Chapter 949 - 788: Husband

Bai Li’s voice was unhurried, like a gentle breeze brushing over the slightly sultry late spring, bringing a refreshing drizzle.

Zhang Xia looked up, only to see Bai Li standing at the bow in a blue Daoist robe, a wooden hairpin holding back her long hair, her figure as thin as a piece of paper.

Bai Li waved casually and levitated a plank from the boat, which lightly placed itself between the dock and the large ship: "Come aboard."

The old boatman waved to the dockworkers, who had been crowding around both sides of the dock. They immediately dispersed, some carrying goods, others repairing sails and cables, as if nothing had just happened.

Zhang Xia shook the reins, and Zaozao stepped steadily onto the large ship over the plank. Reaching the deck, she looked down at Bai Li without speaking.

Bai Li looked up at Zhang Xia on horseback, also silently watching without speaking.

She gazed at Zhang Xia, not as if she was looking at Zhang Xia herself, but at something else, her eyes gentle and clear.

Zhang Xia said calmly, "What did you see?"

Bai Li turned her head to look at the distant river surface: "I saw Luocheng City. I saw steam rising to the eaves as the baozi shop on Anxi Street opened the steamer; I saw a bullock cart passing in front of Taiping Medical Hall, leaving cow dung that angered Doctor Yao at the door with arms akimbo, cursing; saw people writing poems on Baiyi Lane, drinking on Hongyi Lane..."

Upon hearing the words "Luocheng City," the killing intent that Zhang Xia had brought with her gradually dissipated.

But Bai Li continued: "The red lanterns lined up from one end of Hongyi Lane to the other, like a river of fire; the Golden Workshop at night is even brighter than during the day, the Dancing Girls spinning like celestial maidens descending to the world. After drinking, Brother Gou’er wipes his mouth and starts bragging, talking about how he once cleaved iron armor with one slash, how he saw a giant fish leap out of the North Sea... Brother Mao’er sits nearby, pouring bowl after bowl of wine for Brother Gou’er, while he himself focuses on the food, sweeping away eighty percent of the dishes on the table."

When Zhang Xia heard these two names, her expression softened slightly: "Brother Gou’er and Brother Mao’er should be in the Jing Dynasty now, even more carefree than in Luocheng City."

Bai Li replied softly: "She Dengke and Liu Quxing would always bicker. When Liu Quxing went to the Golden Workshop, he had a medical book tucked in his chest, hoping to steal some learning while others played, to become an Imperial Physician at Taiping Medical Hall, and let his mother lead a better life. But once at the Golden Workshop, there was no time to read, and he got drunk too."

When Zhang Xia heard She Dengke’s name, her expression darkened: "Things have changed."

Bai Li nodded: "I heard too."

After talking about others, it finally came to Chen Ji, who is always mentioned when talking about Luocheng City: "I remember the first time I climbed over the wall to Taiping Medical Hall, I poked my head in and saw Chen Ji standing in the courtyard, demanding one tael of silver for passage. I thought at the time he was a bit of a ruffian, but I never expected so much to happen later on."

Zhang Xia was silent.

Bai Li continued: "When we went to Dragon King Village, it was a matter of life and death, if not for him..."

As Bai Li spoke to this point, Zhang Xia suddenly said: "My husband has always been kind-hearted."

Bai Li’s words faltered, and she remained silent for a long time.

Zhang Xia dismounted, letting go of the reins, allowing Zaozao to wander around the ship.

She herself came to the ship’s edge, looking towards Longjiang Pass: "Listening to you, it feels like matters of Luocheng City were just yesterday. Time flies so quickly, in the blink of an eye, it’s been over a year ago."

Bai Li came to the ship’s edge to stand shoulder to shoulder with her: "Yes, that day we left the Golden Workshop, brother drunkenly asked Liu Quxing what he wanted to do in the future, Liu Quxing said he wanted to be an Imperial Physician, brother then asked Brother Liang Mao’er what he wanted to do in the future, Brother Mao’er said he wanted to buy a few acres of land. Brother Mao’er asked brother what he wanted to do, brother said he wanted to be a great knight. I asked Chen Ji what he was thinking, he said he wanted to make the clouds in the sky stop... If only time could really stop there, my condolences."

The world thought Chen Ji was dead, Bai Li included.

Zhang Xia remained silent for a moment: "At another time, I would spend the night talking with you about everything that’s happened in the past year, but I don’t have time now."

Bai Li turned to look at her: "How did you know I was on this ship, and why did you come?"

Zhang Xia said calmly: "Thousands of pirates have surrounded Jingjiang County, I need the Cao Guild to rush to Jingjiang County for immediate assistance, using your fastest ships, with the wind at your back, full sails without delay."

Bai Li frowned: "Pirates usually only dare to burn, kill and loot, how dare they besiege Jingjiang City?"

Zhang Xia explained: "Someone must have colluded with the pirates, promising them great rewards, wanting them to kill everyone in the city."

Bai Li was thoughtful: "Then why did you come to ask the Cao Guild for help?"

Zhang Xia said solemnly: "Because Chen Ji is in Jingjiang County."

Bai Li was stunned: "Chen Ji is still alive?"

Zhang Xia summoned Zaozao while organizing her reins and said: "I didn’t initially want to let you know that he was alive, but then I thought, you have the right to know, and I shouldn’t be afraid of you knowing. Hurry to Jingjiang, don’t let anything happen to him."

With that, she mounted her horse, stepping over the plank to leave the large ship.

Behind Zhang Xia, a boatman on the large ship raised an apricot-yellow flag. The dockworkers saw the apricot-yellow flag, immediately dropped what they were doing and rushed to the ship, even leaving the goods on the dock behind.

