That Bian Yong seems rough around the edges, yet he’s quite the insightful person. He observes everything in the guesthouse but doesn’t ask questions unless Lu Qing explicitly tells him.

He and his men quickly cleaned up the front of the guesthouse, tidied the rooms that could accommodate people, and as it was getting late, he organized a few men to prepare some simple meals together with talismans. Everyone ate quickly before settling down for the night.

Even though these people were cautious, having already sent someone to scout the way here, they still didn’t make any noise on the first night at their new lodging.

Zhu Yu, in the small courtyard at the back, listened to the stillness in the two-story building at the front. Nothing seemed disturbed, yet there was a peculiar sense of vitality.

Returning to her room, Lu Qing was already waiting for her.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Do you have something to say?" Zhu Yu asked in confusion, seeing Lu Qing’s gaze upon entering the room.

"Didn’t you want to know who I had the talisman fetch last time?" Lu Qing looked at the composed Zhu Yu with a knowing smile. "It seems you’ve already guessed the answer and don’t need me to explain anymore."

"Not exactly; I just have a rough idea, so I’m not as eager to inquire as at the beginning." Zhu Yu said as she sat close to Lu Qing. Although the place seemed secure now, a closed-door conversation naturally demanded caution, and keeping voices low would be wise. "Are they people from the Situ Family?"

"That Bian Yong, the Young General he mentioned, must be Situ Jing, right?

After all, although Situ Jing’s brother is also considered a Young General of the Situ Family, he hasn’t fought alongside you and couldn’t possibly know your martial skills."

"That’s right, that General Bian is actually a deputy general by General Situ’s side." Lu Qing wasn’t surprised that Zhu Yu had figured it out and directly revealed the person’s identity to her.

Zhu Yu had anticipated they were confidants of the Situ Family but didn’t expect the person to be a deputy general personally by General Situ’s side...

It seems they have sent their most trusted confidant.

Zhu Yu gave Lu Qing a surprised look: "I remember you said that General Situ was a celebrated military figure. The reason his political influence doesn’t match General Cao’s in court is that their family never liked to take sides or show allegiance to anyone other than the Emperor.

During this time, has Situ Jing frequently urged his father and brothers in private?"

"Situ Jing was willing to ally with us mainly because the situation forced him to. The intentions of those trying to cause turmoil within the army were too obvious, leaving him no room for detachment." Lu Qing waved his hand, "The Situ Family is quite stubborn; once they decide on something, it isn’t likely to be changed by mere persuasion.

Even if Situ Jing were to talk endlessly and persuasively to his father and brother, it probably wouldn’t have much effect and could even end up annoying the old general, prompting him to have Situ Jing punished with military rods."

"Military rods... Are you telling me that military rods are the family law for the Situ Family?" Zhu Yu guessed.

Lu Qing laughed and nodded: "You guessed it right.

I’ve heard that General Situ is very strict with his sons, not allowing them to bring any trouble to the family or disgrace their ancestors outside; so even as a father, he oversees them sternly and methodically, without permitting any mistakes.

When his sons made mistakes, they were punished just like the soldiers in the army. Over time, people outside learned that military laws were synonymous with the Situ Family’s household laws."

"Then..." Hearing this, Zhu Yu changed her line of thinking. Considering the process through which Situ Jing changed his perspective, she suddenly understood. "So you’re saying you used Situ Jing’s previous experiences in Li State and what he saw during the process of being demoted to Qinzhou, to give the Situ father and son a wake-up call.

With this realization, they’d start noticing any unusual signs around them.

Plus, during this period when General Cao was repeatedly framed, General Situ, having been comrades with General Cao for many years, is quite familiar with General Cao’s character and disposition. As a bystander, it was easier for him to notice the conspiracies lying within.

Although they stick to their principles, they aren’t blindly ignorant warriors; the more they see and think, the less need there is for anyone to persuade them with too many words!"

"Exactly, that’s why this time, I just had the rune to contact the Hidden Guard to send a message, saying that we needed someone stationed here. I anticipated General Situ wouldn’t refuse and would send someone, yet I didn’t expect he would send his deputy general." Lu Qing exhaled slowly; for the first time in a long while, he felt a slight relief. "This manor was massacred by mountain bandits long ago, but no one has discovered it, nor has anyone cared to root out the bandits.

I contemplated before that those people couldn’t have anticipated our path crossing here someday, so arranging such a devious plan of using bandits was not likely. Therefore, these bandits being allowed to wreak havoc must be for another purpose."

"Indeed, those following us clearly know there’s a bandits’ den here. I guess they decided on a whim to target us when they saw our route becoming apparent." Zhu Yu pondered, glancing at Lu Qing, "We traveled using country roads, and we took several detours to test whether we were truly being followed.

If we took the main roads and moved at a swift marching pace, how long would it take to reach the Capital?"

Lu Qing, hearing her question, understood she had linked things together and nodded with satisfaction, reaching out to muss Zhu Yu’s hair: "It would take just under two days to arrive."

This response confirmed Zhu Yu’s rising conjecture.

The mountain bandits originally hailed from the Back Mountain Village in the north. Their continued survival, without being eradicated, besides the element of deliberate indulgence, is partly due to the favorable topography of the mountains that’s ideal for hiding.

And this manor, isolated without nearby villages or shops, not near the main roads, is rarely passed by anyone, let alone attracting notice.

Therefore whoever is here would likely not be detected quickly.

Yet when needed, those garrisoned or hiding in this area could rush along the main road and reach the Capital in just over a day.

Isn’t this a perfect, unobtrusive yet proximate base for making moves!