He thought a bigger stone would make it easier to spot the purse.
However, he thought too much because the Dongyang party never looked down. After all, who looks down while riding a horse? Therefore, the servant could only watch as the purse silently lay on the ground, unnoticed.
"Master..."
Mu Shaoling saw the purse on the ground, half-covered by the stoneâtruly hard to spot if one wasnât paying attention. How could anyone riding a horse see it when youâve done this?
"So stupid."
"Master, itâs my fault. Please give me another chance. I guarantee I will complete the task." The servant was on the verge of tears. Commandery Princess Dongyang, why didnât you pick up my purse?
"If you fail again, hmm hmm."
"Yes, yes, if I fail again, Iâll come to see you with my head in my hands."
Without Mu Shaolingâs instruction, the servant obediently mounted the horse and rode off to catch up.
He galloped all the way, nearly bouncing himself half to death, but finally reached a spot with a grove of trees ahead of Dongyang.
He decisively led his horse into the woods. This time he didnât tie the purse to a stone. Instead, he tied it to a branch and threw it out. However, just as Commandery Princess Dongyang was about 50 meters away from the pouch, two people suddenly burst out from the opposite woods, picked up the purse, and disappeared back into the trees. The servant was dumbfounded as he watched them run into the woods.
"Commandery Princess, what were those two people doing just now?"
Though the two who picked up the purse moved quickly, their proximity allowed her a clear view.
Dongyang shook her head, "I donât know, and itâs not our concern. Letâs just hurry on our way."
And so, the party hastily made their departure.
Now the servant really felt like crying, but tears wouldnât come. He just wanted to drop some silver for someone to pick up. Why was it so difficult?
Facing Mu Shaolingâs piercing gaze, the servant hung his head.
"Was it picked up by someone else?" The voice sounded chilly and frightening.
"Um, two people just rushed out from the opposite woods." The servant felt so wronged. On this desolate road where birds wouldnât even poop, why were there people around? Could they be bandits?
Isnât it a bit too bold to rob people on the highway?
Mu Shaoling didnât know what he was thinking. However, Mu Shaoling felt at that moment that the servant was truly foolish. Such a simple task and he couldnât even do it right, not even able to give away some silver.
He said displeasedly, "Are you daft? The silver was picked up by someone else, and youâre not chasing after them to retrieve it?"
The servant wiped the sweat from his forehead and hastily nodded, "Yes, yes, Iâll go right away."
Once the servant had left, Mu Shaoling summoned his covert protector, "You go!"
"Yes!"
Well, indeed a covert protector, much more efficient in getting things done.
A quarter of an hour later, the covert protector returned.
"Got it done?"
"Done."
Mu Shaoling looked at him somewhat disbelievingly, a bit puzzled. "How did you do it?"
The covert protector stated plainly, "I just gave it to her directly."
Mu Shaoling stumbled a little, barely believing what he heard. "You, you just gave it directly?"
"Yes!" the covert protector nodded. What else could he do?
"You, youâre really too foolish. How could you just give it directly? Now sheâll know it was me who gave her the silver, right?"
The covert protector said blankly, "I didnât say it was from the master." He didnât mention the masterâs name.
"You, you tell me exactly what happened just now."
The covert protector explained, "I told the Commandery Princess that Iâve been sent by the Mu Residence for her protection and that I was carrying the silver."