Ten minutes later, a large ship carrying eight lanterns led the way out of the port, sails fully unfurled heading out, followed by hundreds of fast ships, making for a spectacular sight.

Zhang Xia stood on horseback at the Sanshan Gate, and only after confirming the departure of the Cao Guild did he feel relieved to turn Zaozao around and hurry back to the Qing Mansion.

Back at the Qing Mansion, Thirty-two was pacing back and forth under the signboard. Upon hearing the sound of hoofbeats, he quickly came forward: "Lady, we didn’t find Huang Que."

Hearing this, Zhang Xia’s heart sank: "Isn’t he in Jinling?"

Thirty-two explained: "I asked the Salt Gang’s informant, and they said that Huang Que was called away by someone named Li Si as soon as he arrived in Jinling. He left quickly, and not only did Huang Que leave, but he also took away the young and strong men of the Salt Gang, leaving not even a single ruffian from the Red Gate behind. He secretly transported three thousand jin of private salt into Jinling, hiding it in Doufu Lane without selling a single jin."

Zhang Xia pondered: "Li Si? Is it the same Li Si who helps us sell the Wuxiang Morning News?"

"It is indeed the humble one!"

Zhang Xia and Thirty-two turned their heads together, only to see a tall and skinny man approaching with a smile. The man was about thirty-two years old, wearing a gray cotton shirt and sporting a small, goat-like beard.

Zhang Xia asked in confusion: "Are you Li Si?"

Li Si approached, his gaze continually darting toward Thirty-two: "May I speak with you in private?"

Zhang Xia paused for a moment: "We’re all on the same side, feel free to speak."

Li Si clasped his hands in respect: "Foster Mother."

Thirty-two slowly opened his mouth wide, and Zhang Xia froze in place, not knowing how to respond. Even as quick-thinking as she was, she had never imagined such a situation.

Li Si calmly stated: "The humble one is indeed Li Si, one of the Five Tigers under the foster father’s command. I have been ordered to come to Jinling; firstly, the foster father predicted the court would ban the Wuxiang Morning News, so I came to assist. Secondly, it was to find Huang Que and assemble his troops to head to Jingjiang County."

Zhang Xia mused: "Did Chen Ji know early on that the Wokou would besiege Jingjiang?"

Li Si was momentarily stunned: "The Wokou are besieging the city?"

Zhang Xia frowned: "You don’t know either? Then why did he summon the Salt Gang’s forces?"

Li Si hurriedly explained: "The foster father just said a wise man won’t let him freely manipulate the Anti-Japanese Army without restraint and would find a way to control it. Training new recruits is too slow; he needs veterans. Additionally, even if the Wokou don’t besiege the city, the foster father intends to fight them; he’s calculated that the Wokou’s main base on land is near Salt City, about a two-day journey."

Zhang Xia scrutinized Li Si: "How did you persuade Huang Que?"

Li Si smiled and explained: "The foster father taught me a phrase, saying that Huang Que would recognize him upon hearing it. The phrase was known only to them and served as a warning. As expected, Huang Que set off immediately upon hearing it; he understands the foster father’s methods and dared not delay."

Zhang Xia asked in curiosity: "What phrase did he teach you?"

Li Si replied: "Originally, I was foolish and stubborn, never forgetting the kindness from the red gates being like a sword."

Zhang Xia suddenly understood: "It’s a verse from the Four Dreams of Bianliang; they once went together to the Imperial Music Bureau to listen to the opera. Did Huang Que mention how many people he could assemble on his side?"

Li Si nodded: "He mentioned it; within a few days, he can gather two thousand people to arrive in Jingjiang County without any issues."

Zhang Xia sighed slightly in relief: "So Chen Ji had planned early on..."

Saying this, she suddenly spoke gravely: "If you had come earlier, I wouldn’t have had to make my trip to the Cao Guild, and she wouldn’t have known Chen Ji is still alive... Where were you earlier?"

Li Si: "Ah?"

Zhang Xia sighed: "Never mind, it’s not your fault."

Just then, Xiao Man came running with her dress hem lifted: "Sister Axia, it’s not good."

When Xiao Man approached, she said urgently: "Lady went to the Xu Family Mansion to find Uncle, but as soon as she entered, she saw Xu Chuanyin from Huqiu Xu Family, and people from the Jinling Xu Family summoned nine clan elders from the Xu Family to choose a new clan leader in the ancestral hall."

Zhang Xia didn’t seem surprised: "With what reason?"

Xiao Man explained: "They say Uncle is wild and unruly by nature, and choosing him would bring the Xu Family to ruin. Moreover, Official Xu didn’t favor Uncle while he was alive, so it’s unlikely he’d entrust the Xu Family to him. They don’t believe the claim. One old man was shouting in the ancestral hall; if they can’t select a new clan leader, they won’t return the clan property or land, and they’re all talking about splitting the family."

Zhang Xia pondered: "Back when Official Xu was alive, he entrusted the clan property and land to them for management. Later, when he fell ill, alternating between sleep and wakefulness, he didn’t have time to deal with the clan property, leaving hidden dangers behind. Now they, relying on Uncle being alone, think he can’t do anything to them, so they want to use the clan property as leverage... Let’s go to the Xu Family now."

Saying this, she led Zaozao toward the Xu Family, taking two steps before turning back to see Li Si still following: "Why are you following?"

Li Si smiled obsequiously and clasped his hands: "Foster Mother..."

"Ah!" Xiao Man exclaimed, looking at Li Si, then at Zhang Xia.

Li Si smiled and said: "Foster Mother, it’s too crowded on the foster father’s side. After thinking it over, I realized working with you would be better."