PROOFREAD BY AFREANA

Chapter 92.2

“Because Master Xue couldn’t stand to look at my father and doesn’t care about Qian Pei, I felt that this marriage is negotiable.” An Ruochen paused and looked at Madam Xue, “Madam promised you would treat my sister well.”

“Of course.” Mrs. Xue felt that she saw hope and busily said in a row. “Don’t worry. My Xue family has always treated people generously. You can know this if you ask around. Even towards servants at home, we are not harsh and mean, not to mention that your sister is a good match for my son. She is my son’s lucky star, and I will hold her in my heart and love her when she marries over.”

“Then there is one more thing. If this marriage comes to fruition, I still hope that Master and Mrs. Xue will not give the An family any benefits and will not be taken advantage of by the An family and Qian Pei.”

Mrs. Xue froze and said, “Although there will be a kinship relationship between our families, my husband won’t do something out of the ordinary and won’t be manipulated. That Master Qian, what does my family have to do with him? We neither recognize each other nor aim to become friends.

An Ruochen smiled, thinking that this Mrs. Xue was a smooth talker.

Mrs. Xue saw An Ruochen smile and asked, “How do you think this marriage should be negotiated?”

An Ruochen said, “I want my second sister to meet Mr. Xue first. After all, there is a possibility that she will have to be a young widow in the future, so let them meet and make sure she is certain.”

Mrs. Xue didn’t like to hear the words ‘young widow.’

An Ruochen wanted to let her second sister go to see her son. If she doesn’t like him, then she won’t agree? Mrs. Xue held back and did not refute anything, only reassuring her that the Xue House won’t treat her daughter-in-law poorly.

An Ruochen said: ”Then let Young Master Xue meet my second sister. My second sister has been favored at home since she was a child and has a bit of a temper. If you don’t mind, we can talk about this marriage. Otherwise, if my second sister marries over, the husband and wife will hold a grudge against each other, arguing and angering each other, and it won’t help Mr. Xue recuperate.”

Mrs. Xue thought for a moment before agreeing. After they agreed, Mrs. Xue hurriedly returned to her house.

The next day, January 28th, with a blue sky and white clouds, the weather was excellent. Zhonglan City was adorned with decorations, and the red carpet was spread into the city from a mile outside the East City Gate, with welcoming flags fluttering in the wind.

Early in the morning, Yao Kun led a caravan to the barracks and greeted Huo Mingshan. Jiang Song led two hundred cavalrymen to escort the caravan from Zhonglan City and then escorted him back from the barracks, sending him into the Governor’s mansion. Then, one hundred soldiers stayed in the Governor’s mansion, along with the government guards that Yao Kun had arranged to be on duty inside the mansion, to guard Huo Mingshan’s safety.

When Yao Kun arrived at the barracks, he saw Big Long and talked to him about the details all the officials had discussed. Big Long had no opinion on anything else but was dissatisfied with Yao Kun’s need to wait for Shi Pingqing to send an envoy before sending Huo Mingshan to the capital.

“Mr. Huo is now a big target. Zhonglan City is full of hidden arrows, and you had a broad heart, wanting to pull Mr. Shi into the water to share the blame. Lord, do not pick up the sesame to lose the watermelon. If something happens to Mr. Huo in the Governor’s mansion, you will be in the same situation as him. If Mr. Huo is escorted to the capital early, wouldn’t the Governor have peace sooner? Isn’t that the rationale?”

Yao Kun was being warned by him. His heart was on alert, but he thought they had arranged such a tight defense, so there won’t be an accident like in Mao County. “Yesterday, Xia Zhou led people to go to Mao County. I will take Mr. Huo back to rest for two days. General, Mr. Huo is old and is not a martial artist. After traveling so far, his body is not made of iron. Anyway, let him rest for two days. These two days, I will discuss the matter with Mr. Huo carefully. Let Mr. Huo write a letter for Great Xiao’s envoy to South Qin. Two days later, regardless of the news on Mao County’s end, I agree with the General to send Mr. Huo to the capital. Mr. Huo will not stay with me for more than three days. I’m not concerned about these three days. Mr. Huo’s safety along the way after he goes on the road is more important.”

