A woman wearing a green dress hurriedly left her horse and ran towards Mu Qing. Mu Qing immediately raised his right hand. Two Imperial Guards blocked her way, the woman was unable to reach him and could only look at him with grievance in her eyes.
"Greetings, esteemed gentleman! I am called Fei Bai Zou from Yamen [1]."
Fei Bai Zou unmounted his horse and immediately walked towards him. He then saluted to the other party, slightly bearing an arrogant air.
"This humble person is Magistrate Bai's nephew. Would esteemed gentleman please allow us to pass through? The Yamen office is currently working right now. It would be bad if this esteemed gentleman obstructs our work, delaying justice."
Mu Qing inwardly scoffed. Just a person from a small government office acting arrogant in front of his face, even using the title of an unimportant Magistrate.
'Did he really think that by using the name of some Magistrate, all the people around him will bow down and curry his favor?'
He had been with the Imperial family ever since he became an Imperial guard, things like arrogance and haughtiness were very common within the palace. He had already seen and hear every ounce of proudness and arrogance under the heavens. A person from the suburbs could not even be on par with a personal servant of an Imperial child in terms of being snob and haughty.
"Go back! You are not allowed to cross this time. This side is off limits. Turn around. I will not repeat myself for the third time."
Fei Bai Zou's countenance darkened. He did not expect that someone would not be willing to give face to his uncle, the Magistrate of Lu Shan. Ever since young, after both of his parents died, his uncle solely raised him. Thus, he was pampered and was raised proudly, and was accustomed to other people bowing down on him.
The capital was far and Lu Shan seldom had any visitors from the capital and other places all year round. Thus, the commoners were treating the local officials and other wealthy families with reverie and respect.
Fei Bai Zou did not expect that he was unlucky, meeting someone from the capital.
"You-!"
Fei Bai Zou's pig-like face contorted. Fuming with anger, his huge body shook as he tried to suppress the blood wanting to escape from his mouth.
Mu Qing laughed when he saw Fei Bai Zou shaking due to anger.
"What? Are you deaf? I---"
"Mu Qing? What is happening?"
Suddenly, someone spoke inside the carriage. The voice was raspy but one could tell that the owner of the voice was a young man.
"Your Hi—Young Master, it's nothing." Mu Qing immediately responded. He almost forgot that they were traveling in a low-key manner to avoid any accident. After what happened to Qin Wangye, Mu Qing did not want to repeat his mistake. That was the main reason why he did not want to let Fei Bai Zou pass through the path. He was afraid that meeting with their group was not a coincidence and was a premeditated plan schemed by evil people planning to hurt Qin Wangye.
Mu Qing wanted Fei Bai Zou's group to leave, so, he opened his mouth, planning to speak again when the carriage's window opened, revealing Xu Fei Yi's face. His two pupils were sparkling like a kid who found something interesting.
"Mu Qing! Let them through! That green jiejie [1] over there said that she was in a hurry to save someone! Let's go with them!"
Xu Fei Yi voice was very eager. His eyes were twinkling as he stared at Mu Qing, trying to win him over and allow him to follow with Fei Bai Zou's group towards the mountain's temple.
"No. Young Master, that cannot happen. Absolutely not!"
When Xu Fei Yi heard Mu Qing's words, his face crumpled as he tried to suppress his tears.
*sob* *sob* "…..but…. but Yi'er wants to go…."
Mu Qing's face darkened when he saw the pitiful face of His Highness. He could not satisfy His Highness demand for the sake of his safety. He glared at Fei Bai Zou before he ordered, "Go! Before I change my mind." He waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to withdraw their swords and let the other group pass through successfully.
"Thank you, esteemed gentleman!" YuYing immediately gave her thanks and hurriedly ran back towards her horse, leaving Fei Bai Zou behind.
After Fei Bai Zou and the others disappeared in the darkness, Xu Fei Yi's eyes suddenly flickered, carrying a hidden glimmer inside.
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"Ha! Ha! Ha!"
XuanRong alternately ran and walk towards the temple.
After she found out that her benefactor already left, XuanRong, who was already tired, went back to the temple. Since she hid far away and she was not able to leave early due to some unexpected event, she could only double her pace and ran as fast as she could.
She had to meet them halfway or else, everything she did will be in naught. She would never allow herself to be falsely accused of being a promiscuous woman in this lifetime.
XuanRong wearily dragged herself forward.
She was almost beyond her capacity when she heard series of noises coming from a great distance.
She saw a group of people riding with horses.
XuanRong's eyes sparkled with glee.
"Finally..." she uttered with great delight.
But before XuanRong walked towards YuYing and the rest, she smoothed her clothes, fixing and securing the knots of her dress. She had to make sure that her clothes were still in proper place and not in disarray in order to avoid any gossips. She was tidying herself when she recalled that her hair was in a mess. Because she used her hairpin when she tried to stab her benefactor on his chest, her hair was now hanging freely on her back.
XuanRong bit her lips.
The hairpin she lost had a pair and both of it were very important to her. It was given to her by her birth mother. Although almost her things were squandered away by both mother and child, Xiao Lou and XuanFei, the paired butterfly hairpins were not to their liking because of its simplicity. Who would have thought that among all the expensive jewelries she had, the most expensive one was the paired butterfly hairpins which were given to her maternal grandfather by the previous emperor. Too bad, the other one was in the manor while the other was lost somewhere in the cave. It was already too late even if she wanted to return and search for her hairpin.
Thinking of losing one of the paired butterfly hairpins and her messy hair, XuanRong could only sigh.
She was still in deep thought when she heard someone shouted, "XiaoJie!!!"
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[1]. Older sister (not necessary blood related)
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Edited and Proofread by: Prikkrang and Supremetobs