Chapter 10: Welcome to Chang'an (Part 2)

  Xiao Si and Wan'er heard this and hastily rode their horses to Liu Garden, with Yi Tong briefly telling them what had happened along the way.

  Originally, the escort agency had been recruiting a lot of escorts, coaches and porters recently. Who would have thought that one of the escorts was actually a notorious thief with a warrant on his head? Yesterday afternoon, he was caught red-handed by the Left Guard of the Imperial Guards on the street. Immediately after that, Xia Peiheng was invited to drink tea at the yamen by several military officers and has not been released until now.

  Xiao Si suddenly thought of Hong Mo's words and immediately a clear idea formed in his mind: "It turns out that it was because someone with the surname Xia was too showy and provoked Duan Zhen Tian, so they found someone to deal with him."

  He was originally very disapproving of Xia Peiheng's idleness, so when he heard the news, not only was he not anxious, but he even felt a little schadenfreude.

  Wan'er hastily said: "Can you inform my uncle? He is the Left Guard of the Forbidden Army's Fongche Duwei, he will definitely have a way."

  Yi Tuo said, "Last night, after the incident, Vice General Yu personally visited Dragon Lieutenant, and now he is making arrangements to rescue Xia Zongbiao from the large prison."

  "What a big prison?" Wan Er was shocked and didn't expect things to be so serious.

  The three of them dismounted their horses outside the willow garden and saw that the atmosphere inside and out was gloomy, with a layer of sorrowful clouds and mist. Everyone's face wore a worried expression, and they knew that things were worse than they had imagined.

  Xiao Si and Wan'er entered the hall, only to see Yu Linglong, Yi Bo, Geng Shaohua and his wife, as well as a man named Long Zhaoyuan who was dressed in military uniform.

  As soon as he saw Long Chao Yuan, Xie Xiao Si's heart felt a strong sense of disgust. Yet this living treasure was being pampered and flattered by the crowd in the hall, treated like a great savior.

  "Wan'er asked eagerly: 'Brother-in-law, is there any news from Uncle's place?'"

  Long Zuo-yuan saw Wan'er's eyes light up, and deliberately adjusted the eight-product top hat on his head, saying: "Not for the time being. However, my cousin doesn't need to worry, relying on my father's prestige in the Left Guard, I guarantee that before tonight you will be able to see Xia Zongbiao safely return."

  Xiao Si saw that this young man was being overly attentive to Wan'er and couldn't help but feel annoyed, humming a response: "Is that so?"

  Long Chouyuan exclaimed, "I don't know what you mean by these words, Fourth Uncle. Are you doubting Father's abilities or unwilling to see Marshal Xia return safely?"

  Geng Shaohua saw the two men quarreling as soon as they met, and hastily said: "Fourth Uncle, you don't know that Long Douwei is deeply trusted by General Yuwen, and most things can be resolved if he takes charge."

  Xiao Si seemed to have not heard, gazing at the frowning Yulinggong and saying: "Director Yu, I've heard that Director Xia has been making waves in the capital since his arrival, causing our Chang'an branch to gain a great reputation even before its opening, truly admirable."

  A flash of light suddenly flashed in Yu Ling's eyes, and she hastily asked: "Fourth Brother, did you hear any rumors?"

  It's clear that she has been by her husband's side these days, and knows more about the inside story than Geng Shao Hua and others who have just arrived in the capital. She has already vaguely guessed that this matter is someone secretly plotting against the Hu Tong Bureau.

  Xiao Si carefully observed the expressions and words, becoming even more convinced that Hong's words were not baseless rumors. He shook his head and said: "I've just arrived in the capital, my butt hasn't even warmed up yet, how could I have heard any wind? But..."

  He deliberately paused for a moment, his eyes slanted and glanced at Long Chao-yuan: "The Left Guard General of the Imperial Army is Yuwen Chengdu, right? Duan Zhen-tian seems to have been his master for a few years."

  Mrs. Geng was shocked and said, "Fourth Uncle, is this true?" She and Geng Shaohua had been living in Jiangzhou for a long time and were not familiar with the affairs of the imperial court, nor did they know that Duan Zhentian and Yuwen Cheng had such a history.

