Chapter Nine, The Grievance of Jinchuan Pan An

Until the sun set behind the western mountains and the sky gradually darkened, she finally stood up in a daze, dropped two copper coins on the table, and walked towards the city gates. Zhao Hui's heart was uncontrollably twitching; seeing her expression of disappointment, he only wanted to rush forward, tear off the beard on his face, and let her see it to her heart's content

He squeezed out of the crowd and walked to the wonton shop outside the city gate, striking up a conversation with the stall owner, as if inquiring about something. Zhao Hui thought for a moment; however, the urgent matters took precedence. These petty thieves could be caught another day, but significant affairs could not be delayed. Thus, he immediately descended from the city wall and entered the command post. As soon as he sat down, a personal guard approached to await his orders

Zhao Hui thought to himself, she must have sneaked out from home as well, disguised to see her youthful crush. However, this girl, despite wearing male attire, could not hide her stunning beauty, her complexion radiant and delicate, strikingly captivating.

As he watched her slowly leave with tears glistening in her eyes, Zhao Hui thought for a moment and ultimately decided to stop, returning once again to the office.

What a handsome young Taoist, even more so than this girl! The cold voice, laced with malice, instilled even greater fear in the quiet mountain hollow

Just as I was thinking, a figure suddenly flashed into my sight

A considerable number of young women and married ladies have gathered in the city to wait for him, and Zhao Hui secretly chuckles to himself, thinking that the saying "throwing fruit to fill the cart" is no more than this. In ancient times, there was a handsome man named Pan An, who was both benevolent and beautiful. Whenever he traveled on the road, elderly women would throw fragrant fruits at him, and he would return home with a cart full.

At first glance, with a full beard and a sallow complexion, he appeared to have aged by twenty or thirty years, resembling an ordinary middle-aged man, without any striking features to attract attention

Before I could even lift my head, I suddenly felt a slight chill on my neck, as if something sharp was pressing against it

Miss! Ruowei is doing everything she can to help

The young lady! Ruowei, with great courage, walked over, picked up a larger piece of torn cloth from beside her, draped it over her body, and grasped her wrist, gently touching her pulse

Xia was startled and stopped in her tracks, looking around as if there was no one else present. Just as she was beginning to doubt whether she had misheard, she heard the sorrowful cries of a woman, followed by a muffled thud, and then the sounds of painful wails and moans.

Only the sound of a painful moan escaped from her broken body

I am just filled with doubt; could it be that I have misunderstood?

If Wei suddenly understood, she disregarded her shyness and pressed her eyes against his: "Are you Zhao Hui?"

It is fortunate that, although the breath is faint, life has not yet departed.

Zhao Hui scrutinized him closely, a barely perceptible smile appearing on his face. This was due to the small thief beside him, who, upon closer inspection, had skin as white as jade, hair as dark as ink, sparkling and lively eyes, and small vermilion lips that seemed naturally tinted. On his delicate earlobes, there were still traces of ear piercings. A faint fragrance wafted from his body.

What can be done? One cannot just stand by and watch her die, abandoning her in the wilderness. However, if I go up the mountain to call for help, there will be no time left.

He laughed heartily without any reservations: "So, you know Zhao Hui's good name as well?"

That sounds great, so tonight let's sincerely ask the Jade Hua Master to allow me to descend the mountain tomorrow and wait at the city gate for my mother, I am sure I will encounter her

However, thinking of the responsibilities I bear today, I can only endure in silence

As Wei kicked the stones on the road, frowning in hesitation, she suddenly seemed to understand; yes, her mother had mentioned yesterday that she needed to take care of an important matter before leaving

Zhao Hui's father was named Zhao He, a man of military background. In his early years, he served as a "Qianhu Zhang" (a title equivalent to a captain) and followed the Ming army on an expedition to Annan, where he unfortunately lost his life in battle. According to the regulations of the Ming dynasty, when a father sacrifices himself for the country, his descendants are entitled to inherit his title. Thus, Zhao Hui inherited his father's position as Qianhu Zhang. His appointment to guard the city gate of Jinchuan was not solely due to his father's achievements; he had trained in martial arts since childhood and possessed remarkable skills. The 1,120 soldiers under his command maintained exceptional discipline and order, and he received commendation during the emperor's inspection of the troops, which paved the way for his bright future.

