Chang Lili looked at the surroundings, which were calm yet tinged with sadness, and said, "The common people are innocent. Every decision made by the emperor is for the sake of lasting achievements, but history will not record the common people who bear all the burdens."

“I haven’t read many books, so I don’t know how to describe this feeling. I just feel quite helpless.” Chang Lili laughed self-deprecatingly. “Perhaps it’s because I’m also one of these ordinary people.”

Xu Yuandao looked at her and said, "The Great Way is supremely benevolent, you are right, and Miss Chang, you are very insightful."

Chang Lili smiled and said, "I know, they all say I'm very good at dealing with weapons."

Xu Yuandao shook his head slightly and said, "No, it is your insight into history and your reflection on the fate of the nation and the lives of ordinary people that is Miss Chang's benevolence."

Chang Lili remained noncommittal, saying, "I was just talking nonsense. Everyone has a sense of compassion."

Xu Yuandao smiled and said, "You really have talent. Meng Yuxiu mentioned it to me, saying he would like me to teach you if there's a chance."

Chang Lili was startled and quickly waved her hand, saying, "I can't, I can't. I can look at swords and knives, but I can't read books. I have no patience and I get sleepy when I read. My handwriting is also terrible. If a teacher had me as a student, he would probably be furious."

Fortunately, Xu Yuandao did not bring up the topic again, and Chang Lili secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She was genuinely unaware that Meng Yuxiu had orchestrated this whole thing for her, and said with some annoyance, "Meng Yuxiu didn't tell me about this. Please don't agree, I don't want to upset you."

The matter was left at that. Chang Lili looked around and, seeing that no one was there, said, "Actually, there's something else I wanted to talk to you about."

"What is it?"

It's still about the three-page gate incident.

Meng Yuxiu rarely mentioned this mysterious gang to her, but Chang Lili had a feeling that this Three Pages Gate was related to the black-clad men who had appeared at the Light Machine Department.

Although she didn't know why they were looking for her, Chang Lili wasn't stupid. Now that she knew it might be related to her, whether they had mistaken her for someone else or it was true, she wanted to investigate.

"When Meng Yuxiu left, he asked me to investigate the Three Pages Gate here. Are you free tomorrow? Let's go and take a look at the places you mentioned."

Xu Yuandao nodded.

The next day.

Chang Lili and Xu Yuandao made an agreement that Xu Yuandao, as a local, would guide the young girl from out of town, so that even if someone was secretly watching them, it wouldn't attract any attention.

Xu Yuandao had previously mentioned to Meng Yuxiu that one of the things he found suspicious was the gambling den in the dark alley.

"The money transactions here are irregular. Every month, mysterious people come here, and they are not from the governor's faction."

How did you know that?

"I am not very talented; I worked as an accountant here to make a living."

"Oh, so the account books that Meng Yuxiu left outside the prefect's mansion were made by you, weren't they?"

Xu Yuandao smiled but remained silent.

The two then walked around the "De Yi Gambling House" but couldn't figure out what was going on.

Based on Xu Yuandao's experience, the mysterious person would come to collect the money in two days, so he arranged to come back at that time.

During the intervening time, Chang Lili was not idle either, and she invited Xu Yuandao out again the next day.

There were three people sitting in the carriage: Bai Cha and Chang Lili sat on one side, and Xu Yuandao sat on the other.

Xu Yuandao was somewhat surprised: "How could you..." Before he could finish, he realized something and smiled helplessly.

Chang Lili said, "I found Bai Cha Girl. She has seen a lot of people and might be able to help us."

Xu Yuandao didn't mind that much and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Miss Baicha."

After saying that, he lowered the curtain and went outside to drive the carriage.

Chang Lili saw Bai Cha's hand, which was gripping the handkerchief, tighten suddenly, and she secretly took a breath.

She had no idea what was going on between the two of them.

Logically speaking, Xu Yuandao was willing to offend the prefect for the sake of white tea, and he is still unmarried. He shouldn't be so heartless. They are in love, so why is it like this now?

While Chang Lili was quietly making plans, Bai Cha said, "Let's go to the market entrance first."

"Um?"

"Didn't you want to investigate what happened to those barbarians that night? Where are the most barbarians?"

Chang Lili nodded and said to the outsiders, "Brother Xu, let's go to the market entrance."

Xu Yuandao responded from outside, "Please be seated, ladies."

Chang Lili couldn't help but smile. Out of the corner of her eye, she also saw Bai Cha's lips curl up slightly. When she met Chang Lili's gaze, Bai Cha scrutinized her.

That gaze was so familiar; wasn't it the same gaze that the imaginative young lady Jiang Yingxue often gave her?

To avoid Bai Cha misunderstanding, Chang Lili said calmly, "Meng Yuxiu and I have been to this market entrance, and we didn't find anything unusual. I'm not good at these things, but Meng Yuxiu is very good at this kind of investigation. Even he didn't find anything wrong. Does Miss Bai Cha have some insight?"

Her tone made no attempt to hide her admiration for Meng Yuxiu, which made Bai Cha glance at her again and ask, "Where are you going?"

"I've walked the whole street and heard a lot about that Xu Li. He's really a tyrant."

“He holds the highest rank here, and he has relatives in the capital. He can get whatever he wants here.” Bai Cha made no attempt to hide his disdain and contempt for Xu Li, and was even less willing to talk about him. He lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the bustling street outside. “General Meng should have a lot of information, but don’t forget what those assassins said that night.”

Chang Lili thought about it carefully and said, "They want to find Meng Yuxiu, but it doesn't seem like they're here for revenge. It seems like they're looking for someone, but who could be worth such a risk and such a big fuss?"

Bai Cha shook her head slightly and said, "You'll have to ask them about that."

Chang Lili said, "The person they want must be quite important, but they haven't come to Zhongyuan to negotiate directly. Instead, they're doing it secretly. I think either there's something wrong with that person, or there's something fishy about this whole thing."

Bai Cha said, "General Meng's men are indeed not to be underestimated. You're right. I felt there was something wrong with them that night, but it was only vague. There are many barbarian tribes and a diverse group of nobles. I don't know if the person they are looking for is someone who has gone missing or someone who intentionally came to the Central Plains."

The more she analyzed the matter, the stranger it seemed. Although Chang Lili was still confused, she was certain that something was about to happen, and she couldn't help but worry more about Meng Yuxiu who was going north.

At the same time, the carriage stopped.

Xu Yuandao, standing outside, said, "We've arrived."

Where are we?

Chang Lili got off the carriage and found herself at the entrance of a street. It was crowded with people, and the shops on both sides of the street were so narrow that they were filled with vendors hawking their wares.

"Where is this?" There was nothing unusual about it.