Chapter 471: She knows it too well [Thanks! Thanks again! 42k words owed]

Watching Liao Zhang Sanlang's retreating back as he charged out,

The Li family brothers, Taotie and Li Chi Mei, rode their horses forward and walked to Xu Zaijing's side along with Qingyun, the four standing side by side.

"Go! Follow!"

The four riders descended the dirt slope, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Amidst the sound of horse hooves,

Very quickly, the five people vaguely surrounded the line of carriages and horses on the official road.

On the official road,

The driver of the first carriage, with white hair and beard, held a horse whip made of thin bamboo,

And when he saw the masked knights holding sabers and bows charging over, he jumped off the carriage shaft and walked to the front to hold the horse's reins.

"Whoa~ whoa~"

The driver stopped the carriage and turned his head to look at the carriage.

On the other side of the carriage shaft, a young man dressed in decent clothes also jumped down.

The driver looked around while gripping the reins in his hand, suddenly finding it difficult to choose.

If he abandoned the carriage and horses, there would be no livelihood for his family in the city.

If he didn't abandon the carriage and horses, he might lose his life.

Looking at the knight stationed in the middle of the road holding a long saber, the elderly driver helplessly cupped his hands toward the surroundings and shouted:

"Several strong men, we are horsemen from the ox and horse carriage firm in the city. This time we are hired to send people to the villa, and we don't have much silver on us!"

"I ask you all to raise your hands high; later we will inform Elder Tian, and there will certainly be generous gifts sent."

The knight on the official road controlled his mount, which he was not familiar with, raised his saber, and shouted: "Today I only want the people in the carriage. You put the people down, and I naturally won't make things difficult for you!"

"This..."

The white-haired and white-bearded driver turned his head and hesitated, exchanging glances with the young man beside the carriage.

The young man walked to the front of the carriage and cupped his hands: "Several, I am a steward of the Wang family. The old master of the family is entitled to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple! Today, I ask you all to provide convenience and let me complete this errand!"

"If we meet again in the future, we will definitely reward you heavily!"

"Hee-ly-ly!"

Not far to the side, a horse stood up on its hind legs.

"Swish~ swish~ swish~"

"Thud, thud, thud."

Three arrow sounds.

In an instant,

The carriage on the official road was nailed with three feathered arrows, the arrowheads deeply embedded in the carriage box or wheels.

Looking back at the feathered arrows on the carriage, the young man had fear in his eyes but still said stubbornly: "You really are asking for trouble..."

The white-haired and white-bearded driver hurriedly took a few quick steps and pulled hard on the young man's sleeve to interrupt his words.

Subsequently, the driver cupped his hands repeatedly toward the archer knight and shouted to the driver behind: "Throw the people down!"

The young man widened his eyes and was about to speak.

The driver said urgently: "I say, young master, people have given you a ladder, so just shut your mouth! This little one doesn't want to die here!"

The driver pointed to the feathered arrows again and said: "With these three feathered arrows here, no one will blame you for messing up the errand!"

The young man looked around, and seeing the three knights who hadn't drawn their sabers just now were now holding sabers in their hands, he nodded sheepishly.

Subsequently, the drivers muttered words like "Qi Da, don't blame us for not saving you," and "Qi Er, we still have family to support,"

And dragged the two people, who were full of terror in their eyes, off the carriage and placed them on the side of the road.

Finally, the one dragged off the carriage was Mama Qi, who used to be very decent; at this time, her hair was disheveled and her clothes were worn out.

Because she was too heavy, she even strained the waists of the driver and the young man when she was dragged off the carriage.

The elderly driver looked at the Qi family members who were crawling with difficulty, wanting to escape, shook his head, walked to the carriage, and pulled the feathered arrows out of the carriage box with force.

Holding the feathered arrows in both hands, he bowed in salute toward the knight not far away, put the feathered arrows into the carriage box,

The driver behind followed suit, then hurriedly led the horses to turn and leave.

"Ta-ta~"

The horse hooves with horseshoes stopped not far away, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Someone dismounted,

A pair of legs stood in front of Qi Da,

Qi Da, covered in dust, looked up along the legs,

Looking at Liao Zhang Sanlang, who had pulled down his mask, Qi Da resigned himself to his fate, lay on the ground, and stopped moving.

Liao Zhang Sanlang squinted at Qi Da, who opened his mouth but couldn't speak, his palms full of blood. He measured the long saber in his hand against Qi Da's neck twice and then swung it down fiercely.

