Chapter 49: Yin Cha Yang Cuo

Gossip is human nature, no matter the dynasty or era.

Qingyuan Prefecture isn't large; not only the inn guests, or the shopkeeper and waiters, but even the cook who went to the wedding banquet yesterday to collect tips and thanked them profusely were all inexplicably excited now. Although they spoke up for the Wang family's injustice, their expressions were all beaming with delight. Wu Chengyu even heard everyone within a hundred meters discussing this matter.

Once the news spread, various rumors immediately ran rampant, and the gossip content became uncontrollable.

"Heard about it? Before the Liu family's young lady got into the bridal sedan, the matchmaking maid personally checked and confirmed it was her, and she didn't leave the sedan along the way. But once she arrived at the Wang family, her personality suddenly changed. I heard a demon came and did a Raccoon Dog Replaces Prince trick—the one in the sedan is a demon woman, and the real Miss Liu was eaten by the demon woman long ago."

"Nonsense. My maternal aunt's second husband's lover is a Liu family guard. He said that on that day, one of the Liu family guards was missing. He probably eloped with Miss Liu."

"Wrong. Isn't your second aunt's lover a boat boss from the Sihai Chamber of Commerce? Last time you bragged about buying pearl powder cheaply from the Sihai Chamber of Commerce. How did the lover change again?"

"My second aunt's lover isn't just one person. Don't interrupt. You say, if it really was elopement, that's good too, saving her from marrying into the Wang family and suffering those filthy abuses."

"The Wang family is an Official And Gentry Family, with high status. Even if the Wang family's young master is a sickly weakling, she still becomes the Wang Shaonai. Where isn't good? Every day is fine clothes and jade food."

"You don't understand. The Wang family has only this one son. He's clearly going to die soon. Marrying a new daughter-in-law won't let them continue the family line. The Wang family will go extinct in the future. So they must have a bride, and then the bride giving birth is only natural."

"You mean Old Master Wang personally took action? As expected of a scholar, there are many methods."

"However, I think even serving Old Master Wang isn't bad. I once saw Old Master Wang from afar. He's old, but his spirit is still quite lovable."

…………, rumors spread wider and wider. In a short while, Old Master Wang's digging one's own grave affairs were already known throughout the streets and alleys. Also, the one who eloped with Miss Liu changed from a Liu family guard to a chamber of commerce boss. Even Er Lai Zi, who was begging by the street two days ago and is now missing, became a suspect.

This will absolutely be the talk of the ordinary commoners of Qingyuan Prefecture after meals for the next few months. With these gossip, they can eat at least two more bowls of rice every day.

After breakfast, Lu Dage and the others packed their luggage. Yu Xiaowu brought Wu Chengyu to the carriage and horse shop in Qingyuan Prefecture and returned the carriage Shopkeeper Wei rented in Gushan. As for that coachman, the carriage and horse shop didn't even ask. As long as the carriage and horses were unharmed, it was fine.

Wu Chengyu now had several hundred taels of silver on him. He simply spent thirty taels to buy a new carriage, which was much sturdier than the previous one, and the carriage compartment was half larger.

When they returned to the inn and prepared water and dry rations for the journey, Wu Chengyu held A Ku and got on the new carriage. He Zhiyu was also in the carriage. Yu Xiaowu still drove the carriage.

After the carriage had gone a few steps, Wu Chengyu's expression suddenly became somewhat intriguing. He hummed a song softly, a smile on his lips, and his right index finger tapped the tabletop aimlessly.

The carriage was heading toward the North City Gate. Along the way, there were more and more yamen runners and constables, and some people wearing servant uniforms helping out. They were probably servants from the Wang and Liu families.

The carriage was stopped twice along the way. Each time, they focused on checking the women in the carriage. But He Zhiyu and A Ku were obviously not the main targets at a glance. No one even looked properly at Niu Dajie riding the horse. They were immediately released. Lu Dage and the others didn't want to cause trouble, so they let them check.

Clearly, these constables and yamen runners, if they were slightly more diligent and bent down to look under the carriage, would have a big harvest. Unfortunately, things went against wishes. These people obviously didn't want to provoke people from the martial world. They hastily confirmed the women and released them directly.

From the moment Wu Chengyu got on the carriage, he faintly smelled a flower fragrance. The scent was very light, and ordinary people easily ignored it. Even Wu Chengyu didn't take it seriously. But the next moment, he heard five heartbeats on the carriage.

His own, Yu Xiaowu's driving outside the carriage compartment, A Ku's, He Zhiyu's. The last heartbeat was right under their feet, or rather, under the carriage compartment.

Combining with the hottest news in Qingyuan Prefecture these past two days, Wu Chengyu had fifty percent confidence that the person hiding under the carriage should be that runaway bride.

Wu Chengyu hadn't thought about actively helping her escape to safety. The other party involved an Official And Gentry Family and a Local Tyrant. Their power in Qingyuan Prefecture was enormous. Rashly interfering might bring trouble to himself and Lu Dage and the others. Moreover, the cause and effect of the matter were just guesses, the truth unclear. Wu Chengyu really couldn't find a reason to help her.

