Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Quagmire

Xia Wenjin sat up and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Li Hai hurriedly said, “Miss Qiao Xi just came to inform you that you need to go to the South Courtyard within fifteen minutes.”

“What kind of place is the South Courtyard?”

Li Hai’s face turned pale. He looked at Xia Wenjin with pity, then glanced at Huangfu Jingchen lying silently on the bed and stammered, “Miss Wang must want you to serve her sooner. Once you go to the South Courtyard, you’ll know everything.”

Huangfu Jingchen completely ignored Li Hai, only looking at Xia Wenjin with a hostile gaze.

Xia Wenjin was puzzled and blinked, saying, “Young Master Huang, what’s with that look? Did you suddenly remember I owe you eight thousand taels of silver after just one night?”

Huangfu Jingchen replied coldly, “Forgot already? Servitude as a slave! Aren’t you going to help this young master change clothes?”

Finally pressing this brat, how can I not give her a hard time to collect some interest?

Xia Wenjin laughed, “Young Master Huang, have you become forgetful? Who said last night that they didn’t need anyone to warm their bed, serve food and drink, dress, make beds, accompany eating, drinking, sleeping, and playing?”

Huangfu Jingchen: “…”

Last night he felt this brat had no good intentions, turns out she was waiting for him here.

Forget it, he’ll endure!

After all, he has no habit of having someone serve food and drink, dress, make beds, accompany eating, drinking, sleeping, and playing. What he said just now was just to teach this brat a lesson.

Unexpectedly, he couldn’t teach a lesson but instead provoked a bellyful of anger. He packed up with a cold face.

Their movements were already fast enough, but Li Hai was still in a hurry: “Hurry up, Miss Qiao Xi said there’s only fifteen minutes!”

Xia Wenjin swiftly packed up and said, “Since that’s the case, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”

Huangfu Jingchen’s movements were not slower than Xia Wenjin.

Seeing the two of them ready, with expressions asking Li Hai to lead the way, Li Hai hesitated as if wanting to say something but didn’t dare. His eyes clearly showed fear.

In the end, he only whispered, “Entering the South Courtyard is like stepping into a quagmire, from then on, ashamed to see relatives, guilty toward parents, barely surviving with none of the dignity of a human being!”

Xia Wenjin patted his shoulder and said, “It’s not that serious! Don’t worry!”

Li Hai: “…”

They should be worried, newcomers with appearances like they’ve walked out of a painting, Wang Wan’er couldn’t even wait two days. After just one night, she wants them to serve her!

Look at this young master, with no sorrowful expressions, as if going to a feast. So easygoing and casual, it’s likely they’ll be scared out of their wits when they reach the South Courtyard.

Xia Wenjin turned his head and asked, “Why hasn’t Zhang Quan returned? It’s already morning.”

Li Hai shook his head and muttered, “If someone has won Miss’s favor, it’s possible they’ll quickly move to a new independent courtyard!”

Xia Wenjin’s eyes darkened slightly but she didn’t ask more.

The two followed Li Hai out.

Four burly men were already waiting at the door, seeing them stand upright with a certain demeanor, Xia Wenjin’s gaze deepened.

Such strong men, with fierce looks and a deadly glint in their eyes, stood with a posture of military bearing and walked with vigor, clearly they were soldiers.

Every state, prefecture, town, and county has stationed troops.

In times of war or frontier areas, there are more stationed troops, but in other places, their numbers are strictly controlled.

Those troops were originally used for protection and peacekeeping. But unexpectedly in Qingyu County, they have become the private soldiers used by Governor Wang’s daughter to keep secret lovers!

It’s no wonder the men targeted by Wang Wan’er went silent, daring not to resist or escape. How could ordinary people stand against these soldiers? Not even able to match their skills, where could they escape to? Would someone capable of using soldiers for personal use mind using public power for private activities again?

Li Hai walking with his head down, led the way.

Two soldiers ahead and two behind, escorting them to the South Courtyard.

The South Courtyard is another compound, and only after walking a long path did they realize how large the seemingly modest outer courtyard bit actually was.

Li Hai walked with increasingly soft legs, due to both the long journey, and the fear and apprehension in his heart.

Huangfu Jingchen showed no expression.

Xia Wenjin appeared relaxed.

Within the courtyard, a delicate sunshade was set up.

At this moment, the lavishly dressed Wang Wan’er sat under the sunshade, with Qiao Xi serving by her side.

It was obvious she had dressed elaborately, yet the abundance of gold and jewels appeared vulgar, coupled with her naturally unremarkable looks, besides the heavy makeup on her face, there really was no interest in a second look.

From afar, Wang Wan’er immediately saw Huangfu Jingchen and Xia Wenjin; these two were too eye-catching. Li Hai’s appearance was fairly delicate, but in front of the two, he was instantly outshone.

Not to mention his drooped head, timid posture, compared to the splendid and elegant Huangfu Jingchen, he was no match. Nor did he compare to Xia Wenjin’s aloof and unrestrained demeanor.

Moreover, the appearances of the two were truly like transcendent immortals, noble, graceful, with an extraordinary aura comparable to pristine white snow. Against those clumsy strong men, they only further highlighted their own refined aura and fortitude.

Her eyes gleamed, standing up immediately, but Qiao Xi pulled her back, she cleared her throat and sat down with an air.

This behavior, this expression, was not at all the enthusiasm and gentleness from yesterday, when trying to deceive the two into coming.

Zhang Hai walked at the front, arrived at the sunshade, and dared not approach further, kneeling to salute, saying, “Master, they’ve arrived!”

Kneeling on the ground, he curled up to minimize his presence, even signaling with his eyes to Huangfu Jingchen and Xia Wenjin to kneel quickly.

Of course, Huangfu Jingchen and Xia Wenjin wouldn’t kneel; they acted as if they didn’t see, standing there unmoved, not even glancing at Wang Wan’er.

Li Hai finished his salute, crawling up to retreat to the west side of the sunshade.

On the west side, already stood more than a dozen men similar to Li Hai.

All between fifteen and twenty-five years old, with fairly handsome looks. Yet all appeared as silent as cicadas, almost bending their backs.

It was obvious these men were the ’servants’ Zhang Quan and Li Hai had mentioned, just like them!

Wang Wan’er maintained her decorum without speaking, Qiao Xi shouted, “Li Hai, did you tell them what they are here to do?”

Zhang Hai shivered in fear.

Xia Wenjin said, “Didn’t you say it yesterday? We’re quite clear!”

Qiao Xi, seeing her fearless demeanor, said, “I think you don’t understand at all. Here, do you still consider yourself a young master of your own home? Our Miss is here, aren’t you going to serve her?”

Huangfu Jingchen directly ignored her.

Xia Wenjin blinked and smiled, “Didn’t you say that with you here, we don’t need to serve? Who dares to compete with you?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep