Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

The next day, the sky was overcast, with leaden-gray clouds hanging low.

After having breakfast, Lin Feng changed into a dark-colored, practical outfit, covered with an inconspicuous gray squirrel fur cloak, and quietly left the mansion through the back door with two bodyguards dressed similarly.

He walked through several streets and alleys until he arrived near the scene of the assassination that night. The yamen runners of the Prefect of the Capital had roughly cordoned off both ends of the blood-stained alley with hemp rope to prevent bystanders from approaching, but two old officials were still on site watching over the area.

Lin Feng revealed his identity, and the two old officials hurriedly bowed. He waved his hand and slowly walked into the alley, his eyes scanning every inch of the ground, walls, and even the roof.

The scene has been largely cleared, and the bodies and weapons have been removed, but the dark brown bloodstains in the cracks of the bluestone slabs, and the deep arrow holes and knife marks on the walls, are still shocking. A faint smell of blood lingers in the air.

Finally, he looked in the direction the assassins might have retreated from last night. It was a maze of low-rise houses and crisscrossing alleys leading to the most chaotic West Market in the capital.

"West Market..." The assassins were well-trained, and their escape route must have been planned in advance. That area was densely populated, with a large flow of people, and a melting pot of all sorts of people, making it an ideal place to hide and move. And West Market happened to be a place where the Black Tiger Gang's influence was deeply entrenched.

Leaving the scene, Lin Feng headed towards the West Market. He didn't enter the bustling market, but instead strolled slowly through the outer streets and alleys, seemingly aimlessly, but actually memorizing the surrounding environment, major intersections, alleyway layout, and several seemingly ordinary yet easily monitored and controlled vantage points. At the same time, he also kept an eye on the men who appeared to be casually strolling but were actually wary, or who seemed to be lingering unintentionally in front of certain shops—they might be spies for the Black Tiger Gang or other forces.

As we approached a shop with a sign that read "Chen's Grocery Store" at the T-junction of two alleys, a young man who looked like a shop assistant was squatting at the door, dozing off.

Lin Feng noticed that although the shop assistant had his eyes closed, his ears were twitching slightly, as if he were listening to the sounds around him. At the entrance of the alley next to the shop, an old man repairing shoes seemed focused, but his eyes kept glancing at the street. Diagonally opposite, on the second floor of the teahouse, by the window, sat two customers who appeared to be drinking tea. Peanuts and melon seeds were placed in front of them, but they hardly touched them, and their eyes also frequently swept across the street.

This is a cleverly placed surveillance point. It can monitor people coming from all four directions, and the teahouse serves as both cover and a communication hub.

Lin Feng didn't stop, but walked past naturally and turned into another alley. He circled around and observed the back alley of "Chen's Grocery Store" from another direction. The back alley was quiet and piled with some miscellaneous items, but the back door was quite clean, and the threshold was badly worn, indicating that people often came and went.

"Interesting." Lin Feng sneered. This place, even if it wasn't a temporary hideout or contact point for the assassins, was certainly an important intelligence hub for the Black Tiger Gang. Perhaps, clues leading to the assassins who escaped last night could be found here.

Without alerting the enemy, he noted the location and surroundings and then quietly left.

It was nearly noon when they returned to the Grand Governor's Mansion.

Bai Xiaohe was already waiting in the study. Upon seeing Lin Feng return, she immediately reported the latest clues she had discovered...

Lin Feng narrowed his eyes; the clues seemed to be starting to connect:

Butler Zhou Mao buys medicine for injuries → This may be related to the injured killer → Hu Meng is a possible killer trainer or contact → Hu Meng went to the suspicious Yue Lai Inn near Xishi → The killer may have been hiding in the direction of Xishi last night → The surveillance point of "Chen Ji Grocery Store" that I discovered this morning is also in Xishi.

"It seems we need to 'pay a visit' to this Instructor Hu and that 'Yuelai Inn'," Lin Feng said coldly.

"When should we make our move?" Bai Xiaohe asked.

