"…" Lu Hanzhang had lived in this courtyard for a long time now, so it could be said that he had inspected every corner of the house, and had not found any tunnels.
Looking down, the secret passage was large enough for two or three people to walk side by side. This courtyard didn't take long to build, so when was this passage dug out?
Before Lu Hanzhang could think it through, Ning Yan's slightly hurried voice sounded beside her ears: "Go down, those people must have come to search you. Hide yourself well, if I didn't tell you not to come out."
With his head being pressed down, and his breathing on his body, Lu Hanzhang felt dizzy. He had originally planned to ask his how the secret tunnel was made, because he had suddenly forgotten about his movements.
After pressing Lu Hanzhang into the passage, he conveniently placed two books which were filled with wolf meat and a bag of hot water. The books were for Lu Hanzhang to pass his time, who knew how long this search would take.
As for the cold weapons at home, Ning Yan had long kept them all.
Last time, after Lu Hanzhang had found the hunting knife that was made for his, she started to pay attention to all of this.
After laying the bed and changing her clothes, Ning Yan walked out of her room to continue fixing the cotton in the vegetable patch.
The tender shoots at the top of the cotton were pinched against the ground, creating a green patch on the ground. Just then, another knock on the door sounded out. Ning Yan tidied her clothes and opened the door.
Outside stood a group of people, the armor on their chest was a little old, all of them wielding spears or sabers, the village chief followed behind them, nagging, "Master, our people from Gouzi Bay are all good people, we will not do anything underhanded, you …."
"Cut the crap, Search."
The leader of the group, a small high-ranking officer, pushed aside the village chief. With a wave of his hand, a group of people walked into the courtyard.
The courtyard was newly built, and there was very little furniture. Other than a row of white flowers, only the wolf skin hanging on the tree could be seen by these people in special military uniforms.
He took off the wolf skin from the tree and pinched it twice. The soldier then walked up to the leader and said, "Captain, the hide is not bad. I can make you a piece of armor and also make you a glove."
"Good eyesight." The sergeant grinned and placed the wolf skin trade on the soldier.
Ning Yan stared at Wolf Skin and grinded her teeth, then looking at the group of people, she suddenly had some suspicions, as the clothes on their bodies were a little off.
Last time, when she almost lost out against the Elder Mrs. Lee, she sent someone to bring a book related to the law. The book was not a formal law, but it involved all aspects, and there were clear rules regarding weapons and armor. These people had different rules than the ones set down by the current emperor.
Ning Yan retreated a step back without batting an eyelid. If her thoughts were right, these people were not regular soldiers, they were just people who could not be exposed now. Who knew what the consequences would be?
A crazy slaughter of a village? Or something else... It's all possible. Although the civilization has been around for thousands of years, those who have been on the battlefield have all experienced life. The possibility of abnormal existences is very high.
Ning Yan moved to the village chief's side and asked in a small voice: "What does Chao Qin look like?"
"You don't have to worry about that."
"Oh!" Ning Yan nodded.
Wherever the soldier passed by, it was like the passage of a locust. The ground was cleared, and the food and clothing on kitchen were carried on the soldier's back. The linen prepared at home was also swept clean.
Ning Yan clenched her fists and took a deep breath. Only then did she manage to suppress the roiling anger in her heart.
"There's no one here. Retreat." Unable to find the instigator of the crime, the captain waved his hands and led the people who had gained a lot out of Ning Yan's courtyard.
Ning Yan walked back into the house and looked at the table and chairs that had been flipped over, and the broken porcelain bowl and chopsticks.
His originally unsightly expression turned darker and darker.
He turned back to look at the group leaving.
He walked up to the Village Chief's side and asked, "Village Chief, where are these officials eating?"
"In the village's ancestral hall."
"It's a good thing that not many people came. Otherwise, we wouldn't have enough food to eat."
"Yeah, our village is still pretty good. Next door, there are even more officers and soldiers from Upper Bay Village …"
After conversing with the village chief for a while, Ning Yan had already understood everything she wanted to know.
Sending the village chief off, they returned home. Just as they wanted to release Lu Hanzhang who was in the secret passage, they heard the sound of someone knocking on the door again.
Ning Yan walked out of the courtyard, and when she opened the door, he saw a group of soldiers who had returned, as well as a few women from Ning Family. Wu Mei stood at the side of the Mrs. Xu and looked at her timidly.
This kind of innocent expression, Ning Yan's heart suddenly thumped loudly.
The soldier dressed in black pushed Wu Mei and asked fiercely: "Are you referring to this house that you have hidden the culprit?"
"Yes, yes, Master. A few days ago, Ning Yan hunted a wolf from the mountain. Other than her, no one else has been up the mountain."
Wu Huaishan frowned, and berated his: "Mei Zi, don't spout nonsense …"
With a 'sou' sound, the soldier swung the whip in his hand into the air, producing a flower and hitting Wu Huaishan. The coarse clothes on Wu Huaishan's body was ripped apart by the whip, revealing a bloody scar: "I asked you a question?"
Wu Huaishan shook his head, he still wanted to say something, but hesitated and did not say it in the end.
Seeing that Wu Huaishan had been beaten up, Wu Mei's face turned white, her eyes filled with fear and helplessness.
The captain seemed to be very satisfied with his influence, pointing the whip at Wu Mei: "Tell me in detail."
"It's Ning Yan. She has strength and ability that can even defeat the wolves in the mountains. Other than her, no one else can do the same."
After Wu Mei finished speaking, she laid on the ground, and suddenly thought of something, and raised her head to look at Elder Mrs. Lee.
"…" Ning Yan was not stupid, she roughly knew what the situation was in front of him. Wu Mei was being used like a spear by the Elder Mrs. Lee, but, were these soldiers that easy to deal with?
Were these soldiers something an old woman could use?
Suddenly, Ning Yan started to worry, worried that Ning Qianci would have a grandmother like his, and that he would not have any future prospects in the future.
As for herself, her current situation was still alright. Other than the so-called blood ties, it had nothing to do with Ning Family.
Cleaning her throat, Ning Yan imitated the village women and shouted: "The Shangguan Family has been wronged, although the little lady is strong, and is able to go hunting in the mountains, but that is all because of life, if there were family members, she would not have been reduced to such a state, it is even more impossible for her to hide the criminals, let alone the little lady's courtyard have already been searched, I would not be afraid even if I were to search it."
Ning Yan's eyes had already reddened, the hand that was fiercely pinching her thigh loosened, and continued: "If Master doesn't believe me, you can continue searching, if you find it, I will go to the county city to look for an official and accuse fellow village Wu Mei of wronging the little lady, I hope that Master Guan can give me a witness after you finish searching."
Ning Yan's words were resolute and decisive.
The captain was truly intimidated. No one was allowed to see an official. The only reason they dared to show their faces in front of others was because they wanted to end the battle quickly.
If they met with officials, they would definitely be able to tell that their armor style was off. At that time, they would be the ones caught.
However, he still had to do some searching. What if …?
He had to finish the mission that was handed down by the higher-ups as soon as possible.
The party searched once more, but still couldn't find the person they were looking for.
Seeing that the couple did not reap any rewards, Ning Yan howled again: Master Guan, you have to help the little lady!
"I'm busy, I don't have time to care about your affairs, go find your Village Chief." As the captain spoke, he walked towards the village's ancestral hall.