"They have crooked eyes; they stare at pretty girls for a second. They're not honest people at all."
Xie Yuancheng particularly despised this kind of person. He said that with all his strength, he could do something better than this kind of shady business. Even if he was crippled, he deserved it.
We had only taken a few steps when Dad came over with his men, and I quickly called out to him.
Father dismounted with ease: “After we finished our business, they said you went out and haven’t come back. Just then, some of my subordinates sent me a message saying they were going out to look for you.”
I told my father about Xie Yuancheng discovering a bandit, and he frowned, saying, "They dare to enter and leave the capital; they must have powerful backers."
"What kind of backer does this disgusting creature have?" It's disgusting. If it has the guts, it should go to the border and fight the barbarians. What kind of person bullies ordinary people?
"They're definitely not our backers anymore. I need to go and tell the Prime Minister about this immediately. We need to strengthen our defenses in the capital. It's very likely that a foreign enemy has arrived."
Father acted hastily, leaving behind words before mounting his horse and galloping away. I pulled Xie Yuancheng's hand closer: "Could it be a barbarian?"
"It is very possible that although they were driven out by the people from the Western Regions last time, some of the most wicked Hu people will disguise themselves as slaves and move over."
"What should we do then? They shouldn't have entered the city, right?" I started to worry too; these people are notorious for their brutality.
"It's hard to say, we still need to be careful." As soon as Xie Yuancheng finished speaking, the people next to him took off running, grabbing their weapons as they ran, and also spreading the word.
"When you see any suspicious outsiders, especially if they are tall and strong, pin them down and check them!"
"Exactly! My son went to the battlefield to fight the barbarians and hasn't come home yet. We must make sure they come in upright and leave backward!"
"Let's go, everyone, go home and grab your weapons!"
I was stunned. When did these people overhear our conversation? Then I remembered that Xie Yuancheng had taken down a Hu man without saying a word. I guess that's why.
"Ying'er, let's go back to the manor. We still need to be careful these next few days." He picked me up, and there were many people around. I blushed with embarrassment.
The capital city suddenly became lively again. We had just reached the door when Mother came out. Seeing that we were all safe, she let us in and closed the door behind her.
"Mom, Dad hasn't come back yet!" I was both amused and exasperated; Mom was being a little too cautious.
"Shh!" Mother pulled me aside: "You had just stepped out when some beggars came with medicine. I saw they were strong and healthy, so I said a few words to them, and they almost dragged me out. Luckily, Master intervened in time."
I've seen you all gone for quite a while now, and you haven't come back at all. Master also received a letter saying he sent the household to buy several days' worth of groceries. There's some food in the cellar, so we'll have to keep the doors closed for the next few days.”
"Is it that serious?" I found it hard to believe.
"Ying'er, just listen to your mother-in-law. I'll take you to take a bath first, and we'll talk slowly later."
Xie Yuancheng came over and took my hand to lead me away. My mother told us to go ahead and do our work; she was waiting for my father to come back so she could seal the door. I was already exhausted, and I had just started soaking in hot water when Xie Yuancheng followed me.
"Yuancheng, thank goodness we didn't run into them today." I leaned against him, feeling truly fortunate.
"Don't be afraid. Even if you encounter them, there are places that can be defended. There's nothing to worry about."
Xie Yuancheng massaged my lower back from time to time; he'd developed a new method. I was still tired, so I leaned against him, not wanting to move. Xie Yuancheng changed my handkerchief; I was exhausted anyway, so I let him take care of me.
When we came out, the three little ones were playing around again. Yu'er was holding a small embroidered bag on her head, letting the two younger ones try to grab it. Xi Zhi helped Su Ling grab it and gave it to her.
Su Ling was ungrateful, tossing the pouch aside and sulking with her arms crossed. I quickly went over, picked up the small embroidered pouch, and gave it to Xi Zhi so he could play with it.
"Mommy~" Su Ling came over with tears in her eyes and tugged at my skirt. I told her that she didn't want it just now, but her younger brother took it from her. If she didn't want it, it was her brother's.
"Mommy~ Hehe." Yu'er ran over and hugged my arm, acting all cute: "Little sister is naughty~"
"Yes, if the younger sister doesn't want her brother's things, then we won't let her play with them."
Su Ling hopped around on her short legs, feeling incredibly wronged. When she saw Xie Yuancheng standing nearby, she quickly ran to him and called him "Daddy."
"Su Ling, the little embroidered bag that Xi Zhi brought you, if you don't want it, it will be your little brother's. Don't cry, you chose it yourself."
Xie Yuancheng's face darkened even more than mine. Su Ling clung to his leg, her tears ceasing. Yu'er clung to my arm, refusing to let go, so I picked him up. Xi Zhi, who had been playing happily, saw Su Ling crying and gave her a small embroidered pouch.
When Su Ling saw Xiao Xiu Bao return, she hugged her like a treasure and even kissed Xi Zhi. Yu'er struggled to get down, and he also wanted Su Ling to kiss him. After Su Ling kissed him, they went to play on the side.
"These three little ones are so adorable." I sighed as I stood to the side. They were so interesting; they could understand what I was saying and they would help each other.
"Ying'er, let's go. With Granny and the others here, let's go see if Father-in-law has arrived yet."
While they were playing, Xie Yuancheng quickly grabbed my hand and ran away. I thought he was being clever, but he was just afraid the children would chase after him. I immediately laughed; Xie Yuancheng does have his fears.
I laughed and ran with him. Xie Yuancheng pulled me forward. We went to the door first. Mother was still waiting. Fortunately, Father returned soon. He had someone close all the doors and keep watch. Only people we knew could come. No one else was allowed to come.
Father took us to the study to talk. I saw that he was like he was back on the battlefield. He and Mother were actually only in their forties, still in their prime. Father definitely didn't want to be a sinecure official.
In the study, Father recounted the events in the capital. The Prime Minister hurriedly submitted a memorial, but the Crown Prince beat him to it. Since it was all for the good of the capital, the Prime Minister wouldn't blame him. Little did he know, the Crown Prince was going to lead the charge – truly a good thing.
I would actually like him to go and fight those barbarians. If he gets beaten so badly that he coughs up blood, then everyone will be happy.
“Ying’er, this is a matter of life and death, you mustn’t laugh.” My father glanced at me and then stopped laughing. He continued, “Brother Cui is in the palace now. He sent someone to deliver a message to me, so I came back.”
"Father-in-law, are they in the city now?"
"It's hard to say right now. Several princes and titled princes have started a city-wide search. If anything seems amiss, they'll be locked up."
The reinforcements, along with General Li and General Zhang, have already left the city. Originally, only ten thousand elite troops were left in the city; thankfully you captured one today, otherwise the city's defenses would have been weakened.
When my mother was a young woman, she also liked to practice martial arts: "Master, the capital is still very large. Ten thousand elite soldiers may not be enough."
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