As soon as you enter Baicaotang, a strong medicinal fragrance hits you in the face.

Seeing a customer coming, a waiter greeted, "Miss, do you want to get medicine or see a doctor?"

"Get the medicine." Sheng Xiyan took out a piece of silk paper from her sleeve pocket and said, "Here are three herbs. Please prepare them according to the instructions written on the paper."

It is common for customers to bring their own prescriptions to order medicine, but it is rare for customers to customize even the preparation of the herbs.

The waiter took the silk paper. The herbs on it were very common, but the recipe was a little different from the usual one. One of the herbs was usually baked, but here it required frying.

The partner thought for a moment and said, "Please come and get it in three days."

Sheng Xiyan paid three times the market price and returned to the teahouse.

Not long after, Xigui also came back, bringing with him the steaming hot jujube flower crisps that had just come out of the oven.

Sheng Xiyan couldn't wait to tear open the oil paper, picked up a piece of jujube flower crisp through the handkerchief, and took a bite.

The outer skin is fragrant and crispy and melts in your mouth. The hot filling is rich in date aroma, the date paste is fine and smooth, and it has a sweet rose scent. When you take a bite, it's so sweet that it reaches your heart.

"tasty."

Sheng Xiyan's brows and eyes were relaxed, and she was extremely satisfied.

It feels so good to live a new life.

"Do you want to eat it?" Sheng Xiyan picked up another piece of date flower crisp and asked with a smile.

Xigui was stunned for a moment, then took it with both hands: "Thank you, young lady."

"The cooking skills of Zhou's shop are really good. We will buy it again next time." Sheng Xiyan ate another piece of food with a feeling of being unsatisfied, then wiped the crumbs on her hands carefully with a towel.

She stood up and opened the window of the private room. The street was bustling with people and traffic. The cries of vendors and the laughter and play of children mixed together. It was a bit noisy, but also full of the scent of fireworks.

Sheng Xiyan said with emotion: "Life won't be worse in the future than it is now, don't you think?"

Xigui: “…”

She couldn't help but look at Sheng Xiyan's profile. The sunlight made her skin look as delicate and flawless as the first snow. Her pure red lips and sparkling almond eyes were all indescribably charming.

Xigui felt that his girl seemed to have changed a lot recently. To be honest, her eyes and eyebrows were less gentle and soft, and more unbridled.

Xigui was not born in the family. She was sold by her biological parents when she was five years old. Later, Xu bought her from the matchmaker and brought her back to play with her daughter. In the Marquis's mansion, she had no ties.

"That's right, young lady." Xigui responded, "Wherever young lady goes, I will go too."

In the past, the girl did not fight or compete, and she was content to protect herself.

But since the girl had her own ideas, she didn't want to be left behind.

Sheng Xiyan turned her head and her eyes fell on her face. Xigui also let her look at her impartially.

Sheng Xiyan smiled and said, "I ordered some stuff from the Baicaotang in front. You can pick it up for me in three days."

She had no one available in the Sheng family. If Xigui could be used, that would be great. If not, the medicinal herbs she ordered would not be a big deal even if others knew about it. She would just take a look first.

Xigui didn't ask anything and replied obediently, "Yes, young lady."

Sheng Xiyan smiled and brushed her sleeves, then stood up and said, "Now that we have rested enough, let's go shopping again."

She walked out of the private room with brisk steps, and Xigui followed her carrying the remaining jujube flower cakes.

As soon as he went downstairs, two scholars wearing scarves came in from outside. The shopkeeper was obviously familiar with them and asked with a smile: "Mr. Fang, Mr. Zhang, did you not leave the city today?"

"Don't mention it." One of the scholars said angrily, "The Jinyiwei has sealed the city gates."

"This Jinyiwei is so arrogant and domineering, really..."

"Ouch! My scholar, stop talking." The shopkeeper was so frightened that his face turned pale. He wanted to slap himself. He was just talking too much and trying to get close to others. If this word got out, would he still be alive? !

