Li Mu was stunned; he hadn't expected Lu Fei to extend an invitation to him.

He chuckled twice, rubbed his hands together, and his eyes darted around.

Finally, it landed on the glistening roast chicken on the table.

"Never mind, our Imperial Guards are pretty good too, haha."

He picked up a piece of chicken and stuffed it into his mouth, as if trying to hide his embarrassment.

Seeing this, Lu Fei said no more, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Alright, thank you again for your hospitality, General Li. We're going to rest now."

After saying that, Lu Fei and Zhang Xun got up, leaving Li Mu alone staring blankly at the leftovers.

Back in his room, Zhang Xun couldn't help but laugh out loud:

"Does this Li Mu really think that our Shannan Prefecture is a gold mine?"

Lu Fei glanced at him sideways:

"What do you know? This is called strategic deception!"

"Let Li Mu go back and spread the word that our Shannan Prefecture has a strong army and generous treatment."

"Let's see if he dares to look down on us again!"

Zhang Xun chuckled:

"That makes sense!"

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Lu Fei and Zhang Xun then packed their bags and prepared to return to Shannan Prefecture.

Li Mu was "fooled" by Lu Fei and Zhang Xun at the dinner table yesterday.

Feeling utterly humiliated, he simply hid in his residence and didn't show himself, only sending a subordinate to see him off.

The subordinate was also a quick-witted fellow. He exchanged a few pleasantries with a smile on his face, and then watched Lu Fei and his group leave the city gate.

Once outside the capital, Lu Fei and Zhang Xun rode side by side.

We chatted and laughed all the way, and I was in a very good mood.

"Hey Lao Zhang, did you see that? Li Mu's face turned green yesterday. He'll probably have nightmares for days when he gets back."

Lu Fei laughed triumphantly, his eyebrows dancing with pride, like a general who had won a battle.

Zhang Xun also burst into laughter:

"That's right! Let him see the might of our Shannan Prefecture, and he'll never dare to look down on us again!"

"Hmph, this wretched place called the capital city doesn't even deserve to be compared to our Shannan Prefecture!"

"The area outside the city stinks, and the streets inside the city are a mess. There isn't even a decent restaurant to be found."

Lu Fei curled his lip in disdain, looking down on the "country bumpkin coming to the city".

"That's right, our Shannan Prefecture is still the best. It has beautiful mountains and clear waters, fresh air, and everything you need for eating, drinking, and having fun."

Zhang Xun nodded in deep agreement, a sense of pride for Shannan Prefecture welling up within him.

Upon returning to Shannan Prefecture, Lu Fei and Zhang Xun, like triumphant generals, boasted all the way about their experiences in the capital.

Of course, the main point is to embellish the predicament of Li Mu, the general of the Imperial Guard.

"Let me tell you, Li Mu's jaw almost dropped to the table! His eyes were bulging like saucers!"

Lu Fei spoke with great enthusiasm, describing the scene vividly as if it were happening right before his eyes.

Zhang Xun, not to be outdone, picked up the conversation:

"That's right! That guy probably never imagined that as His Majesty's personal guard, his salary would be less than that of our Shannan Prefecture."

The two of them spoke in perfect harmony, their vivid descriptions making Han Sheng, Ye Xiao, and the others burst into laughter.

Even the usually composed Night Owl couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.

"Hey, I'm telling you, aren't you two going a bit too far?"

"He's a general in the Imperial Guard, after all. Let's give him some face!"

Han Sheng joked with a smile.

"Face? Can face feed you?"

"Let him see the might of our Shannan Prefecture!"

"We'll never dare to underestimate you again!"

Lu Fei looked smug, as if he had really won a battle in the capital.

This lively scene naturally reached Lu Yan's ears as well.

He sat in his study, holding an ancient book in his hands.

Hearing the noise outside, a slight, helpless smile appeared on his lips.

"These two are such a handful..."

The trip to the capital, though seemingly glamorous, was still a great success.

But he knew all too well that countless crises lurked behind the prosperity.

Being in the remote Shannan Prefecture, we must be even more careful and cautious; developing people's livelihood is the top priority.

"Sir, you wanted to see me?"

As Lu Yan was deep in thought, Li Kui's voice came from outside the door.

"Come in."

Li Kui pushed open the door and entered, standing respectfully in front of Lu Yan.

"Xiao Kui, how's the security in the city lately?" Lu Yan asked.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, everything is fine, nothing serious has happened."

"Okay, that's good." Lu Yan nodded.

"Several new gambling dens have recently opened in the city. Go check them out and see if there's anything fishy going on."

"A gambling den?" Li Kui was taken aback. "Sir, are you worried about..."

"Prevention is better than cure," Lu Yan interrupted him.

"There might be some powerful forces hiding behind these gambling dens, so we have to be careful."

"Yes, sir, I'll go investigate right away." Li Kui accepted the order and left.

The next day, Li Kui brought back the results of his investigation.

"Sir, there really is something wrong behind those gambling dens!"

Li Kui's tone was solemn.

"They not only gambled in groups, but also engaged in usury and even human trafficking!"

"Just as I thought." A cold glint flashed in Lu Yan's eyes.

"It seems someone is trying to stir up trouble in Shannan Prefecture!"

"My lord, what should we do next?" Li Kui asked.

"Don't alert them yet. Continue the investigation secretly and gather evidence."

Lu Yan said in a deep voice.

"I will uproot these termites!"

...

Meanwhile, a suffocatingly low atmosphere permeated the Prime Minister's residence in the capital.

Liu An's face was ashen, and the veins on his forehead bulged, making him look like a ferocious beast about to erupt.

He paced back and forth, each step feeling as if he were stepping on his own heart and chest.

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