Expelled from the Duke's mansion, the fake heiress is richer than a country.

"Perhaps women are naturally more meticulous?"

Yu Wanran smiled and gave a casual answer. Otherwise, she couldn't explain why she was more experienced than Wu Jian, who had been running courier services for many years.

Before Yan Cheng'an could ask anything else, she directly asked Wu Jian to change the subject: "Chief镖 (镖头, a term for a镖师, meaning镖头, or镖师), how did that female assassin infiltrate the village head's house?"

Either Aunt Fang's family is a traitor, or the family has been taken into custody.

She guessed it was the former.

After all, the village women described the family's inherent flaws very clearly.

As expected, Wu Jian replied, "Aunt Fang's family couldn't resist the temptation of a large sum of money and agreed to let the female assassin impersonate their niece."

He turned to the village head, whose face was grim, and nodded with his chin: "Old Chen, I've already had that family tied up. At dawn, you can send villagers to hand them over to the yamen!"

The assassination attempt on Young Master Yan, with his powerful background, was no small matter. He couldn't cover for the village in this affair. Only by personally escorting Aunt Fang's family to the authorities could Chen Lizheng exonerate himself and the other villagers.

"This family is worse than pigs and dogs!"

Chen Lizheng was furious. He cursed Fang's family before bowing and clasping his hands in a fist salute to Wu Jian.

"Chief镖师 Wu, we are so grateful to have you all here this time! Don't worry, I will send someone to the yamen to report to the authorities as soon as it is light."

Yu Wanran thought to herself, “They’ve been causing trouble and reporting people to the authorities all the way here… Luckily, Chen Li is a reasonable person, otherwise he would have complained that they are jinxes.”

As they left the east room, Wu Jian followed behind. The courtyard was littered with corpses, some dressed in black and masked, others bodyguards. Survivors were cleaning up the scene.

Yu Wanran looked at each corpse one by one: "Didn't you stop that female assassin who was impersonating Aunt Fang's niece?"

Wu Jian felt a little ashamed.

"That female assassin was extremely skilled; even with our combined forces, we couldn't capture her."

Yu Wanran wasn't surprised.

If she hadn't had extensive experience fighting enemies, and with Ozawa's help, she might have fallen to the enemy's poisoned sword tonight.

The female assassin's attacks were all-or-nothing moves, making her very difficult to deal with.

"I suspect this group is a highly organized group. If they fail to assassinate Young Master Yan, they'll be in deep trouble when they return!"

Wu Jian looked around and lowered his voice: "Therefore, they would rather gather their remaining troops and ambush in this small village for a final gamble."

Yu Wanran nodded; she had the same suspicion. Otherwise, it wouldn't explain why there weren't many assassins who came last night. Moreover, upon examining the bodies, most of them still bore the marks of the previous assassination attempt.

If they were to call in reinforcements, it would be hard to say whether Wu Jian and his group of bodyguards could control the situation.

Snowflakes began to dance in the sky. At first, they were just scattered specks, but then they gradually grew larger. Feather-like snowflakes quickly covered the rooftops, treetops, and ground with a thin layer of white.

Chen Lizheng came out and looked worriedly at the blood on the ground, which was gradually covered by the heavy snow.

"Chief镖师 Wu, it's snowing, it seems difficult for you to travel? Why don't you stay in the village for a couple more days?"

"no!"

Chief镖师 Wu said firmly, "Some assassins escaped last night. Every extra day we delay here increases the risk."

He glanced at Chen Lizheng and said, "Old Chen, don't be afraid of the difficult road. With so many people dead, we must report this to the authorities as soon as possible! Otherwise, once the snow covers the traces of the fight, the government might make things difficult for you."

Chen Lizheng suddenly realized the truth.

"you're right."

He immediately called out his son and ordered him to find a few strong young villagers to take Aunt Fang and her family to the city to report to the authorities.

