Chapter 106 Her Quiet Place, No One May Disturb It
Zhou Congxian's eyes were like torches, and the sword in his hand moved with the force of a slashing bamboo.
Mountain bandits roamed the mountains, and all they saw and bullied were ordinary, unarmed people.
The man who suddenly appeared was ruthless, leaving no trace of blood in his wake.
The bandits had met their match; even the most fearless among them were killed with a single sword strike.
The brothers who had fought bravely before them all died, and those who followed grew fearful and retreated step by step.
The bandits' momentum of looting and killing was instantly cut short.
Zhou Congxian held a long sword, and blood slowly dripped from the sword into the dust.
He took a step forward, and the bandits took a step back.
Led by him, the government troops advanced step by step, protecting the people in the city behind them.
It wasn't until the bandit leader in the rear realized something was wrong.
"Why are they all retreating! Can't even a few incompetent officials from the government offices win a fight?!"
"Fifth Brother, it's not that we want to retreat, but there's a master who can kill us with a single strike! We brothers are like pieces of smoked meat on the wall, utterly powerless to resist!"
Fifth Brother was furious. "Let me see which deity is so powerful!"
When he rushed forward with his knife, he saw a young man he had never seen before.
He spat on the ground.
"Where did this little brat come from! How dare he stop your fifth grandfather's men!"
He shouted loudly and swung his knife at us!
Zhou Congxian swiftly moved forward to meet him, his longsword leaving a long trail on the ground as it made a "clanging" sound.
The cold wind howled.
Swords and blades collided in mid-air, sparks flying.
The governor stared in disbelief at all of this.
The bandits were forced to the city gate so quickly.
He had never seen a situation brought under control so quickly.
"Does Lord Liu know this chivalrous man?"
"Can you recruit subordinates?"
With this chivalrous hero around, Yuzhou will no longer fear bandit attacks!
Liu Minghan did not turn around. "He is the heir of the Duke of Yingguo's mansion, and Commander-in-Chief Zhou."
"The British Duke... Commander-in-Chief..."
The governor had no idea that Yuzhou had become such a coveted place.
It hasn't been that long.
Your Highness Prince Cheng, Lord Liu, the newly appointed top scholar, and now Lord Zhou has arrived.
A scream drew the governor's attention back.
The outcome was decided in just three sentences.
Zhou Congxian sliced off half of the opponent's arm.
Fifth Brother clutched his severed arm and howled in pain, "Go! Go quickly!"
He watched the bandits flee in disarray, a cold smile appearing on his lips. He gripped his longsword in his backhand and threw it at Fifth Brother with all his might.
The longsword pierced through Fifth Brother's back, connecting him to the brothers in front of him, piercing them both through!
"Fifth Brother!"
Fifth Brother's forehead veins bulged as he struggled to open his mouth, "Tell...tell Yao...Yao, she's been tricked..."
Zhou Congxian's clothes and face were covered in splattered blood.
His eyes were filled with a chilling aura.
Yuzhou is her peaceful place, and no one is allowed to disturb her.
When Jiang Xingyao arrived, the city had already been swept clean.
Only a faint smell of blood could be faintly detected in mid-air.
"The bandits retreated so quickly?"
He led his men to the prefectural government office and saw the two enemies who had killed his sister again.
“Brother-in-law.” Zhou Congxian was the first to notice him.
Uncle?
The governor's gaze shifted from the corpse on the ground to Jiang Xingyao standing at the door.
No official has ever felt as frustrated as him.
Those above you shouldn't be messed with.
Those below should not be messed with either.
Jiang Xingyao gave him a cold look. "Your Highness, please don't call me by the wrong name. I can't accept that."
After glancing at the two men, Liu Minghan turned around and squatted down in front of the man called Fifth Brother.
"The governor says this man is a bandit from Yuzhou who has been causing trouble in Yuzhou for many years. Why doesn't the government send troops to wipe him out?"
The governor immediately put on a look of deep sorrow and indignation.
"Your Excellency is unaware that the former Prefect Zheng was an unethical official who feared bandits. I tried to persuade him many times to no avail, which was also due to my incompetence."
"Moreover, the total military strength of Yuzhou City is only three thousand, with only eight hundred garrisoned. The rest are patrolmen, yamen runners, post station staff, laborers, and logistics personnel."
"They're good at doing farm work, but how could they possibly defeat the fierce bandits in a real fight..."
Liu Minghan glanced at him. "So, even though Yuzhou is often harassed by mountain bandits, the officers and soldiers haven't been trained to improve their combat effectiveness?"
Zhou Congxian spoke up, "This is not just a problem for Yuzhou, it's a problem for all prefectures."
“Local troops are weak and mostly engaged in labor service. They used to rely on the vassal kings’ troops for protection. Now that the vassal kings’ troops are gone, the places where bandits gather are the first to be in trouble.”
The governor gave him a grateful look. “Yuzhou has no vassal kings, but Linzhou has the King of Han. They used to be seconded to Yuzhou, so although there are more bandits in Yuzhou, there haven’t been any major troubles.”
Zhou Congxian's expression darkened slightly. "I will petition His Majesty to send troops to Yuzhou to quell the mountain bandits."
The governor hesitated for a moment, then said, "I think it would be better to first ask the Prince of Han in Linzhou for help in borrowing troops?"
Zhou Congxian lowered his eyes slightly, "The King of Han will not send troops now."
He glanced at the few people in the yamen, "The rest is up to you two, sirs. I'll take my leave."
Reaching the doorway, he stopped in front of Jiang Xingyao. "Lord Jiang, may I speak with you in private?"
