A Jiu's brow furrowed. What if she tried a different approach to inquire?
"Brother..."
"Aren't you leaving yet?"
The man's fierce demeanor startled A Jiu, her face paling. "I just wanted to ask where Brother Yun Hao lives? He's a constable at the yamen."
As soon as A Jiu spoke, the man exchanged a glance with his subordinates. "Who are you to Yun Hao?"
"I... I'm her distant cousin," A Jiu lied, her heart sinking with unease, fearing her deception would be discovered.
"West side, Ma Xing Street, the blacksmith shop is his home. Hurry up and go."
The man said impatiently.
Perhaps an important figure had emerged from the yamen, as guards quickly lined up, bowed, and lowered their heads.
"Your Highness, I will certainly summon all the renowned physicians in Nanming City to resolve the plague issue as soon as possible."
"Be quick, lest the populace becomes restless." The voice carried an exceptional authority.
Outside, a luxurious carriage swept past A Jiu and stopped in front of the yamen.
A Jiu looked back and happened to see the man in embroidered robes stepping out. Lord Wang, beside him, made a deferential bowing gesture.
Throughout the entire exchange, his back remained unbent.
A Jiu's gaze fixed on the face of the Prince of Nanming. He looked so familiar.
Where had she seen him before?
A Jiu pondered for a moment, then looked up sharply. Lord Wang had already helped the feudal lord open the carriage door.
A Jiu stared at the familiar profile and her heart sank. He bore a striking resemblance to Tuoba Yan.
Aside from the difference in age, this feudal lord sported a small mustache, and in terms of facial structure, head shape, and physique, they were so alike.
"You have one month. If there is no result by then, I will surely punish you."
The feudal lord said before the carriage began to move.
A Jiu quickly ducked her head and turned, slipping along the wall towards Ma Xing Street.
That street was bustling with horses, and many people waited outside the blacksmith shop to have horseshoes fitted.
A Jiu immediately spotted Yun Jie, dressed in civilian clothes, lifting a horse's hoof with a rope. "Brother Yun Jie!"
A Jiu hurried over to greet him.
Yun Jie was holding a horseshoe and a cutting tool. "Hey, Shi Liu Mei, is that you? No, Sister Jiu'er, why are you here? Come in quickly."
Yun Jie was startled. He quickly put down the horse's hoof and shouted inside, "Dad, please fix this horseshoe."
He then pulled A Jiu inside and tucked her into an inner cubby.
Closing the door with a click, his expression turned grave. "Why are you back? Didn't my elder brother send you out of the city?"
"I'm looking for my grandmother," A Jiu knew that if she were caught, her elder brother Yun Hao's efforts would be in vain.
"Oh, you're being foolish. If Lord Wang sees you, or if anyone else familiar from the yamen recognizes you, you'll not only implicate my elder brother but also suffer yourself. Moreover, your grandmother, Madam Wang, left when my elder brother sent you back."
Yun Jie blurted out a string of words, occasionally glancing out the window, fearful of being spotted by anyone who knew A Jiu.
"Left?" A Jiu felt as if she had swallowed a fly. "If she left, why hasn't she looked for me these past two days?"
He wasn't unaware that she was living with the Niu family in Heba Village.
"Perhaps it's because they're apprehending refugees lately, and your grandmother is in hiding. You... wait."
Yun Jie was also very scared. He turned and went out the door.
He returned shortly with a set of clothes. "These are my sister's clothes. She's about your age and quite thin. You must wear this veil too."
Seeing his hurried manner, A Jiu realized her rash appearance was causing a lot of trouble for her elder brother Yun Hao.
"Alright!" A Jiu obediently agreed.
A Jiu dressed in a silk skirt and tied the veil behind her ear.
Only a pair of large eyes and a red cinnabar mole beneath her left eyelid were visible. A Jiu's large pupils shimmered with a starlike radiance.
"Is this okay?"
Yun Jie was somewhat flustered. The girl's eyes were truly beautiful when viewed like this.
"Yes, but your cinnabar mole is too conspicuous," Yun Jie averted his gaze.
A Jiu dully pulled the veil up a bit further, finally covering the cinnabar mole. "Is this okay now?"
"Yes," Yun Jie said, opening the door. "Hurry and go. If something happens to your grandmother, my elder brother and I will be the first to know. No news is the best news."
"Okay, thank you, Brother Yun Jie." As A Jiu stepped out of the blacksmith shop, she saw an uncle collapse, clutching his hand.
"Ah... my hand."