Not long after Qingyue left, Xue Pinggui returned from outside. When he saw that Qingyue was not in the cold cave, he felt a little flustered.

However, thinking that Qingyue might get bored here and go back to the city, I felt relieved.

He was just thinking about how to get some money from Qingyue when she came back so he could get his treatment done as soon as possible. That was the most important thing.

These past two days, Xue Pinggui has been racking his brains trying to come up with the best excuse.

However, on the third day, when Qingyue still hadn't returned or sent a message, Xue Pinggui became somewhat anxious. He couldn't sit still any longer and prepared to head to the mansion to see what was going on.

Because of a bad feeling in my heart, I unconsciously went faster and faster.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xue Pinggui had traveled from the suburbs to the city and arrived at the gate of that large five-courtyard mansion.

"Knock, knock." Xue Pinggui knocked on the door.

After a while, the door opened from the inside, and a servant came out.

"What are you doing? What are you doing? Why are you banging on me?" the servant said impatiently and rudely.

"Go in and announce that I want to see the eldest daughter of the Pingxi Jiedushi's family. I am her husband."

Xue Pinggui looked at the servant in front of him with a grim expression. He was determined to kick him out once he saw Qingyue.

"The legitimate daughter of the Pingxi Military Governor? We don't have a legitimate daughter of the Pingxi Military Governor in our household. You've come to the wrong place. Our master is Zhang Xin, the imperial merchant!" the servant said as he urged Xue Pinggui on.

"Impossible! This is clearly the residence of the Pingxi Jiedushi in the capital, not the mansion of the imperial merchant Zhang Xin! I have clearly seen Qingyue living in this house many times."

Upon hearing the servant's words, Xue Pinggui was momentarily stunned, but quickly regained his composure and immediately retorted.

"I don't believe it! You must be lying to me. Qingyue clearly lives here. Does the Pingxi Jiedushi know about Qingyue and me?"

"He doesn't acknowledge me and wants to take Qingyue back, so he lied and said this is the residence of the imperial merchant Zhang Xin?"

"Don't lie to me! I won't believe you! Qingyue and I are in love, and I am the son-in-law of the Pingxi Jiedushi!"

Xue Pinggui was furious and refused to listen to his servants' explanations, blindly believing in the facts he had made up his mind.

“I told you this isn’t the residence of the Pingxi Jiedushi, can’t you understand human language?” The servant’s tone became increasingly aggressive.

"I don't believe it! I want to go in and see for myself! I don't believe Qingyue would abandon me! Qingyue must have been forced! I'm going to rescue Qingyue!"

Enraged, Xue Pinggui shoved the servant to the ground and rushed through the gate into the house.

After Xue Pinggui entered the house, he found that it was very different from the time he had been there before!

First of all, when I came last time, there were so many maids and servants serving in the house, but this time, after walking around for so long, I haven't seen any servants serving me!

And those precious flowers that were everywhere before, I didn't see a single one this time!

Xue Pinggui rushed toward the courtyard where Qingyue had told him she lived, only to find it dull and lifeless, not at all like the place where a noble lady from a high-ranking family would live.

In the boudoir, not only were there no cosmetics, hairpins, jade bracelets, or other jewelry that young women often used, but there weren't even the most basic things like clothes or bedding! There wasn't even a teapot on the table!

Xue Pinggui's face was ashen, and he was filled with panic. He staggered out of the house.

At that moment, the gatekeeper's servant also arrived.

"Cough cough, you... how could you... barge in like this! Get out of here! If you don't leave... I'll have someone... beat you out with sticks!" The servant said, patting his chest and panting.

I only arrived at this courtyard a couple of days ago, and some servants haven't come yet. Otherwise, I would have beaten this trespasser out of the mansion with sticks!

"Where is the eldest daughter of the Pingxi Jiedushi (military governor) who lives here? Where did she go? Isn't this the residence of the Pingxi Jiedushi? How did it become the residence of the imperial merchant Zhang Xin?"

Xue Pinggui's mind was in complete turmoil, a jumble of thoughts he couldn't make sense of.

Suddenly I realized that such a big thing must be all over the place. After all, if the Pingxi Jiedushi or his family came to the capital, the news would be flying everywhere!

I guess I haven't heard about this because I've been so preoccupied with worrying about my illness these past few days!

Thinking of this, Xue Pinggui took off running outside, eager to find out as much information as possible.

"Have you heard that the military governor of Pingxi has come to the capital?" Xue Pinggui ran out into the street, grabbed a passerby, and asked.

"The military governor of Pingxi? Never heard of him, I don't know him." The passerby shook his head, looking at Xue Pinggui with a puzzled expression.

Such an important person has nothing to do with us ordinary people. This young man doesn't look like he's from a wealthy or official family! He then walked away.

Have you heard that the military governor of Pingxi has come to the capital?

"No."

"Did you know that the military governor of Pingxi has come to the capital?"

"have no idea."

...

"Did you know that the eldest daughter of the Pingxi military governor's family has come to the capital to choose a husband?"

"I haven't heard of it."

"How could I not have heard? It was originally planned to hold a martial arts contest to find a husband at Baliting in the city, but it was canceled later. And all the men in the city could participate! How could you not have heard!"

Xue Pinggui had been inquiring for so long without getting any news, and when he asked others, they had no idea that there was a Pingxi Jiedushi (military governor). He became increasingly anxious.

Then, when asked about the martial arts contest for marriage that everyone had been discussing, they were surprised to find that no one knew about it, which they thought was common knowledge!

Xue Pinggui immediately felt uneasy, a shadow falling over his heart.

"Are you sick? Go see a doctor if you're sick. If you say you've never heard of it, then you've never heard of it!"

After saying that, he turned and left, his face still showing the embarrassment and annoyance of being questioned.

Xue Pinggui's face was covered in sweat, which looked terrible. Time was of the essence, and he had important matters to attend to, so he didn't want to argue with anyone. He was focused on finding out as soon as possible about the martial arts contest to find a husband for the eldest daughter of the Pingxi Jiedushi's family.

Afterwards, Xue Pinggui went to ask some people, but he learned from them that none of them had ever heard of the matter of the eldest daughter of the Pingxi Jiedushi choosing a husband!

Xue Pinggui even went to ask the beggar brothers he had been with before.

The beggar brothers were overjoyed, thinking that Xue Pinggui had won over some noble lady and become the son-in-law of the Pingxi Jiedushi.

Considering I helped him before, I'm inviting you guys over for some fun!

When I saw Xue Pinggui coming over, I was overjoyed. I thought to myself, "This Brother Gui knows how to handle people; he's destined for great things!"

She was thrilled, thinking that she could rely on Gui Ge and enjoy the comfort of having maids to serve her.

When Xue Pinggui inquired whether anyone in the streets or among the common people had heard about the martial arts contest to find a husband for the eldest daughter of the Pingxi Jiedushi, they were all dumbfounded!