kvmb Chapter 256 Zhao Jue Has a Thought
Chapter 256 Zhao Jue Has a Thought
Zhao Jue tried to dodge, but it was too late. His expression hardened, and just as the out-of-control horse collided with him, he turned sideways, grabbed the horse's mane, and nimbly leaped onto its back.
He lifted the reins and pulled hard on them, causing the horse to rear up and finally come to a stop.
The coachman was terrified, his face pale and his legs trembling. He said gratefully, "Young master, thank you so much for saving my young lady."
Zhao Jue was a military general with martial arts skills and amazing arm strength, which enabled him to control this accident.
If he were a frail scholar, he would have been half-dead, if not killed.
He dismounted and said coldly, "Why did the horse go out of control?"
The coachman looked alarmed: "I don't know who hit the horse's rump with a stone. The horse was frightened and just... just lost control."
Zhao Jue circled the horse to examine it and found a bloodstain on its rump. It didn't look like it had been made by a stone thrown at it, but rather by a slingshot or similar tool.
At this moment, the carriage curtain was lifted, and a maidservant came out of the carriage. She brought out a wooden ladder, placed it next to the carriage, and helped a woman down from the carriage.
The driver quickly called out, "Miss."
Zhao Jue followed the driver's gaze and saw that the woman was beautiful and graceful, wearing a jasmine-white long dress that made her look delicate and frail.
"Young master, thank you for saving me." Yue Niang was frightened, her eyes filled with tears, and said apologetically, "I came to the capital to visit relatives. I am not familiar with the streets of the capital and wandered around aimlessly, which startled the horse and almost injured you."
Zhao Jue wasn't about to argue with a woman, so he asked, "Where do your relatives live?"
Yue Niang took a letter out of her sleeve and gave it to him: "My aunt lives in Wuping Lane."
Zhao Jue glanced at the address on the letter and frowned.
He had served in the Five Cities Garrison and had some knowledge of the streets and alleys of the capital.
Several wealthy merchants lived in Wuping Lane, but they moved away a couple of years ago for reasons unknown.
That alley has been abandoned and no one lives there to this day.
Upon closer inspection, Zhao Jue noticed that the letter was somewhat old, with yellowed paper, and did not appear to be a recent letter.
"Are you really here to seek refuge with relatives?" Zhao Jue became suspicious and looked at Yue Niang with a probing gaze: "Did you exchange letters with your aunt before you went to the capital?"
"When my parents died unexpectedly, my aunt sent me a letter, telling me to come to the capital to stay with her after I finished observing the mourning period for my parents."
Yue Niang said uneasily, "After my mourning period ended, I wrote to my aunt. I originally planned to wait until my aunt's letter arrived before going to the capital. But my clansmen saw me, an orphan girl, keeping watch..."
At this point, she realized she had said something she shouldn't have, and quickly changed the subject: "So I didn't wait for my aunt's letter and went to the capital first."
Zhao Jue glanced at the carriage decorations without showing any emotion; their luxurious and opulent nature clearly indicated how wealthy her family was.
An orphan girl with no parents, holding a large sum of money, will naturally attract unwanted attention.
He handed the letter to Yue Niang, gave her directions, but did not mention that her aunt had moved away.
Moon Lady was very grateful: "Thank you for your help, young master."
The maid took a box from the carriage.
"I have no way to repay your kindness, so I will give you some mundane items as a token of my gratitude." Yue Niang handed the box to Zhao Jue, saying, "Please accept this, young master."
"It was nothing more than a small favor," Zhao Jue said, but considering his tight finances, he readily accepted the box and said in a high-sounding manner, "You are a woman of impeccable character, and you should not have any connection with a man like me. I will accept your gift as a token of my gratitude, and the debt between us will be wiped clean."
After saying this, Zhao Jue strode away.
Watching Zhao Jue's departing figure, Yue Niang subconsciously tugged at her collar, revealing two deep red, ambiguous marks beneath it.
She curled her lips slightly: "This young master Zhao is too hypocritical; he's not as frank as his father."
-
After leaving the alley, Zhao Jue did not return to Xingning Street, but went to Wuping Alley.
After a wealthy family moves away, they will leave behind a steward to guard the house.
Yue Niang's aunt lived in Wuping Lane. Even though she had moved away, she could still move in because of her status.
He became suspicious of Yue Niang's identity and deliberately hid in the shadows to find out the truth.
A short while later, the carriage slowly drove up and stopped in front of one of the houses.
Zhao Jue saw the maid help Yue Niang down from the carriage, knock on the gate, and take out a token from his sleeve.
The steward guarding the house recognized the token, his face showing respect, and he eagerly invited the person into the house.
Zhao Jue stared at the tightly closed gate, and his suspicions were dispelled.
He lowered his eyes, opened the wooden box in his hand, which contained ten silver ingots, each weighing ten taels.
This hundred taels of silver came just in time to solve my immediate problem.
Just as Zhao Jue was about to leave, he suddenly saw one carriage after another stopping in front of the house.
The bodyguards escorting the carriage carried the chests and boxes into the house.
Suddenly, Yue Niang's words flashed through Zhao Jue's mind.
Her parents died, leaving behind a huge fortune. Her relatives coveted her wealth, so she went to the capital to seek refuge with her aunt.
It seems they brought all their wealth to the capital.
Whoever marries her will inherit the family fortune.
Zhao Jue couldn't help but have his own thoughts. If he had this sum of money, why would he be in such a difficult situation now?
He took a deep look at the house, then turned and left Wuping Lane.
-
Shen Qingtan was thinking about the Qin family visiting her home, so she got up early and went to the Princess of Zhenbei's courtyard to select some gifts for them.
The Qin family arrived at the Prince's Mansion at 9:00 AM. Shen Qingtan was worried that they would be reserved, so she went to the gate of the mansion to greet them personally after the steward announced their arrival.
"Uncle Qin, Aunt Qin, Yaoyao."
Shen Qingtan went up to greet her.
Mr. Qin and his wife were very nervous. It was their first time dealing with the powerful and influential family of the Prince of Zhenbei, and they didn't dare to look away.
The couple forced an unnatural smile at Shen Qingtan.
Shen Qingtan smiled and said, "Uncle Qin, Aunt Qin, don't be shy, make yourselves at home."
Mr. Qin and his wife could no longer smile.
Princess Zhenbei was very kind of her to invite them over, out of respect for Shen Qingtan.
Boss Qin dared not rely on his relationship with Shen Qingtan to curry favor with the powerful Prince of Zhenbei.
Especially when the disaster victims from Guanzhou caused trouble at the city gate, he even spoke ill of Shen Qingtan's father in front of her.
“Sister Shen, my parents are just very stubborn.” Qin Yao took Shen Qingtan’s arm. “Before my father got off the carriage, he said that he was a worldly man and that going to the Prince’s mansion was like strolling through his own backyard.”
Now, when I enter the gates of the Prince's Mansion, I tremble as I speak.
Shen Qingtan couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Boss Qin's nervous expression.
Suddenly, Qin Yao stopped in her tracks and looked at the lion cat lantern hanging from the eaves. The adorable little kitten reminded her of the sugar figurines she used to make.
"Sister Shen, I was going to make a sugar rabbit for you, but that Pei guy got his hands on it."
P.S.: My darlings, here's a new chapter. There will be more updates later, so don't wait up. Read them when you wake up in the morning. Goodnight~