Chapter 492: Obstacles in Sheltering from the Rain
After walking for nearly a month, they arrived in Jiangxi.
The weather was not good that day.
The lead-gray sky seemed to be torn open with a huge hole, and the rain poured down, making the official road muddy and the vision blurred.
Lu Qiniang and her group's carriages were parked in a mess on the side of the road, with nowhere to hide. The others who were exiled outside, including Xiao Yan, were in an even more miserable state.
Not far ahead, an ancient temple was looming in the rain. Its flying eaves and tightly closed mountain gate became the only hope in everyone's eyes.
"Go and ask if they can let us in to avoid the rain!" Lu Qiniang urged, feeling upset by the sound of rain and the cold.
She was worried about Xiao Yan, and also about the women, children, the elderly, the weak and the disabled in the exile team.
Soon, the person sent returned dejected, his clothes already soaking wet, and his face looked grim. "Madam, we can't enter the temple. The gatekeeper said that today, Madam Yao, the favorite concubine of Han Dashi, the deputy commander of the Jiangxi Provincial Command, is burning incense and praying for blessings. No one outside is allowed to enter."
"What the hell? A concubine is now a mistress?" Lu Qiniang couldn't help but curse. "This temple belongs to her! It's raining so hard, catching a cold could be fatal. She has such a bad heart, even if she burns incense and prays to the Buddha, the Bodhisattva won't bless her."
Erya said, "Mother, the Jiangxi Dusi Commander is a third-rank official."
"I know." Lu Qiniang said, "So I can only curse her secretly."
The Jiangxi Dusi, like the other twelve Dusi in the country, was in charge of local military affairs. It had one second-rank commander-in-chief, two second-rank deputy commanders, and four third-rank assistant commanders.
The Jiangxi Provincial Commander-in-Chief was already a very high-ranking official.
But the question is, the concubine is so arrogant and domineering, isn’t she really afraid of being reported by the censor?
Arya has already said it.
"Write a letter to the Fifth Master later and ask him to make a report."
This is simply too much.
Lu Qiniang nodded repeatedly, "How about this, have someone unload everything from the car that is not afraid of getting wet in the rain, and then try to get the elderly, the weak, women and children on board to avoid the rain."
This matter also needs to be discussed with the escorting yamen runners.
Xiao Yan came over without knowing when, and his calm voice penetrated the sound of rain: "Qi Niang, please be patient."
He gazed calmly at the tightly closed temple gate and said to the person who had returned with the news, "Go again and mention the name of Commander Gu Chengyuan, Lord Gu, and say that our old friend Xiao Yan is passing by and asks for a favor."
Gu Chengyuan? A second-rank commander? An old friend of Xiao Yan?
He is so tight-lipped that he has never mentioned it before.
But this style is also very Xiao Yan.
——When it comes to rewarding people based on their merits, he is never stingy and is always willing to promote and support his subordinates.
When you are in trouble, distance yourself from it and don't implicate anyone else.
Even Jiang Xuan reconnected with her in order to choose a husband for Daya.
Her Xiao Yan is completely different from those men who brag after drinking a little.
He really had made military achievements that were worthy of being recorded in history, but he never mentioned it.
Lu Qiniang felt very happy.
It’s over. I’m getting old and starting to fall in love.
It was heard that Xiao Yan knew the commander-in-chief, and the rain was indeed very heavy, so everyone could not bear it and the yamen runners took everyone to the temple.
Not long after, the temple door creaked open a crack, but it was not to welcome guests. Instead, a woman dressed in gorgeous brocade and with a charming and graceful figure walked out, surrounded by maids and old women.
That is Yao Honger.
She was indeed stunningly beautiful, with skin whiter than snow, eyebrows and features as picturesque as a painting, especially her charming eyes, which sparkled even more in the misty rain.
But that look was filled with undisguised arrogance and contempt.
