Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 794 A Word Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold [Thank you! Thank you again! 9k words owed]

"Boom-"

The clear and melodious sound of bells came from the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, along the roadside

Wang Ruofu was helping Liu's mother out of the car.

Upon hearing the bell, Wang Ruofu looked up at the Yuqing Temple on the mountain.

"Boom-"

The bell rang again.

As Wang Ruofu stepped down from the carriage, he exclaimed, "Oh! It's not too early, not too late. It seems that distinguished guests have arrived at Yuqing Temple. The welcoming bell has already rung!"

Liu Mama, who was holding Wang Ruofu's arm, nodded and said, "What you say is right, Madam!"

Looking around, Liu's mother said again, "I wonder which family's distinguished guest they are."

Following Liu's mother, Caihuan looked around, but there were many carriages parked near the foot of the mountain, so she couldn't tell them apart for a moment.

After waiting by the car for a while, Wang Ruofu frowned and looked back.

Seeing Minglan and Molan walking over together, Wang Ruofu pursed her lips and asked, "Ru'er, what's wrong? Why aren't you getting out of the carriage yet?"

Liu Mama winked at Caihuan, who quickly walked to the middle of the carriage and called out, "Fifth Miss, we've arrived at Yuqing Temple! Fifth Miss?"

"Ah? Oh!"

Inside the car, Rulan's voice came through.

After a while,
Rulan and her servant got off the carriage together.

Mo Lan looked at Ru Lan, who was busy rubbing her eyes, and Xi Que, who was fixing Ru Lan's clothes and hair, and curled her lips in disgust.

After pouting, Mo Lan's eyes lit up, and she even reached out to smooth the hair behind her ear.

The reason for this was that Mo Lan saw Qi Heng riding over with Chang Feng.

Chao Rulan looked at Wang Ruofu and also saw Qi Heng.

Wang Ruofu secretly rolled her eyes at Qi Heng, the young master who almost caused a lot of trouble for the Sheng family.

Once Rulan reached his side, Wang Ruofu didn't wait for Changfeng and led her daughters directly toward Yuqing Temple.

Watching Minglan follow Wang Ruofu and disappear at the intersection leading to Yuqing Temple, Qi Heng, on horseback, leaned forward with a hint of lingering enjoyment.

"Young Master, what are you looking at?" Changfeng asked with a smile.

"Huh?" Qi Heng quickly sat back in his saddle and laughed, "It's nothing! It's just that I haven't been to Yuqing Temple for a while, and it looks quite different."

"Oh!" Changfeng looked around and nodded noncommittally.

As they spoke,
The two had reached the intersection.

Seeing Qi Heng dismount, Chang Feng asked in confusion, "Young Master, aren't we going to ride back up?"

Qi Heng smiled and shook his head: "Let's walk up step by step! That shows our sincerity."

"Young Master is right!" Changfeng smiled and dismounted.

After signaling to the Sheng family servants to keep an eye on the horses, Changfeng, along with his entourage, walked up the mountain with Qi Hengbuwei.

On the way,

Following behind Qi Heng, Buwei frowned thoughtfully, occasionally glancing at the carriages and horses passing by.

After turning his gaze away from the well-dressed grooms and guards, Buwei frowned even more deeply.

"The only student currently enrolled in the private school at Zhuang Xuejiu's house is Qilang! I wonder if I will still be able to receive instruction from Zhuang Xuejiu."

Changfeng said with a hint of worry.

Qi Heng, looking at the mountain road ahead, nodded perfunctorily.

suddenly,

"Ouch!"

Buwei, who was walking behind Qi Heng, seemed to be lost in thought and stumbled a step.

Changfeng and Qi Heng quickly turned around to look at Buwei.

After straightening up, Buwei quickly cupped his hands and said, "Please forgive me, young master."

"Be careful!" Qi Heng said calmly.

"Yes, young master." Instead of responding, he brushed the dust off his knees and looked again at the brocade-clad knight who had walked away.

After walking for a while,
Qi Heng and the others then arrived at the mountain gate.

There is a vividly sculpted guardian deity statue on each side of the mountain gate.

He hadn't been keeping an eye on the procession earlier; now it was parked on the sloping road in front of the mountain gate, with only one guard left nearby.

As Changfeng looked at the scenery inside the temple, he said, "Young Master, the vegetarian cuisine at Yuqing Temple is absolutely superb; once you've tasted it, you'll never forget it!"

"The Beidou Temple, where one prays for success in the imperial examinations, is also very effective! I've heard that several successful candidates in this year's examinations have prayed there! We must all go today!"

