Chapter 499: Stunned Speechless

After their contact ended, Fan Wuzhe felt melancholic for a while, still thinking the same thing: he was worried that what the other person asked him to do might not be good.

Gazing at the bright scenery outside the window, he, who had just stepped out, felt reluctant to go out again, his heart weary.

However, it wasn't long before Dong Liangze arrived, knocking on the door and calling out, "Cousin, it's time for breakfast."

Eating again? Fan Wuzhe wondered when he had become so averse to meals. He actually wanted to ask the family if no one thought his eldest cousin's cooking was truly terrible. If everyone respected her efforts so much, it would be difficult for her to improve.

What he didn't know was that some people actually praised Dong Liangyi's cooking to her face and loved to eat it, like Wu Jinliang.

However, Wu Jinliang was clever and would bring his own dishes.

Yet, some opinions could only be kept to himself. On the surface, Fan Wuzhe would also show great respect for his eldest cousin's efforts, becoming one of the obstacles to her improvement. He simply responded cheerfully, "Coming!"

The door opened, and he chuckled with Dong Liangze as they headed to the kitchen.

And at today's dinner table, there was an unusual critical remark.

The Dong family had good manners; during meals, elders were always allowed to start eating first.

Dong Wenshu was the first to pick up some food. As soon as he tasted it, his eyebrows twitched, and he looked up at Dong Liangyi, sighing, "My dear girl, did you spill the salt shaker today?"

Dong Liangyi, who had been somewhat distracted, uttered a sound and tentatively asked, "Is it salty?"

Dong Wenshu nodded his chopsticks, indicating that she should taste it herself.

Dong Liangze, still a teenager at heart, immediately picked up his chopsticks and tasted it first. He then frowned, "Sister, remove the 'ma'; it's definitely salty."

Others also began to eat, and soon a series of exasperated or amused reactions followed.

Dong Liangyi felt embarrassed after tasting it herself. She quickly cleared the dishes to prepare new side dishes for everyone. While bustling in the kitchen, her ears turned red, and she bit her lip, secretly blaming Shi Chun for talking nonsense and making her so distracted that she added too much salt without realizing it.

She really wanted her younger brother to give the overly salty dishes to Shi Chun, but it was just a fleeting malicious thought; ultimately, she didn't dare to do it.

For a family living a quiet life, it was all their own food, so whether it was salty or bland was not a big deal.

The lockdown on Dazhi City had been lifted, and the buzz from the streets reached the dinner table. Dong Wenshu still cautioned his family to be careful, as the commotion hadn't entirely passed. He advised them not to wander around unnecessarily if they had nothing urgent to do.

But Fan Wuzhe truly couldn't avoid moving around. After a brief rest following the meal, his turbulent emotions wouldn't settle.

On the mountaintop in the city, representing the highest authority, things were also not as peaceful as they seemed on the surface.

"City Lord, outside informants have sent news that a group of outlaws from Piliang Mountain were suddenly brought by their leader to set up an ambush net around the outskirts of Dazhi City."

"City Lord, Commissioner Lou has arrived at the East City Gate tower. The imperial guards are still intensifying their checks, with no unusual movements, except for Deputy Tax Supervisor Mei You, who is constantly running around near him."

"City Lord, Commissioner Lou secretly deployed a 'Mother-Son Dharma Plate' and moved it inside the East City Gate tower."

"City Lord, Commissioner Lou had someone prepare a Fine-Scaled Colt with a black cloth tied to its tail at the entrance of the East City Gate. We don't know what it's for."

Female attendants from the City Lord's manor frequently came and went before Li Xianghong, continuously reporting the newly acquired information.

"A Fine-Scaled Colt, with a black cloth tied to its tail... Is this Lou Xiu really going to make a deal with the kidnappers to save Huang Yingying?" Bai Qiru, who was listening in, mumbled with hesitation.

Not just her, Li Xianghong also grew increasingly puzzled. However, she remained skeptical about the idea of making a deal with kidnappers. As she always said, if someone had good intentions, there was no need to act sneakily.

Furthermore, the informant who reported this clearly had ulterior motives, and their words might not be true...

When the time was right, Fan Wuzhe finally left, exiting through the front hall.

He greeted Third Miss Dong Liangying, who was behind the counter. As for Shi Chun, who was doing odd jobs, he didn't spare him a second glance.

However, Shi Chun cast a sidelong glance, watching him leave.

The moment Fan Wuzhe stepped out, Xiao Sheng, who had been waiting at a nearby alley entrance to prevent Fan Wuzhe from leaving through the side gate of the courtyard, immediately followed.

He was now Shi Chun's ears and eyes, tasked with observing what Fan Wuzhe did along the way or whom he spoke to, and reporting all discoveries to Shi Chun.

In the past, Shi Chun wouldn't have been able to play this game. A single Mother-Son Talisman was beyond his means, forcing him to act personally. But conditions were different now; he could monitor someone's every move from afar without leaving his home.

Fan Wuzhe reached the city gate smoothly, without any interference.

Xiao Sheng, who had been following at a moderate distance, stopped trailing Fan Wuzhe once they reached the city gate. He casually bought something from a nearby stall, then turned into another intersection and headed back.

In front of a stall near the city gate, Chu Jing-tang was already enjoying his meal and had observed all the activity around the gate area. He was there to take over from Xiao Sheng at this moment, continuing to monitor Fan Wuzhe's movements at the gate, so he could report them promptly to Shi Chun.

Inside the left watchtower of the city wall, Mei You periodically walked to the carved window overlooking the outside of the city to observe, then to the window facing the inside to check.

Lou Xiu was also in this watchtower, but he was much calmer. He stood before a table, staring at a bronze mirror in the shape of a toad offering treasure. The toad's mouth held a Mother-Son Talisman, and in the mirror, there was a small white light.

