The night was dark, and the wind fierce, yet the first floor of the tavern was bustling with activity. Traders from every corner of the land chatted boisterously, their conversations ablaze. The hottest topic in the Capital City these days was the battles—whether it was Beiman and Ningzhou, or Sannan and Jiangnan, the conflicts between the North and South had everyone’s attention. Even the nobles and members of the royal family in the capital couldn’t avoid the subject. Inspections in the capital were extremely strict. The curfew had been in place for half a month already, forbidding commoners from wandering about at night. Patrols from the Capital Governor’s office combed the streets, and anyone found suspicious was captured without hesitation—sent to the government office to be detained for a day before further investigation. As a result, at night, people only gathered within designated wards and avoided aimlessly roaming the streets. Fengyu entered the city on the fifteenth day of the month, coinciding with a day when the curfew was lifted—the first and fifteenth of the month were exceptions in the Capital City. The commercial hub in Southern City was especially lively, with pleasure boats crowding the lake. Patrols by the Jingji Government Office and the Jinyi Guard were less stringent, and the lake teemed with flower boats. Fengyu planned to head directly to Mudan Building with Feiying. Get full chapters from 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝔫𝔢𝔱 With no curfew tonight, Mudan Building was likely celebrating until dawn, filled with nobles and aristocrats indulging in merrymaking. Fengyu, disguised with Xie Xun’s face, had altered her appearance, yet Xie Xun’s name—and his reputation as a frequent patron of Mudan Building—was far too renowned in the Capital City, making it impossible not to attract attention. Fengyu led Feiying around to the back entrance of Mudan Building. But just as they reached the rear of Mudan Building, a nearby pavilion within its grounds suddenly burst into flames. The fire roared sky-high, spreading rapidly. Fengyu’s heart pounded violently, and Feiying jumped in fright, unable to fathom why the building inside Mudan was ablaze. Fengyu had always been cautious and decisive in her endeavors within the Capital City, and she immediately made the decision to leave with Feiying and return to the tavern without delay. As they departed, they noticed the Jinyi Guard and Kyoto Capital Guard had arrived, swiftly surrounding Mudan Building until it was completely sealed off. Fengyu couldn’t shake an ominous feeling—why did the fire suddenly ignite out of nowhere? Xie Xun was currently inside Mudan Building, using her body. If exposed, how would she handle the situation? Back at the tavern, Fengyu paced anxiously, her heart heavy with worry about Xie Xun being discovered. With Xie Xun borrowing her face, it was imperative they switch back as soon as possible. If Xie Xun faced danger, his martial prowess might ensure his escape, but she must not become a burden to him. The pavilion in Mudan Building burned through the night. The raging fire was finally extinguished at midnight. Concerned that there might be casualties within Mudan Building, the Jinyi Guard spent all night counting heads, nearly working until dawn. Tensions arose when conflicts broke out between the Jinyi Guard and the women of Mudan Building. In the end, it was uncertain who had contacted King Qi, but he arrived at Mudan Building to support Lady Thirteen, forcing the Jinyi Guard to stop troubling them. Fengyu secretly pondered: Could the Jinyi Guard have already suspected Xie Xun was hiding within Mudan Building? If not, why else would they comb through the building so thoroughly? Feiying remarked, "Starting from half a month ago, inspections in the Capital City became unusually strict. Upon closer observation, Wangjiang Restaurant, Su Family’s Trading House, the Feng Family, and several intelligence posts under Marquis Zhenbei’s control all have surveillance—entirely under Jinyi Guard’s watch. Chen Mo likely remains uncertain whether you perished in that canyon. Considering the master’s severe injuries and absence from Ningzhou to heal, coupled with Yuwen Jing possibly realizing your movement toward the Capital City, it’s no wonder the inspections here are so meticulous." "At dawn, find a way to contact Zhixu," Fengyu instructed, her concern for Xie Xun growing. She feared something terrible might befall him, especially with such a significant incident occurring on the very day of her arrival in the Capital City. Could the Jinyi Guard truly be so omniscient? If they were, then surely they should be monitoring the tavern and tracking her movements instead. "Rest assured, my lady. I’ve already left a mark outside Mudan Building. If the master sees it, he’ll find a way to contact us." Yet Fengyu couldn’t shake a sense of foreboding—restlessness gnawed at her. The tavern didn’t feel safe, the target too conspicuous. If the Jinyi Guard began their inspections house-to-house, taverns and restaurants would undoubtedly be searched. Although they were disguised as a trade caravan, their cover would be difficult to maintain under intense scrutiny. "We need to move elsewhere," Fengyu decided. She left Xie Xun’s retinue behind at the tavern. It was essential they remain there with proper travel documents to avoid arousing suspicion. If all hundred or more of them suddenly vanished, it would only draw unwanted attention. For now, they needed to continue posing as a trade caravan, blending into the Capital City while observing the situation unfold. At daybreak, Fengyu took Feiying alone to a three-courtyard residence in Southern City. The property was under Nanny Liu’s name, a gift from Fengyu for her eldest son’s wedding. Later, when Nanny Liu’s son moved to Jiangnan, his wife and children followed suit, leaving the property vacant. Although not overly large, the residence was well-maintained despite its prolonged vacancy. Nanny Liu frequently returned to clean, ensuring the courtyard remained tidy. Paved with blue stone and slightly imposing in appearance, the yard housed only a few peach trees. Their blossoms had already fallen, yet fruit had not formed, casting a hint of solitude over the place. After settling in, Fengyu sent Feiying to deliver a message to Xie Xun. The air in the Capital City was thick with tension, fraught with insecurity. The Jinyi Guard devoted themselves almost entirely to inspecting taverns and restaurants, leaving residences untouched for the time being. The location was advantageous, and if the Jinyi Guard truly conducted inspections, hiding here would be relatively straightforward. Left alone in the courtyard, Fengyu found herself without assistance—the chores all fell to her. In the kitchen, pre-split firewood provided a convenient start; she stoked the flames and boiled water. Once the water was ready, she used it to steep tea, accompanying it with plain buns to satiate her hunger. Over an hour had passed since Feiying left, but there was still no sign of his return. Fengyu’s chest grew tight with anxiety—given the strict inspections, she was genuinely concerned Feiying might have been exposed. Alone in the courtyard, she waited anxiously. Half an hour passed, and then she heard a sudden, urgent knock on the door. Her heart raced wildly, nearly losing its rhythm. She drew her longsword and cautiously approached the door, holding it behind her back. "Who is it?" "My lady! Open the door quickly!" Feiying’s voice was hurried, panicked. Fengyu exhaled sharply in relief and rushed to open the door. Barely had she swung it open when two figures stumbled inside, collapsing against her. Startled, Fengyu reached out to steady them, only to find her hands stained with blood.