xymnovel Chapter 63 Beginning again
Chapter 63 Beginning again
As they approached Neihuang County, Shen Ce arranged for Qin Chuan to pick up Wei Zheng's wife and children.
No matter how much Shen Ce tried to persuade him, Wei Zheng insisted on not allowing his family to travel with the delegation. The reason was simple: the post stations along the official road had their own regulations and could only accommodate officials traveling on official business.
Given his circumstances, it would be reasonable for him to return to the capital with his family, but the stubborn old man refused to do so. In his anger, he even pulled out the stick to teach Shen Ce a lesson.
When it comes to stubbornness, no one can beat him. Helpless, Shen Ce had no choice but to have Qin Chuan send two guards to protect him along the way.
Lu Changshi was very dissatisfied with this practice. Seeing that the two guards were about to leave, he reached out to stop them. He didn't care whose family the guards were going to pick up. He only knew that he was now in charge of the group and no one could leave without his permission.
Despite the hateful stares of the crowd, Lu Changshi remained unperturbed. Instead of seeking out Wei Zheng, he went straight to Shen Ce and asked with a smile, "Registrar Shen, where are you transferring the guards?"
Shen Ce, of course, wouldn't say outright that he was going to pick someone up. He laughed it off and said, "When we arrived, things weren't very peaceful here, so I sent the guards out to scout ahead, partly out of concern for Consort Cui's safety."
Lu Changshi smiled and nodded, then said in a sinister tone, "But why carry so much luggage? It's inconvenient to travel through mountains and rivers..."
"Since we're going out to scout ahead, we definitely won't be back at night, so we should bring some food. Does Attendant Lu have any objections?" Shen Ce replied without turning his head.
"What dangerous places could there be around the official road? I don't believe there are bandits among them." Lu Changshi suddenly turned his head to look at the two people who were about to leave, and chuckled, "If you two dare to leave, I will punish you both when we return to the capital."
Shen Ce, mounted on his horse, snorted coldly, raised his whip, and pointed at the surrounding guards: "Eunuch Lu, I respect your rank and have only obeyed you all this way. You said you could travel 180 li a day, and these brothers rode alongside you. You said you would take turns protecting Consort Cui day and night, and my brothers have done their best. But if they obstruct us again today, or threaten to punish us..."
Shen Ce paused for a moment as he spoke: "Why don't you check whose orders these brothers are actually listening to?"
All the guards in the delegation had fought alongside Shen Ce in the Xuanwu Gate, and upon hearing their leader speak like that, they all huddled around him.
They all abandoned their usual honest and simple demeanor, looking at Lu Changshi with cold indifference, as if they could skin him alive at Shen Ce's command.
Seeing that more than ten guards had surrounded him and two junior eunuchs, making it impossible for them to move, Lu Changshi panicked. He turned to look at the Cui family carriage, and seeing that there was still no reaction, he hesitated and said, "It's just one or two guards. Why is Registrar Shen standing up for them?"
Shen Ce spurred his horse forward a few steps and calmly looked at Attendant Lu: "These are not guards, but my brothers who have risked their lives for me. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am today. Tell me, do you want to step forward?"
"I won't make things difficult for Attendant Lu; Wen Wuyin and I will fill the vacancies for these two officials!"
Shen Ce didn't need to turn around. Wen Wuyin naturally stopped his horse to the side and said loudly, "Although I am a civil official, I have indeed practiced martial arts since childhood. I am more than qualified to be a guard. We two are worth it for the first shift tonight."
Seeing that his official authority couldn't suppress the crowd, and with only two useless people by his side, and since Young Master Wen had already spoken, Lu, the eunuch, couldn't say anything more. He was just stuck here, having lost face.
Just then, a gentle voice came from Cui's carriage: "Everyone has worked hard. Although the journey has been remote, with your efforts, I believe there will be no problems."
Upon hearing Consort Cui's words, Shen Ce glanced at Attendant Lu, then flicked his whip to disperse the crowd. At the same time, he lowered his voice and said, "These soldiers entered Xuanwu Gate with the former Prince Qin. If you feel you have lost face, you can appeal to His Majesty. But then, it's hard to say who His Majesty will favor."
Lu Changshi pursed his lips, remaining silent, but staring intently at Shen Ce.
Shen Ce ignored his threatening gaze. Was it worth offending the eunuch for the sake of two common soldiers?
He felt it was well worth it.
He himself came from a military background. If he couldn't protect his soldiers, who would dare to fight alongside him in the future, whether on the battlefield or in the officialdom?
That night, Shen Ce and Wen Wuyin stood properly at the entrance of the post station, keeping their promise to each other.
After this incident, Attendant Lu did not cause any further trouble for the delegation until they reached the territory of Weizhou and were almost at the village where the previous lone household had been.
Shen Ce had prepared food well in advance, and even had two doses of Bald Chicken Powder prepared. When they arrived at the border, he simply raised his hand and the convoy stopped.
Wei Zheng and Shen Ce got out of the carriage together, and Lu Changshi did not ask any further questions.
Wei Zheng merely glanced in the direction of the village, then turned back to the carriage. Once seated, he lifted the curtain and said, "You should go alone; I won't go."
Although Shen Ce was puzzled, he didn't ask any further questions. He followed the path through the fields toward the village, passing the village monument and the collapsed houses. As soon as he entered the village, he called out, "Li Erwa, have your kids come out and greet you. They brought you some food."
The sound echoed quietly through the village without causing the slightest ripple. Shen Ce immediately realized something was wrong: it was impossible for none of the dozen or so wives to be in their houses. Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was cooking time and there wasn't even a wisp of smoke. Realizing something was amiss, he hurriedly ran towards the village.
Shen Ce hesitated on the door, and after holding his breath for a long time, he finally reached out. Unlike last time, it was not complicated, and the door opened easily.
He stood at the door without going in, remained silent for a long time, put down what he was carrying at the door, and turned back to the convoy.
Inside the carriage, Wei Zheng tossed the scroll to Shen Ce and asked indifferently, "Is it as you expected?"
Shen Ce shook his head.
Wei Zheng closed the scroll and asked with a smile, "Will you still dare to offer advice on this matter when you return?"
"No need. The students can work on it little by little in the future. Things will get better eventually."
"That's good, go read your book."
The caravan crossed the great river, passed through the deep mountains, and headed west until shouts rang out again on both sides of the official road. Shen Ce then knew that they had entered Guanzhong.
Shen Ce got up and looked out the window. He saw the huge Mingde Gate. He was home. He was home.
Consort Cui's carriage naturally drove directly into the imperial city, and Shen Ce, as the deputy envoy, naturally had to go to the palace with Wei Zheng to report back.
Before parting, he made a bet with Wen Wuyi that Li Er would definitely go to see Consort Cui first, and then come to see Wei Zheng and him.
Wen was undoubtedly puzzled, but Shen Ce laughed and said: Who would give a second glance to a donkey that has been freed from its millstone?