Chapter 23 Chapter 23 I didn’t expect you to be so popular. …
The Jinwu Guard’s prison remains the same.
After Xie Tingyu handed the horse to the jailer, he followed Huan Zheying into the room.
The prison was dark and damp, with torches scattered along the bluestone walls, stretching the figures outward. Turning two corners, Xie Tingyu saw the thief, still not quite dead, chained to the rack, his wrist still bleeding.
After being awakened by being splashed with salt water and being stabbed with a branding iron, the thief quickly stopped and confessed the whole process of stealing Wang Lang's treasure today. He also revealed the location of the lair of his other accomplices. It can be said that he vomited out everything he could.
In comparison, Xie Tingyu's experience can be described as feeling at home.
Xie Tingyu seemed incredibly familiar with the Jinwu Guard's procedures. She entered the interrogation room, sat down leisurely, and poured herself another cup of tea. She nodded at Huan Zheying and said, "Ask me any questions you have. I'm a very cooperative person."
...Hmm? This isn't right, is it? Who is judging whom?
Everyone present was stunned. They looked at each other, wondering why this person seemed so at ease in his own backyard.
Huan Zheying covered his mouth and coughed lightly, signaling his subordinates with his eyes to go and ask according to the routine.
Xie Tingyu briefly recounted his encounter with Wang Qiwu on a small boat that afternoon and how he had helped him recover stolen treasures. He concluded with a sincere expression, "I was reckless today. It's not easy for the common people to set up stalls. I'm willing to compensate them for any damages they suffered today."
The person, buried in her writing, paused, inwardly marveling: These noble ladies are often so arrogant, looking down upon the common people. Suddenly, here comes someone so sympathetic to the suffering of the people. This is the first time. Then, remembering that this person had traveled extensively in her youth, she must have seen all sorts of people's lives, and she felt relieved.
After the questioning was complete, the Jinwu Guard handed over the paper and said, "Madam, please put your fingerprints on it and sign it."
Xie Tingyu picked up her pen and habitually wrote the character "Xuan". Suddenly, the tip of her pen paused. She stared at the character "Xuan" for a moment, then neatly crossed it out and wrote the three characters "Xie Tingyu" again.
Even after the interrogation, if no one came forward to guarantee his safety, Xie Tingyu would still have to wait in jail.
Bored and waiting, Xie Tingyu supported his forehead with one hand and soon began to yawn.
In a daze, a slender figure was lying on the ground at an angle.
Xie Tingyu reluctantly lifted his heavy eyelids, took in the man's features, and mumbled, "...Wang Zhuozhang..."
In a trance, she seemed to be back to the time when she first came to Jiankang and was imprisoned.
That time, she also caught a petty thief. He had the audacity to steal her money. She marched straight from the east to the west of the city, overturning seven or eight stalls along the way. When the Jinwu Guards arrived, they saw her leading the thief by the collar into a water tank for the third time. For damaging the stall, she was also imprisoned.
The person who came to rescue her was Wang Zhuozhang.
"Can't you write?" Wang Zhuozhang saw that she was still hesitant to sign. "But I see you can recognize quite a few characters."
She threw the brush onto the table. "My master gave me the martial arts manual. The martial arts techniques in the book are illustrated with pictures. She never taught me to read. I learned the few words I could read by secretly hiding behind the window of the private school."
Wang Zhuozhang laughed. "Last time at the restaurant, I saw you could read the menu word for word, so I thought you could read and write." He added, "You're quite clever, to have learned so much by stealing. Why don't you learn more?"
She glanced at Wang Zhuozhang in surprise. "What's the point of all that knowledge for a scoundrel like you? Just being able to eat is good enough."
Wang Zhuozhang asked curiously, "I heard that after you came to Jiankang, several young men took a liking to you and gave you a few letters. Did you not reply to any of them?"
She laughed awkwardly, "I always just climb over the wall to have a private meeting."
Wang Zhuozhang heard this, his face became serious, his eyes slightly darkened, "Xuan Ji."
