Chapter 567: A Big Fish? A Whale, Actually! [Thanks! Bow again! Owed]

"Clack!"

A powerful palm slapped onto the table.

The old Marquis of Xiangyang stood up from the table, limped a few steps in the hall, and cursed:

"Damn it!"

"This gang of Northern Liao bastards, they have no other skills, but their ability to disgust people is truly mother-f*cking seasoned!"

Glancing at Zhao Fang, who was sitting on the side, the Marquis of Xiangyang said: "I say, Old Zhao, you've been in the Imperial City Division for so many years, don't you have any way to deal with that gang of Northern Liao thieves?"

"Anyone with eyes can see it's their ghost, setting up some bounty!"

"Even if they can't hurt the Xu family kid, there's no guarantee some filthy wretch who wants money but not his life won't jump out and disgust him from time to time!"

Zhao Fang, sitting on the side, sighed somewhat depressedly: "I say, Gu Hou, do you think I wouldn't have thought of these things? But now there is no real evidence. If I go to ask, I can think of it with my butt—they will definitely deny it!"

"Those are Northern Liao envoys; I can't just send people to beat them up, can I?"

The Marquis of Xiangyang glared: "Why not? Find an opportunity to put them in a sack and give them a few ruthless blows. What can they say?"

Zhao Fang looked at the Marquis of Xiangyang: "Then the Kaifeng Prefecture Magistrate will have his hands full!"

The Marquis of Xiangyang blew his beard and said angrily: "Hmph! He can't even clear up a Wuyou Cave; if he's not busy, who is? Just fool around and delay it; once the mission leaves the capital, that's that."

Zhao Fang glanced at the Marquis of Xiangyang: "Alright, alright! I know you have many shameless ideas!"

"I'll watch and see! Why haven't your two precious sons been brought over yet? I want to take a look before I go back to the palace!"

Hearing this, the Marquis of Xiangyang had a proud smile on his face. He turned his head to look at the maid on the side and said: "Go and ask."

After speaking, a flash of unclear expression passed through the Marquis of Xiangyang's eyes: "Old Zhao, the second branch of the Han family of the Marquis of Zhennan went to my daughter's house two days ago, probing around to see if I have any secret recipes here... What do you think I should reply?"

Zhao Fang picked up the teacup, lowered his head, took a sip, and didn't speak.

The Marquis of Xiangyang looked sideways at his old friend in the seat: "Old Zhao, don't play dumb with me!"

"Previously, your daughter was always infertile, but in these few years, there are two grandsons and one granddaughter. I've inquired about it; your son-in-law in Yang Zhou is sending..."

"*Cough cough! *"

Zhao Fang coughed a few times and said: "The Madam of the second branch of the Marquis of Zhennan is a royal princess. Since she went to ask Princess Pingning, you can just hint at it!"

"I came to see my nephews out of kindness, you... you old rascal, why are you talking about this?"

At this time,

The Marquis of Xiangyang's two concubines walked in holding the children.

Walking forward, the Marquis of Xiangyang held one son in each hand and said proudly to Zhao Fang: "Come, take a look!"

Zhao Fang smiled, stood up, and walked over: "I heard that you were afraid the winter would be too cold for your sons, so you installed partitions in all the corridors of the mansion?"

"Yes!" the Marquis of Xiangyang laughed.

After the cotton curtain outside moved,

A maid walked quickly into the hall, bowed to the two, and said: "Marquis, Princess Pingning has sent someone, saying—"

Before she could finish, another maid walked in quickly.

A moment later,

Zhao Fang said solemnly: "The Pei family has already led troops to go?"

The Gu family maid nodded: "Yes, that's what the official who came to pass the message said!"

After the Marquis of Xiangyang and Zhao Fang looked at each other, he handed the son in his arms to the concubine.

Soon,

At the side gate of the Marquis of Xiangyang's mansion, several riders ran out at high speed and galloped toward the Northern Liao post station.

In front of the Northern Liao post station,

The onlookers were many times larger than when Xu Zaijing arrived.

Among the crowd, there was no lack of young masters and noble sons who were dressed in gorgeous clothing and riding horses, looking like Qi Heng and Liang Han.

