Yin Shuangshuang, disguised as a frail scholar, had been living in this small mountain village with everyone for half a month when Yan Qi, Yan Ba, and Yan Jiu, whom she had sent out to gather information, finally returned.
The news they brought back was grim. There was an ambush on the only road back to the Capital City, and returning would be even more difficult as, for some unknown reason, the government was conducting a bandit suppression campaign, with soldiers scouring the hills in search of bandits.
There had never been reports of large-scale banditry in that area, so what bandits were they really after?
Even if it were bandit suppression, it wouldn't require such a display of force. It was clear that the intent was not truly about the bandits; local bandit suppression didn't need to be reported to the court. The official leading the campaign was undoubtedly someone from the Fifth Prince's faction.
