novelAbuy Chapter 24: Loosening Xue Pan's Muscles
Chapter 24: Loosening Xue Pan's Muscles
Liu Feng was unaware that he had been struck by good fortune; he was driving a carriage, taking Lin Daiyu to Niushou Mountain for their appointment.
In those days, women from wealthy families were always surrounded by servants when they went out, let alone Lin Daiyu, the daughter of the third-in-command of Jinling City.
Ahead of them were soldiers with swords, and behind them were servants and guards from the Lin family. Lin Daiyu, Xueyan, and Xiangling rode in one carriage, while Granny Wang rode alone in another. The remaining old women and maids rode in three separate carriages. The group was very large and stretched for a mile or two, displaying great grandeur.
Liu Feng sat cross-legged at the front of the carriage, sword in hand, and flicked his whip, gently patting the horse's rump.
The carriage was filled with chatter and laughter. It was unclear where the three of them got so much to talk about; they had been chatting all the way here without getting tired.
Liu Feng couldn't take it anymore and tapped the carriage with the hilt of his knife: "Take a break, aren't you tired...?"
"Mind your own business!" Lin Daiyu retorted again.
Liu Feng grinned. "What happened to the refined lady from a respectable family?"
He had truly experienced the girl's sharp tongue.
Although the two had only met once through a beaded curtain, the girl was not afraid of him at all. She would argue with him whenever they disagreed, and she did not show any of the demureness of a well-bred young lady.
Unfortunately, the girl was wearing a large veiled hat with a long, thick curtain that completely obscured her face, making it difficult to discern even her upper body.
Actually, there's no need to look; she's probably just like Xiangling, flat all over.
There is a saying in Nanjing: "Spring at Niushou Mountain, Autumn at Qixia Mountain." It is said that Emperor Taizu of Ming often visited Niushou Mountain, but whether this is true or not is unknown.
Niushou Mountain is located 30 li south of Jinling City. It usually takes about two hours to get there by horse-drawn carriage. If you leave early and arrive at noon, you have to rush back after visiting for a little over an hour.
However, since they were official carriages, they didn't need to stop along the way; they could simply change horses and travel unimpeded, with the common people giving way. It took them about an hour to get there.
After passing Andemen and Shizigang, the terrain becomes flat and open, and the two peaks of Niushou Mountain can be seen in the distance.
Before long, the convoy arrived at the foot of the mountain.
The soldiers who had gone ahead to prepare the way were already on guard and strictly prohibited any unauthorized men from approaching. Only the women could go up the stone steps to Hongjue Temple to offer incense and pray for blessings.
Liu Feng jumped off the carriage, slung his sword at his waist, moved the low stool he had been sitting on to the side of the carriage, and shouted, "I'm lifting the curtain!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiangling, wearing a veiled hat, lifted the curtain and came out. With Liu Feng's help, she stepped off the carriage onto a low stool.
Xueyan then leaned out of the carriage. She didn't get out, but reached out and lifted the curtain, gently reminding, "Miss, watch your step."
Wearing a half-veiled hat, Lin Daiyu stepped out of the carriage and, supported by Xiangling, gracefully descended onto a low stool.
Granny Wang, along with her maids and servants, rushed over and surrounded Lin Daiyu, forming a tight circle around her.
The officer approached Liu Feng and reported, "Warden, the bamboo sedan chair is ready."
Liu Feng waved his hand: "No need, let's walk up."
"Yes." The captain waved his hand and led a group of soldiers up the stone steps to clear the path and prevent any accidents.
The bamboo sedan chair was specially prepared by Liu Feng, but Lin Daiyu said on the way that the mountain path was lined with pine and bamboo and the spring scenery was just right. If they were to travel by sedan chair, they would be missing out on the beautiful scenery.
Liu Feng didn't care; as long as Lin Daiyu was happy, that was all that mattered.
The stone steps were narrow. Liu Feng led the way, with Xiangling and Xueyan supporting Lin Daiyu on either side, and Wang Mama and a group of maids and servants following behind. The group made their way up the mountain.
The road is lined with pine and bamboo trees, their shadows swaying in the breeze, creating a serene and tranquil scene.
Lin Daiyu was in high spirits, walking and stopping frequently to enjoy the scenery.
Liu Feng didn't feel anything, but he found the dense woods, strong winds, and constant bird calls quite annoying.
We didn't walk far before we saw the Hongjue Temple Pagoda. I heard that this pagoda was rebuilt when Emperor Taizu made his southern tour.
Before we even reached the mountain gate, we could hear people arguing.
Liu Feng listened carefully and chuckled; it was the team leader and the domineering tyrant.
The team leader told Xue Pan to step aside, but he refused.
Liu Feng tightened his grip on the knife hilt. This guy really doesn't learn his lesson. Fine, he'll loosen his muscles a bit more today.
Thinking it over, Liu Feng strode over.
Xue Baochai had arrived long ago and was preparing tea and snacks in the pavilion. When she heard that Lin Daiyu had arrived, she quickly led her maids and servants to the mountain gate.
Before they even stepped out of the mountain gate, they heard Xue Pan scream in agony and rushed out.
Two soldiers were pressing Xue Pan down to his knees, their hands pressing hard on the back of his knees and calves. Xue Pan cried out in pain and was covered in cold sweat.
