031
Xie Sui'an was confused, but he still obediently bent down, and Qin Sang then patted the soot she had prepared beforehand evenly onto his face.
Xie Sui'an: "..."
Finally, he used an ink brush to add a few small moles the size of beans to him before clapping his hands in satisfaction and saying, "That's good now. Don't be too ostentatious. You already showed your face last night. How can you still be so swaggering around? Don't you know whose territory you're on now?"
Xie Sui'an waved his fan and directed Jinyun: "Bring me the bronze mirror so I can take a look!"
After looking at it, he waved his fan even more vigorously, and after holding it in for a long time, he said, "How am I supposed to eat breakfast with a painting like this?"
Qin Sang found it strange: "You don't eat with your face, so if you're careful when you eat and take big bites, it won't be a problem. Women can eat even if they wear lipstick, so it's a bit of a hassle for you. I'll wipe it off for you once we're out of the city."
Jinyun was struggling to suppress his laughter. He had probably never seen his young master so helpless and unable to retaliate. He suddenly thought that if his young mistress could really keep his young master in check like Miss Qin Sang, his life would probably be very happy.
Just as she was thinking this, she was slapped on the back of the head and heard her young master say, "Aren't you leaving yet? Pack your important luggage and listen to Miss Sangsang's arrangements!"
Jinyun covered the back of her head and pouted aggrievedly: "Besides your few changes of clothes and a stack of silver notes, there's nothing important to pack."
"..." Xie Sui'an felt that today was definitely not a good day. Even his servant dared to talk back to him. He could only angrily open the door, fanning himself, and leave.
To avoid any unforeseen complications, the group skipped breakfast at the inn and instead ate some snacks at a street-side steamed bun shop. Afterward, Qin Sang gave the coachman some silver and told him to go back to Li County first and not to follow them any further. Jin Yun also disguised himself slightly and drove the carriage towards the east gate of the city.
The city gates had just opened, and there were few people coming and going. At this moment, the Wu family had no idea that a large group of poor beggars, people from all walks of life, and ordinary citizens were about to head towards their privately hidden treasure mine.
Qin Sang and his entourage left the city silently and slowly made their way along the official road.
The slow pace served two purposes: first, to transport as many people as possible along the way; and second, to act as a rearguard. By noon, news of the gold mine leak would reach the Wu residence, at which point they would surely mobilize troops to stop it. Simultaneously, as long as the Wu family's actions were informed of Wang Shizhen's family, Magistrate Wang would not let this opportunity to catch them red-handed slip by and would definitely send troops. At that point, the Wu family's secret possession of the gold mine would be impossible to conceal.
Unless they are incredibly audacious and willing to risk everything, they would have to kill all of Magistrate Wang and his party, as well as the people who went to pan for gold.
Although Qin Sang had considered the plan quite thoroughly, aiming to use Magistrate Wang to eliminate the Wu family and resolve her own troubles, she still had some concerns. She worried that the Wu family had Prefect Qiao as their backer, and that Qiao Zhiyong would send troops to suppress them.
So, she glanced at Xie Sui'an and silently became more cautious.
The carriage traveled slowly on the official road. Gradually, a commotion arose behind them. People driving donkeys and pulling oxcarts, wave after wave of ordinary people, were happily pouring out of the city as if they were going to a market.
Qin Sang simply had the carriage stop to the side and wait. Before long, she saw Liu Sanchuan, whose face was covered with gauze and whose original appearance was almost unrecognizable.
"How is it?" Qin Sang asked, lifting the curtain.
Liu Sanchuan said, "Anyway, according to what you said, I've handed out flyers in all sorts of places. At first, not many people believed me, but I met a few bold thugs who persuaded quite a few people. Many members of the beggar gang were also willing to try their luck. So you see, there are quite a few people."
"Did someone stay at the Wu residence?"
Liu Sanchuan nodded: "They've kept it. But they won't leak the news yet."
Qin Sang nodded: "Well done!"
Liu Sanchuan said with great enthusiasm: "It is my duty to avenge my parents!"
"Alright, then you go and lead the way, we'll stay here and cover the rear."
Liu Sanchuan clasped his hands in a salute, then rushed to the front of the crowd to lead the way.
***
Jinyun drove his carriage, stopping frequently along the way. When he encountered a tea stall, he would stop to discuss the discovery of a gold mine on Laojun Mountain in a hesitant manner. When he encountered a market, he would stop again to discuss it. With such a grand and exaggerated manner, by the time he arrived at the foot of Laojun Mountain, many commoners who had come from all directions had gathered.
With everyone contributing their thoughts, they finally confirmed the definite news that there was a gold mine at the foot of Laojun Mountain, and they were all extremely excited.
We followed the group towards Bicha Village.
Meanwhile, Wu's wife, who had gone out to buy groceries, overheard some conversation. When she returned home, she discussed it with the housekeeper, who overheard her and questioned her, "What gold mine?"
The old woman said, "I don't know. It's just that everyone outside is saying that a gold mine has been discovered on Laojun Mountain in Tong County, east of the city, and many people have taken tools to pan for gold."
Upon hearing this, the steward's face changed drastically, and he hurriedly ran to Master Wu's house to report.
