NOVEL NEXT Chapter 66: The Knight and the Naive Youth
Chapter 66: The Knight and the Naive Youth
At noon, a young maid with a spiral hairdo brought lunch. She didn’t leave, but stood beside Xu Lian, blinking her eyes curiously as she watched him eat.
Xu Lian found it strange and looked up at her, “Don’t you have other things to do?”
The young maid shook her head slightly, “I’m responsible for the tasks in the Western Courtyard. Usually, there aren’t many guests at home, and right now, you’re the only one in the Western Courtyard.”
Nothing to do… Xu Lian understood and buried his head in his meal.
The young maid said, “My grandfather told me that you’re someone the young master brought back from Green Bamboo Town, and you’re planning to work here as a servant?”
Choking, Xu Lian stuttered. That old butler, such a big mouth! When did he ever say that he’d be a servant?
The young maid continued, “My name is Xiao Yu. I’ve grown up in the Lin family with my grandfather. I know this place very well. If you have any questions in the future, you can ask me.”
“Alright… Xiao Yu, I understand. You can go and do your job now.”
Xu Lian continued to eat.
Xiao Yu cutely touched her forehead, “Grandfather was right, you’re indeed very honest and straightforward. I just told you, didn’t I? I’m in charge of the Western Courtyard, and right now, you’re the only one here. I don’t have any other duties.”
Xu Lian ate quietly, not wanting to talk anymore. When he asked her to go and do her work, he meant for her to leave. If she couldn’t understand that, then who was the one with the slow brain?
“The Lin family treats their servants well. In general, they don’t give you too many tasks. Once you finish your work, you are free to spend your time as you wish. Since you just came from the countryside, you’re not familiar with the environment here. I can show you around later.”
Xiao Yu, like her butler grandfather, was clearly a chatterbox, talking incessantly like a little sparrow.
Xu Lian planned to go out for a walk after finishing his meal. He had an idea, “There’s no need to visit the Lin family’s mansion. I already checked it out. I want to explore the county town. Do you know the town? Can you show me around in the evening?”
Xiao Yu said, “Of course, I often go to the market to buy delicious things. We don’t have to wait until the evening; I can take you out right after you finish eating.”
Xu Lian looked at her in surprise, “You’ve learned martial arts? You can go out in the daytime?”
Xiao Yu giggled, “You don’t know, do you? In the county town, wealthy families usually have their servants learn martial arts to make it easier for them to run errands. With better physical fitness, of course, they can go out.”
Xu Lian nodded in understanding. This was a good point, unlike ordinary women in the city who were confined to their homes during the day.
After Xu Lian finished his meal, Xiao Yu cleared the table and took the dishes to the kitchen. She quickly returned, “Let’s go.”
Xu Lian remembered the old butler, “Shouldn’t you tell your grandfather? So that he doesn’t think I’ve kidnapped his granddaughter”.
Xiao Yu covered her mouth and laughed, “You, a country boy, it’s more like I’d kidnap you.”
Teased… Xu Lian followed her out of the Lin Family Estate, walking on foot. There was no need to ride a horse; the Lin family estate was located in a good part of the county town, so it wasn’t far to anywhere.
“That street over there is the county office. Beyond the county office is the most famous First Street. Ordinary people can’t go there. Only those who own or rent a house on First Street can go in to cultivate.”
Without Xu Lian asking, Xiao Yu pointed out things to him as they walked, introducing him to the city.
Xu Lian also observed the surroundings. Most of the people on the street were men, but there were also many women who had obviously learned martial arts to be able to go out during the day. He also saw several martial arts schools where the sounds of training could be heard, indicating that martial arts were very popular in Pingyang County.
Xiao Yu took out a small purse embroidered with lotus flowers and took out two copper coins. She bought two skewers of candied haws and gave one to Xu Lian.
Xu Lian, a seventeen-year-old young man, felt a bit embarrassed, but since no one knew him in the county town, he took it and started eating.
