After all it was four thousand taels of silver. When Xu Fei mentioned the matter to his uncle the uncle might not be willing to pay the money and wanted to teach him a lesson or wipe out the debt. In the capital the only one who still had unsettled accounts with him was Xu Fei.
Su Yingtao and those four guys had only quarrelled with him for a few words. It should not be to this extent especially since they had invited a profound level expert to make a move.
Or was it that Tie Miaoqing and her group had failed to escape back to Youjiao Port smoothly and had been stopped by people from Jianyuanzhai? After learning that he had killed Cheng Shanping and killed their people they had chased him all the way to the capital to settle the score?
He quickly ruled out this possibility.
Because of what the visitor had said earlier if it were people from Jianyuanzhai coming to deal with him how could they not know that he possessed a certain level of martial cultivation when they had not expected him to be skilled in both literature and martial arts.
Or perhaps as soon as he arrived in the capital the name Ashiheng had immediately been discovered by the mastermind behind the interception and killing of the A family back then?
In that instant Yu Qing thought of many things and many kinds of possibilities. What he feared most was the last possibility.
The carriage driver Li Gui acted as if nothing had happened at all. One look and it was clear he was an accomplice.
Yu Qing immediately cursed himself inwardly. He realised his vigilance was too low and he still lacked experience in the jianghu. He had clearly felt something abnormal yet he had still fallen for it. If this was not asking for death what was?
Just as he was feeling doubtful and uncertain the three fingers locking his throat slowly loosened from his neck.
Only then did Yu Qing turn his head to see the persons appearance clearly. Sitting side by side was a big man with a full beard. The man sat with both hands resting on his knees looking quietly ahead. Even so Yu Qing hesitated again and again with his hand on the sword hilt and still did not dare to act rashly. He slowly loosened his grip and tried asking I have no grudge or enmity with you sir. Why have you abducted me?
Du Fei: You guess.
How was he supposed to guess this? Yu Qing felt speechless for a moment then probed again What does your honour intend to do?
Du Fei glanced at him expressionlessly and made no response at all.
Yu Qing: Does your honour know that I am a new successful candidate who has come to the capital for the imperial examination? He was reminding the other party that if something happened to him the court would not ignore it.
Du Fei: I know. The new successful candidate Ashiheng from Liezhou.
There was no possibility of misunderstanding. The person had come specifically for him. Yu Qings mouth tightened slightly. He could not figure out exactly what kind of person this was and asked again Where are we going?
Du Fei gave one sentence You will naturally know when we arrive at the place.
After saying that he made no further response. No matter what Yu Qing said he ignored it.
Yu Qing had no other options. He did not dare to run and he also knew that with his strength he could not escape by force under the other persons watch. He could only wait and see and look for an opportunity to get away.
The door curtain and window curtains were all drawn so he could not see exactly where the carriage had travelled to. The problem was that Yu Qing was completely unfamiliar with the capital. Even through the gaps in the curtains he saw the shop signs outside but could not figure out the location.
Madam Zhong pushed open the door of her eldest daughters boudoir and walked in. She saw both daughters were there and both looked unnatural.
She walked straight to her two daughters side suddenly reached out and pinched Wen Ruweis ear hard twisting it as she scolded You have become more and more skilled at eavesdropping by the wall. Do you still have any manners of a young lady at all?
Earlier after chatting with her husband inside the room and coming out the guards in line with their duty had told the couple that the second miss had eavesdropped on their conversation.
Apart from Wen Ruwei herself no one knew exactly what she had heard or how much. But seeing the eldest daughter lowering her head and remaining silent she understood that both daughters already knew about the engagement.
Wen Ruwei struggled for quite a while before she managed to free herself from her mothers grip. She rubbed her ear and shrank to one side.
Madam Zhong glared fiercely at her with a look that said she would settle accounts with her later. Then she turned to face her eldest daughter who was lowering her head and remaining silent and asked What did Weiwei tell you?
Zhong Ruochen hesitated for a good while before she gathered her courage raised her head and asked in a trembling voice Weiwei said the family had arranged a marriage engagement for me. Is it true?
Madam Zhong gazed into her daughters eyes and nodded slightly.
Zhong Ruochen lowered her head again and asked in a low voice Why have I never heard about it?
Madam Zhong took her daughters hand and sat down to one side. She showed a look of recollection and said slowly Back then when your father suddenly wanted to arrange an engagement for you I was also very surprised even startled. Ruochen you must understand that at that time the family only had a small shop left by your grandfather. The other party however was a high ranking and powerful court official with an extraordinary position. I really do not know how your father managed to curry favour with such a figure. I should have felt happy for you but your father repeatedly instructed that the engagement matter must be kept secret. I do not know the specific reason and your father would not say. A few years later the in laws family was demoted and left the capital. Only then did I vaguely sense that the reason for secrecy might involve internal court struggles perhaps to avoid being implicated.
On the streets of the capital Yu Qing inside the carriage kept secretly observing the person beside him.
In short after the carriage had actually travelled for quite a long time and arrived at a quiet place from the noisy street environment it slowly stopped.
Du Fei stood up directly lifted the carriage curtain and got out without paying any attention to Yu Qing at all.
Yu Qing felt doubtful in his heart. He suddenly lifted the left side window curtain and looked out. He saw only a courtyard wall of some unknown family and could not tell where it was. He turned back and moved to the right side window lifted the curtain and what met his eyes was the gatehouse of a grand mansion with two magnificent large characters written in gold: Zhong Mansion!
