Just beyond the courtyard gate, bathed in the glow of bright lanterns, a plain-looking, middle-aged Confucian Scholar in a long black robe was waving at him from a distance.
The man wore a smile, but his eyes were cold and merciless. As he waved, his mouth formed the silent words:
"If you don't want her to die, come with me."
Chen Yi read the words clearly, and he understood their meaning.
After watching for a moment, his expression grew calm. He offered the man a distant salute and said with a smile, "Alright."
Instead of going back through the gate, he glanced toward Xiao Wan'er and the others, then beckoned to a student standing guard outside and gave his instructions.
"Please inform Chen Yunfan, the Assistant Governor of the Governor's Office, that something has come up and I must leave early. Ask him to look after the Xiao Family in my stead."
"If he asks what happened, just say that Tiger Girl has gotten into trouble."
"Yes, Mr. Qingzhou."