When the five people left,

Li Taotie said in a low voice beside Xu Zaijing: "Fifth Young Master, I observe that the three people just now were beaten very heavily, and they were also fed mute medicine and had their arms broken. Even if we didn't make a move, I observe they wouldn't live much longer."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

For people like the Qi family who knew too much about their masters, how could they be left alive once something happened?

Not being beaten to death was perhaps for the sake of the Kang family's reputation and cover-up, or to give a chance to those who wanted to vent their anger.

Everything was finished,

The sky had darkened,

Under the Anyuan Gate in the northwest of Bianjing's inner city,

Liao Zhang Sanlang, having changed back to his own mount, cupped his hands in salute toward Xu Zaijing and said: "Fifth Young Master, tomorrow I will go to Marquis Xu's army, so I won't say goodbye to you then."

Xu Zaijing smiled: "Zhang Sanlang, have a safe journey."

Liao Zhang Sanlang returned the salute, nodded toward the Li brothers and Qingyun, and then turned and left.

The four of Xu Zaijing continued to hurry toward Quyuanjie.

On the road,

The little Li Ju stepped with incomparable steadiness,

Xu Zaijing looked at the bustling Bianjing streets before him, his thoughts complex.

He thought mostly of the stories in his blurred memories, but now that the Emperor had a son, and Bai Daniangzi and Wei Shuyi were still alive, many things had become different.

'I wonder what else will happen in the future.'

Xu Zaijing thought to himself.

"Young Master?"

"Young Master?"

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

Xu Zaijing was awakened from his thoughts and looked suspiciously toward Qingyun beside him.

"Young Master, why didn't you speak when I called you?"

"I was thinking about something, what's wrong?"

Qingyun pointed to the tall wooden building with strings of red lanterns hanging in front and smiled: "Young Master, my wife told me before that when she was working nearby, she ate the food ordered by the master in this Yang Tower and thought it was delicious! So I want to..."

"Mm! Is the silver enough?"

"It's enough!"

After speaking, Qingyun tapped the horse's belly lightly and rode forward quickly to catch up.

In front of the wooden building,

On the large plaque were written the two characters 'Yang Tower',

The space in front of the building was quite spacious, and many carriages and horses were parked directly on the open ground in front of the wooden building.

Seeing Xu Zaijing bringing the Li brothers over, the tea and wine doctor greeting at the entrance hurriedly smiled and welcomed them: "Young Master, please come inside!"

A servant came up to prepare to lead the horses, but seeing the tall appearance of the little Li Ju, he was quite intimidated.

Xu Zaijing smiled and patted the little Li Ju's neck, and the little Li Ju walked straight to the horse trough by itself.

"This, this is truly a divine horse!"

The tea and wine doctor exclaimed with a face full of wonder.

Li Li Chi Mei of the Li brothers also patted his mount, and watching the horse walk toward a mare on the side, Li Li Chi Mei hurriedly went to pull the reins and dragged the horse back.

After returning, he was even patted on the head by his brother, who quite disliked him for being an attention-seeker.

At this time,

The cloth curtain at the entrance was lifted by someone from inside,

A middle-aged man dressed as a shopkeeper smiled and accompanied two women, followed by a servant carrying a food box. The shopkeeper walked and said: "Miss Ningxiang, next time you can just have the residence send someone to say something, and the shop guarantees to deliver it to the residence at the fastest speed."

Ningxiang smiled and said: "Thank you, Shopkeeper, this servant has noted it down."

Saying this, Ningxiang turned around, and the little maid following reached out to the servant. Looking at the two food boxes handed over, Ningxiang said: "Shopkeeper, this is..."

"This is the shop's newly released roasted chicken and duck items. Please, Miss Ningxiang, taste them and give some suggestions! Cough, also, the account of the Second Young Master in the small shop last month should be cleared..."

Ningxiang smiled: "Shopkeeper, you can just say this matter directly, why do you need to be like this."

Saying this, Ningxiang glanced at the food boxes.

"Isn't this troubling you too much, Miss! Please accept it."

Ningxiang thought for a moment and said: "Then thank you, Shopkeeper. I will definitely convey what you said."

"Thank you!" The shopkeeper cupped his hands and said.

Ningxiang bowed in salute and was about to turn and leave, then raised her head and saw the young man being led over by the tea and wine doctor.

Ningxiang hurriedly squatted down to greet: "Greetings, Fifth Young Master!"