Outside the crowd, there were also many physicians riding donkeys or sitting in carriages, being pulled by imperial guards or yamen runners toward the front of the post station gate.

"You mean to say that the fifty or sixty people on the ground were all knocked down by the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family himself?"

"And this gang of personal attendants, servants, and yamen runners didn't help?"

Beside Liang Han, who had very broad social connections in Bianjing, a young master asked in surprise.

Liang Han nodded: "Otherwise?"

"My heavens, is he even human?"

Liang Han frowned: "Hey, hey, hey! Watch your mouth!"

The young master hurriedly cupped his hands: "Sixth Young Master, please forgive me; I was just so shocked that I spoke without thinking."

Liang Han nodded: "Do you know that disaster comes from the mouth? Pay more attention! Ah!"

The young master nodded with a smile: "Sixth Young Master is right! We haven't had such a big lively spectacle in this Bianjing city for a long time."

When the two were talking, physicians or sons of high-ranking families continued to squeeze through the crowded crowd and walk forward.

Walking to the front of the onlookers, looking at the spectacular sight of the Northern Liao mission guards wailing all over the ground, whether they were physicians or young masters of various families, their eyes widened.

At some distance from Qi Heng and the others, Lu Zhang Sanlang of the Ling Duke's family, who had never been on good terms with Xu Zaijing, moved the earmuffs on his ears and shook his head, saying to his companion:

"Why did this gang of Northern Liao missions provoke that evil star for no reason? Isn't that asking for trouble?"

The companion on the side, whose eyes were dark and blue, rubbed his hands and said: "Third Brother, why do you think the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family has such great courage to dare to make trouble in the Northern Liao post station?"

Lu Zhang Sanlang glared: "Pfft! It's just making trouble in the post station! If they dared to provoke me, I would do even more ruthlessly than Fifth Young Master Xu."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The companion on the side echoed, but his eyes were full of disbelief.

"Third Brother, last night at Feiyun Terrace, that Liang Han..."

"Pfft, next time I meet him, see if I don't extinguish his prestige!"

At this time,

A commotion arose in the surroundings,

"He's out! He's out!"

Watching Xu Zaijing walk out from the gate, the onlookers and commoners shouted one after another.

As Xu Zaijing gradually approached,

"Why is he still carrying someone in his hand?"

"Carrying him with one hand, this strength is really great!"

"Who is that?"

Everyone discussed it one after another.

After discussing for a few sentences,

Xu Zaijing had already walked out of the main gate.

The cousin of the Pei family of the Xin Duke, who brought the imperial guards, hurriedly walked to Xu Zaijing. Before he could speak,

Xu Zaijing suddenly became anxious and shouted: "Quick! Hurry and save the person!"

"Fifth Young Master, what happened?"

The Pei family cousin asked.

Xu Zaijing pointed to the depths of the post station and said: "There are people from the Northern Liao mission who fell into the well in the stable courtyard! Hurry and save the person! This old man is also anxious and can't catch his breath!"

The Pei family cousin was stunned. Looking at Xu Zaijing's confident eyes, he thought for a moment and shouted loudly: "What? Come here! Hurry and follow me in to save the person!"

"Yes!"

Seven or eight imperial guards responded and followed the Pei family cousin into the post station.

Xu Zaijing watched the Pei family cousin go in and shouted again: "In the well, in the well!"

"Understood!" the Pei family cousin replied.

After shouting, Xu Zaijing continued to carry the person to the outside of the post station and said loudly: "Physician! Hurry and find a physician! The old man is already anxious and can't catch his breath, he can't speak!"

Looking at Xu Zaijing's appearance at the gate,

Lu Zhang Sanlang, who was riding a horse in the crowd, glanced at several companions nearby and said with full contempt on his face:

"Pfft, he knows to be afraid of people dying at this time; what was he doing before?"

"If someone dies, this Fifth Young Master Xu will have to suffer the consequences! Hahaha!"

On the other side, Qi Heng and Liang Han looked at each other with some anxiety. Qi Heng said: "?"

