Chapter 43: Seeing Off

The next morning, after Ruan Xing woke up, she half-closed her eyes and opened her arms to enjoy the service of the maids. The maids used soft silk handkerchiefs dampened with water to wipe her face, willow salt to rinse her mouth, and combed her hair into a bun before dressing her and putting on her shoes.

By the time she sat down, dazed, to start eating breakfast, she realized the maids had dressed her in a small, goose-yellow dress. When she moved out of Qiye's hall to live here, she had brought all her personal belongings with her.

Presumably, it was because she didn't have many sets of clothes in total, and since she had to go see the City Lord off today, wearing that pitch-black outfit would have looked like she was attending a funeral.

That was why the maids had found this one for her to wear. Ruan Xing didn't really care what she wore; at her age and with her appearance, no matter what she wore, others who didn't know the truth would only think she looked delicate and cute, lacking any sense of authority.

Hmph, only those who had been taught a lesson understood how terrifying she was! Ruan Xing thought with a bit of smugness. Watching the few Guans below sitting there uneasily, she waved her small hand and said mercifully, "Alright, let's set off."

The others breathed a sigh of relief and followed her out of the headquarters. Ruan Xing asked the Housekeeper beside her, "Is everything prepared?"

"Yes, Gang Leader. This farewell is led by you and Vice Gang Leader Hu San. Guan Zhang, Guan Lu, Guan Meng, Guan Chen, and Guan Wang are accompanying. Guan Wang said he would go to the city gate to wait for you first. The farewell gifts have also been arranged and have already been moved onto the carriages."

Guan Wang was the only Guan personally appointed by Ruan Xing—Young Master Wang Dongxing. Come to think of it, she hadn't seen him for several days; she wondered what he had been up to.

"Good." Ruan Xing nodded. The Housekeeper saw them to the entrance and helped Ruan Xing onto the carriage.

"This old servant respectfully sees off the Gang Leader."

The group set off in a grand procession. The line of several carriages looked like a centipede; it didn't look like a farewell, but rather like a long journey.

Hu San didn't need to drive the carriage this time; low-level gang members served as coachmen. Hu San sat inside the carriage with Ruan Xing. Hu San looked as if he had been meticulously groomed by the servants; he was no longer bare-chested and wearing short-cut clothes, but dressed in a light yellow long robe with his sleeves tied at the wrists, and his hair was neatly combed and tied into a bun.

It was a bit of a pity that she couldn't admire his chest muscles.

Seeing Ruan Xing looking at him, Hu San said, "Miss, what is it?"

"Nothing. In the next two days, once the Housekeeper has finished tidying up the room, find some time to go pick up my sister. Keep it low-key and try not to let people know." Ruan Xing withdrew her gaze and said casually.

"Yes, this subordinate understands."

When they arrived at the city gate, Ruan Xing finally understood what Wang Dongxing had been doing.

Yesterday, when she followed Ruan Fu's funeral procession in and out of the city gate, she hadn't seen such a large pavilion at the entrance.

"This subordinate greets the Gang Leader! How is it? I came here to rush the construction before dawn this morning; we can't lose face." Wang Dongxing's face was ruddy and his expression was spirited; he was in high spirits. As soon as he finished saluting, he immediately crowded up to Ruan Xing to claim credit.

"This thing won't be reimbursed," Ruan Xing said coolly, rolling her eyes at him.

Wang Dongxing chuckled, "How could I ask you to reimburse it? I'm using my own account."

He led Ruan Xing into the pavilion. The entire pavilion was three meters wide and five meters long, with the top edge extending out by half a meter to block the hot, glaring sun outside. As soon as one stepped inside, there was a sense of coolness. Inside were an octagonal table and round stools, as well as a silver pot for wine and wine cups.

Sitting in this pavilion and watching other officials or wealthy families in the city having to hold umbrellas and wipe their sweat, it was indeed comfortable.

"A bit arrogant," Ruan Xing evaluated, "but I like it."

Seeing this scene, Young Master Liu also came over to share the shade. He was representing the Patrol Security Division to see the City Lord off, and he smiled, "You all really know how to enjoy yourselves."

"If we didn't know how to enjoy ourselves, wouldn't you be unable to share it?" Wang Dongxing said with a grin.

"Sit. Has your brother-in-law not woken up yet?" Ruan Xing asked. She had previously told Young Master Liu to notify her when the Assistant Prefect woke up, but there had been no news for these past few days. She was certain she had returned the Assistant Prefect's soul; how could he not wake up?

Hearing this, Young Master Liu's smile vanished, and his face was full of sorrow. "He woke up once in the middle, but he only said a few words before falling into a coma again. The doctor said his body was depleted in his early years and now his Qi and blood are both deficient; it's possible that this injury triggered his hidden ailments. I'm afraid that even if he wakes up... his days are numbered."

Ruan Xing was silent. There was nothing she could do about this; she didn't truly know medicine and couldn't bring the dead back to life. The Assistant Prefect looked to be only in his forties; at this age, it was indeed too soon.

