The prince is more stable

Chapter 170: Pros and Cons of the Future
The matter was clarified, but it was naturally impossible for these idlers to be let go.

Bingjingwu is their final destination. I believe that Liu Dan, the Yin-Yang man, will treat them well.

So Zhao Xiaoqian immediately ordered General Chen to send the idle men to Bingjingwu, while he led the imperial guards to Zhang Xiaoyi's home.

The incident happened last night. According to the idlers, Zhang Xiaoyi was beaten badly last night. No one knew how badly he was beaten in the chaos.

It is reasonable and moral for Zhao Xiaoqian to meet Zhang Xiaoyi and find out the situation.

It is easy to find out where Zhang Xiaoyi lives. After all, he is considered the big brother in the Zhouqiao area. You can find out the information by just asking any idle person in the Zhouqiao area.

Zhao Xiaoqian soon found out Zhang Xiaoyi's address and headed towards his home with Cai You and the imperial guards.

After crossing the avenue beside the Bian River and passing through several dark alleys, Zhang Xiaoyi's home is deep in the alley.

The further Zhao Xiaoqian walked in, the deeper his frown became.

He didn't expect that Zhang Xiaoyi lived in such an environment. The houses around him were called houses, but in fact they were similar to pigeon coops, low, damp, and dilapidated, like a ruin that had just been destroyed.

Logically speaking, the one thousand taels of silver given to him last time should have been enough for him to buy a decent house in Bianjing City. However, Zhang Xiaoyi could not forget his roots after all. He used all the money to help his poor brothers. Even though he became rich, he still lived as if he had suffered a disaster.

After many twists and turns, Zhao Xiaoqian and others finally stopped in front of a low house.

A rickety, broken door was tightly closed and could be pushed open with a little effort, but Zhao Xiaoqian still knocked on the door politely.

An old voice came from inside, and an old woman groped to open the door, with her empty eyes open and her hands carefully reaching forward.

Zhao Xiaoqian knew that the old woman was Zhang Xiaoyi's mother. Even though she couldn't see, he still bowed politely.

"I am Zhao Xiaoqian, a junior, and I am here to meet the old lady. I am Xiaoyi's friend and I am here to visit him today." Zhao Xiaoqian said with a smile.

The old woman was startled for a moment, then smiled: "Xiao Yi has many friends, and you are the most polite. You must be an educated and wealthy friend, right?"

"It's a pity you came at an inopportune time. Xiao Yi didn't come back last night. He sent someone to tell me that he had taken a job delivering a truckload of goods to a customer in Weishi County and would be back in a few days."

Zhao Xiaoqian was stunned, then he understood.

I was afraid that Zhang Xiaoyi was seriously injured last night. I was worried that my mother would be sad and couldn’t bear to see his miserable appearance. After all, a blind person’s heart is not blind.

So Zhang Xiaoyi asked someone to tell his mother a lie, saying that he planned to recuperate outside for a few days before returning home.

Zhao Xiaoqian naturally wouldn't expose his lies, and said with a smile, "I'm really here at an unfortunate time. I was just passing by your house today and wanted to get together with Xiao Yi, but I didn't expect Xiao Yi to take the job. Old Madam, I'm sorry for being so presumptuous."

After saying this, Zhao Xiaoqian reached into his arms and stuffed two ingots of silver weighing ten taels each into the old woman's hands.

The old woman felt it with her palm, recognized the object, and hurriedly refused it in panic.

"No, no! How can you accept the reward for nothing if you have done nothing? Take it back immediately."

Zhao Xiaoqian held the old woman's hand tightly and said sincerely, "Old Madam, please listen to my explanation. I borrowed this money from Xiao Yi last month. I needed money to make ends meet at that time, and Xiao Yi was so kind that he lent it to me without hesitation."

"I'm a bit more financially comfortable today, and besides coming to see you and Xiao Yi, I'm also here to pay you back. This was Xiao Yi's money, so you should accept it."

The old woman paused, and asked doubtfully, "Really?"

"Really? Paying back what you owe is only natural. If you shirk responsibility, wouldn't that be putting me in an unfair position?"

The old woman hesitated for a while before carefully accepting it, a smile appearing on her weathered face.

Zhao Xiaoqian didn't want to stay any longer, so he chatted with the old woman for a few minutes and then said goodbye.

