Chapter 44 This brat is arrogant!
The next morning, not long after the city gates opened, Chen Hui came upstairs to wake Achan up.
"Achan, get up." Chen Hui sat on the edge of the bed and gently nudged her.
Achan used her hands and feet to wrap herself in the blanket, nimbly turned over, and rolled herself and the blanket into the bed, silently refusing to get up.
Chen Hui suppressed a laugh, grabbed a corner of the blanket, and pulled A Chan back.
"Wake up, get up! You promised to go grocery shopping with me last night."
She placed her hand, which was colder than others', on Achan's forehead. Achan groaned for a while and finally opened her eyes.
"What time is it?" Ah Chan, who had just gotten up, was dazed and didn't even want to move her eyes.
"It's already past 5 a.m. If we're any later, the riverside market will close up, and all the fresh eels will be sold out."
"I'm getting up now." Achan yawned, sat on the bed and slowly put on her clothes, while Chen Hui quickly helped her tie her hair into a bun.
After getting dressed, Achan finally woke up a bit. After washing up, the two of them stepped out of the house in the slight chill of the morning.
They were heading to Huaijiang Ward, which was adjacent to Changping Ward. A river ran through Huaijiang Ward, which was not far from the city gate. Many people from the outskirts of the capital would come to Huaijiang Ward early in the morning to set up stalls along the river to sell various seasonal vegetables, chicken, duck, fish and meat.
Chen Hui had only been in Changpingfang for a short time when she discovered this market. Previously, the vegetables in her shop were ordered from farmers in a small market by the river.
Last night, Achan suddenly had a craving for eel, so Chen Hui told her about the small market. On a whim, she insisted that Chen Hui wake her up so they could go pick out fish together.
After walking for a while, Achan took Chen Hui's arm, feeling a bit of pain in her feet, and didn't want to walk anymore.
She said, "I've thought about it and I think it's not a good day to eat eel."
Chen Hui retorted coldly and ruthlessly, "You didn't think about it."
Achan pouted: "I don't want to leave."
Why would she be so upset as to go to the farmers' market on such a beautiful morning?
"Then I'll carry you on my back?"
Achan shook her head vigorously, so Chen Hui had no choice but to take her hand and pull her forward.
"It's a pity that the yard is too small, otherwise we could keep a horse-drawn carriage, and we could travel by carriage whenever we want," Achan suddenly thought.
“If you plan to live here indefinitely, you could buy the back yard and combine the two yards together; that would be enough,” Chen Hui suggested instead of arguing.
"It's not impossible." While Achan was still considering whether to expand their accommodation, they had already arrived at Huaijiangfang.
Huaijiangfang was indeed different from Changpingfang. At this time, Huaijiangfang was already very lively. Along both sides of the river, many farmers set up stalls here, selling all kinds of fresh vegetables, as well as mountain products and aquatic products.
The two strolled along the river for most of the hour, and Ah Chan had already finished a flatbread before they finally found a fish stall.
When Chen Hui went to the fish stall to pick out eels, A Chan was attracted by a beautiful rooster outside a few stalls, and drooled as she looked at it.
The woman selling chickens didn't chase her away, letting Achan squat beside her and stare at her rooster, while she chatted with the man selling vegetables next to her.
The woman said, "Uncle Kang hasn't come to set up his stall. Is he badly injured?"
The middle-aged man next to him sighed: "Kang Shu couldn't possibly withstand being kicked by such a strong horse. Hopefully, it's just a minor injury and not a broken leg."
"If you ask me, that Marquis of Zhenbei is more like a demon god than a war god. His men are too arrogant and unreasonable. When one of their horses kicked someone, Xiao Kang went up to argue with them, and they even whipped him."
The middle-aged man quickly stopped him, saying, "Shh, shh, shh, are you out of your mind? That's a marquis! You can't just say things like that!"
Hearing their conversation, Achan couldn't help but interject, "Auntie, did something happen this morning?"