"Then you must pull yourself together for your sister and nephew. Before, your brother-in-law shielded you from the wind and rain and provided for your food and play; now it's time to pay him back." Wang Dongxing patted Young Master Liu's shoulder to comfort him.

Young Master Liu nodded with a dejected expression.

After waiting for a short while, the City Lord's carriage slowly drove over. Besides the City Lord's carriage, there were seven or eight carriages behind it loaded with items, as well as nearly a hundred guards and servants.

The carriage stopped, and a servant opened the door. The City Lord was sitting there holding a little girl in his arms. He put the girl down, stepped out of the carriage himself, and bowed to everyone who had come to see him off.

"Thank you all for your kindness in seeing me off. I am leaving before my term is up; this old man is ashamed to accept such honors!"

Everyone hurriedly returned the salute, exchanged a few pleasantries with the City Lord, and presented their farewell gifts.

Ruan Xing looked on from the pavilion. The City Lord turned his head, and their eyes met. Zhang Chenghui, who was standing outside the pavilion, hurriedly invited the City Lord over.

Ruan Xing poured two cups of wine and pushed them toward the City Lord. "City Lord, please."

The City Lord drank a cup heartily and smiled, "Little Gang Leader Ruan, after today's parting, I fear we shall never meet again. Farewell."

"Wait a moment." Ruan Xing grabbed the City Lord's wide sleeve and looked up at him. "The City Lord must have forgotten to say something."

"Oh? This old man is muddled; I don't know what I've forgotten." The City Lord raised an eyebrow.

"City Lord, you only submitted your memorial three days ago, and it takes a day and a half to travel to Huaining City. You are not leaving because your term has expired; why was the successor decided so quickly?"

She had read quite a few political dramas and novels. Usually, for a position that required a temporary replacement due to an accident, it would take two or three days of wrangling between various factions in the imperial court to decide on a candidate. The fact that the new City Lord's candidate could be decided so quickly was indeed suspicious.

Moreover, in the Simulation, the new City Lord didn't take office until half a month later, and as soon as he took office, he carried out drastic reforms. This was also very strange; didn't he need to familiarize himself with the various forces in the city? Unless he had already secretly familiarized himself with them.

The City Lord couldn't help but laugh. "Little Gang Leader Ruan is truly intelligent; it seems I cannot hide anything from you. However, this matter ultimately has nothing to do with you. At most, it will cause you some setbacks, which can be considered my small revenge for your threatening me. Why bother caring?"

"It has nothing to do with me, but it has to do with the Weaving Workshop, right?" Ruan Xing said calmly. The City Lord's gaze carried a hint of surprise. "Little Gang Leader Ruan's information is so well-informed; it seems I need to thoroughly investigate whether there is anyone in the residence who is disloyal."

"Where my information comes from has nothing to do with you, City Lord. I just heard a bit of wind. It only depends on whether you are willing to tell me a thing or two about it."

The City Lord pondered for a moment and then said, "Actually, telling you is no harm."

Hearing this, Ruan Xing gave a look, and Wang Dongxing, Young Master Liu, and the others immediately retreated, surrounding the area three meters outside the pavilion to ensure no idlers intruded.

The City Lord continued, "I haven't just been drinking tea and sleeping every day during my years in Jiangning City; I have been secretly investigating the silk case. This is a case within the palace, so I won't tell you the details. You also know that Jiangning City is good at raising silkworms and skilled in weaving; sixty percent of the silk and brocade tributes in the palace come from Jiangning City, so I started investigating from there. I just didn't expect that I would fall into Hongtou Daoren's trap as soon as I arrived, thinking he was deliberately obstructing my investigation, which threw me off course. I didn't expect that Hongtou Daoren had no connection to the Jiangning Weaving Workshop at all. I only found some minor clues, and just as you sent Nannan back to me, I petitioned the Emperor to change officials."

"Since Hongtou Daoren has nothing to do with this case, then you should have nothing to do with this case either. Little Gang Leader Ruan, you don't need to worry; the new City Lord will certainly not kill the innocent indiscriminately."

The new City Lord indeed didn't do anything to her, he only reduced the gang's control in Jiangning City.

Ruan Xing chuckled, "Such a big matter, and the City Lord is actually at ease enough to tell me so easily?"

"Isn't this because you insisted on asking?" The City Lord said helplessly. "Besides, it may not be a good thing for you to know. If the new City Lord misunderstands you because of this, it has nothing to do with me."

"That's true. It seems I have fallen into your trap again, City Lord." Ruan Xing joked. "In that case, I wish you a smooth journey."

Again? Why was it 'again'? He didn't seem to have ever gained the upper hand in front of Gang Leader Ruan, did he? The City Lord was a bit puzzled, but since he was leaving anyway, he stopped thinking about it. It was more important to go back and find the National Preceptor to save Nannan.

The City Lord got into the carriage and prepared to set off. Ruan Xing walked out of the pavilion, and Wang Dongxing immediately signaled his men to start dismantling it.

Ruan Xing sighed, "We only sat for such a short while; it's truly extravagant and wasteful."

Wang Dongxing didn't care, "But it has face."