After Zhao Xiaoqian left, the old woman suddenly remembered something and murmured, "Zhao Xiaoqian? He just said his name was Zhao Xiaoqian? Could he be the nobleman my son met?" "Oh! That's my son's benefactor. How could the nobleman owe Xiaoyi money? It was clearly given away for free. This is really..."

…………

After leaving the alley, Zhao Xiaoqian's gentle expression gradually became gloomy.

Turning to look at Chen Shou, Zhao Xiaoqian said, "Go to the Imperial City Office immediately and ask Wei Jie to send someone to find out Zhang Xiaoyi's whereabouts!"

Chen Shou took the order and left in a hurry.

Cai You frowned and said, "This matter is neither big nor small. What is the plan of the county lord?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said coldly: "First see what Zhang Xiaoyi looks like now, and then decide the extent of the revenge."

Cai You sighed, "This matter involves the Du Shui Jian (Water Conservancy Commissioner). His rank isn't high, only the fifth rank, but I'm worried that the Marquis shouldn't offend too many officials, otherwise it will be detrimental to his future."

Zhao Xiaoqian was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Making enemies in official circles should be taboo, but the world is like a knife. If the tip of the knife is pointed at your nose, if you still compromise and give in, what's the point of having a bright future?"

Cai You paused for a moment and whispered, "But Zhang Xiaoyi was once just an idler struggling to make a living. Is it worth it for the county marquis to go to war over him and make enemies in the officialdom?"

Zhao Xiaoqian patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "If you only consider the pros and cons when doing things, your life will be too boring. Brother Cai, sometimes you can step out of the circle of pros and cons. Perhaps you will find that there are many things in the world that are more important than pros and cons."

"I made such a fuss over a mere idler. There's no other reason. There's no need to reason. I just thought so, so I did it."

It is not difficult to find the whereabouts of Zhang Xiaoyi, especially the person that the Imperial City Bureau is looking for.

An hour later, Zhao Xiaoqian finally met Zhang Xiaoyi in a low house outside Yi Qiu Gate in the outer city of Bianjing.

Zhang Xiaoyi was lying on the moldy bed, one leg half-hanging over the edge, one arm hanging limply in front of his chest, his cheek swollen like a pig's head, his original appearance unrecognizable, and the scars all over his body were even more shocking.

After being ambushed last night, Zhang Xiaoyi broke out of the siege under the protection of several brothers. As he was seriously injured, Zhang Xiaoyi did not dare to go home, so several poor brothers found this dilapidated house for him to take shelter and recuperate.

Walking into the room, Zhao Xiaoqian looked at Zhang Xiaoyi quietly with a calm gaze.

Zhang Xiaoyi squinted for a long time and finally recognized him. He was so scared that he struggled to stand up and saluted, but Zhao Xiaoqian pushed him back.

"Tsk tsk, you are so hated. Beating you up like this, are you breaking the law?" Zhao Xiaoqian teased with a smile.

Zhang Xiaoyi's eyes suddenly filled with tears, and he sighed, "The county lord is so thoughtful that he actually found out my whereabouts. I have brought shame upon the county lord."

Zhao Xiaoqian hummed and said, "You're the one who got beaten up. Why should I lose face? When did the incident happen last night?"

Zhang Xiaoyi thought for a moment and said, "Around midnight."

"Why didn't you send me a message if something happened?"

Zhang Xiaoyi choked up and said, "The Marquis has done me a great favor, and I haven't repaid him yet. How dare I cause him more trouble? This matter involves the Water Conservancy Bureau, a high-ranking official. If the Marquis stands up for me, I'll inevitably make enemies and ruin his future."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed and muttered, "Everyone's talking about 'future'. Am I living my life for my future?"

He patted Zhang Xiaoyi's shoulder, not knowing if he used too much force, but Zhang Xiaoyi grimaced in pain.

"Please call a doctor first to treat your injuries, and leave the rest to me." Zhao Xiaoqian said.

Zhang Xiaoyi hung his head and sobbed, "I've caused trouble for the Marquis again..."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "It's not a problem at all. I was just born with a miserable life. Unfortunately, I met a bunch of scoundrels like you. You all stick your butts up, and I have to clean up your mess."

(End of this chapter)