Chapter 91 – Undertook the task to save someone and stirred up trouble
After finis.h.i.+ng the meal, Chu Qing-Yan immediately went to change her clothes. After she had finished tidying up and was walking out with Xi Ning, she saw that a person was already waiting at the door with his arms crossed.
It was actually Earth Spirit, the one that disapproved of her the most.
She was clearly startled and hesitantly asked. "Did His Highness dispatch you to protect me?"
Earth Spirit looked at her with cold eyes. "That's right."
Chu Qing-Yan, who was originally excited, suddenly felt as if a basin of cold water was poured on her, and she exchanged a glance with Xi Ning. She felt that on this trip, she was going to freeze to death. The enmity given off from Earth Spirit's entire body made them tremble from head to toe.
Chu Qing-Yan wanted to cry but lacked the tears, could she ask to have the person changed!?
"Ninth Miss Chu doesn't want to go?" Earth Spirit asked, somewhat impatiently.
Only now did Chu Qing-Yan answer immediately. "Let's go."
As a result, the pair of master and servant, in addition to Earth Spirit and the two plain clothed imperial bodyguards he brought, a total of five people set out.
Although the person at her side continuously gave off an objectionable aura, Chu Qing-Yan was not a person who asked that everyone treat her nicely. She knew Earth Spirit looked down on her, but it was not like she was a banknote of silver, how could everyone like her? Also, she didn't want to stick her warm face onto someone's cold b.u.t.t, so she only attended to playing with what she wanted to play with.
Along the way, there were many girls her age out amusing themselves. Girls in ancient times were usually not allowed out of the main doors nor allowed to ever take a step out the second doors. However, in the dynasty she was in, the restriction on females didn't seem that strict. Only when a woman reaches marriageable age would she take the initiative to decrease the number of times she goes out. Only because they would be busy sewing their wedding clothes and learning how to manage a household, they simply wouldn't have the leisure to go out.
However, Chu Qing-Yan was still able to see a lot of beautifully dressed girls walking around outside, picking and buying things.
Light greenish wide sleeves, pearl hairpins flickering, there was no dispute between people, only cries of joy and cheerful talk. It was unlikely to have neighbors who, no matter what wouldn't want to have any interactions. This was a dynasty where the people were simple and honest.
There were no car wheels rolling by giving off oily smoke, no second-hand smoke that would choke people. Moreover, there was no chemical pollution. This was a dynasty full of enchanting scenery and completely lacking any pollution.
Chu Qing-Yan's heart give birth to regret.
Earth Spirit, who never put any thoughts on Chu Qing-Yan could catch her grasping and sighing continuously with his sensitive hearing. He couldn't help but feel that this girl was somewhat strange. Seeing her lost in thought and muttering to herself, he retreated several steps.
Chu Qing-Yan was already prepared to treat these imperial bodyguards as air. She brought Xi Ning to walk along the bustling and lively streets, looking over there and the crowded up over there, but not buying anything. She was simply enjoying the freshness of the experience.
Although Earth Spirit was impatient, because of master's orders it was difficult for him to say anything. He could only blindly follow suit and maintain a certain distance when following after her.
Chu Qing-Yan walked to the front of a stall and saw a pearl flower hairpin that was pleasing to the eyes. Her footstep couldn't help but stop. She was about to pick it up to play with when she heard a din of noise coming from nearby. She followed the noise and looked over.
She only saw up ahead several males dressed as servants surrounding something, and the leading male dressed in flowery peac.o.c.k garments was just berating at something. She looked closely and could faintly see a delicate female figure laying on the ground, and she had some misgivings.
The stall's owner also saw this scene and directly said. "Doing sin ah, doing sin!"
Thinking this stall's owner may know something, Chu Qing-Yan immediately asked. "Proprietor, do you know what happened up ahead?"
The stall's owner originally didn't want to foolishly mix in this mess but seeing she was young, his heartfelt love for the young rose up and he said to her. "Can you see that leading male? That is His Majesty's most beloved imperial concubine Yue's biological younger brother. Ordinarly, he would do lots of 'oppressing people and stealing women' matters in the capitol. See here, I reckon he is about to bully someone else again!"
When Chu Qing-Yan heard this, she thought, so it was this kind of thing that was shown in too many TV dramas, only she never expected to encounter it. She wanted to walk up and have a look, and see who was being bullied.
She had just walked several steps when someone blocked her path. She lifted her head up to look and saw it was Earth Spirit.
Now his entire face was full of impatience, and he disapprovingly looked toward her. "Ninth Miss Chu, it's better that you walk towards home. This kind of thing, it's better to mix less in!"
