Chapter 600: Be prepared for danger in times of peace (4)
On the shore, Shen Siwei stood with his hands behind his back, listening to his subordinates report the situation.
"Those people have reached shore safely."
"All of Ye Kang's gang members have been captured. Three of our men were killed and five were injured."
"The fire in the restaurant was an accident. The commander of the Water Dragon Office was in the boat. When the Water Dragon Office heard that the fire was slow to be dealt with, another group of people secretly took the deputy commander to dispatch troops to put out the fire."
"The group in the dark showed us the Imperial Dragon Order. They belong to the same faction as the ones hiding underwater. The one the Imperial Dragon Guards are protecting is the woman on the boat."
"The Royal Dragon Guards handed over all the information about Ye Kang and his relatives' rampages to us, which is consistent with what we have investigated, but they did not want us to inquire about their movements."
"Well, let's go back." Shen Siwei recalled the woman who passed by him in the lake. The light was too dim and he couldn't see what she looked like. He could only vaguely meet her eyes.
When observing from the corner of the lake, only the back can be vaguely seen.
Sui Zhao returned home with his parents, washed up and went to bed, and went for an outing with them the next day.
Outside the city, peach blossoms are in full bloom, the ground is lush and green, and the flowers are fragrant and the birds are singing.
After walking for half a day, his legs and feet were tired, so he sat down in the pavilion and chatted with other women who came to the lake for an outing.
A woman asked, "Are those who came with you your brother and his wife? They seem very affectionate."
"No, they are my parents." Sui Zhao smiled with his eyes curved, "Don't you find that I look a bit like them?"
"Ah, so they are your parents? They don't look old enough to be parents. How old are you?"
Wanjiezhu was eating the pastries carefully behind Sui Zhao.
After taking its pills, I feel so good every day. How can I not be young?
The dog host is very capable, and he abdicated simply because he felt that there were too many things to do.
"Seventeen."
"I'm one year older than you and I'm getting married next month."
During the reign of the Supreme Emperor, the marriage age for both men and women was set at 18.
"Congratulations, sister."
The sound of horse hooves could be heard, and then the area within fifteen feet of the pavilion was surrounded. A man in black clothes with silver patterns drove his horse into the encirclement, his black eyes calm and cold.
The person beside him said, "I'm sorry to disturb you all. We are trying to catch the criminal. Please cooperate."
Seeing that their faces were cold and hard and seemed to carry murderous intent, the people present dared not say anything and remained silent.
Sui Zhao looked at them curiously, especially the man on the tall horse.
Even his horse is taller than the person next to him, and his temperament is outstanding. He is worthy of being the commander of the Mingcha Division.
After returning home last night, Huai Xu showed her a portrait of Shen Siwei, the current commander of the Mingcha Division, so she could recognize him.
Shen Siwei noticed her gaze and looked over. She smiled at him calmly, lowered her head to drink tea, and listened to the noise made by the people from the Investigation Department.
He then withdrew his gaze.
He was quite bold, and others either lowered their heads or watched secretly.
Shen Siwei's gaze fell on Yan Tinglan and Zhu Fuli, who were a little further away. His gaze stayed for a moment and he found that the little girl's face was somewhat similar to theirs.
Soon, a middle-aged man was escorted out from the crowd, tied up on the back of a horse, and Mingcha Si rode away.
"I'm so scared. Who is he? I've never seen such a young official before."
"I don't know, maybe he is from the capital, his manners are very outstanding."
"The situation in Yangzhou has changed. The governor is going to be replaced. I hope a good official will come. Don't pretend to be good again. After a long time, your true colors will be exposed."
Sui Zhao listened for a while, said goodbye to the woman next to him who was chatting well, and walked towards his parents.
"I'm hungry."
"Then let's go back and have some snacks in the carriage." Zhu Fuli pulled Yan Tinglan towards the carriage, "I'm hungry too."
After returning home and finishing his meal, Shuang Xu told Sui Zhao and others the news he had heard.
"The trial is over. The evidence is solid and the amount of corruption is huge. Ye Kang and others have been taken to the capital. Before the new governor takes office, the Mingchasi will be stationed in Yangzhou to handle state affairs."