"Ah? Why are you so serious?" She looked up in confusion.
Wang Zhuozhang pulled her over and said, "The gentlemen in Jiankang aren't just country bumpkins. How many have you hooked up with so far?" He gave her a rare lecture. "I'm warning you, if you dare to ruin someone's reputation, I'm afraid you won't even be able to leave Jiankang."
She: "...What? I just climbed over the wall to have a few drinks and then slipped away."
Wang Zhuozhang glanced at her and said, "These gentlemen come from aristocratic families, and their wives are only those of princes and nobles. If you want to marry one, I think you need to have military merit." He emphasized, "And you have to be a cavalry general."
She shook her head: "Marry what? I never planned to start a family in Jiankang."
Wang Zhuozhang picked up the brush and held it in front of her. "Can you see the way I'm holding it?"
She nodded.
Wang Zhuozhang took another piece of blank paper and wrote the word "Xuan Ji" on the paper very slowly, stroke by stroke.
She took the brush from Wang Zhuozhang and copied her name in the signature area. Even though it was her first time writing, her handwriting was crooked, but it still looked about right.
Wang Zhuozhang led the group out of the prison and into the carriage. Seeing her idly tapping her fingers on the small table, he suddenly said, "How about I teach you how to write and read?"
She stuffed a fruit into her mouth and spoke incoherently: "Books... I have read them... those plays and novels... I have read some of them."
Wang Zhuozhang shook his head: "I'm talking about military books and history books."
She was about to refuse when Wang Zhuozhang said, "For every book you finish reading and explain the key points of the book to me, I will give you an extra coin as a reward."
Even if you give me money, I still don’t want to study, she thought.
Wang Zhuozhang lifted the teapot and poured tea. The clear sound of the tea was particularly clear in the car. "To be my bodyguard, you must not only be a master of martial arts, but also be able to understand current affairs and be sensible. Since you have agreed to the five-year agreement, I believe you must read this book."
She wailed and slumped against the car wall. "Being a bodyguard is so much work."
Wang Zhuozhang calmly straightened his sleeves. "Of course. After all..." He gave her a meaningful look. "I want more than just a guard who can wield a sword." He pulled out a list from his sleeve. "I've made a promise to the Jinwu Guards. Tomorrow, you'll go deliver a bag of grain to each of these stall owners and apologize in person. I'll deduct the money from your monthly salary."
She straightened up suddenly, "Wang Zhuozhang, you..."
Wang Zhuozhang said calmly, "It's already difficult for ordinary people to make a living by setting up stalls. How can they expect you to live if you rush around like this?" He tapped her forehead and said, "Listen to me. Read more history books. It's always a good idea."
One of his elbows slipped outwards, and Xie Tingyu lost his balance and fell outwards. At that moment, his mind suddenly cleared up, and he pressed his hand on the corner of the table and pulled his body back.
Xie Tingyu recognized the person in front of her this time. "It's you, Wang Lanzhi." She stood up and asked, "Why, you come here to be my guarantor?"
Wang Lanzhi nodded. "I will always remember you saving my brother today. I have already signed a guarantee with Captain Huan. Please come with me."
At this moment, amidst the flickering candlelight, two more people walked into the prison door side by side.
The two looked at each other.
The man on the left, dressed in official attire, spoke first. "I am the Deputy Historian of the Grand Tutor. The Grand Tutor is concerned about his beloved daughter, so he has specially ordered me to come here with the seal to act as a guarantor. I hope the Jinwu Guards will grant this favor."
The one on the right was not to be outdone: "In the name of the Emperor, with the jade token as proof, I hope the Jinwu Guards will quickly conclude the case and release the man."
Xie Tingyu: “…………”
Wang Lanzhi: “…………”
It turned out that they all came to guarantee Xie Tingyu.
The Jinwuwei Prison, which had been silent for a long time, seemed a little lively at this moment.
Wang Lanzhi: "I didn't expect you to be so popular."
Xie Tingyu: "...Don't say it, you really shouldn't say it." She didn't expect Ji Lian to send someone to vouch for her.