The aunt was also quite talkative. She had noticed how pretty Ah Chan was and started chatting with her, so she told her, "This morning, as soon as the city gates opened, a group of people rode out of the city and kicked an old man from our village. He's probably still at the clinic."
"Then how did you know he was one of the Marquis of Zhenbei's men?"
"Hey, didn't we see the Marquis of Zhenbei enter the city yesterday? Only his men were riding those old, scary horses, and the rest of the group were riding those same kinds of horses."
Achan nodded. The black dragon horse that the Marquis of Zhenbei rode yesterday did indeed look very fierce, and it would be difficult to mistake it for something else.
"Didn't they pay any compensation after hitting someone?"
The woman rolled her eyes: "Pay back? Those people are unreasonable. When the old man's son went up to them to demand an explanation, he was not only beaten, but almost arrested."
"Really? That's really too much."
"Who can argue with that?"
Achan couldn't help but wonder, why send people out of the city so early in the morning? What are they investigating?
Just then, Hui Niang returned with the fish she had bought. Seeing A Chan squatting to the side chatting warmly with the aunt, she couldn't help but smile.
Achan seems more lively than before; she used to never chat with strangers so casually.
"Achan, let's go." she called out.
Achan turned around: "Coming right away."
After saying goodbye, she reluctantly bid farewell to the aunt's rooster. She had eaten too much chicken yesterday, and Hui Niang wouldn't let her eat the same food every day, so she had to change the menu today.
When they left Huaijiangfang, it was already Chenshi (7-9 AM).
Ah Chan walked briskly home with Chen Hui, unaware that the men under the Zhenbei Marquis that the aunt had mentioned to her earlier had just returned from outside the city.
The person leading the group was one of the personal guards of the Marquis of Zhenbei, named Lei Tong.
After returning to the Marquis's residence, Lei Tong found the Marquis of Zhenbei practicing with a spear while shirtless in the training ground.
The Marquis of Zhenbei held a black and gold spear. Each time the spearhead thrust out, it made a piercing sound as it cut through the air. However, he did not seem satisfied with this and practiced for a while before stopping.
"Your Lordship's spear skills are unparalleled in the world." Lei Tong sincerely praised him and stepped forward to hand the cloth used to wipe his sweat to the Marquis of Zhenbei.
After taking it, the Marquis of Zhenbei wiped the sweat from his neck and looked up at the sky: "I had some insights, but unfortunately there is a formation in the capital city, which prevented me from using my full strength. It's really disappointing."
"Perhaps the royal family members are timid and afraid of being assassinated, so they set up this formation." Lei Tong's words were indeed somewhat disrespectful, but they were what the Marquis of Zhenbei was willing to hear.
He laughed twice and turned to Lei Tong, asking, "How's the investigation going?"
Lei Tong said solemnly, "Shortly after Chen Hui was buried, her burial site was struck by lightning, and the hilltop was leveled. There was no body. I heard that the son-in-law also sent people to look for her, but they couldn't find her either."
"And the other one?"
"I dug up the maid's grave, and it was empty. Moreover, according to my observation, the coffin had been broken open from the inside, which shows that there was originally someone in the coffin, but they came out after the burial."
The Marquis of Zhenbei's face was gloomy: "Chen Hui, who was bitten to death by a zombie, Ru Hui, who crawled out of the coffin, and Yan Liru, who was covered in zombie poison... It seems that Chen Hui had some strange encounters."
Lei Tong said, "She's just a living corpse. Originally, she was just an ordinary person. Even as a living corpse, she would only be at the first level. She could be crushed with one hand."
“We shouldn’t underestimate a mere zombie. She killed my only bloodline.” The Marquis of Zhenbei spoke calmly, but his eyes were filled with murderous intent. “If she entered the Yan family for revenge, and Yan Liru is still alive, I guess she won’t leave the capital easily. She might still be hiding among the crowd. Find her.”
"Yes." Lei Tong accepted the order and left.