  But Yuling knew this, she had already investigated the details of the same way in the capital before coming to Chang'an, and was also very wary of Duan Zhentian's background, sighing: "I hope it's not the Guanluo Guard Bureau playing tricks, otherwise..."

  She worried about her husband's safety and swallowed some ominous words that she didn't dare say again.

  At this time, a middle-aged general wearing armor and a large cloak walked into the hall. Long Chao-yuan's spirit lifted as he went forward to greet him, calling out: "Father, have you rescued Xia Zongtang?"

  Xiao Si glanced up and down at the middle-aged martial general, seeing his robust build and fierce aura on his face. At a glance, he knew that this man was someone who had fought his way out of a pile of corpses. Compared to his wimpy son, he seemed much stronger. Xiao Si couldn't help but say in a stern tone: "This Dragon guy is not easy to mess with, I'd better be more careful around him from now on."

  Long Zhenwu sat down and looked at Yulinggong: "Yuzong Biaotou, do you know who Xia brother offended recently?"

  Yu Linglong's heart sank as she said, "Could it be that Mo Fei has indeed taught Xiao Si a lesson?"

  Long Zhenwu looked at Yu Linglong, who was not speaking, and sighed: "It's not that I'm saying you guys, but those hired escorts have a few clean family backgrounds. Can't we investigate before taking them in? Originally, this matter wasn't big, at most spending a few thousand taels of silver to settle it down would make the big things small and the small things disappear. But just as the mountain bandits made a big fuss in the capital a few days ago, the emperor was furious and ordered a thorough investigation. Everyone was worried that they couldn't explain themselves, but then they caught a notorious thief with a death sentence, and they had to link him to the mountain bandits. In this way, the matter of Xia Zongbiao's escort team is no longer something I can mediate."

  Yu Linglong felt a chill in her heart, got up and walked to Long Zhenwu's face, bowed down and said: "General Long, please lend us a helping hand, my husband and I are deeply grateful!"

  Mrs. Geng also said: "Big brother, think of a way again, if you need to use 10,000 or 20,000 yuan, we can also get it from the bank."

  Long Zhenwu helped Yu Linglong up and said, "Yu Zongbiao, it's not that I'm unwilling to help, but rather that I'm unable to. To be honest, Xia Sheng's imprisonment was ordered by General Yuwen himself. However, fortunately, I still have some face left, so I won't let Xia Sheng suffer in prison."

  A few people were talking, and two escorts hesitantly walked in, saluting: "Everyone, the head of the escort!"

  Yu Linglong's expression was gloomy as she gazed at the two newly recruited bodyguards, saying: "Qu Cheng, Yan Jin, what do you want?"

  The escort named Qu Cheng said: "Head of the Jade Escort, everyone has chosen us two to bid you farewell."

  Yu Linglong was taken aback and asked: "Why are you leaving?"

  Qu Zhong hesitated for a moment before answering, "As the saying goes, ordinary people don't fight with officials. We wander the jianghu just to make a living, no need to offend the authorities. In the past few days, thanks to Yu Zong's kindness, Yan Jin and I are both grateful. Please, sir, have mercy on us and let us go!"

  Long Chouyuan sneered: "Coward, with such a small amount of courage you dare to roam the jianghu? You fear the authorities, do you know that I am the authority?"

  Yu Linglong sighed and said: "Zhao Yuan, forget it. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter, and even if you can keep people from leaving, you can't keep their hearts from straying."

  She looked at Qu Cheng and Yan Jin and asked: "How many of you are going?"

  Strictly forbidden from daring to make eye contact with Yu Linglong, he lowered his head and said: "Including me and Qu Chengyi, there are twenty-six in total, all of whom are new recruits."

  Yu Linglong smiled slightly and said, "Alright, you all go to the accounting room to settle your wages clearly. Also, tell Manager Sun that it's my order: each escort will receive an additional twenty taels of travel expenses, and the porters ten taels."

