The next day, the county magistrate brought more than a dozen workers.

Chang Lili, under the pretext of not liking to be disturbed, took the people away and questioned them one by one about the dam, but none of them could give a clear answer.

She glanced up and focused on the thinnest worker, who was honest and simple: "We all follow the magistrate's orders. We know what to do and what's more appropriate."

Chang Lili asked, "There are things about the dam that don't make sense. Haven't you ever wondered about them?"

“If I don’t repair it, someone else will.” The worker scratched his head. “The dam is renovated every year or two. The money we earn is enough to live on for half a year! If we’re unlucky, we have to offer sacrifices to the Dragon King, and the county magistrate will also give us some money to appease our families.”

Huzhou is a prosperous city with a constant flow of merchants and travelers, so why are there still people who rely on the dam for their livelihood?

After Chang Lili finalized the construction plan with the workers, she walked back along the path, intending to go back and talk to Meng Yuxiu about the matter in Huzhou.

Sudden!

The leaves rustled as a group of men in black leaped out of the woods, their movements menacing.

The guard drew his sword, his body tense and ready to pounce: "Madam, hurry! We'll cover your retreat. You'll be safe once you're inside the city!"

The guards acted first, carving a bloody path through the enemy lines.

"I will send someone to rescue you!"

Fearing she might harm the baby in her womb, Chang Lili ran forward, supporting her lower abdomen. Suddenly, a man in black appeared in front of her, wielding a weapon and attacking her.

Chang Lili had already prepared her hidden arrow, aiming it at his neck.

The man in black dodged to the side, but another arrow came flying at him. He couldn't avoid it in time, and his shoulder was immediately injured.

Chang Lili slipped away and rushed to the city gate, taking out the token that Meng Yuxiu had given her for self-defense: "Seeing this token is like seeing the person. There were assassins in black at Ma'anshan. I managed to escape, but the guards are in danger. Aren't you going to send troops to their aid?"

The soldier hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand, gathering a group of men. He wanted to ask for more details, but the woman had already disappeared into the bustling street.

Chang Lili rushed to the restaurant, panting as she pushed open the private door. The room was empty. The innkeeper came forward and said that Meng Yuxiu had gone to the prefect.

Worried that something might happen, Chang Lili ran over immediately without taking a break, pushing aside the servants blocking her way. Meng Yuxiu and the prefect looked up at her.

Meng Yuxiu asked, "What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Chang Lili stared intently at the prefect, who met her gaze with a puzzled look. Chang Lili frowned and said, "There was an assassination attempt on the road. I'm asking you for the person."

The prefect stood up: "Who dares to be so bold as to punish a violent person under my jurisdiction? Miss Chang, do you know who they are and where they are? I will take men to arrest them immediately!"

If it were someone he sent, the man in black would be silenced. Chang Lili politely declined, saying, "No need. I have already sent the gate guards with men to provide assistance."

Meng Yuxiu's eyes were unfriendly as he squinted and asked Chang Lili, who shook her head slightly.

It's best not to escalate the conflict for now.

The prefect, looking indignant, picked up a wine cup from the table and said, "Miss Chang, it was my mistake that startled you. I offer you a cup of wine as an apology, and I hope you will do me the honor of accepting it."

Chang Lili said, "Drinking leads to trouble, I don't drink."

"It was my mistake."

The prefect chuckled twice and said a few words to the servants guarding the door. The servants quickly brewed a pot of Tieguanyin tea. Chang Lili couldn't refuse and could only drink a cup. The bitter taste made her frown.

Has the tea gone bad? The taste seems off.

Meng Yuxiu lost patience with him, stood up, and was about to leave with Chang Lili when the prefect spoke up: "General, please wait a moment."

The prefect clapped his hands, and soon a servant downstairs carried in a wooden box that looked quite heavy. He opened it for Meng Yuxiu, and inside were gleaming gold bars, neatly arranged throughout the entire box.

"This is a small gift from your humble servant; please accept it, General."

Many people bribed Meng Yuxiu, but Chang Lili had never seen anyone as audacious as the prefect, and found it somewhat amusing.

Meng Yuxiu's tone suddenly turned cold: "What do you want me to do?"

The prefect seemed not to have noticed anything and cupped his hands, saying, "Of course, please pretend that you did not notice anything, General."

"Get out of here right now."

The prefect said calmly, "As expected, the general will choose this path, so I don't need to be polite."

The prefect clapped his hands, and the door to the private room slammed shut. All the assassins hiding around appeared, and Chang Lili saw the waiter in the restaurant.

"The restaurant is full of your people. You let us stay there just to spy on us?"

The prefect laughed loudly: "That's right! It really was you who was eavesdropping that day."

Meng Yuxiu said coldly, "With just these people, who can you keep?"

"Who in our dynasty doesn't know the general's illustrious name?" the prefect said smugly. "I've already added muscle-relaxing powder to the wine. Judging by the time, the medicine should be taking effect soon!"

"You, a mere prefect, dare to be so audacious! If Meng Yuxiu is in trouble, you will be buried with him!" Chang Lili stood in front of Meng Yuxiu, trying to protect him, but then realized that her limbs were gradually losing strength.

There's medicine in the tea!

"The foundry worker was careless and fell off the embankment, drowning in the fish. In order to save her, the general ignored the rising river and insisted on sending people to retrieve her, causing innocent people to be injured or killed, which aroused the anger of the people of Huzhou. He was then drugged by a treacherous person and beaten by the crowd."

The prefect gave a sinister sneer, "Is the general satisfied with the script I wrote for you?"

With a shout of "Take them down!" the assassins, poised to strike, launched a fierce attack. Meng Yuxiu dodged, grabbed the assassin's wrist, twisted it backward, and with a sharp snap, dislocated his entire arm. He then kicked the man away and protected Chang Lili as they retreated into the courtyard.

With such a commotion in the private room, and his men not reacting at all, he's probably in grave danger.

"Find a chance to leave! I'll cover your retreat," Meng Yuxiu said to Chang Lili.

Chang Lili kept shaking her head.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!