fire

When Zhou Yanzhi returned with the fox-shaped lantern, Jie Xiangsi was nowhere to be seen. Looking up, he saw a long street with a large crowd of people. Several children, each holding a sugar figurine and a lantern, were squeezing through the crowd, having a great time.

Looking down at the fox lantern in his hand, Zhou Yanzhi twitched the corners of his mouth and slowly uttered a few words, "Little liar."

He knew she wouldn't obediently wait for him, but he never expected that she would actually lie to him again. How dare she?

He, as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, truly had no power to intimidate her whatsoever.

Also, cousin, why did you go to Yangqu?

Thinking of something, Zhou Yanzhi walked to a dark alley, raised his right hand to his mouth, puffed out his cheeks and blew a little air. Instantly, an extremely sharp whistle rang out through the sky.

In the dark night sky, a dark-colored falcon pierced through the clouds, glanced down at a familiar figure, and with a flick of its wings, flew straight towards the person who had called it from the alley.

As the eagle cried out, Zhou Yanzhi tacitly raised his right arm.

A gust of wind swept by, and the eagle landed steadily on Zhou Yanzhi's forearm, affectionately nuzzling its forehead against its master's chin, letting out a low hiss or two.

Zhou Yanzhi affectionately stroked its feathers, then tossed it into the air and commanded, "Wu Goulang, go find her for me."

Wu Goulang let out a long roar, hovered in mid-air for a while, then shook his arms and flew higher.

Seeing the falcon fly away, Zhou Yanzhi emerged from the dark alley and strolled leisurely down the street, carrying a fox-shaped lantern.

Since Xiao Jiangsheng has not yet been caught, the curfew will not be lifted on New Year's Eve this year; instead, no one will be allowed to enter or leave. However, this news has not yet been announced.

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Zhou Yanzhi's face.

Ordinary people might just complain a bit, but I wonder how Jie Xiangsi would react if she found out.

He was really curious.

...

Meanwhile, at the city gate, Xie Xiangsi was still somewhat dazed and asked the guards again in disbelief.

"Really no inflow and no outflow?!"

The guard nodded and said very seriously, "Miss, you've asked many times already, it's really no one coming in or out."

Jie Xiangsi was still unwilling to give up. She looked longingly at the city gate not far away, her voice choked with emotion, "Brother, I really have an urgent matter to attend to outside the city. My brother has fallen ill and is vomiting blood. He is waiting for me to bring medicine back to save his life!"

The guard hesitated, "But..."

Jie Xiangsi persisted, her eyes reddening and her voice trembling, "My parents have both passed away, he's my only family left in this world!"

The guard's expression softened slightly. "Then..."

"Pfft—"

A soft laugh suddenly came from behind.

The guard in front of him was startled, then immediately knelt down and respectfully called out, "Sir."

Jie Xiangsi turned around abruptly and saw Su Feng, whom she hadn't seen for many days, standing behind her at some point, leisurely watching her with a sugar figurine in his mouth.

Seeing her looking over, Su Feng smiled at her and said lazily, "As Yanzhi's good friend, how come I didn't know when he went to live outside the city and accidentally fell ill, and it seems to be a very serious illness?"

Jie Xiangsi: "..."

How come I always run into him?!

With a slight twitch of her lips, Jie Xiangsi lowered her eyes and said, "You jest, sir. My cousin is certainly healthy and well, how could anything happen to him? Besides, it's really bad luck for you to say such things during the New Year. Please don't say it again."

Su Feng raised an eyebrow. Why was Yan Zhi's cousin turning the tables on him?

Waving his hand dismissively, Su Feng quipped, "Those of us in this line of work don't have any taboos about this."

Jie Xiangsi: "..."

This person is so annoying!

Seeing the expression on Xie Xiangsi's face, Su Feng remained outwardly calm but secretly chuckled. Zhou Yanzhi had sent him a letter last night, instructing him to guard the city gate to prevent Xie Xiangsi from leaving the city.

At the time, he didn't think much of it. Why would a young girl go out of town during the Chinese New Year?

However, since he was the General of the Imperial Guard, he had to be on duty even on New Year's Eve. Why couldn't he do a favor by going with the flow?

but……

He really didn't expect that his cousin Yanzhi would actually leave the city.

Yan Zhi is truly a prophet.

With a light cough, Su Feng ignored the look on Jie Xiangsi's face that was more like a grimace, happily took a bite of the sugar figurine, and raised an eyebrow at Jie Xiangsi, "Cousin, please go back."

Seeing that Xiangsi remained unmoved, Su Feng pointed to the sky and said gloatingly, "Since Wu Goulang has already discovered you, it means that Yanzhi also knows. Cousin, you should go back, otherwise you might run into Yanzhi later."

As she spoke, the falcon circling in the sky echoed her cry. Seeing Jie Xiangsi looking over, it arrogantly flapped its wings twice, its gaze towards Jie Xiangsi like that of a trapped beast.

Jie Xiangsi lowered her eyes and gritted her teeth in secret.