Huan Zheying also encountered the situation of three people guaranteeing one person at the same time, and even set a new record of being released from prison within half an hour. She immediately led the way and escorted Xie Tingyu out of the prison.
Cen Xiu was waiting outside with Step Moon Horse.
The official bowed and nodded to Xie Tingyu. "As soon as the Grand Tutor heard the news, he ordered me to go there immediately. I am a little delayed on the way. I hope you can forgive me."
Xie Tingyu: "It's nothing, it's nothing." She turned and called to the other person, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, and for sending someone here to guarantee me. I want to thank you in person, but I wonder where Your Majesty is now?"
The man saluted respectfully with his hands clasped. "The Emperor's carriage is currently heading to Ci'en Temple. He will be in seclusion for about a month, so I'm afraid it's not appropriate for him to see guests."
"Thank you." Xie Tingyu turned around and saw Wang Lanzhi with an indescribable expression moving between her and the person sent by Ji Lian.
Wang Lanzhi was caught off guard. She coughed a few times to cover it up, then sat on her horse, looking down at Xie Tingyu, and began to make small talk: "Now that you're out, I'm relieved. Your arrows were quite good today, and I'd like to learn a few lessons from you."
Xie Tingyu climbed onto her horse, holding the reins, and rode alongside Wang Lanzhi. "I'm fine with asking for your advice. But I have a question for you." She turned sideways and looked directly at Wang Lanzhi. "I just don't know why you drank so much that day at Qingliang Villa, pretending to be asleep, and why you were secretly staring at me from inside the room?"
Wang Lanzhi was caught off guard once again. She stared at Xie Tingyu in astonishment, a moment before finding her voice. "...I just wanted to see what Yuan Wangshu was going to do. And you actually spotted me." Her gaze drifted off into the distance, then back to Xie Tingyu's face. She finally spoke, "I saw you come out of that room, and not long after, Di Qing came out too. He's here to defend you today, so is there something going on between you two?"
Xie Tingyu: "That's not it, that's not the case." She laughed out loud, and her mind flashed to that face that was still beautiful even when angry. "He really hates me. Last time something happened in the palace, I helped him, and he returned the favor."
Wang Lanzhi asked, "How did you find me?" She whispered with a hint of reluctance, "I hid it very well."
Xie Tingyu exclaimed, "Ah!" "I don't know." She winked mischievously, "I was just trying to trick you, but I didn't expect you to confess so quickly."
“You…”
Wang Lanzhi recalled that day when she deliberately entered the game just to see what Yuan Wangshu was up to. Unexpectedly, she saw Xie Tingyu when she was hiding in the dark.
Although she mistakenly thought that Xie Tingyu and Yuan Wangshu were in cahoots, she just couldn't dislike Xie Tingyu.
Wang Lanzhi lowered her head and glanced at the quiver on the Moon-Stepping Pier. She recalled the most stunning arrow shot at Qingliang Villa, and the smooth, flowing archery she had used to catch the thief today. Once again, she couldn't help but admire him sincerely: "Your arrows today were quite good. You're very much like Aunt Wang, whom I've known since childhood."
Seeing Xie Tingyu's confused expression, Wang Lanzhi explained, "The Aunt Wang I'm talking about is Wang Xuanji. Don't you know her?"
Xie Tingyu exclaimed, "Ah!" again, "I've never seen this person, but I think I've heard of this name... Who is it?"
Wang Lanzhi looked at her strangely. "Our two gardens are separated by a wall. Have you really never seen it?" She gestured excitedly, "My Aunt Wang is a very capable person. Her specialty is shooting an arrow through a yellow sheep's eyes from a hundred miles away."
The silhouettes of the two intertwined were dragged across the ground. From a distance, someone could be heard saying, "Aunt Xuanji was very famous in Jiankang back then... Listen to me..."
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The author has something to say: This time the list is still 15,000, updated every other day, there are 4 chapters, just enough for 15,000
According to current statements, Wang Zhuozhang can be considered the heroine's angel investor.
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