Lin Wanqing's residence is located in the northernmost part of Dunyang City, a relatively remote location, but it is inexpensive.

Her salary was not high, and she couldn't afford a courtyard in a good location. She only bought a small courtyard in the northernmost part of Dunyang City to settle down.

It takes half an hour to walk from the palace to her residence.

Although the Empress promoted her official rank, her salary didn't increase much, so she still couldn't bear to hire a carriage.

That day, she set off from home to the palace early as usual. Before dawn, outside the courtyard, the night had not completely faded, and the sky was like a sheet of rice paper lightly stained with ink. A few early stars twinkled in the thin mist, adding a touch of mystery and coolness to the quiet morning.

All around, the city of Dunyang lay asleep, broken only by the occasional crows of roosters and barks of dogs in the distance.

Although the shops on both sides of the street were not yet open, lanterns still hung high, their dim yellow light spreading in the damp air, giving the ancient city a soft and hazy cloak. Lin Wanqing, dressed in an elegant official robe, walked briskly along the bluestone street.

As she ventured deeper into the city center, the streets began to bustle with activity.

Although it was still early, a few vendors had already started setting up their stalls, and the steam rising from the steamers mingled with the aroma of food, awakening the city's taste buds.

Lin Wanqing glanced at the steamed buns, squeezed the copper coins in her pocket, swallowed hard, and finally walked over.

As she walked, she thought about the expansion of Yunxuan Academy's student enrollment. Since the release of Yunxuan Academy's enrollment brochure, voices of approval had gradually outweighed those of opposition, both in the imperial court and among the common people.

"Your Excellency, the Chief Priest—" An aged voice suddenly called out to Lin Wanqing from behind.

She slowly turned around and saw the steamed bun shop owner walking towards her with an oil paper package in his hand.

"Grandpa, is there anything I can help you with?" Lin Wanqing asked softly, looking at the old man in front of her.

"No, no." The old woman stuffed the oil paper package into her hands and said gratefully, "Your Excellency, these are buns I made. You must accept them. If it weren't for your suggestion, my granddaughter wouldn't have had the opportunity to study at such a wonderful place as Yunxuan Academy!"

"It's what I should do. Please take this bun," Lin Wanqing declined.

But her stomach started growling at that moment, and she gave an awkward laugh. To save money, she usually ate at the palace, but by the time she got home from work, most of what she ate had been digested.

Therefore, it's perfectly normal to feel hungry at this time.

Thinking of this, she stopped refusing and accepted the steamed buns. Then she opened the oil paper package and began to eat them with relish.

The old lady at the steamed bun shop smiled happily when she saw her eating. "Lord Lin, please enjoy your meal. I'll go back to my work now."

As Lin Wanqing ate and walked, just as she was about to exit a narrow alley and enter a more bustling street, a sudden gust of wind broke the surrounding tranquility.

She instinctively became alert, her body tense, her eyes scanning her surroundings intently. In that split second, several dark figures darted out from the shadows like ghosts, their hands flashing with cold light, heading straight for Lin Wanqing.

"Assassin!" Lin Wanqing's heart skipped a beat. She reacted quickly, dodging the first wave of attacks by moving to the side, while rapidly finishing the last half of the bun in her hand.

Meanwhile, her right hand was already secretly gathering strength, preparing to deal with the impending crisis.

The other party was taken aback; they clearly hadn't expected that Lin Wanqing, a female civil official, would also be skilled in martial arts.

Lin Wanqing stared at the other person and scoffed coldly. Although she was a civil official, she had no sons in her family. Her parents raised her like a boy from a young age, and she learned all the martial arts that men should learn.

Seeing that their first attack had failed, the assassins immediately changed formation and surrounded Lin Wanqing from all sides.