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The group had wandered for half a day, and Su Wenyue had already booked a room at the restaurant: “Father, Mother, we’ve all grown tired from walking so much. I’ve reserved a private room for us at the restaurant where we can rest for a bit and eat lunch before we continue exploring.”

“This… going to the restaurant seems rather extravagant. Why don’t we just buy something casual to eat? After all, we had a full breakfast and aren’t very hungry yet.” Not only Old Man Han and Mrs. Yang, but others shared the same sentiment. Since the family from the Third House, who were prone to causing trouble, couldn’t come because of Han Lin’s injury, everyone else, being from peasant families, was reluctant to spend so freely.

“It’s not a problem. It’s not often we come here, and we have to eat regardless. Besides, I’ve already booked the room,” Su Wenyue insisted, seeing no need to skimp on this expense.

Su Wenyue had made special arrangements at the restaurant, which certainly wouldn’t disappoint. The group followed her into the magnificent restaurant, and for many, it was their first time dining in such an upscale place. They felt somewhat inferior and were careful not to do anything inappropriate, walking with extra caution and restraint.

Once they were in the private room and the server had left, everyone relaxed. Mrs. Liu, who was outspoken, commented: “Fourth Daughter-in-law, this must be the best restaurant in the prefecture, right? With such fine decor, it’s my first time in such a luxurious place. It really is an honor.”

Mrs. Liu’s face showed both pride and excitement; she couldn’t wait to boast to the other daughters-in-law in the village about having dined at the best restaurant in the prefecture.

Su Wenyue merely smiled in response and didn’t say anything. Mrs. Liu was still the same. Instead, Su Wenyue walked to the window and opened it. This time, she didn’t feel the scrutinizing gaze she had before, and sighed with relief. As her eyes swept the view outside, she saw something startling.

The restaurant indeed was the finest in the prefecture, built by the best craftsmen, and stood three stories tall. The VIP room Su Wenyue had chosen was located at the very top, which allowed an unobstructed view of the surrounding area and any happenings below. What she didn’t expect was to see several government soldiers chasing a young man down an alley in broad daylight.

Su Wenyue instinctively moved back from the window, ensuring those below couldn’t see her and avoiding any potential trouble. Yet she wondered why the soldiers were pursuing the young man; perhaps it was another exercise in rooting out dissidents, a common occurrence these days. For instance, Zhai Li and the others once sheltered by Han Yu had also been pursued by the Imperial Court’s forces. In this world, soldiers weren’t always the good guys, and those being chased weren’t necessarily villains.

Su Wenyue continued to monitor the scene below. The young man, already bearing serious wounds, managed to escape the encirclement and find a place to hide, though he seemed to be at the end of his strength.

“Fourth Daughter-in-law, what are you looking at? The food has arrived. Come and join us for the meal,” said her mother-in-law.

When Su Wenyue heard her calling, she responded and took one last glance at where the man had hidden before returning to her seat, her thoughts lingering on his wellbeing. Ever since the birth of her three little ones, she felt her heart had softened considerably, perhaps partly motivated by the desire to accumulate blessings for her children.

This episode had made Su Wenyue somewhat preoccupied throughout the meal, but it also helped her put her earlier restlessness behind her, especially since that sense of being watched had disappeared after entering the restaurant.

In the room opposite of the same restaurant, Sikong Ling also saw the commotion below, but since Wang Mang had usurped power, such scenes had become commonplace within the Imperial Court and the city; they were not unusual. Moreover, it was none of his business, and Sikong Ling had no intention of intervening. He was, however, surprised by Su Wenyue’s sensitivity. Despite their discreet surveillance, she still felt their presence, and Sikong Ling noted how she occasionally scanned her surroundings for any signs of being followed.

“Master, shall we continue to follow her?” Sikong Ling’s subordinate was exasperated, after half a day tailing a married woman and considering previous actions, it was clear the master was genuinely interested in her. It baffled him even more.

In his view, if the master desired the woman, with the Sikong Family’s power, it wouldn’t be too difficult to acquire her. While it would be morally objectionable to court a married woman, noble families often committed far worse transgressions for their objectives, as long as they didn’t come to light.

But the master’s indecisive manner left him perplexed. After doing so much for her without any gain or apparent intention of seizing what he wanted, like during this occasion that seemed to be just an idle pursuit.

Sikong Ling, never one to care about others’ opinions and with no need to justify himself to his subordinates, gestured dismissively: “No need to continue. Looking at her demeanor, if we follow her any longer, it might cause unrest.”

Of course, Sikong Ling had other concerns. Su Wenyue had Han Yu’s men covertly following for protection, and they seemed highly capable, nearly detecting them a few times. Sikong Ling preferred not to spook his quarry and did not want his presence in Yiyang Prefecture revealed just yet.

When Su Wenyue left the restaurant, the feeling of being watched had vanished, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Even though it had been an intuition, her gut feelings had always been accurate. Knowing that a mysterious figure was orchestrating events behind the scenes, she had even more reason to be cautious.

As they passed the alley she had observed from the restaurant, Su Wenyue hesitated slightly, torn. It wasn’t her business, and she wasn’t one to meddle or court trouble. Yet the situation could involve a person’s life, and it was not easy to turn a blind eye to. With her in-laws and the family around, rescuing someone wasn’t feasible at the moment.

“Make way! Make way! Everyone get out of the way!”

As Su Wenyue mulled over her thoughts, the soldiers who had been chasing the man earlier were now scouring the street fiercely, treating the commoners more like bandits, which only intensified her disdain. Her brows furrowed slightly upon seeing their uniforms; they were from the Prefecture General Camp.