Chapter 57: He Wants Her

The carriage suddenly stopped at the bustling street corner, the wheels making a sharp scraping sound against the ground.

The middle-aged man running behind was getting closer and closer.

Pei Yuanshao lifted the carriage curtain and glanced casually at the person behind the carriage. The teacup in his right hand shook almost imperceptibly, and hot tea spilled from the cup onto his fingertips.

The round, fair middle finger instantly turned red from the scalding.

But he paid no attention to it. Squinting his eyes, he lowered the curtain and instructed the guards protecting the carriage on both sides: “Find a dark place and bring those three people back to the mansion. Remember to keep it clean.”

The guards dismounted and bowed in acknowledgment.

The blue-canopied black carriage bearing the emblem of the Mingde Chang Emperor’s residence paused for a moment, then continued to drive forward.

Liu Shi stood with hands on hips, panting heavily, finally about to catch up with the carriage ahead. Unexpectedly, the carriage sped off again, leaving only two trails of dust flying up.

He dejectedly knelt on the ground, raising his hand to pound the earth fiercely.

Liu Zheng and Liu Xia ran up.

Liu Zheng stepped forward and raised her hand, giving Liu Shi a hard slap. She glared angrily, glancing at the gradually gathering crowd around them.

Furiously, she scolded: “You wastrel man, do you know what you’re doing? Just now… that was the Chang Emperor’s carriage. You chased after it, shouting and yelling. If you offended Her Highness, who knows if our family would be charged with great disrespect. You wastrel husband want to end my Liu family’s line!”

Liu Shi’s head was slapped to the side by his wife-master. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, his eyes bloodshot. His daughter was his life. In the past, for the sake of his daughter’s future, even if beaten and scolded by this incompetent and violent wife-master, he had endured it all as best he could.

But now his daughter’s life was in danger. He had been running back and forth for her, and not only did his wife-master not help, but her volatile temper was even worse.

Liu Shi covered his face and looked at the furious Liu Zheng, saying hatefully: “Is your Liu family’s reputation more important or is my Dong’er’s life more important? Wife-master, you fear the nobles and officials of this Jinling City, but I, Tian Yong, do not fear. If you think this lowly husband brings shame to your Liu family, you can divorce me.”

“You…”

Liu Zheng made to raise her hand to slap him again. Liu Shi licked the blood at the corner of his mouth and blocked her arm.

The two were arguing loudly on the bustling Sajin Street, their back-and-forth drawing a crowd of onlookers.

Liu Shi swept his eyes over the growing crowd, a calculating look flashing in his eyes.

If he hadn’t seen wrong just now, the person in the carriage was clearly the unfaithful man who had abandoned his eldest niece three years ago. Although he didn’t know why he had become the Chang Emperor.

But…

He, Tian Yong, knew about the Chang Emperor’s past!

If he had stopped the carriage just now and obediently helped him save someone, he would have kept his mouth shut!

But Pei Yuanshao pretended not to know him and ignored his pleas.

In that case, he shouldn’t blame him for not being considerate. The nobles of the entire Jinling City would surely be interested in the past of the unfaithful man Pei Yuanshao from three years ago.

Using this as a bargaining chip to exchange for his Dong’er’s life would be a brilliant plan!

Liu Shi’s narrow eyes flashed with cunning light. In a flash, he had an idea.

His voice was shrill and piercing as he raised his volume to argue: “Wife-master, why hit your lowly husband? What wrong have I done? Do you know why I risked my life to chase after that carriage? Just now, I saw on that carriage…”

Liu Zheng lowered her raised hand, her thick eyebrows furrowing.

Liu Shi ignored her impatient expression, paused, and raised his voice: “Unfaith…”

His thick lips opened and closed, but before the words could come out.

A stone suddenly flew through the air, striking him directly on the left side of his throat, hitting his mute acupoint.

Liu Shi opened his eyes wide in shock and looked towards the crowd.

In the middle of the crowd stood a young woman wearing a jade-colored brocade robe.

A woman of extraordinary beauty, her complexion like the spring dawn, as if carved from jade.

With just one glance, Liu Shi opened his mouth, but no sound of admiration could come out.

Liu Xia, standing to the side, followed his father’s gaze and was also stunned. His face flushed red, shy and timid.

Half of the unmarried men on the street had expressions similar to Liu Xia’s, shy and timid, experiencing their first stirrings of love.

Liu Shi came to his senses and suspiciously examined the woman in white not far away. Unexpectedly, she seemed to sense something and raised her eyes, fixing him with a steady gaze. Her tea-colored eyes were filled with a strong warning.

Liu Shi felt as if his eyes had been pierced. He forcibly looked away, his face full of terror.

The stone just now must have been thrown by this person. He stepped forward, wanting to confront her.

When he looked up again, the woman in white had already disappeared.

Unable to make a sound, Liu Shi pointed at his throat and made “ah ah ah” noises.

Liu Zheng waved her sleeve angrily: “Shameful thing, stubborn and useless, can’t even speak clearly. What use are you? Go home!”

The three retreated dejectedly from Sajin Street. When they reached an empty alley, they were suddenly ambushed by black-clothed men who covered their heads with sacks.

—

At the end of Sajin Street

A man with a light gauze veil over his face took small steps behind a woman half a head taller than him.

“Senior Sister, walk slower. This young master can barely keep up!”

The woman in white didn’t slow her pace. She frowned, pointed at the sky, and said softly: “Junior Brother, hurry up. Your sister should have already arrived at the restaurant…”

Jia Zizhou pouted. He looked down at the light cyan floor-length robe he had specially changed into today, disappointment flashing in his eyes.

Even his grandmother had praised him, saying he looked elegant and handsome in this outfit. But Senior Sister hadn’t even glanced at him once. The whole way, she had been proper and polite, looking straight ahead without sparing him an extra look.

Feeling increasingly disappointed, he stole a glance at her otherworldly profile and blushed again.

Senior Sister was a proper bookworm who didn’t understand matters of the heart.

While Jia Zizhou was lost in thought, he chased after her back and softly protested: “My sister won’t blame us. Senior Sister, you promised to take this young master sightseeing, but we’ve barely been out for an hour…”

The woman in white suddenly stopped. She turned her head and lifted the bamboo basket in her hand, which contained clay figurines, bamboo drums, and some pastries.