Volume One: From Farmer to Gentleman Chapter 54: A Fright Without Danger

“How could such a thing be allowed? You’re a girl, how can you simply go to someone else’s home? Just stay here, you’re not going anywhere.”
Upon hearing her daughter wanted to visit Xie Shuxian’s home, Xiao Qingwan refused without a second thought.
Zhao Nan glanced at his crestfallen daughter and spoke softly, “I’ve heard that Master Wen will also be going to Shuxian’s home, and they’ll return in two or three days. Perhaps… we could let Yuexi go as well, to broaden her horizons. What do you think?”
Xiao Qingwan, seeing her husband plead for their daughter, replied with a mixture of feigned anger and affection, “You always indulge her. She’s already ten, and you still think she’s so young? Fine, fine, let all of you go—young and old alike—and don’t bother coming back…”
“Thank you, Mother!”
Yuexi’s face instantly blossomed with joy, and she bounded out of the room, leaping over the wall to inform Chuliu.
She had told Chuliu yesterday, and Chuliu said as long as her parents didn’t object, she would take her along.
“Who knows if there will be danger on the road? I’ll follow them secretly,”
Zhao Nan shook his head, “No need. I’ve arranged for Shadow Guards to protect them.”
Xiao Qingwan was surprised, “You always said you didn’t need the guards sent by His Majesty. Why now…?”
Zhao Nan smiled slightly, relieved, “Actually… there’s no need to hold on to such matters. Since His Majesty sent the Shadow Guards, if I don’t use them, he’ll be left with a knot in his heart… This works out well.”
Seeing her husband’s change in temperament, Xiao Qingwan was delighted.
Since leaving the capital, he had been perpetually worried and quick to anger.
Now, at last, he seemed to have returned to himself.
…
“Xie Shuxian, what is this thing? It’s neither a horse nor a mule.”
Seated in the donkey cart, Yuexi was astonished.
“This is a donkey. Its name is Dingguang Immortal. Don’t tell me you’ve never even seen a donkey?”
Chuliu was curious; even daughters of wealthy families shouldn’t be so ignorant.
Yuexi’s face grew faintly sad, and she spoke softly, “I’ve ridden in carriages and palanquins, but never a donkey cart. This cart is wonderful—not stuffy at all, and you can see everything around so clearly…”
Chuliu couldn’t help but laugh.
If he didn’t know Yuexi, he might have thought she was showing off.
Yuexi suddenly realized and stared at Chuliu, “Did you say the donkey’s name is Dingguang Immortal?”
Chuliu nodded, “That’s right!”
Yuexi’s eyes sparkled, “Donkeys have names?”
Chuliu countered, “Isn’t that normal?”
Yuexi pondered for a moment, then nodded, muttering to herself, “That makes sense. Just as you’re called Xie Shuxian, I’m called Chu Yuexi, the donkey is Dingguang Immortal… That’s only logical…”
Are people and donkeys really comparable?
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Chuliu quietly grumbled, yet he was puzzled.
Her father’s surname is Zhao, but the daughter’s surname is Chu.
He didn’t ask further.
Yuexi’s status was clearly noble—such matters were best left alone.
Doumiao skillfully drove the cart, while Wen Lancang closed his eyes to rest, letting the two children chatter inside.
…
At the foot of Jinscreen Mountain, two massive stones stood tall and side by side. Behind them, two men hid, speaking in low voices.
“It’s been so long, and the father and son still haven’t come. Hedgehog, the boy doesn’t even go home on rest days—maybe he’s caught on and taken another route?”
Hedgehog was more anxious than anyone, chewing a stalk of licorice to steady his nerves. Hearing his companion, he spat out the grass and replied, “What’s the hurry? This is the only road—they’d have to detour forty miles. Only a fool would do that.”
The other said, “Are we really going to break the boy’s hands and feet? He’s a scholar—won’t the magistrate pardon us?”