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded: "Good."

After passing by, Xu Zaijing entered the building.

The shopkeeper withdrew his gaze from Xu Zaijing and said: "Miss Ningxiang, this person looks extraordinarily imposing but is a stranger. Which family's young master is he?"

Ningxiang lowered her head and looked at the food boxes in her hand: "The Xu family of the Marquis of Yongyi! In the past, he mostly played on the main street of Pan Lou. Why did he come here today?"

Saying this, she walked toward the Rong family's carriage.

The Rong family,

Hui Xue Courtyard,

Ningxiang carried the two food boxes and walked into the hall.

"Miss, Da Niangzi knows you didn't eat much today, so she specially sent this servant to Yang Tower to buy smoked fish!"

Rong Feiyan, who was sitting behind the table in the room and looked somewhat listless, had her eyes light up, and there was some smile on her face. She used a voice with a somewhat blocked nose and said: "Bring it here quickly!"

The food boxes were placed on the table,

Seeing Xi Bu on the side helped open the food boxes, looked at the things inside, and said: "Ningxiang, why did you also buy roasted duck necks?"

Ningxiang looked at her own young lady, who was looking at the smoked fish with intoxication, and said with chopsticks in her hand: "This, this was sent by the Yang Tower shopkeeper, saying that the Second Young Master's account from last month needs to be cleared."

Rong Feiyan sniffed her nose and said: "Mm, clear the account for Brother tomorrow."

Saying this, Rong Feiyan reached out her hand, wanting chopsticks.

But after her hand was extended for a while, the chopsticks were still in Ningxiang's hand.

Seeing this, Seeing Xi Bu took the chopsticks directly from Ningxiang's hand and handed them to Rong Feiyan, then said to Ningxiang: "What are you dazing for?"

Rong Feiyan also smiled and asked: "What are you thinking about?"

Ningxiang looked around, and seeing that it was only the three of them, mistress and servants, she said in a low voice: "Miss, when this servant was leaving Yang Tower, I saw... I saw Fifth Young Master Xu."

Rong Feiyan, who was tasting the fish with chopsticks, was startled: "Ah? Why did he go to Yang Tower at this time?"

"Fifth Young Master nodded to this servant and entered the building. He didn't even say a word, and this servant didn't have a chance to ask."

Seeing Xi Bu placed the porcelain bowl containing rice on the table and hesitated: "Perhaps some young master invited him? You were right not to ask; otherwise, what would be the difference between you and that Second Young Master of the Yu family?"

Rong Feiyan bit her chopsticks lightly and nodded, indicating agreement with Seeing Xi Bu's statement.

Watching her own young lady pick up a large chopstick of fish, Ningxiang nodded and said: "That's true! That Third Miss Yu we met before followed us and asked this and that. Who couldn't see that she was asking on behalf of her brother!"

"We aren't even familiar with her! She is really not at all like the sensible Eldest Miss Yu."

Seeing Xi Bu nodded and said again: "Miss, you have caught a cold. Although you are better these days, you still shouldn't go boating on Jinming Pool."

Rong Feiyan: "Mm, I won't go! In two days, when the examination results are posted, we will go watch the excitement of catching a son-in-law under the list."

The two maids heard this and looked at each other happily.

Coming out of Yang Tower,

Each of Xu Zaijing's party had a food box hanging on their saddle.

Pacing their horses to Pan Lou Main Street,

"Deng-deng~"

The crisp sound of a pipa came from a shop on the side of the street.

Watching the little Li Ju carrying Xu Zaijing walking toward the shop entrance,

Qingyun and the Li brothers hurriedly followed.

"Young Master, what are you buying?"

Qingyun dismounted and followed behind Xu Zaijing, saying.

Xu Zaijing gave an 'mm' sound and stepped into the shop.

"Guest, what would you like?"

The shopkeeper behind the table saw a guest and hurriedly came out to ask.

Xu Zaijing didn't speak, only tilted his head and looked at the upper floor of the shop: "Why did this music stop?"

The shopkeeper thought that Xu Zaijing, who was dressed extraordinarily, still wanted to listen to the pipa, so he cupped his hands and smiled:

"Guest, the one performing upstairs is our Bianjing's number one pipa player, Wei Xingshou! When she has leisure and interest, she will come to the small shop to play a tune."

"Whether one can hear it, and whether it can continue, all depends on Wei Xingshou's interest."