Indeed, the infatuated women who had originally gathered at the city gates to admire the handsome man gradually dispersed, unnoticed by anyone. There were still many voices of discussion among the crowd. Zhao Hui immediately followed quietly, holding his breath and listening intently.

Zhao Hui pondered for a moment, changed out of his military uniform, and donned a silk robe in the color of autumn xiang. He placed a scholar's hat on his head and took the incense ash from the pouch he carried with him, mixing it in his hand before carefully applying it to his face. He also put on a false beard.

Little does he know that the charming beauty in his eyes is actually thinking of her own mother at this moment

Beside her was a middle-aged woman dressed in a blue floral dress, who gently poked her on the forehead and said: "Miss, what kind of nobleman is this? When choosing a husband, one cannot solely rely on appearance. I have heard from others that this man is quite a rogue. Although he has not formally taken a wife, his behavior has always been improper, treating the brothels as his home. Moreover, I have heard that recently, many women in the city who admire him have fallen for his charms, losing their virtue before even getting married."

He exerted more force with his hands, and if it were not for the slightest feeling, he would have thought his neck was about to be snapped, making it difficult to breathe, and he immediately fainted

Upon thinking of this, her spirits lifted greatly. As she noticed the sky gradually darkening and the shadows of the trees swaying along the mountain path becoming somewhat eerie, she immediately quickened her pace and walked up the mountain

Not right, Zhao Hui suddenly realized and immediately stood up, rushing outside.

Two captains of a hundred households were perplexed, so they could only summon capable soldiers to follow behind.

And she hugged tightly, but could not move her, nor could she drag her away

If Wei immediately understood, the dull sound just now was the noise made when the woman, after being humiliated by someone, sought to end her own life by colliding her head against a stone.

Ah! My heavens!" A woman's exclamation and scream came from the forest.

The young and handsome Zhao Hui, tall and extraordinary, would attract the attention of numerous women whenever he gazed upon the city. Over time, whenever it was his turn to stand guard, many women would gather early at the foot of the city, just to catch a glimpse of his elegance

"Yes!" The personal guards immediately went down to convey the order

The woman leaned in the gentle embrace of Ruowei, her eyes tightly closed, her breath faint and shallow

Zhao Hui furrowed his brows: "Is it possible that our actions have been exposed, allowing that villain to discover us? There have been consecutive homicides in the past few days, so today should also... How could this be..."

As night begins to fall, the desolate and silent mountain is truly eerie

Sir, today the winds are calm and there are no reports of any malicious acts occurring again

Nurse! The woman in the pink shirt seemed annoyed, stamped her foot, and shook off her hand: "Others spread rumors, but I simply do not believe them. If someone is good-looking, they will inevitably attract jealousy. It must be someone he rejected, harboring resentment, who concocted these slanders against him."

A folding fan in hand, I slowly walked onto the street

In the valley, the scene behind the giant rock left her completely stunned

Having been ruled by the Mongolian outsiders for such a long time, there are still some remnants of a reverence for primitive nature that have been passed down.

Zhao Hui felt a sense of curiosity and unconsciously walked over

Just now, looking down from the city wall, I found her somewhat eye-catching. Now that I take a closer look, I immediately understand that she is actually a charming beauty disguised as a man

"Alright, alright, what the young lady says is final!" The woman in blue immediately urged, "That's enough, we've seen the person, let's head back early. If the master and mistress find out that you've sneaked out, even the lives of this old servant and I would not be enough to pay the penalty!"

A woman in a pink shirt said: "I heard that this gentleman, who is a thousand households, is already twenty-one years old, yet he has not married yet!"

Among the thirteen city gates, only this gate is specifically designated as the dry gate, intended for use by the gatekeeper.

