Along with the barking of several wild dogs in the distance, a little light from a fire starter suddenly appeared on a pile of rocks an arrow's distance from him. After flickering several times, the fire starter was like a phosphorescent light in the dark night, and then extinguished by the wind.
Pei Xiaoyuan walked towards the fire, and soon, a man walked out from the opposite side in the night. The man was strong and sturdy, but his steps were very agile. He came to Pei Xiaoyuan and greeted him, but Pei Xiaoyuan stopped him: "Uncle He, there is no need to be polite."
This person was He Jin who had returned to Ganliang earlier. He led Pei Xiaoyuan to the pile of rocks, looked at him in the moonlight, and said happily: "I haven't seen you for a few months, you look more energetic!"
"Uncle He, you've worked hard. How is your uncle doing lately?"
He Jin followed Pei Ji to the Eastern Capital. This time, he came to Chang'an secretly without telling Pei Ji. He said, "Mr. Pei is in good health, don't worry. It's okay for you to stay here."
Pei Xiaoyuan agreed, and after a brief greeting, he didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Did you gain anything?"
He Jin's expression immediately turned serious. He looked around and then lowered his voice and said, "Last time I separated from my husband, after returning, I continued what my husband had done before and mobilized people to search for possible places. However, there was no trace of that person until a month ago, when I finally got a piece of news that he might not have returned to Xifan at all, but disguised himself and continued to hide in Chang'an to save his life."
Pei Xiaoyuan pondered.
At that time, Chen Sida was entrusted by his father Pei Gu to lead the army back to the capital to protect Crown Prince Jingsheng. However, he stopped halfway on the grounds of encountering a flood. It was obvious that he betrayed his commander and defected to Prince Ding.
Not only that, for so many years, Pei Xiaoyuan has always suspected that Chen Sida was not the only one who betrayed his father.
On that day, Pei Gu received the order from Prince Jingsheng to leave Beiyuan, and acted very secretly. Even the withdrawal was arranged at night, and the troops were withdrawn quietly in batches, in order not to alert the Xiban people. If he was discovered by the enemy's spies later, it would be inevitable. However, how could it be so coincidental that just two days after he left, the enemy army attacked in large numbers, forcing him to hand over the matter to Chen Sida and return to defend the city, which led to a series of changes later.
Pei Xiaoyuan couldn't help but suspect that someone had leaked the information in order to prevent his father from returning to Beijing.
Three years ago, after the battle of the Western Frontier, he learned that a Xifan noble who had led the attack on Beiyuan was defeated and surrendered, and became an official in the Holy Dynasty. This person should know some of the inside stories of the year. However, before Pei Xiaoyuan found an opportunity to approach him, the man moved to Chang'an. Soon, because of jealousy, he became envious of others for taking a beautiful Bodhisattva Man in the music studio as a concubine, and was stabbed to death in the street. He had a confidant, whose Chinese name was Chada, who probably fled overnight out of fear and disappeared afterwards.
Pei Xiaoyuan has been secretly looking for Chada for the past three years. Last autumn, he left Ganliang, nominally to go hunting and relax in Chengping, but actually to look for someone. After returning without success, he happened to meet Pei Ji who arranged a marriage for him, and then he was summoned to Beijing. His plan was interrupted, but He Jin did not stop and continued to keep in touch with the spies sent to Xifan on his behalf.
Just a few days ago, Pei Xiaoyuan received news from He Jin and learned that he had also arrived in Chang'an, so he made an appointment to meet here tonight.
"That man should not have fled back to Xifan. If he had, he would probably not be accepted by his tribe. His appearance is different from ours. If he sneaks out of Chang'an and goes to another place, he will easily attract attention and it will be difficult for him to settle down. If he continues to stay in Chang'an, there are all kinds of people in the capital. It would be easier for him to hide if he disguises himself."