Chapter 753 Suspicion
Not long after Zhang Bin left, Song Jinxiu thought carefully about the many pieces of information he had received today, wondering how to deal with Xiahou Ling and how to avoid being accused of betraying his "old master". After thinking it over, he realized that he might have to rely on Zhang Bing's help, and he was so busy asking about the matter of Mu Nan Pass that he forgot to ask about other important matters.
Song Jinxiu immediately sent someone to drive to Zhang's house, but he was not led directly to the inner study as usual, but stayed in the front hall.
Seeing that the Zhang family's servants seemed to be blocking him, the people he met at the door when he came here before also seemed to be on guard against something at first glance.
Song Jinxiu was suspicious: "It's so late, is Brother Zhang still busy?"
"It's all business stuff."
The Zhang family servant said respectfully, "My master just returned from Wei. After entering the city, he hurried over because he missed Lord Song. He didn't have time to deal with the trivial matters before. Now he's busy taking care of them since returning from Lord Song's residence."
"I have already sent someone to report to the master. Sir Song, please have some tea and wait for a moment. The master will be here soon."
Song Jinxiu raised his eyes and looked at the person who spoke: "Just now I saw a few unfamiliar people outside. I haven't seen them in your house before."
The man was stunned for a moment. "Strange people?" He seemed to react and then smiled. "Are you talking about those guys in the corridor over there? They are the people from the escort company my master hired from the Wei Dynasty this time."
"Escort company?"
"Yes, my master suffered heavy losses in the Wei Kingdom this time. Many of the people he went with were killed or injured. Seeing the chaos along the way, he was afraid he would encounter danger on the way back, so he specially hired several of the most powerful escorts in the martial arts world to escort him back to Beiling."
The Zhang family servant sighed as he spoke, "These Jianghu people are most reluctant to get involved in the disputes between the court and the people. They had no intention of making this trip, but my master offered them a very high reward to persuade them. However, they are naturally cautious and unfamiliar with Beiling. In addition, the imperial city has been under martial law for the past two days. Since they arrived, they have been on guard at every turn and even refused to drink the wine and drinks in the mansion."
"They wanted to leave right after sending me back, but I persuaded them to stay. I let them rest for the night and then sent them out of the city the next morning."
Song Jinxiu was originally doubtful because the few people just now were too suspicious. Although they looked ordinary, they had strong bodies, sharp eyes, and a murderous aura. After he came in, those people kept looking at him vaguely.
That feeling makes people feel uncomfortable all over.
Song Jinxiu held the tea and said, "So that's how it is."
"Jin Xiu!"
Before Zhang Bing arrived outside, the voice full of surprise came first, and then Zhang Bing, wearing a thick fur coat, walked in hurriedly.
His face was a little red, he was panting, and his hands were dirty and looked unclean.
"Why are you here? Is there something you haven't told me? Just now, someone down there told me you were here and I thought I misheard."
"If you need anything with such heavy snow, just ask the people down there to come over. You won't be afraid of getting cold even if you're wearing so little."
Zhang Bing hurried forward, looked Song Jinxiu up and down, and then scolded the people beside him:
"You too, I'm going to the storeroom to get something, but you don't know how to take Master Song directly to the study? The front hall is as cold as an ice cellar. Can you bear it if he gets frozen?"
The servant lowered his head quickly: "But the master is not here, the study is a restricted area, we dare not trespass."
"Who told you to break in? Jin Xiu is not a stranger. Don't you know he's been here before?!"
Zhang Bing yelled in anger.
Seeing this, Song Jinxiu quickly stopped him and said, "Don't be angry, Brother Zhang. They are also acting cautiously. Places like the study are always used to store important things. It's right that they don't dare to bring outsiders in casually. If anyone can come in and out freely, that would be a big deal."
"You just speak for them!"
"I'm not speaking for them, but I didn't wait long, and the hot tea wasn't too cold."
Seeing that Song Jinxiu wasn't too cold, Zhang Bin tried to persuade him. He then reprimanded him and sent him away. He turned to Song Jinxiu and said, "Why are you here in such cold weather? Is there something urgent?"
Song Jinxiu whispered, "Yes, there are some. Brother Zhang, can you find a quiet place to talk to me?"
Zhang Bing said without hesitation: "Go to the study."
Zhang Bing led Song Jinxiu straight to the study without even a moment's delay, as if he wasn't a stranger at all. Seeing this, Song Jinxiu's doubts dissipated a little, but he couldn't help but ask tentatively, "Just now, I saw a few unfamiliar people outside, walking around the mansion. Are they the new guards that Brother Zhang has hired?"
"Guard?"
Zhang Bing uttered an "Ah!", clearly puzzled. "The palace isn't hiring any guards. Right now, there's chaos and war. The royal court has sent recruits everywhere to round up able-bodied men, and the ones left are all pale and skinny, barely able to lift a sword. How could there be any good candidates left for me to serve as guards?"
After he finished speaking, he seemed to remember something and said suddenly, "You must be talking about the guys in the yard. They are escorts. They are very skilled, but they have a weird temper."
"I had a terrible time with the Wei this time. Many of the people I went with were killed or injured. I went to great lengths to hire these people to escort me back to Beiling. Perhaps seeing that Beiling was about to go to war with the Wei, they felt it was unsafe here. Not only did they refuse to eat or drink, but I had someone arrange for them to stay in the backyard. The ten or so of them insisted on taking turns to rest, and the remaining few wandered around the mansion, fearing that someone would have bad intentions towards them."
"I'm too lazy to persuade them. Let them be. We'll send them out of the city at dawn tomorrow and let them go early. This way, they won't have to stay here and feel uneasy."
Zhang Bin kept talking, looking complaining and helpless.
The Zhang family's house was not very big, and Beiling's house was far less exquisite than Dawei's. It didn't take long for the two of them to reach the study, which was pitch black inside.
After Zhang Bing led Song Jinxiu in, he fumbled for a flint and lit the lamp. When the room was bright, he said to Song Jinxiu, "Jinxiu, please sit down first. I'll get some water to wipe my hands. I just messed around in the warehouse, and my hands are so dirty I can't bear to look at them."
The study was separated by a treasure pavilion with a screen behind it. Inside was the bed where Zhang Bin usually took a nap, and there was also a washing area next door.
Zhang Bing walked in, and within moments he could hear the sound of water being stirred. He muttered, "Luckily, it was cold out before, so they had water tanks and basins placed in the study to prevent it from freezing outside. Otherwise, we'd have to go and chop ice and fetch water in the middle of the night."
"I don't know what's going on this year, it's snowing non-stop. When I came here just now, the manhole covers were frozen."
Song Jinxiu listened to the sound coming from the compartment, then looked at the study which was filled with densely packed account books. There were still a few unfinished account books spread out on the desk.
Although the Zhang family was not a wealthy family, they had a rich fortune, which was considered quite remarkable in a barren place like Beiling. Those account books were also extremely private, but Zhang Bin was still as unguarded against him as before, not worried at all that he might have other intentions.
Song Jinxiu felt a little annoyed that he was too suspicious.
Brother Zhang saved him, how could he be suspicious of him?
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