Yu Qing saw the personnel at the post station and saw familiar faces. He confirmed that this trip had not been in vain.
He turned his horse around and faced Tie Miaoqing. Proprietress, I have arrived.
The insect behind tried to observe his expression but unfortunately could not see his front.
Earlier during the process of escaping the demon realm, the insect had discovered something. He found that Yu Qing always stole glances at Tie Miaoqing.
The insect sensed something and could understand it. He also felt that this proprietress looked very beautiful even if her whole face could not be seen clearly.
Tie Miaoqing and the others also looked over the situation inside the post station. When they looked at Yu Qing again, they felt the phrase that all banquets in the world must come to an end especially deeply. They all knew that the moment of parting had arrived.
The three looked at Yu Qings face and recalled the situations after they met each other. Everything truly felt unbelievable when they thought about it.
Looking back at the events, the three all knew clearly that this time if they had not met this Ah Shiheng it would have been impossible to catch the three fire crickets. Just from the existence of Cheng Shanping alone they were destined to fail.
Now not to mention Tie Miaoqing, even Sun Ping and Zhu Shangbiao gradually believed the fortune telling words Yu Qing had said at their first meeting. He was someone who could help them.
Facts had proved that it was indeed so.
And Tie Miaoqing still remembered another sentence in Yu Qings fortune telling words. He and she had fate.
What kind of fate? She was very curious.
Women in adversity easily believe in fate, especially beautiful women.
She wanted to ask, according to your divination, does it mean that you and I will meet again in the future?
The words stayed in her heart and were not asked out loud. She had her reserve and meant nothing else.
Tie Miaoqing said, We can only send you this far.
Yu Qing nodded, turned back and called to the insect, Get off the horse! He reached back to grab the insects arm, lifted him up and directly threw him down from the horse.
The insect fell hard on his bottom on the spot. Yu Qing, who seemed to be playing a prank, chuckled.
Looking up and seeing him smiling happily, the insect also smiled embarrassedly and quickly got up to pat the dust off his body.
Yu Qing and Xu Fei then also jumped off the horses and handed the horses over to Sun Ping and Zhu Shangbiao respectively, letting them take them away so they could change mounts on the way.
When handing over the reins, Yu Qing smiled at Sun Ping, No need to send us off.
Sun Ping took the reins and sighed, Ah brother, with your ability if you do not mix in the jianghu… She originally wanted to say it was a pity but changed her words at the tip of her tongue. Mixing in officialdom will also bring success. I wish you a bright future with wings spread wide. Her gaze then fell on Xu Fei. I wish you two to achieve your wishes on this trip and have a promising future!
If not for the concern that Yu Qing was a person of the court and fearing it would bring trouble to Miaoqing Hall, she really wanted to recruit Yu Qing into Miaoqing Hall.
Xu Fei cupped his hands in thanks, We will meet again if fate allows!
In his heart he really did not want to meet these people again.
Tie Miaoqing took off the You Ju plaque from her body and threw it to Yu Qing. It is inconvenient for me to testify for you. Entangling with people from the court easily leads to unclear ties. You also know we are pressed for time. If they do not believe your words they can use this as evidence, or let them come to You Jiao Bu to find us for questioning. If there is a chance to go to You Jiao Bu in the future you can come to Miaoqing Hall to sit for a while. The people in the shop will report when they see this plaque.
Yu Qing accepted the plaque but in his heart he had similar thoughts to Xu Fei and would not meet these people again.
He had met everyone under the nameplate of Ah Shiheng. It was not appropriate to let outsiders know the truth, otherwise it would harm Ah Shiheng.
However there was one thing he had always wanted to do. At this moment he finally spoke with a smile, Proprietress, I have never seen your true appearance. Could you remove your veil so we can get acquainted, in case we meet again in the future and do not recognise each other.
Xu Feis eyes brightened somewhat. He actually also wanted to see this womans true face.
The insect pursed his lips and did not speak, only quietly observing Yu Qings reaction.
Lets go!
Tie Miaoqing threw down these words with a smile, did not grant their wish, and whipped her horse to gallop away without looking back.
Even though she wanted to express thanks to Yu Qing, she really could not afford any delay in time.
Under the bamboo hat and veil she seemed like a beauty, yet people could not see the true appearance of the beauty clearly. A green cloak fluttered behind her. Her graceful and heroic figure held the reins and galloped ahead. Her dashing elegance on horseback was not something ordinary girls could compare to. Like a wisp of green smoke she floated past the road outside the post station fence, leaving a group of examination candidates with eyes full of amazement stunned.
The person who passed by was not something visible after ten years of hard study by the window, nor something recallable by pen and ink paintings. She was a dream that entered the eyes at a glance, a swaying and graceful figure in the rolling red dust of the world. The many candidates seemed willing to remain intoxicated and not wake up, sending her off with their eyes for a long time.
The red dust was like a dream, yet also like a startling glimpse of a swan. Her beauty lasted only a moment, gone in a flash and impossible to chase.
The candidates, including Zhan Muchun, gradually came back to their senses one after another, but they still had not emerged from a certain emotion.
They had never seen such an elegant woman and savoured it for a long time.
The guard at the door looked at the three people walking over and blocked them. The post station is not open to outsiders today. Visitors should find another place to stay.
Xu Fei answered, I am Xu Fei. This is Ah Shiheng. We were originally examination candidates travelling with the team. Earlier on the way we encountered a major change and got separated from the team. It was not easy to return. We hope you will report it.