Chu Qing-Yan knew she shouldn't b.u.t.t into these kind of matters, but being said like this by him, suddenly made her angry.
"You as an imperial bodyguard from Prince's manor, seeing this kind of thing, shouldn't you step forward bravely to stop it? Your ident.i.ty represents Prince Ying ah!"
Earth Spirit poured cold water to dampen her enthusiasm. "But this subordinate shouldn't look for trouble for His Highness. For this kind of matter, we should let the people from the local police (1) come and preside over justice. We as His Highness's subordinates ought to understand even more not to go outside of our duties."
Chu Qing-Yan wanted to retort again but just at this time, that mixed clamor suddenly drew closer. She and Earth Spirit both looked toward the direction of the clamor.
The woman that was surrounded suddenly rushed out of the siege, and ran toward Chu Qing-Yan's group of people. She was tripped and her whole body fell under Chu Qing-Yan's foot.
And those males in an instant came over and surrounded her.
That female was very desperate, she suddenly raised her head and met Chu Qing-Yan's pair of bright eyes. Suddenly a trace of wanting to live burst out. "Beg Miss, beg you to save me!"
"Tell you to run, tell you to run!" That flowery peac.o.c.k clothed male ruthlessly smiled. He accepted the stick handed over by his servant and she saw that he was about to strike that female.
It was lightning fast and Chu Qing-Yan didn't have time to think carefully before she lifted her hand to prevent it.
"Stop!"
Her gaze was firm as she looked toward those guys.
In the modern world, she was taught since birth to happily help other people, to root out the strong and support the weak. If everyone only knew to be selfish and defend themselves, then people that break the law and commit crimes would get away with it. It was simply encouraging them to continue doing evil. All of a sudden, her courage rushed up.
That man heard her and stopped his hand. With a face full of anger, he looked towards the person that suddenly appeared in front of him. "What stalk of scallion are you? Dare to come and control I, this daddy's matters?"
Chu Qing-Yan was still young, although her clothes were first-cla.s.s with bodyguards at her side. However, to Fu An who was always used to being a tyrant, he simply didn't put her in his eyes.
Chu Qing-Yan coldly snorted. "Bullying the common people, committing a violent act in the middle of the street. No matter who it is, would come out to say a few words of justice."
Fu An, having heard what was said, laughed heartily. He laughingly said to the servants by his side. "It's another silly little girl that hasn't seen the world. You guys tell her where those people who dared to control this daddy's matters before, where they are now!"
"Indiscriminately buried inside a coffin for eternal rest! Haha——" The servants looked towards Chu Qing-Yan with expressions that meant she had overestimated her abilities.
Chu Qing-Yan didn't care about the mob. She first helped the woman up with Xi Ning's help. When she touched the woman, she saw the many injuries on her body from being hit. It could simply be described as flesh lacerated from corporal punishment. Her heart was extremely irate. It's not that she was like the Virgin Mary, rather, there were some matters sometimes that if she encountered it, even if she didn't have the ability, she would still want to stand out. Evil must always have someone to come and control it.
And at this time, seeing Chu Qing-Yan, this silly girl not paying attention to him, he immediately flew into a rage out of humiliation. He angrily said to Chu Qing-Yan's group. "People come, beat them for me!"
"Earth Spirit, if I didn't remember incorrectly, His Highness ordered you guys to come and protect me right?" Chu Qing-Yan watched the people pressing closer, and she suddenly smiled idly towards the person at her side who stood with his arms crossed, seemingly watching a play, as if he wasn't aware that a great catastrophe was about to befall him.
Earth Spirit stared blankly and immediately knew that Chu Qing-Yan had grabbed his pulse. He could not save that female, but with master's orders present, he could not ignore Chu Qing-Yan.
But the other side was imperial concubine Yue's younger brother ah. His eyebrows puckered up.
Just as he was hesitating, the people had already pressed in.
And immediately following——
A light sound approached, the sound of wooden fish being beaten appeared. The fragrance of buddha incense was clear from a distance.
Chu Qing-Yan turned her head and saw the buddhist monk, like the wind arriving in a jade forest, standing at a street corner. The corner of his mouth had a smile as he chanted.
"Amitabha, benefactor stay your hand."
1) The Chinese is 衙門 or Yamen. It's usually a local government with a court where they hold cases. The Yamen has people equivalent to our police officers who go on the street to arrest people or maintain order. To make everyone's life easier I'll just use the modern equivalent rather than making people go back a few chapters to look up my explanation on Yamen.