Chapter 237 Encountering Robbers While Crossing the River
When Yun Zhaoxue returned to her room, Xiao Xuance had already washed up and was lying on the bed in his undergarments.
She wanted to change into her nightgown, and since there were only two people in the room and the door was locked, she changed without any hesitation.
She took off her clothes, revealing a slender back, below which was a slim waist and a pregnant belly slightly wider than her waist.
She put on a sheer dress, tied the sash, turned around, and hung the clothes she had changed out of on the shelf by the bed.
Yun Zhaoxue walked to the bedside and saw the man lying straight, his gaze fixed on the curtains above his head.
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes teasing, and asked, "Does it look good?"
Xiao Xuance, “…”
He was already being very careful.
How did she find out?
While changing clothes, Yun Zhaoxue was unaware of the gazes directed at her and wondered how he managed to hold back.
It turns out they were peeping.
She noticed the man's confusion and said with a smile, "Your ears have given you away."
She took off her shoes and got into bed. "We're husband and wife. If you want to look, just look openly. What's there to be embarrassed about?"
"...Do not look at what is improper."
Aside from their wedding night, they had never been truly intimate with each other.
"Tch! What a hypocrite, he's already touched her."
Xiao Xuance instinctively replied, "I haven't seen it."
Yun Zhaoxue lay on her side looking at him, her cool little hand touching his burning hot ear, "Not now, I'm afraid you won't be able to resist if you see it."
"Let's get down to business. What does Zhao Xuan want with you?"
“He planted spies around Yan Wanshan. Yan Wanshan fled to the territory of the Wu family gang at the Ezhou ferry. The two sides planned to attack us when we crossed the river.”
"Is the Wu family gang's goal murder or robbery?"
"The Wu family gang is the Second Prince's men, and the ship that Lao Liao put down a deposit for belongs to the Hong family gang. The two gangs fought tooth and nail over the business."
What are your plans?
"First, we'll travel on civilian boats like everyone else, then we'll switch to official boats. The Hong family gang will be responsible for dealing with the Wu family gang and Yan Wanshan and others."
This is the safest way. Small boats are prone to rocking and capsizing, and he cannot risk Yun Zhaoxue and her family's lives.
"That's good. Yan Wanshan and the Wu'an Gang are nothing but a rabble and nothing to be afraid of."
In the original book, if the male protagonist and the main villain couldn't even handle a few small fry, they might as well retire to the countryside and farm.
"Who were the people who contacted the Hong family gang and the official ships?" Yun Zhaoxue's small hand stroked his cheek, brushed past his prominent Adam's apple, and restlessly slipped into his clothes.
Xiao Xuance's Adam's apple bobbed. "Zhao Xuan."
"Aren't you afraid he'll team up with those people to sabotage us?"
If they try anything funny on the boat, knock them overboard, and no matter how skilled they are in martial arts, it won't help.
However, she has a yacht, kayak, and swimming ring in her room, so she won't die if she falls into the water.
"No, the Xiao family is still of great use to him. Besides, the young master of the Hong family gang is on good terms with Pei Huaiji, and it seems that he is his junior brother. Pei Huaiji, Doctor Hua, and Zhuiying have already settled in the Hong family gang. The military officer in charge of the official ship is a man of the Marquis of Jiangling, which is also a man of the Third Prince."
"So, the Hong family gang is reliable, and the Pei family has quite a wide network of connections. You've hit the jackpot by marrying me."
The Pei family is one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Jiangnan. When Zhao Xuan ascends the throne, he will have to think twice before trying to touch them.
Xiao Xuance: "Yes, being able to marry my wife is a blessing I earned in my past life."
"Didn't you hear me? Say it again?"
Yun Zhaoxue loosened the belt of his shirt and touched his abs.
"My lady..." Xiao Xuance called out, his thin lips slightly pursed, his face showing shyness. He dared not look into her eyes and turned his head slightly away.
Yun Zhaoxue cupped his face and turned him back, "Husband! Your face is red again, little brother is so easily embarrassed."
Xiao Xuance said with some helplessness, "Xue'er, I'm five years older than you."
He is not a younger brother.
Sometimes he suspected that Yun Zhaoxue didn't really like him, but only cared about his face and body, treating him like a pet to tease and play with, the kind of thing where she was only interested in him physically and not emotionally, which made him feel insecure.
He wanted to be her man, her husband.
"Hey, you clueless straight man, don't you know what romance is? If you don't, go read more books and learn..."
"...You took my book away."
