Chapter 93 Catching a Son-in-Law from Under the List
As soon as the list was revealed, three battle-hardened warriors from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, arranged like arrowheads, broke through the crowd and forced their way in.
Sure enough, there was Xie Yunman, the first-place winner of the first-class examination.
Then, the leader blew the eagle whistle around his neck.
Upon hearing the whistle, the other skilled fighters waiting on the periphery immediately turned around and surrounded Xie Yunman.
Xie Yuntang and the other servants of the Xie family were still squeezing through the crowd to see the list, while Xie Yunman, who was unwell, stood at the back and waited.
This gave everyone in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion an opportunity.
Several people stepped forward, and two burly men grabbed Xie Yunman and carried him away.
"Hey...who are you people? What do you want?"
Xie Yunman was in a panic.
The men from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion were all burly and strong, yet they wore eerie smiles as they spoke:
"Young master, please."
After speaking, the leader waved his hand, and someone behind him took out a red silk ribbon and draped it over Xie Yunman in the street.
Then, the people supporting him on either side worked together to throw Xie Yunman onto a tall horse next to him.
A spirited young woman in red mounted her horse and galloped away with Xie Yunman.
The onlookers cheered and applauded.
One person remained at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, grinning and loudly singing:
"The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is looking for a son-in-law, and Xie Yunman is the top-ranked scholar in the new imperial examination."
Xue Weiyang led Xie Yunman on a galloping horse, Xie Yunman's hands were tied behind her back, making it impossible for her to turn around.
But he clearly heard the voice of that person from before, his face dark with anger, as he spoke:
"Ninth Sister, I once saved your life, is this how you repay me?"
Xue Weiyang laughed and said, "I saved you too, so we're even now, just like you said last time."
Xie Yunman felt Xue Weiyang's breath coming from behind her ear as she spoke, and her ear tips immediately turned red.
He had never been this close to any strange woman since he was three years old.
But at this moment he could hardly care about these things anymore. If he didn't find a way to stop them, it would be even more difficult to escape once they reached the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Xie Yunman thought for a moment and said, "Ninth Sister, please let me down, and I will go home and tell my parents."
"Let them go to your Zhenguo Duke's mansion and discuss it with your parents, what do you think?"
Xie Yunman originally intended to use delaying tactics to buy time.
However, Xue Weiyang was preoccupied with the matter of the eldest prince and did not give him a chance, directly refusing him.
I don't think so.
To tell you the truth, I'm after you, no matter what rank you get.
"You have to agree to this marriage today, whether you like it or not."
Xie Yunman sighed and said, "Not counting the time Tianxing Tower saved you, I also helped you once before at the foot of Nanshan Academy."
"Put me down, consider it repayment for the time I helped you, okay?"
But when Xue Weiyang heard this, she giggled and said, "That won't do."
Now, I reckon half the capital knows about my attempt to find a husband after the imperial examinations. If I let you go, who am I supposed to marry?
Seeing that Xue Weiyang was unyielding, Xie Yunman angrily said:
"Your Zhenguo Duke's Mansion holds a high position and great power. You could marry anyone else, so why me of all people?"
You...you...you're repaying kindness with enmity..."
"That's because we're destined to meet. I find you more pleasing to the eye."
Xue Weiyang replied with a charming smile.
"drive!"
Xue Weiyang cracked her whip, urging the horse to gallop faster.
The horse, in pain, quickened its pace even further.
Xie Yunman had his hands behind his back, but he wasn't holding onto anything to steady himself. The horse suddenly accelerated, and before he knew it, his whole body fell backward.
She collapsed directly into Xue Weiyang's arms, feeling her back bump against something soft and yielding...
When Xie Yunman realized what she had bumped into, her face immediately turned red.
He felt as if he were on fire and struggled to sit up straight.
"You...you...you..."
Xue Weiyang ignored him and kept urging the horse beneath her to run faster.
Xue Weiyang and Xue Zhan had scouted the location several times and planned the optimal route, with Xue Weiyang taking shortcuts the whole way.
Just as Xie Yun was feeling awkward, the two of them entered the territory of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
From afar, one could see a long red carpet laid out at the entrance.