"No rush. There are too many people around during the day, and it's easy for information to leak out. Besides, we need more solid evidence, or... let them slip up on their own," Lin Feng said thoughtfully.

In the evening, Shen Mingxuan sent someone to deliver a visiting card.

"Grand Tutor Shen invited me to his residence to appreciate a painting?" Lin Feng looked at the words on the invitation: "I have acquired a painting from the previous dynasty, 'Snowy Frontier Scene,' with a desolate and vast atmosphere. Perhaps I could share it with the Grand Commander." He knew this was no simple matter of appreciating a painting. Shen Mingxuan's choice to invite him at this time must have a deeper meaning.

"Prepare the car, let's go to the Shen residence."

……

Shen Mansion, Songtao Pavilion.

Shen Mingxuan dismissed the servants, leaving only Lin Feng. He did not display any "Frontier Snow Scene" painting, but instead looked at Lin Feng with a solemn expression.

"Grand Commander, His Majesty summoned me privately after the court assembly today," Shen Mingxuan said, getting straight to the point.

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat: "What are His Majesty's instructions?"

"Your Majesty asked me what my opinion was on the assassination attempt and the recent rumors circulating in the court," Shen Mingxuan said. "I will tell you the truth. This case must be thoroughly investigated to uphold the law and reassure the border generals. As for the rumors, they are nothing but shady tricks and should not be taken seriously." His Majesty remained silent for a long time before finally saying something to me.

"What did you say?"

"His Majesty said, 'Lin Feng is my sword, and also my shield. A sword needs sharpness, but also a scabbard. A shield needs to be sturdy, but also the person wielding it needs to know when to raise it and when to lower it.'" Shen Mingxuan looked at Lin Feng. "Grand Commander, His Majesty's words are quite profound."

Lin Feng remained silent. The emperor's meaning was clear: he acknowledged Lin Feng's abilities and contributions, but reminded him to be mindful of his actions and methods. It was both a sign of trust and a warning. Especially given the current situation, the emperor hoped that Lin Feng could remain composed, thoroughly investigate the case, and retaliate against the villains, while preventing the situation from spiraling out of control and causing turmoil in the court.

"Thank you for conveying His Majesty's message, Grand Tutor. I will certainly keep His Majesty's teachings in mind, investigate the case according to the law, and prioritize the affairs of the state," Lin Feng said.

Shen Mingxuan nodded. "It's good that the Grand Commander understands. In addition, His Majesty also inquired about the affairs of the Northern Border, and seemed... quite worried. The Northern Border is ultimately the foundation. The matters of the capital should be resolved quickly, and we should not waste too much energy on them."

This implies that while the emperor supports his investigation, he also hopes that he can resolve the strife in the capital as soon as possible and refocus his attention on the northern border. Perhaps the emperor also senses the underlying unease in the north.

"I understand. As long as the northern border is secure, the foundation of the nation is strong. I will handle the matters in the capital myself and will not let personal matters interfere with public duties or delay border defense," Lin Feng assured him.

"Good." Shen Mingxuan stroked his beard, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

He suddenly changed the subject, "That girl Qingqiu has been reading some military books and miscellaneous notes lately, and she's quite curious about the scenery and customs of the northern border. A few days ago, she even compiled some 'insights' and asked someone to send them to you. It's just a young girl's thoughts, so please don't take offense, Grand Commander."

Lin Feng's heart stirred slightly, knowing that Shen Mingxuan was subtly mentioning Shen Qingqiu, perhaps also testing him.

He remained calm and said, "Miss Shen is quick-witted and her insights are quite profound. I have benefited greatly from them and would like to thank her."

"She loves reading and is quiet by nature. It's a blessing that she can get along with you." Shen Mingxuan smiled and said no more, instead talking about some anecdotes from the court and appreciation of calligraphy and painting.

Lin Feng lingered at the Shen residence for nearly an hour before taking his leave.

When leaving, I did not see Shen Qingqiu, but as I passed by Tingxuexuan, I seemed to hear faint zither music, clear and melodious, like a flowing icy spring, adding a touch of tranquility to the twilight.