Not long after daybreak, several swift horses filed out of the side alley beside the Li Residence and galloped through the rain toward the outer city, their riders in a hurry.
On a side street in the distance, County Commandant Fei Ji ate breakfast in a steamed bun shop, watching the three riders recede with a thoughtful look.
"Fengzhou Red Crow Steeds aren't particularly fast, but they have stamina. Their destination should be outside Jingzhao Prefecture. Traveling in the rain, carrying fodder, dry rations, waterskins, and bedrolls... looks like they want to get there and back quickly, without stopping along the way. Du Mushan is leading them, one of Eunuch Li's trusted men..."
Yang Dabiao, dressed as a rough fellow, was feasting across from him. Three bun steamers already sat beside him. Hearing this, he glanced over too.
"Monk Jibei, why are you watching Eunuch Li's residence so early in the morning?"
"To catch the Saint Thief! People who commit major crimes generally return to have a look at the scene. Not to blow my own trumpet, but with these fiery eyes of mine, if the Saint Thief dares flit past under my nose, I'll pick him out on the spot."
"Oh, I thought you were checking whether any of Eunuch Li's wives or concubines were cheating on him..."
Fei Ji was indeed watching Li Gongpu's residence for illicit liaisons, but not ones involving women. He was checking whether anyone was secretly going to curry favor with the Crown Prince.
But Fei Ji could hardly discuss such matters openly. Watching the direction Du Mushan and the others had taken, he reached into the bun steamer and felt around...
It was completely empty.
?
He turned back. The steamers had been picked clean, without so much as a crumb left!