Zhang Xiucai was pulled down by his companions by his sleeves. He looked indignant, but he continued to say: "Scholars should not fear the powerful..."

Sheng Xiyan walked out of the door without looking around.

She originally wanted to take a walk, but the Royal Guards even sealed the city gates, fearing that they were catching some serious criminal.

The Imperial Guards have always acted recklessly, and they might conduct a large-scale search. The capital city is expected to be in chaos...

Sheng Xiyan made a prompt decision: "Let's go back home."

There was still half a street left to walk through. She pursed her lips with some regret and decided to go out again next time.

The carriage was parked at the corner of the street. They had been out for more than an hour, and the ice basin in the carriage had melted most of the way, but it was still much cooler inside the carriage than outside.

The carriage started moving.

Xigui said, "Miss, let me pour you a glass of fruit juice. I've put ice in it."

"Okay." Sheng Xiyan was feeling very hot, and a glass of icy cool fruit juice would be the best thing.

The fruit juice was chilled in an ice basin. Xigui poured it seven-tenths full and then passed it over.

As soon as Sheng Xiyan raised her hand, her nostrils couldn't help but move. She always felt that there seemed to be a faint smell of blood around her, but if she smelled carefully, it seemed that there was nothing.

Seeing her hand suspended in mid-air, Xigui called out in confusion, "Girl?"

"Nothing." Sheng Xiyan narrowed her eyes, took the fruit juice, took a few sips, and put it down, her fingers unconsciously stroking the glass cup.

The carriage turned a corner and moved forward slowly.

"The one in front, stop!"

Suddenly someone shouted loudly, and the driver shouted "Hurray!" and suddenly pulled the reins, and the carriage stopped suddenly.

Sheng Xiyan fell forward uncontrollably, but she quickly grabbed the table. Xigui quickly supported her and asked, "What happened?"

Outside the carriage, the driver's voice was trembling: "Miss, it's Jin, Jinyiwei."

Sheng Xiyan opened the curtain and saw a team of Jinyiwei soldiers wearing Feiyu uniforms and embroidered spring swords on their waists riding towards them. They ordered all the carriages and passers-by on the street to stop. The group was well-trained and in just a few moments, they had cordoned off the entire street.

A captain of the Jinyiwei ordered expressionlessly: "No one in the carriage is allowed to get off. Let us check them one by one."

Sheng Xiyan put down the curtain and said, "Wait a moment."

The carriage slowly stopped at the side of the street and waited patiently.

The bustling street was now so quiet that it seemed deserted. Passers-by and vendors all stood still, not daring to move.

The surroundings were as quiet as a cicada in winter.

The Royal Guards divided into several groups and started the search from the end of the street. It didn't take long before they arrived in front of their carriage.

The driver said respectfully, "Sir, we are from the Sheng family, the Minister of Rites, and the girl inside is from our family."

The next moment, the curtain was rudely lifted up by a captain of the Jinyiwei.

The thousand-householder's cold and merciless gaze swept in.

Two girls, a master and a servant, sat upright in the carriage. The one wearing a veil had a clear look, and her expression was not panic or frightened.

There was a half-full glass of fruit syrup on the small table fixed at the bottom of the carriage.

The carriage could be seen at a glance. He nodded slightly and was about to lower the curtain when his expression suddenly froze. He seemed to smell a faint smell of blood. His eyes froze and he looked into the carriage again. His gaze slowly scanned the carriage inch by inch and then fell on the bench.

This type of carriage has a large space under the seat, which can hold a lot of things and even hide people...

"Please get off the car, young lady." Qianhu said sternly.

When he did not leave but scanned the carriage again, Sheng Xiyan realized that something was wrong.

She remained calm and replied, "Xigui, let's go down first."

Seeing the two of them being so considerate, his attitude improved a little and he stepped back half a step to let them get down.

"What's wrong?"

A feminine voice just broke into everyone's ears.