However, Wu Chengyu was never willing to think things for the better. After all, a young girl becoming her natal family's bargaining chip, marrying a Sickly Ghost. Whether the Wang family or the Liu family, neither were good things. Whether that Wang family old master wanted to dig one's own grave, thinking carefully, in this era it was really possible.

So from the bottom of his heart, Wu Chengyu still hoped this girl could use his carriage to escape this calamity.

After a moment, their group arrived at the city gate entrance and were stopped again. More people gathered at the city gate entrance. Especially a Head Constable with a long sword at his waist and sharp eyes, leading more than ten constables. The search intensity was far beyond those before.

This time, even Wu Chengyu and the other two on the carriage had to get down and accept inspection. Wu Chengyu's heart rose. This time, it probably wouldn't be so easy to pass.

The Head Constable was aggressive. On one side, he directed people to check the carriage compartment. On the other side, he questioned: "Have you lot seen a suspicious woman? If you know but don't report, you will surely be heavily punished."

Niu Dajie had been stopped many times along the way. With her temper, she was already impatient: "This old lady is also a woman. Do you see this old lady as suspicious or not?"

This Head Constable probably had an official status and some martial skill himself. He wasn't like those idle yamen runners who feared martial artists. Seeing Niu Dajie so rude, he glared and was about to turn hostile. He waved his big hand, and those constables all lined up behind him, ready to act at any time.

But Wu Chengyu secretly cheered in his heart. Let these constables continue surrounding the carriage. It was hard to guarantee that someone wouldn't suddenly become diligent and bend down. At this time, shifting attention was the best.

However, they definitely couldn't fight next. That would really pit Lu Dage and the others. Wu Chengyu looked back to hint Lu Dage to stop Niu Dajie. Then he turned and bowed with hands clasped to the Head Constable. What he had to do was continue shifting attention.

"Sir, don't blame us. My sister has been traveling hard these past few days. It's inevitable she's a bit impatient. She truly didn't mean to offend you, Sir." After speaking, he secretly stuffed one or two taels of silver into the Head Constable's hand. The Head Constable weighed the silver's weight, and his expression eased slightly.

The first method of shifting attention was to guide the other party to participate in the activity you wanted to do, such as handing over interactive items. From the Head Constable receiving the silver, his attention was already scattered. Next was further interaction.

"Sir, may I ask, what are the characteristics of this suspicious woman? We don't have Sir's eyesight. How would we know who is a suspicious person?"

"That woman is probably still wearing a Red Wedding Dress. She just reached Coming Of Age. She comes from a great family. Her manners and appearance are not bad..."

Wu Chengyu asked and answered with the Head Constable, while seemingly unconsciously slowly changing his position. The purpose was to shift the Head Constable's gaze from directly facing the carriage gradually outward, trying to change the Head Constable's field of vision, adjust physical space, and further shift the Head Constable's attention.

At the same time, Wu Chengyu originally stood at the position of the carriage wheel. Through a small step or two, he let his position stand behind the carriage wheel, at the unobstructed position under the rear half of the carriage compartment. In his view, the carriage wheel blocked part of the line of sight. He was small in stature. If he covered the rear half again, at least he could block most of one side of the carriage.

After all, those constables were now standing behind the Head Constable. On the other side of the carriage, except for the crowd watching the excitement from afar, there were not many yamen runners.

Being able to do this, Wu Chengyu asked himself he had already helped that woman a great deal.

Unfortunately, Wu Chengyu carefully maneuvered, but couldn't stand that woman also being a Pig Teammate.

Perhaps because the wedding dress was complicated, she hooked onto the carriage compartment bottom. It was inevitable that some corners couldn't be taken care of. Perhaps because the situation was tense just now, this girl also couldn't help but want to find a direction to break out. As a result, she exposed her tail.

Wu Chengyu had just left the position in front of the carriage wheel. Who would have thought that in the gap of the carriage wheel hub, a corner of red clothing was exactly exposed, with gold thread embroidered on it.

That Head Constable had rich case handling experience. Plus, red was really eye-catching. Although his gaze was led away by Wu Chengyu, his peripheral vision still caught this touch of bright red.

He immediately laughed loudly and said: "Good kid, if there's someone under the carriage, just say it directly. Why beat around the bush? Just move aside and tell me."

Revised chapter, also thanks to all readers for urging.

Actually, what writing novels fears most is self-approval. When I finished writing before, I felt something was wrong somewhere, but quickly convinced myself. I didn't expect that after releasing it today, everyone would be so unaccustomed. I also quickly realized where my problem was. This character setting is really not suitable and is offensive.

Actually, this is good. Everyone discovering problems and giving feedback in time, I humbly accept and immediately revise. I hope the revised version won't make everyone feel so uncomfortable.

I'm not afraid of urging. As long as it's not malicious, I can accept everything. What I'm afraid of is that no one urges me and just turns around and leaves.

In short, I apologize for the previous chapter and thank everyone for the reminder.

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(Chapter End)