The city guard opened the pass handed over by the barbarian merchant and gazed at it with an icy stare: "Fengche Duiwei?"

  The leader of the merchants, Hu Shang, with a honest and simple face, smiled and said: "That's right."

  The garrison soldiers stared at the row of boxes, their eyes even colder: "A mere fifth-grade official, why do you need so many goods?"

  It's already very suspicious, even if it were a wealthy family, they would rarely order dozens of boxes at once.

  The guards looked at each other suspiciously, "Open the box and search!"

  The box in front was kicked open, and it was empty, with nothing inside.

  Three or five city guards came up and started kicking these empty boxes one by one. For a while, it was all the sound of merchants pushing and shoving each other.

  Just as he kicked away the fifth box, those merchants had already put their hands into their sleeves, with a murderous glint in their eyes.

  If they fail, the killers lurking around will naturally appear immediately and start another plan of murder and robbery.

  Suddenly, in the night sky of Chang'an, a bright flame appeared.

  "Trouble, curfew is here!"

  The city officials' faces sank, "Hurry! Speed up the inspection!"

  Someone looked back at the team of Hu merchants and found that behind the long row of boxes, there were still several teams waiting.

  At once, the Northern City Gate General Luo Wusu immediately said: "You five go and inspect the rear!"

  Then several soldiers guarding the city quickly ran to the end of the team, someone opened the last box of the team with one hand, still empty.

  Hu Shang's honest and affable face still faced Luo Wusu.

  Luo Wúqiú furrowed his brow, then finally waved his hand: "Go!"

  Hú Shāng immediately knocked his head: "Thank you, sir!"

  The leader waved his hand and a dozen or so people dragged a long string of empty boxes, swaying away from Chang'an City.

  ……

  After half a cup of tea, all the merchants who had left the city had already departed. Facing the empty and desolate North City Gate Street, General Luo Wu Xiu's eyes were dim and sunken, staring at the night color that had just left the North City Gate.

  "What's wrong, sir?" a soldier asked in surprise.

  Luo Wú Qiú stretched out his hand: "Bring me the travel permit to take a look."

  A thick stack of documents was placed in Luo Wusu's hands, and Luo Wusu pulled out the pass issued by the Commander of the Imperial Guards, narrowing his eyes to read it for a long time.

  "Go to Dali Temple immediately and hand over this pass to Minister Pei of Dali Temple."

  Luo Wusu suddenly remembered that just before the night market closed tonight, Qian Niuwei Zhonglang General Cui Shi gave him an urgent order.

  Change the investigation of officials above the second rank, pay close attention to those below the fourth rank, but merchants carrying too many goods. Moreover, the more they rush out of the city before the curfew, the more attention is needed.

  Although Luo Wusu did not know what the order meant, from the moment he saw those tens of boxes of goods with the merchant Hu, his sharp instincts gained from years of guarding the city gate made him sense that something was off about this group of people.

  Not to mention the five-product charioteer, do they need so many goods? Even if they do, why didn't the city gates detect such a large group of Hu merchants entering the city in the previous few days.

  There is no record of entering the city, but there is a record of leaving the city. This already shows that something was off about that group earlier.

  It seems that Feng Che's appearance is unremarkable, but it is precisely this unremarkability that makes him seem even more unusual.

  The warrant was delivered to the Temple of Justice overnight, and Pei Tan had not rested yet. When he saw the issued warrant, he understood that changing the search target temporarily was correct.

  "Gentleman, this imperial envoy Song Lang, last year in Chang'an, he only issued three passes for antiques and ceramics, which together are not even half a box."

  Before, Pei Tan thought that with his connections to the Zong family, it would be easy to get a second-class permit exempting him from inspection issued by the Wei family. However, he then remembered that if he could think of something, how could the cunning and experienced Minister Zong not think of it as well?

  Issuing a document with two items or more would be too conspicuous and also too risky.

  What seems safe may not be safe. Similarly, what seems to be a dangerous method may actually be safer. Pei Tan thought that the more carefully checked the goods were, the more they could dispel people's doubts. Because the city gate guards would never suspect something that had been checked by themselves.

  The only ones who can pass through the city gate smoothly during the inspection by the city gate guards are those who come at a time when even the city gate guards cannot check one by one.

  The North Gate of Chang'an is a gate with the largest flow of people coming and going from Hu merchants.

  Pei Tan found this crucial moment, just before curfew.

  Even the most rigorous guardian will relax when faced with goods that cannot be thoroughly inspected.

  Pei Tan thought of this and immediately sent a message to Cui Shi, everything was just in time.

  "As expected by the young master, our men hiding at the city gate have already caught up with that group of barbarian merchants."

  Pei Tan combined the documents and looked at his attendant Pei Xian: "Must know where they will go after leaving the city."

  Where exactly will Zong Ho be sent by his father? To make someone completely disappear from this world, it's not as easy as it sounds.

  "Don't worry, young master. The people following us are all experts in stealth and concealment that we specially selected from the Pei family's residence. Those barbarians will absolutely not be able to discover them."

  Even if there were masters from the Zhong Chu Ke sect sent to protect Zhong Huo, they might not have noticed.

