Bring your aunt to eat big meat, the scumbag father's family is furious

Chapter 898 Tianhe Prefecture is in chaos

The notebook was turned to the last page, and a hint of disappointment appeared on the boy's face.

There was no one who matched the masked man Zhao Si had mentioned.

Pei Shijiu summoned the painter in the manor and asked him to paint a portrait based on the description.

The artist quickly sketched it out and said, "Second Prince, please forgive my boldness, but many of the secret guards and attendants have never shown their faces. Investigating them is like finding a needle in a haystack."

"We still need to investigate. Only by rooting out such people can we follow the clues and find out who's behind them."

Pei Shijiu wouldn't let any possible opportunity slip by. If he investigated, there would still be a chance, at least a few more chances. Perhaps he could uncover other clues and secrets.

He had the portrait printed in dozens of copies and distributed.

"Investigate day and night, don't miss any clues."

"Whoever finds out first will be rewarded with a fortune."

Another month passed quickly, and the early winter winds began to blow through the capital.

The grass and trees have all withered, and only sparse withered leaves remain hanging from the branches of the tall tree trunks. When the wind blows, one or two leaves swirl and drift down slowly.

The backyard of the Qiao residence was desolate and bleak, with a layer of cold mist shrouding the lake.

Qiao Lian'er stood by the pool, her gaze passing over the calm surface of the water, as if she could see the undercurrents hidden in the depths.

Huo Xiu still couldn't find it. The Qiao family's shop was completely empty. Day after day, they waited, but the goods were never replenished. The customers lost patience and stopped asking. The shop was deserted.

A considerable number of people have been sent to Kachin, and the situation has been coordinated, so it is relatively stable.

She traveled back and forth between Jinglang Prefecture and Queyuan Prefecture several times on horseback, and was very tired.

Qiao Lian'er had lost weight. The cold wind blew across her body, making her old clothes look loose and outlining her equally thin waist.

After waiting for so long, that person still hasn't made a move.

It seems that after revealing a trace, the other party immediately hid even more deeply, patiently waiting for time to completely erase these few signs.

They didn't give her a chance to expose him.

"Don't catch a cold," someone said softly beside her, draping a cloak over her shoulders.

Qiao Lian'er looked at the newcomer. Pei Er was even thinner than her, and his cheeks were somewhat sunken.

She knew that he had been investigating, planting many informants, even a vast network, but he had made no progress.

Qiao Lian'er stroked the hand warmer in her arms and said, "What if the person we thought we knew didn't exist at all?"

"Hmph, to cause this scene in front of Qiao's shop for no reason, on the surface it seems like extortion, but it's even more suspicious." Pei Er was very persistent: "We've been waiting for his next move. I want to see what tricks he can pull."

“If there really is such a person, he is far too patient. The more patient a person is, the more difficult he is to deal with,” Qiao Lian’er said.

In the past, her opponents were almost all impatient and eager to succeed, so she was able to deal with them quickly.

"If we join forces, what are we afraid of? Let's just wait for him to show his face and then deliver a fatal blow."

Pei Shijiu is a young man, and he speaks with a sense of pride. No matter how intelligent he is, this is inevitable. From Qiao Lian'er's perspective, it is actually quite endearing.

Qiao Lian'er said slowly, "Regardless of his abilities, I want to see just who he is."

“My men have been keeping an eye on things. Besides searching for the masked henchman’s portrait, they’ve also been watching who’s paying particular attention to the Qiao family’s situation. There are some, but they’re mostly talking about the Qiao family’s inability to supply goods.”

As Qiao Lian'er was pondering, a pigeon flew over the misty lake and towards her. She reached out her hand, and the pigeon landed steadily on her arm, its black bean-like eyes darting around.

Qiao Lian'er patted its head, took down the bamboo tube, and unfolded the letter inside.

It was only a few lines, but it subtly changed her expression.

Pei Shijiu had been observing her reaction, and upon seeing this, he immediately asked, "What happened?"

"There's been unusual activity at the Tianhe Prefecture military base." He said, handing him the letter.

The letter detailed that Wei Shu, one of Li Haidao's subordinates, had deserted his camp, engaged in armed fights, and suffered mental breakdowns, as if he had been traumatized. The army was in a state of panic and unrest.

The generals and Pei Qingrong were very worried and held several emergency meetings. They came up with several solutions, but none of them could effectively control the situation.

In the last two days, the situation has become even more serious.

“That person has made a move again.” Pei Shijiu’s eyes turned cold.

Qiao Lian'er pondered, "I have to stay in the capital."

She feared that someone might be using a diversionary tactic; if she left the capital and something happened to the Qiao family, she would be put in a passive position.

“I’ll go to Tianhe Prefecture.” Pei Shijiu said immediately. “The other side must have done something. If we don’t stop them in time, the camp will only become more and more chaotic.”

Qiao Lian'er pondered that while the Five Elements Technique could disrupt a person's mind, it fell into the category of offensive power and was not a common technique, so it probably wasn't Huo Xiu.

But Huo Xiu is not the only Five Elements sorcerer in the world.

"Pei Er, take those Five Elements sorcerers with you, and also a few imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital. They might come in handy."

If it's caused by magic, then use magic to deal with it.

If you've been drugged, then get the best doctor to treat the symptoms.

"clear."

Pei Shijiu gazed at her, then slowly and gently took her hand in his. His dark eyes were filled with deep affection and solemnity.

I won't let you down.

He lingered on the warmth of her hands, but he didn't stay long. Reluctantly, he put them down and turned to leave.

The warmth of the boy's strong touch still lingered on the back of Qiao Lian'er's hand. She looked down at it, her heart stirred.

Previously, her space was invincible, and Pei Er was mainly there to assist her. She could tell that he wanted to play a greater role.

Now, he can indeed help her more, but the situation has become more serious.

He treated her affairs as his own, worrying about them and forging ahead regardless of the difficulties he faced.

Such a sincere and pure heart is rare in this world.

Qiao Lian'er still sent a team to follow, firstly to help alleviate Pei Er's pressure, and secondly to relay any news to her in a timely manner.

Tianhe Prefecture seat.

Beyond the massive and majestic watchtower lies a vast training ground and camps stretching as far as the eye can see, almost reaching the horizon.

Outside the encampment, a group of people were stationed there.

Pei Shijiu gripped the reins, frowning. "Something seems off."

I carefully observed the green pine tree.

"It's not very comfortable, like something is pressing down on my head, making it feel tense."

"I feel the same way; my breathing is a bit labored and not as smooth as before."

Some people said, "It's probably because the temperature in Tianhe Prefecture is low in winter, which is why there's a difference."

Pei Shijiu remained silent, lost in thought.

He looked up sharply.

Some soldiers were seen running around the camp, looking panicked and shouting.