Qi Heng nodded with a smile.

While the two were talking, Buwei, along with Changfeng's servant, quickly walked a few steps forward and found the welcoming boy of Yuqing Temple.

After identifying themselves, the group was led by a young boy to a secluded and elegant courtyard for receiving guests.

"Young Master, I'll go change my clothes first," Changfeng said with a smile.

"Brother Feng, go ahead."

After Changfeng left with his servant,

Qi Heng looked at Buwei beside him and said, "What happened just now? You've never acted like this in all these years you've been with me."

Buwei hurriedly bowed and said, "Reporting to you, young master, ever since we left the polo field, I've noticed the procession of carriages we encountered earlier. On the way, I noticed the people in the carriages glancing at us several times!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Heng narrowed his eyes: "What? Did they come with us?"

Seeing that he was not convinced, Qi Heng said again, "Could it be that you've misunderstood, and they're actually just traveling together?"

Buwei shook his head: "Young master, based on my observation at the mountain gate, the people in that convoy don't seem to be following us; they seem more like they're following the Sheng family!"

Qi Heng's eyes were full of doubt: "Why are they following the Sheng family? Could it be that they're plotting something?"

"I truly do not know."

Seeing Buwei shaking his head, Qi Heng immediately strode outside: "No! Although the rebellion in the capital has been quelled, there are still many who have slipped through the net around the capital! We must hurry and go warn them!"

As he spoke, Qi Heng looked at Buwei, who had followed him, and said, "If there was such a thing, you should have told me directly! If you had any doubts, you could have just sent someone to ask."

Buwei pursed his lips slightly: "Young master, we didn't bring any guards today. I was afraid that if we went to ask rashly, they might become desperate and do something rash."

"Ah."

Qi Heng nodded and hurriedly walked outside.

Upon arriving outside the courtyard, Qi Heng took a few steps, then looked around at the courtyard with a somewhat blank expression.

He was not very familiar with Yuqing Temple.

After Buwei caught up, the two walked quickly in one direction.

After changing his clothes, Changfeng returned with his attendants and looked at the empty courtyard with a somewhat blank expression: "Where is the young master?"

Today, Madam Wu hosted a polo match, and quite a few officials' wives and noble ladies came to Yuqing Temple after the match.

Yuqing Temple naturally separates its reception areas for male and female worshippers.

Qi Heng led Buwei quickly to the vicinity of the women's courtyard. After making some inquiries, he then headed towards the Sheng family's women's quarters under the boy's guidance.

On the way,

The boy leading the way walked alongside Qi Heng, saying as they went, "There are quite a few people looking for the distinguished guests of the Sheng family today!"

"Besides me, is anyone else looking for the Sheng family?" Qi Heng asked.

“Yes, young master! Two stewardesses from the Wang family who came from Yingchang Prefecture said they had urgent business with the matriarch of the Sheng family.”

Hearing the boy's words, Qi Heng looked at Buwei with some doubt.

If someone intended to harm the Sheng family, they wouldn't have walked in so brazenly.

Thinking about all this, Qi Heng had already brought Buwei to the vicinity of the small courtyard where the Sheng family members were.

After bowing and taking his leave, the boy looked at the old woman standing at the door and hurriedly asked, "Excuse me, is Madam in the courtyard?"

The old woman from the Sheng family recognized Qi Heng and his servant, and quickly said with a smile, "It's not for you, young master. Madam heard that the flowers in the temple are blooming beautifully, so she went out to admire them."

"What about the two stewardesses from the Wang family who were brought here by the boy? Where did they go?" Qi Heng asked.

The old woman looked bewildered: "Young master, what Wang family stewardess? I haven't seen her!"

“Those are the two mothers that the boy just brought!” Buwei said, pointing to the departing boy.

The old woman pondered for a moment and replied, "The boy did attract the two madams, but at that moment the eldest daughter and several young ladies came out!"

"The two well-dressed men nodded in greeting, but did not reveal their identities before following the lady and the others!"

“I know about 90% of the head of the Wang family! Those two look like ordinary worshippers, not the head of the Wang family!”

"This!" Qi Heng frowned even more deeply: "Which direction did Madam and the others go to admire the flowers?"

Seeing Qi Heng's anxiety, Granny Sheng quickly pointed in a direction.

Qi Heng hurried over.

Because she had to guard the things in the courtyard, the old woman at the gate did not leave with Qi Heng, but just stared blankly at Qi Heng and Buwei's backs.