  Pei Tan said quietly: "Your Majesty's intention is that this matter can be resolved by leaving Chang'an, which would be for the best."

  So Pei Tan will let those barbarian merchants go.

  This matter caused a big stir in Chang'an and was of no benefit to anyone, including Zhongzong.

  "Your Excellency, what do you plan to do with those palace maids who secretly escaped from the palace?"

  It's like another big case has appeared in the Zhong Huo fake death case, and if these palace maids' identities and the people behind them are not reported to Emperor Zhong, how can they be resolved. Unexpectedly, as soon as his own son took office as the Grand Justice of the Temple, he encountered so many seemingly complex and troublesome matters.

  "Once the matter of Zong Huo is resolved, Your Majesty will naturally have other instructions."

  Zhong Zong once said that he would re-examine the case of Jing's family.

  ——

  Jing Wan'er's eyes involuntarily glanced towards the foot of the bed as she entered the room, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

  The cigarette ash under the bed was deliberately scattered by her. Now the position of the cigarette ash indicates that someone has moved things under her bed.

  She rushed over and lifted up the bed curtain, bowing her head to see the package hidden inside.

  Jing Wantong stretched out her hand and found that the knots on the package were all wrong. When she opened the package, it was indeed empty inside.

  "Is this what you're looking for?" a sly voice came from the doorway with a tone of triumph.

  Jing Wan'er immediately turned around and saw Qiao'er walking in with one foot, holding the paper and pen that were inside her package.

  Jing Wan'er's expression changed, she clenched her fists and slowly stood up from the bedside.

  Qiao'er leaned against the door frame with a pleased expression, shaking something she had rummaged out of her package: "Jing Yuanner, you have such a big nerve, secretly hoarding brushes and ink! Just wait till I tell Shang Gong about it, let's see how she'll punish you to death!"

  Jing Wan'er's heart slightly relaxed, at least it meant that Qiao'er hadn't told anyone else yet.

  "She immediately sneered: 'What pen and ink? I don't know at all. Look, this is obviously your own thing, isn't it?'"

  Qiao'er let out a sharp laugh, glaring at her viciously: "Don't try to talk your way out of this, these were found under your bed, and besides you, no one here can read. Once these things are handed over to the Empress, no matter how eloquent you are, you'll be dead for sure!"

  Jing Waner felt a chill run down her spine. This Qiao'er was actually quite clever and had managed to grasp her weak point.

  Indeed, Choi Sang-gong cannot believe that these writings are someone else's.

  Jing Wan'er's face suddenly broke into a faint smile as she took a step towards Qiao'er.

  "Qiao'er immediately became alert and retreated: 'You, what do you want to do?'"

  Jing Wan'er stared at her: "I'm wondering, what nerve you have, daring to report to the Empress."

  Qiao'er said sharply: "Why wouldn't I dare?"

  “Do you dare?” Jing Wanyi took another step forward, her pale face making these palace maids retreat in fear. “Don’t forget, last time it was Consort Cui who ordered you to help me collect that corpse. I haven't forgotten how you were supposed to bring the token and wait for me at the palace gate, and then report back to Consort Cui.”

  This was the biggest mistake made by Qiao'er. Cui Shanggong would not forgive a palace maid who disobeyed her words, especially since Jing Wanyi had already understood why Cui Shanggong had instructed Qiao'er to closely follow her at that time.

  That's Zonghao's body, can't tolerate any slight difference at all.

  Qiao'er's pleased face changed in an instant. She turned pale and glared at Jing Wanyan: "You shameless woman, how dare you?"

  "As long as you dare, I will too."

  Qiao'er scolded: "You cheap person, it was clearly you who made me wait at the palace gate..."

  Jing Wan'er interrupted her: "That's right, but don't forget, it was you who forgot to bring the token in the first place, this can't be blamed on me."

  Qiao'er's face turned as white as paper, she obviously didn't expect Jing Wanyan to use this matter to blackmail her.

  Jing Wan'er sneered coldly, "Do you want to try and see? Is the crime of hiding my brush and ink greater, or... is it your disobedience and deception of Shang Gong's majesty? Between us two, who will be the one to die?"

  Qiao'er was so angry that her whole body was shaking: "You, you vicious woman..."

  Jing Wan'er said coldly: "Either way." She simply didn't mind perishing together with Qiao Er.

  She stretched out one hand towards Qiao Er, her intention clear without needing to be said.

  Qiao'er's pale face and her gaze lasted for a long time, finally gritting her teeth and saying, "Jing Wanyu, I've known all along that you have ulterior motives. These papers and pens are probably what you use to conspire with your accomplices, aren't they?"

  Jing Wan'er's eyes flickered: "I'm with you all every day, even if I hide paper and pen, who among you is my accomplice?"

  Qiao'er was thoroughly defeated. She viciously threw down the brush and ink in her hand, glared at Jing Wanyan with malice for a moment, then turned around and left the room.

  Jing Wan'er suddenly dropped her disguise at this time, and quickly walked over with a pale face to pick up her things from the ground.

  The pen tip has been broken by Qiaoer, and even the ink that was painstakingly saved is almost gone.

  Even so, Jing Wanyu carefully put these things into her bosom, as if putting away a precious dream.