The night market in Chang'an has a kind of magic that gradually makes people forget everything, and only immerse themselves in the bustling sea of city life.

  Pei Tan noticed that Jing Wanyu's expression on her face gradually relaxed, like a fish that had finally swum freely into the ocean.

  Jing Waner's face was filled with a faint smile.

  Beside her was the adult she trusted most, and here was Chang'an Street, bustling with people. It's been a lifetime since she had such a relaxing and enjoyable moment.

  "Prince, shall we guess the lantern riddles?" Jing Wanyi smiled brightly at Pei Tan, as countless passersby on the streets of Chang'an stopped to ponder the lantern riddles, furrowing their brows in deep thought.

  "Little flower with the highest price, fragrance wafts in mid-August, Wu Gang uses it to brew good wine, people use it to make sugar cakes."

  Pei Tan gazed at her, a faint smile on his face for a moment: "Osmanthus."

  Jing Wan'er also guessed it immediately. She smiled and her eyes curved slightly: "Are these lantern riddles too simple for you, sir?"

  Pei Tan is the son of Pei, with a wealth of knowledge that could fill five carts, and even these shallow riddles are probably not enough to pose a challenge for him.

  Pei Tan smiled back at her: "It should be easy for you too."

  Jing Wan'er is so clever, and Pei Tan isn't unaware of it. Solving cases and setting up traps don't require much effort, let alone a simple lantern riddle.

  Guessing lantern riddles is a fun activity, and there's also a warm and intimate atmosphere.

  Jing Wantong suddenly stared at one of the lantern riddles, staring for a long time. The riddle was a poem.

  Spring day banquet, a cup of green wine and a song. Three wishes are made: First, may the gentleman live for a thousand years; second, may I always be healthy; third, may we be like swallows on the beam, seeing each other year after year.

  She had learned this poem when she was young and naturally understood its meaning, but what is the answer to the riddle if this is used as the riddle's surface?

  Pei Tan looked at Jing Wanyu's distracted expression, obviously wanting to say something, but stopped.

  Jing Yuanner also fell into deep thought, apparently thinking for a long time. She had been standing under the lamp for too long, attracting the attention of the stall owner, who poked his head out and smiled: "Miss, guess this one correctly and there's a special reward."

  It's so mysterious, but Jing Wanyu seems to really have no idea, after a while she lost her breath. She cast her eyes on Pei Tan, "Young Master?" with obvious expectation.

  "The answer is... Chang'an."

  Jing Wan'er was taken aback.

  The stall owner laughed happily, apparently this answer was correct.

  The answer is Chang'an. It's exactly this place — Chang'an.

  As he caught sight of Jing Wanyu's fleeting look of confusion, Pei Tan's eyes deepened.

  Wishing you a long life of a thousand years, eternal health and wellness, and reunions every year.

  This is naturally... long-lasting peace.

  All of a sudden, Jing Wan'er lowered her head.

  She apparently understood.

  A flower, not biased or leaning, has already been delivered to her face. The vendor's congratulatory voice: "Congratulations, miss! This flower is given to you. Wishing you a long and happy life with your loved one."

  Jing Wan'er neither took it nor didn't take it, she just felt that her fingers had all stiffened.

  Pei Tan had already reached out and taken the flower, saying softly: "Thank you."

  The stall owner smiled mysteriously and sized up Pei Tan. With just one look, she could tell he was a refined young master from a good family. This girl is really lucky.

  Pei Tan looked at Jing Wanyu with a warm gaze and said, "Wanyu, let's go ahead."

  Jing Wan'er could only cover up a hint of unease and nodded slightly.

  Afterwards, the lanterns on both sides, Jing Wanyu didn't dare to take another look, staring straight ahead with her eyes fixed. Pei Tan's hand was still pinching that flower, and it seemed like he had no intention of throwing it away. It was a newly bloomed pale red hibiscus, the fragrance was faintly visible, and the meaning of the hibiscus was something that the vendor obviously understood.

  It's no wonder that Jing Wan'er is embarrassed.

  It's clear that Pei Tan didn't want to directly give this flower to her either.

