Chapter 125 The most dangerous place in the bustling city is the safest place...
The city gates, which had been under martial law for several days, were thrown into chaos this morning.
First, the city gate guards and the scholar got into an argument. Then, the onlookers, in their agitation, started pushing and shoving the soldiers. After a commotion, someone shouted that someone had run inside, and the people rushed forward. Although the soldiers eventually regained control of the city gate, the morning's chaos was still a topic of conversation among the city's residents.
"The city gates were in chaos this morning. The people said that we can't keep them under control like this any longer. If the control measures are extended, there might be even more uncontrollable events."
The commander of the Imperial Guards was kneeling in the center of the hall, reporting to his superior. The polished floor reflected the image of the ruler. Even with his eyes closed, one could see a hint of ruthlessness flash across his languid face. The commander of the Imperial Guards couldn't help but tremble, and instantly felt a cold sweat trickle down his back.
"Who said that?"
"I don't know who started it, but now everyone in and around the capital is saying it."
"Do you think I want to hear you say you don't know?"
Jiang Jin opened his eyes and looked at him, the ruthlessness in his eyes undisguised. He rose from the dragon throne and walked down the steps, his tone utterly nonchalant: "If you can't find out, then go find out. Who gave you the audacity to say you don't know in front of me?"
The magnificent boots stopped in front of him, and the commander of the Imperial Guards couldn't help but tremble. He stammered a "Yes," and before he could kneel down to check, his chin was lifted up by the boots.
"You just said there was chaos and disarray? In the capital region, except for the military, no one is allowed to ride horses. Where did these horses come from?"
"Your humble servant, your humble servant..."
The commander of the Imperial Guard met King Zhao's gaze, his teeth chattering as he spoke. He wondered how he knew, but he couldn't bring himself to say "I don't know." So, he steeled himself and said, "I heard from my men that two little beggars rode away on horseback during the chaos, but because no one saw them clearly and the horses were going too fast, they couldn't catch them."
"Little...beggar?"
Jiang Jin's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. He kicked the Imperial Guard Commander hard in the face, then turned and climbed the steps toward the dragon throne: "Investigate. Get to the bottom of what happened this morning, understand?"
With a whirlwind, he sat firmly on the high platform. The commander of the Imperial Guards was momentarily blinded, only able to see the phantom that resembled a black dragon. He endured the pain on his face, quickly responded with a "Yes," and knelt down to take his leave.
Watching his disheveled retreating figure, Jiang Jin couldn't help but click his tongue—this was the fifth Imperial Guard commander this month, and truly none of them were of any use.
"Where are the people we sent out now?"
No sooner had the words fallen than a man in black appeared from the shadows, bowing respectfully and replying, "Your Highness, if all went well, you should have already entered Anqing Prefecture by now."
“Too slow,” Jiang Jin said, his hand moving back and forth in the fruit plate. He then picked out a peach, played with it in his hand for a while, and then took a deep sniff. After a moment, his brows relaxed. “Send another team out to search the area around the capital. If they find any suspicious activity, they must report it immediately.”
"yes!"
The man in black vanished in a flash from the spacious and bright hall. Jiang Jin, sitting high on the dragon throne, looked at the peach in his hand with a deep gaze. Juice flowed down his wrist and into his sleeve. He stroked the raised texture on the peel and smiled gently, as if the man who had just been full of malice had nothing to do with him.
He sat alone on the dragon throne in the main hall, surrounded by utter silence. Only by approaching could one hear his entranced, murmured words: "Brother, I'm waiting for you to return..."
Inside the palace, at King Zhao's command, the entire Imperial Guard was mobilized to investigate the events of that morning, and the outskirts of the capital were instantly thrown into chaos.
"I told you we should go to the West Market, but you insisted on coming to the East Market!"
During a break from the crowd, Shen Yujiao couldn't help but complain to those around her.
After stirring up the pool of water at the city gate, the two spurred their horses and galloped swiftly towards the outskirts of the capital. None of the city's guards were on horseback, and by the time the order to pursue them was given, the two had already vanished without a trace. The soldiers searched for them in the outskirts of the capital, but they had already turned back into the city at the crossroads.
Today happens to be the fifteenth of the month, and the temples and monasteries in the city are bustling with worshippers. The east and west markets are packed with people. Even though the war in the northern frontier has raged for two days and the city is under strict martial law, these people who have settled in the capital city do not forget to enjoy themselves.
After entering the city, Shen Yujiao thought they should go to the West Market, where there were many foreigners and people from all walks of life, and they would not stand out among them.
Jiang Yu, however, believed that they should go to the East Market. The city's hustle and bustle was only temporary, and a curfew would be imposed after nightfall. The Huan Prince's Mansion, the Eastern Palace, and even the Yi State Duke's Mansion were all closer to the East Market.
It was this sentence that touched Shen Yujiao, but looking at the current situation, she regretted it.
"Hurry, hurry, or we'll miss Lady Ling's stunning dance."
"Look, Madam Ling, don't block our way to the Garan Temple. Master Ji'an is going to give a sermon today."
"Hey you two, where do you want to go? Can you hurry up? We can't go anywhere because we're stuck here."
Today, for reasons unknown, was an auspicious day, and almost everyone in the city turned out in force. Amidst the throngs of people, Shen Yujiao felt as if she were being squeezed into a dumpling.
"Just hang in there a little longer, there's a small alley at the next intersection, and we'll be out of there soon."
