Chapter 33: The Kidnapping of Xie Xuanye
The others' eyes lingered on Su Yuexing with lustful intent. "It's worth it if you let me have some fun before I die!" Xu Mingwen said lewdly.
Another henchman next to Cai Zhicai scratched his head as he looked at Su Yuexing and said, "Boss, why do I feel like I've seen this woman before?"
His words reminded Cai Zhicai, "Yes! I've always felt she looked familiar too."
Xu Mingwen slapped his forehead and said, "I remember now!"
"This isn't the woman we encountered when Miss Li from Pingchun County asked us to kill her nephew!"
“It’s her!” Cai Zhicai exclaimed in shock.
Su Yuexing realized that the bandits from that time were actually their group.
The bandits who were guarding nearby returned and reported, "Boss! The imperial court's men have caught up with us!"
Cai Zhicai's heart tightened, and he immediately stood up and ordered, "Brothers, pack your things! Let's go!"
On the way, Xie Xuanye whispered a few words in Cai Zhicai's ear, and the two exchanged glances, having reached a consensus.
They hadn't been running for long when Ye Huaijin and his men caught up with them.
Cai Zhicai held a knife to Xie Xuanye, shouting, "Don't come any closer!"
"Otherwise, I'll have his head rolled."
Xie Xuanye winced in pain; there was a thin wound on his neck. Nanquan said anxiously, "Young Master!"
Ye Huaijin frowned, looking troubled. He was the son of the Marquis of Anyang, and he absolutely could not afford to have anything happen to him, otherwise he would not be able to explain to the Marquis of Anyang.
“Just name your terms,” Ye Huaijin said.
Cai Zhicai looked at Xie Xuanye and said, "Brother Xie, you are really valuable."
Then he said to them, "I'm telling you to let us go right now!"
Ye Huaijin remained silent for a while, and did not give him an answer for a long time.
Cai Zhicai grew anxious and said, "If you don't agree, I'll cut his head off right now!" He then increased the force in his hand.
Ye Huaijin could only reluctantly agree, "Okay!"
Cai Zhicai smiled triumphantly. "Very good."
Ye Huaijin led his troops to retreat.
Nan Quan was furious to see his heir like a lamb to the slaughter.
He would rather be the one with the knife to his throat.
A sharp glint flashed in Nan Quan's eyes. He broke free from the bandits' grasp, snatched the knife from their hands, and swung it toward Cai Zhicai's head.
Xie Xuanye felt a warm liquid splash on his head. He slowly turned around and saw Cai Zhicai lying on the ground, staring at him with wide eyes.
Ye Huaijin immediately ordered his men to surround and wipe out the remaining bandits.
Xu Mingwen tried to escape, but a soldier stabbed him in the abdomen with a knife, and blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
After eliminating the last bandit, Ye Huaijin said with satisfaction, "Brothers, you've worked hard."
Xie Xuanye's gaze remained fixed on Cai Zhicai. Nanquan stepped forward and asked with concern, "Young Master, how are you?"
"Slap!" Xie Xuanye slapped Nan Quan.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
"Who gave you permission to lay a hand on him!" Xie Xuanye angrily accused.
Nan Quan felt wronged and explained, "I did it to save the Crown Prince..."
Xie Xuanye said impatiently, "Get out of here! Get as far away as you can!"
Nan Quan felt terrible. He had traveled a long way to find the prince, only to be beaten up.
Su Yuewei couldn't stand it anymore and said, "Your servant meant well."
Xie Xuanye looked at her displeased and said, "This has nothing to do with you!"
"Now that Lord Ye has finished his business, may I dispose of the bodies of these bandits?"
Ye Huaijin frowned. It seemed that this young master's relationship with the bandits was quite unusual.
"Let's go." Ye Huaijin led the army away, and Su Yuexing followed.
Nan Quan wanted to stay and help, "Young Master, I..."
"Get out of here!" Xie Xuanye said coldly, his face grim.
We had just agreed that I would use myself as a hostage to help Cai Zhicai and his group escape.
However, no one expected that Nanquan would interfere halfway, resulting in Brother Cai losing his life.
Xie Xuanye knelt on the ground in anguish and confessed, "I'm sorry, Brother Cai! I've ruined you!" He slowly closed Cai Zhicai's eyes with his hands.
Throughout the journey, Jiang Nianrou was exceptionally warm towards Su Yuexing, and the two chatted for a long time.
"Stop at the fork in the road ahead, I need to get off," Su Yuexing said.
Jiang Nianrou asked with concern, "Aren't you going to the Li residence?"
Su Yuexing shook her head and said, "I'm not going. I'll go back to my parents' home first."
"Madam, please be careful on the road," Jiang Nianrou instructed.
Su Yuexing nodded and said, "Okay."
Jiang Nianrou's gaze remained fixed on Su Yuexing until her figure disappeared from sight and the carriage slowly moved forward.
When Su Yuexing returned to Xikou Village, all the villagers' eyes were on her.
Why do they look at me so strangely? Su Yuexing frowned slightly.
Grandpa Niu drove his oxcart back from outside and said, "Su girl, you're back!"
Su Yuexing laughed and said, "Yes! Grandpa Niu!"
"You just came back from the market?"
Grandpa Niu nodded and said, "Yes."
"Why didn't you two sisters come back the day your mother died?" Grandpa Niu asked with concern.
Su Yuexing froze, her face turning deathly pale, her eyes wide with disbelief: "What did you say? Grandpa Niu!"
Seeing her expression, Grandpa Niu asked in confusion, "Your mother has passed away, and neither you nor your sister knew?"