Liang Han shook his head in confusion and said: "My mother said that Jing'er's actions have always been measured; he shouldn't..."

Qi Heng said with some worry: "I hope so."

While the few were talking,

A physician who had been pulled over walked quickly to Xu Zaijing's side and cupped his hands: "Young Master, this old man is..."

"Hurry and see what's wrong with this old man!" Xu Zaijing said, looking around as if looking for something.

The physician nodded repeatedly and began to observe the 'patient' in Xu Zaijing's hand. Looking at the person whose chin had been dislocated and who couldn't speak, the physician looked puzzled and didn't know what to say for a while.

"Young Master, this..."

"What? It's actually this serious!"

Xu Zaijing shouted loudly.

"This old man didn't..." The physician looked at the eyes Xu Zaijing kept blinking to give him a hint and didn't continue speaking.

Outside the crowd,

"Whoa~"

"Neigh~"

A line of riders running from the north where the palace city was located reined in their horses outside the crowd.

Xu Zaijing, relying on his height, scanned the few people who came on horseback and, seeing a flash of joy on his face, carried the old man and walked toward the outside of the crowd.

"Make way!"

Xu Zaijing shouted as he walked.

The onlookers, who had witnessed Xu Zaijing knock down fifty or sixty people by himself, squeezed to both sides one after another, clearing a path for Xu Zaijing.

Xu Minghua, the Marquis of Yongyi, who dismounted outside the crowd, looked at his youngest son walking out from inside and said solemnly: "Jing'er, what's going on?"

"Father!"

After Xu Zaijing nodded to greet him, he didn't answer Xu Minghua's question but walked toward Zhao Fang, who was beside the Marquis of Xiangyang, and said loudly:

"Medical Official, please take a look at this old man!"

When Zhao Fang saw the old man in Xu Zaijing's hand, his eyes widened slightly in surprise, and his brows furrowed.

After walking closer, Xu Zaijing whispered: "Chief Zhao, there is an entrance to the dark canal in the post station well! Also, this person is using the identity of a horse official... and there is... on his fingers..."

Zhao Fang listened to Xu Zaijing's words in a somewhat distracted manner, his eyes still staring straight at the old man.

When looking at the old man, Zhao Fang's head was still shaking unconsciously, as if denying some thought in his heart.

A moment later,

"Old Zhao? Say something!" the Marquis of Xiangyang said in confusion on the side.

The Marquis of Xiangyang had known Zhao Fang for a long time, and for so many years, he had rarely seen him look so out of sorts.

The Marquis of Xiangyang signaled the Marquis of Yongyi not to speak and continued: "How is this person's condition? Can he be saved?"

Zhao Fang took a deep breath and said loudly:

"This mission member's condition is serious. It concerns the diplomatic relations between the two countries. Quick! Hurry and send him to the palace! Ask the imperial physician to treat him!"

Originally, after the old man's chin was dislocated by Xu Zaijing, his eyes and expression were somewhat confused and panicked, very much like an old man who had been stunned by a sudden event.

On the way out of the post station, he would struggle, his eyes angry, and he would say a few words in Northern Liao language with slurred pronunciation.

But seeing Zhao Fang, there was a trace of surprise and panic in the old man's eyes.

At this time, Xu Minghua, the Marquis of Yongyi, said: "Jing'er..."

"Xu Hou, your and Gu Hou's horses are fast; why not return to the palace with me." Zhao Fang interrupted Xu Minghua's words.

"Ah?"

Xu Minghua was stunned and nodded: "Of course!"

Zhao Fang continued: "Hmm! Then, Xu Hou, your skill in capturing prisoners on horseback shouldn't have been forgotten, right?"

"Haha, Medical Official Zhao is joking; it has naturally not been forgotten!"

As he spoke, Xu Minghua looked at the old man who was tied up with prisoner ropes, nodded, and took the person from Xu Zaijing's hand.

Seeing this scene, Zhao Fang said: "Good, let's go now!"

As he spoke, Zhao Fang walked toward his mount.

The Marquis of Xiangyang turned his head to look, limped two steps quickly to catch up with Zhao Fang, and said: "Old Zhao, what are you doing? Did the Xu family kid catch a big fish?"

