I started out with seven husbands, and I worked hard to support my family while crying.

Chapter 397: Reconnaissance Outside the City

After Long Jinyan left, Pei Yan frowned, looking worried, and couldn't help but ask Fang Xiaoxiao, "Xiaoxiao, what should we do next?"

Fang Xiaoxiao bit her lip lightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "I'll go see He Jinnian tomorrow."

Upon hearing the name "He Jinnian," Pei Yan felt a lump in his throat, a deep displeasure washing over him. However, he struggled to control his expression, feigning nonchalance.

Fang Xiaoxiao was incredibly clever; she immediately saw through his little scheme. A sly glint flashed in her eyes as she teased, "Pei Yan, look at you, why are you getting more and more stingy?"

Pei Yan's face flushed red when her secret was exposed, but she still stubbornly said, "What do you mean? I'm just worried about important matters."

Fang Xiaoxiao looked at his stubborn expression and couldn't help but shake her head with a smile, saying, "Alright, alright, I know you're only thinking about the important matter."

Just then, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed past them like a ghost.

Fang Xiaoxiao and Pei Yan instantly became alert. Fang Xiaoxiao's eyes sharpened, and she shouted, "Who?"

Pei Yan quickly turned around, assumed a defensive stance, and said, "Be careful, it might be a trap!"

A dark figure suddenly appeared, and under the moonlight, the figure gradually became clear—it was Ouyang Tuoba, whom they hadn't seen for a long time. His hair was disheveled, his clothes were torn in several places, and his face was full of fatigue and anxiety.

Ouyang Tuoba had gone to find the eldest prince with high hopes, hoping to cooperate with him and that the prince would put in a good word for him with the emperor. But when he arrived at the agreed-upon place, he found it empty; the eldest prince was nowhere to be seen.

Ouyang Tuoba was extremely anxious, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. He frantically searched the surroundings, leaving no corner unchecked. After overcoming numerous hardships, he finally discovered in a secluded corner that the eldest prince had been kidnapped by a group of fierce-looking bald monks.

Without hesitation, Ouyang Tuoba clenched his fists, ready to rush forward to save the person. But just as he was about to make his move, the eldest prince was inexplicably released by the bald monk.

This sudden turn of events aroused suspicion in Ouyang Tuoba. He frowned, his eyes filled with doubt, and he wondered to himself: How could the eldest prince be released so easily? Could he have some shady dealings with the bald monk?

During his subsequent covert investigation, Ouyang Tuoba was even more astonished to discover that the group of bald monks were brazenly seizing women everywhere.

At this moment, Ouyang Tuoba appeared in front of Fang Xiaoxiao and Pei Yan.

Fang Xiaoxiao's eyes widened in surprise, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "Ouyang Tuoba, what are you doing here?"

Ouyang Tuoba smiled wryly, his facial muscles twitching slightly, and said, "Alas, it's a long story. I've discovered some extremely strange things."

Pei Yan eagerly stepped forward, staring intently at him, and said, "Tell me quickly, what exactly happened?"

Ouyang Tuoba took a deep breath to calm himself down before recounting everything he had seen and heard.

Just then, a cool breeze blew by, rustling the leaves.

Fang Xiaoxiao bit her lip and said with a firm look in her eyes, "This matter is of utmost importance. We must find out the relationship between the First Prince and the bald monk!"

Pei Yan and Ouyang Tuoba exchanged a glance, nodded in unison, and replied, "Okay!"

The next morning, as dawn broke in the east, Fang Xiaoxiao, full of energy, set off with Pei Yan towards the outskirts of the city. She was agile, her steps light, and her eyes shone with determination and courage.

Pei Yan followed closely behind her, his eyes constantly watching the surroundings.

Fang Xiaoxiao left Ouyang Tuoba in the shop to wait for He Jinnian's return.

On the outskirts of the city, a gentle breeze was blowing. Fang Xiaoxiao and Pei Yan had just stepped into a quiet village when they saw a group of bald monks gathered in the center of the village, swaying their heads and preaching to the villagers.

Fang Xiaoxiao's bright eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, and she quickly noticed the strange behavior of the group of bald monks. She turned slightly to the side, leaned closer to Pei Yan, and said in a low voice, "Pei Yan, look carefully, these bald monks' eyes are not honest, they keep sneaking glances at the women in the village."

Upon hearing this, Pei Yan frowned, his eyes gleaming as he observed the situation. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "These bastards! I'll go up and grab one of those bald monks and give him a good interrogation!" With that, he rolled up his sleeves and prepared to rush forward.

Fang Xiaoxiao reacted quickly, grabbing his arm and saying seriously, "Pei Yan, don't be impulsive. Let's observe first. If we alert them, things will get complicated."

Pei Yan clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, barely suppressing his anger. He glared fiercely at the group of bald monks and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "Fine, then I'll listen to you for now."

Just then, a child suddenly burst into tears for some unknown reason. The crying instantly shattered the previously peaceful atmosphere, drawing the attention of the group of bald monks who cast unfriendly glances at him.

Fang Xiaoxin's heart tightened, and she thought to herself, "This is bad."

Pei Yan also gripped the sword at his waist, ready to deal with any unexpected situation at any time.

The villagers frantically tried to soothe the child, but the child's cries grew louder and louder, sounding particularly jarring in the quiet village. The bald monks' faces instantly darkened, their eyes flashing with increasing ferocity as they glared menacingly at the crying child.

Fang Xiaoxiao and Pei Yan remained calm, pretending to casually pass by. The monks' eyes widened at the sight of Fang Xiaoxiao's stunning beauty, their greed evident in their expressions. Pei Yan keenly noticed the monks' repulsive gazes, and a fierce killing intent flashed in his eyes like a cold star, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists.

Upon seeing Fang Xiaoxiao and Pei Yan dressed in fine clothes and exuding an extraordinary air, the village chief immediately beamed and hurried forward to inquire. His fawning manner resembled that of a lapdog wagging its tail in supplication. The bald monks were secretly pleased with the village chief's actions, thinking that he was at least sensible.

The village chief, with a fawning expression, said, "Esteemed guests, what brings you to our humble Niujiagou?"

Fang Xiao smiled sweetly and said, "We are strangers from out of town, and we are tired from our long journey. We just want to find a place to rest for the night."

Upon hearing this, the village chief was overjoyed, thinking to himself, "The God of Wealth has arrived!" But he said aloud, "Our village may not have much else, but we have plenty of places to live."

Fang Xiaoxiao then asked, "Village chief, how much does it cost to stay here?"

The village chief waved his hand and demanded an exorbitant sum: "Only three taels of silver."

Fang Xiaoxiao frowned slightly, cursing inwardly, "This village chief is really ruthless!"

Pei Yan was also completely bewildered, not understanding why Fang Xiaoxiao would choose to stay. Taking advantage of the village chief's inattention, he quietly leaned close to Fang Xiaoxiao's ear and whispered, "Xiaoxiao, this place is clearly not right, why do we still want to stay?"

Fang Xiaoxiao shook her head slightly and said in a low voice, "Don't rush, just adapt to the situation."

Fang Xiaoxiao looked troubled and said, "It's too expensive, I can't afford it."