"Go quickly, I'm very busy too." Tu was happy inside, but said angrily, "How can I have so much time to watch the door for you?"

The red book darted towards the outhouse, and Tu said to Zhang Qing, "Quick, go in and find it."

Xie Zhaozhao's study was locked with a metal spring lock. Inside the lock were two plate-shaped copper plates. Without a matching key, it was very difficult to open.

Zhang Qing had prepared a two-foot-long iron bar, about the thickness of a thumb, in his hand. He used all his strength to pry the lock open, finally managing to break it.

Zhang Qing's hands were trembling, but Tu Shi couldn't care less; Hong Shu could return at any moment, and they had to hurry.

Xie Zhaozhao's study was very simple. The desk was ancient and solemn, and on it were placed a pen holder, inkstone, pen washer, water dropper, pen rest, ruler, paperweight, etc. There was also an incense burner and a bronze bottle.

Behind them was a display shelf. Tu Shi, with her sharp eyes, spotted the cabinet underneath and immediately pulled it open. One layer was filled with calligraphy, paintings, and ancient books, and the bottom layer contained two boxes.

She opened the box, which was full of papers. She took one out, looked at it, and immediately opened another box.

Good heavens, it's also a box full of identity certificates for the soldiers! A surge of joy welled up in my heart.

"Zhang Qing, quick, take these two boxes of things away."

The box wasn't big or heavy; Zhang Qing could easily carry it by himself.

Just as Tu was thinking of taking some more antiques and treasures, she heard Hongying talking to someone outside the window as she walked: "Something in last night's dinner went bad, and I have diarrhea so bad I'm about to die."

Another person said, "Oh, Sister Hongshu just went to the toilet too."

"Oh no, then the study will be unattended?"

Hearing the thumping footsteps coming from the west corridor, Madam Tu didn't care anymore and said to Zhang Qing, "Quick, run from the east corridor."

The two of them rushed out of the east corridor. As soon as they were out of the east corridor, Madam Tu heard Hongying shout, "Who forced open the door to Madam's study? Hongshu, Hongshu, quick, have people surround this place and check if Madam's things are missing. Go after them!"

Zhang Qing and Tu Shi had already run to the small garden outside Qingpu Courtyard. Behind them, Hong Shu shouted, "Quickly go to the front yard and block the door, don't let the thieves escape!"

They were female soldiers, and their physical strength was too good. Zhang Qing and Tu Shi had nowhere to hide. Tu Shi simply said to Zhang Qing, "You quickly hide in the latrine in the garden, and I will deal with it."

Hearing the footsteps chasing behind him, Zhang Qing panicked and lost his footing, falling into the cesspool with a splash.

The outhouse in the garden was used by the servants of the mansion to relieve themselves after work. It was a deep pit in the shape of an inverted trapezoid, built with blue bricks, and was only cleaned once every so often.

Zhang Qing didn't dare to utter a sound even when he fell inside. Although the two boxes in his hands weren't heavy, he still had to hold them up with both hands.

The latrine was waist-deep; he fell in, and... well, you can imagine.

***

At this time, in Yancheng, which is 500 li away from the capital.

Teahouse, top floor, private room.

Xie Zhaozhao looked at the person in front of her.

The man in front was tall, with broad shoulders and a rugged face, dark skin, and a thick beard.

It was the same person he encountered when he was assassinated on Yongfeng Street in the capital!

“My name is Ren Jialin. Thank you for your trust, Madam!” said the bearded man. “Today, I’ve booked the entire teahouse. Please feel free to speak, Madam.”

"Master Ren?" Xie Zhaozhao smiled slightly. This man looked upright and honest, and indeed resembled a chivalrous hero wandering the world.

"Greetings, Madam!" Ren Jialin clasped his hands in greeting. "Upon receiving Jin'an's letter, I rushed to the capital, only to find myself caught in an assassination attempt."

Why did Ren Jialin happen to appear that night when they were attacked, and why did he kill so many assassins while masked?

How did he manage to track her down to Yancheng?

Both sides understood that there are no such things as coincidences in the world, and they tacitly agreed on this.

She and Ren Jialin had never met in their past lives, and this was their second meeting in this life. Seeing him up close this time, she felt that he looked familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen him before.

After taking their seats, tea and snacks were served. Ren Jialin rolled up his sleeves with one hand and held a teacup with the other.

His movements were natural, not crude, elegant and unrestrained, and completely unpretentious.

Xie Zhaozhao understood.

"A peerless master, upright and righteous, chivalrous and dedicated to the country and its people. I sincerely admire Master Ren!" Xie Zhaozhao said sincerely to Ren Jialin. "I asked Jin'an to bring you here because there is a very important matter that can only be planned by you."

It's a plan, not a collaboration!

"Please speak, Madam."

"I want to take over some of the northern prefectures, mainly to seize the salt wells." Xie Zhaozhao didn't beat around the bush; she chose him because she trusted him from the start.

Sometimes, the more eloquently something is presented, the more suspicious it becomes.

Ren Jialin was extremely surprised that she told her her plans so directly.

However, he didn't ask any pointless questions like "Why do you trust me?" After a moment of silence, he said seriously, "Is this what you and Jin'an agreed upon?"

“Yes, no one else knows, because—” Xie Zhaozhao took a desperate gamble, “The Wei family’s power is too great, and I don’t want to drag down the Xie family or Elder Gu.”

Ren Jialin was truly shocked this time!

He remained silent for a long time, slowly processing Xie Zhaozhao's meaning.

Xie Zhaozhao wants to acquire land and salt wells in the north. What is she planning to do? Use these resources to fight against the Wei family? To undermine the Wei family's monopoly on resources?

Should we still take the northern lands and confront the Wei family's most formidable army?

Either way, this is a very big deal.

How could a woman like her succeed?

Xie Zhaozhao said, "I don't know if I can succeed, but I'm going to do it."

"What if it doesn't work?" Ren Jialin asked.

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