Chapter 565: Drawing the Bow Before the Post Station [Thanks! Bow again! 40k words owed]

Xingguo Lane,

Xiao Xiao Gongye Qi's Mansion,

A gatekeeper servant, dressed in decent clothing, stood at the main entrance with earmuffs on and his hands tucked into his sleeves. He watched the pedestrians on the street in front of the gate, tilted his head back, and let out a yawn, followed by a puff of white mist from his mouth.

Just as the servant pulled his hands out of his sleeves, wanting to stretch,

"Whoa—"

A carriage stopped at the main entrance of the Qi mansion.

Seeing this, the servant hurriedly shouted toward a room by the side gate: "Steward, guests have arrived."

As he spoke, he stepped forward. Seeing Liang Han step out of the carriage after lifting the curtain, the servant hurriedly cupped his hands and smiled: "Yo! Sixth Young Master Liang! Why are you here today—"

Before he could finish, Liang Han waved his hand to interrupt, saying: "Is the Young Xiao Xiao Gongye at home?"

"Replying to the Sixth Young Master, he is."

"Hmm!"

As he spoke, Liang Han stepped on the carriage stool to descend and walked toward the Qi mansion's main gate.

Just as the Qi servant stepped forward to speak, the steward also walked out from the gatehouse.

Hearing the conversation outside the gate, he waved his hand at another servant: "Go, hurry to the second gate and report this."

After speaking, the gatehouse steward smiled and went to greet Liang Han, cupping his hands: "Greetings, Sixth Young Master."

Liang Han nodded and walked quickly, saying: "Does the Young Xiao Xiao Gongye have any arrangements today?"

The gatehouse steward smiled and replied: "Replying to the Sixth Young Master, the Young Xiao Xiao Gongye was originally going to study painting with the Recluse Longmian today, but the Recluse Longmian caught a cold yesterday and felt unwell this morning, so he didn't come to the Xiao Xiao Gongye's mansion."

"Oh! So that means the Young Xiao Xiao Gongye is free today?"

"There are still some lessons in the study."

"Hmm!"

Liang Han nodded, his pace quickening even more.

Watching Liang Han's gait, the Qi steward walked quickly alongside him, saying: "Sixth Young Master, do you have some urgent matter?"

"You could say that. I'm mainly afraid that if the Young Xiao Xiao Gongye goes too late, he'll miss a big, lively spectacle!"

"Oh!"

The gatekeeper nodded repeatedly: "I wonder what kind of spectacle?"

"Hard to say."

Talking with the servant, Liang Han soon entered the second gate and, guided by a trotting matron, walked toward Qi Heng's courtyard.

Qi Heng's courtyard,

In the study,

On the wide nanmu table in front of the bookshelf, all the painting implements were arranged in perfect order.

Qi Heng stood behind the table holding a brush, a smile on his lips as he traced lines on the painting paper.

After a few strokes, Qi Heng stopped his brush, took a deep breath, and his eyes were filled with the look of reminiscence.

After reminiscing for a moment, the smile on Qi Heng's lips became even more pronounced. He moved the brush again, his eyes filled with affection as he watched the figure gradually take shape in detail.

From Qi Heng's angle, one could see that this was a painting of a desk. On the desk were an inkstone and a brush rest. Behind the desk was a young lady lying prone, and behind the lady were house pillars, rolled-up cloth curtains, and wooden lattice partitions.

Although Qi Heng was not old, looking at this painting, he clearly possessed some painting skills.

Looking at his work, Qi Heng nodded with satisfaction, wrote a few characters on it, and then pursed his lips and smiled.

But looking at those characters on the painting paper, the handwriting was completely different from Qi Heng's.

Suddenly,

"Young Xiao Xiao Gongye!"

Liang Han's shout came from outside.

Qi Heng's face instantly showed some panic. After looking left and right, he hurriedly and clumsily reached out to grab two sheets of painting paper, wanting to cover his work.

But since he had just finished painting, the ink on the paper was not yet dry. Covering it with paper would certainly ruin the painting, which made Qi Heng hesitate.

"Young Xiao Xiao Gongye!"

