Qin Qiwu noticed Xu Ancheng’s hesitation and asked softly, “What’s wrong, Young Master Xu?”
Xu Ancheng shook his head gravely.
What was he supposed to do? Miss Qin had just seen everything. Would she think he was a spineless man? Would she think he was cowardly and despicable?
His eyes reddened as he looked at Qin Qiwu. She was startled and hurriedly asked, “Young Master Xu, are you feeling unwell?”
Ji Zhaoxi also turned to look at him. Seeing how pale Xu Ancheng was, she said, “Young Master Xu, should we take you to a physician?”
Fu Xianyan frowned. As far as he remembered, Xu Ancheng hadn’t been injured last night.
Zhou Cheng and the man in black, who had been silent all this time, also turned to look at him.
Xu Ancheng lowered his head, his body trembling slightly. He was about to be drowned by his own guilt.
He suddenly stood up. The carriage wasn’t very tall, and when he bumped into the roof, the entire carriage shook.
Under everyone’s gaze, Xu Ancheng squeezed his eyes shut and shouted, “I’m sorry, Black Young Master!”
The atmosphere fell silent at once.
Ji Zhaoxi ventured, “Who’s Black Young Master?”
There shouldn’t be anyone else in their carriage.
Qin Qiwu also failed to react. Worried, she asked, “Young Master Xu, who are you talking to?”
Xu Ancheng gritted his teeth and looked toward the man in black sitting in the corner. The man in black was completely baffled by his stare and frowned.
What was he doing?
“Black Young Master, although you’re cruel and ruthless, have committed countless evil deeds, and have aided and abetted villains, I still wronged you just now at the inn by accusing you of knocking over the oil lamp. That was my fault. I’m sorry!”
Xu Ancheng looked utterly miserable. If he didn’t apologize to Black Young Master, he would never be able to rest easy for the rest of his life.
Ji Zhaoxi took a bite of her flatbread, glanced at him, and then continued playing chess with Fu Xianyan.
Zhou Cheng closed his eyes in despair. He really didn’t want to play house with these children anymore…
This was also the first time the man in black had encountered such a situation. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say, and his expression turned blank.
The carriage was incredibly quiet. The only sounds were those of Ji Zhaoxi and Fu Xianyan playing chess.
“Fu Xianyan, is it all right if you put it here?” Ji Zhaoxi asked seriously.
“Why?” Fu Xianyan was still thinking about his next move.
“If you put it there, I’ll be able to capture your piece later.” Ji Zhaoxi wore a solemn expression.
“Oh, all right.” Fu Xianyan placed the piece there.
When Xu Ancheng saw that the man in black still wasn’t saying anything, he looked a little dejected. “Black Young Master, are you refusing to forgive me?”
Qin Qiwu kindly reminded him, “Young Master Xu, the handkerchief is still in Black Young Master’s mouth.”
She hurriedly removed the handkerchief from the man in black’s mouth.
The man in black didn’t hold back and said coldly, “Let me go, and I’ll forgive you.”
Xu Ancheng wiped his tears and looked at Qin Qiwu. “Miss Qin, gag him again. I don’t feel bad anymore.”
Qin Qiwu hurriedly stuffed the handkerchief back into the man in black’s mouth.
His usefulness had come to an end.
The man in black: “…”
So why had that Xu fellow been crying just now? Even after he told him to let him go, he still refused.
After apologizing, Xu Ancheng felt much better.
He followed Qin Qiwu outside and began driving the carriage.
The road to the prefect’s residence passed through several villages. The road was full of potholes, making everyone in the carriage sway back and forth.
The carriage traveled along the village road, with fields stretching out on either side. The wind swept through the rice seedlings, stirring up a rustling sound.
Qin Qiwu leaned against the carriage and let the breeze wash over her. Before she knew it, her eyes had closed.
She really wished she could live like this for the rest of her life, together with… Young Master Xu.
“Miss Qin, have some water.”
Xu Ancheng glanced at Qin Qiwu and smiled as he handed her the water.
The villages were even hotter than the city.
The nearby villages were not very prosperous. Several barefoot children were playing with mud beneath the shade of a tree. When they heard the sound of the carriage passing by, they looked up curiously.
Qin Qiwu smiled at them and waved.
After hesitating for a moment, the children ran over.
Xu Ancheng stopped the carriage. Qin Qiwu took some snacks from their bundle and handed them to the children with a smile. “Go on, run along and play.”
Ji Zhaoxi was nearly dying from the heat inside the carriage. She lay limp against the wooden window and said, “Hey, kid, give me a few dates. I’ll give you some flatbread in return.”
The little girl closest to Ji Zhaoxi handed her the dates and asked timidly, “I still have pears at home. Do you want some?”
She hesitated, then held up a number with her fingers.
Ji Zhaoxi declared grandly, “The Deputy Chief of the Beggars’ Sect will take them all!”
Fu Xianyan, who had been drinking tea, nearly choked. He had almost forgotten that he was the Second-in-Command.
The little girl’s eyes lit up. She hurried home, shouting as she ran, “Mother! Someone is buying pears!”
The village was wide open, and the little girl’s voice echoed through the air. Her voice was filled with barely contained delight.
Qin Qiwu ate a date and smiled until her eyes curved. “It’s really sweet.”
It was the season for dates.
Several villagers stood in front of an earthen house not far away. When they heard what the child said, they glanced in Ji Zhaoxi’s direction.
Before long, the little girl returned carrying a large basket of pears. Her face was flushed red from the sun.
“They’re very sweet. No refunds if you don’t like them,” she said stiffly.
Xu Ancheng looked at the obedient little girl, and his eyes reddened again.
Fu Xianyan handed her the money, took the pears, and smiled. “These pears look quite good.”
The little girl accepted the silver, so excited that she could hardly contain herself. The children beside her were grinning from ear to ear.
The air was thick with summer heat. Whenever the wind blew, it brought a wave of heat with it.
Looking at the capable little girl, Ji Zhaoxi suddenly felt the urge to recruit her into her sect.
But if the girl’s parents found out she wanted to abduct their daughter, they might well come after her with a hoe.
She let out a regretful sigh.
The children ran laughing back home. Their laughter filled the air as the little girl chattered excitedly to her parents, then threw herself into their arms.
Now that they had both pears and dates, the stifling heat had finally eased somewhat.
By evening, Fu Xianyan took over driving the carriage, while Ji Zhaoxi chattered beside him without pause.
“When the time comes, I’ll invite my father to oversee things. He has experience managing armies, so he might be able to give us some advice.”
“The Beggars’ Sect needs to be managed too. I still have a lot to learn. Yesterday, I couldn’t even keep an eye on you.”
Fu Xianyan listened attentively, but as he listened, something began to feel off. He coughed and said, “That was an accident yesterday.”
He was worried she might accidentally come into contact with the poison.
Fu Xianyan tugged on the reins and decisively changed the subject. “Miss Ji, what kind of things will our Beggars’ Sect need to learn?”
Ji Zhaoxi frowned. She hadn’t thought about that yet. After pondering seriously, she said, “Begging by the roadside, reading people’s expressions, pretending to be insane, sleeping under the open sky, having eyes and ears everywhere, being crafty and slippery…”
Ji Zhaoxi was still thinking when Xu Ancheng’s anguished voice came from inside the carriage.
“Miss Ji, absolutely not!”
Was the Beggars’ Sect founded by Miss Ji really going to be that authentic?
