67 Rescue (Part 2)
"You're all bullying her because she doesn't have parents to protect her."
The next morning, Manager Zhao and Hundred-Household Zhou came to the mansion to find Shen Suqin as agreed.
To everyone's surprise, as soon as they entered, they heard someone from Steward Shen's side say, "Madam asked me to explain to you two that she had urgent business and went south overnight. She will come to see you two when she returns in a while."
The speaker was Liu Zimu.
"Huh? Such a big snow lady left overnight? Was she alone?" Manager Zhao asked repeatedly.
Xiao Pingchuan had been sitting in the master bedroom waiting for Shen Suqin to return. Hearing the noise in the yard, he suddenly pushed open the door and asked, "Where did you say she went?"
Liu Zimu lowered his eyes and replied, "Madam has gone south, but she didn't say where she went specifically."
"She went by herself?"
"No, there's also Sister Ju Tao."
Xiao Pingchuan's eyes immediately turned red with anger. It was such a cold day, and it was snowing. The road was not safe either. How could a woman like her just leave like that? How could she be so bold!
Manager Zhao and Commander Zhou exchanged a glance, unsure of what to say.
"Should we go and bring them back?" Zhou Baihu asked Zhao Zhanggui.
“The lady instructed that we need not worry about her,” Liu Zimou said.
"That won't do. What if something happens on the way..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Pingchuan came out in a smart outfit and rushed out of the courtyard gate.
“Now I don’t have to worry anymore,” Zhou Baihu murmured.
Zhao Chengchun and the others were summoned to the training ground. Xiao Pingchuan, with a cold aura and a dark face, walked over and said, "Madam went south overnight to rescue people. The first scout battalion is coming with me. The rest of you stay and guard the house."
At this time, there were at least three or four hundred people in the mansion, all of whom were veterans of many battles.
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned for a moment, then lowered their heads.
Xiao Pingchuan couldn't tell whether they were ashamed or dissatisfied, but he couldn't care less about that now.
Zhao Chengchun said guiltily, "It's freezing cold. Let's set off immediately. Once we catch up, we'll persuade the person to come back. It's just saving one person; there's no need for Madam to get involved."
Xiao Pingchuan glanced at him and said, "You stay here. A small scout team will come with me."
"General..." Zhao Chengchun wanted to say something, but Xiao Pingchuan interrupted him, "If you have something to say, wait until I get back. Let's go!"
And so, Xiao Pingchuan led a dozen or so men away at full speed.
He had originally thought that since there was snow on the road, the two people might not be able to walk very fast, and that if they quickened their pace, they should be able to catch up.
Little did they know that there were local restaurants along the way to meet them, and they changed horses at each stop, with all kinds of food and supplies provided.
Xiao Pingchuan, on the other hand, went south without imperial decree and had to keep a low profile along the way, which caused him considerable hardship.
In addition, the snow on the road was already thick when he set off, and the horse slipped on it, so it could not go fast at all.
The key point is that he didn't know where that young master Su was being held; he only heard that he had been imprisoned, so he assumed that the person was being held in the capital.
So, once they arrived in the capital, they didn't go any further. Instead, they disguised themselves and went into the city to secretly gather information.
After several days of investigation, they finally confirmed that no one surnamed Su was imprisoned, and had no choice but to give up and return to the northern border with their men.
Meanwhile, Shen Suqin and his group continued south after passing the capital, heading straight for Jiaozhou.
The secret agents had already secretly gathered near the state prison, originally intending to kill and break them out.
Unexpectedly, after the master arrived, he first paid a private visit to the governor of Jiaozhou, and then opened the main gate of the prison and let them carry the person out.
“I’m entrusting him to you,” the governor of Jiaozhou sighed. “My distant nephew is tough and has suffered quite a bit. Please take good care of him for me.”
Shen Suqin nodded.
"Thanks to you for coming from so far away, I bow to you on behalf of the ancestors of the Su family."
Shen Suqin quickly stepped aside and said, "Brother Yubai and I have known each other since childhood; we are closer than siblings. Besides, the Su family has suffered this calamity because of me..."
The governor shook his head: "It's none of your business. The Su family is extremely wealthy and has long been targeted. It was only a matter of time before it happened. You don't need to worry about it."
Shen Suqin pursed her lips. The Su family had fallen from grace, and it was not something she could simply let go of with a "don't worry about it" attitude.
"Uncle, I have to go. The doctor is still waiting upstairs," she said.
"Let's go, let's go. By the way, is it really okay for me to pin this on the Black Flag Army?"
"It's alright, the general... won't say anything."
"That's good."
Shen Suqin brought the unconscious man back to the restaurant. The doctor removed his tattered and blood-stained clothes, revealing the crisscrossing wounds underneath.
Ju Tao couldn't bear to watch: "Wasn't the governor of Jiaozhou supposed to be his distant uncle? How come he was beaten like this?"