The old woman from the Xue family who had arrived first quickly went over and told Xue Baochai what had happened.
Xue Baochai wore a veil, obscuring her expression. Her hands were tightly twisting a handkerchief, her knuckles turning slightly white, but she remained silent.
Liu Feng secretly observed her. No wonder people say Xue Baochai has the bearing of Yang Guifei; she is indeed well-proportioned, but not in a plump way—any more would make her look fat, any less would make her too thin; her figure is just right. Those little hands are so white, like snowflakes; they must be so soft and comfortable to squeeze... Ahem, I'm getting the wrong idea!
That's about enough. Liu Feng waved his hand: "Please invite Uncle Xue down for tea."
"Yes." Two soldiers lifted Xue Pan up and walked towards a side path.
Seeing Xue Pan's legs trembling and his steps unsteady, Liu Feng smiled.
This technique is called "knee-pressing and leg-striking." It doesn't injure the skin or flesh, but it can cause numbness and swelling in the hamstrings, making it difficult to walk. Every step feels like being pricked by needles.
Just then, Lin Daiyu's figure slowly appeared on the stone steps.
Liu Feng shook his head slightly. This girl really knows how to act; she timed it perfectly.
The time has come for people to compete based on their fathers' connections and family background!
Xue Baochai quickly stepped forward to greet her, giving a slight curtsy: "Sister."
"Sister." Lin Daiyu returned the greeting, and Xue Baochai turned slightly to the side, accepting only half of the greeting, her manner perfectly measured.
Seeing the two girls flattering each other, Liu Feng grinned. These were girls in their early teens?!
The two girls first went to burn incense, pay homage to the Buddha, and worship at the temple. Of course, the incense was not burned for nothing; they had to offer a "small gift" first.
I don't know about the Xue family's side, but Liu Feng handled the Lin family's side. The silver alone amounted to five hundred taels, plus the high-quality sesame oil, plain brocade, and other items, which came to at least seven or eight hundred taels in total.
He who takes a bribe is bound to do his bidding; he who eats another's food is obligated to do his bidding.
Even though the abbot is quite old, he still has to accompany the monks personally, explaining Buddhist teachings along the way.
The two girls had originally planned to climb the tower to enjoy the spring scenery of Nanjing, but seeing how attentive the host was in accompanying them, they had no choice but to give up.
After strolling around the temple, the two girls bid farewell to the old abbot and rested in the pavilion, where they ate snacks, drank tea, and chatted about their private matters while enjoying the scenery.
In this situation, it was inappropriate for Liu Feng to follow along. He led Xiangling into the grove of trees, where they picked some peach and plum blossoms and wove them into a wreath, making the little girl overjoyed...
......................
The law of conservation of happiness states that for every person who is happy, someone else is unhappy; the sweetness on one side is often bought with bitterness on the other.
It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was bustling with noise, but the doorman hurriedly walked out of the shop, looking dazed and uneasy.
"Blind... Oh, sir, you've come to eat here yourself?"
The doorman then came to his senses, ignored the other person, and walked towards the government office with his head down.
I just heard that Wang, the prison warden, accidentally fell into the water and drowned on his way home early this morning.
Others may not know, but the doorman knows perfectly well: Wang Laotou was an excellent swimmer, how could he have drowned?
Could it be... related to that matter?
The doorman's heart tightened, he swallowed hard, and turned to leave.
But just as he took a step, two constables suddenly appeared and blocked his way.
"The Prefect requests your presence."
The two men spoke politely, but their hands were already on the hilts of their knives.
Helpless, the gatekeeper had no choice but to turn around and walk towards the government office.
Upon arriving at the second hall of the prefectural government office, one sees the Prefect of Jinling sitting in the main seat, drinking tea.
The doorman nervously swallowed and knelt down, saying, "This humble servant greets Your Excellency."
The prefect of Jinling, holding his teacup, slightly raised his eyelids and glanced at him indifferently: "You know everything?"
The doorman felt a chill run down his spine, and cold sweat poured down his forehead. "I...I...I don't understand what Your Excellency is referring to?"
The prefect of Jinling suddenly laughed, and the doorman became even more frightened, his body tensing up.
"Don't worry." The prefect of Jinling took a leisurely sip of tea, his tone remaining calm. "No one will know what happened that day, as long as you don't tell anyone, understand?"
The doorman didn't react immediately and blurted out, "That teahouse..."
"You are a smart man. There are some things that don't need to be stated explicitly by me."
The doorman's mind went blank. What did that mean? Was the teahouse his man, or was it also in trouble?
"I am not a cold-hearted person. As long as you do your best and remain loyal to me, I will certainly not treat you unfairly." The Prefect of Jinling raised his head.
"I swear to serve Your Excellency to the death, and I am willing to go through fire and water for you, and I will never have any other thoughts!" The doorman kowtowed repeatedly.
The prefect of Jinling smiled and put down his teacup: "Steward."
The butler, who had been standing silently to the side, came over and opened the door, saying, "This way, please."
The doorman was filled with anxiety and followed the steward outside.
The prefect of Jinling stood up, walked to the door, and looked in the direction of the Provincial Surveillance Commission: "That one in jail, it's time to deal with him too..."