Tong Qiushi took a liking to Hua Youxian and waved his hand, offering a thousand taels of gold to make her his concubine. His sister was the governor at that time and Mother Ding did not dare to offend her.
Many of the ladies in Entering Clouds Brothel were taken as concubines by officials and nobles. Mother Ding was happy to do them a favor. Firstly, those ladies were willing to do so. It was a good thing that they did not have to show their faces in public. Secondly, for Entering Clouds Brothel to be able to stand in Jinling for so many years, they needed favors.
But Tong Qiushi took a liking to Hua Youxian.
Hua Youxian's heart was all on Wang Sheng and Mother Ding could see it clearly. She also knew that although her daughter looked like she was good with money, she had her own ideas. Now that she was in love with Wang Sheng, she would not take a liking to Tong Qiushi. She was afraid that she would rather die than live in dishonor and fight to the death.
Mother Ding wanted to persuade Tong Qiushi but did not expect this Young Master Tong to be a tough nut to crack. That night, he sent people to cause a ruckus and almost burned down Entering Clouds Brothel. The governor was henpecked and naturally sided with his brother-in-law. Mother Ding could not say anything. While she was angry at Tong Qiushi for being unreasonable, there was nothing she could do. Although Entering Clouds Brothel knew many officials and rich families, a strong dragon could not defeat a local snake. No matter how beautiful Hua Youxian was, she was just a brothel girl. Offending the governor for a brothel girl was not a good deal. Ever since Hua Youxian met Wang Sheng, she only went on stage to play the guqin and became a performer. After a while, there were fewer people who could stand up for her.
Tong Qiushi took Hua Youxian's body contract and ordered people to put her under house arrest. He even picked a good day and planned to bring her into the residence. That was not all. He also ordered people to find out where Wang Sheng was and imprisoned him in the village, torturing and beating him every day.
These things were found out by the ladies in Entering Clouds Brothel and they secretly told Hua Youxian. Hua Youxian was worried about Wang Sheng's injury, but she was unable to protect herself. After a while, just like what Mother Ding said, she became seriously ill due to excessive worry.
"If the Young Masters are willing to help, I will not ask for anything else," the Flower Traveling Deity said earnestly, "I heard that Young Master Wang is being held captive in a manor in the north of the city. I would like to trouble the Young Masters to rescue Young Master Wang. Tong Qiushi is after me. Because of my mistake, I have implicated Young Master Wang. I have not been able to sleep at night."
Wasn't this a vulgar book about a tyrant forcing a woman to marry him, breaking up a pair of lovebirds and breaking them apart? The youths present all felt a sense of righteousness as a hero welling up in their hearts.
"That's not difficult. It's just saving someone. Don't worry, Miss, that Young Master Wang will definitely be brought out for you. "
Hua Youxian's eyes lit up and she bowed down gratefully. "Thank you, young masters!"
Everyone quickly reached out to help her up.
Lin Shuanghe looked at her thoughtfully and asked, "May I ask Miss Youxian, what will happen after Young Master Wang is rescued?"
Hua Youxian was stunned and then smiled bitterly. "If the Young Masters can rescue Young Master Wang, please help me tell him that Youxian and Young Master Wang are not fated to be together. I have implicated Young Master Wang previously. Please leave Jinling quickly and forget about Youxian in the future."
"You don't plan to see him?" He Yan who had been sitting obediently at the side finally asked, "What do you plan to do?"
She had been hiding in the dark. Hua Youxian did not know what to do. When she saw a masked person talking, she was shocked. But she quickly recovered and shook her head. "Since he is the Governor's wife's brother, I have no other choice. It is not up to me to decide. It is better to accept reality early. "
When she talked about her future, she was more carefree than when she talked about Wang Sheng. It was clear that she loved Wang Sheng more than she loved herself.
