After sunset, travelers came from time to time to rent horses, and some, like Zhao Xiu and his companions, stayed overnight in the stable.
By the time the noise had died down, it was already late at night, but Zhao Xiu had no desire to sleep. This was partly because the fellow stablemate was snoring too loudly, and partly because the night in Fuqiang was so cold that he was shivering.
He stood up and took out a wine bag from his luggage. He took two big gulps of the liquor and his body warmed up. Just as he was about to lie down and continue sleeping, he heard the sound of carriages and people coming from the street.
He peered out from the shadows and saw a carriage with lanterns affixed to its four corners, parked in front of the inn. A team of guards armed with swords stood in front and behind the carriage. Thanks to the lanterns, Zhao Xiu could clearly see that the swords were official-issue.
Why are the officials coming to this inn in the middle of the night?
He held his breath and observed secretly.
After the carriage had stabilized, a man opened the curtain and emerged from inside. Although his clothes were unassuming, he looked very elegant, and his every move was imposing, indicating a rather unusual background.
After he got off the carriage, a guard went to knock on the door. After four knocks, the door was opened from the inside, and the innkeeper respectfully invited him in. The guards also filed in, leaving only two guarding the door.
Zhao Xiu didn't dare to move and waited patiently.
About half an hour later, the guards escorted the man out of the inn, helped him onto the carriage, and left quickly.
After the others had left, Zhao Xiu arrived at the inn's entrance. A gust of wind carried a faint scent. Zhao Xiu was deeply impressed by this smell; when he had killed Feng Miao, it had permeated him from head to toe.
That was the smell of blood, the smell of human blood.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps in the inn, and he quickly retreated to the stable. Just as he was hiding, the inn door opened, and then four or five carts drove in from the back street. Several servants carried more than a dozen bodies out of the inn, dumped them onto the carts, and drove them out into the street.
As soon as Zhao Xiu saw the clothes on the corpse, he knew that it was him who was following the group of Turks.
Killed just like that? He was filled with fear.
After the carriage had left, several servants came with water to wash away the dripping blood in front of the door. They then used brooms to sweep away the bloodstains left on the street by the carriage, covering them with dust. They swept all the way to the end of the long street before returning and closing and bolting the door.
It's as if nothing happened.
"It's really a shady shop." A faint voice sounded behind Zhao Xiu, scaring him. Fortunately, he was calm and didn't shout out, otherwise the carriage would have to run again.
"If you want to die, why are you hiding behind me?" Don't you know that people can scare others to death?
The attendant said aggrievedly, "I have been here the whole time, but you didn't notice. Besides, I didn't dare to make a sound in that situation just now."
"Stop! Stop! Stop! Who told him to pick this person?"
Zhao Xiu slowly exhaled, then whispered, "The dead are Turks. Let's go and find out where they dragged them to. Maybe we can find Yu Hu."
The attendant glanced at his companions who were sleeping soundly in the stable and asked, "Did you not inform them?"
"What's there to inform? They're not fast asleep." Zhao Xiu snorted, stuck close to the eaves of the street, and sneaked into the dark night.
The attendant scratched his head, glanced at his companions and the travelers who were staying in the stable together, and suddenly realized.
The snoring is gone.
————Dividing line————
Xu Jiang left home early and didn't even have time to have breakfast. Lou Jing sent two guards to follow her, fearing that she would have another accident.
After Xu Jiang left, Lou Jing instructed Liu Mei to prepare a generous gift for each person according to the list Yin Yin had made last night, and then filled a car with them and sent it to Huailiu Lane.
Xu Jiang first went to the West Market to find Zhao Zhang to inquire about Uncle Chai's injuries.
When Zhao Zhang saw her coming, he asked about the situation of the bookstore with concern.
Xu Jiang smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern. It's nothing serious."
"That's good." Zhao Zhang looked her over and felt relieved to see that she was fine.
Xu Jiang took a thank-you gift from Yin Yin and handed it to him, saying with a smile, "Thank you for treating Uncle Jackal and Stubborn Donkey's injuries, and thank you for the fodder."
Zhao Zhang couldn't refuse, so he had no choice but to accept it, "Why are you so reserved?"
"It's not a matter of being distant, it's a matter of affection."
These words made Zhao Zhang feel relieved.
Xu Jiang asked again, "How is Uncle Jackal? Is he seriously injured? Can he be cured?"
"The injury is serious, but not fatal. I gave it medicine last night and it's able to eat this morning." Uncle Jackal is a mountain hunting dog and he mostly hunts for food, so his physique is strong. As long as he is willing to eat, he will recover quickly.
"Then I'm relieved." Xu Jiang said gratefully, "I sent it to you in a hurry without asking any questions. I'm sorry for causing trouble to you and your sister-in-law."
"It's just a small matter, not a big deal."
Zhao Zhang was not only a horse appraiser and donkey seller, he was also a horse doctor. Horse doctors didn't just treat horses; they could treat any livestock, including dogs.
"In five or six days, when the wounds on its body have scabbed over, we can reattach it."
"Okay." Xu Jiang didn't want to tell him the medical fee, for fear that he would be unhappy, so she made up her mind to prepare a generous gift as a reward when she came to pick up her uncle.
After leaving the stable, Xu Jiang went to Taikangfang again. When passing by Wanjuan Tower, he found that its door was closed.
She stopped the carriage and looked at it for a long time. It took her a long time to suppress her anger and let the guards drive to Uncle Cao's house.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the alley. Xu Jiang and Yin Yin got off and walked over together.
At this time, the sky was filled with morning glow and the soft mist was shining. Xu Jiang walked into the alley and suddenly remembered the evening when she and Lou Yunchun came to visit Cao's house. The ground was also filled with morning glow and warm yellow.
Seeing her paused in a daze, Yin Yin shook her hand and asked softly, "Sister Xu, what's wrong?"
She smiled and shook her head, gathered herself together, and walked towards Cao's house.
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