As evening approached, the officers of the Mingjing Division left the yamen in twos and threes.
Lei Tong stood not far from the Mingjing Division's office. When he saw one of the men come out, he took a few steps forward and patted the man's shoulder forcefully.
"similar?"
"Commander Zhang, it's been a long time." Lei Tong greeted the other party with a smile.
Zhang Qian smiled when he saw his old friend: "You and the Marquis of Zhenbei have been away for three years, and you look quite robust. Come on, let's go to Tingxianglou tonight for drinks and music, it's on me."
"Okay, you treat, I'll pay."
The two walked affectionately toward Tingxiang Tower.
As midnight approached, Zhang Qian and Lei Tong had already emptied several jars of wine. The dancers playing the pipa and singing in the room had changed twice. Zhang Qian was really too drunk to drink anymore, and he could only see double.
Lei Tong was well aware of his old friend's problem: once he was drunk, he would talk about anything.
He sat down next to Zhang Qian and asked in a low voice, "Brother Qian, I heard there was a zombie outbreak in Beijing before I came back. Were they all caught?"
"Of course we arrested them. Our garrison commander took action personally, which is much better than those useless people in the Ministry of Justice." Zhang Qian spoke with a slight lisp, but his words were still quite clear.
"What happened to those zombies?"
"Of course we killed them." Zhang Qian hiccuped. "Wait, I heard we let one go."
Lei Tong's expression hardened: "Why let one go?"
Zhang Qian scratched his head: "It seems that the zombie is different from the others, it's like a human. I heard that someone wanted to raise it, and our garrison commander agreed for some reason."
"So you're just going to leave it like that?"
"Of course not... hiccup... they must have signed a contract before letting him go."
"Does Brother Qian know where the person who raises zombies lives?"
"I know, the incense shops in Changping Ward. You can't just go to that place casually, or our Garrison Commander will be angry if he finds out."
After asking the questions, Lei Tong took a deep breath. After settling Zhang Qian in, he went out, paid the money, and left Tingxiang Tower.
It was already curfew, but Lei Tong moved so fast that no one could spot him.
Before long, Lei Tong returned to the Zhenbei Marquis's residence.
At this time, the Marquis of Zhenbei still did not rest.
Lei Tong, reeking of alcohol, arrived at the study of the Marquis of Zhenbei and reported, "My lord, I have learned the whereabouts of that living corpse from the commander of the Mingjing Division. If I am not mistaken, that living corpse is Chen Hui."
"Oh, where is it?"
"In a sachet shop in Changpingfang."
"Heh, she's really got some nerve. She harmed my grandson and still dares to stay in the capital. Is she afraid I won't come looking for her?" The Marquis of Zhenbei's voice sounded particularly sinister in the dead of night.
Lei Tong hesitated, "My lord, I heard that this living corpse has already signed a contract with the Mingjing Division. Why don't you let your subordinates finish her off? If the Mingjing Division investigates, it won't have anything to do with you, my lord."
"What's wrong with signing the contract? I'm going to kill a living corpse. Does the Mingjing Division dare to stop me? I'll avenge Cheng'er myself!"
Early in the morning, the Marquis of Zhenbei changed into his court robes and went to court. After court, he returned to his residence.
The Mingjing Division spies who were keeping an eye on the Zhenbei Marquis's residence thought that nothing would happen this morning, but to their surprise, the Zhenbei Marquis actually left the residence with his personal guards not long after.
He followed them for a while and discovered that they seemed to be heading in the direction of Changpingfang.
Remembering his superior's instructions before he arrived, the scout stopped following and turned to run towards the Mingjing Division.
When the Marquis of Zhenbei led his men to block off the entire street, Achan was still grinding incense powder in her house.
When the half-closed door of the shop suddenly exploded into pieces, before Achan's body could react, Chen Hui had already stood in front of her.
Many splinters pierced Chen Hui's back, and A Chan's exposed arm was also cut with long, bloody gashes by the splinters.