As for Wu Jian and the others, they did not intend to linger and wait for the officials to arrive. They were protecting Young Master Yan, and the matter was of great importance; they could send him to the capital before returning to close the case.

Upon hearing that they were about to depart, Yu Man and his son were unwilling to stay in the small village for even a moment longer and immediately packed their luggage. Yan Cheng'an was injured and unable to move, so the village head's family dismantled a bed board, padded it with a thick mattress, and carried him onto the carriage.

Xiao Ze approached Yu Wanran and said apologetically, "Miss Yu, I'm worried I can't protect the Second Young Master on my own. Could you please ride in the same carriage with us? I'm afraid that female assassin might return."

The female assassin's martial arts skills far surpassed his; even Wu Jian was no match for her. Therefore, he placed all his hopes on Yu Wanran.

Yu Wanran glanced at her father and brother.

Yu Man frowned.

Although he was reluctant to let his daughter take the risk, Young Master Yan's identity was extraordinary and he was a good person, so he had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

"Ranran, since you have the ability, go and look after Young Master Yan!"

He said this with a hint of pride.

His daughter is so capable! Even noblemen like Young Master Yan and Wu Jian have to treat her with utmost respect and ask for her favors. The Duke's mansion, for some inexplicable reason, kicked his capable daughter out.

Thankfully, it was finished in time!

Since her family didn't object, Yu Wanran packed her belongings and followed Xiao Ze into the most luxurious carriage in the entire caravan.

Since he could only lie down, Yan Cheng'an had nowhere to put his long legs, so he inevitably propped them up against the car door. Seeing Xiao Ze help Yu Wanran into the car, he immediately put his legs down. But a sharp pain shot through his back, causing him to groan in pain!

Yu Wanran bent down to pick up the blanket he had dropped on the ground and casually draped it back over his lap.

“Young Master Yan, your safety is crucial to the fate of the entire escort team. Xiao Ze has sent me to protect you personally.”

Yan Cheng'an revealed a gentle and refined smile: "Miss Yu, this trip to the capital is truly thanks to your repeated rescues!"

As she spoke, she hurriedly instructed Xiao Ze to provide Yu Wanran with hand warmers, blankets, snacks, and candies, for fear of not being able to take good care of her.

Yu Wanran stopped Yan Cheng'an from moving around: "Young Master Yan, please don't be so polite. It's fate that we're traveling together. I will do my best to protect you."

Making friends with a powerful young man whose status and family background are no less than those of the Duke's mansion would be of great benefit to her.

Xiao Ze set out the food and drinks on the small table and sat down next to Yu Wanran. The three chatted casually. Yu Wanran didn't ask about Yan Cheng'an's private affairs at all, not even why he was being chased.

Yan Cheng'an disliked associating with the women of the inner quarters, but Yu Wanran was surprisingly knowledgeable. No matter what he said, Yu Wanran could always chime in with a few words.

They even brought up the topic of overseas trade because of their interest in business.

Yan Cheng'an was extremely surprised.

He knew about Yu Wanran's background. Even the Duke and Duchess themselves probably didn't have similar experiences traveling to various places; how could Yu Wanran know so much?

Yu Wanran was prepared for this. She shifted all the blame onto her elusive master.

“I studied martial arts under several masters since I was a child. One of them was a reclusive master who was very knowledgeable and often told me interesting stories about his travels.”

Yan Cheng'an was extremely envious upon hearing this.

"Miss Yu, does your master still accept apprentices?"

Yu Wanran shook her head, her expression slightly somber: "He wandered the world, leaving the Duke's mansion when I was fourteen, and has been missing ever since."

In her previous life, she never managed to find her master's whereabouts until her death. She figured he was no longer alive, as he was nearing seventy.

Xiao Ze glanced at the two chatting. His second young master's back pain was gone, and he was no longer groaning. He was beaming as he chatted with Miss Yu.

This was a side of him he had never seen before. He sensed that his young master was truly happy.

He couldn't help but glance at Yu Wanran again.