Perfect Encounter - Chapter 6.2
PROOFREAD BY AFREANA
The next day, Big Long received a request from An Zhifu. The card was opened by Zong Zeqing, and after reading it, he was surprised: “This city sure is rough. The father is unrestrained and the daughter is unconventional.”
Big Long raised his eyebrows: “The An family?”
“Yes.”
“First Miss?”
“No, the second young miss.”
“Hmm.”
“General, it is better not to meet her. What kind of female family members come to send gifts? The General is not a woman, and there is no lady to welcome her. It’s only appropriate for women to behave like women. Moreover, his family’s idea is too obvious, I am afraid the general will be trapped.”
“What kind of trap?”
“Let’s say you go back to your room and see a girl who stripped herself naked and is screaming for the General to take responsibility. Although you will not let her get away with it, it will become a problem.”
“What’s the trouble? If you come across such a foolish and cheap person, you don’t have to say a word, just chop her off with a sword. The spy who infiltrated the General’s residence should be punished sternly. Who can disagree?”
“……” Zong Zeqing closed his mouth and did not object. As expected of the General having such thunderous methods.
“Answer the An family. Let them come.”
“Huh?” It said the second young miss, there is no ‘them’.
“You tell the steward that I am busy with military affairs and have no time to welcome them. Take the gifts and show them around the residence.”
Zong Zeqing scratched his head and didn’t understand. Why would he let the second young lady come if he didn’t intend to see her? Why do you still want to take her around after receiving the gift? General, do you itch to chop someone with your sword?
The next day, An Ruochen and An Ruoxi led their maids and servants, carrying the gifts prepared by An Zhifu, to the Purple Cloud House, the residence of Big Long in Zhonglan City.
Fang Yuan, the steward of Purple Cloud House, received them politely.
Speaking of this Fang Yuan, was originally the second steward of the Governor’s residence. Yao Kun specially assigned him to take care of the living and other miscellaneous affairs of the Purple Cloud House.
Fang Yuan, as instructed by Big Long, said the General was busy with military affairs today and was not available. To show his apologies, the girls can take a walk, enjoy the flowers and tea, and take some snacks back.
An Ruoxi was overjoyed. Although she could not meet the General, this arrangement has been made especially for her. She was busy answering repeatedly, shyly thanking the steward, while at the same time remembering to seized the opportunity to say she would come back to thank in person.
An Ruochen was silent and disappointed. When the General promised a meeting, she guessed he should understand her intentions and would find an opportunity to let her meet him. In the end, they came and he was not there. She didn’t know if she would have a chance to see him alone after this. She did not want to be suddenly caught in jail one day, unable to defend herself.
After having tea, snacks, and some polite words, Steward Fang asked the maid to lead them to the garden to enjoy the flowers while the An Mansion’s servants waited in the side hall.
An Ruoxi was very excited, talking with the maid along the way. Enjoying the flowers was only the excuse. For her, this was a good opportunity to take care of the people under the Purple Cloud House and get closer to General Long in the future. She enthusiastically praised the maid and also inquired about various circumstances around General Long. The maid was made dizzy by her endless talking.
An Ruochen quietly followed behind, her pace getting slower as time went by. She was not in the mood to enjoy the flowers. She observed the various courtyards and houses here, expecting to see the General’s figure. Although he was not here, he instructed his subordinates to give the sisters a warm reception, which should hide an ulterior motive, right? Just like the time he was willing to go to the An family banquet, he had a purpose.
As she looked around, she came upon an open window and the inside of the room was in full view. Inside the room, there were two bags lying on the table, both hers.
An Ruochen was overjoyed. Although she couldn’t see the General, it was good to get her money back. She pulled out a scented handkerchief from her sleeve and threw it at the corner of the wall in the room, then continued following An Ruoxi and the maid. Gradually, her footsteps were getting slower, with An Ruoxi and the maid getting further away. Finally, An Ruoxi turned around a corner walking far away, without paying any attention to An Ruochen.
An Ruochen remained at that corner, looking at An Ruoxi’s and the maid’s backs gradually disappearing, and then fiercely turned back to walk towards the room she noticed just now. She thought if she bumped into someone and got asked what she was doing here, she would say she had lost her handkerchief and came back to look for it.
