That wretched vixen has disguised herself as my wife!

Just as Jiang Jingming finished speaking, the door to the inner room was pushed open.

The woman still had needle and thread wrapped around her hands, and her face was full of worry.

"Xiao Yi, stop fooling around and come back inside..."

Before she could finish speaking, she saw several disheveled, muddy figures standing in a row at the doorway.

"H-Benefactor?!"

......

Without saying a word, the woman pulled the group into the house, brewed a pot of hot tea, and respectfully handed it to each of them.

Xiao Yi squatted on the ground and fiddled with the stove fire, trying to relight it after it had gone out.

The warm firelight, resting against my soaked clothes, felt so comforting that I wanted to close my eyes and take a nap immediately.

The woman sat down at the table and asked with concern:

"Why is my benefactor here? Has he encountered some trouble?"

"It's a long story."

Jiang Jingming coughed lightly, unsure how to explain the current situation to her, so he changed the subject.

"And how did you get here?"

When they parted ways in Shulan City that day, Jiang Jingming casually gave the unfortunate mother and son one hundred taels of silver notes, telling them to go as far away as possible.

It seems we've indeed come a long way.

"After saying goodbye to my benefactor that day, I took Xiao Yi and hitched a ride with a kind merchant caravan all the way to the Posuo River. After hesitating for half a day, I finally decided to follow my benefactor's instructions and go a little further, so we crossed the river and arrived at Fengling City."

The woman got up, refilled everyone's teacups with the teapot, and then continued:

"Xiao Yi said he really liked the scenery of Fengling City, but the city was not peaceful. The massacre of his family was making a big fuss, so I brought him to Xinghua Village."

“In the past, to supplement the family income, I learned some textile and tailoring skills and opened a tailor shop in the village. With the hundred taels of silver given by my benefactor, it was more than enough to support my mother and me.”

At this point, her eyes reddened, and she was about to kneel down again.

"No."

Jiang Jingming immediately got up and helped her up. After thinking for a moment, he simply laid it all out and said:

"To be honest, the Imperial Guard is actually searching for fugitives, and we're the ones who have no other choice but to come here to lay low for a while. You and your daughter have finally had a few days of peace, and I shouldn't have brought trouble upon you. We'll leave as soon as the searchers outside have passed."

"If it weren't for our two benefactors, we would have been bullied to death in Shulan City long ago, and we wouldn't have the peaceful life we ​​have today."

The woman shook her head firmly, then stood up and looked towards the door:

"Since you are all friends of our benefactor, please stay here. I will cover for you."

Hearing this, Jiang Jingming and A Qing exchanged a glance.

Given the current situation, going out would inevitably lead to a direct confrontation with the Divine Capital Guards. Staying here, while also risky, gives us the upper hand in terms of the overall situation.

"Don't worry! I've grown up now, and I'll protect you all! I want to be as strong as Sister Aqing!"

After fiddling with the brazier, Xiao Yi choked on the soot in his face. He hurriedly stood up and spread his arms to block the doorway like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

Jiang Jingming then noticed that he had a small wooden knife hanging on his waist, which he had clearly carved himself.

"Good lad! You have the same charm I had when I was a child!"

Xie Yunqi stood up excitedly and gave him a big high five:

"To become a great hero, you must have a brave heart like this! Work hard, and I'll protect you from now on!"

"Good sister!"

Xiao Yi excitedly started punching the air.

Perhaps because his mother rarely responded to his dreams of becoming a knight-errant, she finally found someone with the same passion.

Jiang Jingming glanced helplessly at Lu Zhao, only to find that the guy also had a look of satisfaction on his face, thinking, "Good lad, the future is promising."

A kindred spirit found amidst the stagnant waters of a lowly mountain.

"Ok."

Jiang Jingming had no choice but to nod, but still emphasized:

"If the Divine Capital Guard comes to investigate, you and Xiao Yi should pretend that you were threatened by us and had no choice but to take us in. In this way, the Divine Capital Guard will not make things too difficult for you."

The woman nodded in agreement, then sent Xiao Yi to the door to keep watch before returning to the table to wait for him to continue.

Jiang Jingming picked up a cup of hot tea and slowly took a sip.

"To make a long story short, we're going to Listening Waterfall Manor now to investigate the massacre of that family."

I thought the woman would be surprised and panicked, but to my surprise, she just nodded heavily and didn't even ask why.

"The situation in the city is tense, and the villages are being searched more strictly as well. If the rain lightens tomorrow, everyone should take the mountain road instead."

"I think so too."

Jiang Jingming and A Qing exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

"After visiting Tingpu Villa, what are your next plans, benefactor?"

As the woman was talking, she suddenly got up and dragged a wooden box out from under the bed.

"First, investigate the scene. If enough discoveries are made, return to Fengling City and meet with Chief Secretary Wen of Fengling City."

Jiang Jingming put down his teacup and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

This was agreed upon on the carriage to the death row.

Although Wen Fuxiao has temporarily retreated from the limelight under Chen Sha's suppression, he still retains connections and trump cards.

If he gathers enough evidence before the ten-day deadline, he will reveal the truth or convincing doubts to the public to the greatest extent possible, and then there will still be a chance to overturn the case.

