The aroma of cooking filled the house: I sent my eldest brother to become the Grand Secretary.

After a good night's sleep, Shen Cao felt exceptionally comfortable. She first stretched out a big yawn before getting out of bed. After tidying up briefly, she went to the front hall.

She looked around. It was past lunchtime, and the front hall was empty except for Shen's mother wiping the table.

"Mother, didn't you say we had guests?"

"You're in the main room in the backyard, what are you doing running to the front?"

"Your father is having tea with you. Go to the backyard."

Shen Cao nodded and went to the backyard.

She roughly guessed who the guest was.

As soon as I entered the main room, I saw a familiar figure.

But why is the scene before me so strange?

As a guest, Ji Lingfeng sat in the seat of honor, while her father sat below him.

Her father's attitude towards Ji Lingfeng was also very strange.

Her father didn't seem like the kind of person who would curry favor with the powerful, so why did she feel that her father was somewhat cautious and even a little obsequious in front of Ji Lingfeng?

Could it be that she saw it wrong?

Those inside saw Shen Cao and all looked towards the entrance.

Shen Cao had just woken up. Her skin looked very fair and delicate after a good night's sleep, and her cheeks were even slightly flushed, making her look extremely healthy.

Ji Lingfeng was stunned for a moment.

"Cao'er, your brother's friend came to see him again today, insisting on thanking him in person."

“I told them your brother went to Beijing early this morning, but they just wouldn’t believe me.”

If it were anyone else, he would have kicked them out immediately. But this was a very powerful general of the Great Xia Kingdom. Although he had long since left the military, he still had a natural sense of awe for such a person.

They had no choice but to call Shen Cao to see if their daughter had any ideas.

Shen Cao first gave a simple bow, "Brother, may I ask how I should address you?"

"Monsoon".

Just like before, this person was extremely indifferent and unwilling to say a word.

"Hello, Miss Shen, I am He Yu."

"Greetings, Young Master Ji. Greetings, Young Master He."

“My father didn’t lie to you. It was just bad luck that you left yesterday and my older brother came back right afterward.”

"As soon as he got back, he told us that he was going to the capital early this morning."

"Since you say that my older brother saved you before and you want to thank him in person, then you must consider my older brother a friend."

"But unfortunately, my older brother left early this morning. I got up early this morning to prepare food for them, so I was still catching up on sleep when you arrived."

These are all facts, and Shen Cao has no reason to deliberately conceal them.

"And you can also inquire about it. My elder brother recently came in first place in the provincial examination. On the day the results were announced, Grand Tutor Zhou personally took my brother as his student. Many people witnessed these things."

"This time, Grand Tutor Zhou was in a hurry to return to the capital, so he left early this morning."

I never expected that Grand Tutor Zhou would also come to Xin'an County. This small place, Xin'an County, is actually full of hidden talents.

Looking at Shen Cao's serious expression, Ji Lingfeng knew she wasn't lying. Could it be that the person who saved him that day was Shen Chen?

And Shen Chen did indeed go to the capital early this morning.

But he always felt that something was off about the whole thing.

"I am truly sorry for the abruptness. I really wanted to thank you in person. I apologize for offending you all."

"It's alright, you meant well."

Ji Lingfeng stood up. His purpose today was to see Shen Chen with his own eyes and see if Shen Chen was the one who applied the medicine to him that day.

Since he could no longer see it, he had no reason to stay any longer.

"I apologize for the intrusion. Since Brother Shen has already gone to the capital, let's meet again in the capital another day."

Shen's father and Shen Cao got up and saw the two to the door.

"Since you're my older brother's friend, you're welcome to come over for meals anytime and patronize our business!"

"I'll definitely give you a discount then, and I guarantee you'll have a full meal."

Ji Lingfeng didn't give Shen Cao any expression. He didn't expect that this girl from the Shen family would have such a...unruly personality?

She does indeed resemble her older brother who saved him that day.

He Yu nodded, "Of course, your food is so delicious, we'll definitely come back."

“My master had breakfast downstairs at the inn today, but he only took one bite and then put down his chopsticks.”

"My master has a very discerning palate..."

"Crane Feather!!!"

Ji Lingfeng didn't wait for He Yu and walked straight ahead.

After arriving at the inn where they were staying, Ji Lingfeng went into his room, and He Yu followed closely behind, wanting to go in as well.

Unexpectedly, after Ji Lingfeng went inside, he slammed the door shut behind him.

With a "bang!", He Yu was lucky enough to react quickly enough and take half a step back in time.

That's how he managed to save his head, but his nose wasn't spared; it got shoved into the door.

A burning pain shot through his nose, and a warm stream flowed down his nostrils.

He reached up and wiped it, then looked down and saw it was blood.

He had no choice but to go to his own room next door to deal with it.

He had finally witnessed his master's unpredictable temper. No wonder everyone else smiled and congratulated him happily when they learned that they were accompanying their master on the mission.

So they're happy that they don't have to accompany their master on missions, laughing at his ignorance, and deliberately showing off in front of them that they can finally go on missions.

Master, you know that your subordinates don't want to put up with your bad temper!

While He Yu was listing her master's shortcomings in the next room, Ji Lingfeng suddenly sneezed several times in a row.

"Could it be a cold?" Ji Lingfeng put on another layer of clothing.

Ji Lingfeng didn't even consider the possibility that someone was talking badly about him behind his back; he didn't care at all.

Ji Lingfeng's position today is entirely due to his hard work over the years.

Many outsiders say he is ruthless and cruel, and kills without blinking an eye.

In fact, some women in the capital would even announce his name to prevent their children from crying, which would frighten the children into immediately shutting up.

In recent years, the Great Xia Kingdom has enjoyed peace and prosperity, with few wars.

Ji Lingfeng has been guarding the border ever since.

Some time ago, he discovered spies from several neighboring countries in the Great Xia Kingdom.

So he disguised himself and went with He Yu to a neighboring country to gather information, and also to check on the situation in Daqing Kingdom.

His spies hadn't sent back any news for three months, and he was really worried, so he had no choice but to go himself.

Unexpectedly, they were discovered not long after arriving in Daqing Kingdom.

It seemed that the Great Qing Kingdom had a premonition that he would come to the Great Qing Kingdom, and had set up many ambushes.

Fortunately, he was careful and did not fall into the enemy's trap, only suffering minor injuries.

If it were anyone else, they would probably have been captured by the Daqing Kingdom long ago.

This trip was quite fruitful; at least it proved his guess was correct—the people he sent were probably long gone.

The reason he didn't return to the military camp immediately was because his mission was classified, yet the Great Qing Kingdom somehow knew his whereabouts.

That means there was a traitor in the military camp, and he didn't send any message back to the camp after escaping.

The purpose was to find the traitors in the military camp.