"Miss Youxian, don't worry." The youth who had climbed in through the window first said, "Since we have seen this, we must help until the end. Who would have thought that there would be such a disgusting bastard in broad daylight? How can we sit by and do nothing when a dog official is bullying people? Whether it is Young Master Wang or you, we will ensure your safety! "
His words were sonorous and forceful, but how to "ensure the safety" would require further planning. While they were talking, footsteps came from outside. Hua Youxian stood up and said, "Someone is coming. I'll go out and hold them off. You guys leave quickly." Then he bowed deeply to the crowd and said, "I'll leave the matter of Master Wang to you young masters."
She pushed the door open and found an excuse to talk to the people outside. The rest of the youths climbed down from the window like they had just come.
Yang Ming Zhi, who had been waiting anxiously downstairs, heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that everyone had returned safe and sound. He was about to ask them what had happened inside. But, he raised his head, and saw that the youngsters all had gloomy expressions. So, he asked curiously, "What happened? Why do you all look so pale? "
Lin Shuanghe sighed and shook his head. "Seeing people suffer makes me feel bad."
His friends told him what had happened. Yang Mingzhi was also angry. "How can this be? Does the government not care? "
"The people who did this are the government." Yan He disagreed. "Do you still want them to put righteousness before family?"
Everyone was silent.
After a while, someone said, "Since we have already promised Miss Youxian, we will go and save Young Master Wang first. Then we will find that despicable Tong Qiushi. Miss Youxian's contract is in his hands. We will have him sign the contract and return it to Miss Youxian. In this way, won't Miss Youxian and Young Master Wang be able to fly back to Yangzhou and live together? "
"It is easy to save Young Master Wang, and it is not difficult to get the contract back," He Yan said carefully. "But we will have to leave Jinling after the poetry competition. What if Young Master Wang finds trouble with them after leaving Jinling? It is said that civilians do not fight with the government. Young Master Wang's family is just doing business. It is easy for the governor here to control them. It looks like we are helping them, but who knows if Tong Qiushi will vent all his anger on Young Master Wang. "
The youths were acting on impulse, but she was a girl. She couldn't help but think more about Hua Youxian. It seemed that Hua Youxian had only asked them to save Young Master Wang and not herself because of this. Tong Qiushi had come for Hua Youxian. They could save her now, but not forever.
"He Rufei, why are you destroying our prestige?" someone said unhappily.
"I think Brother He is right." Lin Shuanghe held his fan. "We have to think about the future before we can do anything. Huaijin. "He asked Xiao Jue who was watching coldly." Do you have any good ideas? "
The youths looked at him. After all, he was the number one in the Xianchang Hall. He was talented and smart. Maybe he could think of a way to get the best of both worlds.
Xiao Jue looked at them and said, "I do."
Lin Shuanghe's eyes lit up. He praised, "You really do have an idea! Tell us, what should we do? "
"It's just a governor of Ying Tian." Xiao Jue said carelessly, "Show your identities and he will retreat."
He Yan thought, he could see clearly. It was too troublesome to go around in circles. A higher rank could crush people. The youths here all came from families of officials. There were many who were higher ranked than Ying Tian. Didn't Tong Qiushi use his power to bully people? As long as someone had more power than him, they could bully him.
Evil people bullied the weak and feared the strong.
Just as he finished speaking, someone shook his head. "No, no, if my family knew that I went to a brothel, they would break my legs. How can I show my identity? "
"I can't either. Brother Huaijin, you are killing ten thousand enemies but losing eight thousand of your own men!"
"That's too violent. You should be more tactful!"
Xiao Jue hugged his sword and leaned against the wall. He looked at them lazily and said, "Think about it slowly. I'm going back."