The woman knelt beside the wooden box, pondered for a moment, and then clapped her hands excitedly.

“Benefactors! It’s quite a coincidence. After tonight’s rain, the city will hold a Rain-Celebrating Festival tomorrow or the day after! At that time, there will be many people and it will be difficult for the government to check everyone. You can take this opportunity to sneak into the city again.”

"Little Bean next door said that during last year's Rain Festival, he was almost squeezed into a bean sprout! City people are so crowded that their feet can't even touch the ground. They definitely can't catch you!"

Xiao Yi, sitting on the threshold, couldn't help but interrupt.

"So good."

Jiang Jingming took a deep breath, feeling that this was probably a case of "when you think you've reached the end of the road, a new path opens up before you do."

"By the way, these are clothes I made a few days ago. If you don't mind, you can change into some dry clothes."

The woman opened the wooden box, took out the cloth clothes inside, and showed them to them.

Upon hearing her words, the group realized how filthy they were, covered in mud, and felt a little embarrassed.

Xiao Yi scrambled to his feet and ran off into the distance.

"You must be feeling terrible! I'll go boil some water for you to wash your faces!"

Chapter Ninety-Six: Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank

However, after only a few days, the child seemed like a different person. He was no longer as timid as before, and was probably trying to cheer himself up.

Jiang Jingming took the cloth garment handed to him by the woman. It was made of comfortable cotton, probably something she had made to sell at the market.

"Thank you so much! I was so uncomfortable wearing wet clothes the whole time."

Xie Yunqi was the first to change his clothes and come out. He breathed a sigh of relief and took the woman's hand, spinning her around.

The young lady rarely wore such simple brown clothes; she looked like a charming girl next door.

Aqing changed into a black outfit, and her long hair was neatly tied into a high ponytail, making her look like a swordsman wandering the world.

Fang Zhiyi casually pulled out a white robe from the box; the woman had made it for the students in the village.

Fang Zhiyi wrapped her arms around her slender waist and tied a ribbon around it, her long hair falling naturally down.

No matter what she wears, she still gives off the feeling of a carefree and elegant healer.

Jiang Jingming and Lu Zhao changed into short cloth clothes that farm boys often wore, which were neatly tailored and easy to work in.

After hanging up their swords, they were like two clueless young men just entering the martial world, with not even enough money in their pockets to buy a pot of wine.

The group dressed like this, which made them look more low-key and less conspicuous in a crowd.

"Little Yi! Come here, let me teach you the move 'Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank'!"

Xie Yunqi excitedly drew his sword, Floating Frost, and twirled it beautifully.

As the Frost Sword was drawn, a chill suddenly filled the room, and where the blade passed, it seemed as if sharp frost flowers were falling.

"If anyone ever kicks your butt again, just use this trick and chop them flat on their face!"

The young lady had already inquired about it. Because she was a newcomer from out of town, the village children sometimes ganged up on Xiao Yi.

Because his buttocks were always being kicked, Xiao Yi would stuff a piece of cotton cloth into his pants every time he went out.

"OK!!!"

Xiao Yi imitated her, holding the wooden knife and raising it to chest level.

"Alright!"

Xie Yunqi turned gracefully, his sword tip slanting upwards, tracing a beautiful arc, just like a wild goose spreading its wings and skimming across the sandy plain.

Jiang Jingming sipped his tea and watched the show. The young lady's swordsmanship, if she were to fight to the death, would seem a bit flashy, but it was definitely top-notch for entertainment.

Xiao Yi tried hard to imitate her, but when he swung his sword, he lost his balance and almost fell headfirst.

"Be careful!"

Xie Yunqi helped him up, then shook his head and sighed, looking quite smug.

"Little Yi, Little Yi, although everyone says that diligence can make up for lack of talent, when I was your age, I had already learned to ride the clouds and chase the moon!"

No, you haven't learned it.

Jiang Jingming silently thought to himself.

"Sister Xiaoqi, I will try my best!"

Xiao Yi gripped the knife handle and threw a punch with high spirits.

At this moment, Aqing, who had been observing coldly, suddenly spoke up.

"If someone bullies you, instead of practicing such a flashy move, you should..."

As soon as she finished speaking, she stepped forward, and with lightning speed, she thrust out her short knife, instantly pointing it at Xie Yunqi's throat.

Of course, the knife was not drawn.

But the sudden chill still startled Xie Yunqi.

"Hey! Ah Qing, you ambushed me! This round doesn't count!"

Xie Yunqi stomped his foot in dissatisfaction.

"No matter how many rounds we play, the result will be the same."

Jiang Jingming took a sip of tea and shrugged:

"Miss, don't look at me, I can't beat Aqing either."

"Sister Aqing, can you teach me this trick?"

Xiao Yi was also very excited when he saw this, and rushed over to ask anxiously.

"There's nothing to teach."

Ah Qing sheathed her sword and pulled it back into her sleeve, her expression serious.

"Practice a thousand or ten thousand times, and you'll naturally get the hang of it."

"A thousand times, ten thousand times..."

Xiao Yi muttered to himself.

"Do you think that's too much? Then when you practice, just think of your mother. You're the only person she can rely on in this world, so you have to protect her with all your might, even if it takes a million practice sessions, right?"

Aqing bent down slightly and patted his head.