Wu Fang, still hungover from the previous night, was somewhat bewildered when he heard the news: "Rumors? Who spread them?" He rolled over and said, "Go, tell the second brother to take some men over there and take down those ignorant fools."
So the steward went to find the second young master, Wu You, who was playing with the birds. Wu You had failed to catch the thief last night and was feeling frustrated. Upon hearing this, he became excited, smiled broadly, and mustered his troops to march up Lao Jun Mountain.
Last night, Young Master Wang won the title of the most beautiful courtesan. Just as he was reluctant to part with her after their night together, a servant came to report that the second son of the Wu family had made a big move and was leading a large army to Laojun Mountain in the east of the city.
Wang Shizhen asked why, and the servant replied that the Wu family had been secretly operating a gold mine on Laojun Mountain. Somehow, the people discovered it, and they flocked to Laojun Mountain to pan for gold early in the morning. The young master of the Wu family was the one who led people to silence them.
Wang Shizhen jumped out of bed and went home to find his father. After some discussion, Wang Tongpan decided to lead men to intercept them.
Just as the two wealthy families in the city were hurriedly mustering their troops, Qin Sang and his group had already arrived at Bicha Village. On one side, Liu Sanchuan was leading his men in a vigorous effort to dig through the mountain, while on the other side, Jinyun was using his light-footed skills to swiftly explore the surrounding area.
Now that the Wu family has already massacred the entire village, their gold mining business must be urgent, and they may have already set up camp in some mountain cave. The conflict will be most effective when both the Wu and Wang families are present, so we must keep a low profile for now and avoid being discovered by the Wu family's men left at the mine, thus preventing an early fight.
Qin Sang and Xie Suian followed the crowd and pretended to mine.
"Judging by the time, the Wu and Wang families must have already received the news and started sending people here." Qin Sang casually dug at the earthen slope with a small hoe.
Xie Sui'an, too lazy to lift a finger, leaned against a tree and continued fanning himself with his folding fan, saying, "You think Wang Houmin, a mere sub-prefect, would dare to send someone to go against Wu Fang? Doesn't he suspect that Wu Fang did this for the prefect?"
"Don't worry," Qin Sang said, digging a hole in the ground with his hoe. "I've inquired about it. This prefect is a man of integrity and compassion, just like the people. His duty is to supervise the prefect... And guess why his son is at odds with that little fool from the Wu family?"
Why?
"Because of the discord between their fathers," Qin Sang said with a sly smile. "If this Magistrate Wang has something on Master Wu, and can use it to check the Prefect or impeach him, wouldn't he have a better chance if the position becomes vacant?"
“That’s not easy either… Appointing a prefect isn’t a simple downward appointment,” Xie Sui’an frowned. “Besides, if Qiao Zhiyong really was involved, do you think he would send troops to suppress us if he got the news today?”
Qin Sang nodded indifferently, "That's quite possible." Then she suddenly smiled, "Then it depends on you, Young Master Lu. What is your true identity? Surely even a mere prefect wouldn't dare to mess with you?"
Xie Sui'an snapped the folding fan shut in his palm, raising an eyebrow slightly: "So, you've included me in your calculations too?!"
Qin Sang thought to herself, "Otherwise, am I bringing you along for fun or because you're good-looking?"
He scoffed, "You're incredibly audacious. Haven't you considered that I might not be Qiao Zhiyong's concern at all? If he finds out my true identity, he might kill me too?"
Qin Sang said calmly, "Then he will definitely suffer as well. Besides, you and your guards are so skilled, you will definitely be fine."
Xie Suian straightened up. He was amused by the situation, but he only felt that Qin Sang was too confident, daring to gamble with his identity. Admittedly, his identity was somewhat special, but not so special that others would hesitate to act against him. Besides, he was in an unfamiliar place and no one knew him. Even if he was killed as a civilian and his body was never found, his grandfather would be powerless to do anything about it.
He sighed softly: "I really don't know whether to call you naive or stupid. No matter how good my skills are, I'm all alone. If others use the army to suppress me, do you think I can escape? They'll destroy the evidence and leave no trace. They'll kill me and that's it. What harm will it cause?"
Qin Sang didn't even look up: "I told you about the plan last night, and you didn't object..."
"I... fine, anyway, I'm here, I'll keep you safe." Xie Sui'an helplessly folded his fan, put his hands behind his back and looked around, as if he were looking in the direction of Jinyun.
Qin Sang stopped hoeing, somewhat surprised by Xie Suian's composure. She had thought he would be furious and cowardly, but to her surprise, he only grumbled a couple of times, and even knowing there might be danger, he didn't become a coward.
She said, "So, Young Master Lu, what is your real name? I don't want you to get hurt in the fight and not even have your name recorded."
"Who do you think you are?" Xie Sui'an raised his chin slightly. "Even if a fight breaks out, I can still escape. You should worry about yourself and come begging to me sooner rather than later, so I can protect you then."
Xie Sui'an had long since cleaned the grime off his face, and now he was once again a handsome and dashing young man.
He seemed to know nothing of danger, so certain that everything could be resolved. He seemed to have never been in real danger, and therefore did not know what hell and despair truly looked like.
He was so calm and composed.
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