He turned to leave, but Lin Shuanghe grabbed the corner of his shirt. He turned back and saw Lin Shuanghe seemed to have made up his mind. He waved his fan and said, "So be it! You are afraid, but I am not. Even if my legs are broken, I will save Miss Youxian and Master Wang. " He even provoked his hesitant classmates. "Are you still a man? Are you going to watch the girls jump into the fire pit? I, Lin Shuanghe, don't want to be associated with cowards like you. Stay away from me! I will save them alone and be a hero alone! "
The youths were indignant. "Who are you calling cowards? Who isn't a man? "
"I'm not afraid either." Yan He played with the end of his ponytail. His eyes were shining brightly and he looked excited. "So what if I'm beaten? It's not like I haven't been beaten before. It's worth it to be beaten for saving people!"
In this kind of situation, the more people there were, the more lively it would be. Two people took the lead and said, "The law cannot be enforced when there are too many people." The youths all agreed. Soon, they expressed that no matter what, they would save Master Wang and Miss Youxian safely.
Xiao Jue did not participate in their conversation, but the youths still pulled him along. They crowded around him and begged, "Brother Huaijin, come with us too! With you watching over us, we won't make any mistakes. "
He Yan stood at the side and looked at them with interest. Did they really think that Xiao Jue was their father? Xiao Jue looked impatient. Finally, he could not stand the persuasion of the crowd and reluctantly agreed.
Thus, everyone returned to the inn and thought of a plan.
"Since we have to reveal our identities, why don't we go directly to the governor's residence?" Someone said, "Let them quickly return Miss Youxian's body contract and let Master Wang go. How about that?"
"No." Yang Mingzhi shook his head lightly. "According to the law, the body contract is in Tong Qiushi's hands. If we force it, it will be unreasonable. We may even be sued by the guilty party first and that evil governor's family will be sued. Also, Master Wang is in his hands. It is not good to alert the enemy. What if Tong Qiushi kills Master Wang? "
What he said made sense. Lin Shuanghe asked sincerely, "Mingzhi, do you have any ideas?"
Yang Mingzhi thought for a while. "Let's save Master Wang first. Then, we will think of a way to get the body contract. After that, if Tong Qiushi comes looking for us, we will reveal our identities. At that time, everything will be settled. They can only ask for trouble. "
"Wonderful." His friends' eyes lit up. "If that's the case, then Tong Qiushi will have no choice but to suffer in silence."
Even though they usually did not like to use their power to bully others, at a time like this, it was quite refreshing to use their identity to suppress others.
"When dealing with scoundrels, there is no need to pay attention to the way of a gentleman. Let's see who is more scoundrel." Yan He raised his eyebrows. "Then it's decided. We will split into two groups. One group will find the body contract. The other group will go save Master Wang. "
Yan He made the final decision. Everyone immediately split into groups. Xiao Jue and Yan He each led a group. The governor's residence was heavily guarded. Xiao Jue was skilled and led four people to the governor's residence to find the body contract. Yan He led the remaining people to the manor in the north of the city to save Master Wang.
After everything was split, He Yan raised his hand from the corner and asked weakly, "… Excuse me, what should I do?"
Xianchang Hall had selected ten youths to go to Jinling. He Yan had been forced to come by Lin Shuanghe. Ten people divided into two groups was suitable. Eleven people were not easy to divide.
"Why don't … we let him stay at the inn? He will only drag us down if he goes. "
"No," Yan He frowned. "If he stays at the inn, he may drag us down. If the soldiers find us and give us up, the plan will be ruined. He Rufei, you follow me. You are not skilled. When the time comes, you will be on the lookout. Understand? "
He Yan said, "Okay."
She had already perfected the art of decorating the room. He Yan didn't mind at all. He Yan was still a bit nervous. Although the youths of the Xian Chang Dojo were the best in Shuo Jing, they were in Jin Ling, a place they weren't familiar with. Even if they had identities to protect them, before their identities were exposed, the other party might not be merciful.
This was the first time they had to take charge and face the so-called "big shot".
Hopefully, everything would go smoothly.
When night fell, the two groups set off.
