Eighteen years old, surnamed Zheng, a merchant.
Given how obvious it is, it's hard not to have some thoughts.
The two siblings exchanged a glance, and Xu Mo was the first to ask, "Did this gentleman come here asking around?"
"Ah, yes." The visitor was slightly taken aback. "May I ask if any of you know about this?"
Answering "I know" at this point might alert the enemy.
If you answer "I don't know," the other party will leave.
Jiang Sheng's eyes darted around. "I feel like I've seen you somewhere before. Do you like to wear brightly colored robes and walk with that smug, cocky gait?"
"Yes, yes, that's it!" the visitor exclaimed with delight. "Does the young lady know where he lives?"
This time it was Jiang Sheng's turn to be on guard. "You suddenly appeared and started asking about him. Who knows if you're seeking revenge? I dare not give directions randomly. Unless... unless you can explain the whole story."
She was born with a sweet and lovely appearance, her big, round eyes full of innocence and naivety, and only deep in her pupils could one see a subtle cunning.
The two siblings, who were supposed to want to know the truth, have now become the ones who have to tell the visitor.
“It’s not about seeking revenge.” The man hesitated for a long time. “My master has traveled thousands of miles to find his son, hoping that the young master can return home and end his arduous life of wandering.”
"master?"
"Looking for a son?"
Jiang Sheng and Xu Mo spoke in unison, their faces filled with disbelief.
"Yes, the master had a brief encounter with the young master and followed in his footsteps to Anshui County. He ordered us to find the young master's whereabouts at all costs." The servant of the Ren family bowed and said, "If the young lady is willing to make an introduction, the Ren family will reward her handsomely."
His words sounded earnest, but Xu Mo seized on a flaw: "A brief encounter? In other words, he met your master, but didn't stay?"
The servant of the Ren family was speechless for a long time before nodding.
"He doesn't want to go back, yet you still chased him all the way to Anshui County. Are you trying to force him to go back?" Jiang Sheng thought of the Jiang family, and of her grandmother and father's always gentle treatment. "Do you really want him to go back, or do you want to prevent your bloodline from being scattered abroad?"
The same search for a child, different attitudes.
The fact that the Jiang family accepted Jiang Sheng and respected her choice, even though there were no tokens or birthmarks, stemmed from their deep affection for her.
The Ren family is not wrong to search for bloodline evidence, but Zheng Ruqian refused outright, yet still traveled thousands of miles to find him. How much of his feelings are genuine?
“We, we…” The servant of the Ren family stared in disbelief. “The Ren family is a prominent family in Yuhang County. It would only be beneficial for the Second Young Master to be recognized by them. It’s much better than being a mere merchant.”
So that's the truth.
The Ren family pursued them with righteous indignation, convinced that aristocratic families would always be superior to merchants, and used the guise of "for your own good" to carry out coercive behavior.
Xu Mo's smile faded, and his usually good-natured face turned cold. "I know the person you're talking about. He's my brother. If he doesn't want to go back to that damn Ren family, no one can force him to."
"That's the Ren family!" the servant said emotionally. "The Ren family has produced a prefect of Yuhang County and a scholar who passed the imperial examination. Countless people would kill to get into the Ren family. How can you stop him from going back to be the second young master of the Ren family?"
"Oh? The Prefect of Yuhang." Xu Mo nodded. "I am not talented, but I am the Prefect of Anshui."
Just then, some familiar villagers passed by and greeted them with smiles, "The Prefect is here to play too!"
Xu Mo nodded and smiled back, his identity becoming clear.
The difference in status between the former governor of Yuhang and the current governor of Anshui is self-evident.
The servant of the Ren family took two steps back, still trying to argue, "Our eldest son is taking the imperial examination in Fengjing. He will become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) and a high-ranking official in Fengjing."
"I am unworthy, but I was the top scholar in the thirteenth year of the Heqing reign," Xu Mo said calmly.
The servants of the Ren family still tried to struggle, "The Ren family is, after all, a great and prestigious family..."
“How big is it? Can it be bigger than the Jiang family?” Jiang Sheng leaned over. “It’s the Jiang family that produced dozens of generals in Fengjing. The eldest daughter of the Jiang family is the sister of the mere merchant you mentioned.”
The servants of the Ren family were shocked and took two steps back.
That confident pride shattered at that moment.
"Does a mere aristocratic family in Yuhang County have the right to be so arrogant and force others to acknowledge their ancestors?" Xu Mo said coldly. "If he is willing, I will not persuade him; if he is unwilling, no one can force him."
"That's right, that's right. If you dare to push my second brother, I'll tear down the Ren family." Jiang Sheng casually put her hands on her hips, raised her chin, and glanced back indifferently.
Then, she saw Zheng Ruqian and Wang Xiaosong standing in front of the carriage.
The long journey had left the two looking disheveled; their magnificent robes were wrinkled, their tightly bound hair was loose, and even stubble was sprouting up, adding to their dark complexion and wretched appearance.
The embroidered shoes in Zheng Ruqian's hands were the only bright spot on the two of them, with lifelike embroidery and dazzling pearls.
No, there's one more place.
It was Zheng Ruqian's teary eyes.
So many days have passed, and so much distance has been covered, yet the humiliation he suffered at the Ren family's hands has been exacted back to him.
Family members, even unafraid of "overstepping their bounds" and "abusing their power," they unleash each other's sharpest weapons.
If Fang Laosan were also there, he would probably thrust out his spear with a loud shout, "Who dares to threaten this general's brother?"
Wen Zhiyun clutched the poison packet, whispering nervously, "Poison...poison them to death."
Chang Yan stood with his hands behind his back and said, "You are all incredibly audacious! Drag them away!"
Without making a complaint or giving a vivid description, the family members did their best to protect him through just a few words.
Be his strongest support without him knowing.
With tears in his eyes and a wide grin, Zheng Ruqian crossed the street as fast as he could and arrived at his siblings.
"Don't come looking for me again." He said seriously. "I will not go back to the Ren family, nor will I be a dutiful illegitimate son of the Ren family. The power, connections and money you think you have are nothing to me."
"Master Ren doesn't need to arrange for a steward to play the 'bad cop' role, both to find the bloodline and to repeatedly reprimand the mistress, and he also has to explain things to the mistress."
"I am not a very talented person, but I am not just a mere merchant as you say. I am the only designated imperial merchant of the Great Yu Dynasty. If the Ren family has any objections, they may take it to the capital. We will meet in the Golden Palace."
This time, the Ren family servants dared not utter a word.
Without turning his head, Zheng Ruqian grabbed his elder brother's hand with one hand and his younger sister's hand with the other, and headed home as fast as he could.
Wang Xiaosong chased after them, clutching the embroidered shoes, calling out, "Master, wait for me! Wait for the horse! Wait for us!"
The wind danced around their ears, and suddenly someone burst into laughter, the sound of silver bells echoing for a long time.
"Brother, brother, brother, will the Ren family give up this time?"
Yes, it will.
"Why? They didn't give up the first time."
"Because they think too highly of themselves, they want to find their bloodline back, but they are also worried that Ruqian will ruin the Ren family's reputation outside."
Therefore, they would rather force him to become a law-abiding illegitimate son of the Ren family.
Until they discovered that this person had already reached a level that the Ren family could only look up to, all their plans could only turn into nothing.
"Oh no, will the Ren family use their blood ties to cling to my second brother and leech off him?"
"Don't worry... don't forget who's sitting in the Golden Palace."
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