  But at this time, Pei Tan'er heard a different and unusual movement in her ear, which was the sound of several footsteps. The surrounding area was crowded with people, and there were countless footsteps, but the more it was like this, if your footsteps were different from all the others who strolled through the night market, that kind of discord was especially noticeable.

  Pei Tan glanced back unintentionally and suddenly grasped Jing Wanyan's wrist.

  Jing Wan'er is now completely without vigilance because everything around her brings a sense of stability.

  The sudden skin contact made Jing Wanyan look at Pei Tan's expression in surprise, and with just one glance, her heart skipped a beat.

  To outsiders, Pei Tan's expression didn't change much, but Jing Wanyu and Pei Tan had a certain understanding, and the slight caution in Pei Tan's eyes was already caught by Jing Wanyu.

  "Wan'er, aren't you tired? Let's go to that quiet place up ahead and take a rest." Pei Tan's eyes were filled with deep meaning.

  "Okay."

  Two people walked past the countless lanterns on both sides, Pei Tan led Jing Wanyan, familiar with the road, and directly turned into a narrow alley where there were very few people.

  This alley is not only devoid of vendors, but also dimly lit, making Jing Yuanyuan's heart feel a bit uneasy.

  Pei Tan handed the flower in his hand to Jing Yuanner.

  Jing Wan'er didn't decline this time and accepted it. Choosing this place obviously meant that Pei Tan didn't want to implicate innocent civilians.

  "Pei Tan gazed at Jing Wanyu's hair and said softly, "Wanyu, take out the new pearl hairpin you just bought and wear it."

  Pei Tan suddenly said that, making Jing Yu'er's face a little red. She put the hairpin in her arms, wondering why Pei Tan wanted her to wear it now?

  But she still took out the hairpin.

  Pei Tan took the hairpin and looked at it for a while before carefully replacing the original wooden pin in Jing Wanyu's hair with it. Then, he reached out and pulled out the original wooden pin.

  "Bo Wan, holding this wooden hairpin, looked at it and said with a soft gaze: 'Wan Er, can you give me this wooden hairpin?'"

  Jing Wan'er's face was set off by the new hairpin, which gave her a jade-like softness. Hearing this, she was somewhat at a loss: "What does the young master want with this old wooden pin?"

  This worthless old hairpin, even if it were lost on the street, probably no one would be willing to pick it up.

  Pei Tan shifted his gaze and tightened his grip on the wooden hairpin in his hand.

  The gang hiding in the dark could no longer hold back, seeing that the alley was deserted and Pei Tan was alone with Jing Yuwen. After exchanging a few hand gestures, several black shadows simultaneously pounced on Pei Tan.

  Pei Tan was facing Jing Wanyu the moment before, and the next moment his hand holding the hairpin had swung out, the hairpin and sleeve, in the dark night, drew a fleeting arc.

  Jing Wan'er's eyes gradually cleared up in the dim light.

  He looked back and saw that the sharp point of the wooden hairpin was already pressed against someone's throat.

  The sneak attacker was apparently frightened out of his wits; he hadn't expected that before he even had a chance to get close, someone would already be pointing at his vital spot.

  "Who sent you?" Pei Tan's gaze swept across their faces for an instant.

  His movements were too fast, and when he pointed at the throat, the remaining few people still holding knives, maintaining their posture of pouncing forward, froze in place, their feet clearly stopping abruptly, not daring to move a single thread.

  Everyone's face was gloomy and staring at Pei Tan.

  They're all just mixed up on the road, and Bai Tanliang just showed off his skills a bit, enough to defeat them all on the spot.

  If they still dare to move forward, they will undoubtedly be killed by Pei Tan in seconds.

  The rumor that the young master of a noble family doesn't know martial arts is now nothing short of a joke.

  That leader was indeed a clever person, and instantly slid to his knees, saying: "We... we have eyes but no pearls, shouldn't take advantage of the chaos to rob..."

  Even now, I would rather die than reveal my identity, and be willing to become a bandit.

  The people around looked at the big boss and were shocked to see him directly kneel down. The expressions on each of their faces were extremely vivid, except for the one who was pointed at the neck, who didn't dare say or move anything, only sweating coldly.

