"This is my husband. He's just worried that our stay at your house might disturb you. He has no other intentions." Xu Yixing said. She understood Miss Wu's expression. She remembered that her father had been demoted to Miaozhou as a gatekeeper. If she reported him to the authorities, he'd be exposed. It would be better to use his current disguise skills to stay with her for one night and then escape the next day.
"Haha, it's okay, come with me." Wu Xueyan confiscated the copper coin and led the two people to the center of the "village". They walked to a neat-looking courtyard and then raised her hand to knock on the door: "Open the door, it's me!"
This yard is in stark contrast to the makeshift thatched huts outside. It is a brick and tile house surrounded by a wall, giving a sense of security at first glance.
Someone holding a candlestick opened the door. It was an older woman. When she saw Wu Xueyan, she immediately became happy: "Xue'er is here, come in! These two are..."
"They missed the time to enter the city, I want them to stay here for one night."
"Come in." The old lady didn't ask too many questions. She led them to the yard and pointed to the empty house to the west: "This house is empty. You two can stay here tonight."
"Thank you, Auntie."
The old lady had no interest in Xu Yixing and the others and was only interested in talking to Wu Xueyan. Xu Yixing just happened to get away and quickly went into the west room. Just as she was about to close the door, Wu Xueyan raised her hand and knocked on the window: "You two, go to bed early. There are still some things belonging to the uncle and aunt's son in this house. Don't rummage around."
"That's it, that's it." Ying Wu nodded his head several times like a chicken pecking at rice, then he closed the door, lit a candle, and looked around the room. It was indeed an ordinary room with some miscellaneous items piled up in the corner.
Outside the courtyard, Wu Xueyan didn't seem to chat with the old lady for long before she hurried away. Xu Yixing heard the noise clearly and quickly whispered, "Didn't she say this was her home? Why did she leave? Did she go to report to the police?"
Ying Wu shook his head: "What do you mean by 'her home'? That old lady is Gao Yao's mother. This is Gao Yao's home!"
Xu Yixing was shocked. She had never met Mr. Gao's family, but Ying Wu had. After Gu's death, she had never restricted Gao Yao's movements, and she had never expected that she would come here with her family.
"Do you think she recognized us?"
"Probably not." Ying Wu was just going by his feeling.
This comforted Xu Yixing. She hadn't recognized Wu Xueyan's voice at first because she used to be so cold, but today it was as warm as a spring breeze. It seemed her personality had changed a lot in the past few years. Gao Yao's family had received her kindness in the past, so she wasn't worried that Gao Yao would betray her.
"I don't think I've seen Gao Yao either. I wonder if she doesn't want to see anyone or has gone out. Well, let's just stay for one day. Tomorrow morning we should go into the city and find another place."
"Yes." Ying Wu blew out the candle, leaned his head on the table, and went to sleep.
Xu Yixing tossed and turned, missing her "coffin room" a little. It was soft and warm, unlike this kang, which must have been where Gao Yao's younger brother slept. It was hard and smelled of dust. The contrast made Xu Yixing unable to sleep.
Remembering what Wu Xueyan had said not to rummage around, she rebelled and casually reached for the cabinet above her head. It seemed to be filled with small gadgets, but she couldn't figure out what they were. Could it be his brother's toys?
Then he reached into another large cabinet and found a piece of clothing. The material of the clothing was good, unlike the linen that Old Lady Gao had just worn. But Gao Yao wasn't short of money back then, so maybe buying her brother some good material wouldn't be a big deal.
Xu Yixing was tired after having enough fun. I guess Ying Wu must be helpless after hearing how much trouble he had been going through, right?
After a good night's sleep, Ying Wu woke up Xu Yixing before dawn the next day and said, "We can pack up and leave now. The city gates should be opening soon."
"Oh... okay." Xu Yixing stood up. Although he was sleepy, he still remembered Ying Wu's warning and did not rub his eyes.
Yingwu took a handkerchief and wiped her face casually, then used glue and thin fishing line to consolidate her disguise. Only after confirming that it was the same as yesterday did he feel relieved.
Xu Yixing stood up to leave, but he saw that the cabinet he had opened in the dark yesterday was not closed properly, and a piece of fabric was stuck outside. He was amused by his own behavior last night, so he opened the cabinet to reorganize it. As he did so, he saw something else.
"What's wrong?" Ying Wu checked his disguise in front of a palm-sized silver mirror, and saw his master staring blankly at a piece of clothing on the bedside.
"Yingwu, I don't think we can leave yet. Look." She shook out the clothes and showed them to Yingwu: "This is Xu Yiwen's clothes. It shouldn't be here."
"Can you be sure of this? Maybe it's just the material that's the same?" Ying Wu and Xu Yiwen were not familiar with the clothes and couldn't recognize them.
"Looking at the size, it seems like it. Why don't we wait for Wu Xueyan or Gao Yao to come back and ask?" Xu Yixing didn't really want to cause trouble, but she knew that Xu Yiwen's wanted photo had been posted next to Chao Jianyi, and she was also implicated.
Ying Wu narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath. "How about I take you into the city first? I'll keep an eye on you here. If I see Gao Yao or Wu Xueyan, I'll tie them up for you."
"No, I want to wait for them here." Xu Yixing couldn't understand. Yi Wen left Beijing without even saying goodbye to him, so how did this piece of clothing appear here now?
"But if you ask, your identity will be exposed. Have you thought about it?"
"Why don't we ask the old couple of the Gao family first? Didn't Wu Xueyan say yesterday that this was their son's house? Maybe if we find out where their son is, we can find Xu Yiwen."
"Okay, then I'll go ask." Yingwu pushed the door open and went out. The old couple had already gotten up and were cooking. He was very attentive, chopping wood and helping out, and he was very likable.
Xu Yixing leaned against the door frame and watched, enjoying the fresh air to relieve his fatigue. This child was really tormenting him. In two months, when he was born, he would be able to relax.
Ying Wu was still chatting with the two elderly people when the Gao family's door opened. A figure with a face covered in veils walked in and called out "mother." Xu Yixing was originally standing at the door frame. When she saw the figure, she immediately turned around and went back into the house. She was still a little afraid of being recognized.
"Yao'er is back, dinner will be ready soon!"
"Oh." Gao Yao saw Ying Wu helping in the kitchen, but did not recognize him. She thought he was just an ordinary guest, so she went into the east room and did not come out.
"Master, their son has joined the army and is serving in the Miaozhou Garrison. He is only eighteen years old this year. The master said that the things in this room belong to his son. Are we overthinking it?"
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