Su Yuexing shook her head and said, "No one told us."
Grandpa Niu sighed and said, "I heard from your father that your mother was still calling out for you two sisters when she passed away."
"Su Yuexing didn't even say goodbye before rushing home."
The door wasn't locked, and Su Yuexing pushed it open gently, tears welling in her eyes.
Swaying, she leaned against the door, her lips trembling, and stumbled toward the room.
“Father!” she cried.
There was no sound from inside the room. She pushed open the door and saw Su Shi lying asleep on the bed, surrounded by empty bottles.
"Father!" Su Yuexing called out.
Su Shi lay motionless on the bed. Su Yuexing went over and shook him, saying, "Dad! Wake up."
Su Shi peeked through a crack in his eye and saw Su Yuexing appear before him. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, grabbed her shoulders, and said, "Xing'er! You're back!"
Su Yuexing asked, "What was the reason for Mother's passing?"
Why didn't you come to the Li residence to find me?
Su Shi said with tears in his eyes, "The doctor said your mother's illness is due to overwork."
“I have been to the Li residence, but I was stopped by the servants. They said I could not leave the Li residence.”
"So I had no choice but to come back." After saying that, Su Shi looked behind him and said, "Why don't I see Wei'er?"
“After your mother passed away, I have always regretted selling Wei’er. It’s too lonely for her to live alone in this house.”
"Xing'er, you're willing to come back and stay with your father, aren't you?" he asked eagerly.
Su Yuexing nodded and said, "Yes, Dad, I'm back to be with you."
Su Shi looked behind her and asked, "Where's Wei'er? Why hasn't she come back?"
"Does she still hate me?"
Su Yuexing lowered her eyes, unsure how to answer him.
“She’ll be back later,” Su Yuexing lied.
Su Shi smiled with relief, "It's good that she doesn't blame me."
"Father, I want to visit Mother's grave," Su Yuexing said.
Su Shi nodded and said, "Okay."
The two walked along the mountain path for more than an hour. When Su Yuexing saw the small grave mound, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, and she said in a trembling voice, "Mother!"
"Your daughter is unfilial! I couldn't see you one last time!" Su Yuexing cried as she knelt on the ground.
They stayed for an hour, then came down from the mountain and returned to Xikou Village. It was completely dark by then.
Su Yuexing lay in bed, recalling every moment she had spent with the Su family.
Yue reported what she had learned about Xikou Village to Li Jinghe.
Upon hearing the news that Su Yuexing was not dead, Li Jinghe could not hide his joy.
"I'm going to Xikou Village now," Li Jinghe said.
Yue froze, then exclaimed in shock, "Now?"
Li Jinghe affirmed, "Yes! Now!"
He glanced at him and said, "Don't tell anyone! Including Dongyang."
Su Shi peeked through the crack in the door and saw that Su Yuexing was fast asleep, a strange smile appearing on his face.
He went to Wang Dazhuang's door in the same village and knocked, "Knock knock!"
Wang Dazhuang opened the door impatiently. "Who is it?"
Upon seeing that it was Su Shi, he said, "Isn't this Brother Su? What brings you here so late?"
Su Shi whispered a few words mysteriously in his ear, then he smiled and nodded quickly, saying, "Okay! Okay! Okay!"
He turned around and said, "Honey, Brother Su asked me to go drinking. I'll be back later!"
Wang Dazhuang followed Su Shi to the side of the house, took out one or two taels of silver from his pocket, and placed it in Su Shi's hand.
Su Shi's eyes lit up instantly, and he put the silver in his mouth and took a big bite.
Fearing he would raise the price, Wang Dazhuang immediately said, "Your daughter is only worth this price. If you dare to raise the price, I'll go back." After saying that, he pretended to turn around and leave.
Su Shi immediately grabbed his shoulder and said, "No, no, no! That's not what I meant."
Wang Dazhuang's expression softened, and he rubbed his hands together, saying, "Since that's the case, then I won't stand on ceremony."
Su Shi nodded and said, "Alright, alright! Dazhuang, enjoy yourself. I'll keep watch outside for you."
Wang Dazhuang patted Su Shi on the shoulder with satisfaction and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Su."
Su Shi waved his hand and said, "No trouble at all, no trouble at all."
Su Shi closed the door and squatted down by the door.
Wang Dazhuang peered through the crack in the door at the woman lying on the bed, a surge of heat rising within him. "Su Yuexing! Let your brother Dazhuang take good care of you!"
Su Yuexing's mind was preoccupied with the Su family business, so she was a light sleeper and heard the door open.
She thought it was Su Shi and didn't take it to heart, only asking, "Father, what brings you here so late?"
A figure pounced on her. Su Yuexing tried to struggle to get up, but was held down firmly.
A strange aura rushed towards her, and Su Yuexing shouted, "Who is it?"
Wang Dazhuang panicked and covered her mouth, "Su Yuexing! Don't shout!"
“If you call your villagers over, you’ll be the one who suffers!” Wang Dazhuang threatened.
Su Yuexing struggled desperately. Uncle Wang! How could it be him!
How did he get in?!
Wang Dazhuang said lewdly, "Let your Uncle Wang take good care of you!"
After saying that, he went to kiss Su Yuexing's face, but she immediately turned her head away.
He kicked Wang Dazhuang in the groin, and Wang Dazhuang winced in pain, clutching his groin. He glared at Wang Dazhuang and said fiercely, "I've watched you grow up, after all!"
"Is this how you treat Uncle Wang!"
Su Yuexing punched and kicked him again, yelling, "You old bastard!"
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