  Jing Wanyi's gaze swept over the knives in those people's hands, "Robbers?" Although these knives didn't have any markings, judging from the material they were made of, they were probably forged from Xuan Tie. Such precious materials, would robbers be equipped with such fine blades?

  Jing Wan'er didn't even need to make a sound to break it, this was simply stepping on Pei Tan's IQ with her feet.

  "Are you people from the Li family?" Pei Tan didn't bother with any probing and directly asked.

  The current Chang'an City, who dares to approach him and has recent grievances, is only one Li family father and son.

  "No! We aren't!"

  Jing Wan'er looked at him with a mixture of emotions.

  These few people are now scared out of their wits. Their actions tonight were originally self-directed, and they just wanted to take credit after the fact. If they really get caught by the Li family and let the Li father and son know, they're probably going to die without knowing how miserable they'll be...

  Everyone's legs turned weak and soft.

  Pei Tan looked at their expressions, this dying look can explain a lot of things. Looking at them earlier when they launched the attack in a disorganized manner, it's likely that Li Xiao and his son didn't send someone to follow and ambush them in advance.

  But these people's urgent postures of wanting to kill are still apparent.

  "You took advantage of the 15th night and assassinated an official appointed by the imperial court. Do you know what crime this is?" he asked faintly.

  "Who is this noble gentleman?" The leader's eyes flickered, and he smiled humbly, "We... we don't know who you are, sir... We just saw that your attire is extraordinary..."

  Their goal was never Pei Tan, but Jing Wanyan all along.

  Pai Tan is wearing ordinary clothes, where does he get his extraordinary attire from?

  This acting is still not as good as the eunuchs in the palace begging for mercy from their masters.

  Jing Wan'er couldn't bear to look anymore. "Sir, why don't you call the patrol guards on the streets and throw them... all into prison?"

  This night market is prosperous, precisely because of the large number of people, so security measures are also extremely well done. Every street has patrolling Qian Niu Guards; if there's a big commotion, it will definitely attract the Qian Niu Guards.

  These words were meant to intimidate, and the few people on the ground turned pale with fear: "Please, sir, spare our lives. We didn't know it was Lord Pei Temple, please, Lord Temple, have mercy..."

  Jing Wan'er hastily asked: "Just now, who mentioned 'Dalisi Temple'?".

  She just called out "adults", and these few people were so scared that they pretended not to know Pei Tan's identity beforehand?

  Including the leader, several people were all petrified.

  If you want to blame someone, blame Pei Tan for stealing the show. A wooden hairpin had already taken away their courage.

  There's no need to pretend anymore. A dead soldier is one who doesn't mind fighting to the death. The leader's hand quietly reached for the knife beside him.

  "Go ahead," said Pei Tan.

  The knife hadn't been grasped tightly yet, but people had already withered away, everyone's face was filled with disbelief.

  Jing Wan'er was also surprised, why didn't they keep these few people and continue investigating?

  "Tell Li Xiao that Jing Wanyu is a person of the Dali Temple. From the day the Jing family was pardoned by His Majesty, the entire Jing family has been loyal to the Crown Prince and the imperial family. Jing Wanyu is the only daughter of Jing Zhe. If anything happens to her, let Li Xiao think carefully - if he offends His Majesty and the Jing family, will the Li family have a good outcome?"

  Jing Wannier's father, Jing Zheren, although he no longer holds an official position now, as a former minister who was once loyal to the Li Tang imperial family and was framed and exiled, Zhongzong and the Li Tang imperial family will always have a sense of guilt.

  If the loyal minister had just been rehabilitated and his only beloved daughter encountered a disaster in Chang'an, where would Zhongzong and the imperial family put their faces?

  If something really happens to Jing Wan'er, Jing Zhe will probably fight for justice for his daughter even if it kills him.

  Think about what happened to Zong Chu Ke in the end, he wanted to save Zong Ho's life, did he succeed?

  Moreover, Jing Wanyu now has not only the Jing family but also the Dali Temple.

  These few words were like a heavy hammer, and the faces of these dead soldiers all turned pale.

  "Remember to tell Li Xiao what I said word for word."

  Pei Tan finally retrieved his hairpin, and the person who had been pointed at also finally turned pale and knelt down.