Fortunately, Tan Xing, despite looking like a girl, possessed a stubborn and decisive personality.
He immediately wiped the tears from his face, allowing Cheng Ying to carry out his mother's body.
They found a small grove behind the storeroom and buried the woman there temporarily.
Tan Xing, being literate, personally inscribed a wooden marker to place beside the humble grave, serving as a memorial.
Song Chaoyu promised Tan Xing that once the situation in Tanzhou City improved, she would bring him back to move his mother's remains to a place he wished her to be interred.
By the time they finished, the earlier events had subsided.
The beggars, some dead and some fled, had indeed caused no significant harm to the prefectural office.
As Song Chaoyu led Tan Xing out of the grove, they saw a beggar stumbling towards them.
It was a beggar who appeared to be in his forties, his body covered in wounds.
Tan Xing seemed to recognize him and hurried forward, supporting the man: "Uncle Lin, what happened? What's wrong?"
"Tan Xing—"
Despite being a beggar, Uncle Lin was loyal and righteous.
He tightly grasped Tan Xing's hand and pressed a blood-stained money pouch into Tan Xing's palm: "Run, take this money and run!"
"No!"
Having lost his mother, Tan Xing did not wish to lose another person who cared for him. He simply held Uncle Lin's hand tightly: "This is all your savings, how can you give it to me? Uncle Lin, I've met good people, let's go together!"
"Foolish child, you must go! That person deceived us, he sent us to our deaths and used it as an opportunity to scout the prefectural office. I'm finished! I can't live!"
As Uncle Lin spoke, blood even trickled from his mouth.
He also looked at Song Chaoyu, who stood behind Tan Xing, and then slowly slumped down: "Tan Xing, since you've met good people, live a good life! Don't come back, don't be a beggar anymore. No one cares about our lives!"
With that, he slowly fell to the ground, his legs twitching slightly before he lay still.
"Uncle Lin!"
Tan Xing cried out, attempting to pull Uncle Lin up.
But Cheng Ying had already stepped forward, restraining Tan Xing and looking into the distance: "The guards will be here soon, we must leave!"
Tan Xing was very thin, and Cheng Ying could almost carry him over his shoulder.
They headed towards the Yueyang Wine House together—
At this moment, even the largest wine house in Tanzhou City, Yueyang Wine House, had its front and back doors tightly shut, as if fearing contamination from the outside.
They reached a secluded side entrance. Cheng Ying put Tan Xing down, and Tan Xing's emotions finally began to stabilize.
Cheng Ying knocked three times, but there was no response from within.
After knocking three more times, a man's voice cautiously emerged: "Who is it?"
Song Chaoyu stepped forward and spoke the secret code of the Eastern Palace: "Yellow sand battles wear golden armor."
The person inside paused for a moment before replying: "A lone sail's distant shadow vanishes into the blue sky."
Seemingly unrelated, Song Chaoyu responded: "This humble student is untalented, I beg for a bowl of water."
"Click—"
Indeed, the side door opened, and the person inside cupped his fist towards Song Chaoyu: "Welcome, Master!"
There were many secret codes for the Eastern Palace, but the one Song Chaoyu and her companions used was exclusively for the Crown Prince.
It signified the Crown Prince's regard for Mu Changxi and provided them with a place of refuge when assassins were present.
The gatekeeper led them up to the third floor of the Yueyang Wine House, where Steward Hu of Yueyang Wine House was already waiting for them.
Upon seeing Song Chaoyu, he cupped his fist and knelt: "Greetings, Master!"
Song Chaoyu quickly helped him up and then gestured towards Tan Xing: "Give him some water, find him some clothes, and prepare some food."
Steward Hu understood Song Chaoyu's intentions, immediately dismissed others, leaving only Steward Hu, Song Chaoyu, and Cheng Ying in the room.
Steward Hu frowned and looked at Song Chaoyu: "Is the Crown Prince well?"
Song Chaoyu nodded: "Everything is fine. We have come from the capital and need your help with something!"
Steward Hu asked no further questions and nodded readily: "Anyone who can respond to the secret code is the Crown Prince's most trusted individual. Seeing you is like seeing the Master. Please, Master, command me!"
Song Chaoyu waved her hand: "Just call me Madam Han. My husband, Han Xi, has been taken to the prefectural office. Tanzhou City may experience some turmoil in the next few days. I need you to provide some support and find a way to help transmit the situation in Tanzhou City outwards."
"This..."
Steward Hu frowned, a look of difficulty appearing on his face: "It is not that we are unwilling to do so. When the incident in Tanzhou City first occurred, we wanted to send news to the Crown Prince. However, they likely planned for a long time. Tanzhou City is now as fortified as an iron barrel. I fear it will be difficult to send out any news."
Song Chaoyu understood: "I will not force you. We will wait for news of my husband and act when the opportunity arises!"
Then, she added: "I still need to find two more people. Have Cheng Ying inform you of their circumstances."
"Yes."
Steward Hu did not hesitate: "The Yueyang Wine House is still relatively safe at the moment. Madam Han can rest assured and stay here. I will inform you of any news immediately."
Staying was necessary, but peace of mind was not.
After Tan Xing was cleaned up, Song Chaoyu met with him immediately.
The wine house had prepared a lot of food for him, and he had been hungry for too long. He was wolfing down his meal when he saw Song Chaoyu approaching and stopped.
Song Chaoyu sat down and waved, signaling him to continue eating, then asked Tan Xing: "What are your plans for the future?"
Tan Xing shook his head, a look of confusion in his eyes: "My mother is dead, and Uncle Lin is also dead. I... I don't know where to go."
Song Chaoyu, seeing that he was an intelligent person, spoke directly: "If you are willing, I can show you a path. But you must help me with something, alright?"
Tan Xing looked up at Song Chaoyu in surprise: "Who exactly are you?"
Song Chaoyu did not answer him but instead said: "If you follow me, you can do whatever you wish in the future. Whether it's joining the army, the government, or commerce, I can help you. In any case, there are ways to survive, don't you think?"
Tan Xing put down his bowl and chopsticks: "What do you want to know from me?"
Song Chaoyu nodded: "You are from the Tan family, but are you a descendant of the royal lineage of the Little Qin Kingdom?"
Tan Xing frowned, staring at Song Chaoyu for a long time before nodding: "Yes."
Song Chaoyu had not expected that someone she had casually saved could provide them with clues about the Tan family!
It seemed that fate had granted her good luck this time!
Song Chaoyu sat up straight and continued to ask Tan Xing: "Do you know Tan Ye?"
This name caused Tan Xing's eyes to suddenly contract.