Zhao Fang looked at the Marquis of Xiangyang and said solemnly: "A big fish? Heh..."

After speaking, he stepped on the stirrup to mount his horse, turned his head to look at Xu Minghua, who had also mounted his horse and placed the old man horizontally in front of the saddle, and said: "Xu Hou, you must take good care of this person!"

Xu Minghua nodded: "Chief, rest assured!"

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing looked at Zhao Fang with some confusion.

Zhao Fang smiled at Xu Zaijing, then turned his horse's head and walked toward the palace city.

Watching the departing back,

Xu Zaijing shook his head in confusion, then turned back and walked toward the crowd, saying as he walked: "Everyone, with two marquises on the side, this old man will definitely be able to have the best imperial physician to look after and take care of him."

Lu Zhang Sanlang in the crowd pointed at Xu Zaijing and laughed: "Hahaha, Fifth Young Master Xu, I didn't expect that you would also have a day when your elders would clean up your mess!"

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing looked left and right, picked out two eggs from a bamboo basket carried by an onlooker woman, and threw them at Lu Zhang Sanlang with a wave of his hand: "Get lost!"

"Clack!"

One egg smashed on Lu Zhang Sanlang's forehead, and the egg white and yolk flowed all over his face.

Lu Zhang Sanlang felt pain on his face and immediately covered it with his hand, while his other finger pointed at Xu Zaijing: "Fifth Young Master Xu, you..."

Before he could finish, another egg flew over and smashed on the corner of Lu Zhang Sanlang's mouth.

Lu Zhang Sanlang retracted his pointing hand and covered the corner of his mouth.

Looking at Lu Zhang Sanlang's miserable appearance, the surrounding onlookers laughed one after another under Liang Han's lead.

When Xu Zaijing walked into the crowd, Qingyun cupped his hands in the crowd and shouted loudly: "I advise those ruffians who have heard the news—if you don't want me to collect your corpses, then dispel your thoughts!"

Hearing Qingyun's shout and looking at the few corpses laid out on the ground, the previous laughter gradually dissipated.

This commotion at the Northern Liao post station almost made people forget that the Xu Zaijing in front of them had killed several thieves all the way here.

Afterwards,

The thieves were taken away by the Kaifeng Prefecture yamen runners.

Xu Zaijing rode his little Li horse, ignored the Northern Liao wounded soldiers lying all over the ground, turned his horse's head, and walked toward Quyuan Street.

Great Zhou Imperial Palace,

South Outer Court,

Brothers Taifeng and Meifeng were walking hurriedly in the Imperial City Division prison.

"Senior Brother, Master said that person might be the Chief Envoy of the Northern Liao Garrison Prefecture! How is this possible?"

Zhao Taifeng said softly: "We'll know after one look. Looking at Master's tone, it doesn't seem like he's talking nonsense."

As the two brothers talked, they gradually walked into the depths of the prison.

Soon,

Both brothers showed extremely surprised expressions. Zhao Taifeng looked at the old man in the cell and said: "It really is! What kind of ability does this Fifth Young Master of the Xu family have?"

"How did you two recognize me?"

In the cell, the old man, whose limbs were tied and who didn't have many teeth to begin with, asked in standard Great Zhou language.

"The spy from the Zhuangfo Terrace you captured didn't even see me at all!"

Neither of the brothers spoke.

Suddenly,

The old man struggled and said: "Is my son not dead?"

Hearing this,

A smile appeared on Zhao Taifeng's lips.

In the afternoon,

Chai family,

Chai Zhengzheng stood in front of the easel, frowning as she listened to Miss Yun Mu's extremely fast report on the side.

"Just this?"

"Yes, Young Lady."

Chai Zhengzheng frowned and took a deep breath, showing a solemn expression rarely seen by outsiders. While dipping in vermilion paint, she said coldly: "Send out the message: whoever can provide a detailed map of the Bianjing Wuyou Cave can come and collect the reward! Once verified, the reward will be ten thousand strings of cash!"

"Yes."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 568 =====