minated one by one, the remaining three high-ranking officers on the list had canceled all their outings and were holed up in the Japanese headquarters in Pingbei."That's a bit troublesome, hiding ins..."Ah, my apologies. I felt like I knew you from somewhere."

The man immediately bowed and apologized, his voice soft and gentle, clearly that of a scholar.

"As for me, it's fine to be treated as a servant girl. But if you were to meet another woman, you would probably be labeled a scoundrel."

Yes, the girl's lesson was taught.

The young man in purple robes bowed again, apologizing.

And Wang Zhenzhen, who had remained silent all along, flashed a look of surprise in her eyes when she saw the man's face. She immediately lowered her head in thought and turned to Lianyi, saying:

I'm rested up, let's go! Don't get in the way of people's business.

"Yes, madam."

When the ripples saw the man in purple, she also had a moment of confusion, but the feeling passed quickly, so she didn't pay attention to it.

Wang Ya zu took another two taels of braised beef and left, and the three then set off again, leaving the tea shed.

"Turn into the forest at the fork ahead."

Wang Zhenzhen suddenly spoke.

"Oh, good!"

Wang Yanzou responded with a sound, symbolically tugged on the reins, and the horse changed direction.

After about a stick of incense, Wang Yaizu collapsed onto the carriage pole with a loud thud and lost consciousness.

Liàn yī didn't seem at all surprised. She turned and dismounted, slipping into the carriage and saying to Wang Zhēnzhēn:

"Auntie Zhen, why are you stopping here Will those people come"

"And so it was, only the young master who entered the teahouse afterwards looked very much like an old acquaintance of mine."

Wang Zhenzhen said thoughtfully.

"An old acquaintance Who is it"

Ripple lifted the curtain, observing the outside while casually asking:

He looks a lot like your father, Xu Fengze!

"Huh Isn't Xu Fengze dead You saw the body with your own eyes."

The ripples immediately turned back, asking in some surprise.

Yes, even if he were alive, his age wouldn't be right.

But I only found you when I was with your mother. Back then, your mother knew she was carrying twins, and when Xu Fengze died, there was no baby corpse beside him.

So Auntie Zhen, you suspect my younger brother is still alive, and that the young man in purple robes just now could be my lost brother

The ripple effect was quick, she replied immediately.

"It's possible, but I'm not sure. He looks seven out of ten like Xu Fengze, but I don't see any resemblance to your mother."

When you were little, you resembled your mother. As a woman grows, she changes dramatically. After growing up, your appearance took the best features of both your mother and father, becoming increasingly beautiful. Most people wouldn't remember what they looked like twenty years ago; only those close to them would pay attention.

Wang Zh Zhen said something with a veiled meaning.

"Auntie Zhen, do you mean this is another bait, a lure to get you to appear"

With a flicker of her eyes, she immediately spoke.

"Yes! This is also what I'm worried about. Now a little brother I don't know has appeared, and so has a nephew I've never met, both of whom are related to the Wang family."

"That's interesting! Then we'll just have to play it by ear."

The ripples in her eyes narrowed. Without a plot-driven mission, all she needed to do was ensure she lived to the very end.

Just as the two of them had finished their conversation, they heard the sound of branches being snapped outside.

"Mother, the coachman is already unconscious, and the two girls should be in the carriage."

"Well, my medicine isn't about making them pass out immediately. After it kicks in, they'll just get increasingly drowsy, like the kind of tiredness you feel after a big meal, nothing that would raise any alarms."

The old woman said with some pride.

"Mother, let's keep this Red-cloaked girl as my daughter-in-law! I want her to give me children!"

"You're dreaming! You've been through several wives, front and back, but none have given you a son or daughter. This young and pretty one could fetch a good price, so we can't leave her with you."

The old woman obviously disagreed with her son's proposal. She walked quickly two steps, first touching Wang Ya zu who had fallen asleep, and then raised her hand to prepare to lift the car curtain.

With a whoosh, an arrow flew past the old woman's feet. She immediately dodged to the side of the carriage, and the young man did the same. The two hid.

"Mother, who is that person How dare they disrupt our affairs!"

"Shut up, didn't you see the arrow That's the official's arrow, we have to go!"

The old woman was sharp-eyed and quick-witted. At a glance, she saw something amiss and grabbed her son, preparing to flee.

It's a pity that Lian Yi didn't want to let this mother and son go. At one glance, it was obvious they were often involved in such schemes, and she wondered how many women had been harmed by them. So when they hid behind the carriage, Lian Yi shot two drops of water at their ankles, causing both of them to fall to the ground.

Without the cover of the carriage, the two were exposed to the gunmen's sight. "Whoosh whoosh" the arrows pierced the air, instantly pinning the two to the ground.

"Mother! Ah!"

"Paulownia"

As soon as the two of them screamed, it was as if something had stopped them. Four people jumped down from the tree and dragged the old woman and her son away, covering their mouths.

Ripples and Wang Zhenzhen looked at each other, then leaned against the carriage wall, closing their eyes and pricking up their ears. They listened to footsteps stopping outside the carriage, followed by the sound of the curtain being lifted.

The man in purple robes lifted the curtain, looked at the two people sleeping inside, scanned the carriage once more, then lowered the curtain again.

"Master Qi, those two people have already had their tendons severed. How should we dispose of them"

"Take them to the authorities, and let them follow the clues to catch the mastermind behind this woman trafficking operation."

The young master in purple robes coldly commanded.

Yes, I will get on that right away. What about here

"I'll wait for them to wake up."

"Yes, I will take two people to handle the matter, and we will catch up with your lordship afterwards."

Go ahead!

Qi Gongzi said softly.

After the commotion around them subsided, Lian Yi opened her eyes and nudged Wang Zhenzhen. The two of them exchanged a knowing glance before Wang Zhenzhen spoke:

"Ripple, how did I fall asleep" Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

"Madam, I fell asleep fanning you, oh Why isn't the carriage moving!"

After Lianyi finished her lines, she raised her hand to lift the curtain. She saw Wang Yaozhu still sleeping soundly inside, and a man in purple robes standing not far from the carriage.

"How could you fall asleep And drive the car to such a place! Wake up! Come on, wake up!"

Lily nudged Wang Yaizu twice, but he didn't react at all and continued to snore loudly.

"Ripple Girl, your coachman won't wake up for a while, he was drugged."

The ripples turned her head and looked at the man who had turned to look at her. She said guardedly,

"You were the young master from the teahouse just now, weren't you How did you know Could it be..."

"It wasn't me who drugged you, it was the old woman and her son from the tea stall. I just happened to pass by and saw them acting suspiciously, plotting to sell you both for money, so I had my guards rescue you."

"Really"

Ripple still pretended to be half-believing and half-doubting as she asked.

“Of course, you guys have bad luck. You encountered the infamous 'Phoenix Roosting in Wisteria' mother and son duo. They never commit crimes in the same place twice. Being martial artists from the underworld, they’ve been on the run for years with some skill, so despite being wanted, they've always evaded capture. This time was a coincidence; your appearance exposed their whereabouts, leading to their arrest.”

"So that's it, young master is an official's family member It seems they coveted my beauty and took such a risk. This capture of the wanted criminal also has this maiden's share of credit, so is there a reward"al! I was in a hurry and that was my mistake!"But, your table is too flimsy! I just tapped it lightly.After he finished speaking, he took out a cloth purse from the bag in his hand. He took out five y...