As they walked and asked questions, taking many turns, Qi Heng and Buwei arrived near a moon gate after a while.

At this time,

Two women and a woman wearing a veil came out.

The woman wearing a veil seemed to be suffering from some illness and was being weakly carried on the back of another woman.

"Girl! Hang in there a little longer, we'll go down the mountain to find a doctor right away!" the woman supporting her said urgently.

Seeing Qi Heng standing outside the moon gate and Bu Wei frowning and scrutinizing him, the old woman who was supporting him seven or eight steps away hurriedly said, "Please make way, my young lady has suddenly fallen ill!" Qi Heng's eyes narrowed as he looked at the color of the clothes the old woman was carrying.

Qi Heng was about to speak when, for some reason, Chang Feng's words flashed through his mind: 'Young Master, judging from the Princess's expression, your marriage is settled!'

Yes, his marriage has been arranged, and he will have no further connection with his beloved sixth sister.

"No further connection!"

Feeling the voice in his heart, Qi Heng didn't say a word, as if possessed.

Buwei had already stepped forward, but before he could speak, he felt Qi Heng push him: "Make way!"

Unaware of this, he habitually shut his mouth and, with Qi Heng's shoving, stood to the side of the road.

Although Buwei looked anxiously at Qi Heng, Qi Heng didn't say anything or make any move, so Buwei could only ask Qi Heng with his eyes.

After the three men had walked a distance, Buwei hurriedly asked, "Young Master! What was that old woman carrying?"

"I know!" Qi Heng said coldly, watching the three figures disappear into the distance.

"Then let's..." He glanced at Qi Heng without any hurry, and then at the three people who were about to disappear.

When Buwei looked at Qi Heng again, he found that his young master's eyes and expression were somewhat unfamiliar to him.

"Wait a little longer and see if there are any accomplices," Qi Heng said coldly.

"But" means that only half a sentence was spoken.

"Go inside and take a closer look!"

Looking at the moon gate that Qi Heng was pointing to, Buwei finally shut his mouth and walked towards the moon gate from which the three of them had come.

After walking a few steps through the moon gate, Buwei's eyes widened suddenly, and he quickly took a few more steps.

Seeing the magpie lying unconscious on the ground, Buwei called out, "Young Master! Someone here is injured!"

They called for help, and before they knew it, the magpie had been lifted up from the ground.

Seeing the magpie's forehead red, swollen, and bruised, with traces of blood, Buwei called out, "Magpie, Magpie! Young Master!"

Qi Heng had already strode to the entrance of the Moon Gate. Looking at the person in Buwei's arms and listening to Buwei's shouts, a hint of self-doubt appeared in Qi Heng's eyes!
Besides self-doubt, Qi Heng's eyes also showed surprise and a hint of disappointment that his plan had failed.

suddenly.

"vomit--"

The magpie, who was unconscious, suddenly gagged to the side.

The magpie strained to open its eyes and saw a blurry figure before it.

"No, no, brother, what are you doing here? What happened to me?"

After gagging again, the dizzy magpie fainted once more.

"what!!!!"

A sudden scream made Qi Heng shudder.

Before Qi Heng and Bu Wei could speak, the woman at the other end of the road, seeing the magpie with blood streaming from its forehead, cried out in a shrill voice, "Murder!"

"Killing!"

"Someone come quickly!"

The woman's scream was very high-pitched.
Within a few breaths, several people appeared around her.

Qi Heng: "No, we are not."

Without looking at the magpie in his arms with concern, he called out, "Quickly, find a doctor! And..."

Before he could finish speaking, he looked up at Qi Heng, who was glaring at him, but ultimately didn't utter the rest of his sentence.

The women who appeared were quite robust. After noticing that there were only two of them, Qi Heng and Buwei, and that they didn't seem like bad people, they quickly approached.

at the same time,

Behind several women,

Other maids who heard the shouts ran over and followed the group to the vicinity, wanting to see what had happened.

"Young Master? You won't?"

Caihuan, standing outside the crowd beside Wang Ruofu, looked at the two of them with great surprise.

"Caihuan, you've come at the right time! Magpie has a head injury!" Qi Heng said urgently.

"Magpie? Make way! It's one of my people!" the magpie called out.

Following the path cleared by the crowd, Caihuan arrived at Buwei's side. After glancing at the magpie, she asked urgently, "The magpie is here, but where is my sixth young lady?"

"Magpie, wake up! Magpie!" Caihuan called out loudly.

Upon hearing this, the women around also glanced around a few times and whispered among themselves, "This, this is the maid of the Sheng family in Jiying Lane, isn't it?"

