Inside the magistrate’s inner courtyard.
Nangong An looked at his good brother, Lu Zihan. Lu Zihan was no longer young, and now that Nangong An himself had found the woman he loved and gotten married, Lu Zihan was still single. The brothers were all a little worried about him.
“Hey, are you planning to be a bachelor for the rest of your life? Your mother is so worried about this that her hair has turned white,” Nangong An said as he looked at Lu Zihan’s face. With that full beard, a man in his early twenties looked as if he were already in his forties.
Lu Zihan touched his face and said, “What are you talking about? Fate hasn’t arrived yet. There’s no need to rush.”
“Look at people your age—some already have children attending school. And you say you’re not in a hurry. This is something your mother asked me to bring back to you when I returned to the capital. Remember to write her a letter so she won’t worry so much, and don’t focus only on work.” As he spoke, he took out a bundle and handed it to him.
After thinking for a moment, he continued, “I’m preparing to return to the northern frontier. Clean up and come with me to my mother’s inn for a meal. Consider it a farewell dinner for me.”
Lu Zihan couldn’t refuse and had no choice but to agree.
At Linglong Cloth Shop, Wu Sheng received a message from his master and came to inform Yunxi that her master would be hosting a dinner at the inn in the evening to entertain a friend, and that she should return on time.
When Xueli heard that Yunxi had something to do, she told her to leave first, but Yunxi insisted on bringing Xueli along.
Her reason was that she was about to depart for the northern frontier anyway, so it could also count as a farewell for Xueli.
Xueli couldn’t refuse, so she closed the shop early and followed Yunxi to the Happiness Inn where they were staying.
Led by Wu Sheng, they arrived at the private dining room.
Just as they were about to push the door open, it opened from the inside. Nangong An saw Yunxi and immediately reached out and pulled her over.
At the same time, he greeted Xueli behind her.
“Xi’er, this is my good brother Lu Zihan. He is the magistrate of Nanling City.”
Yunxi looked at the magistrate, then glanced at her sworn sister, and asked, “Hello, handsome Magistrate! Are you married?”
Pfft—
That sentence startled Lu Zihan so badly that he sprayed out the tea he was drinking.
His good brother’s wife was really fierce! And what on earth was a “handsome magistrate”?
He coughed lightly and replied, “Sister-in-law, I’m still alone. Are you thinking of introducing someone to me?”
That answer shocked Nangong An instead. He didn’t know his good brother could be so… bold.
Very rare indeed.
Yunxi directly pulled Xueli over and said, “This is my sworn elder sister, the shopkeeper of Linglong Cloth Shop. You look about the same age—talented man and beautiful woman, a perfect match!”
This made Xueli extremely embarrassed. Yunxi was being far too direct.
A perfectly good dinner suddenly felt like a matchmaking banquet.
Lu Zihan glanced at Xueli. He knew her—a very hardworking girl.
She had been labeled as someone who brought misfortune to her husband, which was why she had remained single.
Xueli also knew Lu Zihan, because her former fiancé’s case had been handled by him. Although the truth was eventually uncovered, once that label was placed on her, it could never be removed.
She respectfully bowed in apology. “Magistrate Lu, I’m sorry. Xi’er doesn’t know the background of the matter and has offended you.”
Lu Zihan was not a superstitious person at all and never believed in such things. “It’s alright, Miss Xueli.”
Listening to their conversation, Yunxi realized they already knew each other. That made things easier.
With the protection of this magistrate, she wouldn’t have to worry about anyone bullying her sworn sister in the future.
However, it seemed that her sworn sister was hiding something from her—and it sounded quite serious.
Yunxi pointed at the two of them and asked, “Sister, you know each other?”
Xueli didn’t hide it and answered directly, “Xi’er, my former fiancé’s case was handled by him, so we met several times in court.”
“Former fiancé? Court? Sister, what exactly happened?” Yunxi pressed on, determined to get to the bottom of it.
Then Xueli told her the entire story from beginning to end.
By the time she finished listening, Yunxi was furious. How could there be such a shameless scumbag—being despicable himself was one thing, but even framing someone else!
Seeing the little woman puffing up with anger, Nangong An immediately said, “Alright, it’s all in the past. Things will get better from now on.”
Yunxi grabbed Xueli’s hand. She hadn’t known that Xueli was such a strong woman—her fiancé’s family had canceled the engagement, she had been driven out by her own family, and even had all ties cut off. What kind of parents would abandon even their own daughter like that?
She comforted Xueli. “That’s right. Sister, you deserve someone better.”
After the dishes were served, they all sat down to eat, chatting as they went. The atmosphere was very pleasant.
After the meal, Lu Zihan escorted Xueli back to Linglong Cloth Shop.
Yunxi then changed into a black outfit that looked like modern sportswear.
Nangong An looked at her strangely. “Xi’er, where are you planning to go?”
Yunxi patted her chest like a chivalrous hero and said, “I’m going to rob the rich and help the poor. Husband, do you want to come?”
Nangong An was surprised. “Rob the poor to help the rich? Madam, are you very poor? Aside from my betrothal gifts, you still have plenty of treasures in your space. Do you look like someone short of silver?”
Yunxi didn’t beat around the bush and said directly, “I’m going to deal with that scumbag from my sister Xueli’s former fiancé’s family. He bullied her—he deserves it.”
Seeing how angry she was, Nangong An asked seriously, “How does Xi’er want to deal with him? Just leave it to your husband. Why do you need to do it yourself?”
From his expression, Yunxi knew he didn’t want her to take risks. But if she didn’t go, she wouldn’t feel at ease. So she hooked her arm around his and acted coquettishly.
“Husband, just take me with you. I’ll be very good—really good. I definitely won’t cause trouble.”
In the end, Nangong An couldn’t refuse her. He changed into a set of black night clothes and took Yunxi with him, flying toward a large mansion in the city.
Late at night, when everyone had fallen asleep, the scumbag’s residence was still brightly lit.
“Master, there’s a batch of smuggled goods going out at midnight tonight. Don’t forget the time.”
“I know. What has the young master been doing lately? Keep a close eye on him. Don’t let him go out and cause trouble.”
Listening to the conversation inside, Yunxi felt that something was very wrong. Whatever they were doing was definitely not something good.
She had heard that the Qiao family ran a cloth shop—the very one that had chased her and Nangong An out when they first entered the city. Like master, like servants.
Also, judging by the luxurious decorations of the courtyard and rooms, an enormous amount of money must have been spent.
“Master, go straight down the corridor for one hundred meters, then turn right and walk another fifty meters. There’s a treasure there,” Ke’er’s voice suddenly rang out.
“A treasure? What kind of treasure?” Yunxi immediately became excited when she heard the word “treasure.”
Ke’er didn’t have time to explain. “Just go and see for yourself! Hurry!”
Yunxi quickly said to Nangong An, “Husband, go straight down the corridor for one hundred meters, then turn right and walk another fifty meters. There’s a treasure there—my space sprite said so.”
When she saw that he didn’t move right away, she urged him again, “Hurry! If we’re late, it’ll be too late.”
Hearing this, Nangong An picked Yunxi up and flew toward the location she described.
Compared to before, this area was even more lively, with guards patrolling back and forth.
Watching the guards, Yunxi muttered, “Nangong An, what do you think is inside? There are so many people guarding it. That Qiao family head is definitely not a good person.”