“Brother Ah, you really are…” Shi Buyu didn’t immediately know how to compliment him properly and turned to Yan Shian for help.

The fourth-ranked scholar master Zhang was quick to respond: “Mastermind without flaw, a talent to aid the world.”

“Yes, yes, exactly—mastermind without flaw, a talent to aid the world. Brother Ah, you’re invincible under heaven.”

Kuang Jing looked at the two flatterers and happily accepted their praise.

Shi Buyu quickly asked again, “How long have you held them down?”

“Today is the seventh day. At that time, the city had not yet posted the portraits. Since you were all in the bureau, I arranged for them to be kept here to prevent mischief,” Kuang Jing said. “The timing was just right—on the second day of holding them down, portraits started being posted around the city. After seeing them, they dared not move. One person left; my men followed him for a while and saw he was heading toward the capital, so we let him be. That person returned two days ago.”

“The whole capital is now buzzing about this case. If he really went back, he’d know well that he could be caught right on the spot. So he should still be staying here for a while. Brother Ah, keep a close watch on them. When they move, it must mean they’ve received a letter. That would mean I’ve also laid a trap in the capital. You should send someone to deliver a letter to me in advance.”

“Don’t worry, they won’t get away.” Kuang Jing reminded her, “Don’t drag it out too long. They surely have more than one group sent out.”

Shi Buyu nodded and then asked something she wasn’t really eager to know, but couldn’t help asking: “How many did they capture? Men or women?”

“Two, one man and one woman. Their families went crazy after seeing the portraits and all brought their petitions to me.” Kuang Jing spoke firmly as if biting down on his molars, “Right under my nose, almost missed them.”

“Did you see them? How are they doing?”

Kuang Jing looked at her: “You want to save them?”

“Brother Ah, I’m cruel at heart!” Shi Buyu lowered her head to look at her own hands, a slight smile on her face. “The despair of two people, and the despair of many people—I know how to choose. I’ll plan more carefully, and once they arrive in the capital, I’ll do my best to protect them.”

“What if you can’t protect them?”

Yan Shian frowned and looked at Kuang Jing: “It’s the emperor doing evil, not Miss Shi. If they can’t be protected, it’s not her fault.”

“Are you okay with that?” Kuang Jing leaned back, looking at the two with different expressions opposite him. “If you act now, you could definitely protect those two and I could vouch for them, keeping their reputation intact. But if after they go to the capital, those two and many others can’t be saved… would you feel guilty?”

Yan Shian understood Kuang Jing’s meaning—he was preparing for the worst-case scenario, reinforcing Miss Shi’s mental defenses.

Through those words, Yan Shian seemed to understand how those ‘brothers’ and the white-bearded men taught Miss Shi, which gave her the ability she has today and the courage to dare and take responsibility.

That kind of courage ordinary people don’t have—even he lacks it.

Shi Buyu didn’t answer immediately, but after some thought said, “I won’t. In this matter, I haven’t used even half of my ability. When I do my utmost, I won’t feel guilty. I don’t owe anyone; I’m only making the choice I believe is right.”

“I was worried the six months in the capital might have softened your heart, but it seems I worried for nothing.” Kuang Jing smiled, “Small kindness and great kindness are both kindness. Choosing either isn’t wrong—it depends on your ability. Even if the outcome isn’t perfect, it won’t affect your original intention of doing good.”

“There was no chance for me to soften.” Shi Buyu sighed. “I feel like I only had ten wits originally, but after staying in the capital, I’ve grown a hundred or eighty more.”

“Only ten?” Kuang Jing looked surprised. “Are you talking about your ‘Little Twelve’? Little Twelve has had eight hundred wits for a long time.”

“That still can’t compare with you, who are like a sieve come to life.”

Kuang Jing chuckled. A sieve come to life? Was that a compliment or an insult? Only Little Twelve could come up with such a strange expression.

“They won’t always stay indoors. You all should stay here a while to recognize the people, so there won’t be problems over trivial matters later.” Kuang Jing stood up, “I have official business to attend to, so I’ll go first.”

Yan Shian got up to see him off.

Waiting is the hardest part—but luckily there’s someone to wait with.

After walking around inside the room a bit, Shi Buyu focused on the guards over there and had them bring the captives over one by one to recognize their faces.

The room had plenty of writing materials, so Shi Buyu drew their portraits.

Then the second and third came out simultaneously. After finishing those portraits, the fourth person did not come out.

Shi Buyu found some smooth round stones and started playing a game of “catch the stones” with Yan Shian.

Yan Shian didn’t know the game at first, but he was attentive and soon caught up—from losing all the time, to losing mostly, to gradually catching up—the two played enthusiastically. Before they were done playing, the fourth person came out.

Drawing the portraits was a process of deepening memory. Shi Buyu felt even if they tried to disguise themselves, they wouldn’t get past her.

But the portraits were taken back anyway, to let Yan Shian’s men recognize them.

Winter days grow dark early; by the time they came out, the sky was already dim.

After a long journey, Shi Buyu herself was doing well, but she knew riding horses was tiring, so she rested early that day and got up early the next day to catch the morning market at Qingping County.

Qingping County, nestled by mountains and water, used to be threatened by floods from the Fengxian River, making the locals wary. Now that the new governor removed the water bandits, life was much steadier, as shown by the bustling market.

“This vendor’s is tastier!” Shi Buyu held a stick with three fish balls each—originally meant for children—but this big kid liked them, trying from different stalls.

Whenever she found something tasty, she immediately fed it to Yan Shian.

Kuang’s wife, wearing coarse cloth clothes, watched the two and asked Wan Xia, who stayed away from them, “Are they always like this?”

Wan Xia glanced at Yan Ze over there who looked like he wanted to cover his eyes, then laughed and told how the young lady teased the young master, making Kuang’s wife laugh heartily.

“Maybe she’s gotten used to feeding him, and whenever she finds something good to eat, she gives it to young master Yan.”

“Just let it be?”

“As long as the young lady is happy.” Wan Xia watched Yan Ze escort the lady to the back to rest, smiling, “I know how hard the young lady has worked. In other matters, we try to follow her wishes—it doesn’t harm anyone.”

“That’s right. What does Buyu want that we can’t give her?” Kuang’s wife agreed, but added, “What about the Yan family? Won’t they look down on Buyu because of this?”

Wan Xia immediately thought of the lady who had been angered by the young lady once, twice, thrice, four times, and suppressed a laugh, “No, the young lady isn’t one to take losses.”

“That’s good.”