Volume 1, Chapter 69: Ei Has Been Captured?

"Oh?"

Fan Xiu said in surprise, "As expected of my wife, you even managed to guess that!"

"That goes without saying! While cold skin noodles are lucrative, it's impossible to make that much money in such a short time unless you stick to just selling the noodles, but if you did that, you'd only be cultivating your own competitors," Xiao Ruoqing replied.

Fan Xiu chuckled and said, "The distribution channels are already established, so there's no need to fear even with competitors. Besides, cold skin noodles aren't difficult to make; it won't be long before others figure it out. Selling the recipe now is the perfect timing."

Xiao Ruoqing nodded and said, "True! But what do you plan to do next?"

Fan Xiu pondered for a couple of seconds before replying, "First, move to the horse farm—the space there is much larger! However, late autumn is already here, and winter is fast approaching, so I plan to brew liquor!"

"Hmm?"

Xiao Ruoqing's beautiful eyes were filled with astonishment as she asked, "You even know how to brew liquor?"

Fan Xiu grinned and replied, "Slightly!"

He had tasted the wine of the Great Yin Dynasty; they were all low-alcohol distilled spirits, devoid of high-concentration fermented wine.

Although he had never brewed alcohol before, back before his transmigration, whenever he watched videos online, his favorite pastime was watching eccentric and niche crafts.

Things like brewing alcohol, building bridges, repairing horseshoes, Ultraman's bicycle, and so on.

Perhaps as a perk of being a transmigrator, he found his memory exceptionally sharp. Things he used to watch and quickly forget could now be roughly recalled upon careful thought.

Xiao Ruoqing reminded him, "Brewing liquor is not as simple as making cold skin noodles, and grain is a major issue."

"Rest assured,"

Fan Xiu replied. "I've already considered the grain problem. While most of the grain in Zhiyuan County is concentrated in the hands of those few families, it's not all of it. Patron Zhao is himself a landlord and holds a fair amount of grain; it will be enough for my needs in the short term."

Xiao Ruoqing nodded. "As long as you're prepared. I'm quite curious what kind of liquor you can brew. Just don't end up failing."

Fan Xiu chuckled. "That's impossible! Wife, give me a kiss first for encouragement?"

"Go on with you!"

Xiao Ruoqing gave Fan Xiu a mock-angry glare and said, "Who's your wife! All you do every day is spout nonsense! You should go get some rest instead, you've been working hard all day!"

"Wait a moment."

Fan Xiu glanced around the room and asked, "I suddenly realized—where is that girl Liu Yue? Why haven't I seen her around for a while?"

A trace of unease flickered in the depths of Xiao Ruoqing's eyes as she replied, "She has some personal matters to attend to."

"What matters?"

Fan Xiu asked curiously, "How come I've never heard you mention them before? Tell me about it; I'm considered somewhat of a figure in Zhiyuan County now and can help with a lot of things."

Xiao Ruoqing shook her head. "No need, she can handle it herself!"

"Alright then, I'm going to sleep."

Fan Xiu said, then turned and walked toward the door.

Just as he took two steps, he suddenly turned back and, with a swift and unexpected motion, planted a kiss on Xiao Ruoqing's cheek.

"You—"

Xiao Ruoqing was startled and angry. "You scoundrel!"

"Goodnight, wife!"

Fan Xiu laughed heartily and bolted out the door.

After Fan Xiu left, Xiao Ruoqing's expression instantly turned grave.

She didn't care too much about Fan Xiu stealing a kiss.

After all, she had already initiated a kiss with him once; another one wasn't a big deal.

What she cared about was Shadow's safety!

Xiao Ruoqing walked over to the window and gazed out at the night sky.

Lately, the Cheng family's faction had been dispatching more and more people into Zhiyuan County, which was why she had instructed Shadow to break through the encirclement tonight carrying the imperial seal.

By now, her physical condition had mostly recovered.

Aside from being unable to use martial arts, she was basically no different from an ordinary person and no longer needed Shadow's care.

Moreover, as Fan Xiu compressed the Cheng family's sphere of influence within Zhiyuan County, Shadow's chances of breaking out were becoming increasingly difficult. Any later, and escaping would be impossible.

Now was the exact right time.

The Cheng family's forces had not yet fully consolidated control over Zhiyuan County, and the defenses outside the county had relaxed.

As long as Shadow and the others could successfully leave Zhiyuan County, the journey ahead would be much smoother.

But if they were caught, everything would be over.

At that moment, a carrier pigeon landed on the windowsill.

A look of joy crossed Xiao Ruoqing's face as she hurriedly reached out to catch the bird and removed the letter tied to its leg.

[Breakthrough successful, one casualty, heading to Yuzhou.]

After reading the note, the stone weighing heavily on Xiao Ruoqing's heart finally dropped.

Though there was one casualty, they had managed to break through successfully.

This was precisely why she hadn't attempted to break out with them.

Given her current condition, trying to escape together would only make her a burden and might even drag everyone down.

Without her, the remaining Shadow and the Blood Feather Guards could break through without any worries.

Heading toward Yuzhou was also Xiao Ruoqing's idea.

Wanting to return to the capital directly from Xuzhou required scaling the entire Yanshan Mountains, which possessed treacherous terrain and were undoubtedly heavily guarded by the Cheng family.

Therefore, she had instructed Shadow to head south toward Yuzhou after leaving Zhiyuan County, and then march north from Yuzhou to the capital!

Once they managed to leave the borders of Xuzhou and reach Yuzhou, they would basically be safe. No matter how powerful the Cheng family was, they couldn't extend their reach into Yuzhou.

From Yuzhou to the capital, the road could be said to be entirely smooth. Traveling at top speed on swift horses, they could return to the capital in less than ten days!

Now she only hoped that once Shadow returned to the palace, she could stabilize the political situation.

Meanwhile.

At a key strategic checkpoint on the border of Zhiyuan County.

Xie Tangfeng was leading a detachment of men, hurrying anxiously toward the front lines.

Shortly after, a group of soldiers emerged ahead.

"Young Master Xie has arrived!" someone shouted.

Amidst the group of soldiers, a man dressed as a commander stepped forward.

"Young Master Xie,"

the commander saluted Xie Tangfeng and said, "Those women have all been captured! There are seven of them in total. How should they be dealt with?"

"Haha!"

Xie Tangfeng laughed heartily. "Bring them over! And remember, don't you dare harm a hair on their heads! Otherwise, ten lives wouldn't be enough to compensate!"

"Understood!" the commander replied, then immediately sprinted away.

Xie Tangfeng put his hands behind his back, his face beaming with excitement!

Though the Empress and her guards had run for so long, he hadn't expected them to ultimately fall into his hands.

That was Empress Xiao Ruoqing!

Although outside rumors claimed that Empress Xiao Ruoqing looked coarse and unrefined, he knew the Empress was an absolute beauty. If he could only...

Of course, Xie Tangfeng was merely fantasizing!

Even with the Empress in his grasp, he didn't dare make a move on her; otherwise, the Cheng family would never forgive him!

However, even if he couldn't touch her, taking liberties with her Blood Feather Guards was fine, right?

Especially Commander Shadow of the Blood Feather Guards, who was rumored to be an incredible beauty as well!

Furthermore, if this task was accomplished, his Xie family could look forward to endless wealth and glory, and perhaps even titles of nobility and high ministerial office.

Lost in these thoughts, Xie Tangfeng couldn't help but chuckle.

At that moment, the commander escorted several dirt-smudged women covered in blood stains into the camp.

"Young Master Xie, the captives have been brought," a soldier reported, cupping his fists.