Jiang Xingyao wanted to refuse, but then he remembered what his sister had told him quietly before he left.
The two walked to the side.
"Uncle..."
"Stop," Jiang Xingyao interrupted him. "Lord Zhou, I don't address you as my brother-in-law."
“You can never make up for the harm my sister suffered in your Zhou family. If that’s what you want to say, then we have nothing to say.”
Zhou Congxian pursed his lips slightly.
It is a fact that he did not cherish it.
It's also true that he lost her.
"Lord Jiang, I don't ask for Shi Yao's forgiveness, I only ask that she give me a chance to make amends."
"Make amends?" Jiang Xingyao sneered. "Wasn't Jiang Shiyao already 'forced to death' by you? If you want to make amends, go find the King of Hell!"
He made a special trip to see the fire site.
What kind of circumstances forced Yao'er to take this path?
He flicked his sleeve, turned around, and left.
After walking about ten steps, I remembered my sister's instructions.
They came back again.
He paused for a moment, then said, "I am doing this for the sake of the people, and that is why I am passing on this message to you on behalf of someone else."
Zhou Congxian frowned slightly. "Pass on a message?"
Jiang Xingyao glanced around before whispering, "They've trained a private army deep in the mountains, numbering over ten thousand, and they're also producing large quantities of drugs. Beware of potential chaos."
Zhou Congxian's eyes narrowed slightly. "What's the name of the messenger?"
"It's a man, he only said his surname is Wei."
When he tried to ask again, Jiang Xingyao waved his hand and said, "I know nothing else."
As Zhou Congxian watched his retreating figure, he suddenly raised his voice.
“Brother-in-law, you also told me that I’ve given Pangxi a few formal names. I’ll show them to her when she comes back.”
Upon hearing his words, Jiang Xingyao missed his footing while mounting his horse and nearly stumbled.
He turned around and said, "What Shi Yao! There is no Shi Yao!"
*
Xiao Shu was still coughing.
"They were driven out in less than two hours?"
His words became a little urgent, which triggered a series of coughs.
Chief Steward Qing brought over a lung-soothing and cough-relieving soup, saying, "Your Highness, please take your medicine first."
Xiao Shu grabbed the medicine bowl and slammed it on the table. The porcelain bowl shattered, the medicine splashed everywhere, and his fingers were cut by the porcelain bottle, drawing blood.
His eyes were filled with rage. "What did he tell me?!"
Chief Steward Qing dared not move. "It was Prince Zhou who single-handedly fought ten against one, leading the state troops to kill them and drive them out."
Xiao Shu remained motionless, and the charcoal fire in the room was still strong, yet it still inspired awe.
He raised his hand, looked at the bloodstains on it, and the anger in his eyes slowly subsided.
Then, a smile appeared on his lips.
"It's alright. This time, I was too hasty, and I underestimated Zhou Congxian."
"I have already arrived in Yuzhou. There is nothing I cannot fail at. There are still many opportunities."
His voice was hoarse and his tone was soft.
Steward Qing could only feel a chill.
"Godfather."
There was a knock at the door, and a little girl's soft, sweet voice.
"Come in."
Xiao Shu sat down, tucking his injured hand into his sleeve.
Steward Qing hurriedly stepped forward to clean up the mess.
Little Fu'er came in carrying a sugar figurine.
"Godfather, are you still feeling unwell?"
She still remembered how upset her godfather looked yesterday.
She handed him the sugar figurine in her hand, saying, "My mother said that good medicine tastes bitter, so if it's too bitter, eat something sweet."
Good medicine tastes bitter...
He paused for a moment, looking at the little girl's innocent face.
Then he took the sugar figurine from her and said, "Your mother is right, good medicine tastes bitter."
"Thank you for the candy too."
Fu'er smiled and said, "Godfather, take your medicine. I'm leaving now."
Xiao Shu twirled the sugar figurine in his hand, a smile unconsciously curving his lips.
As he smiled, the corners of his lips curved downwards again.
Looking at this little thing always reminds him of himself when he was a child.
However, the little girl had a mother who was willing to run away with her.
He didn't.
His name.
Forgive me.
forgive.
Whom do we forgive?
He didn't know, anyway, it wasn't him.
He had no memory of his mother, so he regarded the Empress Dowager as his mother.
He was happy to be used by the Empress Dowager.
Sometimes I look at the little things.
It's like seeing a version of myself as a child, loved by my mother.
"Your Highness, Lady Yao has sent someone to ask if we would like to eat."
Xiao Shu snapped out of his daze and looked at the guards at the door.
"open."
As he spoke, he raised his injured hand, a smile flashing in his eyes.
The county government's canteen is certainly not as good as the prince's mansion.
It hasn't been repaired for many years, and there are still potholes and uneven spots on the ground.
The county government's cook was responsible for providing meals for all the yamen runners on duty.
It may not be the most delicious, but at least it's juicy and flavorful.
And the quantity is large and filling.
Xiao Shu had been living with the yamen runners for several days, which greatly changed everyone's perception of the prince.
Only Yao Shisan knew.
Just how good is His Highness Prince Cheng, who is praised by everyone, at putting on an act?
Since he wants to play the approachable role, let him play it to his heart's content!
She placed a bowl of poorly presented rice crust porridge in front of him.
"Please, Your Highness."
Just as Xiao Shu was about to open his mouth to say that he was injured and needed to be fed, a bowl of something that was browned and mixed with black residue was placed in front of him.
"I want to feed... what the hell is this thing?"
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