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

In the inner courtyard of the Zhou family mansion in Qingzhou Prefecture, there is a small study in the west wing.

Morning light streamed through the carved window frames, casting dappled shadows on the brick-paved floor. The study was silent except for the soft rustling of pages turning and the occasional gentle scratch of a pen on rice paper.

Chen tide (Yun Yao) sat behind her desk by the window, dressed in a simple moon-white dress. Her long hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin. She wore no makeup, her eyes were lowered, and she was intently flipping through a thick stack of thread-bound books and scattered letters and notes in front of her.

These were miscellaneous books, travelogues, and some unimportant correspondence that Zhou Wenyuan had collected in his early years. Zhou Wenyuan didn't seem to restrict her use of this study, and even seemed to be happy about it, perhaps thinking that letting her read would relieve her boredom, or perhaps... he wanted to see what she would be interested in.

Chen tide's gaze appeared calm, but it was sharp as needles, quickly scanning every line of text, not missing a single possible place name, personal name, special event, or obscure record. Her grandfather, Chen Miao, had sent her to seek refuge with Zhou Wenyuan, not simply for protection. Zhou Wenyuan knew her identity and might even possess clues about another token, or even a secret treasure from the previous dynasty. But Zhou Wenyuan's attitude was unpredictable; he merely told her to settle down and refused to mention the past. She couldn't wait passively; she had to actively search for clues.

However, after several days of reviewing the materials, little was found. Zhou Wenyuan had clearly already moved or destroyed anything that might be sensitive.

Her grandfather was away alone, his safety uncertain. She possessed the Golden Dragon Token, yet was trapped in this seemingly safe mansion, like a caged bird, powerless and helpless.

"Miss, it's time for lunch." The maid Chun Tao tiptoed in, placed the food box on a small table, and whispered, "Master just returned home. He seemed to be in a bad mood and went straight to his study, instructing no one to disturb him."

Zhou Wenyuan was in a bad mood? Chen tide's heart skipped a beat. Was it because of a setback in the impeachment of Prince Qi in court? Or had something else happened outside?

"Understood." Chen tide nodded, gesturing for Chun Tao to leave. She didn't eat immediately, but instead got up, walked to the study door, and listened intently for a while. The inner courtyard was quiet, with only the rustling of the wind through the bamboo leaves and the faint sounds of servants moving about in the distance. Zhou Wenyuan's study was on the east side of the main courtyard, some distance from here.

She pondered for a moment, then walked out of the small study and strolled slowly along the corridor, seemingly taking a walk to digest her food, but her eyes were quietly observing her surroundings.

Passing through a moon gate, she arrived at the covered walkway connecting the front and inner courtyards. The view was more open here, offering a partial view of the front courtyard. She saw Zhou Wenyuan's personal attendant, Zhou An, hurrying towards her from the side door, seemingly carrying something wrapped in cloth. Zhou An was one of Zhou Wenyuan's most trusted confidants; his actions often represented Zhou Wenyuan's will.

Chen tide stopped in her tracks, pretending to admire a chrysanthemum in a potted plant under the eaves, but her eyes followed Zhou An out of the corner of her eye.

Zhou An did not go to the study in the main courtyard, but instead turned into an inconspicuous side room on the west side of the front courtyard. That side room seemed to be empty most of the time, with only some odds and ends piled up.

Something's strange. Chen tide's heart skipped a beat.

She remembered that a few days ago, someone seemed to have seen Zhou An going in and out of that room. Could something be hidden there?

She dared not follow them to investigate rashly; that would be too conspicuous. Just as she was about to turn and leave, she saw another familiar figure walk in through the side door—it was A-Yue.

A-Yue changed into a coarse cloth dress typical of a maid in the Zhou household, but her cold demeanor and the hideous scars on her face still made her stand out among the servants. She carried a food box in her hand, seemingly having gone to the main kitchen to fetch food.

Chen tide's eyes lit up, and she immediately went to greet her. "Sister Yue!"

When A-Yue saw Chen tide, her ashen face showed little expression; she simply nodded to her and said, "Miss Chen."

"Sister Yue, is your injury feeling better?" Chen tide asked with concern, naturally walking alongside her towards the inner courtyard, lowering her voice, "Brother Lin... any news?"

A-Yue paused slightly, a complex look flashing in her eyes. She shook her head, her voice low: "No. Lord Zhou said he has other arrangements, it's safe, and we don't need to worry." But her tone clearly indicated that she wasn't entirely reassured.

Chen tide could understand A Yue's feelings. Lin Feng had escorted them through countless life-and-death situations, and now his whereabouts were unknown, his fate uncertain; no one could feel at ease.

"Sister Yue, I just saw Steward Zhou An rushing to the west wing of the front yard, carrying something in his hand." Chen Xi steered the conversation to what she had just seen, lowering her voice even further. "I found it a bit strange. It seems like no one usually goes there."

A-Yue's eyes narrowed as she looked at the west wing in the direction Chen tide indicated. After a moment of silence, she said, "I'll go take a look." With that, she turned to leave.

"Sister Yue, you mustn't!" Chen tide quickly grabbed her. "You are now a 'guest' of the Zhou family. If you go to investigate rashly and are discovered, it will not be good."

A-Yue stopped and glanced at Chen tide, seemingly weighing her options.

Finally, she nodded: "You're right. So what should we do?"

Chen tide thought quickly. She needed a way to gather information without attracting attention. Her gaze swept over the food box in A Yue's hand, and an idea struck her.

"Sister Yue, is this food box for Sister Shixiu and the others?"

"Um."

"I'll go with you. I'd like to see them too," Chen tide said, while giving A Yue a wink.

A-Yue understood, and the two walked together towards the side wing of the inner courtyard, towards the room where Shi Xiu and Liu Yun were temporarily staying. Passing the west wing room, Chen Xi deliberately slowed her pace, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping over it. The door was tightly closed, the window paper intact, and nothing seemed amiss. But she noticed a dark red mark in the cracks of the stone steps in front of the door, a color different from the surrounding dust, like… dried mud? Or perhaps something else entirely?

She kept it in mind and didn't say anything.

They arrived at Shi Xiu and Liu Yun's room. Shi Xiu was mending clothes, while Liu Yun was teaching Shi Cao'er to read by the window. They were all happy to see Chen tide and A Yue enter.

After chatting for a while, they got up to say goodbye.

Outside the door, Chen tide whispered to A Yue, "Sister A Yue, you're skilled and sensitive to smells and traces. Tonight... could you try to sneak over and see what that dark red mark at the entrance of the west wing is? Be careful, and don't alert anyone."

A-Yue nodded: "Okay. I'll go tonight."