Chapter 70: Trouble

Chen Xin quickly arrived in town, first going to the pharmacy to buy some medicine and casually picking up a straw hat to wear.

Crossing the streets, she arrived at the entrance of a tavern. Dismounting, she glanced inside, raising an eyebrow at the sight. Once bustling with customers, it was now eerily quiet and empty.

Inside the hall, waiters wore troubled expressions as they moved about, wiping tables.

Xiao Liang, who’s in charge of the counter, sat anxiously, glancing towards the door from time to time.

Seeing Chao Feng and Chen Xin suddenly appear at the door, Xiao Liang’s eyes lit up. He hurriedly got up from behind the counter, about to call out to the boss, but Chen Xin raised her palm, signaling him to stay silent. She then walked into the inner hall and took a seat at a table in a corner screened off by a folding screen. The few customers glanced curiously at Chen Xin, who wore a black straw hat, before lowering their heads to eat.

Xiao Liang quickly brought a pot of tea to Chen Xin and poured her a cup with a smile. “I heard Miss Chen likes to drink this drizzle tea, so I brewed a pot for you.”

Chen Xin watched as the tea leaves unfolded quietly in the cup like a drizzle. “Thank you. Have a seat. Where’s Xian Xiaoxiao?”

Hearing her question, Xiao Liang looked worried. “My Wife should be in Xugu City. Someone sent a message this morning saying that there was a homicide at a tavern in the city, and Shopkeeper Li was taken away by the yamen. After hearing about this, My Wife hurriedly left. Now many people are spreading rumors about this incident, saying that our food killed someone, so there aren’t many customers coming to eat now.”

Chen Xin nodded to Xiao Liang, her expression hidden under the hat. She took a sip of tea and said, “I see. Don’t worry too much.” Standing up, she quickly left the tavern. “Chao Feng, to Xugu City.”

Thinking that someone had died, it was indeed something that would make Xian Xiaoxiao anxious.

However… the food at the tavern killed someone? Chen Xin lowered her gaze. She didn’t want to jump to conclusions prematurely about right and wrong. The evidence would speak for itself in due time.

As Chen Xin was thinking about the matter, she and her horse arrived at the outskirts of the Xugu City, which was obviously different from Wuding Town. There was a five-meter-high city wall, lazily guarded by soldiers, some even dozing off with arms crossed. Both inside and outside the gate, people constantly came and went, a familiar scene.

Seeing this, Chen Xin rode her horse into the city. The soldiers, upon hearing the sound of hooves, only glanced at her before returning their attention to the sky and the drifting clouds.

Once inside the city, Chen Xin felt a strange atmosphere, although everything seemed normal.

She went straight to the center of the bustling street and looked up at the signboard. It was indeed a tavern.

At this moment, a group of soldiers surrounded the tavern, not allowing anyone to approach. Their uniforms indicated they were not constables from the yamen but rather soldiers subordinate to the government.

Private soldiers were normal in Yunwen Kingdom, but their numbers couldn’t exceed those set by the court. Otherwise, it would be seen as gathering armed forces and tantamount to rebellion.

So, each state could only have a maximum of one thousand soldiers, and the Head Sheriff could not exceed one hundred.

Seeing someone stop at the steps of the tavern, the soldiers assumed they wanted to eat and a female officer came out to remind them, “Miss, this place is closed.”

Before Chen Xin could speak, there were murmurs from the side. Turning her head, she saw the beggar she had seen that morning.

Ling Shu was now cleaned up, dressed neatly, and looked completely different from before. Chen Xin’s keen eyesight naturally recognized her.

Holding Chao Feng with one hand and the black eagle with the other, Chen Xin looked at the soldiers without saying a word, then walked slowly towards Ling Shu.

When they were out of earshot of others, Ling Shu got straight to the point. “Mistress, I found out who caused the trouble at the tavern.”

Chen Xin asked, “Who?”

It was within her expectations that Ling Shu could find out, especially since she had her eyes everywhere.

Although a batch of beggars had joined Chen Xin’s workshop and found employment, they couldn’t help but replace the old ones with new ones, and Ling Shu was still the head of her beggar gang, saying she wanted to help more poor people. Chen Xin understood the hardships and knew what it was like.

“Mistress, when there’s trouble at the tavern, who benefits the most?” Ling Shu countered.