“We’ve taken the money. If you don’t do the job, aren’t you afraid the master will break your own limbs?”
Hedgehog snorted, “The emperor is far away, and we’re not from Xuanyi County. We’ll slip away quietly after the job—who would suspect us?”
Just then, a man rushed down the main road, heading straight for the mountain’s base.
Hedgehog glanced over, “Rat’s here. Let’s see what he has to say.”
Soon, Rat arrived behind the stones, panting, “Hedgehog, the father and son are almost here. But there are two more—one scholar and a little girl…”
Hedgehog’s brows furrowed deeply.
After a moment, his eyes flashed with malice, “Brothers, are you brave enough to do something big with me?”
The two men stiffened, looking up at Hedgehog.
Hedgehog said fiercely, “No turning back now. Let’s kill them, seize the donkey and their belongings, and sell the girl to a brothel. We’ll live in luxury together—what do you say?”
“Brother Hedgehog, the scholar has an official rank. If we kill him, the authorities will surely investigate. Are we to become fugitives?”
Hedgehog sneered, “We already have blood on our hands. We were forced to rely on the Gongsun family, enduring their disdain. Once we pull off this job, we’ll flee far away. If the authorities chase us, we’ll become outlaws. Maybe we’ll kidnap Gongsun Tao and demand a ransom—enough for us to live well the rest of our lives.”
The two exchanged glances, “We’ll follow you, Hedgehog. We share fortune and hardship together!”
With that, the three drew short daggers, staring fiercely at the main road.
“A few bandits dare to boast so boldly. Drop your weapons and kneel, or… die!”
The four men spun around, only to discover a shadow had appeared behind them unnoticed.
Clad in black, his face covered in cold iron, his eyes radiated murderous intent.
Hedgehog realized there was no escape, and with a low, vicious growl, he barked, “One man alone can’t stop us! Brothers, kill him!”
Rat and the other lunged with their daggers, but the man in black dispatched them effortlessly, twisting their necks with ease.
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Hedgehog trembled all over, falling heavily to his knees, pleading, “Spare me, hero! We were forced—there was nothing we could do…”
The man in black stared like a hawk, and demanded coldly, “Who put you up to this?”
Hedgehog answered in haste, “It was… Gongsun Tao of the Gongsun family in Pinyang. The boy relied on his family’s power and ordered us to ambush Xie Shuxian. If we refused, he’d have killed us…”
He confessed everything, pouring all blame onto Gongsun Tao.
“The Gongsun family of Pinyang?”
The man in black seemed to recall something. After a while, he asked, “Are they relatives of Gongsun, the Deputy Minister of the Household?”
“Yes, yes! Young master Gongsun Tao is the Deputy Minister’s nephew, highly esteemed. That Xie Shuxian is just a farmer’s son—how dare he defy young master Gongsun? He deserves to die…”
Hedgehog thought the man in black feared the Deputy Minister, and found his courage.
“Crack!”
The man in black showed no emotion, instantly snapping Hedgehog’s neck.
Hedgehog collapsed, his eyes still filled with disbelief.
“How dare you ambush the young princess—you will not be spared.”
The man in black hid behind the stones, watching Doumiao drive the cart away, then swiftly leapt onto the main road.
A whistle sounded, and another man in black emerged from the shadows.
“Follow the donkey cart. Ensure everyone’s safety.”
“Yes, Director Li!”
With that, Director Li turned and headed toward the county town.
…
“Gongsun, you old villain! Daring to target my daughter Chu Zhaonan—you must be tired of living!”
Zhao Nan slammed the table and roared in anger, “Don’t think that your son’s flattery, clinging to His Majesty’s coattails, will let you do as you please… Take those three heads to him and tell him—if he dares to try again, his whole family will be wiped out!”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
Director Li turned to leave.
Chu Zhaonan knew, the Shadow Guards would surely report this to the emperor.
Gongsun Zhuo, your luck has run out.
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