Perfect Encounter - Chapter 20.2
PROOFREAD BY AFREANA
Chapter 20.2
An Ruochen continued: “Later, one time, I saw Xu Matchmaker and a man talking on the street. I did not see the man’s face. Only heard them say something about taking care of a girl’s disobedience, granary, and horse farms or something. I panicked. Later on, I tried to ask the Xu Matchmaker about it. I was thinking, if she can help me in the future, I must show my side to her, to please her, but if there is a real danger, I have to leave early, so as to not get into trouble. As soon as I asked, Mrs. Xu told me she did have some connections and was doing something big, so she needed some help. After I marry in the Qian House, I could become her right-hand person, and the benefits would not be lacking. I asked what exactly I was supposed to do. I explained I was a bit stupid, afraid I wouldn’t be able to do what she asked of me, so I wanted to get a clear understanding first and prepare in advance. She talked to me and felt I was obedient. When I discovered her secret, I did not shout it out everywhere, so she did not criticize me and praised me instead for my calmness and understanding. She said she helped many people with matchmaking and marriage negotiations. Helped many girls find jobs and places to return to. Many concubines and maids in large households were in contact with her and exchanged information. She said that what she needed me to do was simple and that she would not let me worry. It would be easy.”
An Ruochen stopped here, and Xie Gang was about to ask, ‘then what,’ but saw General Long pour a cup of water and hand it to her. An Ruochen thanked him. She took the cup and drank. Her hands visibly shook, with sludge and blood staining her fingers. Zong Zeqing softened his heart and took two steps forward to hold the cup for her, helping her drink the second half of it.
Big Long withdrew his foot that wanted to step closer and took a step back instead. With his hands behind his back, he watched solemnly as An Ruochen gobbled the cup of water up.
At this time, the guard at the door reported Dr. Wei had arrived. Big Long summoned him in. The old doctor entered the room and saluted, looking at An Ruochen’s injuries as instructed. He pushed Zong Zeqing politely to the side and respectfully invited him and Xie Gang together to wait outside.
When Zong Zeqing reached the outside of the room, he was still thinking about what An Ruochen said, and he felt the words were quite convincing. The government did not find the reason behind the Xu Matchmaker’s suicide but decided to close the case. At the oath ceremony, An Ruochen and Xie Jin did not know each other, but he still harassed and chased her. Xie Jin died. His identity was suspicious, but there was no evidence or clues. The governor had to close Xie Jin’s case. If An Ruochen reports this now, the governor will surely pay attention and report to the military.
But what can An Ruochen do after she says this? The governor will not cancel the marriage for her based on her meritorious report. They would probably only thank her and send her home to continue with the marriage ceremony. General Long naturally also cannot do anything …
At this point, Zong Zeqing suddenly reacted: “Xie Gang, it is correct that men and women are not allowed to be intimate. I am convinced. But, why have only you and I been driven out, while the General remains in the room?”
”Why would the General need to watch? He will hold himself with courtesy and turn his back to avoid suspicion.” Xie Gang had a serious tone.
“Ha!” Zong Zeqing suddenly felt he had caught Xie Gang’s trick. “Meaning that you are uncouth and shameless because you have also been driven out!”
“No, I am here to supervise you, to prevent you from peeking.”
“……” slandered by degrading his character so much, how can he tolerate it!
After that, Dr. Wei came out. Passing by the two generals who were fighting lively, he said: “I left wound medicine in the room for the two lords.” After saying that, he calmly left.
Zong Zeqing and Xie Gang paused. Is this to let them feel at ease to fight? They threw a fist at each other, then drifted towards the door at the same time and stood outside, looking at each other.
“Can I go in?”
“The General didn’t call. Push the door.”
Zong Zeqing was about to explode again: “Why would I push the door without being called by the General?”
“You have thick skin. You can do this.”
Zong Zeqing glared at Xie Gang, drying out a fart. He has always followed the rules, only followed the orders.