There was a manor in the north of the city that belonged to the Tong family. It was easy to find. There were often servants of the Tong family who were thrown into the manor because they made mistakes. They would be tortured to death within a few days. Yan He ordered people to buy a few horses and went to the manor under the cover of the night.
When they arrived at the manor, the sky was already completely dark. The location was very desolate. It was surrounded by wilderness. It was not good to hide people. However, it seemed that Tong Qiushi did not have the intention to "hide". With a Patrol Governor as her brother-in-law, she would be able to do whatever she wanted without any worries. Yan He and the other youths dismounted from their horses. He Yan stood in the wilderness at the entrance of the manor to keep watch. He said, "You stay here. If someone comes, blow the whistle. We will leave when we find the person. Understand? "
He Yan nodded.
She did not speak much. Before she left, Madam He told her that the more she spoke, the more mistakes she would make. She had to be careful with her words.
Yan He and the group quickly disappeared into the wilderness. He Yan squatted in the weeds in the field. There were many mosquitoes in the summer. The parts of her clothes that were covered were still fine. However, her exposed neck and wrists were covered in red and swollen bumps after a short while. She did not dare to scratch. She was afraid that the noise would attract people and disrupt Yan He's plan. She could only bear with it silently.
After a long time, there seemed to be movement from inside. He Yan stretched her neck. As expected, a group of people came out. The leader was Yan He. He was tall and carried a person on his back. It should be that Master Wang.
He Yan was delighted. She was saved!
She was about to wave at Yan He when she heard a loud noise from outside. "There are thieves! Catch the thieves! "
"The one with the surname Wang has called for reinforcements. Catch them!"
It was unknown how many people lived in this manor. Previously, it was pitch black. He Yan only thought that it was a desolate place. Now that she heard the shout, she saw torches lit up in all directions. With a rough look, she estimated that there were more than a hundred torches.
The plan was always foolproof. However, it was extremely difficult to save a person silently. She was on the lookout without making a sound. However, Yan He and the rest created a huge commotion when they tried to save someone. He Yan was anxious. There were so many people. They could not fight them head-on. They could only run away. She did not hesitate anymore. She stood out and blew a whistle to signal them to run.
In fact, Yan He did run away.
The few youths were also panicked by the sudden appearance of the crowd. However, they were still protected by their usual skills. Without saying anything, they ran to the place where the horses were held. They leaped onto the horses and dashed out of the manor. The sound of the horses' hooves came closer and closer. A portion of the people chased after them while a portion of them stayed in the manor.
He Yan was stunned.
They left her behind.
She tried her best to catch up with Yan He and the rest. However, how could two legs outrun four legs? She shouted with all her strength, "Wait for me, Brother Yan …"
However, her voice was quickly drowned by the sound of the crowd.
She ran until she was exhausted. She could not catch up with them anymore. Unexpectedly, someone whipped her from behind. He Yan only felt pain on her back. A bloody mark appeared on her thin clothes. She staggered and fell to the ground. She turned around and looked at the crowd that was getting closer and closer.
The person outside came back and scolded, "Boss, she ran away."
"Don't worry." That person stared at He Yan. His expression was ferocious. "They even caught a young one. If Master Tong wants her, send her to him. "
"Hey." That person lifted her chin and asked, "Was the person just now your accomplice? Who are they? Tell me their whereabouts. I can spare your life. "
He Yan pursed her lips and did not speak.
It was not the right time yet. She could only say it after she had obtained the contract. At that time, they would not be able to do anything if she revealed her identity.
However … Yan He and the rest would still come back to save her, right?
Seeing that she refused to speak, the other party became angry. He kicked her but He Yan grabbed his knee and pulled her down. She jumped up from the ground and turned around to run.
"Hey, she's good at fighting." The other party wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Catch her!"
After a long period of practice, her skills were actually not that bad. However, she could not win against so many people with her bare hands. If Yan He had given her a weapon to defend herself, she would not be so weak.
