Fu Lu drove the carriage to one side of the courtyard, and when he got off the carriage, he deliberately went to the back and brought out all the large and small packages from inside the compartnt, carefully carrying them all the way to the guest room on the second floor.
Two n dressed as assistants ca over with so fodder to help them untie the horses from the carriage and tether them to a nearby post for feeding, while also sizing up the horses and carriage, seemingly assessing their value.
The owner’s wife, on the other hand, glanced several tis at the bundle in Fu Lu’s arms, full of curiosity and calculation.
This small building was unremarkable and even sowhat shabby, but Zhu Yu and the others did not care about this now. As they were escorted to the guest room on the second floor, Zhu Yu took the opportunity to observe the structure inside, finding that it was as she had guessed—a courtyard should be attached at the back, with an obvious path from the front small building to the rear on the first floor, deliberately blocked to prevent discovery.
Upon reaching the second floor, they first went to Fu Wen Fu Lu’s room at the end of the left corridor, and then the owner’s wife warmly invited Zhu Yu and Lu Qing to their room.
"Our room isn’t next door?" Zhu Yu asked with curiosity.
"No, it isn’t," the owner’s wife nodded with a smile, "Unfortunately, recently, our assistants here ntioned that many room beds at the inn had poor hay bedding, making guests uncomfortable sleeping on them, so they dismantled much of it from the beds.
It’s not busy these days, and there are few guests, so they haven’t rushed to weave new hay bedding, aning several rooms in between can’t accommodate anyone temporarily!"
Zhu Yu casually pushed open a nearby room door and found that it was indeed dirty and ssy, with straw all over the floor, evidently taken from the bed’s hay bedding.
She feigned helplessness and looked at Lu Qing.
Lu Qing smiled gently at her, softly comforting, "My lady, do not fear; it’s just a short corridor, and there’s hardly anyone else at the inn, so it doesn’t matter if our rooms aren’t adjacent."
From the mont Lu Qing got off the carriage, the owner’s wife couldn’t help but cast glances his way multiple tis. She was surrounded by tall n, as the inn’s "assistants" were all big fellows.
But she hadn’t seen many n as handso as him in her usual days.
If it wasn’t for the big, burly oaf carrying so many bundles diverting her attention, she would have lingered longer.
Now, the man gazed at the nearby woman sentintally, smiling, making the owner’s wife feel as though his face emitted light, making it hard to look away.
However, her gaze was quickly noticed by Zhu Yu, who looked her way.
"Sister, you’re truly blessed to have such a caring husband," the owner’s wife imdiately altered her tone, smiling as she spoke to Zhu Yu, "Truly enviable!"
Zhu Yu returned her smile without replying.
Soon, they were escorted to their room, and the owner’s wife grudgingly introduced all the already modest items in the room before reluctantly leaving.
"I was worried they might torch us tonight, but seeing the owner’s wife’s gaze at you earlier, I feel assured; she probably can’t bear to ’waste such beauty,’" Zhu Yu spoke, teasingly, after the owner’s wife left, pinching Lu Qing’s cheek.
Lu Qing feigned grievance, "Then next ti I go out, I’ll wear a veil to prevent my lady from getting jealous and infringing on the Capital Vinegar House’s business."
Zhu Yu laughed while pulling out the detoxification pills Yan Daoxin had left for them, poured out four, swallowed one, and placed the remaining three in Lu Qing’s hand, "Take one and find a chance to quietly give them to Fu Wen Fu Lu.
This seems like a regular mountain bandits’ sche, not hidden experts. Yan Daoxin’s detoxification pills should be enough."
Lu Qing nodded, took one, and hid the remaining two in his palm.
Soon, the assistant ca, informing through the door that the owner’s wife had ordered als prepared, inviting the weary travelers downstairs for dinner.
The assistant spoke gruffly, with a high pitch and tone that lacked warmth, seeming aggressive, as if failing to heed him would result in a beating.
Lu Qing and Zhu Yu responded and leisurely headed downstairs. Fu Wen Fu Lu were also summoned and stood by the table, not daring to sit until the hosts did, so Lu Qing patted their shoulders, signaling them to be at ease while traveling.
Zhu Yu didn’t notice any extra action from him, but she distinctly saw Fu Wen discreetly swallowing the dicine before they began eating.
As they just picked up their chopsticks, the owner’s wife arrived again, holding a jar of wine, insisting it was her treat for the guests.
Lu Qing declined politely, citing his poor ability to handle alcohol, and the owner’s wife didn’t persist, briskly leaving with the jar, still glancing at Lu Qing as she departed.
This wine can be refused without much persuasion, suggesting the drug is likely in the food.
The four cautiously ate a few bites, having taken detoxification pills beforehand, but didn’t consu much to avoid mishaps.
While they ate silently, the inn’s assistants loitered nearby, sneaking glances at them.
After the al, Zhu Yu rubbed her eyes, resting her head on her hand, appearing fatigued.
"What’s wrong?" Lu Qing asked with concern.
"Feeling a bit dizzy, full but suddenly drowsy," Zhu Yu said while rubbing her eyes, loud enough for those nearby to hear.
Lu Qing stretched lazily, "It’s natural to feel weary and sleepy after travel and a full al.
Now that we’ve settled here, no need to remain tense, let’s rest early at sundown and depart tomorrow.
As the owner’s wife ntioned earlier, rumors say mountain bandits are about ten miles away, better to leave the area during daylight."
Fu Wen Fu Lu quickly echoed agreent, and they left al money on the table before heading upstairs; Zhu Yu appeared dazed, frequently stumbling like her spirit was fading, barely prevented from falling by Lu Qing holding her arm.
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