Once the splinters were finally gone, Chen Hui turned around and saw a large group of people standing outside the wide-open door.
A row of fierce-looking black dragon horses stood in the middle, with the Marquis of Zhenbei sitting high on his horse, dressed in black.
Although they hadn't seen each other for many years, Chen Hui recognized the Marquis of Zhenbei at a glance. This was the man who had caused her father's demotion, and Fang Yu had also used his power to brutally murder her entire family.
His presence here today is undoubtedly for her.
"Get out here!" The Marquis of Zhenbei's voice boomed like thunder, sending chills down one's spine.
As Achan was about to get up, Chen Hui pressed her back down, whispering, "Achan, he's here to see me. Don't go out."
She had already caused quite a bit of trouble for Achan. It had finally calmed down, and she thought she could finally live a peaceful life, but it turned out to be just wishful thinking.
She only hoped that the Marquis of Zhenbei would not take his anger out on Achan today.
Seeing Chen Hui walk out of the house, A Chan didn't listen to her and got up to chase after her.
As Chen Hui, who looked more than ten years younger, walked out of the house, the Marquis of Zhenbei narrowed his eyes. It was the first time he had ever seen such a human-like living corpse, and it truly looked extraordinary.
He originally intended to kill her immediately, but now he had the idea of capturing her and studying her.
Marquis Zhenbei waved his hand behind him: "Take her back."
"Wait a minute."
A voice suddenly rang out, and a petite figure walked out from behind Chen Hui.
Achan bowed to the Marquis of Zhenbei and said respectfully, "I hope the Marquis will forgive me. I signed a contract with her at the Mingjing Bureau. She now belongs to me. No matter what grudges the Marquis has with her, if you want to take her away, you must inform the Mingjing Bureau."
"Little girl, are you using the Mingjing Division to threaten me?" The Marquis of Zhenbei's voice deepened, his aura imposing.
Achan remained calm: "I wouldn't dare. It's just that when we signed the contract, the officials of the Mingjing Division told me that my fate was intertwined with hers. If the Marquis used her to do something bad, I would also be implicated. Of course, I had to explain the situation to the Mingjing Division."
"Answer me one question, and I might consider it."
Achan was slightly taken aback: "What does Your Excellency want to ask?"
"Is her current state related to you?"
Achan's eyes flickered slightly, but before she could answer, the Marquis of Zhenbei had already given the order: "Take her away with you."
"yes."
Chen Hui's expression changed immediately upon hearing this. A Chan hadn't expected that the Marquis of Zhenbei could be so arrogant, daring to arrest people in broad daylight in the capital.
The premise for Chen Hui to surrender was that A Chan was safe. Now that the Marquis of Zhenbei wants to take A Chan away, how could she remain indifferent?
Suddenly, sharp, black fingernails grew from her hands, and she used them to scratch two approaching guards.
The Marquis of Zhenbei snorted coldly, and with a flick of his arm, Chen Hui was sent flying backward, crashing into the house.
The remaining guards went forward to grab Achan, but before they could even touch her, a flash of light appeared, and the two guards who couldn't dodge in time had their arms sliced off.
With a scream, a knife fell from the sky, seemingly about to hit Achan's head. Achan saw it too, but she couldn't dodge it.
Just as the knife was about to fall, a red figure appeared not far in front of her, and the knife above her head flew to the other person's hand.
"I wonder what the Marquis of Zhenbei intends to do by sending men to seal off Changping Ward so early in the morning?" Bai Xiuming asked, holding a knife in one hand as he stared at the Marquis of Zhenbei, who was sitting high on his horse, his imposing manner not at all inferior.
"You are... Bai Xiuming?" Marquis Zhenbei looked Bai Xiuming up and down, seemingly surprised, before saying, "I don't need to explain my actions to you."
Bai Xiuming's lips twitched: "But the Marquis has touched my people, and I need an explanation."
"Is that so? Then we'll see if you have the ability to make me speak."