When the voice sounded again,

Qi Heng frowned and covered his painting with the paper in his hand, then lifted the paper and frantically used the brush to smear the characters he had just written.

Just as he finished covering it,

Buwei's voice came: "Greetings, Sixth Young Master! The Young Xiao Xiao Gongye is in the study! Please, this way!"

"Good."

Amidst the talking, Liang Han had already pushed the door open and walked in with Buwei.

Qi Heng already had a smile on his face, puzzled: "Sixth Young Master, what is the matter?"

"Young Xiao Xiao Gongye, I just heard a major event on the road—"

Liang Han was halfway through his sentence,

When Qi Heng walked out from behind the table with an excited face, saying: "Buwei, quickly, have Li Chong prepare the carriage and horses!"

"Young Xiao Xiao Gongye, how about you take mine?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Let's go!"

As he spoke, Qi Heng took the cloak Buwei handed over and walked outside while putting it on.

Previously, when Xu Zaijing beat up the Bai Gao military officers at Pan Lou, Qi Heng was in the mansion and did not see the scene.

Liang Han had only seen the aftermath outside Pan Lou afterwards; he hadn't seen how Xu Zaijing beat people.

Later, when Xu Zaijing beat up the Prince of Yan's heir and the sons of the Ruyang Marquis Bao family and the Jinghai Marquis Huyan family, the two of them were still not present, only hearing Zheng Xiao or Gu Tingye puff out their chests and speak of it several times with reflected glory.

Liang Han was fine, as he didn't know about the affairs of the Prince of Yan's fief, but Qi Heng was Chai Zhengzheng's cousin, so he knew a thing or two.

Even later,

As sons of dukes and marquises, the two of them knew very well about Xu Zaijing's achievements in Bai Gao!

This made these two hot-blooded youths even more yearning and curious, and they really wanted to see how Xu Zaijing struck in reality.

The sound of Qi Heng and Liang Han's conversation gradually faded away, but the paper covering the painting on the table was slightly stained.

Qi family's backyard,

At Princess Pingning's place,

In the hall, Princess Pingning, who was arranging today's matters for the Qi family's steward matron, raised her head and said:

"Going out? In this cold weather, what is Heng'er going out for?"

"Replying to Her Highness—"

Buwei bowed and cupped his hands, saying a few words.

"Jing'er is playing with ruffians and villains?"

Princess Pingning frowned and looked at Buwei.

"Yes, Your Highness, that is what the Sixth Young Master of the Liang family said."

Princess Pingning thought for a while and said: "Go ahead. When accompanying your young master out, you must take four servants from the mansion who know martial arts."

"Yes, Your Highness."

When Qi Heng and Liang Han arrived at the Qi mansion's main gate, Buwei caught up, trotting with four servants who were leading horses just like him.

At the gate, Liang Han looked at his own carriage, then at the Qi family's horses, his eyes turning as he whispered a few words to Qi Heng.

On the way to the Northern Liao post station—

The various people following behind Xu Zaijing and Qingyun increased and decreased from time to time; after all, many had their own livelihoods and errands and couldn't follow forever.

But in general, the number of onlookers was increasing.

Xu Zaijing's horse-riding speed was not fast. From time to time, idlers would trot past Xu Zaijing to shout on the streets ahead, attracting people to see this rare lively spectacle in the Bianjing winter.

Of course, among those called out to watch closely, there were ordinary residents, commoners, wealthy households, and squires; there were also ruffians and bandits who were well-informed and knew that the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family had a bounty on his head.

If Xu Zaijing were in the Marquis's mansion, to say nothing else, it would be very difficult for this gang of ruffians and desperadoes to even get close to Xu Zaijing.

But at this moment, Xu Zaijing was riding his horse at the forefront of the street; it would be no exaggeration to call it a heaven-sent opportunity!

Therefore, when Xu Zaijing was walking on the East Main Street, several suspicious-looking people were peeking around him.

From time to time, the onlookers were also frightened by the dead or injured people dragged behind Qingyun's horse, not daring to get too close.

And whenever someone wanted to get close, Qingyun behind Xu Zaijing would shout a few times, telling the onlookers to stay away.

