Chapter 6: Listening through the Curtain

Outside the window came the slightly restrained laughter of the men, mixed with the respectful voice of Cui Qi, and the laughter of Fang Si was the loudest, provoking a rebuke from the eldest brother.

The eldest brother is called Zhang Guangsheng, the second brother is Lu Zhenping, the third is Mo Jiakang, the fourth is Fang Jinniu, the fifth is Teng Bupo, the sixth is Li Chuyi, and the seventh is Zhang Hantang.

These seven men had just reported their names to the flag official. Since the reign of Emperor Tongde, there had been continuous wars, including the expedition to Goryeo and the defeat of the Tatars. In the tenth and fourteenth years of Tongde, taxes were raised twice within five years. In the fifteenth year of Tongde, there was a once-in-a-century drought, causing widespread suffering and prompting many people to leave their homes and seek refuge in the prosperous regions of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and the capital.

These seven brothers were among them. They made a living by doing odd jobs. As the twelfth month approached, there were few opportunities for odd jobs in the capital. They decided to go to Fengtai and Changping, where they heard that there were many greenhouses growing winter vegetables. As winter approached, business would be better. They were strong and capable of doing heavy lifting.

Luo Jinyan listened attentively to the sounds outside the carriage, seven voices, but one of them was Cui Qi.

One person had not spoken all along.

In front of the flag official, it was the eldest brother Zhang Guangsheng who reported their names on behalf of the others.

No, he had cleared his throat once.

The voice sounded young, but after he cleared his throat, the other men fell silent, and although they continued to chat and laugh, it was clear that their demeanor had changed.

That person was not the eldest brother, but the seventh brother Zhang Hantang.

Could it be that among these seven men, the one with the most authority was not the eldest brother Zhang Guangsheng, but the youngest Zhang Hantang?

Unfortunately, due to the snow, the oiled cloth covering the window of the mule cart was tightly closed, and the men walking outside could not be seen from the carriage curtain.

Luo Jinyan couldn't help but feel curious. She pushed aside the curtain again, and the sky had already darkened.

The one they were waiting for should be arriving soon.

Luo Jinyan wrote in the palm of Xia Zhi's hand: "Don't be afraid."

Xia Zhi was a little puzzled. The wind lamp on the mule cart was lit, and the faint light shone through the crack in the door curtain, casting a warm glow on Luo Jinyan's delicate cheeks like sheep-fat jade. There was a faint smile on her lips, and her eyes were even more cheerful as she mischievously blinked at Xia Zhi.

Xia Zhi was about to speak when the mule cart suddenly came to a halt.

She was startled and lifted the curtain to ask, "Fang Si, what's happening?"

"Someone is blocking our path!" Fang Si had already jumped off the mule cart and rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight.

Xia Zhi urged, "Fang Si, come back quickly and protect the young lady!"

"Fourth brother, get back on the cart and protect the young lady. Let us handle the fight!" Several men who had been following behind the mule cart had already run up.

Fang Si stomped his feet in frustration, then jumped back onto the cart, cursing, "For the sake of the young lady, spare these rascals. Brothers, don't hold back, deal with these scoundrels!"

Suddenly, there was a thud, and a person was thrown over, causing the mule cart to sway, and the person landed on Fang Si's leg.

"Seventh brother, why did you throw this weakling to me?" Fang Si asked.

In the darkness came a young voice, "Those people are Cui's accomplices. You keep an eye on him."

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhi suddenly realized. The young lady had sent the military officer to find the post station in order to lure Cui Qi's accomplices. But this was too dangerous. What if these rough men were no match for those people?

Thinking of this, she took out a brass scissors from her bag, pulled up the quilt, covered Luo Jinyan's head, and stood in front of the curtain-separated door. If those thieves dared to rush in, she would protect her young lady at all costs.

Outside the mule cart, the sounds of shouting and wailing were incessant, mixed with Fang Si's cursing: "Damn, these punks dare to rob the road with such little skill. Meeting us is their misfortune!"