After waiting for a while, they still did not hear Big Long’s call. Zong Zeqing could not resist, his face filled with gossip, he excitedly put his ears on the door panel. Before he could press firmly, he was plucked away. Xie Gang seriously put his ears on the door panel.
Zong Zeqing rolled his eyes at him. However, he had to endure. He couldn’t disturb the General by doing this kind of thing, so he spared Xie Gang for the time being. Therefore, they squeezed over to eavesdrop together.
Vaguely heard in the room was An Ruochen talking. Her voice was weak, they could not hear clearly. But what can be said, Zong Zeqing guessed it all. He winked at Xie Gang: This girl is trying to convince the General to take her in, ah. You say, the General, this piece of ironwood, will he agree?
Xie Gang returned the look, full of displeasure. Zong Zeqing skimmed his eyebrows, this guy must not have understood the meaning of his eyes just now. He frowned and gave a look again: Don’t try to be partial, they’re obviously discussing military matters, taking the bride before she gets into the palanquin. If this falls into the hands of someone with a hidden agenda, the General will be in big trouble. You can’t joke about it. What is it that you dislike?
Xie Gang ignored him.
Zong Zeqing was impatient, felt his eyes becoming poor, and was about to ask, but the room was suddenly silent.
Xie Gang and Zong Zeqing instantly stood straight with serious faces as if nothing happened.
The door opened. Big Long face glanced at them sternly and said: “Come in.”
Xie Gang and Zong Zeqing went in.
An Ruochen was still clothed. Unexpectedly not bandaged to deal with injuries. Zong Zeqing sighed in his heart. General Long, you are a piece of wood, how can you have no half-hearted pity for the girl?
Big Long said: “Miss An has a clear mind and promised to help trap the spy.”
Zong Zeqing hurriedly asked, “Then we will keep her?” He thought this An girl was a good girl. If he could help her leave the tiger’s mouth, he was happy to do so.
“Send her to the near the county government office, be careful on the way, and don’t let others find out your whereabouts.”
Zong Zeqing was surprised. Throw Miss An to the magistrate’s office?
Big Long glanced at An Ruochen: “If she wants to beat the drum and report to the government, then let her go.”
Zong Zeqing and Xie Gang both took An Ruochen and went as ordered.
Zong Zeqing led several people to open the road in the name of night patrol to ensure that no one would be on the way. Xie Gang and An Ruochen followed from afar in a carriage. On the way, An Ruochen lightly frowned. Judging from her tightly pursed mouth, she seemed to be in pain. Xie Gang said softly: “The General has his reasons for this, to not treat your wounds, to not let you rest for too long, is to not allow people to become suspicious. After all, you just escaped from home and went straight to the courthouse in the governor’s office.”
An Ruochen nodding her head, she naturally knew this. ”The doctor confirmed I was not in danger and gave me a pill for pain relief. I can hold on.”
Xie Gang added: “The Governor will ask you questions carefully. You should not be anxious when answering, speak slowly and think in your head. Although your report is credible and should be able to lead the Governor to the General, you should understand that witnesses, after reporting to the officials, should return home. You are getting married tomorrow. Marrying the county magistrate’s father. The Governor will report to your family and inform the county magistrate and Old Qian. You do not have sufficient reasons, either for the Governor or the General to take you in. Even if they detain you for a few days until your claims are investigated, you will still have to return home afterward.”
An Ruochen nodded again: “Please rest assured, my Lord. I understand what your intentions are. Even if I can’t withdraw from the marriage as I wish, I only have myself to blame, and it has nothing to do with the General. The General and the lords have saved me and let me sit in peace at this moment, for that I am already grateful. No matter what happens, I am grateful to you all. But as long as I am not dead, I won’t give up.” An Ruochen said this while trying to kneel in the carriage, struggling with pain. The space was too small. She could not kowtow, so she only said: “My Lord, the time is too tight. I was not able to beg the General. This may be my last chance to speak with you alone. I beseech you, tell the General for me. I am brazen and want to beg the General one more thing. If anything happens to me, please help me find my sister. My fourth sister, An Ruofang, is only twelve years old. I lost her. I let her go to join Master Jiang’s caravan in my stead when she was so young and unfamiliar with the roads. I failed to take care of her properly. As long as her life and death remain unknown, my heart cannot be at peace. I implore you, please look for her for me.”