When Xu Zaijing turned onto the main street inside the Chongming Gate, the long spear was placed vertically behind him, and what he held in his hand had been changed to a powerful bow.

On the road and street side, one could still see many people riding horses or sitting in carriages coming to join the fun, peeking and looking around.

Among them were noble youths in bright clothing, as well as sturdy men with unclear expressions.

When they were still one street away from the Northern Liao post station, Qi Heng and Liang Han, who were riding horses, finally caught up.

The servants of the Qi and Liang families dismounted in the alley. After walking quickly to the mouth of the alley, they turned back, led Qi Heng and Liang Han's mounts, and walked forward two steps.

Getting closer, watching the bloody thieves behind Qingyun who were either injured or dead, Qi Heng said with some discomfort on his face:

"Sixth Young Master, shall we... *gag*... continue watching?"

Liang Han swallowed his saliva, moved his gaze away from the twisted and deformed leg of the 'Color Tiger', and frowned, saying:

"Young Xiao Xiao Gongye, I think we'd better forget it. Let's go ahead and greet Jing'er, and we'll wait at the Northern Liao post station."

Qi Heng nodded and said: "Let's go."

Buwei and Diaoche were about to lead the horses back and leave the crowd,

Suddenly!

"Clack."

The crisp sound of wood colliding came.

"Ah!?"

Then, exclamations came from the front. Liang Han, riding on his horse, turned his head and saw Xu Zaijing already holding three feathered arrows in his hand, turning his body to draw the bow.

Before Liang Han could figure out what had happened,

"Twang."

The bowstring vibrated, and the feathered arrow shot out like lightning, drilling straight into the window facing the street of a two-story wooden building on the left side of the road.

Xu Zaijing, who had shot an arrow, ignored the wooden building and turned around directly. At the same time, he quickly drew his bow again. Without aiming, relying only on his intuition, the feathered arrow shot toward a roof behind his right rear.

"What happened?"

Qi Heng, who had already turned his horse's head, looked puzzled in the direction of Xu Zaijing.

Just as Qi Heng finished speaking,

"Clack."

"Taptaptap~"

After something fell on the roof to their right, the sound of it sliding down the tiles rang out.

At this time, the onlookers and commoners reacted, turning their heads in confusion to look at the roof here, wanting to know what had happened.

After a few 'taptap' sounds,

A crudely made crossbow and crossbow bolts slid down from the roof one after another, almost hitting the onlookers below, causing a burst of exclamations.

"There's someone on the roof!"

Among the onlookers on the surrounding wooden buildings, someone pointed at the roof on Liang Han's side and shouted.

Hearing this, Qi Heng and Liang Han hurriedly looked up at the house on one side.

Afterwards, Liang Han, still somewhat excited, held up his purse and shouted: "How do you get to this roof? Tell this young master, and there will be a heavy reward!"

Seeing this scene, some commoners ran over and shouted: "Young Master, this way!"

On the street, the yamen runners following behind looked at Qingyun, who had turned his head in front, and hurriedly split into four, two going to the second floor and two finding a way to get onto the roof.

After a flurry of activity, soon a sturdy man with an arrow in his neck was dragged out from the second floor of the wooden house by two yamen runners stained with blood.

One of the two yamen runners was also holding a powerful bow and a feathered arrow.

Regardless of the blood spurting from the sturdy man's neck, the two yamen runners tied him directly behind Qingyun's horse.

During this period, there were even bold passersby who picked up the feathered arrow that Xu Zaijing had knocked down with his bow arm and handed it to the Kaifeng Prefecture yamen runners.

The thief on the other roof didn't take much effort either; after being kicked a few times by Liang Han, who had scrambled onto the roof, he was pushed off the roof by people sent by him.

"Bang!"

The corpse hit the ground heavily.

Only then did the onlookers see that this thief had been shot in the eye, with half of the long feathered arrow protruding from the back of his head.

After the yamen runners tied the thief on the roof to a rope, they continued to follow forward.