"Yes!"

"Just now, the eldest daughter of the Sheng family greeted the mistress!"

"Then this young master must be the young master of the Qi family!"

While talking, the women glanced at Qi Heng from head to toe, taking a moment to examine the magpie's injuries.

"I'll go tell Madam!" Caihuan said, staggering to her feet and running quickly back the way she came.

Watching Caihuan's retreating figure and listening to the surrounding chatter, Buwei, holding Xique, looked up and glanced at Qi Heng again.

"Young master, when you came here just now, did you see any suspicious people?" a woman asked anxiously.

"Suspicious people?" Qi Heng frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "Just now, I saw two mothers carrying a girl on their backs, saying that she was seriously ill!"

As Qi Heng spoke, he pretended to be stunned for a moment, and then immediately turned around and ran towards the moon gate.

"Let's go! Let's go help the young master!"

After one of the women spoke, the others immediately followed.

After a while

Wang Ruofu, supported by Liu Mama, jogged over, followed by Rulan, Molan, and a group of maids, all of whom were somewhat out of breath.

"Brother Buwei, where is my daughter?"

Xiao Tao looked anxiously at Bu Wei, and after asking the question, she looked around anxiously, hoping to see Ming Lan's figure.

Danju stamped her foot anxiously, "Brother Buwei! Have you seen Sixth Miss?"

"Where is Sixth Sister!" Rulan asked anxiously as she walked to Buwei's side.

Anxious, Rulan looked at her unconscious personal maid and called out again, "Magpie! Magpie, what's wrong with you!"

Liu's mother struggled to support the somewhat dizzy Wang Ruofu, and looked at Buwei, asking, "Brother Buwei, what's wrong?"

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Madam, Granny Liu, I am with you."

When the entire course of events is not yet fully recounted
Qi Heng had already caught up with them to the open space in front of the Sanqing Hall of Yuqing Temple.
Although it was afternoon, there were still many people coming to Yuqing Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings, many of whom had just left from Wu Da Niangzi Polo Field.

At this moment, the devout men and women in front of the Yuqing Hall also had no interest in entering the hall to burn incense and pray for blessings.

The reason was a lively scene in the open space in front of the hall.

On one side were two noble ladies, their figures and beauty still evident even behind veils, leading strong female attendants.
On the other side were two robust, well-dressed women who were acting crazy and throwing tantrums, and a girl pretending to faint on the ground.

"Fifth Miss, we did exactly as you said! You can't pretend to faint now!" a woman said, with one arm around the waist of the girl in her arms and the other around the neck.

Another woman cried out, "You knocked out your own maid who was trying to stop you, so we dared to carry you out!"

"Yes! My young master has even abandoned his reputation for you! Please say a few words! Explain to these two noble ladies who don't know the reason!" the woman who was grabbing the girl's neck chimed in.

"You say you and my young master are in love, and if you don't marry him, you'll prove your love with your death!"

"We risked our lives to cover for you and my young master by going out! You can't pretend to be unconscious and frame us now!"

"Fifth Miss Sheng, your father is a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Personnel, your sister is the eldest daughter of a marquis, and your brother is a third-ranked scholar. If you still don't wake up, don't blame us."

As she spoke, the strong woman was about to remove the veil from the woman in her arms.

At this time,

One of the two veiled noblewomen opposite said coldly, "If you dare to remove her veil, I guarantee you will wish you were dead."

Seeing the woman who had stopped moving with an indifferent, do-or-die look, the noblewoman continued, "I swear on the word 'firewood'."

"Chai, I..." The woman's eyes narrowed, and fear gripped her. She was about to say something when...

The noblewoman said calmly, "If you utter another word, or hurt the person in your arms, the bounty for hunting down your entire family will be increased by another ten thousand strings of cash."

These words immediately caused an uproar among those around them.

If someone else said that, everyone would think that person had lost their mind.

But this noblewoman from the Chai family said that it was a description that couldn't be more true.

These words made the woman, who had brought her hand to the edge of her veil, tremble slightly.

Then, the woman's hand slowly left the veil of the girl in her arms.

suddenly,

"Magpie!"

The girl in the woman's arms suddenly woke up, called out with concern, and then reflexively ripped off the veil that was blocking her view.

"Oh——"

"Yo!!!"

Her beautiful face was instantly revealed from under the veil.

The girl had a reddish-blue swelling on her forehead.

Sensing the anger of the noblewoman opposite them, one of the two women hurriedly and frantically put her veil back on.

But it was all in vain.

(End of this chapter)