Jiang Yu had done his best to protect her behind him. At this moment, the two of them didn't care about the taboo of men and women touching each other. The most important thing was not to be crushed to death. Shen Yujiao trusted him for the time being. The two of them gritted their teeth and were swept forward by the crowd until they saw the alley. Jiang Yu immediately pulled her out.
What are you doing?!
Why are you squeezing in?
"Don't you have eyes?"
Ignoring the curses coming from behind them, the two stood in the alley. Shen Yujiao felt as if she had finally come back to life. She put one hand on her hip, panting heavily, her heart filled with the relief of surviving a disaster.
"How...how did things get so chaotic?"
Jiang Yu, head bowed and deep in breath, replied, "It must be Jiang Jin who has realized something is wrong and started arresting people. Ling Niangzi is his woman, and she usually doesn't leave the building even once a year. She came out today specifically to stir up more chaos in the capital."
Shen Yujiao looked up in disbelief: "Just to capture us?"
"It shouldn't be that. Perhaps the people were complaining and this disturbance made the city lively again, and no one remembered the martial law in the capital."
It has to be admitted that King Zhao's mind is indeed quick. Shen Yujiao subconsciously pursed her lips: "You really know your good brother well."
Whether her words struck a nerve with Jiang Yu or not, he loosened his grip on her hand, and Shen Yujiao realized that the two of them had just squeezed out with their hands clasped together. Upon seeing this, she immediately pulled her hand back.
The alley wasn't a dead end, but Shen Yujiao, standing in it, didn't know her exact location and could only ask Jiang Yu, "Where do we go now?"
"The city is bustling right now. If we go back now, we'll definitely be discovered. Why don't we find a place to hide first? What do you think?"
“Alright…” As she was speaking, Shen Yujiao heard a rumbling in her stomach. Fortunately, the street was noisy, so no one around her could hear it.
When people are hungry, their sense of smell is at its most acute. The scent of wheat might not be obvious in the lively atmosphere, but Shen Yujiao caught it in an instant. She followed the scent, sniffing and searching, her movements as delicate as a puppy.
Jiang Yu was puzzled by her appearance, but followed her step by step. The two of them walked through a maze of alleys and arrived at another alley. Compared to the bustling East Market just now, this place seemed too deserted. There were hardly any restaurants or even small shops. Looking at the empty alley, Shen Yujiao felt a pang of melancholy. Was she just hallucinating from hunger?
Just as she realized she had gone the wrong way, she heard a sharp sound of a porcelain bowl shattering on the ground. The two of them instinctively looked in the direction of the sound and saw a shifty-eyed man pulling on his sleeve, about to walk out, while an old woman was pulling him on the other side.
"I told you I'd give it to you next time, you old hag, can't you understand?"
"Sun Xiaosi, you said the same thing last time. It's not that I'm short of money for this bowl of noodles, but you can't just eat here for free for half a year without paying once!"
The man looked up and saw two people watching them in the distance. Suddenly, a surge of anger rose within him. He raised his hand and forcefully shoved the old woman aside, saying, "I have no money, and I'm not giving it to you. What can you do about it?"
The old woman was pushed back several steps by him, and just as she was about to hit the door frame, Shen Yujiao ran up to catch her and helped her up at the last moment.
"Grandma, are you alright?"
The old woman was stunned by the force of the push, and seeing the kind-hearted girl beside her, her eyes welled up with tears. She raised her weathered hand to wipe the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing, thank you, good girl."
Seeing her like this, Shen Yujiao couldn't help but think of her own grandmother, and her anger flared up. She glared at Sun Xiaosi and said, "Are you even a man? Pushing an old woman in the street, have you lost your conscience? Don't you have any elderly relatives? Aren't you afraid of retribution on your mother? How would you feel if she were treated like this outside?"
"You little wench, when did it become your business to do what I do—"
Before he could finish speaking, he was kicked hard in the waist from behind. He didn't expect that the man, who looked so refined, would be so strong. His instinctive reaction was to run away, but before he could get up, he was pressed to the ground and beaten.
"Try uttering another foul word."
How could such a refined and handsome young man be so ruthless in the first place? Sun Xiaosi was pinned to the ground and beaten so badly that he couldn't even open his eyes. Only when his mind finally cleared and he began to apologize and beg for mercy incoherently did the torment that was worse than death finally stop.
"Give me the money."
The superior's voice was filled with an unquestionable command. Almost instinctively, Sun Xiaosi pulled out his money pouch, his hand trembling as he held up the plain-colored pouch: "That's...that's all. I don't have a single coin more."
"roll."
Jiang Yu gave him one last cold look, not caring whether Sun Xiaosi could get up and get away on his own, and turned to walk towards Shen Yujiao with the money bag.
"Here you go—" He handed over the money bag with both hands, his tone completely different from before: "Old man, you were frightened. That fellow has realized his mistake and apologized to you."
“Hey,” the old woman wasn’t frightened by Jiang Yu’s one-sided beating just now. Instead, she smiled very kindly: “Are you hungry? I’ll cook you some noodles.”
Jiang Yu's eyes were filled with such a kind smile that his hand holding the money bag froze for a moment. Looking at the old woman's sincere and gentle smile, and the girl's radiant smile beside her, Jiang Yu nodded unconsciously.
This feeling was so long ago that he couldn't believe the scene before him was real.
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