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the sounds outside gradually quieted down. Xia Zhi lifted the curtain to look outside and then turned to the covered Luo Jinyan, saying, "Young lady, those thieves have all been driven away, no, one of them was captured alive."

Luo Jinyan lowered the quilt covering her head and smiled.

Her young lady rarely smiled so happily. Xia Zhi was stunned. The young lady looked so beautiful when she smiled, no, she was dazzling.

But it was strange. These men had driven away the thieves and captured one alive, and according to their nature, they should have come to the front of the mule cart to boast loudly, but apart from the loud exclamations of Fang Si, the others only murmured quietly, and the mule cart continued to move slowly.

Unusual behavior is suspicious. Xia Zhi became alert. She tentatively asked Fang Si, "Why is Cui's idiot not moving?"

Fang Si laughed, "He was struck by Seventh Brother's palm strike and won't wake up for a while."

"What about the person they just captured? What will happen to him?" Xia Zhi asked again.

"That person has been tied up and is being dragged behind the mule cart. As for what will happen to him...," Fang Si scratched his head, "you'll have to ask Seventh Brother. He's the one with the most tricks."

Ask Seventh Brother? Not the eldest brother?

Xia Zhi let down the curtain and saw that Luo Jinyan had already lit a small lamp.

"Young lady..."

She was about to speak, but Luo Jinyan nodded to her, indicating that she had already heard.

It was now certain that although the seven brothers were arranged in order of age, the youngest, Seventh Brother Zhang Hantang, was the leader.

Luo Jinyan couldn't help but be very interested in this young man whose face she hadn't seen clearly.

She only had a quick glance at the seven men when Xia Zhi called for help. They were all dressed in tattered clothes, with snowflakes on their hair and bodies. Apart from their tall stature, she didn't have any particular impression of them. It was Xia Zhi who had been standing outside the carriage all along.

She wrote in Xia Zhi's palm: What does Lao Qi look like?

Xia Zhi tilted his head and thought for a moment before replying, "Well, Lao Qi was standing at the back. I didn't look closely, but I remember he was about the same height as the others, maybe a bit slender. Oh, and he was the only one without a beard."

Judging from their voices, these men were not very old. The oldest, Zhang Guangsheng, was only in his twenties. Their bearded appearances were simply due to their lack of grooming, and Lao Qi's lack of a beard might be because he hadn't reached the age to grow one yet.

When the mule cart stopped again, she heard Luo Ming's voice, announcing their arrival at the post station.

The post station was not as comfortable as an inn, but it was safe. Luo Jinyan gave Xia Zhi two taels of silver to arrange a table of food and wine. She guessed that Luo Ming, being proud of his status, would not want to dine with a group of martial artists, so she instructed Xia Zhi to inform the servants at the post station to prepare a few dishes separately for Luo Ming.

After Xia Zhi had made the arrangements, she returned to the room and found Luo Jinyan reading "The Scenery of the Great Zhou" under the dim light.

A maid brought in the food, and Xia Zhi helped set it on the heated brick bed, then helped Luo Jinyan wash his hands.

"Miss, it has been snowing heavily for the past few days, so there are no fresh vegetables at the inn. Fortunately, there is plenty of beef and mutton. Mr. Luo has been wearing a long face as if everyone owes him money, but the seven brothers are very happy and keep thanking us. When I arrived, they were playing dice."

Xia Zhi chattered away as she arranged the dishes.

Luo Jinyan drank half a bowl of white porridge, ate a few steamed lamb dumplings, and rinsed his mouth with fragrant tea.

Having been by Miss Luo's side for three years, Xia Zhi knew her mistress's habits well.

She had the servants clear the dishes and then took out the writing materials from the box, trimmed the wick of the lamp, rolled up her sleeves, and started grinding ink.

Luo Jinyan picked up a wolf hair brush and wrote on the paper: Is Lao Qi also playing dice?

Xia Zhi shook her head and said, "This time I paid attention. While others were drinking, he was the only one eating and didn't join in the dice game. Although he is very tall, he should only be a few years older than me. As for his appearance..."