"You can only show off for these few days. I think it's because you have too little work to do. Young Master Liu, when will the Patrol Security Division return the properties? When the time comes, hand them all over to Wang Dongxing to manage."

A smile appeared on the corner of Young Master Liu's lips, "Yes, Gang Leader Ruan, rest assured, I will expedite the return in these two days."

"Tch, maybe I love doing it, don't underestimate me! The few shops in my family aren't even enough for me to manage," Wang Dongxing said, shaking his head.

Ruan Xing shook her head and gestured for the various Guans to disperse and return home; she herself took Hu San back to the headquarters, and after telling Hu San not to forget to intensify his training upon returning, a Guan stepped forward to report.

"Gang Leader, Vice Gang Leader Hong has returned."

"Oh? Good news." Ruan Xing's eyes lit up, "Where are the things he brought back?"

"They are currently being checked and put into storage."

Ruan Xing said urgently, "Don't put them in storage, they won't be fresh if left for too long. Once checked, send them to my courtyard immediately, along with the medicinal herbs, furnace, and Medicine Cauldron used last time, plus twenty sheets of Yellow Paper and five writing brushes; send them all together."

"Yes. Will you still be seeing Vice Gang Leader Hong? He is waiting for you in the study."

"I will. After I finish seeing him, the things I asked for must appear in my room on time."

"This old servant understands." The Housekeeper hurried off to handle it, and Ruan Xing strode toward the study.

"This subordinate greets the Gang Leader." Hong Xi cupped his hands in a salute; he seemed not to have washed up since returning, looking travel-worn and dusty.

"You've worked hard, Little Hong, sit down quickly." Ruan Xing said with a smile, "How did the matter go?"

Although the Housekeeper had already gone to check the items brought back, she still wanted to hear it with her own ears.

Hong Xi said: "I have not failed the Gang Leader's commission. This subordinate has finished clearing out the monkeys on Qianling Mountain, bringing back forty-eight jin of Heart Blood, three hundred and seventy-two jin of ordinary blood, forty-two complete Monkey Skin Armor, and one hundred and seven damaged ones. As the weather is hot, to avoid the blood becoming foul and stinking from being left too long, this subordinate rushed back overnight to deliver the items to you."

"Good, well done!" Ruan Xing patted Hong Xi on the shoulder happily and took out two bottles of the Medicine Liquid she had newly refined, "This is a reward for you."

Hong Xi's pupils constricted, and his whole body shook, "This... is the Medicine Liquid needed for cultivation?"

"Exactly."

"This subordinate thanks the Gang Leader for the reward!" Hong Xi hurriedly knelt on one knee, full of excitement.

He was already nearly forty years old; originally, given the stinginess of Hongtou Daoren, he might never have been able to reach the Internal Strength Consummation realm in his life. He had not expected that just by killing a few monkeys, Ruan Xing would reward him with two bottles of Medicine Liquid. If he worked well under her, perhaps he could not only touch the threshold of the Acquired Realm himself, but his children could also start practicing internal strength techniques early.

Why be so excited? No need, really. Ruan Xing had given Hu San dozens of bottles of Medicine Liquid; if those Guans who were waiting to be fed knew about this, they would be green with envy.

"I never mistreat those who serve me loyally. Little Hong, if you can find clues about the Luoqi Pill as soon as possible, I can give you more." Ruan Xing smiled and made a promise.

"Yes! This subordinate understands!" Hong Xi composed his expression and continued: "There is one more matter. There are fifty-two households of villagers at the foot of Qianling Mountain who could not live in peace due to the harassment of the monkeys. After we went to exterminate the monkeys this time, those villagers begged this subordinate to join the Red Head Gang and live in Jiangning City. Among them are many strong young men, so this subordinate took the liberty of moving their household registrations to Xiaohe Village outside Jiangning City and brought everyone back to be settled. There are two hundred and seventy-nine people in total, including ninety-one strong young men, one hundred and thirty-seven elderly, weak, women, and children, and fifty-one children under fourteen. I ask the Gang Leader to forgive my transgression!"

It just so happened that Ruan Xing had killed off a wave and needed some fresh blood to replenish, and she guessed Hong Xi thought the same, which was why he brought these people back.

Ruan Xing nodded and said: "That's fine. Incorporate all the strong young men into the gang. You train them and assign them to Wang Dongxing; he is short on people there. As for the families, follow the method you used to settle them. Once those people are stable in the gang, have Wang Dongxing issue some Silver for their settlement so they can bring their families into the city."

Moreover, in the Simulation, those people would also form a gang and break into the city in a few years; they should be good hands at gang life. Invisibly, she had already changed their fates.

After Hong Xi finished his report, Ruan Xing told him to take the Medicine Liquid and go back to wash up and rest well.

As for herself, she had already returned to her room with starry eyes, looking at the large pile of materials for Alchemy and drawing Talismans, sighing with satisfaction.

Although it smelled a bit, this was her capital for the future. With this Medicine Liquid and Talismans, whether arming herself or the gang, she had the confidence to face the arrival of the new City Lord.

Thanks to book friend 20230729716-Ea for the monthly ticket~ (End of chapter)