The carriage moved slowly along the streets of the Imperial City. Shen Xu carefully looked at every scene and object in the Rock City, and asked questions when he didn't understand.

Pei Zhiyuan was too lazy to be petty about such matters and answered all the questions one by one, no matter how big or small.

According to Pei Zhiyuan, the main military forces of the Panshi Imperial City were divided into three groups. The East Camp Guard was responsible for checking the major city gates and defending the city walls. The West Camp Guard was responsible for patrolling the posts and maintaining security in the streets of the Imperial City. The Yulin Guard was responsible for maintaining security in the Imperial Palace and guarding the palace gates.

There are three layers inside and outside, with a total of 80,000 troops, and they are currently under the command of Master Hua.

In addition, there are the Imperial Guards responsible for protecting nobles, the Mirror Envoys in charge of prisons, and the constables of various yamen, etc., totaling about three thousand people.

"The general envoys in charge of the prisons have all gone out to disguise themselves and assassinate people - and many other forces have also been infiltrated."

Chen Xu held his chin in his hand and thought, "Your city defense force is more or less diluted."

"It's hard to tell people of your level the true military strength."

"Master Pei, don't you think you don't know it yourself?"

Pei Zhiyuan snorted again, neither admitting nor denying. They chatted intermittently throughout the journey, and the conversation died down after a few sentences. After a moment of silence, someone would always start talking again.

Shen Xu looked at the scene outside the carriage. The outskirts of the Rock Imperial City were where the people lived. The houses were low and scattered, the streets were deserted, and it was a dead scene.

Most of the shops on the street were closed. Some were sealed, some had transfer notices posted, and some simply hung white lanterns. Only a few were still open for business, but they were either pitch dark inside or the shopkeepers were slouching listlessly at the door.

There is absolutely no prosperity and vitality that should be found in the outskirts of the imperial city. Especially against the backdrop of the bright red glow, the streets look as if they were stained with blood, which makes people feel uncomfortable.

Pei Zhiyuan introduced that, just like what was seen outside the city, Ah Hu was able to go undercover in the Xuan Jing Division and use Ming Di to bring in reinforcements to intercept the attack.

The Xue family in the north, the Yang family in the southwest, and the forces of various prefectures have actually infiltrated the imperial city long ago, lurking in every corner, stealing secret reports, transmitting information, and waiting for an opportunity to act.

In addition to the bloody battle between Master Wang and the main force of the Xue family on the northern defense line, in the invisible darkness, there are countless people fighting for their respective family causes.

Stealing, spying, bribery, assassination, conspiracy, overt conspiracy...

All these imperial masters knew this. His spies were spread across every corner of the imperial city, and any small movement in the dark could not escape his eyes.

"Eyes can be deceiving."

Pei Zhiyuan suddenly asked Shen Xu, "Miss Shen, what is your purpose in coming to the Imperial City?"

Shen Xu looked up at the sky that was dyed red. The clouds in the sky were like balls of flames, bringing the remaining heat of the setting sun to the extreme, as if they wanted to drag the whole world into the sea of ​​fire.

Fire, sea, heat, depth.

Her gentle voice was calm and indifferent. "I am different from them. My goal is simply to make the world more joyful and less sad."

"More joy and less sorrow?"

Pei Zhiyuan lowered his head and thought carefully. After a while, he raised his eyes and said with a hint of sarcasm, "It's a noble ideal, but can you rely on it? One citizen, one person's strength?"

Shen Xu turned his head to look at him and said seriously: "There is also my husband, and you."

Pei Zhiyuan was stunned, and seemed a little discouraged. He said, "Then I, Pei, should quickly sell off my property and bribe the Dongying Guards with a large sum of money to find us a better battlement."

Shen Xu chuckled: "Master Pei, are you sure you want to board our pirate ship?"

“Hasn’t Miss Shen already dragged Pei onto the pirate ship?”

He looked at Xie Jun's back and said thoughtfully, "In the eyes of the Imperial Master, Pei is probably a thief who has boarded your ship."

"Then Master Pei must also behave well and please the noble man in order to obtain wealth and prosperity, and to secure his life."

She added, "Don't get caught up in picking a favorite spot on the battlements."

"Hahaha..." Pei Zhiyuan laughed cheerfully, his hawk-like eyes fixed on the sky. "To find a safe place and save your life?"

But didn’t she say that a lone wolf seeks freedom and never regrets it until death?

Song Lin turned back with a stern face to look at the two people who were chatting happily, slowed down his pace, and said in a low voice with displeasure, "What are you talking about?"

"Envoy Song Jing, your young lady is truly an interesting person."

"Envy?" Song Lin said unhappily, "Go get one yourself, don't stare at others all day long."

"Pei has ten concubines, all of them in all shapes and sizes. Why should I envy you?"

Song Lin frowned and said bluntly: "Why don't you get out of the car? I want to sit with Xiuxiu."

Amidst the noisy bickering, the carriage, bathed in the rosy glow of the sunset, slowly approached the inner city gate.

The structure of Panshi City is similar to that of Yong'an City in Yanyang Kingdom. It is also divided into inner and outer cities. Compared with the outer city wall, the inner city wall is obviously much lower, and there are no corpses hanging on the battlements of the city wall.

The soldier guarding the gate took a quick look at Xie Jun's token and let him pass easily.

Compared to the depression of the outer city, the inner city is obviously much more prosperous. Although it is already dusk, there are still many people coming and going.

Pei Zhiyuan introduced that the inner city is mostly inhabited by dignitaries, officials, gentry and wealthy people. It is densely populated and has many entertainment activities, so it is lively.

The noisy sounds of people can be heard from far away in the Flower Street of Dongshikou. It is said that there are revelries and extravagances every night there.

It was exactly what Shen Xu had said, a false prosperity.

When the carriage arrived at the Xuanjingsi headquarters in the western area of ​​the inner city, it was already dark. Pei Zhiyuan led his men into the yamen, and Xiao Ba was carried down by the medical officer stationed in the yamen to treat his wounds.

Song Lin and his wife were settled in the guest room in the backyard of the government office. After a simple bath and change of clothes, Song Lin was applying medicine to Shen Xu's wound.

"Xiu Xiu, your wound is healing. It may be painful and itchy. Please be patient and don't scratch it."

"It's really itchy." Shen Xu said, and was about to scratch it with his hand, but he was gently held by him.

"Be obedient and be patient."

"Husband." Shen Xu said softly, "I may have found my family."

"What?"

Chen Xu pulled out the hidden token from his pocket and said to Song Lin, "That Ah Hu told me that I'm the eldest daughter of the Xue family in the north. I went to Yanyang Country a few months ago and was attacked and disappeared. I must have lost my memory and was abducted by human traffickers, which is why I met you."

Song Lin's breathing stagnated, he pursed his lips and said nothing, and the strength of his grip on her hand suddenly tightened.

"He gave it to me and told me to go to the West Street Storytelling House to find Lao Qian, saying he could take me home."

Chen Xu stroked the token engraved with wolf patterns, "He said that my father and brother have been looking for me. It's not that they don't want me, nor that they deliberately sold me because they think I can't do anything."

"Xiu Xiu, are you going home?" Song Lin said sullenly, feeling extremely depressed.

"I can't go home yet."