Chapter 89

Hu Xiaotian also considered this issue. Not only were the travel expenses and provisions gone, but even the official seal and documents for his appointment in Qingyun County were with Liang Dazhuang. Without these items, how could he prove his identity?

Qiqi said, "Your luggage seems to be lost. How can you afford to hire a carriage? But I still have some travel money!" She patted her blue printed bag, which she always carried with her, even during the series of chases.

Hu Xiaotian also had something with him, which was rather embarrassing to mention—history books and maps given to him by Shi Xuedong. It wasn't because these items were important, but because the maps were rather indecent, and if others saw them, it would ruin the little bit of dignity he had just built up.

Qiqi's travel money was not much, barely enough for their daily meals. As for buying horses or hiring a carriage, it was a luxury they could only dream of.

Muyan Feiyang was never a pampered rich girl; she was used to hard times. Qiqi, though cunning, could also endure hardship. As for Hu Xiaotian, he was not a spoiled rich young master. He had only been a secretary for about half a year, and he could adapt to any situation.

It was a three-day journey from Pengyin Mountain to Xiezhou. Hu Xiaotian had initially worried about encountering more attacks along the way, but they were extremely cautious throughout the journey. Fortunately, no one came to seek revenge, and it seemed they had successfully escaped the assassins who were after Qiqi. Leaving the wilderness and entering the official road, they no longer had to worry about wild animal attacks. Without the official seal and documents, they no longer had the right to stay at the post stations for free. Using Qiqi's limited travel money, they endured the hardships of the journey and finally arrived in Xiezhou.

Xiezhou was the second largest city in Xichuan, second only to Xizhou in size, but its fame far exceeded that of Xizhou. Historically, Xiezhou was a key town in the southwest and was once the capital of the Great Shu Kingdom. The Panlong Mountains, running from northeast to southwest, divided Xiezhou into plains and mountainous areas. East of the Panlong Mountains, the land was fertile and the people prosperous, while the west was mountainous and the people lived in poverty.

Qingyun County, where Hu Xiaotian was to take up his post, was under the jurisdiction of Xiezhou and was said to be one of the poorest areas in Xiezhou and even in all of Xichuan.

The city walls of Xiezhou were not particularly high or wide, probably due to their age and lack of maintenance. The walls were overgrown with weeds, and the bricks were eroded by wind and rain, giving them a weathered and aged appearance.

The guards at the city gate stood in the afternoon sun, lazily observing the passersby. Due to the extreme heat, they were reluctant to move from the shade of the city wall.

Because of the natural barrier of the Panlong Mountains, Xiezhou rarely experienced warfare. It had been nearly fifty years since the last battle, which explained the laxness of the guards at the gate.

Hu Xiaotian and his companions were dusty and weary. In the past, they would have been closely scrutinized, but now they walked into Xiezhou without any trouble. The guards merely glanced at them indifferently and then moved on, having lost their vigilance due to the long peace.

Entering Xiezhou smoothly, finding the Zhou family on Fengze Street in Yujin Alley was not difficult. Hu Xiaotian asked a passerby, and learned that the Zhou family was quite well-known. The head of the Zhou family, Zhou Ruiyuan, was once a high-ranking official, serving as the Right Chancellor, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and Imperial Scholar. Three years ago, he was implicated when the Crown Prince, Long Yalin, was deposed and was stripped of his position by the current emperor, returning to his hometown to live out his days. When Zhou Ruiyuan was dismissed, Hu Buwei had taken the opportunity to further humiliate him.

Hu Xiaotian sighed at the irony of the world. His father had taken advantage of the situation because of him. He had once been betrothed to the Zhou family's daughter, but after learning that he was a fool, Zhou Ruiyuan had broken off the engagement, which his father deeply resented.

Hu Xiaotian did not harbor such deep hatred towards the Zhou family. After all, he was now a different person, and no one would want to marry their daughter to a deaf, mute, and foolish man.

Following the passerby's directions, they found the Zhou residence. It was an ordinary courtyard with blue bricks, gray tiles, and a black door, with no stone lions in front. It did not stand out much from the surrounding houses.

Hu Xiaotian thought that even a fallen camel was still bigger than a horse. Despite being stripped of his position, Zhou Ruiyuan had once been a high-ranking official. He could not possibly live in such an ordinary house. Perhaps he had decided to live a simple life after his fall, temporarily putting aside his ambitions and political aspirations.

The three stood in front of the ordinary door, hesitating for a moment before Hu Xiaotian knocked. There was not even a servant to guard the door. For a former high-ranking official to be reduced to this, it was indeed a sorry state. Qiqi, the young girl, seemed to have some connection with the Zhou family, which was why she had gone to such lengths to seek them out. Thinking of the old eunuch Andeqian, Hu Xiaotian was even more convinced that Qiqi had a close connection to the royal family. Although he was curious, he did not intend to pry. The chases and attacks he had endured because of Qiqi had already shown that there was a significant conspiracy surrounding her. Hu Xiaotian did not want to invite trouble. Politics was not something he was interested in, as it was too tiring.

After waiting for a long time, someone finally came to the door. It was a middle-aged mute. Seeing that none of the three were familiar, he gestured for a while. Although Hu Xiaotian had been a medical doctor, he did not understand sign language, and neither did Muyan Feiyang or Qiqi. The three were speechless. Muyan Feiyang looked at Qiqi in confusion, "Did we come to the wrong place?"

Qiqi bit her lip, clearly at a loss.

Just as they were puzzled, a gentle voice came from inside the courtyard, "Afu, do we have guests?"

The mute nodded and turned around. The three looked inside and saw a middle-aged woman in simple clothing walking towards them. She was in her forties, with a kind and dignified appearance, but her temples were already streaked with white hair. Although she was dressed simply, her demeanor suggested that she was not an ordinary woman.

The mute stepped aside, and the middle-aged woman came to the door, looking at the three and smiling, "What brings you here?"

She had never seen any of them before, so she asked.

Hu Xiaotian cleared his throat and bowed respectfully, "Madam..."

The middle-aged woman immediately corrected him, "Young man, although I am not young, I have never been married."

Hu Xiaotian was embarrassed. He had misjudged her and inadvertently offended her by calling her "madam." He quickly apologized, "Miss... I apologize for my mistake, I apologize!"

The middle-aged woman laughed at his awkwardness. When she smiled, her face became very lively, her eyes sparkling, and it was easy to imagine that she had been a stunning beauty in her youth. Although her youth had faded, she still had a certain charm. She said softly, "You don't need to call me 'miss.' Given my age, you can call me 'aunt.' May I ask what brings you to our home?"

Hu Xiaotian and Muyan Feiyang both looked at Qiqi. They had thought that bringing Qiqi here would solve all the problems, but it turned out that the Zhou family did not recognize her.

From Qiqi's expression, it was clear that she did not recognize the two people either. She blinked and asked, "Is this the home of Grand Tutor Zhou?"

The middle-aged woman shook her head, "There is no Grand Tutor Zhou here. Please leave." Her expression became cold as she said this.

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