Chapter 272 - 273: Quick Chase

Chapter 272: Chapter 273: Quick Chase

Bai Jinglie looked at him doubtfully. ’Likes to stroll around the harem’? ’Why does that sound so odd?’

Hua Shunming said, "If there is nothing else, you are dismissed. We have many memorials to attend to."

Bai Jinglie asked, "So when exactly will you let me take up my post?"

He had endured for two years, finally rising from a petty official to Vice Prefect. But his appointment papers had been held back for so long that he had no choice but to seek an audience today.

"After the upcoming imperial examinations. With you here, we can better draw their attention," Hua Shunming said, making no secret of his intentions.

"Using me as a shield again?" Bai Jinglie lamented with a sigh. "Last time, you told everyone I was crying and begging to give you a cut of the profits. Now the old man at home is driving me crazy, hinting and outright demanding I give him a share too."

’It would be one thing if you’d just said that, but you never mentioned the actual percentages! Now everyone thinks I got the lion’s share, and they all want to take a piece of me.’

Sometimes, he even envied Ancient Wen Heng. Even though Ancient Wen Heng had contributed the idea, he took the smallest cut. But the man had no worries and no responsibilities—he just collected the silver notes.

He, on the other hand, had spent the last two years basically slaving away for those two.

"Speaking of which, Ancient Wen Heng should be arriving in Shangjing in a few days." Hua Shunming was far from uninformed about Ancient Wen Heng; he kept a close eye on his circumstances.

The mention of Ancient Wen Heng made Bai Jinglie think of the regularly dispatched silver notes. "It’s been over two years since I last saw him. The man’s sharp, and he does everything by the book. He’s not someone an ordinary person can outwit."

Hua Shunming said, "We wish to see how he performs in the examinations this time. If he proves his worth, We shall grant him a boundless future."

Hua Shunming wouldn’t make such a promise for just anyone, but after two or three years of observation, he had a sufficient grasp of the man’s character.

Besides, the man wasn’t without his weaknesses, which made Hua Shunming feel he could be controlled more easily.

Bai Jinglie was speechless. ’I really have to feel for Ancient Wen Heng,’ he thought. ’His good days are probably over. Someone’s already planning to work him like a beast of burden.’

"You are dismissed! And since you’ll be in Shangjing for a few more days, We will have the Empress send over some portraits for you."

Bai Jinglie’s heart skipped a beat. "...Another Military General’s Daughter?"

Hua Shunming ignored him. Eunuch Le, who had been standing silently to the side, stepped forward to block Bai Jinglie’s path and gestured for him to leave.

"This subject takes his leave." Filled with questions, Bai Jinglie had no choice but to slowly withdraw.

＆

Meanwhile, just as their carriage entered Shangjing, Jiang Zhongfu was already waiting at the city gate with a group of men.

"Master, Madam." Seeing Ancient Wen Heng draw back the curtain, Jiang Zhongfu hurried to the carriage window. "The house is all prepared. Shall we head there now?"

Ancient Wen Heng was quite curious about Shangjing himself. Their residence here had been found with the help of Ye San. Once they had the geographical map of the property, Jin Qianqian personally drew up the designs, and Housekeeper Fu had handled all the arrangements since.

"Let’s go. We’ll see how you’ve arranged everything."

Jiang Zhongfu looked apprehensive, wondering if his work would meet the Master and Madam’s satisfaction.

Jin Qianqian was also looking around curiously at the towering city walls, where she could faintly make out the soldiers standing guard.

"Get out of the way! Don’t block the road!" Suddenly, the CRACK of a whip sounded from the side, followed by a loud shout.

"Master, let’s pull over to the side," said Housekeeper Fu. Having been in Shangjing for a while, he knew better than anyone that some dignitaries were not to be trifled with. He was already waving his arms, telling Hong Da and the others to guide the carriage to the side of the road.

But before they could move aside, the man’s whip lashed out. The horse pulling the second carriage in their convoy immediately spooked, rearing up and charging forward.

"Master, look out!" Jiang Zhongfu cried out, running forward in an attempt to pull their own horses aside, but it was too late.

But Hong Da was a step faster than Housekeeper Fu. He cracked his own whip, urging their carriage forward and quickly steering it to the side, narrowly avoiding the charging, panicked horse.

The guards who had been riding alongside the convoy galloped over, and a dozen horses formed a protective circle around Ancient Wen Heng’s carriage.

Inside the carriage, the color drained from Jin Qianqian’s face. "Nanny Duan and the others are in that carriage! Send someone after them, quickly!"

Ancient Wen Heng immediately threw back the curtain, leaned out, and shouted to Lin Dapeng, "Quick, go after them!"

But the man on horseback who had caused the commotion was still shouting, "All of you, get to the side! You’re blocking our Madam’s path!"

He then rode up, looked at Ancient Wen Heng, and said, "Is this whole convoy yours? Tell them to clear the road at once."

"Were you the one who just cracked that whip?" Ancient Wen Heng stared at him, his entire demeanor radiating cold authority. "What household are you from?"

Li Ping was completely taken aback. ’Oh no,’ he thought, ’have I gotten myself into trouble? Which powerful family have I offended?’

But Ancient Wen Heng gave him no time to think. He turned to the guards, who were still standing by dumbfounded, and ordered, "You lot, get moving and see what’s happened! Don’t let Nanny Duan and the others get hurt."

The guard, Lin Peng, hesitated. He glanced at Li Ping, who was still holding the whip. "But Master, with you and the Madam here..."

Ancient Wen Heng pointed to a few of them. "You, go now. Hurry."

’Their reaction time is too slow.’ Ancient Wen Heng couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. ’It seems a simple team of guards isn’t enough. Their ability to react to crises needs to be improved.’

Once the guards had galloped off in pursuit, Ancient Wen Heng turned back to Li Ping. "Now, you can state your house, can’t you?"

"A misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding! It was this humble one’s clumsy hand just now. I’ve startled a person of importance. Please, you go first." Li Ping’s heart pounded under his gaze, and he subtly pulled on his reins, backing his horse away.

Ancient Wen Heng was standing on the carriage’s front shaft, and his fine robes combined with his imposing aura made Li Ping feel even more unnerved. ’I’m accompanying the Madam into the capital this time,’ he thought frantically. ’I can’t have caused trouble for the family masters right at the city gate, can I?’

"You had best pray nothing has happened to that carriage of ours. Otherwise, I don’t care which family you belong to, I will come to your door to demand justice."

Li Ping secretly glanced back at his own Madam’s carriage, only to see a corner of the door curtain fluttering in the wind.

"Li Ping, the Madam wants to know what’s going on. Why have we been stopped for so long?" Just then, another stout man rode up. He was startled to see Ancient Wen Heng standing on the carriage shaft, surrounded by a ring of his guards.

"You brat, did you cause trouble for the Madam again?" The newcomer seemed to have a grudge against Li Ping and immediately placed the blame on him.

"No! I just waved my whip and it spooked their carriage! It wasn’t on purpose!" Li Ping didn’t dare to argue forcefully now, but he still tried to shirk responsibility.

Jin Qianqian listened quietly to the commotion outside. When she realized a long time had passed and the other carriage hadn’t been brought back, she grew anxious. She gently patted Luo Luo’s head. "Don’t be afraid, Luo Luo. Look, your little brother is being very brave. He’s still sleeping so soundly."

Gu Benluo hugged Jin Qianqian’s waist tightly. "I’m not scared, Mother. Luo Luo will protect you."