Xie Gang looked at her for a long time: “You did not ask the General to give you another chance to leave, but you are willing to help trap the spy because you want to stay and find your sister?”
An Ruochen bit her lip and nodded: “I have no shame in making this request, but I have no other way. Please help me, my Lord.”
“Okay. I promise you. After you marry into the Qian family, I’m sure you won’t be able to go out often, and it will be hard to find help in your husband’s family. You will have no power to find your sister then. I will tell General that I promised you I will look for your fourth sister. As long we don’t hear about her death, we will look for her to the end, don’t worry.”
An Ruochen’s eyes warmed and she choked up, “It is inconvenient here, but I kowtow to your honor in my heart.”
Xie Gang looked outside the carriage: ”Almost there. I have to drop you off on the street. You need to turn up on the main street and walk to the county government office on your own. The officer at the gate will be able to see you from afar. You will be fine.”
An Ruochen nervously squeezed her fingers and nodded her head.
“I will watch you and leave after you entered the courthouse’s gate. Remember, the Governor acts carefully, he is not a person who is pleased with his success. To him, not creating problems is more important. He and Qian Pei have a teacher-student friendship and he mainly relied on Qian Pei’s recommendations. Because of the connections between Qian Pei and South Qin, he achieved great merit. After the death of Governor Meng, he became the Governor of this Pingnan County. But that was 20 years ago. After a long time, the situation has changed. Moreover, Yao Kun was 34 years old when he got a son. He only had his wife, did not have concubines, and did not enter brothels. This kind of lifestyle certainly does not match Qian Pei’s evil ways.”
An Ruochen listened carefully, knowing that Xie Gang was advising her.
“You need to understand what kind of person he is in order to convince him. The death of Xu Matchmaker is strange, and Xie Jin’s case was concluded in an unclear manner. The Governor must be very upset. He repeatedly discussed it with the General, trying to push the matter to him. General Long asked for details, but the Governor could not produce solid evidence. Whether it is a civilian case or military affairs, it was difficult to say.”
An Ruochen listened and understood. General Long presents an ambiguous attitude and wants to use the Governor as a cover. The Governor being in the light to investigate openly, and the General making his moves in the dark.
“Now you want to report espionage. It should be right in the Governor’s mind. He will want to anxiously push these matters to the military, so they do not turn into an accusation of malfeasance in the future. Your words are half-truths and half-lies, and all those things can be connected, sounding very credible, but you must not go too far, just like what you said to the General.”
An Ruochen nodded.
“As for the marriage, the Governor knows what kind of person Qian Pei is, and he also knows why such a marriage was set. Don’t cry to attract sympathy. It will only annoy him. He wants to get rid of his worries, not to create further difficulties for himself over a girl who came to report a crime and get credit for the marriage.”
An Ruochen nodded again.
At this time, the carriage stopped. Xie Gang looked outside the carriage. They stopped at a secluded alley in the dark. Xie Gang got out of the carriage and helped An Ruochen out.
An Ruochen knelt as soon as she landed and heavily kowtowed to Xie Gang.
“Your great kindness, I will not dare to forget. Don’t worry, no matter what, I will not make any mistakes and drag the General and the lords down.”
“Go on.” Xie Gang said softly.
An Ruochen knocked her head heavily again and then braced herself, dragging her injured leg towards the alley’s entrance. She was badly injured, and although she took medicine, it was still hard to walk. She did not look back, as if there was no carriage behind her and no one else, and stepped into the moonlight alone.
She walked out of the alley and turned onto the road leading to the courthouse.