With half a game of chess, I vanquish all demons!

While controlling Zhao Yi's body to rush to the county government office, Zhao Yao and Zhao Yi exchanged the jade ring they had obtained from the Su family.

This is the Su family's apology.

This is a spatial ring, filled with gold and silver.

Zhao Yao did not want to sell or trade his suffering, nor did he want to take his anger out on others, but he also absolutely did not want his enemies to go unpunished. This ring and the massive amount of gold and silver inside were probably the best outcome for him at the moment.

He casually stuffed the assassin's gun and all the spoils of war into his spatial ring, focused on controlling Zhao Yi's body, and started walking towards the county government office again.

Before long, Zhao Yao entered the county government office without being announced and soon met Zhou Yan, the county magistrate's teacher.

Zhou Yan wore an iron mask and had a dragon pendant hanging from his left ear; he was a middle-aged man with a refined and scholarly demeanor.

He was talking to his retainers inside the house when he looked up and saw Zhao Yao standing at the door.

He looked at Zhao Yao, who had suddenly appeared there, his expression changed, he stopped talking to his retainer, and couldn't help but walk forward, grab Zhao Yao's arm, and ask urgently:

"Why are you back?"

Could it be that you didn't receive my message, or that you didn't receive the painting?

"Teacher, please don't be offended. I heard your message and saw the painting."

However, the matter between the student and Su Shangtao not only caused a great stir in Wangzhou City, but also burned in the student's heart day and night, making the student unable to eat or sleep.

This situation is difficult to resolve; the students will not have peace of mind until they understand it.

That's why I had no choice but to disobey my teacher's teachings and return to Wangzhou City.

Zhao Yao explained in a deep voice, then quietly raised his eyes to observe his teacher's expression, trying to discern something.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan paused for a moment, then nodded and said:

"I understand what you're thinking. I was young once too, but... eh~"

As he spoke, he looked at Zhao Yao with a complicated expression, sighed, then changed the subject and asked:

"You've been to the Su family's house?"

"The students have already been there."

Zhao Yao nodded.

"Su Shangtao isn't in the city, you..."

Zhou Yan's eyes were clouded, and there was still a lingering sense of reluctance.

"Don't worry, teacher. This matter has nothing to do with the rest of the Su family. I have not done anything against my conscience."

Zhao Yao understood what his lingering reluctance referred to, and directly explained the matter clearly.

"That's good, that's good."

As long as no one was killed, Zhou Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

He pondered, thinking about what to say to Zhao Yao and how to say it.

Zhao Yao remained silent, waiting patiently, hoping that Zhou Yan could reveal some useful inside information.

For a moment, the air fell silent.

After pondering for a long time, Zhou Yan glanced at Zhao Yao and said:

"Tell me what you've been through these past few days."

"Yes, then I'll start from the beginning."

That day, Brother Su and I left Wangzhou City…”

Zhao Yao spoke concisely and quickly recounted the general situation of his struggles to Zhou Yan, highlighting the parts he could.

After hearing this, Zhou Yan's expression became increasingly complicated.

Is this what it means to have great fortune?

On this journey there and back, I experienced so many life-and-death situations.

"Mr. Zhao, please allow me to interject."

It's not that I don't believe your experience, but it's truly unbelievable that a frail student could defeat so many villains in a sudden battle.

In my opinion, even dealing with that initial servant surnamed Su should have been a very difficult task for Zhao Junzi, so how could there have been so many absurd battles afterwards?

Beside him, the guest who had been neglected by Zhou Yan couldn't help but interject, shaking his head and laughing, genuinely believing that Zhao Yao was deceiving Zhou Yan.

Zhao Yao turned to look at him, pursed her lips, and said nothing more.

He suddenly raised his hand.

bang~

A dagger flew through the air, grazing the guest's scalp before embedding itself in the wooden wall behind him.

"This blow was the one that Brother Su suffered."

So, do you still think I'm lying?

Zhao Yao looked at the guest minister and asked calmly.

"This humble man... glug~, this humble man believes it, this humble man believes it! It's not that a gentleman is lying, it's just that this humble man is like a frog at the bottom of a well, unable to imagine the vastness of the world."

I apologize to Mr. Zhao for my earlier doubts.