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded: "I have indeed heard of the silver for Wei Xingshou to perform a tune."

The shopkeeper smiled somewhat complacently, reached out to signal Xu Zaijing to walk inside, and continued: "Guest, this old one observes that you look somewhat familiar. Have you been to the shop before?"

Xu Zaijing said: "That's right, I was also there for the 'Kueixing Pointing to the Dipper' time."

The shopkeeper's eyes widened, and then he patted his forehead repeatedly: "I remember now! So it is Fifth Young Master in person, this old one has been rude."

"Shopkeeper, what are you saying."

Watching Xu Zaijing walk toward the displayed inkstones, the shopkeeper hurriedly had the little servant in the shop take out several more inkstones.

The two were talking,

In a short while,

The pipa sound upstairs actually rang out again, the melody soothing and quite pleasant to listen to.

Holding an inkstone with a cute shape, Xu Zaijing handed it to the shopkeeper, listened for a moment, and said: "It seems I am lucky today."

On the second floor of the shop,

Wei Fangzhi sat by the window, holding the pipa and playing with concentration.

Beside her stood a little maid with a lively look in her eyes. The maid looked downstairs and said in a low voice: "Xingshou, the guest just now has mounted his horse and left."

Wei Fangzhi didn't speak, played for a while longer, and then slowly stopped: "Let's go back."

"Oh!"

The little maid hurriedly packed up her things and stood beside Wei Fangzhi. Looking at Wei Fangzhi, who was wearing a veil and sitting by the window looking outside, the little maid smiled and said:

"Xingshou, you have never performed the pipa more because of anyone else! Which family's young master is that? Is he the ideal husband in your heart..."

"Shut your mouth quickly!"

Wei Fangzhi stood up abruptly holding the pipa, frowned at the little maid, and scolded with a somewhat severe voice.

The little maid was startled, with some panic in her eyes, and hurriedly lowered her head to reply: "Yes! Yes! Xingshou!"

"In the future, you are not allowed to say such things again, otherwise I will change to someone else!"

"Yes, Xingshou, this servant has remembered! Please don't drive me away!"

Although the little maid was not old, she had seen quite a few people, and a mistress with a good heart like the one before her was as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

Wei Fangzhi sighed: "Alright! Stand still. Have the shopkeeper call for a carriage."

"Yes, Xingshou."

The little maid stepped downstairs,

Wei Fangzhi didn't sit down and continued to stand by the window looking at the bustling Pan Lou Main Street. The reason she was so uncomposed just now was really because she knew too well the status of that Fifth Young Master Xu in the heart of a certain young lady! That person, with just a single thought, had changed her own sinking fate.

To say that she had no good feelings for this Fifth Young Master Xu would be a lie,

However, some people were truly not ones she could covet.

Watching the carriage and the experts among the mounted guards stop at the entrance downstairs,

Wei Fangzhi held the pipa and walked downstairs.

The next day,

The Sheng family,

Jin'an Study,

Minglan's aunt Wei Yuyi smiled at Xiaodie, who was serving tea, and said: "It really is that happy events make people feel refreshed; Xiaodie looks even better."

Xiaodie glanced at Wei Wei Xiaoniang somewhat shyly: "I, I will go see if the clothes are dry."

Watching Xiaodie walk out of the room, Wei Yuyi shook her head and said in a low voice: "Silly girl, what clothes could be dry in the early morning?"

After speaking, Wei Yuyi looked at Wei Wei Xiaoniang and said: "Sister, the Second Da Niangzi of the Marquis's residence asked me to come and persuade you."

Wei Wei Xiaoniang was startled: "Miss Hualan?"

Wei Yuyi nodded and looked at Wei Wei Xiaoniang somewhat reproachfully, saying: "You keep saying you'll think about it, but you haven't said whether you'll take over or not!"

Wei Yuyi sighed and said earnestly:

"Sister, this matter cannot be fooled through! Speaking of which, not letting Wang Da Niangzi manage the household is also the Sheng family's explanation to the Marquis's residence! If this isn't executed, wouldn't it be a joke?! If you really let that one surnamed Lin manage the household, can you still have a good life?"

"I don't care what you think, but you must think about my nephew in the future?!"

"Besides! You were sent to the Sheng family by the Wang family, so you count as half of one of their own. The Wang family won't be unhappy if you manage the household!"

Wei Wei Xiaoniang looked at her younger sister and hesitated: "Then... shall I try?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 472 =====