Liang Han, who had come down from the roof, walked to Qi Heng's side. At first, there was nothing, but when Liang Han wanted to step on the stirrup to mount his horse,

"*Gag~*"

Liang Han leaned on the saddle and began to dry-heave.

Qi Heng's expression on the side was also somewhat twisted. Listening to the commotion from Liang Han on the side, after enduring and enduring, he bent down and also dry-heaved a few times.

"Sixth Young Master, shall we... *cough cough*... still follow?"

Qi Heng took the handkerchief Buwei handed over, wiped his mouth, and said.

"Follow! Looking at it, there might still be things happening later. If we don't follow, won't this suffering be in vain?"

"Ptooey!"

After speaking, Liang Han spat on the ground.

Xu Zaijing's two arrows just now had extraordinary power.

From the time he shot the arrows until he arrived near the Northern Liao post station, although he could feel several malicious gazes along the way, no one dared to attack him again.

The Northern Liao post station's main gate was tightly closed.

In front of the main gate, many Bianjing commoners who knew Xu Zaijing's destination had already gathered.

Looking at the thieves dragged behind Qingyun's horse who were either dead or injured, everyone pointed and gestured.

At the gate,

An official interpreter from the Great Zhou Ministry of Rites who saw Xu Zaijing walked over quickly, cupped his hands toward Xu Zaijing, and said: "Fifth Young Master, this is the Northern Liao post station. It concerns the diplomatic relations between the two countries; you must not act recklessly!"

Xu Zaijing, riding on his horse, looked at the flag fluttering high above the Northern Liao post station and said: "I cannot act recklessly, but then they can issue a bounty for me?"

The Ministry of Rites official was stunned: "Fifth Young Master, what bounty?"

Xu Zaijing waved his hand behind him. Without needing to speak, Qingyun, who was riding a horse, drew his waist saber and slashed down fiercely.

"Clang."

Yanshun looked at the hemp rope cut by Qingyun's saber in front of him, then looked at Xu Zaijing and the Ministry of Rites official in front, and hurriedly bowed and walked over.

"Clack."

Yanshun knelt on both knees and said: "Young Master, let this small one speak!"

Turning his head to look at the Ministry of Rites official, Yanshun said:

"This official, for the past two days, news has spread among the Wuyou Cave and the ruffians and villains in Bianjing that as long as one can kill or injure the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family, there will be a heavy reward, and the place to receive the bounty is this Northern Liao post station!"

The Ministry of Rites official cupped his hands: "Fifth Young Master, the ramblings of such thieves are hard to distinguish between true and false; you must not believe them casually!"

Yanshun, kneeling on the side, cupped his hands: "Young Master, this small one swears with his own life that what I say is true, and the few who haven't died behind can also testify!"

Xu Zaijing smiled at the Ministry of Rites official and said: "Official, please."

After going to the back to inquire, the Ministry of Rites official walked to Xu Zaijing's horse with an ugly expression and said: "These are all words of thieves and bandits, Fifth Young Master, you—"

Xu Zaijing shook his head and said: "I don't care about these; today the Northern Liao post station must give me an answer!"

Looking at Xu Zaijing's appearance, the Ministry of Rites official turned helplessly and walked toward the Northern Liao post station. After a round of talking, the Northern Liao post station's gate opened a crack, and a Northern Liao envoy walked out.

Looking at Xu Zaijing, who was stationed in front, the Northern Liao envoy cupped his hands: "This Young Master, what you said just now is all nonsense. My Northern Liao post station would never do such a thing!"

Xu Zaijing sneered and nodded, saying: "Then that bounty wasn't issued by the Northern Liao post station either?"

"Absolutely not! To issue a bounty and then report one's own name—what is the point of such behavior!"

The Northern Liao envoy questioned.

Xu Zaijing drew a sharp shovel-arrow from the quiver in front of his saddle, drew his bow, and aimed at the flag inside the Northern Liao post station, saying: "What is the point? The point is to disgust me. You think I can't do anything to you!"

As he spoke,

Xu Zaijing released the feathered arrow in his hand.

"Thud."

The flag fluttering high inside the Northern Liao post station was cut off by an arrow and fell backward into the Northern Liao post station.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 566 =====