"He did his best. It was the Pei family who sent people to interrogate him. It's already quite remarkable that the governor has managed to keep his life until now," Shen Suqin said. "Doctor, how is he? Can his injuries withstand a long journey?"
Doctor: "The internal organs have been damaged, so it may be difficult to move the patient in the short term."
“This…no, he has to leave.”
The doctor thought for a moment, "Or perhaps there would be less bumpy travel, more padding under the body, and it would be best if someone could hold the body so that it doesn't touch the ground."
"become."
"You must not stop taking your medicine on the road and take it on time."
"I understand."
And so, Su Yubai was transferred to a carriage overnight. Shen Suqin leaned against the carriage wall, wrapped her arms around his upper body, and they walked like that all the way.
After passing the capital, Su Yubai briefly regained consciousness, and after seeing the surrounding environment and people clearly, he fell back into a deep sleep.
Shen Suqin poked his chest: "You're sleeping so soundly, but my back is about to break. I'll get my revenge on you sooner or later."
News of the Black Flag Army's prison break reached Ningyuan even earlier than that of Shen Suqin.
At that time, Xiao Pingchuan had already returned to Ningyuan from the capital. It was only then that he learned that Shen Suqin and the others had gone to Jiaozhou.
Zhao Chengchun glanced at him cautiously and tiptoed downstairs.
These past few days, the general has had a dark expression on his face every day, and no one dares to provoke him.
"Where are you going?" Xiao Pingchuan asked in a deep voice.
Zhao Chengchun smiled and said, "Miss Zhou wants to eat some pastries from the south of the city. I'll go buy them for her."
"A shop has opened in town?"
“Yes…yes, there are many more people from other places in the city now, and their skills are quite good…” Zhao Chengchun’s voice grew softer and softer, and he finally stopped talking as Xiao Pingchuan’s face darkened.
This is undoubtedly thanks to Shen Suqin's vigorous efforts in reclaiming land in the western suburbs.
Xiao Pingchuan later went to the western suburbs to visit the retired soldiers who had been settled by Shen Suqin.
His brothers now have stable housing and daily meals, and they are all much more respectable now.
Shen Suqin helped his veteran brothers find a way to make a living, but he forced her to go far away alone to save people. He didn't even know if she was safe now.
Thinking of this, his face darkened even more.
"How is Miss Zhou doing?" Xiao Pingchuan asked, enduring his headache.
"Besides constantly pestering you to see her, she's nothing special. Why don't you go and meet her?"
"No, I'm not going. You take good care of yourself."
"oh."
Zhao Chengchun ran out of the mansion in small steps.
Not far along, they saw Xu Youcai riding a tall horse at breakneck speed toward them.
He squinted and stood still, waiting for him to run up to him before calling out, "Why are you back?"
Xu Youcai threw off the reins, dismounted, and asked repeatedly, "Has Madam returned?"
Zhao Chengchun touched his nose. "Not yet."
"How many days have you been gone?"
"It's been five or six days."
"Damn it!" Xu Youcai threw the horse at him. "I'm going to find the general."
Zhao Chengchun quickly grabbed him and said, "Don't go. The general is furious. Are you looking for death?"
Xu Youcai shook him off and rushed inside, shouting, "He still has the nerve to be angry! Hundreds of grown men from Ningyuan are standing here while a woman goes south alone to rescue people. Have you forgotten who brought us food when we were starving? Also, when the general was trapped in the capital, his wife and parents died tragically one after another to save him. Are you all brain-dead?"
Zhao Chengchun opened his mouth, wanting to say something in rebuttal, but found that he couldn't say anything.
"And did you go to the western suburbs outside the city? Aren't those brothers with missing limbs being cared for by the madam? You ungrateful bastards, what are you thinking all day long, or are you just bullying them because they don't have parents to protect them!"
Xu Youcai practically shouted it out by the end.
Xiao Pingchuan stood not far away, watching him quietly. Behind him were his brothers from the scout camp, their faces alternating between pale and flushed.
"Are you finished? If you're done, come in," Xiao Pingchuan said calmly.
Xu Youcai stomped his foot hard, walked over, pushed through the crowd, and followed Xiao Pingchuan into the house.
"General, you did a bad job," he said directly.
Xiao Pingchuan did not refute.
"Have we sent someone to fetch Madam?" Xu Youcai asked again.
"It's been sent."
"Then just wait and see. Tell me, how can you do this to Lord Shen?"
Xiao Pingchuan: "It's my fault for not protecting her."
Two days later, Shen Suqin's carriage stopped in front of the General's Mansion.
Xiao Pingchuan, Zhao Chengchun, Xu Youcai, and the scouts and their entourage surrounded them.
Seeing that the carriage curtain had not been lifted for a long time, Xiao Pingchuan stepped forward, lifted the curtain, and saw Shen Suqin sitting with her eyes closed, looking haggard, holding a man in her arms. The two heads were very close, almost like whispering sweet nothings.