Under Su Feng's increasingly cold gaze, Xie Xiangsi turned and walked into the city.

She's definitely not going out today. If she tries to force her way out, not only will she be caught by Su Feng before she's even gone two miles, but the charge of disturbing public order will be enough to keep her in jail for several days.

That damned Zhou Yanzhi! She knew he was being careless today; he must have been certain she wouldn't get out.

Thinking this, Jie Xiangsi had only taken two steps when a commotion suddenly broke out ahead, and a large crowd was pushing towards the city gate.

Fire!

"Fire has broken out!"

"Murder!"

"An assassin!"

Screams, stomping, and the sound of things being toppled all blended together in a chaotic cacophony.

Jie Xiangsi hurriedly looked up and saw that the fire had broken out at the residence of some powerful official in the court. The flames were particularly dazzling in the dark night, and from a distance, it seemed that one could be burned by the heat emanating from them.

Amid the chaos, the sounds of clashing swords could still be heard.

The crowd panicked and ran frantically toward the city gate.

Su Feng was also startled and looked sharply towards the other side of the capital.

Today, he and another colleague are on duty to oversee the security of the entire capital city, and he is responsible for the security of this area.

Now that something has happened in the city and caused a riot among the people, if I don't handle it well, I'm afraid if the Emperor finds out tomorrow, I'll be spared even if I lose my official hat and go back to farming.

Thinking of this, Su Feng turned around and shouted sharply behind him.

"Zhencheng soldiers, listen to my command: close the city gates!"

"Imperial Guards, stand in formation and follow me to maintain order!"

The murderer must still be in the city; we can't let him out!

However, as the city gates closed, some already panicked civilians rushed towards this area even more frantically. Although Su Feng had already sounded the drum to warn them and the Imperial Guards had already set up their shields for protection, the sheer number of people meant that they were quickly dispersed by the massive onslaught.

Some agile people took the opportunity to dart out through the gaps in the city gates, which were not yet fully closed.

One of them went out.

The remaining people then rushed out one after another.

Three, four...

There were so many that I couldn't even count them all.

Some officers and soldiers were also shouting sternly, "Why are you running?!"

But he was immediately blocked by the frenzied crowd and couldn't make a sound. He punched a soldier and yelled, "Damn it, someone's killing people! If you don't run, you can die. I don't want to die with you. I want to get out!"

Meanwhile, Jie Xiangsi, forced to squeeze into the crowd, secretly laughed to herself, thinking it was a golden opportunity.

Chaos is good, the more chaotic the better, so she can slip out of the city.

They then pushed even harder towards the city gate.

As they drew closer to the city gate, a figure leaped through the crowded throng, throwing a man clinging to the gate and stalemate with the soldiers behind him.

The blade gleamed coldly, and drops of blood splattered.

A severed arm flew to the ground with a "bang".

The newcomer flicked his wrist, shaking off the bloodstains on the blade. His black boots stepped on the severed arm. Zhou Yanzhi lowered his eyes and coldly looked at the person on the ground who was groaning in agony. He said indifferently, "Send him to the Dali Temple."

Two soldiers immediately stepped forward and dragged the person off the ground, leaving a long trail of blood.

Then, Zhou Yanzhi looked up at the people around him who were trembling with fear, and said in a cold tone without any emotion, "Anyone who crosses the city gate without permission shall be beheaded."

As soon as he finished speaking, the city gate behind him slammed shut with a bang.

Su Feng, with messy hair, squeezed through the crowd and ran to Zhou Yanzhi's side. Blood was still dripping from his forehead, and he looked like he had run out of a beggar's den. When he saw Zhou Yanzhi, he acted as if he had seen his own father.

"Yanzhi!"

Seeing his appearance, Zhou Yanzhi frowned. "You're injured."

Su Feng raised his hand to wipe the blood from his face, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. Oh, his dashing and handsome face!

But now is not the time to worry about that.

Pulling Zhou Yanzhi's sleeve, Su Feng hurriedly asked, "What exactly happened in the capital? Why are so many people rushing here?"

As Zhou Yanzhi pulled back his sleeve, he said, "An assassin broke into the Fourth Prince's residence. Before leaving, he set the residence on fire and then disappeared. There were people committing violence on the street, killing anyone they saw, but it's uncertain whether they were the arsonists."

At this point, a cold glint appeared in Zhou Yanzhi's eyes, and his fox-shaped lantern was lost in the chaos.

Upon hearing this, Su Feng hissed in despair, "My God, with something like this happening in the capital, I feel like I won't see the sun rise tomorrow."

Zhou Yanzhi patted his shoulder and coldly reminded him, "General, it's time for you to go on patrol."

Su Feng: "..."

How heartless.

With a soft sigh, Su Feng waved for the Imperial Guards to line up and patrol, then turned to the huddled crowd and said in a deep voice, "Now, everyone go home immediately. Anyone who goes out without permission will be considered a traitor and executed on the spot!"

In an instant, the people who had been huddled together dispersed like a tide, afraid that if they left too late they would be mistaken for traitors.

