Xiao Wu Came to Identify Him

Xiao Wu found Feng Ce's wife and child in the clinic inside the pass. The mother and child were hiding behind the herb cabinet, and the child was clutching a pair of new, unworn shoes that looked completely different from the old pair at the west warehouse. The coachman who had brought them had already been caught by Zhu Zhuqing, and he confessed that someone wanted to send the mother and child near the alliance assembly grounds to use as hostages.

The coachman was shivering with fright, saying he had received ten gold soul coins and was only responsible for delivering people to north of the city, having no idea what was supposed to happen afterward. Zhu Zhuqing found a freshly removed wooden board in his carriage, its grain matching the bottom of the iron box in the stable, so she first had him point out the route he had taken. Xiao Wu did not rush to interrogate him, first taking the child to see the physician. The child walked with a limp, though the shoes had not injured his feet—folded hard paper had been stuffed inside the shoes.

"Eat something first." Xiao Wu placed a bowl of hot porridge in front of the child. "Your father is still alive. I'll take you to see him."

Feng Ce's wife did not immediately pick up the bowl, asking if the people with crossbows outside the city had all been captured. Xiao Wu said half of them had been caught, and a few others were hiding in the old drainage tunnels. She only spoke to the child about these visible matters, not telling him about the account of his father taking money; once the family was reunited, Feng Ce would have to speak for himself.

The physician brought clean, thin socks to