The window was still open and there was no one in the room, her bags lying conveniently on the table.
An Ruochen stood in front of the window, her heart pounding. She looked around again and saw no one was there. The door turned out to be locked when she tried to go around and pushed it. So, An Ruochen gritted her teeth and climbed into the room through the window.
She opened the bags and checked that her things were still there, intact.. She couldn’t take it all with her this time, so she stuffed all the jewelry and money into her sleeves. Great!
This trip was not in vain, at least the money was found.
An Ruochen smiled and turned around to leave. But just as she turned, she saw a tall man leaning against the door, looking at her.
An Ruochen’s smile froze.
General Long.
Her heart stopped beating for half a beat. An Ruochen subconsciously took a step back. Then she reacted, hurriedly flinging herself down, and said: “General, I have not lied. That day I did hear a man ask Xu Matchmaker to find someone to burn the granaries. It is true.”
After Big Long remained silent for a long time, An Ruochen looked up, and saw Big Long staring straight at her, scrutinizing her.
“Lord General.” An Ruochen kowtowed again, “This girl did not lie.”
Big Long finally spoke: “I was thinking that I would give you three days. If you didn’t’ show up during this time, I would have sent someone to the An House to arrest you.”
Really? An Ruochen’s heart was in shock. Today is exactly the third day after the attack on the horse farm. She swallowed her saliva and broke out in a cold sweat. “General, I was also shocked to hear the news. What I heard that day was indeed about the northern granaries. That day they actually noticed found someone was eavesdropping and as a result they must have changed their target. I am telling the truth. Ask Xu Matchmaker.”
“They noticed someone was eavesdropping?” Big Long walked to a chair and sat down.
An Ruochen moved her knees in his direction and continued to kneel with her face toward him, apparently quite skilled in kneeling. Big Long watched and did not say a word.
“Yes, they noticed someone was eavesdropping. I was hiding, that’s why I was able to escape. This is true, I would not dare to deceive the general.”
“This is a false statement.” Big Long said: “You’ve overheard the important military information but did not immediately report it to the government. In fact, you did not intend to reveal anything to me. If I did not stop you that day, you wouldn’t have said anything.”
An Ruochen choked. She did not intend to tell anyone about this. She wanted to leave this place, so she couldn’t ask for trouble. “That is, that is because I did not find the right opportunity. This matter is important, and I do not have the evidence to support it. No one would believe it, and if these people learned who reported it to the government, then I would have gotten into trouble. I am just a weak woman, timid and afraid of trouble. I did not dare to report to the officials in time. I beg the General’s forgiveness.”
“The phrase “timid and afraid of trouble” is another lie.”
“……” An Ruochen stopped talking.
Big Long asked, “Where did you hear them discussing this matter? How did you escape, and what else did they say?”
An Ruochen explained she rented a house in the city and went to check on it when she heard Xu Matchmaker and a man talking at the house adjacent to hers. The man suspected there was someone outside the house and came out to check, so she was hiding in the water tank.
“At that time, they did not say much. I heard Mr. Xie wanting Xu Matchmaker to burn the granaries …… ah, yes, he also mentioned something about girls not listening and said for Xu Matchmaker to forget about it, and refrain from saying too much to them, so that they would save themselves the trouble of having to silence them. There was only this sentence, they did not mention the specifics about the girls or explain what happened.” An Ruochen realized at this point that Granny Xu used matchmaking or selling slave girls to instigate some girls to work for her. She hurriedly said: “The matchmaker must have a lot of manpower. Besides the thieves who were able to burn the granaries, there are also some girls who can be used. Catch her and we will know once we interrogate her.”
Big Long shook his head: “If what you say is true, that Xu Matchmaker can not be touched for the time being. Her arrest would only alert the enemies. I’m afraid her superiors would get the news in time to escape. These days, I sent people to keep an eye on her every move, but I have not seen anything unusual about her.”
“Since they are on guard, they will naturally follow the rules for a while.”
“Did they ever suspect you?”
“I don’t think so. No one has come looking for me to silence me. Xu Matchmaker has not come to my house to test me either.”
Big Long did not say anything. An Ruochen looked at him with anxiety. Will he believe her?