Xu Fei, Brother Xu, it really is Brother Xu.
A group of candidates happily shouted and ran over but were blocked by the guards, who did not allow them to walk out of the gate.
Zhan Muchun, who was still holding the memorial text he had burned for Xu Fei in his hand, froze on the spot. He looked to his left and right and found they were already empty. Everyone had actually run over to welcome Xu Fei. His expression instantly became extremely complicated and he felt uncomfortable inside.
Yu Qing tried his best to use Xu Feis bulk to cover himself and shrank behind Xu Fei, fearing that people would call him. He did not want to be too conspicuous.
This was also what he was most worried about on this return, but he had to come back.
In the end he found he had thought too much and taken himself too seriously. Most people did not recognise him. At most they found him familiar. Most knew his name but not his face. Those who knew him, like Su Yingtao and others, were unhappy with him and could not be bothered to welcome him.
After the report, someone came quickly. They did not give this group of candidates a chance to catch up on old times and directly took the three of Yu Qing inside to meet the officials responsible for escorting them.
First was identity verification.
The verification mainly checked Yu Qings identity. There was no need for Xu Feis. The officials present basically all knew him. Even if they did not know him at first, during the earlier journey they would ask which one is Xu Fei from Hengqiu. Someone would point and then they naturally knew.
Xu Fei had no problem. The insect was not afraid of inspection either.
Thus Yu Qing saw Xu Jue Ning and Tang Bu Lan from Si Nan Mansion again.
Seeing that Yu Qing was still alive, the two were surprised and also somewhat happy for Yu Qing. The two confirmed Yu Qings identity as Ah Shiheng.
After that came the inquiry about what had happened, asking how the three had left the team and how they had returned.
The three of Yu Qing had prepared in advance and unified their story.
The unified story mainly followed Yu Qings opinion. It was hard for Xu Fei not to follow. Someone had mentioned in their words the matter of fooling the prefect with guessing riddles.
What else could Xu Fei say?
He could only say that at that time it was because they went to look for the book boy insect. Afterwards the three encountered a large number of rats, got scared and ran around, fell into a river, held onto a tree and drifted for a long time, floated to the demon realm before going ashore. Later they met people from Miaoqing Hall in You Jiao Bu who helped them and conveniently brought them back.
They did not mention a single word about catching the fire crickets.
As long as their candidate identities were confirmed, how they returned was secondary. They just needed to record it after asking clearly, to give an account to those above. Whether those above wanted to verify it was their business and not within their duties.
Once they had returned, the escorting officials verbally expressed welcome, exchanged a few more polite words with Xu Fei, did not pay much attention to Yu Qing, and then had people take them down to arrange things.
In the corridor, Yu Qing casually pulled a piece of curtain cloth, tore off a large piece, inspired by Tie Miaoqing. He covered half his face and tied it at the back of his head.
What is going on? The minor official who heard the sound of tearing cloth turned his head to look, froze, turned around and asked, What are you doing?
Xu Fei and the insect were also stunned at the same time, full of confusion.
Yu Qing said, I do not want the questions those adults asked us earlier to be asked repeatedly by others again. Later there will definitely be other candidates asking how we returned. I do not want to answer repeatedly. With my face covered, they will not remember my appearance. Then I can ignore them and concentrate on studying and preparing for the exam.
He had already anticipated that the news of him and Xu Fei returning alive would definitely spread among all the candidates. Afterwards there would definitely be many people coming to visit.
Staying in such a place, plus travelling together all the way, hiding was impossible. So he might as well do it openly and directly cover his face.
… Xu Fei and the insect both fell silent, somewhat unable to understand this persons thinking. Could it be done this way?
As for studying and so on, Xu Fei did not really believe it. This person did not even bring a pen. What book was he going to study?
He then thought about his own luggage being lost. Now he also did not have a pen.
Uh… The errand boy minor official in charge was also speechless, could not help scratching his face, and had nothing to say. This seemed to have no reason to interfere, so he could only criticise, Tearing the post stations curtain is not right. If they discover it later you will have to pay compensation.
Seeing this, Xu Fei reached out to Yu Qing for the remaining curtain cloth, wanting to follow suit.
Yu Qing casually threw the curtain cloth up onto the overhead beam, pushed away his hand, You can forget it. Everyone knows you. Covering your face is useless anyway. You have many social engagements.
Xu Fei thought about it and felt it was true, slightly embarrassed.
The errand boy minor official shook his head repeatedly and waved for the three to follow.
This time they were stuffed wherever there was space. Yu Qing and Xu Fei were put into the same room. The insect also made a floor bed in the same room.
Earlier when they encountered the attack, the book boys had no protection and no self defence ability at all. Casualties were heavy. Not many remained, which saved quite a lot of accommodation space.
It was a large bunk for eight candidates per room. This room only housed five people. Only two were in the room at the moment, quietly reading books while holding them. Upon learning that Xu Fei would be staying with them, they were quite welcoming.
Yu Qing just gave a greeting, confirmed his own bunk, and then did not like to deal with people.
As for what was going on with the face covering cloth, Yu Qing did not say and did not explain when others asked. He simply did not care about face. What could the other candidates do? Anyway he did not want to associate with these people now or in the future, and would not associate again. The matter of repairing relations would be left to the real Ah Shiheng.
Things did not go beyond his expectations. The news that he, Yu Qing, and Xu Fei had returned quickly spread among all the candidates. He was secondary. The focus was on Xu Fei.
The two had not even settled in the room for a while when groups of candidates came knocking on the door to visit.