Xiao Pingchuan's gaze darkened, and he wanted to get into the car and get the person out.
Ju Tao stopped him and said, "General, Sister Qin has been sitting like this for the past few days. Please be gentle with her later and don't hurt her."
Xiao Pingchuan remained silent for a while before replying, "Okay."
"Youcai, come and pick him up." Xiao Pingchuan took Su Yubai out of Shen Suqin's arms.
Shen Suqin was startled awake. When she saw it was him, she let go of his hand and said softly, "He has two broken ribs and his internal organs are injured. Be gentle."
"Um."
Xiao Pingchuan handed the person to Xu Youcai, then turned around to pick her up.
Shen Suqin waved her hand. She was stiff and numb all over. "Lay me down. I'll lie down for a while and then go back by myself. You go back first."
Xiao Pingchuan looked at her silently.
The two looked at each other.
Xiao Pingchuan conceded: "Okay."
"Settle them in the main courtyard," Shen Suqin instructed.
"Um."
Ju Tao was immediately summoned as soon as she appeared. Now that she's back, she hurriedly said to Shen Suqin through the car window, "Sister Qin, Manager Zhao's people said that the managers in the south are currently living in the city. They've been waiting for many days and are getting anxious. We need to arrange the accounting as soon as possible."
With the Lunar New Year approaching, if we don't settle accounts and release the people soon, we'll be delaying their family reunion.
Shen Suqin squeezed her eyes shut: "Please make the trip again and have Manager Zhao and Commander Zhou come to the mansion to see me."
“Okay.” Ju Tao said softly, “The general is still waiting for you outside the car, and General Xu and the others are also there.”
"Um."
Ju Tao left, and the area around the carriage was quiet. Although there were dozens of people standing there, there was not a sound.
The carriage curtains were tightly closed, the bright sun hung high in the sky, and a cool breeze blew, occasionally rustling the corners of the curtains.
After feeling a little more relaxed, Shen Suqin lifted the curtain and gestured for Xiao Pingchuan to come over: "Thank you for your trouble, General."
Xiao Pingchuan approached and scooped the person up in his arms.
Shen Suqin leaned against him, feeling somewhat exhausted.
She had lost a lot of weight and looked sickly.
"Xiao Pingchuan."
"Um?"
"Don't let them see."
"good."
"Everyone, about!" Xiao Pingchuan ordered, tightening his grip on her arm as he asked, "Is this alright?"
Shen Suqin nodded almost imperceptibly.
Back in the bedroom, Xiao Pingchuan gently placed the person on the bed: "There are doctors at the manor. They will come to see you after they have finished examining Young Master Su."
"I'm just tired, no need to trouble the doctor."
"Look at you, you've lost so much weight." Xiao Pingchuan softened his voice. He dared not say anything else, and if he were to say anything, it wouldn't be now. Her health was of utmost importance; he was afraid that Shen Suqin would develop some kind of chronic illness because of this.
"I'm a little tired," she said, closing her eyes. "You can go now."
Xiao Pingchuan couldn't let her not see a doctor and wanted to persuade her again, but was interrupted by Ju Tao knocking on the door, "Sister Qin, Commander Zhou and Manager Zhao are here."
Shen Suqin opened her eyes wearily. She really wanted to sleep; she hadn't closed her eyes for several days.
"Come in." Shen Suqin barely opened her eyes. Her eyes were bloodshot, her face was pale and haggard, and she looked like she might faint at any moment.
To wake herself up, she rolled up her sleeve and stabbed her arm hard with the agate hairpin Xiao Pingchuan had given her. Blood gushed out, a bright, scarlet color.
After she finished tying the needle, she remembered that Xiao Pingchuan was still in the room.
She sighed softly and explained, "I didn't mean to disgust you. I didn't bring my hairpin with me."
Xiao Pingchuan didn't say a word. His eyes were bloodshot, as if the hairpin was stuck in his heart. He gritted his teeth and said, "You might as well stick it in me, Shen Suqin. Does it have to be now? Is it in such a hurry? Are you so eager that you don't even care about your life?"
Shen Suqin: "General, I don't have the strength to argue with you right now. If you want to quarrel, then leave."
Xiao Pingchuan was so angry that he spun around in circles, but he was helpless against him.
Upon entering the room, both Zhou Baihu and Manager Zhao were startled to see her.
"How did you lose so much weight?"
If you can't eat or sleep well for seven or eight days in a row, it's normal to lose a lot of weight.
Shen Suqin smiled and said, "They'll be back to normal in a couple of days." She sat down, feeling a bit cold, and wrapped her fox fur tighter around herself. "I called you two here to ask about the progress. As you know, I plan to have the managers take their things back after I finish the accounting, and then open a hot pot restaurant before the New Year to make a fortune."
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