Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 81 The Night Visitor

Dugu Jingyao's heart was already in turmoil, and countless shouts pounded in her chest, but ultimately failed to break through her lips.

Her face remained impeccably pure, as if even her expression had solidified into an inviolable statue.

Just then, there was a sudden knock on the door, and Yang Can and Dugu Jingyao were both startled.

Is anyone still coming this late?
Yang Can was secretly surprised, but Dugu Jingyao felt as if she had been granted a pardon—it was as if a bodhisattva had appeared to her!

"Who?"

As Yang Can raised his voice to ask, he released the hand that was holding hers.

Tsk, those little hands are so soft and warm, it feels quite comfortable to hold them.

However, even if no one came, he would have found an excuse to let her go.

She's a little spy; flirting with her is fine, but we can't actually take her down.

Sleeping with someone isn't a foolproof method. What if she stabs me while I'm asleep?
"Sir, a distinguished guest wishes to see you."

I could tell it was Wangcai just by the voice. That blind dog certainly came at the right time today.

"Who wants to see me?"

"Lord Bald."

Upon hearing that it wasn't Yu Rui, Dugu Jingyao immediately felt relieved.

She immediately curtsied to Yang Can and said, "Master, this humble nun will take her leave."

Dugu Jingyao turned and left, no longer caring about her fairy-like demeanor.

"Alright, little master, go and rest now. But remember, I won't let you go."

Dugu Jingyao's small hand, which had already touched the shoji door, trembled slightly, and she turned her head to glare at him.

Yang Can's gaze was filled with deep affection: "Jingyao, you are mine. From the moment I saw you, you were mine!"

Dugu Jingyao's heart skipped a beat. She fumbled three times before finally opening the shoji door.

Under the eaves, Bald Falcon stood beside Wangcai.

Suddenly the door opened, and the beautiful, ethereal girl he had seen during the day appeared in the doorway. Hayabusa immediately realized what was going on.

I knew it! How could a woman of such elegance be a maidservant?

It turns out she was Master Yang's woman.

I wonder what it would be like if such a fairy were to fall into the mortal world.

A fleeting thought crossed his mind, but he quickly suppressed it.

With a knife to my throat, I have no time to think about women.

"So it's Lord Baldman! Please, please come in."

Yang Can then appeared at the door and invited the bald-headed Falcon Evil inside.

Wangcai brewed them a pot of tea and then quietly withdrew.

Yang Can asked, "Lord Baldman, is there something you need that comes so late?"

The bald-headed falcon stared intently at Yang Can, who calmly returned his gaze without flinching.

After a long while, the bald-haired Falcon Demon slowly asked, "Master Yang, I'm asking you very seriously, is it really true that my batch of goods is not in your hands?"

Yang Can's face suddenly darkened: "If what you're saying, Lord Baldhead, is true, then you may leave now."

Bald-haired Falcon Demon said in a deep voice, "It really isn't in your possession, Master Yang? If you tell me, I'll believe you! Please give me a clear answer, Master Yang!"

Yang Can was displeased: "Of course it's not in my hands! But, what exactly is that batch of goods of yours?"
Don't tell me that those are just ordinary valuables.

If you're robbed of ordinary valuables, just accept your fate!

The cost of finding it would be even greater; why go through all that trouble?

Bald Falcon smiled bitterly. "Since you won't admit it, why ask me what I lost?"
He thought for a moment, then raised three fingers to the sky and solemnly swore an oath.

"I, Tuoba Junxie, swear to the great Tengri!"
If that batch of goods were in Master Yang's hands, I would gladly exchange everything I have for it.

"After the deed is done, there will be no repercussions. If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death."

Yang Can smiled bitterly and said, "Bald-haired sir, even if you swear a hundred oaths, it won't help."

I led men to chase after them because someone from our village had died at the hands of those who peddle mountain goods.

I went there to seek justice, but as soon as I entered Canglang Gorge, I saw the people of the Bali tribe fighting with them.

In this situation, what could I do? Both sides thought I was an accomplice brought in by the other, so I could only run away as fast as I could.

Yang Can said with a pained expression, "Lord Baldhead, do you know how much this has affected my prestige since I just became the head of Feng'an Manor?"

I am a retainer of the Yu clan. If I have taken any important goods, then of course I should hand them over to the clan lord.

But have you ever heard of me handing anything over to the lord?

Bald Falcon was stunned for a long time, then couldn't help but sigh deeply and dejectedly lowered the finger he had used to swear the oath.

The most troublesome thing about this matter is that he, the victim, is like a corrupt official who has been robbed, and dares not speak out at all.

Even Yu Xiaobao, who was willing to befriend him, would turn against him if he found out that the goods he lost were actually a batch of armor.

However, Bald Falcon had no choice but to accept his fate.

Even if the goods can't be found, he still needs to know where they went.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to explain it to his older brother.

As long as this guy has somewhere to go, his older brother's anger will have an outlet.

From this perspective, the best outcome for him is to stick to his guns and fight to the bitter end.

Did he not know that Ba Limo was the least suspicious, or even not suspicious at all?
Of course he knew; he knew it better than Balim himself.

But what can he do?

If he goes back and says the goods are lost, and he doesn't even know how they were lost, his older brother will definitely stab him in the head.

What if he says the goods were stolen by the Yu family? Isn't it perfectly reasonable for the Yu family to crack down on smuggling on their territory?

Even if this grudge must be avenged, the Yu clan's power is no weaker than that of the Tufa tribe.

Moreover, the bald tribe was surrounded by wolves, so it was impossible for them to fight the Yu family with all their might.