Looking around the crowd, Zhou Yanzhi spotted a familiar figure, grabbed Su Feng who was about to go on patrol, and asked, "Where's my cousin?"

Su Feng was pulled and stumbled, then punched Zhou Yanzhi hard. "I didn't see her when I closed the city gates. She probably didn't leave the city. Don't worry."

Zhou Yanzhi breathed a sigh of relief; at least they hadn't left the city.

Su Feng, however, felt something was amiss and asked curiously, "Why didn't you let my cousin leave the city?"

Zhou Yanzhi glared at him and said, "Go and patrol quickly. It would be best to find the perpetrator, otherwise you might not see the sun rise tomorrow."

Su Feng: "..."

It's so cold.

Su Feng left heavily.

Zhou Yanzhi glanced back at the closed city gate, looked up at the sky, whistled to call Wu Goulang down, and said in a deep voice, "Go, search again."

The falcon received the order and took to the sky again.

...

As dusk settled, the once bustling street fell silent, eerily quiet, as someone had committed a crime. The lights in every house were off.

Jie Xiangsi walked alone down the long street, running wildly toward the Prince An's mansion.

That was terrifying.

She was just about to reach the city gate when Zhou Yanzhi arrived. His aura, honed over many years in officialdom, was indeed different. His cold face was particularly intimidating, scaring her so much that she almost immediately squeezed out of the crowd.

Su Feng will definitely tell Zhou Yanzhi that she wants to leave the city. Although Zhou Yanzhi did not see her hidden in the crowd, after this incident, it will definitely be more difficult for her to leave the city in the future.

Zhou Yanzhi will surely be even more suspicious of her.

Thinking of this, Jie Xiangsi felt like crying but had no tears left.

Suddenly, a long cry of a falcon came from above.

Looking up, she saw an eagle circling in the sky. When it saw her, its eyes gleamed, and then it suddenly swooped down towards her.

In the falcon's mind, it didn't understand why its master kept asking it to find this person, but since its master couldn't catch him, it decided to lend its master a hand!

The air seemed to be torn apart, and with a fierce gust of wind, the falcon extended its sharp talons.

The eagle's claws were extremely strong, capable of tearing a person's flesh with a single swipe. Jie Xiangsi didn't want to be hit by it, so she quickly dodged to try to avoid it. But no matter how fast she was, she couldn't outrun a well-trained eagle. Just as the eagle was about to touch her, a deep voice came.

"Wu Gou Lang, you mustn't hurt her."

It is Zhou Yanzhi.

Wu Goulang suddenly changed direction, puzzled but obediently retracting its claws, and ran towards Zhou Yanzhi.

Seeing Xie Xiangsi standing in front of him, too afraid to turn around, Zhou Yanzhi chuckled, "Cousin, turn around."

His tone was somewhat teasing.

It's like saying you have nowhere to run now.

After a long silence, Xie Xiangsi obediently turned around and gave Zhou Yanzhi a sweet smile, "Cousin."

His tone was calm, as if nothing had happened.

Zhou Yanzhi raised an eyebrow. "Didn't my cousin say she was going to wait for me here?"

Jie Xiangsi twisted her handkerchief, blinked, and tried to look innocent. "There were too many people there, and it was a bit stuffy, so I thought I'd go to an open space to catch my breath before coming back to meet up with my cousin."

Zhou Yanzhi made a fake "ah" sound, thinking to himself: Liar.

He thought that Xie Xiangsi's stamina was not bad, and that she should not be out of breath, since she ran so far just to catch her breath.

Stroking Wu Goulang's feathers, Zhou Yanzhi asked, "So you went to the city gate?"

Jie Xiangsi nodded, "It's a more open space there, and the air is fresh."

Zhou Yanzhi: "..."

That's utter nonsense.

Rubbing his temples, Zhou Yanzhi sighed softly, "Can my cousin come back to the manor with me now?"

Having been given a way out, Jie Xiangsi, being pragmatic, accepted it, saying, "Of course, cousin, I was planning to go back to the manor because I couldn't find you."

The implication is: I'm being honest; you're the one thinking nonsense.

Listening to Xie Xiangsi's fabricated story, Zhou Yanzhi chuckled, nodded but said nothing more, walked to her side and said, "Alright, it's my fault. Let's go, cousin, let's go back to the manor."

Just as Jie Xiangsi was about to nod, suddenly, her left arm was pulled sharply, and she fell into Zhou Yanzhi's arms.

Before she could figure out what was going on, she felt a warmth around her waist and was tightly embraced. Then, a feeling of weightlessness washed over her. When she opened her eyes again, Zhou Yanzhi had already carried her to the rooftop.

Where they had just stood, there stood a long sword gleaming with a cold light. Jie Xiangsi was startled. If Zhou Yanzhi hadn't pulled her away in time, she would probably be dead by the sword.

The visitor is not friendly.

Zhou Yanzhi lowered his gaze and looked down at a dark spot.

"film."