The Governor's birthday feast was truly a display of extravagance, evident from the moment you set foot on the path paved with copper coins at the entrance.

At the entrance, only those without qualification were not allowed into the mansion. The people who were trying to deliver gifts were lined up for miles. The festive atmosphere, with lanterns and decorations, was even livelier than during the New Year.

Just as the festivities were in full swing, a slightly discordant sound came from the side entrance where a few young servants were dragging an old man and throwing him out.

The old man was ragged, with bruises covering his entire face. He cried out and cursed, saying, "Damn you, Wang Ronghuo! You son of a bitch who forcefully took away my daughter! Feasting on the flesh of the people, devouring their blood! I, I wish you a wretched life!!"

On the side, a person dressed in elegant attire, who appeared to be a steward, scowled fiercely at the servant and shouted, "What are you dawdling for? Shut your mouth filled with nonsense and go get me some mud to seal it!"

So someone grabbed a handful of dirty black soil and stuffed it into the old man's mouth and nose. The old man struggled weakly for a moment, without any resistance. Then the overseer said, "Drag him to a remote place and give him a good beating. Make sure to throw him far away! Don't let the commander see this bad omen!"

The old man was quickly dragged away in just a few moments.

This small disturbance hardly caused a ripple in front of the bustling entrance of the Governor's mansion.

Gu Fangfei today wore an embroidered skirt with plum blossom patterns and trimmed with buttoned edges. Xu Hang followed behind her, and the two of them presented their invitation cards before entering the banquet hall.

At this time, it was not yet time to begin the banquet. People were either exchanging compliments and making acquaintances, or strolling around the mansion's gardens.

"Has Mr. Xu been here before?" Gu Fangfei asked.

"I have not. The Governor's Office is an esteemed institution, how could a mere wanderer like me easily gain entry?"

"The artificial cave in this garden is absolutely unique. Other gardens don't have one this big. Since you're here today, let me take Mr. Xu to have a look."

The lava cave was built by the governor's construction team. It can accommodate up to a hundred people at the same time. Inside, there are narrow winding paths made of clean and spotless lava rocks, showing its high-quality craftsmanship.

Xu Hang and Gu Fangfei entered from one side and exited from the other, walking through the less crowded corridor. They chatted idly and happily: "When other people have their birthdays, the birthday star always receives guests in the main hall. It seems like the Governor-General doesn't particularly like that?"

"That's not the case. The governor is fond of lively atmospheres, but he is extremely cautious and afraid of being assassinated, so he won't come out until the banquet begins. I have had dinner with the governor a few times before, and he always sits alone at a separate table, at least ten meters away, with a team of soldiers behind him."

Walking up the steps at the corner, Xu Hang looked at the beautiful garden and thought to himself, "The higher the official position, the more ruthless one becomes. It's no wonder that there are many enemies."

Gu Fangfei glanced at her pocket watch and said, "It's about time, let's go back." As she turned around to head back, she was stopped by Xu Han. Xu Han pointed to a nearby street and said, "Let's go that way, it's closer."

The path led to a small door, but no one knew where that door led. Gu Fangfei asked in confusion, "You haven't been here before, so how do you know?"

Xu Hang slid from one end of the garden to the other and pointed to Gu Fangfei, saying, "This garden, neither square nor regular, has a pond on one side and three consecutive high-rise buildings on the other. In the middle, a cave connects through, giving it a layout that doesn't seem orthodox no matter how you look at it."

His fingers moved in the air and gestured: "Water, three horizontals, one vertical, forms the character 'Wang'. So, both the entrance and the exit can bypass the pond and return to the main hall. There's no need to take a detour through the dissolution cave."

Gu Fangfei followed Xu Hang out of the town with skepticism. They crossed a small gate and sure enough, just a few meters away was the entrance they had entered the garden from earlier. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Mr. Xu is so attentive! I was too preoccupied with the beauty of the garden and never even considered the layout of feng shui!"

While the two were chatting and laughing, a plump man squeezed his way from behind and grumbled, "Who are you guys? Don't stand in the middle and block the path!"

Startled for a moment, she quickly stepped aside. The chubby man brushed past the two of them and quickly glanced, immediately stopping in his tracks.

He first hesitated for a moment, feeling that something was amiss. Then he took a few steps back and stood between the two individuals.

The person pulled back their head, squinted their eyes, sized up Xu Hang for a moment, then cupped their hands in greeting: "I have met this gentleman before. I am Peng Bo, the special assistant to the diplomatic consul. May I know your esteemed name, sir? You look familiar."

Xu Hang glanced up slightly and cast a glance at Peng Bo. Her lips moved, and she answered coldly, "I'm just an owner of a medicine shop."

However, his attitude was neither servile nor arrogant.

Gu Fangfei thought that Xu Hang was not fond of meeting new people, so she stepped in to mediate: "Assistant Peng, hello, I am Gu Fangfei from Pengyun Business Association. This is a friend I brought with me. Perhaps you have been to his pharmacy before."

"Oh... Is that so?" Peng Bo rubbed his chin, his eyes wandering somewhat restlessly over Xu Hang. Those clear and expressive eyebrows and eyes, that tall and slender figure, he felt like he had seen them somewhere before, as if in a painting, but he couldn't recall the name of the artwork now.

The more one can't figure it out, the more they stare intently.

Perhaps that inquisitive gaze was too impolite. Xu Hang's face stiffened slightly, and Gu Fangfei could even see the faint veins popping on his forehead. So, she awkwardly chuckled and said, "Ah, it's getting late. Let's not keep the Commander waiting for us..."

Saying so, Yaoying gave a tug on Xuhang's sleeve. Xuhang understood that she was trying to help him out of a difficult situation, so he lowered his head slightly and quickly moved aside to walk out.

But at this moment, the bewildered Peng Bo suddenly seemed to have an epiphany. He smacked his palm with a punch and then quickly grabbed Xu Hang's right arm and forcefully twisted it back due to his excitement, exerting too much force and causing Xu Hang's entire body to twist back!

I remembered! You... aren't you the actor raised by Jin Hongchang in the Jinjia Hall?!