“The spies have been lurking in Zhonglan City for a long time, and there are hidden crises everywhere, and there might be a mole in the local government’s office. Mr. Huo’s danger within Zhonglan City is far greater than on the way. With the same two hundred guards, the assurance of protecting Mr. Huo’s safety along the way can be much higher than in Zhonglan city.” Big Long directly pointed out the key. If he didn’t need to put on a big show for South Qin and East Ling to achieve the effect of instant publicity, he would prefer to quietly send 20 elite soldiers in disguise to send Huo Mingshan away without any fanfare.

Big Long asked: “Did you hand out the memorial for the Emperor?”

“Of course, it was handed out yesterday. How about the General?”

“Yes.” Big Long asked again: “How about the documents of the counties along the route, the official letter of crossing the border? Did you prepare it?”

“These are no problem.” Yesterday his government office was busy all day and decorated the city all night, arranging the carriage and so on. Without missing half point of etiquette.

Big Long said: “You will organize a welcome banquet at night, right? Announce to the public that Mr. Huo is a guest in Zhonglan City for five days. On the third day, Mr. Huo will depart before dawn.”

“‘Okay.”

“Find someone with a similar body shape to Mr. Huo, don’t announce it to the public, and let him stay in Mr. Huo’s room. Let Mr. Huo live in a different room.”

Yao Kun pondered for a while, “Okay.”

Big Long and Yao Kun looked at each other. Both of them understood that what was left was Huo Mingshan’s safety.

The three days within Zhonglan City would probably be the most treacherous.

The South Qin envoys have entered the city, and there’s a big banquet in the evening. That means the two countries won’t fight, right? The people of Zhonglan’s entire city were running around. Everyone was out on the streets to catch a glimpse of the envoy. The town was full of colorful lights and festivities as if it was the New Year.

An Ruochen also went to the streets to see the fun. She ran to the Zhaofu Restaurant. One must pass the Zhaofu restaurant to reach the local government office. People from all walks of life crowded in early to seize a position with a good view, and the whole restaurant staff was busy and happy. It was a long time since this place was full of customers.

Zhao Jiahua squeezed in beside An Ruochen, mixed in the crowd of people watching. When everyone cheered, she whispered to An Ruochen: “I’ve inquired about interesting news.”

An Ruochen looked around and squeezed into a more distant corner.

Zhao Jiahua also went over and shrunk behind An Ruochen, saying, “You asked me to keep an eye on Qian Pei’s affairs, and I bribed a girl he had here in the Zhonglan Mansion. That girl was also careful but finally told me something useful. Qian Pei’s side mansion in Zhonglan City has a door that leads to another two-entry mansion. The main door of that mansion is facing the other direction, but there is a separate door to the Qian Mansion. Rumor has it that this is where Qian Pei keeps his maid or that it serves as a guest house when there are guests. The girl said Qian Pei sometimes goes to that yard. He ordered the maidservant to send food, clothing, and daily necessities, all of them exquisite, to that yard. Things were only placed in the backyard of the house. They were prohibited from going inside. That girl has sent clothes and other things, all man’s items. Judging from the size of the clothes, that person is thin and tall.”

An Ruochen’s heart tightened.

“That girl said, at the end of last year, it seems to be around the 20th, she couldn’t remember the specific day. Qian Pei said there is no need to send things to that courtyard anymore.”

Around 20th December? An Ruochen smiled and waved with the surrounding crowd at the caravan walking along the street.

Chief Li Mingyu died on December 21st. In his plan, that day, he was supposed to go to the East City Gate to distract the guards to give someone a chance to escape the city. Starting then, there was no longer a need to send anything to that courtyard.

An Ruochen knew the location of the Qian Mansion, it was not far from the Top Pine Pavilion. If the house was at the right angle, one should be able to see the bells on the Top Pine Pavilion, right?

Qian Pei, ah, Qian Pei, you said the fourth sister is not dead. Where exactly did the news come from?

“The tall thin man’s things, they were delivered for three or four years, right?” An Ruochen asked.

“Right.” Zhao Jiahua said, “The timing also quite fit.”

The author has something to say:

Mini Theater:

Qian Shixin: Father, look, I told you I would be dragged down by you!

Qian Pei: A villain should have the air of a villain. Why are you pretending to be civilized?

Big Long: Wait a minute, why is the small theater dedicated to the villains?