The tough-minded Jinyiwei captain immediately changed his expression, turned around, clasped his fists and said to the newcomer, "Superintendent."

"Captain Wang, have you found anything?"

Captain Wang bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Sir, I smelled a bit of blood in this carriage. I am going to search it carefully."

Sheng Xiyan turned sideways and looked out through the raised curtain, and saw a young man who was as elegant as an immortal. He was no more than twenty years old, wearing a red Qilin robe, his eyebrows were like ink, his lips were like vermilion, and his upturned phoenix eyes were as sharp as a sword drawn from its sheath, which made people afraid.

This is...

"Smell of blood?" The young man raised his hand slowly and said, "Could it be there?"

Captain Wang looked in the direction of his finger and saw a strong man at a pork stall on the other side of the street, trembling with fear while covering his bloody right hand and replying to the Jinyiwei.

"Please wait a moment, Lord Governor. I will send someone to ask." Captain Wang lowered his head and did not even dare to look up at him. He quickly winked at his subordinates, the Jinyi Guards.

Soon, the Jinyiwei who was interrogating the strong man was called over. He said respectfully: "Master, he chopped himself. He was injured when the Jinyiwei closed the street, and he didn't have time to bandage it."

I understood what he said as soon as I heard it. It was probably because when he was chopping meat, he heard that the Jinyiwei had closed the street, so he was so scared that he chopped his own hand.

Captain Wang nodded. No wonder the bloody smell was much stronger here, even stronger than in the carriage. He must have smelled the smell that had drifted in.

That’s right, there are only two girls in there, how dare they hide that guy!

Captain Wang bent his waist a little more and said with a cupped hand, "I am too suspicious."

The young man stroked his sleeves, smiled calmly, and said, "It's good to be suspicious, but don't procrastinate and waste time."

When the gentle voice fell, Captain Wang bent his waist even lower. He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead and quickly responded.

The man was seriously injured, so they had the chance to chase him to the vicinity. If they delayed any longer, it would be troublesome for him to escape in the chaos. Even if the city gates have been closed now, with that man's ability, he can still get out.

"The governor is wise."

The young man said calmly: "Just let the carriages and passers-by who have been checked go through directly, so as to avoid crowding them together and giving others an opportunity to fish in troubled waters." He spoke neither quickly nor slowly, with an air of majesty without even being angry.

Captain Wang quickly responded, "Yes, Lord Governor."

The young man's eyes swept across the black flat-top carriage where Sheng Xiyan was. The moment his eyes met his, Sheng Xiyan saw a pair of extremely bright eyes, as cold as a poisonous snake.

Sheng Xiyan shrank back subconsciously, and when he looked again, the young man had turned around and left, and the red Qilin robe was quickly blocked by the car curtain.

"Please lower the curtains." Sheng Xiyan ordered.

Xigui put down the raised curtain again.

Before an incense stick had passed, another Jinyiwei came over, knocked on the carriage, and said in a gruff voice, "Let's go."

"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir!" The groom bowed repeatedly.

The carriage finally started again, and this time, it went straight back to Sheng Mansion and stopped at the ceremonial gate.

Xigui went down first and put the footstool in place.

Sheng Xiyan didn't move, and said to the driver outside: "I'll sit for a while. You get off first."

The driver agreed, thinking that she was just frightened by the Jinyiwei. Those Jinyiwei were so powerful that he broke into a cold sweat. He must drink a few bowls of stress tea when he returns!

Sheng Xiyan said again: "Xigui, I feel a little dizzy, go and get me a glass of water."

Xigui did not ask any more questions and just obeyed the order.

After everyone had left, Sheng Xiyan said softly to the empty carriage, "This is the residence of Sheng Xing'an, the Minister of Rites. There is an abandoned courtyard to the west. There are Jinyiwei outside now. If you want to go out, you'd better wait until dark..."

She paused for a few breaths, then slowly uttered a few words: "Zhenbei Prince."