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

A guesthouse in Xin'an County

It was already mid-October, and the moon in the sky was exceptionally round, with moonlight streaming into the room through the window.

A young man dressed in black sat by the window. His face was stern, and his high nose and handsome brow bone were clearly visible from the side.

The young man's movements as he brewed tea were very elegant, exuding nobility in every gesture.

The water in the kettle on the stove was boiling, steaming hot.

The boy skillfully poured the water from the kettle into the teapot, and then added fresh spring water to boil.

He raised his teacup, took a sip, and then looked up at the full moon in the sky. The moonlight shone on the boy's face, highlighting his handsome appearance.

Suddenly, a dark figure climbed in through the window.

The young man showed no sign of panic. He took out a new teacup, poured in tea, and spoke calmly.

"How about it?"

The dark figure didn't rush to answer his question. Instead, he walked to the table, picked up the teacup, and drank the tea in one gulp.

"You're guzzling my tea like a glutton, ruining my good tea."

"Master, I'm so thirsty, have another cup."

The boy calmly poured him another cup of tea.

After drinking the water, Tsuruha finally felt better.

"My lord, you have asked me to investigate those Persians."

“I secretly followed them. After they left the yamen, they returned to the inn and were unusually quiet. They seemed to have no objection to the magistrate’s decision.”

"They didn't go out until evening, went to a restaurant for dinner, and didn't leave until the middle of the night after the restaurant closed."

"Is there anything unusual?" Ji Lingfeng picked up his teacup and brought it to his lips.

He Yu replied, "I always felt there was something wrong with that restaurant. They went into a private room after they went in."

“I was right next door. Strangely, when the waiter brought the dishes in, there was no sound of people talking inside the private room.”

"There was no one in that private room at all."

“These past few days, they’ve been going to that restaurant almost every other day.”

After hearing He Yu's words, Ji Lingfeng put down his teacup and asked, "What's the name of that restaurant?"

"Chunhua Tower".

Ji Lingfeng leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.

He took a piece of paper from under the tray beside him and handed it to He Yu. "Take a look."

He Yu took the note, and after reading its contents, his expression changed.

"Master, is this a message from Hefei and the others?" This paper is specially made, and the last part of the note has the special mark of the Hefei Camp.

"Ah."

"You suspect this matter is related to those Persians?"

"I don't know. I always felt that these Persians were more than just ordinary merchants."

“One of them looked familiar to me, but I don’t remember when I’ve seen him before.”

He Yu handed the note back to Ji Lingfeng.

Ji Lingfeng placed the paper into the furnace of the small stove, and the paper quickly burst into flames, turning into ashes in an instant.

"In the meantime, keep an eye on those Persians, but make sure you don't get noticed."

"Also, investigate that Chunhua Tower."

The next day, after finishing her business in the morning, Shen Cao stopped Shen Wan, who wanted to go out and have fun.

"Awan, will you come with me to a place later?"

"Okay." Although Shen Wan was a little confused, she still listened to her older sister.

After rejecting Shen Qing, Shen Wan sat in the front hall waiting for her elder sister.

A short while later, the older sister brought out a lunchbox.

"Sister, who are you bringing food to?"

"You'll find out soon."

"let's go."

Just as the two were about to get up, they heard Shen Qing's voice.

The two turned around and saw Shen Qing panting heavily.

"Why are you back?" Shen Wan asked first.

"Of course I'll follow you and my sister. I'm a man, and I have to protect you."

Shen Qing acted like a little adult, as if he was about to get into a fight.

Shen Cao patted his shoulder, "We're not going to fight anyone, so we don't need your protection."

"No, I promised my brother that I would protect you while he's not around."

"Okay, okay, you go too."

Shen Cao took her younger brother and sister out the door.

The group walked through several alleys, becoming more and more remote, and the houses became simpler and simpler.

Shen Qing and Shen Wan felt that this place was familiar, as if they had been here before.

The two of them followed behind Shen Cao, looking around curiously.

After walking for a while, we saw the older sister stop in front of a dilapidated thatched hut.

The older sister didn't knock; she just walked in.

The two followed quietly behind their elder sister, wanting to ask her something, but she had already reached the door of the main room.

This time, the older sister did not go straight in, but knocked on the door of the main room.

"Xiaoyu, are you home?"

"Yes, Sister Cao'er, please come in."

Shen Qing and Shen Wan exchanged glances. Why did that voice sound so familiar?

They entered the main room, which was somewhat dark. It took them a while to adjust before they could see the layout clearly.

The room was just as dilapidated as the outside, but it was kept very clean.

In the center of the main room, there was a table and several stools.

In the center of the main room, against the wall, was an incense table. In the center of the incense table were two memorial tablets, and in front of the tablets were two candles and an incense burner.

The elder sister did not linger in the main room, but instead went into the room on the left side of the main room.

They both withdrew their gazes and followed their older sister inside.

Upon entering the room, the light was noticeably brighter.

The older sister skillfully placed the lunchbox on the cabinet next to the room.

They followed their older sister's gaze and were both startled.

"Little Rain!!"

"Wan'er, Shen Qing!"

Shen Qing and Shen Wan looked at their elder sister, "Elder sister, you actually know about Xiaoyu's family."

"And you two seem to know each other quite well."

Li Xiaoyu described in detail how Shen Cao helped her grandmother get medical treatment.

"Sister, you..."

"You're amazing!" Shen Qing didn't know how else to describe his older sister, so he could only use "you're amazing" instead.

"I was wondering why you haven't been out having fun lately; it turns out you've been taking care of your grandma."

The two carefully approached the bedside and greeted Grandma Zhang, who had just woken up.

"Hello, Grandma Zhang."

"You must be Cao'er's younger brother and sister, that's great."

"We are also Xiaoyu's good friends."

"Okay, okay, Xiaoyu is so lucky to have such good friends like you."

"Xiaoyu, quickly bring them chairs to sit down."

The two followed Li Xiaoyu to move some stools and sat down.

The bedroom, which was not large to begin with, felt even more cramped, but no one complained.

Shen Qing and Shen Wan made Grandma Zhang laugh, while Shen Cao took care of Grandma Zhang's meal.

Li Xiaoyu sat on a stool, eating while looking at the scene in front of her.

At that moment, she felt incredibly happy and lucky.

On their way home, Shen Wan said, "Sister, I'll come with you again tomorrow."

"I want to come too."

"it is good!!!"