Huangfu Chongyou still answered blankly, "When I went in to get my things, he was the only one there. He just looked up at me and didn't say much. He told me to put my things down and then sent me away."
After much thought, if it wasn't as he planned, then there was only one possibility left: "...Has he seen you before?"
Huangfu Chongyou recalled for a moment and said, "I don't think so. Since we arrived, we've only had contact with Military Advisor Xiao. Usually, he's either sleeping in, preparing to sleep in, or in the Northwest Courtyard."
Huangfu Ning nodded thoughtfully and said, "It seems that my speculation may be correct. Let's go find Shi Zairong."
Huangfu Chongyou said that he would not leave here until a very important issue was resolved:
"Uncle, why haven't I figured it out yet? What exactly are you trying to test by having me dress like this? Also, does he really think I'm not good-looking?!"
"Don't worry, you're the most beautiful child of my generation," Huangfu Ning said perfunctorily, comforting Huangfu Chongyou's fragile heart. "Well, you should have heard about the spies in the South Vietnamese army before. This time, maybe you'll make a great contribution."
Huangfu Chongyou frowned. When he first entered, he looked so focused on his work that he didn't look like a spy at all. "I think it's unlikely that Xie Zhuangshui is a spy. Isn't it said that the Grand Tutor has a great favor for this person who sent the letter to Xie? He is also one of the people the Grand Tutor trusts the most."
Huangfu Ning explained, "So, this is why we haven't been able to find the person behind those minions. It's dark under the lamp, understand?"
While this made sense, Huangfu Chongyou felt that he couldn't call someone a spy simply because of their unique hobby. Hobbies and interests can change. "But I don't think that relying on such a simple test and our one-sided story alone will convince the Grand Tutor, or even me."
After hearing this, Huangfu Ning patted Huangfu Chongyou's shoulder with a look of relief and said, "Your uncle has eaten more salt than you've eaten rice. How could he not have considered this? Although Shi Zairong and Xie Zhuangshui have a good relationship, it's impossible for him to know everything. There should be only one person who knows Xie Zhuangshui best."
... The next day, the sky was clear, with only the occasional gentle breeze. Although the sun was high in the sky, the morning wasn't too hot. It was even a pleasant temperature, perfect for organizing the warehouse.
After Xiao Liang came out of Shi Zairong's study, he originally planned to go directly to Shi Zairong, but after thinking about it, he wandered around the town for a while before going over: "General."
Seeing Xiao Liang coming, Xie Zhuangshui immediately put down what he was doing and poured him a glass of water himself: "Why are you here? Aren't you still taking care of the people from the Huangfu family?"
Xiao Liang smiled and said, "They are just a few guests. Besides, they have hands and feet and are not disabled. They don't need me to wait on them all the time. General, the weather is perfect today. The military doctors are planning to take out all the medicinal herbs from the warehouse to dry them out. I mean, I'd like to invite you to come with us."
Xie Zhuangshui nodded slightly, touched the terrifying scar on his face, and said, "Medicinal herbs are important supplies, so it's time to take a good inventory. I've been so busy catching spies these days that I've neglected many important things. I heard there's good news from the Northwest Courtyard?"
Xiao Liang gave a wry laugh and said, "It's not really good news, it's just a rumor. We've been trying to catch spies lately, so we've been setting up the bewilderment array. We haven't even confirmed if this method is actually feasible. Furthermore, Huangfu Bin and his son said they're missing a ginseng ingredient that's over a hundred years old from their test drug formula. They said it was out of stock, so today's a good time to look for it."
Xie Zhuangshui glanced at the documents on the desk that were giving him a headache and said, "Well, I'll have someone call you after I finish what I'm doing. We'll go together."
Xiao Liang knew that Xie Zhuangshui was a military commander, and that he wasn't good at or willing to spend time on written materials, so he suggested, "Do you need my help?"
Xie Zhuangshui slapped the table anxiously and said, "No need. There's not much left. You've worked hard these days. Go back and take a break."
Xiao Liang was slightly stunned when he heard this, then he bowed and said, "General, you are too polite. We are all working for the Grand Tutor, so it doesn't matter whether it's hard or not."
"That's true."
... Xiao Liang didn't have to wait too long. Shi Zairong sent someone to inform Xiao Liang and told him to go directly to the warehouse. When Xiao Liang arrived, the military doctors were already sorting the medicinal materials in an orderly manner.
Xiao Liang followed behind Shi Zairong. After following him around, he asked, "...General, do you think there are any more herbs that need to be purchased?"
Shi Zairong picked up some hemostatic herbs that were drying on the side and said, "Hemostatic herbs and wound medicine are commonly used by the army. Looking at the reserves, if something unexpected happens, I'm afraid they won't be enough. We need to buy some more."
Xiao Liang glanced at the hemostatic grass in his hand and said, "I think so too. I will discuss with the military doctors what herbs we need to purchase later. After the general has reviewed and confirmed that they are correct, I will hand them over to the Grand Tutor."
After that, Xiao Liang found a random excuse and left. When he quietly went to the study, he seemed to have aged ten years.
Seeing that even Xiao Liang had such an expression, Shi Zairong smiled and said, "What's wrong? What happened? You look so unhappy."
Xiao Liang said that when Shi Zairong told him yesterday that there was something wrong with Xie Zhuangshui, he didn't believe it, thinking someone was spreading rumors behind the scenes. But when he saw Xie Zhuangshui grab the hemostatic grass and didn't react, he realized that this Xie Zhuangshui was really someone else impersonating him.
He wondered why Xie Zhuangshui's recent attitude had changed so much from before, and thought he had finally listened to Shi Zairong's words. But who knew, it turned out to be his own wishful thinking: "...Grand Master, when did you realize something was wrong with the general?"
Shi Zairong said, "The elders always say that things are often darker than they actually are, so I never suspected him before. If someone hadn't noticed something unusual, I wouldn't have focused on him and let you test him. From what you said, is it confirmed?"
Xiao Liang slumped in his chair and said weakly, "I just don't understand who has the ability to replace a living person right under our noses. What is this person's origin and why?"
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