Chapter 43 Labor and Capital on the Shu Road
Xie Huaijin, with his wristband on, gripped the reins, his long, slender legs gently pushing off the saddle, as Lieyan slowly strode over.
In the bandit stronghold, they had subdued the bandits in less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea. They opened the broken door, only to find it empty. The hostage the bandits had mentioned had mysteriously disappeared.
Xie Huaijin discovered a hole in a corner and sent two people to investigate underground, while the rest searched the mountain stronghold. He happened to find it along the way.
Look what he discovered! Xie Huaijin narrowed his long, narrow eyes slightly. It was a little mouse that had secretly followed them but had fallen into the rice jar.
The young man nimbly dismounted and strode towards them.
The girls warily shielded Xie Mianmian behind them.
"Mianmian, don't be afraid, we won't let him hurt you," Bai Yun said.
Xie Huaijin stopped five steps away from them. "Mianmian, come out here."
Upon hearing that familiar voice, Bai Yun's pupils constricted. It was him, the adult who had led the troops to rescue them!
Xie Mianmian hid behind Bai Yun, realizing that her third brother might be angry. The child was too afraid to face him and decided to endure it for as long as possible...
Xie Huaijin crossed his arms and said, "I'll count to three, one..."
"Waaaah~" Xie Mianmian suddenly broke away from the girls' protective circle, wobbling as she ran towards the boy, and then hugged his leg tightly.
She raised her head, looking at Xie Huaijin with her big, teary eyes, looking like a pitiful, obedient child.
"Mianmian saved the sisters, Third Brother can't hit Mianmian!" the child tried to negotiate.
Seeing that Xie Huaijin still had a stern face, she took her third brother's hand and led him to the cave entrance, telling him about the little mole carrying the explosives.
Xie Mianmian proudly puffed out her little chest, "Mianmian, I've done another great thing!"
Xie Huaijin sighed and reached out to wipe the dirt off the child's forehead.
Unable to bring himself to scold or beat her, he held back his praise, remaining silent for a long while before finally saying, "Please don't risk your life for me anymore, okay, Mianmian?"
Xie Mianmian couldn't understand her third brother's complicated look. She looked back at him with disapproval. Was this a dangerous situation? This was clearly an adventure to rescue people!
But seeing Xie Huaijin's sorrowful face, the child could only nod and say, "Mianmian understands!"
Xie Huaijin led the child to the girls, cupped his hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you, ladies, for protecting my little sister."
The girls waved their hands and shook their heads, saying that the children had rescued them and that they should be thanking them.
"Please cooperate with the routine questioning by the Imperial Guards. Afterwards, we will arrange for someone to take you all back safely."
Xie Huaijin waved to his men, signaling them to come and take them away.
At this moment, Bai Yun stepped forward and bowed to Xie Huaijin, saying, "Thank you for saving my life, sir. My two sisters and I were kidnapped by thieves on our way to Fohua Temple. If it weren't for Mianmian and you, sir, we really don't know where we would have been sold and humiliated."
The girls behind him nodded in agreement, and couldn't help but wipe away tears from the corners of their eyes with their sleeves.
Xie Huaijin raised his hand to gently lift Bai Yun, saying, "No need to be so polite, it's just my duty."
Bai Yun straightened up, bit her lower lip, and said, "Bai Yun has a favor to ask. We are dancers from Yueya Garden, and we have a performance on the fifth day of next month. We hope that you, sir and young lady, can come and support us. We will definitely treat you to a good banquet to repay your life-saving grace."
She lowered her head nervously, clutching the hem of her dress tightly, waiting for his reply.
I have a dance I wish to perform for my benefactor.
The playboy, who usually rode his horse around the streets of the capital, stroked his chin. Yueya Garden, indeed, was a good place for eating, drinking and having fun in Sipingfang.
The girls inside are all skilled in singing and dancing, they sell their art but not their bodies, they are beautiful, the wine is even better, the rules in the brothel are excellent, and I heard that the owner behind it is a noblewoman.
Many ladies and young women go there to socialize and relax during the day. Should he bring his children? Xie Huaijin shook his head inwardly, afraid that his sister would skin him alive if she found out.
Xie Huaijin smiled handsomely and gave Bai Yun a slight bow, "Miss Bai, then I shall respectfully accept your offer." He could go by himself.
Upon hearing this, Xie Mianmian happily looked up at the boy. "Yay! I can go out and play. Third Brother is so nice!"
Xie Huaijin led a group of people back to Qinglong Mountain.
At this moment, the emperor was reviewing documents in his tent. Upon hearing General Xiao's report, he waved his hand, signaling Xie Huaijin to come in.
The boy entered the tent, knelt down, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I have fortunately fulfilled my mission."
He reported the whole story to the person in the higher position.
As the emperor stroked his beard, he listened intently. When he heard that the bandits had seized ten large chests of treasure unearthed from an ancient tomb, his eyes lit up.
Then he heard that they had safely rescued the kidnapped women, and the emperor nodded in satisfaction.
Long Xin was overjoyed and exclaimed, "The Xie family's children are all outstanding individuals. You have done a great job. You are rewarded."
Then, amidst the envious gazes of the crowd, Xie Huaijin was bestowed the title of General of the Golden Guard, a fourth-rank official, in charge of the capital's gate control and verification.
"We were both out for a trip, so why did Xie Huaijin get promoted out of nowhere?" The young master from a prominent family scratched his head, puzzled, as he returned from hunting.
The Lin family father and daughter were also very frustrated, as the explosives they had planted had mysteriously disappeared.
Lin's father was completely baffled. "Could it be that our family has offended the mountain god? Should we go and pray to him?"
Lin Ruoxue sneered, "I don't believe in ghosts and gods, it must be man-made."
Lin's father thought about it and agreed. To be able to accomplish such a great thing so quietly, he must be a very capable person. This will make things very difficult for him in the future.
"It seems our Lin family's fortune is still not strong enough..." Lin Ruoxue murmured.
The grand spring hunt is still underway, but Xie Mianmian, who has gone missing twice, is in a bad situation. The Xie family will take turns looking after the child, and two nannies will keep a close eye on her without blinking.
Xie Mianmian can no longer sneak a bite of pastries.
Soon, it was time to return home.
While everyone was busy packing up, Xie Mianmian sat on a small stool in front of the tent, a plate of Eight Treasures Cake on her lap, and was eating it with great relish.
A dark figure crouched in the grass not far away, but no one noticed.
Only the Seventh Prince, who passed by the Xie family's tent every day, noticed it.
He sneered and walked slowly toward the bushes.
Upon seeing the newcomer, the dark figure nervously stood up.
The Seventh Prince crossed his arms and asked, "What are you doing here?"
That dark figure was a wolf.
What was it doing here? The entire Qinglong Mountain was its territory, and the cub couldn't be harmed in its territory. That day, the cub was missing for a whole day, but thankfully it came back in the end.
Since it's on its own territory, the wolf thought, "I'll protect my cubs for as long as I can."
The Seventh Prince narrowed his eyes sharply, "You wouldn't be thinking of going back with Xie Mianmian, would you?"
What's going on? One or two of them are sticking to her like this.
"Awooo?" The wolf tilted its head, wondering if this was even possible.
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