The guest touched the white line on his scalp where Zhao Yao had been scratched, large beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. He swallowed hard, nodding hurriedly, truly believing Zhao Yao's words.

Zhou Yan stood aside and watched the whole thing. Only then did he raise his hand to the guest elder as a gesture.

The guest minister composed himself, bowed to Zhou Yan, and slowly retreated towards the door.

After the guest left, only Zhou Yan and Zhao Yao remained in the room.

Zhou Yan squinted, then suddenly spoke, his words sounding rather strange:

"Those bad things from the past are in the past."

We need to look ahead and see what other bad things might happen... Princess Yunchi has arrived in Wangzhou City and is going to choose a fake husband, which you probably don't know yet.

Let me introduce Princess Yunchi and her bodyguards to you, so as not to offend them.

Besides her maids and servants, she had six guards with her…

Zhao Yao's heart stirred, and he listened attentively to the information the county magistrate's teacher was sharing.

"...I don't know if what I'm telling you will be of any help to you."

But that's all the teacher can do.

Zhou Yan looked at Zhao Yao with a look of shame in his eyes, and then said:

"Is there anything else you want? Tell me, and I'll help if I can."

This sounds like they're asking for your last words...

Zhao Yao nodded and said solemnly:

"There really is."

During his training, the student met a benefactor who loved reading and promised to help him read as many secret stories as possible from the county school.

Could the teacher arrange for my friend to have the job of a librarian? The kind that allows free access to all sorts of secret and confidential books.

"No problem. Does your benefactor want this identity now?"

Zhou Yan looked at Zhao Yao and immediately began to make arrangements.

"It would be best to arrange it now."

My benefactor will visit later with a token from his student.

Zhao Yao looked back at Zhou Yan and exchanged a knowing glance with him.

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away."

You've just returned, and although you're travel-worn, you haven't seen your family for many days. Would you like to go home for a visit?

As Zhou Yan spoke, his words almost implied that "he had better leave Wangzhou City now."

Zhao Yao nodded and said:

"That's exactly what I'm thinking."

Take care, teacher. This student is leaving now.

"Okay, go quickly."

He was quite decisive. Without saying much, he bowed, and after Zhou Yan nodded, he turned and walked away.

He had just reached the door when a beautiful woman with her hair piled high and her face turned white blocked his way.

The beautiful woman lowered her eyes and smiled, looking at Zhao Yao. She took two steps forward and said softly with a smile:

"Are you Zhao Yao? Why is your hair so short? And this outfit makes you look more like a general than a scholar."

"Where are you headed in such a hurry?"

"Good day, Master's wife."

The student has been away from home for a long time and is just about to go home to let them know he/she is safe.

Zhao Yaochong bowed to the beautiful woman.

"Since we have been away from home for a long time, there is no need to rush."

Let's have a meal at home before we leave.

As it happens, I received a new set of clothes from my hometown, and since they fit you perfectly, I'm giving them to you.

"Put this on after your meal, so your teacher's wife can see the style of people in the capital again, and it will ease her homesickness."

The beautiful woman, carrying her own fragrance, walked past Zhao Yao as she spoke, entered the house, and came to Zhou Yan's side.

She turned around and looked at Zhao Yao at the door with a smile.

"this……"

Upon hearing his teacher's wife's words, Zhao Yao raised an eyebrow, then turned around and looked at his teacher standing beside her. He saw the teacher standing there like a puppet, eyes downcast, not giving any more information, as if he were taking his wife's words as the absolute truth.

He could only nod in agreement:

"...Alright, thank you for your time."

If the teacher doesn't say anything, the student naturally can't refuse.

……

After a meal.

A tall young man emerged from the county government office. He had a scholar's sword at his waist, skin as smooth as white jade, a jade crown in the style of a phoenix seeking its mate, a pink peach blossom in his hair, and was dressed in the most fashionable swordsman's uniform in the capital.

Zhao Yao left the county government office and walked down the street with a furrowed brow.

Why did your master's wife insist that you stay for dinner? Was it just to make you look like you were going on a blind date?

Thinking about Princess Yunchi's purpose in coming to Wangzhou City, he felt increasingly uneasy.

What's the real story behind this selection of a fake husband?