Chapter 27: A Thief Never Leaves Empty-Handed

Five days later, the gates of Huai’an city loomed close ahead. The caravan had passed smoothly through the checkpoints at Sishui and Huangpu, indicating that all arrangements had been properly managed—only Yucheng Post Station was an exception.

Everyone in the group breathed a sigh of relief, especially Xu Qi.

Though this was not her first long journey, it was her first time traveling on foot with the caravan. Not only had she worn out a pair of shoes, but her soles were covered in blisters, and her legs were sore and heavy. Stubborn as she was, the more Tan Jiuding urged her to rest, the more she refused to show weakness, gritting her teeth to persevere. By the time they reached Huai’an, she felt as if half her life had been drained.

“Let’s part ways here. I wish you both smooth travels; may we meet again someday,” Bai Tingyi said hastily, bowing and urging them on.

But Tan Jiuding smirked and replied with a hint of meaning, “I’ve heard the caravan plans to rest in the city for a few days. Who knows, perhaps fate will bring us together again?”

Bai Tingyi’s face darkened beyond words.

Xu Qi followed Tan Jiuding to find an inn on the main street before Qingjiangpu Post Station that was neither too humble nor too conspicuous. It was a two-story building with blue tiles, a shop in front and a storeroom behind, guest rooms facing the street and dormitories opening to the courtyard. A somewhat worn lantern hung outside, bearing the words: “Arrive before dusk, rest early; watch the sky at dawn with the rooster’s crow.”

She paid no mind to where the caravan had gone—chances were they had lavishly booked some other inn.

“I’m going to the Grain Transport Office to inquire about Huang Zhang,” Tan Jiuding said, dropping his bag without even sitting down.

“So soon?” Xu Qi was too weary to move; her legs felt useless.

Seeing her predicament, he didn’t press the issue but merely chuckled. “I’m afraid once the escort hands over the goods, he won’t stay in Huai’an. Don’t worry; I’ll be back soon.”

He took a few steps, then suddenly remembered something. “Oh, by the way, there are two rooms this time. Rest assured.” With a mischievous wink, he left just as Xu Qi’s cheeks flushed with irritation, but she held back her words and withdrew.

“...Such a rogue,” she muttered, then breathed a long sigh of relief.

The simple, rough mattress looked more comfortable now than a bed of brocade and jade. She bolted the door, collapsed onto the bed, and quickly drifted into a drowsy haze.

When she woke, the sky outside was already dark, though she had no idea how long she had slept, and Tan Jiuding had yet to return.

She pushed open the window facing the street, hoping to gauge the time by the scene below, but a restless, unsettling energy drifted through the cold air. Xu Qi gazed afar and seemed to glimpse flickering sparks and heard the clatter of wooden blocks. Before she could make sense of it, a deep, resonant “wooo—” suddenly thundered through the night sky like a wild beast’s howl, ominously echoing throughout Huai’an, filling her ears with a painful pressure.

Something was wrong in the city.

Xu Qi immediately recognized the sound of the military cloud board, traditionally used on the city walls as an alarm for enemy attacks.

In this peaceful era of Jiangnan, where could there be a siege? It must be something equally grave, something terrible—and sure enough, before long, a night patrol squad from the Military Police appeared at the street corner, torches flickering as they carried water-and-fire staffs and iron rulers, going door to door smashing to inspect.

“What are they looking for?” a dark thought crossed Xu Qi’s mind. “Worse, Tan Jiuding still hasn’t returned. Could it be...?”

The patrol soon approached the inn.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” Xu Qi was startled, quickly turning to look at her own door.

“Who’s there?”

“Guest, guest? Please show your travel permit and come downstairs. The authorities are inspecting; don’t delay.”

The innkeeper hurriedly spoke, then moved on to knock on the neighboring door.

Looking once more outside, the smell of torch smoke drifted into the courtyard. The soldiers wore stern expressions, their sharp eyes catching every subtle detail in the flickering light.

Xu Qi’s heart pounded fiercely.

She gathered herself, pinned up her hair, changed into proper female attire, pocketed her travel permit and talisman, and went downstairs.

In the courtyard stood over a dozen guests, their faces mirroring her own anxiety and confusion.

The patrol officer, clad in padded armor with a pheasant feather in his hat, strode forward, scanning each guest’s face. Unexpectedly, he spent no time on Xu Qi and didn’t even check her permit. “Are you all here?” he barked at the innkeeper.

“Uh, there are ten rooms total, including dormitories,” the innkeeper counted, “but one distinguished guest upstairs has not returned.”

“Not returned?” The officer’s black boots halted abruptly. He turned back with an expression like a beast ready to pounce. “What’s the name?”

The innkeeper honestly handed over the guest register.

“...Tan Dingzhi?”

Xu Qi’s heart skipped a beat. Dingzhi was Tan Jiuding’s courtesy name, and the forged travel permit used for convenience bore this alias. He really hadn’t come back.

Had something happened to him?

The officer suddenly pulled out a wanted poster, questioning the innkeeper, “Is this the person?”

“Hiss...” The innkeeper squinted, scrutinizing the image from near and far, then hesitated before shaking his head, “The build is somewhat similar, but the face... more refined.”

Xu Qi discreetly rubbed her feet and took a half-step back, sneaking a glance. The figure depicted was indeed burly, with a thick, steel-needle-like beard.

Only then did she feel somewhat reassured.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, yes, I’m sure.”

The officer snorted in displeasure, as though pressed for time, and waved his arm decisively. “Move out!”

The dozen or so night patrol soldiers turned sharply and left in formation, leaving behind lingering unease within the inn.

Some guests folded their arms and returned to their rooms; others lingered to talk, while some pressed the innkeeper for details.

Xu Qi strained to listen—

“There was a theft in the city a few days ago.”

“A thief? What kind of thief could alarm the Military Police?”

“A thief is nothing unusual, but it depends on who was robbed.”

“Who?”

“The Chen family from Salt Permit Alley, and the Qiu family from Yun Brocade Lane south of Zhenhuai Tower... Since you’re travelers, you might not know—one is a major salt merchant, the other the head of the silk guild.”

“Oh my, that’s bold. No wonder the alarm sounded so urgently.”

“That’s not all. The worst is yet to come—also stolen from was the Residence of the Huai’an Guard Commander.”

“Hiss...” The crowd fell silent, sucking in their breath in shock.

A theft at the residence of a third-rank Guard Commander?

This was no ordinary case; the thief must be brazen indeed.

Xu Qi was equally stunned.

The innkeeper said it was not prudent to discuss further and asked the guests to return to their rooms.

As Xu Qi pondered heading back, a dust-covered man entered the inn. “So cold, innkeeper. Feels like it’s about to snow.”

He hugged his arms and stamped his feet, greeting the innkeeper warmly.

“Ah, you’re back. Just now...”

“Tan... cough, Dingzhi. Let’s go inside and talk.”

The innkeeper glanced at Xu Qi in her female attire, smiled wryly, and nodded at Tan Jiuding. “Please, sir, go upstairs first. It really is cold tonight.”

Ascending the stairs, once the door was shut, the brazier was soon warming the room.

Tan Jiuding shrugged off his cloak and warmed his hands by the fire. Without waiting for Xu Qi to ask, he said, “Did someone come to search?”

“Mm,” Xu Qi moved a stool beside him. “What happened?”

Tan Jiuding stared into the fire, its flickering light shining in his eyes. His expression was unreadable, quite different from earlier when he chatted with the innkeeper. “The Hengchang Pawnshop across from the dock warehouse was robbed.”