Su Wan went downstairs and saw the guards, in groups of five, sitting around two tables eating large bowls of wide noodles.
Since Chu Yi hadn't made things difficult for her, and she didn't intend to mention him again, she left the restaurant directly. Seeing her leave, the guards immediately put down their chopsticks and bowls, and one of them tossed a small piece of silver onto the table. Everyone followed Su Wan onto the street.
Su Wan found a secluded place, gathered the ten people together, and said, "Everyone, I have something to do, and I need to choose someone to do it."
The guards chimed in, "Please give your orders, Madam. We're all listening."
"I need one of you to sneak into the Suiyang County government office tonight and find something for me," Su Wan said, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "So, can you do it?"
Everyone was a little nervous at first, but after Su Wan finished speaking, they all laughed.
The captain of the guards said, "Madam underestimates us. The lord chose us men who are all top-notch in the army. We can ride horses, fight, shoot arrows, dive... there's nothing we can't do."
A thin guard raised his hand and said, "Madam, it's as easy for me to climb over walls and cross houses."
Su Wan was delighted and said, "Really?"
The guards around him said, "Madam, it's alright. He used to steal before he joined the army... Ah, he reformed later, Madam, please don't misunderstand."
Su Wan nodded: "Then do you know how to pick locks?"
The skinny guard chuckled, “Madam, I’ve been practicing lock picking since I was five. I’m not bragging, but I can open all the locks in the yamen with my eyes closed.”
“Very good, very good,” Su Wan said, “Then can you evade the night patrols at the county government office?”
"Don't worry, Madam," the thin guard said, patting his chest. "I walk silently, and I even had a nickname back in the day... but I won't go into it."
"Alright." Su Wan clapped her hands. "You're the one."
The thin guard said excitedly, "Madam, please give the order. I guarantee I will complete it."
Su Wan said, "Tonight, sneak into the county government office without being discovered."
"no problem."
"To the place in the county government office where all sorts of books are hidden..."
"Uh... I guess it's called a register."
“Yes,” Su Wan said, “Go to the register and find the land deeds with the words ‘Baohetang’ on them.”
The thin guard's smile froze instantly, and he stammered, "Madam, you asked me to find the end of the land deed?"
"What's wrong?" Su Wan looked at the thin guard with a puzzled expression. "I haven't finished speaking yet, why are you sweating?"
The thin guard remained silent, his face flushed, only looking down at the ground. It was the captain of the guards who interjected, "Madam... cough... he can't read."
"You can't read?" Su Wan asked in surprise.
The county government's archives must contain a large number of land deeds, house deeds, and documents. It's essential to identify which one belongs to Baohetang based on the written characters. If this guard is illiterate, he simply wouldn't be able to find it.
“This is something that illiterate people can’t do,” she said, turning to the others. “Who can read?”
All the guards lowered their heads.
"What happened to the two who escorted Uncle Zhao to the inn?"
Everyone remained silent.
Su Wan was both amused and exasperated. Wei Jingzhuo had assigned twelve guards, all skilled in martial arts, but surprisingly, not a single one of them was literate. She was the only literate person here, but she lacked the ability to scale walls and pick locks.
Just as she was worrying, she suddenly remembered that the person from the restaurant had arrived.
She had personally witnessed Chu Yi's ability to leap over walls. If this prince of Southern Chu could be of any help…
Without delay, she hurried back to the restaurant.
Chu Yi was drinking tea when Su Wan came in and asked, "Chu Yi, you just said you could help me?"
“Yes, Miss Su, if you have any difficulties, please tell me,” Chu Yi put down his teacup. “Chu Yi is willing to serve you.”
Su Wan told Chu Yi about her need for the land deed to Baohe Hall in Suiyang County.
After hearing this, Chu Yi said, "Miss Su, I wore night clothes to prevent the people from the General's Mansion from discovering me. Jumping over high walls is an essential skill for martial artists. I would never steal. Besides, I am a prince, how could I do such petty thievery?"
Su Wan thought about it and realized she had been a bit presumptuous. She clasped her hands in a fist and said, "In that case, I won't bother you any longer."
"Miss Su, wait a moment."
Chu Yi called out to her, stood up, and said, "Although I cannot steal for Miss Su, I can bring Miss Su into the Suiyang County Government Office and let her freely browse the files in the county's archives. How about that?"
Su Wan turned around in surprise and said, "Really?"
If she really said, like Chu Yi did, that she could personally go and find the land deeds, that would be wonderful.
Chu Yi said, "Since I've said it, I can do it. Miss Su can disguise herself as my servant and come with me into the county government office."
Su Wan was a little worried and said, "What if you have someone arrest me if I go into the county government office?"
Chu Yi shook his head and smiled wryly, "Miss Su really doesn't trust me. Then let Miss Su's guards temporarily disguise themselves as my attendants, and I'll take all of you into the county government office together. Is that alright?"
Su Wan was overjoyed, but quickly calmed down and asked, "Don't you want anything in return?"
"As for the reward..."
"Let me make this clear first: if you get any funny ideas, I'll go find someone else."
“But I haven’t even considered it,” Chu Yi said, spreading his hands. “To be honest, I do want Miss Su to come back to Southern Chu with me. But I hope Miss Su is willing to come with me… How about this, I’ll help you with this favor, and you can treat me to a meal another day as a way of thanking me.”
"Is it a deal?"
"Of course, I am destined to become the Emperor of Southern Chu, and my word is law."
The two left the restaurant. The guards had never seen Chu Yi before and didn't know who he was. Su Wan introduced him to them, saying, "This is a friend of mine; he can take us into the Suiyang County government office."
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