Marquis Zhenbei snorted coldly and suddenly disappeared from his horse. Bai Xiuming, who had been blocking Achan's way, also vanished.
Achan could only hear the loud clang of weapons clashing and glimpses of light flashing before her eyes. She could vaguely sense two people fighting in the street, but her eyes couldn't catch any of them.
The two fought not far from her, which made Achan feel very unsafe. She slowly retreated and leaned against the wall, only then did she feel a little more at ease.
However, the next moment, a black and gold spear suddenly flew out from the street, pierced through the wall, and finally stuck into the ground.
Then, with a loud bang, the ground of the house collapsed.
Achan stared blankly at her destroyed house, then suddenly remembered that Huiniang was still inside and screamed, "Huiniang!"
He ran into the house without a care in the world.
Before they had run far, they saw Chen Hui stumble out of the dilapidated house.
Seeing that Achan was not injured, she breathed a sigh of relief: "I'm fine."
Achan stepped forward to support her, and together with Chen Hui, they looked out onto the street.
Finally, after a brief exchange, the two figures, one in red and one in black, landed on opposite sides of the street.
Bai Xiuming's official robe had its sleeves completely torn and the hem tattered, making him look extremely disheveled. The Marquis of Zhenbei opposite him was dressed neatly, but he was clutching his chest, where blood was seeping out.
Achan's gaze fell on the knife that Bai Xiuming was holding. The blade was not bloody, but blood was dripping from the tip of the knife. It was the blood of the Marquis of Zhenbei.
When the Marquis of Zhenbei's personal guards saw that their lord was at a disadvantage, they were about to draw their swords and step forward, but he stopped them with a shout: "All of you, step back."
The guards immediately stopped and retreated to the side of the Marquis of Zhenbei.
Marquis Zhenbei straightened up and looked at Bai Xiuming, who was much younger than him, and said, "I have long heard of Lord Bai's reputation. Seeing him today, I can confirm that it is well-deserved."
Bai Xiuming said in a calm tone, "It is the Marquis who has disappointed me."
The veins on the forehead of the Marquis of Zhenbei throbbed. He hadn't expected that even though he was at the peak of the fourth realm and had used a weapon, he could still be injured by a junior.
Although there was a formation to suppress it, it would still be embarrassing enough if this got out.
He did not want to continue entangled with Bai Xiuming, so he took a step back: "What happened today was my recklessness."
Bai Xiuming lowered his long eyelashes slightly: "I have heard that the Marquis of Zhenbei has won every battle in Xiling. He is by no means a reckless person."
Having said that, he raised his eyes, his deep gaze fixed on the Marquis of Zhenbei: "I suppose the Marquis has just returned to the capital and is not yet used to many things. I hope that from today onwards, the Marquis will abide by the rules and not overstep his bounds."
Marquis Zhenbei was surprised that Bai Xiuming would not give him any face at all, and his eyes became even more unfriendly: "I hate rules more than anything in my life."
"Is that so? I have killed quite a few people who refused to follow the rules." Bai Xiuming slowly sheathed his sword. "If the Marquis of Zhenbei is dissatisfied, I am ready to oblige at any time. I just wonder how many blows the Marquis can withstand?"
"You arrogant brat!" Marquis Zhenbei gritted his teeth, uttering each word clearly. The knife wound on his chest still hadn't healed, and the sharp pain fueled his murderous intent.
If Bai Xiuming didn't rely on his royal bloodline to mobilize the city's grand formation, how could he possibly be a match for him!
And now, they still dare to provoke us.
"You flatter me, Your Excellency. I am far inferior to you, Your Excellency, who dared to use his private army to abduct people in broad daylight."
"The person I want to arrest is the murderer who killed my grandson. Does Lord Bai intend to protect a living corpse?"
"The murderer?" Bai Xiuming raised an eyebrow. "Is there any evidence?"
"My word is as good as gold; my words are the proof."
"That means there isn't one. Since there isn't one, get back here!"
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