  Qu Cheng and Yan Jin were taken aback, and Qu Cheng bowed his head in shame, saying: "Thank you, Chief Yu. If there's ever a need for us brothers in the future, please don't hesitate to give us orders."

  Yi Bo sneered: "I don't dare, our humble abode is too small to accommodate two great Bodhisattvas like yourselves."

  Qu and Yan's faces turned bright red as they pretended not to hear and hastily exited the hall.

  The atmosphere in the hall was even more oppressive, and everyone's heart felt like it had a heavy lead stone stuck to it, unable to breathe.

  Long Zhenwu shook his head and said, "A storm is brewing."

  Xiao Si was lowering his head, playing with the three copper coins in his hand. The copper coins were flipping and jumping on the five fingers of his clenched fist, steady and unwavering, never falling off. This was a basic skill taught by Old Man Shi, used to cultivate finger dexterity and stability, but now it seemed more like Xiao Si's pastime when he had nothing better to do.

  Hearing Long Zhenwu's sighs, he also didn't make a sound, thinking to himself: "It seems that you, my brother, aren't doing too well in the capital either."

  Mrs. Geng hesitated: "Or... we go find Duan Zhentian?"

  "If that's the case, we might as well forget about holding our heads high in Chang'an City. The sign of Tong Bao Bureau will be destroyed before it's even hung up."

  Yu Linglong's face was pale, and she gritted her teeth, saying: "Saving people is urgent, I'll go now..."

  She had just spoken halfway when everyone suddenly felt a slight tremor under their feet.

  A rumble of thunder-like sound came from afar and stopped abruptly outside the gate of Liu Garden.

  Long Zhenwu's expression changed slightly as if he sensed something, and he stood up saying: "I'll go take a look, you all stay in the hall and don't come out!"

  Long Chouyuan shouted: "Dad, I'll go with you!" Zhang hurriedly chased after Long Zhenwu and ran out of the hall.

  Xiao Si stood up straight and listened to the noise outside, saying: "It's not good, most likely they've come to catch us. While we haven't been surrounded yet, everyone hurry and retreat from the back door!"

  Jade-like fingers lightly biting red lips, one slender hand tightly grasping the armrest, silent and speechless.

  She could naturally hear that the rumbling sound just now meant at least hundreds of war horses rushing towards Liu Garden. Under the emperor's feet, only the twelve guards of the Forbidden Army dared to be so arrogant.

  Just yesterday, her husband was still proclaiming that he would surpass Duan Jitian in three to five years and dominate the Zhongyuan region. Who could have thought that things would change so suddenly, and they would end up like this!

  She glanced over the crowd in the hall and said slowly: "Later on, no matter what happens, I will take full responsibility. You all just say you don't know."

  Geng Shaohua frowned and said, "How can the head of the Jade Guild say such a thing? Moreover, even if we escape, we can't escape our responsibilities. Our guild's business is too big to just abandon."

  Xiao Si cursed Gao Fu secretly, he pinched a talisman in his palm and thought: "As long as the monk is here, I'm not afraid of not having a bell to strike. Later, as long as the wind direction is not right, I'll take Yan'er and elope, this vice captain who's always worried and fearful can't do it anyway, otherwise my head will fall to the ground and all the gold, silver, and money on my body will belong to others, it's too uneconomical!"

  Just as he was about to speak, Long Chao and his father led a group of fully armed imperial guards into the room. The leader stood beside Long Zhenwu with a stern expression, hand on the hilt of his sword.

  Long Zhen's expression was gloomy as he introduced, "Yu Zongbiao, this is Left Guard General Gu Yun Kai."

  Yu Linglong had already stood up and saluted: "Humble commoner Yu Linglong, pays respects to Governor Gu!"

  It is said that the opening was as if it had not been heard, and with a cold face, he swept his eyes over the crowd in the hall, saying in a cold voice: "After investigation, Xia Peiheng was found to have secretly communicated with the Shandong bandits, and the evidence of the crime is conclusive. Now, under the order of General Yuwen, we will immediately search and confiscate all property in Liu Garden, and everyone in the garden will be arrested and held for trial. Those who resist the order will be killed without pardon!"

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