqab tribe now treat their caravan, 'Tongtiandai,' as honored guests!"

Zhang Jingwei couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. "'Tongtiandai'? When did you guys give yourselves such a name?"

Ding Xu also laughed and explained, "Isn't that what you often say, young master? We are your eyes and arms everywhere, your 'Tongtiandai'. We thought the name sounded loud and appropriate, so we used it."

"Alright," Zhang Jingwei smiled and shook his head. "The organization really should have a formal name." He faded his smile and said seriously, "Without further delay, now that the direction has been decided, send a message to Li Yi and Xiao Kewei. Have them make arrangements as soon as possible and lead reliable personnel to the Northern Desert. Our first priority is to find the Saint and her legacy. Be extremely cautious and prioritize safety."

Wang Ergou and Ding Xu looked stern and answered in unison: "Yes!"