Chapter 656 - 658: Smashing Things Vigorously
Chapter 656: Chapter 658: Smashing Things Vigorously
Bai Jinglie wished he could split himself into three. He never expected his own mansion to come and cause trouble at a time like this.
"The last time I was back at the mansion, wasn’t the Marquis full of spirit? He was throwing things around with fearsome energy. How could he suddenly be unwell again?"
He stared coldly at the steward kneeling before him. ’I almost feel sorry for him. I bet he started chasing after me the moment I left the Capital.’
"Please, Princely Heir, come back with me."
"I am acting on the Holy Emperor’s orders. Steward Li, which do you think takes priority?"
Steward Li, still kneeling, stammered, "...But the Marquis..."
"Just go back and tell him exactly what I said. If the Holy Emperor issues a decree for me to return to the Capital, I will naturally obey," Bai Jinglie said, his tone laced with impatience.
’He used this same trick to lure me back before. I’d just managed to get the sea trade in Lu City temporarily in order and galloped back, only to be met with a barrage of rebukes.’
’He even demanded that I give the mansion’s stewards positions in the sea trade operation.’
’I really don’t know where he gets the audacity to meddle in the Holy Emperor’s affairs. Does he really think this is still the Marquis Mansion of ten years ago, that we are still all-powerful?’
’The moment I refused, it was as if I were the villain of the entire mansion. He started smashing things right in front of me. I bet if I hadn’t needed to return to the palace to report, he would have started throwing those objects at me.’
’I’ve barely been gone, and he’s already sending people to call me back. He didn’t even bother to change the excuse, just claiming he’s on his deathbed.’
’Frankly, it would be better if he really were on his deathbed. When that day comes, I could finally take the chance to rest for a few years.’
’If I hadn’t been propping everything up all these years, the Marquis Wu’an Mansion might have already vanished from Shangjing.’
’He’s really getting more muddled with age, unable to see such a simple truth.’
Steward Li was on the verge of tears. ’I’m just a steward of the outer court, assigned this task because I’m a little less popular. Now I’ve managed to displease both sides. What future do I have left?’
’I really didn’t want to come. The Princely Heir is the future master of the Marquis Mansion. If I had dared to be even slightly more forceful, I might not have made it out of this room.’
Bai Jinglie found the whole affair tiresome. With a flick of his sleeve, he turned to leave. "Just go back and report what I said. He’s already expecting this outcome, so he won’t blame you."
Watching the Princely Heir disappear, Steward Li felt like crying but couldn’t shed a tear. ’The Marquis might not say much. At most, he’ll just smash a couple of cups.’
’But the Madam is a different story. If I get on her bad side, I don’t know how my family and I will survive in the mansion.’
&
Jin Qianqian rested at the official post house for three consecutive days. In the small courtyard where she stayed, the scent of medicine hung in the air every day.
The escort team that had originally stopped nearby had already departed the day before. Of course, the mother and daughter from the Cen Family didn’t stay behind either.
Jin Qianqian had announced the previous day that they would depart as planned. At the crack of dawn, she and Lichun helped a heavily bundled-up Gu Wenheng into the carriage.
"Madam, why don’t we rest here for another two days? We can set off once the Master has recovered his health," Xu Dawang whispered persuasively. "Traveling like this is bad for his body."
Jin Qianqian lifted the curtain and said to him, "This was the Master’s decision. We’ve been delayed enough on this journey. If we don’t set out at once, we’ll miss the appointment date.
For the rest of the way, tell everyone to stay alert and pick up the pace."
"Yes," Xu Dawang said, gritting his teeth as he spoke to the guard driving the carriage. "You need to keep the carriage steady. If you hit any bumpy or rugged roads, slow down.
The Master is unwell right now and can’t be jolted about."
The guard at the front hastily agreed, then took up the reins and followed the convoy ahead.
Inside the carriage, the figure of "Gu Wenheng" whom Jin Qianqian had just helped aboard threw off his heavy coverings, revealing the nervous face of Gu Le Ping.
"Seventh Aunt, I didn’t give anything away, did I?"
Jin Qianqian gave him a reassuring smile. "No, you did great. I’m sorry to trouble you with staying in here."
Gu Le Ping didn’t understand the reason for all this fuss, but he was smart enough not to ask. "It’s my duty to help Seventh Uncle and Seventh Aunt."
Jin Qianqian nodded, then sat on the other side of the carriage, drawing her knees to her chest as she sank into thought. ’I wonder if the plan Gu Wenheng laid out will succeed.’
’No matter how skillfully the obstacles on this road were executed, we’d long since realized that someone was trying to stop us from arriving on time.’
’To prevent further incidents along the way, Gu Wenheng had already left in disguise, driving a donkey cart. Of course, he wouldn’t be traveling alone; skilled guards had already been arranged to wait for him up ahead.’
’Hopefully, these next few days will allow him to make up for the lost time.’
Gu Le Ping remained silent. At the next rest stop, an old maidservant came to take his place.
On the second day, upon seeing another road blocked by a landslide, Jin Qianqian clenched her fists. She quickly regained her composure and ordered the road to be cleared.
This time, they were fully prepared, having specifically purchased an entire cartload of tools. With over a hundred people working together, they quickly cleared the road.
But after that, one problem after another arose endlessly. By the time the appointment day finally arrived, the road had become smooth again. Yet, even rushing as fast as they could, they still wouldn’t make it in time.
&
「Yisheng Yongchang County」
Inspector General Liu Xuan gazed up at the blazing midday sun and said to the secretary at his side, "It’s this late and he still hasn’t arrived. Let’s go to the governor’s mansion and bid farewell to Governor Liang."
"My lord, there’s still half a day left. Are you sure you don’t want to wait?"
Liu Xuan replied, "The earliest we can leave is tomorrow anyway. There’s no point in just waiting around.
Although we hosted a banquet for Governor Liang and the others a few days ago, we should still pay a formal farewell visit.
Have our men prepare the carriage. I’ve heard the Governor is at the mansion today, so it’s the perfect time to go."
The secretary said no more and quietly withdrew to make the arrangements.
Just as their carriage pulled up to the main gate, another carriage came speeding toward them and blocked their path.
"Are you blind?! How dare you block the Lord Inspection Officer’s path! Get that carriage out of the way, now!" the coachman shouted. The guards at the gate also rushed out, staring warily at the other carriage.
"We are the personal attendants of Mr. Gu, who is here to assume his post! Mr. Gu has arrived! Please announce his presence!" Ming Zhong and Ming Qin shouted from their positions on horseback, flanking the carriage.
This caused the nearby townsfolk to gather around curiously. They had long known that a new Inspector General was due to arrive and were eager to get the first glimpse.
The guards at the gate looked at them skeptically. "Do you have proof?"
An Inspector General was supposed to travel with his own soldiers. The sight of just a few men and a single carriage seemed almost like a joke.
"This is our master’s calling card. Once we see Mr. Liu, we will present the Holy Decree. Please inform him at once," Ming Zhong said, his face cold as he produced the card from within his robes.