The anti-Qing movement began with the looting of the Eight-Nation Alliance.

"Who goes there? Stop the carriage!" The two carriages had only gone a few steps onto the main street when they were stopped by a group of burly men in red armed with knives and spears.

"Qian character group, Cao Defu, the third senior brother of Desheng Altar. Which altar are the brothers on the other side?" Stone roared.

"Oh! We're all brothers, we're from the Lüzu Hall!" The other party said, bowing as he saw the red flag on the carriage.

"Where are you two brothers headed?"

"The brothers attacked the church all night and are now exhausted. I'll go get some food!" Tan Ya said, lifting the carriage curtain to reveal himself dressed in red.

"Thank you for your hard work, senior brother! Please!" The man leading the group waved his hand and made way for them.

"Giddy up!" Stone breathed a sigh of relief and slowly drove the carriage over.

Tan Ya gave a cold laugh. The flag on his carriage, the clothes he was wearing, and the person he was carrying were all genuine. He had paid for all of this.

After passing through several checkpoints without incident, the carriage entered the alley next to Anping Bridge.

"Knock, knock, knock!" Stone stopped the carriage and went to knock on the door, but no one answered. Stone knocked harder for a while before a trembling voice came through: "Who is it?"

"Manager Tan from Shandong!" Stone said to the gate.

With a "squeak," the door opened a crack. A small head peeked out.

"Oh my! It really is Manager Tan and Stone! Come in, come in!" the little eunuch exclaimed in delight.

Tan Ya had Shi Tou drive the carriage to a corner and park it, then he carried a food box inside.

"Is that Brother Tan?" a voice rang out from the dark room.

"It's me! Brother Zhang!" With Tan Ya's voice, a candle was lit in the room.

"Brother Tan, you've finally arrived! What's it like outside?" We haven't left the house all day.

"What else can happen? The Boxers are burning, killing, and looting everywhere, and they're attacking foreign embassies and churches right now! Can you hear the gunfire?" Tan Ya said, placing the food box on the table.

"Those damned Boxers! Weren't they supposed to support the Qing and destroy the foreigners? Why are they killing people everywhere?" Xiao Dezhang said through gritted teeth, his face pale.

"They kill foreigners, and they also kill those who have dealings with foreigners. If you have anything from foreigners in your home, you're considered to be dealing with foreigners!"

"Other things like oil lamps, pocket watches, fountain pens, etc.—anything that's foreign-owned in the home—will all be executed!" Tan Ya shook his head and said.

"Brother Zhang, these candles of yours seem to be foreign products, don't they?" Tan Ya grinned.

"Ah! Little Sanzi, quick, quick, change the candle!" Little Dezhang shouted in fright.

"Brother Zhang, don't panic. Since I'm here, I can naturally ensure your safety!" Tan Ya quickly reassured him.

"Have you eaten? I just happened to bring some food with me," Tan Ya said, patting the food box.

"Brother Tan is so thoughtful. To be honest, we haven't eaten all day. The cook went out to buy groceries early this morning and hasn't come back yet, and we don't know how to cook. Sigh! We asked that scoundrel Xiao Sanzi to go out and buy something to eat, but he's too scared to go!"

Upon hearing that there was food, Xiao De's stomach immediately started growling.

Of course he won't come back! I'm the one who sent people to scare your cook away! Tan Ya chuckled to himself.

"Let's eat something first! We'll talk later." Tan Ya said, opening the food box and taking out a plate of braised beef, two side dishes, a roast chicken, and several white steamed buns.

There's also a pot of wine!

"Okay, okay!" Little Zhang was starving and didn't stand on ceremony. He reached out and tore off a chicken leg and started gnawing on it, while also grabbing a steamed bun.

Watching him wolf down his food with such gusto, Xiao Sanzi, standing to the side, could only swallow his saliva inwardly.

“Give some to Xiao Sanzi too! He must be starving! He’s been taking care of you, Brother Zhang, these past few days!” Tan Ya shook his head and said.

Hearing this, Xiao Sanzi gave Tan Ya a grateful look. He didn't know how many times he had been beaten and scolded by Xiao Dezhang that day. With murder and arson happening outside, he, a mere teenage eunuch, dared not go out.

"Aren't you coming over to get something to eat? Do you want me to serve you?" Xiao Dezhang still had to give Tan Ya some face.

"Thank you, Manager Tan! Thank you, Eunuch Zhang!" Little Sanzi walked over, took two steamed buns, and huddled to the side to eat them.

A moment later, Xiao De Zhang, having finished his meal, started picking his teeth!

"Ah! I haven't had such delicious food in so many years! Brother Tan, I will repay your great kindness in the future!"

"Hey! It was just a small favor, why are you being so polite with us brothers? Besides, my master instructed me before he went back that Steward Li and Eunuch Zhang have done us a great favor! We must do our best to look after them no matter what," Tan Ya said with a serious expression.

"Lord Shen is truly righteous! No doubt about it!" Xiao Dezhang gave a thumbs up.

"Brother Zhang, who knows how long this chaos will last? What are your plans?" Tan Ya asked, offering a cigarette.

"Who the hell knows! The Forbidden City is under martial law now, and entry and exit are strictly prohibited. Even if we wanted to go back to the palace, we couldn't!" Xiao Dezhang said helplessly.

“How about this, Brother Zhang? You’re familiar with my attendant, Shi Tou. He can cook and knows the capital well. Let him stay here with you for the next few days and run errands for you!” Tan Ya said, pretending to ponder for a moment.

"Oh dear! Brother Tan, how could I possibly accept this?" Xiao Dezhang was overjoyed upon hearing this.

"Hey! We're brothers, what more can I say? That's all for now! It's getting late, I need to get back quickly, it's a mess outside." After finishing his business, Tan Ya prepared to get up and leave.

"Brother Tan, let me see you off!" Xiao De Zhang got up and escorted Tan Ya to the door. Tan Ya then called Shi Tou over and pretended to give him some instructions.

Before leaving, Tan Ya pulled Xiao Dezhang aside and whispered, "My master still has a dozen or so guards in the city to escort the goods. They are all loyal and elite soldiers armed with modern foreign guns."

"The lord has given instructions! If any great calamity occurs, he is willing to protect you and Steward Li and fight your way out of the city."

"It can't be that bad!" Xiao De Zhang was taken aback upon hearing this.

"However, regardless of the circumstances, I thank Lord Shen on behalf of our ancestor for his kindness!" Xiao De Zhang said solemnly, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

"Sigh! Shen Lian is truly a kind and grateful man!" Xiao Dezhang sighed as he watched the carriage disappear into the distance.

After a safe and uneventful journey back to his residence, Tan Ya went up and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" "It's me!" Hearing Tan Ya's voice, the person inside quietly opened the door a crack. Finding only Tan Ya's carriage, they quickly opened the main gate and, together with Tan Ya, led the two men inside. They immediately closed the door again!

"How are you?" Lai Fu hadn't slept at all and was still sitting at the table. He asked when he saw Tan Ya come in.

Tan Ya didn't speak, but simply smiled and nodded!