He Yan was beaten up and carried to the leader's hands. The leader looked at her and made a "tsk" sound. He said, "Why are you wearing a mask?"
"Is it because it's too ugly and you don't want to scare people?" Someone beside him made a malicious guess. "Why don't you take it off and take a look?"
"That's true. If you wear such a thing, you won't be able to see his face. Take it off, take it off. "
He Yan was shocked and struggled desperately. When she came to Jinling, Mrs. He had warned her repeatedly not to reveal her identity. If she took off the mask here, these people would not give it back to her. Even if she met her classmates in the future, they would only see "He Yan's" face. Then, "He Yan" could only be "He Rufei" for the rest of her life.
Moreover … they might find out that she was a woman.
He Yan shivered and tried to get rid of the shackles.
"Huh? Is he scared? "Someone said," This mute seems to be someone who likes to look beautiful. When he heard that she had to take off the mask, he became anxious. "
"Now that you mention it, I want to take it off even more." The leader looked at He Yan's struggle and said gloomily, "Take it off!"
He Yan was directly pressed to the ground. Someone held her chin and forced her to raise her head. Then, someone tried to pry off the mask on her face. However, there was a mechanism on the mask. No one could open it except for her. That person tried for a long time, but the mask didn't move at all. Instead, he was tired and sweating. He looked at the leader and said, "Leader, this is not right. I can't take off the mask."
"Why can't you take it off?" The leader shouted, "Let me do it!"
He grabbed He Yan's neck and tried to pry off the mask. However, it was impossible for him to do it.
He Yan was also in pain. There was a mechanism on the mask. If someone tried to take it off by force, the harder they tried, the more uncomfortable she would feel. The people here didn't have any kindness to her. They didn't care whether she was in pain or not. He Yan only felt that her head was about to explode.
She thought, "Why hasn't Yan He come yet? Why haven't they found out that I'm missing? "
The leader pressed her face to the ground. The smell of mud went into his mouth. Probably because the mask covered her face, he couldn't see He Yan's crying and panicking face. The leader was in a worse mood. He ordered the two people beside him, "Hold him tightly. If I don't let him taste some pain, he won't know how powerful I am. I don't believe that there's a mouth in this world that I can't pry open."
There was a series of "ping ping pang pang pang" sounds, as if they were looking for "torture instruments". Even if they had never eaten pork, they had seen pigs run. He Yan had heard a lot of these private torture cases before.
"Brat." The leader used his shoe to nudge her face. "Are you still not going to talk? Are you still waiting for your accomplices to come and save you? Don't wait anymore. They won't come back. You'd better be sensible and tell them who took Wang Sheng away. That way, you can suffer less. "
He Yan was stepped on until she couldn't move. She thought bitterly, "Yan He and the others have really forgotten about me."
It was dark in the wilderness. She couldn't see the end of it. She could only hear the insects and birds in the forest.
There seemed to be the sound of horse hooves.
She put her ear to the ground and heard it clearly. She was startled at first, but then she gradually felt hope. She turned her head slightly and looked at the end of the wilderness.
It seemed like someone was coming on a horse.
They're here? They wouldn't abandon me! He Yan was ecstatic.
The sound of horse hooves came closer and closer. The people in the village also heard it. Everyone was startled at first, then they raised their torches to look at the person. Under the light of the torches, a person and a horse came closer and closer. In the end, they saw a young man wearing a white robe and a silver crown.
It wasn't Yan He. It was Xiao Jue.
He Yan's smile froze. Her mask covered her stunned expression.
Xiao Jue pulled the reins and dismounted when he was about ten steps away from He Yan. He had a long sword at his waist. He stood tall and straight. The silver python embroidered on his white robe shone brightly. He walked out of the darkness like a warm sun, brightening up the entire sky.
The young man's gaze swept across the fierce people in the village. Finally, his gaze landed on He Yan who was pressed to the ground.
"Sorry, I'm late."
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