In that case, no matter how angry the eldest brother is, at most he can only rush through Canglang Gorge and slaughter Feng'an Village.

But how could the Yu family possibly let this go?

It seems that in the end, his head will have to be used to quell this conflict. Therefore, he must find a suitable target for his elder brother to vent his anger on.

He came to see Yang Can tonight with less than a 10% chance that Yang Can had indeed taken his goods and was willing to exchange them with him.

He was truly willing to give up everything he had in exchange for Yang Can's agreement.

As one of the leaders of the Bald Tribe, he owned herds of cattle and sheep, which were measured in "valleys" and "plains".

He also possessed a thousand households of subjects and more than three hundred slaves, all of whom he was willing to give up in exchange.

pity……

Hope was dashed.

Could this matter really have nothing to do with Yang Can?
Yang Can was merely a retainer of the Yu family, and armor was indeed of little use to him. Could he possibly raise an army in rebellion?

Or perhaps "Master Shan" didn't want to make the deal at all, and it was Master Shan who used this method to sabotage the deal?

The thought had barely formed in his mind when it was extinguished by Bald Falcon.

Offending them would cut off an important route for selling mountain products, which would be a greater loss for the mountain folk.

Moreover, the goods haven't been delivered to them yet, so Shanye can't keep their money.

It seems there's only one way left.

Bald Falcon gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "The only people who appeared in Canglang Gorge at that time, besides your Feng'an Village, were from the Bali Tribe."

He slowly raised his eyes and stared intently at Yang Can: "I believe in Master Yang."

Therefore, I will continue to keep an eye on Balimo, and if I confirm that this was done by the Bali tribe..."

"Rest assured, I, Yang Can, will never get involved in your feud!"

Yang Can puffed out his chest and answered with great enthusiasm: "However, you two are both my guests!"
If I find out you had a conflict here, do you think I, as the local supervisor, should do nothing?

A cold, mocking smile appeared on the bald-haired Falcon Demon's face: "Don't worry, Master, Falcon Demon won't make things difficult for you."

Yang Canxin said happily, "That's good. By the way, Bald Lord, you really enjoy doing business? I'm planning to start a small business, and I'll need your help in the future."

“Alright, if I have any cow or sheep hides to sell or want to buy anything, I will definitely look after you, Master Yang.”

Bald-haired Falcon Demon downed his tea in one gulp, then stood up and said, "Excuse me, farewell."

Bald Falcon hurriedly returned to his residence and immediately summoned a trusted guard.

"You should leave first thing tomorrow morning and ride back to the tribe as fast as you can."

Bald Falcon Evil, his face ashen, said in a deep voice, "Tell the chief that Shan Ye's shipment was swallowed up by the Bali tribe."

The people of the Bali tribe tried to frame others and mislead me, but I played along. I lured Bali away under the pretext of investigating the whereabouts of the mountain goods.

"My lord, please send troops immediately! While Balimo is away, annex his tribe and reclaim our goods!"

"Yes, sir!" The confidant knew the matter was of great importance, and his expression immediately turned stern.

……

Dugu Jingyao returned to her residence and covered herself with the blanket.

No, to be precise, it covered up to below the nose, leaving only the eyes exposed.

In the moonlight, those eyes were wider than the moon and brighter than the stars.

Does that guy surnamed Yang like me?
Okay... I'm so outstanding, of course everyone loves me.

But who are you to like me?
Do you think you can afford to like this? My dad'll kill you if he finds out!

Having just escaped the tiger's den, it's already being targeted by wolves again; it's really quite troublesome.

The little girl sighed and lamented, so worried that she couldn't sleep.

……

Zhang Yunyi naturally did not need to spend the night at Feng'an Fort.

After the banquet, he returned to his residence.

At the fourth quarter of Hai hour, the tranquil moonlight shone through the gauze window and onto the exquisite dressing table.

On the tall, semi-circular table, the slender flower stems in the vase cast clear, sparse shadows of upright, leaning, and horizontal branches onto the wall.

Madam Chen was fast asleep, her smooth, glossy black hair draped over the mandarin duck pillow.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door.

Zhang Yunyi, who slept next to Chen Wan, was a light sleeper; he woke up almost as soon as the door was knocked on for the second time.

"Who?"

"Master, it's me."

Wan Tai's voice came from outside the door.

Zhang Yunyi immediately sat up, indicating to Chen Wan'er that she didn't need to get up.

Bathed in the frost-white moonlight, he donned a silk robe and slipped on straw sandals as he went outside.

Chen Wan'er pulled the thin quilt up to cover her ample chest, turned to her side, and closed her eyes again.

The old lady was quite energetic today; she's really a bit tired.

"Master, Master Shan is here." Wan Tai's voice carried a hint of nervousness.

Zhang Yunyi's spirits lifted: "Where is he? Take me there quickly!"

The night in Feng'anzhuang was unusually quiet.

Feng'an Fort is located in the center of the village, while Zhang Xiaomi's mansion is built at the east end of the village.

The river that was diverted to serve as the moat of Feng'an Fort happened to pass behind his residence.

Therefore, Zhang Yunyi didn't need to go through the village to get out, because Shan Ye was waiting by the river.

"Zhang Yunyi from Feng'an greets Master Shan!"

There were seven or eight masked men standing by the bright river, with one of them clearly being guarded.

Zhang Yunyi hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects and promptly introduced himself.

When the guards saw Wan Tai, who had been summoned earlier, they knew that the man in front of him was Master Zhang, so they did not stop him.

Old Man Shan snorted coldly and slowly turned around...

(End of this chapter)