The servants of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion were already lined up, waiting for him to return.
Seeing Xue Weiyang urging her horse forward, they quickly went forward, some leading the horse, others helping Xie Yunman.
Xue Weiyang threw down the reins and whip in her hand, and like a victorious general returning to his capital, she strode in with her head held high and happily pulled Xie Yunman into the mansion.
The servant behind him was very perceptive and threw out a string of firecrackers, which crackled and popped.
The sounds of drums and music rose up inside the mansion, a lively and bustling atmosphere filled with the sounds of banging, beating, and playing instruments.
**
Meanwhile, Xie Yuntang was overjoyed when he saw that Xie Yunman was the first place winner in the first division.
"Erlang, Erlang, you've won! You've won! First place in the top rank..."
As he spoke, he turned and squeezed his way outside.
After a great deal of effort, they finally emerged, but Xie Yunman was nowhere to be seen, no matter how hard they looked.
All he saw was Xie Yunman's servant Ping An looking panicked, so he took a few steps forward, grabbed Ping An, and asked:
"Where is Erlang?"
Ping An looked miserable, almost in tears.
"The Second Young Master was snatched away by someone who had posted a notice to find a husband for him."
Xie Yuntang was startled and quickly asked, "What? Who captured him?"
"At the Duke of Zhenguo's residence."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yuntang turned pale and immediately turned around and ran to his carriage, grabbed a horse, and chased after them.
He didn't forget to turn back and let them know he was safe and sound, and to go back and report the news.
Ping An unloaded the horses from the carriage and rode home to deliver the message.
At the Xie residence, Xie Yuanshan and his wife, along with Old Master Xie, were all waiting at home.
Mrs. Zheng paced back and forth, glancing outside every now and then.
Suddenly seeing Ping An return with a mournful face, Zheng's heart panicked, and she quickly took two steps forward to ask:
"Why wasn't it on the list?"
Ping An shook his head, his face contorted with worry, and said, "Second Young Master passed, he's the top scholar... but..."
"But what is it? Tell me quickly!" Madam Zheng urged anxiously.
"But he was captured by the Duke of Zhenguo's family, who were 'selecting a son-in-law' after the imperial examination."
Ping An almost cried when she said those words.
Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng's legs went weak and she almost fell to the ground. The maids on either side quickly helped her up.
Upon hearing the ranking, Old Master Xie felt much more at ease, and then he heard that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion had taken the person away.
He angrily ordered, "Men, prepare the horses!"
Xie Yuanshan followed them out, and the two mounted their horses and rode away.
Xie Yunyu and Wu Yumin were in the backyard, waiting for someone to bring good news, but no one came after a long time.
So they went to the hall, but only saw a worried Zheng Shi; her grandfather and father were nowhere to be seen.
Seeing that Zheng's face looked unwell, Xie Yunyu wondered if it was because she was not satisfied with her ranking.
When Madam Zheng saw the two arrive, she hurriedly said:
"Man'er was kidnapped by someone who was looking for a husband..."
Xie Yunyu and the other woman were both startled and quickly pressed for answers:
"Who kidnapped them?"
"The Ninth Lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. Sigh... don't you two know each other?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Yumin and Xie Yunyu both gasped in shock.
This really surprised the two of them.
They believed that Xue Weiyang snatched someone in the street.
But they didn't quite believe that Xie Yunman had been robbed...
I've never heard of the two of them having any interaction.
"Mother...who did you say...Xue Weiyang, the Ninth Daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion?" Wu Yumin asked incredulously.
Madam Zheng said anxiously, "It should be her. Your grandfather and your father have already passed away. Why don't you go and see her too?"
Xie Yunyu was the first to react and reached out to comfort Madam Zheng:
"Mother, don't panic."
This marriage arrangement by the Duke of Zhenguo's family is also quite good.
You've met Wei Yang before; she's a very nice person.
Hearing this, Madam Zheng became even more anxious: "Oh dear, your second brother has been weak since childhood, and that Ninth Madam Xue is skilled in martial arts..."
"Oh dear, this marriage won't work; it's not suitable."
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