If he were to eat this in Green Bamboo Town, he would definitely turn heads. Manager Xu was a big celebrity in Green Bamboo Town.
“Clippity-clop!” The sound of a fast approaching carriage caught their attention. Xu Lian turned around and saw people hurrying to get out of the way.
As the carriage approached.
“Get out of the way!”
The burly driver waved his long whip, threatening to strike anyone who moved too slowly. Some people were hit and held their sides in pain, not daring to complain.
Xiao Yu quickly pulled Xu Lian to the side so that they wouldn’t get hit.
Xu Lian felt a mixture of anger and concern, but there was little they could do at the moment. They continued walking, with Xiao Yu leading him through the city.
Noticing the fine materials used in the carriage and the driver’s arrogance, Xu Lian guessed that this must be an important person from Pingyang County. An idea struck him: a staged accident could be a good opportunity to implement his money-making plan.
Without hesitation, he planted his feet firmly on the ground and gently pushed Xiao Yu away.
This unexpected move made the driver pause for a moment, then he flew into a rage and lashed out with his whip.
Xu Lian’s eyes narrowed, and with a swift move, he caught the whip in his hand.
With a hard pull!
The driver stumbled and screamed, falling from the fast moving carriage. He hit the ground with a thud, his head bleeding profusely, and almost run over by the carriage, he was likely dead or on the brink of death.
Seeing the carriage lose control, Xu Lian used both hands to brace it, bringing it to a sliding stop to prevent it from colliding with the crowd.
The people on the street looked at the bleeding, unconscious driver with a mixture of excitement and satisfaction, then at the young man who had stopped the carriage with a sense of regret.
“This young man is in trouble. Doesn’t he know that this is the carriage of a young master?”
“Probably a martial arts apprentice from one of the martial arts schools. Young and full of blood, relying on a bit of skill, he’s acting like a knight from stories, not realizing that a knight and a hothead are just one thought apart.”
The curtain of the luxurious carriage was lifted, and a young man in fine silk robes stepped out. Inside, a frightened young girl with a pale face was also present, both of them a bit disheveled, clearly having been intimate moments before.
The young man in the fine silk robes looked at the fallen driver, then at Xu Lian who had stopped the carriage. His eyes turned cold, “What do you mean?”
Xu Lian nonchalantly dusted off his clothes, “Your carriage was rampaging through the streets, and your driver was brandishing his whip and acting arrogantly. What’s wrong with stopping it?”
The young man in fine silk robes looked Xu Lian up and down, noting his simple attire, and laughed mockingly, “Where did you learn martial arts? Your parents saved and scrimped to collect money for your training, which was not easy. They hope for your success, so you should know how to cherish it. By stopping the carriage, you’ve not only endangered your own life, but also the hopes of your family.”
The street fell silent.
Everyone could sense the weight of his words!
Xiao Yu rushed over, pulled Xu Lian and bowed to the young man in the carriage repeatedly, “Young Master, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. He’s a servant from the Lin family on Third Street, and he doesn’t know any better.”
People wanted to cover her mouth. Mentioning that he was a servant might have been better if the young master didn’t know his background, but now it would only make things worse.
Sure enough, the young man’s eyes turned even colder, “A servant who doesn’t know his place, a reckless and ignorant thing!”
A group of patrolling constables ran over.
The chief constable smiled apologetically, “Young Master Gu, what’s wrong?”
“This man committed an assault on the street and tried to kill me.”
Gu Yanming pointed at Xu Lian, then climbed back into the carriage, too disdainful to say more.
The head constable didn’t even bother to ask Xu Lian and simply waved his hand, “Seize him!”
The constables took off the chains from their shoulders and began to wrap them around Xu Lian, looking menacing.
“This is a misunderstanding, please don’t do this.”
Xiao Yu was on the verge of tears.
Xu Lian cooperated as the constables wrapped the chains around him. If they took him away without compensation, he wouldn’t let it go, “Xiao Yu, go back.”
Without giving him a chance to say more, the officers pulled the chains and dragged him away.