Proofread by Claire.KK
Geng Zhishan spoke in a firm voice while Gu Yusheng found it ridiculous, who raised his lips. “What? You seem to be confident.”
“Yes!” Geng Zhishan said with his chin up.
Gu Yusheng sneered at him. “Let’s wait and see. I’ll try my best not to treat you as the weak.”
His satirical tone was hard to notice but Xie Mengxuan did. Geng Zhishan behaved as usual so that it was difficult to tell whether he had paid heed to that or not. “I’m not weak. One day, I’m going to make you genuinely convinced.”
Gu Yusheng nodded. “I hope so.”
“Well, let’s have dinner first, and then I’ll take you to see a doctor. This is a tough journey. If you’re unable to bear hardships, tell me frankly. We could have a rest for one or two days…” It gave Xie Mengxuan a headache that Gu Yusheng didn’t get along with Geng Zhishan.
Geng Zhishan quickly chimed in. “I know you have something important to deal with. I won’t put you to trouble.”
“Okay.” Xie Mengxuan nodded with a smile. Although she gave a positive response, she would take good care of him on the way.
Afterwards, the whole thing was going smoothly as planned. It was said by the doctor that although Geng Zhishan was in weak health, it was not a problem, with some medicine.
Xie Mengxuan let out a sigh of relief. At the request of Geng Zhishan and Gu Yusheng, they started off in the afternoon.
In deft movement, Geng Zhishan mounted the horse, and hurried the way in their company. All the way he was never at a disadvantage.
It took them seven days to reach Jiangnan where was rich and populous. Even at dusk, the city was bustling with life.
They entered in before the city gate was closed. There seemed to be a celebration in Jiangna where was livening up. Each woman wore a veil, with a lantern in the hand, was indulged in pleasure.
Xie Mengxuan bought a veil at a stall and put it on with a smile. “We’re so lucky. It’s the annual Flower Festival in Jiangnan.”
It seemed to be the first time for Geng Zhishan to witness such a noisy scene. Looking around, he could not help wandering off.
There were so many people here, and Xie Mengxuan was walking at the forefront; as a result, she failed to notice that Geng Zhishan had gone missing.
“Young lady, please have a look at our rouge, which is the best in Jiangnan.”
All of a sudden, someone grabbed Xie Mengxuan, and with a smile handed the rouge over to her.
Xie Mengxuan lowered her eyelids to cast a glance and took it over with a smile. “Really? I need to have a careful look.”
How could the rouge at such a stall be good in quality? Gu Yusheng showed no faith, but he remained silent by her side because Xie Mengxuan was in a good mood.
Xie Mengxuan opened the compact to look at the rouge inside. “It’s so good. How much do you have, granny?”
The old woman wore a slight smile. “As much as you want, young lady; it’s a pity that you just have one face. How could you alone need that much?”
Holding the rouge compact, Xie Mengxuan said: “You’re right, but I need them indeed. Why not show me around, granny?”
“Well, well, follow me.” Granny Rouge measured Xie Mengxuan for a long time and then nodded. “Okay…”
She entrusted the stall to her a.s.sistant and guided Xie Mengxuan and Gu Yusheng towards the shop behind.
Xie Mengxuan followed her while Gu Yusheng had a queer feeling. Why did the old woman just grab Xie Mengxuan, as there were many other girls on the road?
Xie Mengxuan raised her dress to enter in. The instant Gu Yusheng wanted to hold her back, the door of the shop was closed.
Xie Mengxuan slightly turned her head, with her eyebrows furrowed. “Granny Rouge, you…”
“Young lady, I’m sorry.” Granny Rouge sent her regrets and quickly took several steps backwards, whose eyes were filled with tears.
Suddenly, several men in black surfaced. With quick reaction, Gu Yusheng and Uncle Luo immediately took out a long sword to protect Xie Mengxuan behind them.
Xie Mengxuan glanced around, only to find that Geng Zhishan had gone missing. She pulled a long face. Where was he?
However, she was not allowed to think further. In a short while, Gu Yusheng settled those black-clad men together with Uncle Luo who retrieved the long sword to guard her.
Staring at Uncle Luo, Xie Mengxuan parted her mouth and eventually said to Gu Yusheng. “Don’t hurt her.”
Gu Yusheng dragged Granny Rouge to the front, with his sword threatening her neck.
Advanced in years, Granny Rouge stood still. After taking a deep breath, she said to Xie Mengxuan. “Young lady, I’m willing to be punished at your disposal. Please forgive my family.”
Xie Mengxuan looked around. The corpses on the ground had already lost temperature. She slowly went forward to find a place to sit down. With her chin slightly up, she smiled at the old woman. “Granny Rouge…”
“Young lady, I’m guilty.” Granny Rouge went down on her knees, with her forehead clung to the ground.
Xie Mengxuan gently knocked the armrest. “Granny Rouge, the Xie family seems to show too much mercy to you.”
Granny Rouge lowered her head. “You’re so kind. It’s our pleasure to work for the Xie family.”
Xie Mengxuan was in sorrow. She was highly likely to die here but for the protection of Gu Yusheng and Uncle Luo. “Could you give me an explanation for this matter?”
As she turned out to be so benevolent, Gu Yusheng could not help interrupting. “Xuan, there’s no need for explanation. Obviously, she’s just a mean person. Why not kill her directly?”
Xie Mengxuan slowly lifted her eyes. “Big Brother Gu, it’s unfeasible to handle everything in such a simple way.”
With her head low, Granny Rouge was in sheer despair. “Young lady, my family is in the control of those men. Now that you’re safe, I’m afraid that they can’t live on any more.”
Xie Mengxuan turned solemn. “Why not pa.s.s a message to the Xie family who will not be the onlooker?”
Granny Rouge raised her head. “I’m aware of the benevolence of the Xie family, but somehow there’s no response at all.”
There was no response? Either Granny Rouge told a lie, or the message had been halted. Xie Mengxuan slowly lifted her eyes to scrutinize her face. “Well, who are those men?”
Granny Rouge shook her head. “I don’t know. They’ve always come into contact with me with their faces well covered.”
Looking at Granny Rouge who was still kneeling on the ground, Xie Mengxuan stood up. “You’re supposed to be killed as you’ve betrayed me. However, thanks to your hard work for the Xie family, I won’t find your faults. Take your savings over these years, and leave this place as early as possible. With respect to your family, these murderers have been dead and there’s no recent news. We could look for them first. In addition, I’ll take the rouge shop over for the time being.”
“Thanks, young lady.” Granny Rouge kowtowed to her, completely numb.
Staring at her for a while, Xie Mengxuan turned to Gu Yusheng. “Geng Zhishan has gone missing as well. We’d better look for him first. Now that they’ve ambushed us here, it’s likely that her family is hidden nearby. Search around.”
Upset, Xie Mengxuan could not wait to go out alone before Gu Yusheng replied to her words.