Lily and Lola exchanged glances, then said to Neil Zhao, "You don't know who Professor Jade Evans is?"
Neil Zhao scratched his head, trying hard to remember. "Oh, I remember now! I heard about Professor Jade Evans before—he's a super famous scholar in the Capital, invented some kind of mathematics, really impressive. Even us folks here in the remote city of Charleston have heard about him. Wait, could it be that you are...?"
"Tsk tsk, Neil Zhao, you’re not too slow." Lily smiled. "Looks like Charleston really is remote and behind on news. The real identity of Professor Jade Evans is Queen Lily of Qin, but not many people here know that yet."
Neil Zhao looked at Lily's handsome male face and shivered, nearly dropping to his knees in shock.
Damn, Queen Lily of Qin is actually the legendary Professor Jade Evans?!
She really is extraordinary!
The three of them strolled leisurely through the city. Lily and Lola's striking looks caught the attention of many young women; admiring glances followed them everywhere.
Lily and Lola were long used to these heated stares and took it in stride. Neil Zhao, on the other hand, was terribly embarrassed.
They walked to the Qin Royal Army recruitment site, spotting a long line from afar. Most of those signing up were strong local men, with a few older ones mixed in.
Recruitment for the army was much stricter than for regular labor, but the people of Charleston had endured hardship for so long that everyone wanted to try their luck. So even the older and younger folks queued up, hoping they might just get picked.
“Wow, so many people signing up.” Lily clicked her tongue as she looked at the line, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Neil Zhao nodded and said, “Under Justin Zhao’s rule, Charleston has been controlled by the House of Zhao, and life has been tough for the common folk. The army offers such good benefits—no wonder everyone wants a chance.”
“The Qin Royal Army’s recruitment has snatched away all the Zhao Clan Guards. The House of Zhao will definitely look for a chance to retaliate. Neil Zhao, let’s go sit at the tea house nearby. Take a close look—see if any of those in line are spies sent by the House of Zhao to stir up trouble.” Lily said.
“Yes!” Neil Zhao followed Lily up to the second floor of the tea house, picking a seat by the window. Neil Zhao’s eyes started scanning the crowd.
After watching for a while, he did spot a few spies from the House of Zhao.
“Master Lily, look at those men—they’re trusted retainers of the House of Zhao.” Neil Zhao pointed them out one by one to Lily. “These guys are high-ranking servants, rarely seen in public, so not many people recognize them. But I’m House of Zhao myself, so I know them well. They get paid handsomely by the Zhao family—there’s no way they’d sign up for the army. They must be here to cause trouble! Master Lily, you’re sharp. I’ll go drag them out right now!”
Neil Zhao was about to rush down to apprehend them, but Lily stopped him.
Lily sipped her tea leisurely and said, “There’s no hurry. If they haven’t done anything yet, what evidence would you have if you grabbed them now? Let’s be patient and wait. Once they make a move and show their true colors, we’ll catch them all in one sweep and track down the mastermind behind them.”
Hearing Lily’s plan to deal with the mastermind behind those retainers, Neil Zhao’s eyes lit up. He suppressed his hatred and sat down to wait patiently…
Meanwhile, the group of House of Zhao men mixed in with the crowd had no idea they were already being watched. They were still smugly preparing to stir up trouble.