She stood on the porch, looking down at the people in distress in the rain. Her red lips parted slightly, and her voice was crisp but chilling:
"Oh, who was it? It's Xiao Yan? Lord Gu? Haha..." She covered her lips with her hands and chuckled softly, her laughter particularly harsh in the sound of rain. "I'm afraid you haven't realized your current status yet? A phoenix without feathers is no better than a chicken, don't you understand this truth? What is Lord Gu's status, and what is your status? This temple is small, it can't accommodate a 'big Buddha' like you, you'd better find another higher place! Don't disturb my sincere prayers for Lord Han!"
After saying that, she waved her slender hand, twisted her slender waist, and asked someone to close the door.
Lu Qinniang was so angry that she was shaking all over. Just as she was about to argue with her, she heard a burst of hurried horse hooves coming from afar, breaking through the rain.
I saw a horse rushing to the temple gate like an arrow. The man on the horse was dressed in military uniform. The rain flowed down his resolute cheeks and armor. It was Gu Chengyuan, the commander of the Jiangxi Provincial Commandery.
Gu Chengyuan pulled the reins of his horse, his eyes swept across the field like lightning, and instantly fixed on Xiao Yan. The anxiety in his eyes instantly turned into ecstasy.
"General!" Gu Chengyuan practically dismounted and rushed to Xiao Yan. Ignoring the muddy ground, he knelt on one knee, his voice trembling with excitement. "General Gu Chengyuan, I heard that you were passing through here. I have been waiting anxiously, but I didn't expect to be guarding the wrong intersection. That's why I'm late. Please forgive me, General."
The arrogance on Yao Honger's face froze instantly, the blood color faded away, and she looked at the scene in front of her in panic.
The Commanding General...actually showed such respect to that exiled criminal? And even addressed him as "General"?
Xiao Yan reached out and stopped Gu Chengyuan from bowing. His voice was calm but carried an undeniable strength. "Chengyuan, there's no need to be so polite. I'm no longer a general. We're equals. It's raining heavily, so let's go in first."
Only then were everyone able to enter the warm and dry temple hall.
Gu Chengyuan immediately ordered the monks to prepare hot tea and ginger soup and settle everyone down.
Erya has already told what happened just now in a very eloquent way.
Lu Qiniang helped her, but it was just symbolic.
It’s not that she enjoys being superior to others, but that Yao Honger is really hateful.
How can people be so bad!
Gu Chengyuan's face turned pale as he shouted to his personal guards, "Go! Call Han Dang to me immediately, right now!"
Han Dang arrived quickly, apparently having received the news as well, and confessed his crime as soon as he entered.
Gu Chengyuan pointed at Yao Hong'er, who was shivering and huddled in a corner, and said coldly, "Han Chenshi, your concubine is so arrogant! In such heavy rain, she occupied the temple by herself and refused to let anyone else in to take shelter. If someone didn't know, they would think you, Han Chenshi, were the local emperor of Jiangxi, and how dare your concubine act so arrogantly."
Han Dang gritted his teeth and bowed, saying, "Master Gu, I will definitely give you an explanation today."
He turned around abruptly, rushed to Yao Honger in a few steps, and in front of everyone's astonished eyes, he pulled out the whip from his waist.
"Bitch! You're blind!" Han Dang cursed loudly, without any pity in his eyes, only the ruthlessness of being eager to distance himself from the matter.
“Snap! Snap! Snap!”
The sharp sound of whips rang out in the solemn Buddhist temple, accompanied by Yao Honger's shrill screams.
The gorgeous brocade was torn in an instant, the skin and flesh were torn apart, and the beautiful face was distorted by pain and disbelief.
Han Dang hit her hard and showed no mercy, as if he was not whipping his beloved concubine, but his mortal enemy.
The hall was dead silent, with only the sounds of whipping, wailing, and the heavy rain outside the window.
Lu Qiniang turned her face away, unable to bear to look any longer, and felt a chill in her heart.
Although Yao Honger deserved it, wasn't it Han Dang who got her to behave like this?
Now Yao Honger has been punished and Han Dang has become invisible.
Ha, bah!
Xiao Yan's face was calm, but a hint of coldness flashed across the depths of his eyes.
Gu Chengyuan watched expressionlessly until Han Dang stopped panting. Yao Honger was curled up on the ground, dying, with blood soaking through her torn clothes.
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