Zhong Mansion? Which Zhong Mansion? Yu Qing quickly examined the gatehouse then stuck his head out and looked back and forth along the alley. Yes he saw the alley entrance he had seen yesterday. Apart from that Zhong Mansion what else could it be?
He was dumbfounded on the spot. People from the Zhong family?
Du Fei stood on the steps of the gatehouse looking down from above with his hands behind his back. After meeting Yu Qings gaze he turned and went inside without even giving any instructions.
Yu Qing who had lowered the curtain hesitated inside the carriage for a while. In the end he hardened his resolve stood up and lifted the door curtain. He saw the carriage driver Li Gui standing motionless beside the horse holding the reins.
What does this mean? Yu Qing pointed at himself and asked Li Gui. In fact he wanted to ask what he should do.
Li Guis face showed no expression at all. He remained silent with a look that said do whatever you want.
Yu Qing jumped straight down from the carriage looked at Li Gui then at the grand gatehouse of the Zhong Mansion and thought You wont speak right? If you wont speak then I will just leave!
Who would have thought that before he could leave Li Gui instead got onto the carriage whipped the horses and drove the carriage away first.
Thus at the entrance of the entire Zhong Mansion only one person was left. Such a large gatehouse did not even have a gatekeeper or doorkeeper in sight.
Yu Qing felt quite speechless.
After discovering that he had been abducted to the entrance of the Zhong Mansion he understood that his arrival in the capital had already been discovered by the Zhong family. He just did not quite understand how he had been discovered. According to Ashiheng the Zhong family did not know where their family was hiding nor did they know that he was coming to the capital for the imperial examination.
They had clearly already abducted the person and brought him right to their own doorstep yet they still put on an attitude of ignoring him completely. What exactly was this about? Yu Qing could not understand how rich families thought. According to his temperament he wanted to turn around and leave immediately. However since the matter involved Ashiheng it became a bit difficult.
If he left just like that it would be satisfying for him but if it caused the Zhong family to think that Ashiheng did not take the Zhong family seriously at all and if it angered the Zhong family into regretting the marriage what then?
Because of this Yu Qing had no choice but to restrain his temperament. He straightened his clothes and then with forced courage stepped up the stairs of the Zhong Mansion gate one by one.
As soon as he stepped over the threshold of the main gate Yu Qing looked left and right. In front there was only a screen wall and still no sign of anyone.
After going around the screen wall what met his eyes was a completely different scene. It was a splendid and luxurious courtyard full of flowers pavilions and towers. Male and female servants and servants came and went.
Behind the screen wall stood an elderly man who was precisely the steward of the Zhong Mansion Li Fangchang. As soon as he saw Yu Qing appear he immediately smiled and gestured with his hand inviting him Please come with me young master A. The master is waiting for you.
Yu Qing gave an uncertain oh not knowing quite how to respond and followed. This was his first time pretending to be someone elses son in law and coming to the door. In his heart he felt at a loss and was entirely relying on sheer boldness to push forward.
Li Fangchang walked while occasionally gesturing with his hand very politely.
The servants passing by throughout the mansion felt very surprised. They did not know who the visitor was. Judging by his clothes he did not look like anyone important yet he was receiving the highest courtesy from Steward Li.
The servants along the way all made way for him. There were also some who were not observant and came straight towards them. Li Fangchangs face sank and he was about to scold but after seeing the appearance of that maid he fell silent.
The unobservant maid coming towards them was none other than the Zhong familys second miss Wen Ruwei.
She had no other intention. She simply wanted to see what her future brother in law looked like.
However due to etiquette an unmarried young lady was not allowed to casually interact face to face with men from outside.
Because of this she simply dressed up as a maid so she could see clearly in person.
Looking at the maid who came straight towards him staring directly at him Yu Qing thought inwardly oh this maid was quite pretty and could not help looking at her a couple more times.
Facing each other he and Li Fangchang both subconsciously moved aside to the left and right giving way to this maid.
With this yielding Yu Qings gaze flashed and he immediately stared at Li Fangchang again carefully examining the others attire.
Cough cough. Li Fangchang gave a dry cough The new maid at home has not been trained well yet and does not understand etiquette. Please do not take offence young master. Please come inside please.
Its fine. Yu Qing waved his hand then asked again May I ask what position you hold in the Zhong Mansion sir?
Li Fangchang: I do not deserve the title of sir. I am the steward of the Zhong Mansion.
Oh! My apologies my apologies… While Yu Qing said my apologies with his mouth his head turned back to look at the maid who had just passed. He only saw a back view disappearing around the corner of a covered walkway.
The main hall of the inner residence was not the main reception hall. The main hall of the inner residence was usually only used to invite people with quite private relationships.
Zhong Su and Wen Jianhui sat upright in the main hall with the man on the left and the woman on the right. Yet they sometimes stood up. Both seemed somewhat restless.
Outside the door Du Fei strode over entered the hall and reported Master madam Ashiheng has entered the Zhong Mansion gate by himself.
Upon hearing this Zhong Su and Wen Jianhui finally felt relieved and breathed a sigh of relief.
But Wen Jianhui still could not help glaring at her husband with a look meaning he had meddled too much.
The cold shoulder scene at the entrance just now had been arranged by Zhong Su. After sending Du Fei to pick up the person Zhong Su had thought it over and suddenly felt it was awkward. You are a junior and you do not come to visit but I have to invite you. What kind of logic is this? Is my daughter unable to marry and begging you to take her?
It was too eager and it felt as if it belittled his own daughter.