May 5th, arrived at Guzang County, Liangzhou.

The people who came to greet her outside the city were numerous, led by a middle-aged man whom Tang Xiaobai recognized as her father’s deputy general, Cheng Zhidu, the inspector of the Liangzhou Governor Mansion. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Beside Cheng Zhidu stood a man in his thirties or forties, with a fair face and beard, looking scholarly, dressed in a civil servant uniform.

Though she did not recognize the man, she could guess that he was Shen Yu, the inspector at the Liangzhou Inspector Mansion.

Tang Shigong held dual positions as Governor of Liangzhou and Inspector of Liangzhou, the former overseeing military governance, and the latter managing administration.

The deputies at both the Governor Mansion and Inspector Mansion were titled inspectors, but Shen Yu’s position was two ranks below Cheng Zhidu’s, hence he stood slightly farther back, and Cheng Zhidu was the first to speak.

However, when Cheng Zhidu conversed with Xue Shaojian, his face lengthened, displaying a slight disdainful smile, his entire demeanor conveying impatience.

After exchanging only a few words, he shoved Xue Shaojian towards Shen Yu and strode towards Tang Xiaobai.

As he walked, his expression visibly changed.

It did not improve but worsened further.

When he reached Tang Xiaobai, his face had darkened like pot ash.

"What is a young girl like you doing here? Is this a place to play?" Cheng Zhidu scolded right off the bat, his voice rough, exceedingly fierce when shouting.

Yet the little girl on horseback remained upright, calmly removing her wide-brimmed hat, her still-childish face serious: "I am not a young girl, I am the second legitimate daughter of Duke Yan!"

Cheng Zhidu paused, frowned as he stared at her for a while, then sighed: "You’ve really chosen a bad time to come. Liangzhou was safe some time ago, but now there’s chaos everywhere. If you have any mishap, how am I supposed to explain to the Duke when he returns?"

Tang Xiaobai’s heart flinched: "What has happened again?"

Cheng Zhidu’s face showed weariness: "Let’s talk more in the city!"

...

"...Usually, pursuing the enemy deep into hostile territory, it’s normal not to get any news for one or two months. What’s abnormal this time is that the Duke and the Eldest Young Master had been gone for less than a month when rumors of their peril and disappearance started spreading. I suspect there are spies!"

Tang Xiaobai nodded along as she listened.

Zhou Xun had already told her this theory.

Cheng Zhidu continued: "Despite the multitude of rumors, Liangzhou and Shanzhou haven’t faced significant chaos; small Turkic forces previously disturbed the border but were quickly repelled. I’ve been searching tirelessly for spies until, a month ago, Liangzhou and Shanzhou started having murder cases!"

Murder cases?

Tang Xiaobai paused, thinking of Mo Huan.

"Who are the victims?" Tang Xiaobai asked.

Cheng Zhidu noticed her calm demeanor at the mention of murder cases and nodded internally.

Even at a young age, she was the daughter of Duke Yan, a tiger girl from a military family, possessing undoubted courage.

"The identities of the deceased vary; some men, some women, officials, civilians, even my concubine fell victim!" Cheng Zhidu showed a mournful expression at this point.

Tang Xiaobai felt her heart stir but pushed back the urge to reveal the truth.

If there were spies among Cheng Zhidu’s close ones, revealing it now would surely lead to a lawsuit.

The people are already dead, she didn’t want to expend more time and energy on this matter.

"Perhaps there’s some connection between those deceased?" Tang Xiaobai suggested.

Unfortunately, Cheng Zhidu didn’t understand her implication, directly shaking his head: "No connection! The culprit remains at large, the Second Miss staying here is too dangerous, I will send someone to escort the Second Miss back to the capital!" With that, he got up to call someone.

"Wait!" Tang Xiaobai hurried to say, "I’m already here, leaving for the capital now, what if I encounter the culprit on the way? Isn’t that even more dangerous?"

Cheng Zhidu seemed to agree slightly, remaining in place, looking torn.

"The culprit killed several people in a month; there must be some link between these victims. Uncle Cheng, please let people investigate, but for now, what’s most urgent is contacting my father and brother!" Tang Xiaobai stated solemnly, "Though losing contact for a month or two is normal for an expedition, it’s already May now—"

The army set out in March; now it’s May, two months have passed.

"Moreover, the Court has sent an Inspection Envoy to Liangzhou."

If unable to provide the Envoy a suitable explanation, the next step might be sending a new Governor to Liangzhou.

Hearing this, Cheng Zhidu also firmed his expression.

"Time is of the essence; I will set out for Shanzhou tomorrow!" Tang Xiaobai said.

Shanzhou borders Turkic territory, where Tang Ziqian trained his troops.

The army set off for the Turks from Shanzhou.

However, mentioning Shanzhou changed Cheng Zhidu’s face: "Shanzhou—"

"General Cheng! Someone from Shanzhou is here!" Suddenly announced from outside.

Cheng Zhidu sneered coldly: "Let them in!"

The armored officer departed, and Cheng Zhidu turned to Tang Xiaobai: "Second Miss’s arrival is fortuitous. On the Shanzhou matter, perhaps only Second Miss can have a handle!"

Tang Xiaobai frowned, puzzled.

Cheng Zhidu chuckled coldly twice, saying: "Before the Eldest Young Master’s departure, he left his most trusted Ah Jin to care for his beloved concubine, but as soon as rumors arose, those two—" Abruptly stopped.

He seemed eager to curse but held back upon viewing Tang Xiaobai: "Those two snuck the people left by the Eldest Young Master to Shanzhou, occupied Shancheng, and when I sent people twice, they were ignored!"

Beloved concubine?

Tang Xiaobai was shocked. When did her brother have a concubine?

"Both are from Duke Yan Mansion. Since going to Shancheng, no one’s words carry weight; Second Miss, being the master of Duke Yan Mansion, might be able to manage them!" Cheng Zhidu spoke with resentment.

Tang Xiaobai felt both shocked and suspicious but, hearing the sound of approaching armor outside, nodded first: "All right, I’ll meet them!"

When the people from Shanzhou arrived, Tang Xiaobai unexpectedly paused.

"Second Miss!" The two saluted with military greetings.

Leather armor, bound hair, wearing a hip belt, clad in military attire.

Their delicate brows concealed storms.

After completing their salute, she raised her head, revealing a smile.

"I thought I’d only be able to wait for the Gu family’s people, but didn’t expect Second Miss to come." Storms faded from her brow, her eyes shimmering, seemingly with tears.

Both surprised and trustworthy.

It seemed her arrival meant the best outcome.

...

Tang Ziqian’s beloved concubine, as mentioned by Cheng Zhidu, was actually Xin Yi.

"...When rumors surged, after consulting with those whom the Eldest Young Master left behind, we felt spies certainly existed at the border, but lacking people to uncover them, we simply trusted no one, deciding to return to Shancheng first—"

Tang Ziqian trained troops in Shanzhou, with Shancheng being Shanzhou’s capital, also Tang Ziqian’s base camp.

"Shanzhou borders Turkic lands. If news about the Eldest Young Master and Duke arrives, it will come through Shanzhou. We returned to Shanzhou to swiftly receive news of the Eldest Young Master and to dispatch troops to search for him."

Though remaining in Liangzhou offered safety, Liangzhou was under Cheng Zhidu’s count.

When the rumors arose, both Xin Yi and Ah Jin no longer trusted Cheng Zhidu.

People from Shanzhou were loyal to Tang Ziqian.

And Xin Yi and Ah Jin also belonged to Tang Ziqian.

Especially after she claimed herself as Tang Ziqian’s concubine.