Sui Zhao turned around and asked, "How many days will we stay in Yangzhou?"
Yan Tinglan didn't reply and looked at Zhu Fuli.
Zhu Fuli smiled and said, "January, Yangzhou has nice scenery. Let's go horseback riding in the suburbs the day after tomorrow, and enjoy the scenery."
"Listen to Ali."
Sui Zhao was delighted when he heard this and said, "Mother, I will hunt rabbits for you."
Zhu Fuli turned and looked over, "Are you keeping him or eating him?"
"Of course we ate it. We are not going to take the rabbit with us when we leave. It is a waste of time and effort. It is not worth it. Let's eat it here. Besides, you know, I don't hunt many living things."
"it is good."
On the third day, the family of three put on riding clothes and went to the suburbs.
Yan Tinglan and Zhu Fuli rode on the same horse. Sui Zhao saw that her father was being clingy again, so she took Shuang Xu away on her own.
The wind blew my hair, the sound of horse hooves scared away the wild animals hiding in the forest, and Sui Zhao drew his bow and shot an arrow.
Shuang Xu asked: "Miss, do you want to compete with me?"
She laughed and said, "Stop bullying me. I can't compare to someone like you who has practiced martial arts since childhood."
"Isn't it enough if I give you five prey?"
"No, people who specialize in a certain field are not allowed to participate in the competition." An arrow shot into a rabbit's ear and sank into the soil.
"You are gifted, not inferior to me at all."
"I won't be shaken by your flattery." Sui Zhao stopped the horse.
Shuang Xu went to pick up the prey, sitting on the horse and bending down to lift the prey.
An hour later, the sounds of other horse hooves approached in the forest, and Sui Zhao turned his head.
The secret guards didn't warn us, which means there is no danger.
It’s Shen Siwei.
When their eyes met, the other party was too cold, so Sui Zhao spoke first: "Sir, are you here to hunt today too?"
"Yeah." Shen Siwei's dark eyes fixed on her face, then moved away for a moment, "Young lady, aren't you a local?"
"How do you know that?"
"You have a Kyoto accent."
Sui Zhao smiled at him and switched to the Linzhou accent he had learned not long ago: "I'm from Linzhou. I've lived in Kyoto for a few years. It's not surprising that I have a Kyoto accent."
His eyes were fixed on her smile which seemed particularly sincere, and he looked away soon: "Yeah."
Sui Zhao: “…”
Um what?
"Sir, would you like to go first?" Sui Zhao asked casually as the road was narrow and only one horse could pass.
"You please." He was still concise.
She didn't hesitate to nod at him and left with Shuang Xu.
Shen Siwei watched her disappearing figure, lowered his eyes and paused there, with a thoughtful look in his eyes.
Soon two men came on horseback, "Sir, the prey has been counted."
"Let's go." He pulled the reins.
There were other people in the forest, many in number, but they meant no harm.
It was well hidden, but he still found it.
Not many people can bring so many powerful secret guards.
Sui Zhao returned to his parents and shouted to them in a tone of seeking praise: "Mom, Dad, I hunted five rabbits!"
Zhu Fuli smiled and said, "An An is awesome."
Yan Tinglan also smiled and said, "Not bad, how would you like to eat?"
“Fry, bake, stew, and stir-fry.”
"I listened to you. Did you have enough fun?"
"We've had enough fun, let's go back." She nodded, "I just ran into Shen Siwei, and he was testing me."
Yan Tinglan turned his horse's head and asked, "What are you testing?"
"He asked me if I was from Kyoto. He was probably trying to guess our identities." Sui Zhao laughed. "It was too dark that night. The lake was disturbed by the flying arrows. The lanterns were extinguished by the waves and sank. I saw a tall black shadow fly past me in a flash. He probably didn't see my face clearly."
But perhaps because my eyes met his, I could tell that he was a tall man, and his temperament seemed to be the same as when I saw him during the day.
Zhu Fuli asked: "How do you respond to him?"
"I told him that I had lived in Beijing for a few years and was from Linzhou. I don't know if he believed me or not."
"I probably don't really believe it, but it doesn't hurt to know."