"I don't believe you only have one copy. You've been secretly reading them quite a bit, haven't you? Let me check your work..."
Yun Zhaoxue leaned down and kissed his thin lips.
Xiao Xuance looked up in response, slowly sat up, and supported her waist with his large hand, trying not to touch her protruding belly.
The kisses went from gentle to urgent and passionate...
The next morning, everyone packed their things, went downstairs, had breakfast, and then set off for the ferry.
Old Liao found the captain, went over to negotiate, and handed over the remaining fifteen taels to him.
The captain waved his hand and said, "Get on board."
Old Liao said, "There are thirty people on the boat."
Zhao Xuan's team and the Xiao family's team were at the back of the line.
When Lao Liao saw the two families together, his intuition told him that they might be up to something.
The others had already boarded the ship, and it would be too troublesome to ask them to come down and replace them, so Lao Liao sent four escorts to ride on the same ship with them.
Old Liao instructed, "You guys keep a close eye on them and don't let them cause any trouble."
"Yes, Brother Liao!"
Zhao Jiu leaned over and said, "Brother Liao, let me go."
Princess Zhaoxue is so beautiful that even just looking at her from afar can make me happy all day.
Old Liao waved the person away, "You're not allowed to go. Don't you understand the importance of avoiding suspicion?"
He arranged for Zhao Jiu to go and see the ship belonging to the Yun and Duan families.
After everyone boarded, the seven boats set off and sailed on the river.
Two people were watching them from a corner not far away. They raised their hands to lower the brim of their hats. "The ship has set sail. Let's hurry back and report to the young master."
Half an hour later, the boat reached the middle of the river.
Most people felt dizzy and vomited because they were not used to traveling by boat, "vomiting..."
Old Liao was on the first boat, surrounded by the sounds of vomiting. The sour smell of their vomit made him want to vomit too.
Old Liao went outside, stood by the railing, took a big gulp of wine to calm his nerves, counted the boats, and found that there were only six, one was missing.
"Why are there only six ships? Where are the others?"
Another escort said, "Brother Liao, don't worry. The fog is so thick, he's probably fallen behind and can't be seen anymore. He'll catch up in a bit."
"Tell the boatmen to slow down."
The escort went to the front and shouted, "Slow down, slow down, wait for the boat behind."
Suddenly, an arrow whizzed past his ear and pierced the cabin. "Whoosh!"
Suddenly, a ship rammed into their boat from the side, causing it to shake violently. "Bang!"
"Whoosh whoosh!!!"
Old Liao reacted quickly, drawing his sword and slashing away the arrows as he fought his way back to the cabin.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The boatman, who was rowing, was shot dead before he could react, and his body fell into the river with a "bang!"
A huge splash of water erupted, and the blood instantly stained the river surface red.
The dizzy convicts rolled around in the cabin a few times before hitting their heads on the wooden planks and instantly sobering up.
"What's wrong? What happened? Have we arrived?"
Someone climbed out, and as soon as they poked their head out, an arrow pierced their forehead.
Seeing this, Lao Liao shouted, "Anyone who doesn't want to die, hide back in the cabin and don't go out!"
If he wasn't mistaken, they were probably bandits on the river.
Besides their ship, several other ships were also attacked.
Most people were vomiting on the deck. The ship was hit and tilted, almost capsizing. Several people fell into the water like dumplings being dropped into a pot, "splash, splash..."
He thrashed about in the water, shouting, "Help! Help! I can't swim..."
Yun Yanyang was thrown over the railing.
Wang clung to the railing, gripping his arm tightly. "Yang'er, help! Help! Save my son! Yang'er, hold on tight to your mother's hand, don't let go."
Yun Xiuwen reached out to pull the person up, but found his arms weren't long enough. Seeing a paddle on the ground, he quickly picked it up and put it down, saying, "Grab this..."
A group of people were lying on the deck calling for their loved ones, but no one dared to go into the water. The river was flowing fast and swiftly, and anyone who fell in would surely die.
Someone bumped into Yun Xiuwen, and the other end of the oar pushed him down with a "bang!"
Wang's eyes widened, and she leaned forward, reaching out to pull him back, but they were ten meters apart, and she couldn't reach him at all. "Yang'er, my Yang'er..."
"You did this on purpose! You tried to kill my Yang'er! I'll beat you to death!" Madam Wang clenched her fist and slammed it towards Yun Xiuwen. "I'll beat you to death! You owe me Yang'er's life..."
Yun Xiuwen raised his elbow to protect his face. "I didn't mean to, someone bumped into me..."
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