Chapter 481: One Wave Subsides, Another Rises (3)

Chapter 481: One Wave Subsides, Another Rises (Part 3)

The clouds at the horizon were parted by the morning sun as it crept up, quietly leaping from beneath the mountains and spreading a pale morning light over the early day.

After the chaos in the streets was investigated and resolved, the Dan Liang royal capital enjoyed a mere two days of peace before this commotion erupted early today, shattering the quiet morning.

"Official business—Capital Prefecture Office! All bystanders, step back at once!"

The shout came from a Capital Prefecture guard, and with his command, a squad of Capital Prefecture officers swiftly stormed into the Immortal Crane Residence.

Some guards blocked the patrons here for breakfast, pushing them to the sides, while others roughly restrained the detained servants of the establishment, giving them no time to react.

They merely declared, "Remnants of the former dynasty are still at large. We’ve traced clues here and are now searching the Immortal Crane Residence."

As these words were spoken, a refined-looking guard beside the Capital Prefecture officer pulled a small white mouse from a pouch at his waist. The mouse behaved almost intelligently, sniffing east and west before suddenly darting straight toward the rear courtyard of the residence, its direction precise.

At this moment, from a hidden alley corner across from the Immortal Crane Residence, Su Rao, now in different attire, watched the scene keenly.

Her gaze fixed on that refined guard, and in an instant, she recognized him—it was the young medicine boy from the Ding family whom she had deliberately teased upon arriving in the Dan Liang royal capital.

The corner of her eye twitched slightly, a cold glint of calculation in her eyes.

"My lady, will we be safe?"

Su Han once again gripped the hilts of the twin blades strapped to his back. As the white mouse found its direction, the refined guard immediately gave chase.

It was clear—the scent Su Rao had detected on Yun Ling had indeed exposed their whereabouts.

Just as the refined guard rushed forward, the Capital Prefecture squad tensed, roughly restraining the detained servants of the Immortal Crane Residence.

The Capital Prefecture officer also ordered the guards outside to keep a close watch on the patrons they had blocked, remaining vigilant in case remnants of the former dynasty were once again hiding among the people, as had happened during the street riots.

Then, the Capital Prefecture officer led a few subordinates into the rear courtyard, commanding that the manager be brought along as well.

The manager’s forehead gleamed with sweat, his face ashen with terror, yet he had no choice but to follow.

This all unfolded in moments. From the moment the Capital Prefecture squad arrived, their swift and decisive actions made it clear—that white mouse was a key asset.

Little did they know, their opponent was her.

To Su Han’s concern, Su Rao only uttered one phrase:

"No stolen goods, no thief to catch."

Even if the white mouse followed the diluted traces from washing to the room where Yun Ling had stayed, in the end, it would only trace the scent out through the rear courtyard’s side gate, leading to the inner city’s riverside before losing the trail entirely.

The basin of bloodied water had been poured into the river, and with the current’s flow, even the strongest scent would dissipate in an instant—let alone the diluted traces left from washing.

Just as Su Rao had predicted, the white mouse darted about the courtyard, sniffing here and there, circling the room Yun Ling had occupied several times before dashing wildly in all directions, briefly disoriented.

The Capital Prefecture officer and his men thoroughly searched the room but found nothing.

The manager, seeing this, finally broke into frantic protests. "Sirs, what is the meaning of this? I’m an honest businessman who’s run this restaurant in the capital for over a decade—I’ve never done anything wrong! You say remnants of the former dynasty are hiding here? This is a grave injustice!"

His sobs were messy, tears and mucus streaking his face alongside the sweat of fear dripping from his forehead and temples, leaving him a pitiful sight.

The officer’s expression hardened with irritation. He barked, "The Capital Prefecture is conducting official business! Hold your tongue! If remnants are found here, the search will prove it. One more word, and you’ll be held for obstruction!"

Hearing this, the manager hurriedly closed his mouth, shaking uncontrollably but not daring to defend himself further.

The little white mouse scurried aimlessly in circles before finally finding its direction and heading toward the side door of the backyard. It chased the trail outside.

Seeing this, the Capital Prefecture guard and the refined-looking officer immediately followed closely behind, chasing it all the way to the inner city riverbank. After the mouse circled once more, both men kicked the grass by the river in anger.

Clearly, they believed their target had fled via the river.

"While the scent Master left lingers on the body for three days after encountering water, dissolving upon contact again and leaving nowhere to hide, there is one flaw—if washed away by flowing water, the scent disperses and can no longer be tracked."

The refined officer picked up the little white mouse and tucked it back into his waist pouch—it was of no further use.

Having lost the trail, the two were unwilling but had no choice but to retrace their steps.

Since the tracking mouse had led them to the Freedom Pavilion, they would have to search the place again.

As the two returned, Su Han, who had been secretly tailing them, rejoined Su Rao and Su Er, expressing his worry again for the Freedom Pavilion.

"Miss, they didn’t find Yun Ling, yet those men are heading back. The Freedom Pavilion could be compromised."

Though they had acted swiftly, Yun Ling had stayed at the Freedom Pavilion for a full day and night. Despite Su Rao quickly using medicine to disperse the lingering scent, the Capital Prefecture Office had arrived too quickly.

"Yun Ling was injured while escorting Bamboo Master. And that day, Rong Ke’s investigation hadn’t proven any link between the Ding family’s clinic and the Freedom Pavilion. Besides, the Freedom Pavilion is just a restaurant—how could it be compromised?"

While Su Han worried, Su Rao was unfazed.

The Freedom Pavilion was open for business, serving anyone who walked in. Even if remnants of the former dynasty had stayed there, they couldn’t be falsely accused without cause.

Rong Ke was no benevolent ruler—he was Dan Liang’s self-styled 'benevolent ruler.' Without concrete evidence, he wouldn’t dare unjustly accuse innocent civilians in broad daylight.

Doing so would tarnish his reputation as a 'benevolent ruler' and alienate the people of Dan Liang.

After all, rumors were dangerous, and the people’s hearts must not be lost.

Moreover, they had already stashed everything in hidden rooms—how could they be discovered?

Even if Rong Ke wished to falsely accuse the Freedom Pavilion as he had the Xiao family, he wouldn’t have the chance. Having uncovered his plans in time, she wouldn’t let him touch the Freedom Pavilion again.

Thus, the real danger wouldn’t be the Freedom Pavilion—it was more likely to be...

"Miss..."

Just as Su Rao had this thought, a whisper reached her ears.

It was Ying Ying, who had returned.

Despite Su Rao’s disguise, Ying Ying recognized her at once.

Approaching swiftly, Ying Ying blurted out urgent news: there was trouble in the pleasure district.

The previous night, the elegant residence in the pleasure district had been suddenly raided, its managers taken to the Ministry of Justice. By dawn, high officials were thrown in jail.

Upon learning this, Xiao Mubai had sent Ying Ying to inform Su Rao and Su Er immediately—after all, Yun Mujing had once stayed at that residence. If its closure was linked to him...

As for Bamboo Master, there was still no news. After obtaining the elixir, he had requested to be escorted out of the city, where he’d attract less attention.

Their investigations within the city had turned up nothing beyond the earlier street disturbances, suggesting Yun Ling and the others were likely ambushed outside the city. Checking outside the city would take longer.