This object was precisely the 'Mother-Son Dharma Plate,' an accessory for custom-made Mother-Son Talismans. It could pinpoint the location of its corresponding other half. Usually, only organized groups would use such talismans; others typically wouldn't purchase a Mother-Son Talisman that could easily reveal their personal whereabouts.

"Why is he here?" Mei You, standing behind the carved window, suddenly let out a surprised sound.

This caught Lou Xiu's attention. He walked over, peering out, and asked, "Who?"

Mei You pointed at the man in white approaching the city gate. "The one in white clothes, that's Fan Wuzhe."

Lou Xiu naturally knew who Fan Wuzhe was and what Mei You had done to him. However, he hadn't known him before and didn't intend to get acquainted with such a minor figure now. He merely glanced at him a couple more times because he had been pointed out.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, his gaze suddenly sharpened. He turned his head back to watch Fan Wuzhe's actions, seeing him walk towards a Fine-Scaled Colt tied near the city gate. The colt had a black cloth tied to its tail and a black cloth pouch hanging from its back.

Fan Wuzhe walked toward this particular Fine-Scaled Colt precisely because he recognized its specific features.

He scanned his surroundings; at the East Gate entrance, he saw no other Fine-Scaled Colt besides this one.

According to the mastermind, he could just ride the Fine-Scaled Colt away, and no one would stop him.

Despite this, he was still very nervous doing it in plain sight, but he had no choice but to push through.

The nearby city guards merely watched as he approached the Fine-Scaled Colt; indeed, no one stopped him.

Seeing this, Fan Wuzhe felt a little relieved. His cautious movements became bolder and more agile. He untied the rope, led the Fine-Scaled Colt away, then swung himself onto its back. With a tap of his heels against its flank, he trotted straight out of the city.

Once outside the city, he immediately galloped away. Beyond the road ahead, there was endless grassland. He looked back and saw that no one was stopping him, nor was anyone pursuing him.

Mei You, standing behind the carved window, was already dumbfounded. What in the world? The person sent to meet them was actually Fan Wuzhe? His mind couldn't quite process it for a moment.

Lou Xiu wasn't blind; he naturally saw it too. Suddenly, he reprimanded in a low voice, "You had better explain this clearly. What exactly is going on?"

"Huh?" Mei You suddenly came to his senses and stammered frantically, "Commissioner, I don't know either! I... I... I'll go chase him back immediately."

Lou Xiu kicked him, sending him stumbling just as he was about to run off. "He's here for a transaction, why would you chase him? Do you want to interrupt the deal? Is this the breakthrough you found concerning the bookstore? Mei You, what exactly are you playing at?"

"I truly don't know," Mei You stammered, picking up his Mother-Son Talisman in a panic to send an inquiry. "I can contact him. I'll ask him what's going on right now."

Lou Xiu, for his part, didn't stop him.

Chu Jing-tang, eating at the stall, also witnessed Fan Wuzhe's departure. Reaching under the clothes placed on the table, he used a spell to write a message on his Mother-Son Talisman and sent it to Shi Chun.

On the mountaintop in the city, the female attendant who received the message immediately conveyed the content of the Mother-Son Talisman to her superior after reading it. "City Lord, someone rode off on that Fine-Scaled Colt from the city gate."

After reading it, Li Xianghong said gravely, "Immediately inform Lord Poyuan's side to keep an eye on it. Find out who rode away on the Fine-Scaled Colt."

"Yes," the attendant replied, and left to carry out the order.

It was a busy time at the bookstore, with a constant stream of customers. Shi Chun was frequently pouring tea and refilling cups, but this didn't prevent him from checking messages. Whenever he sensed a message, he would immediately return to the stove to change a teapot, and incidentally, sit behind a row of charcoal stoves to read the Mother-Son Talisman messages.

First came Chu Jing-tang's message, informing him that Fan Wuzhe had successfully ridden out on the Fine-Scaled Colt and that there were no other unusual developments at the city gate for now.

Close behind was Mei You's message, originally intended for Fan Wuzhe, but naturally delivered to Shi Chun.

A line of text, imbued with anger: "Fan, what are you trying to do?"

Shi Chun casually replied, "What's wrong?"

Mei You: "Stop playing dumb with me! I saw you ride the Fine-Scaled Colt out of the city gate with my own eyes. What are you up to?"

Shi Chun replied: "Nothing much. My maternal uncle told me to ride it. He asked me for a small favor, and I couldn't refuse."

In the watchtower at the city gate, Mei You and Lou Xiu, who was peering over, both exclaimed in unison, "Maternal uncle?"

Lou Xiu quickly made a gesture, pointing at the Mother-Son Talisman.

Mei You miraculously understood instantly and immediately replied, asking, "Is it Dong Wenshu?"

Shi Chun replied on behalf of Fan Wuzhe, "Yes, I only have one maternal uncle."

Lou Xiu and Mei You exchanged dumbfounded glances. Was it really appropriate to target Dong Wenshu's ancestral property? It felt like they had stepped into a bottomless pit. Was Dong Wenshu truly as simple as he appeared on the surface?

Lou Xiu, recovering his wits, quickly pointed at the Mother-Son Talisman in Mei You's hand. "Ask for the specific destination."

Mei You acknowledged and immediately sent a message asking, "What did your maternal uncle tell you to do with that mount?"

Shi Chun replied on his behalf, "He told me not to stop and to ride all the way to Zhelan Slope, saying someone would meet me there."

"It's Zhelan Slope," Mei You immediately turned his head to report.

Lou Xiu saw it and said gravely, "Immediately order the forces deployed in the outer perimeter to rush to Zhelan Slope to set up control..." He then paused abruptly, raising his hand to stop, a look of hesitation on his face.