He remained completely oblivious, still gazing intently at the city gate

She stared motionless at the city gate, could it be that she was waiting for him? Zhao Hui felt a surge of delight in his heart, experiencing for the first time the benefits of being a handsome man

In this way, he felt assured to leave the dry goods store

It must be said that the Great Yuan is not without its benefits. Upon thinking of this, Zhao Hui could not help but smile. Although the trend of foot binding has risen in the city, and there are strict orders for women to not leave their homes, it still cannot prevent bold women from stopping him on the street and watching him.

"With a face like Pan An and a heart as venomous as a snake's, the wet nurse was right... Zhao Hui..." The woman spoke intermittently, and before she could finish, her head tilted and she fainted.

With just a fleeting glance, one sees a man standing before them, bare-chested and robust. This man is strikingly handsome, with slender willow-leaf eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if imbued with the melancholic charm of a Jiangnan woman. His fox-like eyes have their outer corners gently raised, and the corners of his lips are slightly upturned, as if he is filled with a rich sense of mirth

Who explains the restraint and modesty of women in the Ming Dynasty

Nanjing has thirteen city gates, and this gate is the preferred choice for those heading north. It is also the gate through which the former King of Yan, Zhu Di, launched his campaign to pacify the south, personally leading his troops across the river from Guazhou to enter the city. Therefore, this city gate is particularly valued by the current emperor, the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di.

"What is harm? She goes to the city gate every day to see me, isn't she just hoping that I can treat her well? But this girl has not experienced much in life, and my skills are too good, making her so happy that she actually ran into a stone!" As he spoke, he suddenly stopped laughing, gripping Ruo Wei's chin tightly, as if he wanted to crush it, his eyes filled with brutality: "Wretched woman, all of them are wretched women!"

Indeed, my subordinate ordered someone to follow those few beautiful women until they returned home, and there were no suspicious individuals approaching along the way

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hui was rendered speechless. He sighed, halted his steps, and with a piercing gaze surveyed the crowd coming and going at the city gate, inadvertently catching sight of that little thief again

Moreover, he surpasses others in every aspect

I am extremely saddened in my heart

After waiting for the duration of a tea light, two captains of the personal guards entered to report.

"A bowl of wontons!" Zhao Hui sat down next to him

As Wei walked along the path up the mountain, her mood was greatly depressed. She had originally thought she was being clever by asking Master Yuhua to let her go down the mountain to purchase supplies, then handing the task over to Ziyan and Xiangting, allowing them to buy the items and hire a carriage to bring them back up. Meanwhile, she planned to wait outside the Jinchuan Gate for her mother, believing she would surely see her mother again. However, she did not expect that fate would not align with her wishes, and she ended up waiting in vain until now

At the moment of difficulty, a cold laughter suddenly came from behind.

He reached into Ruowei's collar with one hand, pulling forcefully, causing the garment to tear open, revealing the white skin beneath the green corset.

"My lady, who has harmed you?" Ruo Wei could not help but feel extremely angry; under the emperor's feet, in the realm of the immortal mountains, there were actually people who dared to commit violence openly, it was simply outrageous

Indeed, there is such charm; it is uncertain whether it is a blessing or a curse. It would be better to learn from the King of Lanling and don an ugly and fierce mask, which would save one from so much trouble

As soon as Wei raised her head, she immediately turned beet red and quickly turned her face away

The Jinchuan Gate is located in the northern part of Nanjing, facing north from the south. Outside the gate, there is a bridge named "Jinchuan Bridge," and near the gate, there is a water barrier to control the vital passage between the inside and outside of the Jinchuan Gate.

He sat quietly on the long bench outside the wonton shop, resting his chin on his hand. In front of him was a bowl of wontons, long since lost their heat, yet still full, as if not a single one was missing. Meanwhile, his eyes were fixed intently on the city gate, completely motionless.

On the large stone that serves as a barrier, there is also a patch of blood-red color

If a pair of eyes were staring at him intently, he actually forgot to struggle, while she was still holding the naked woman in her arms. He abruptly pulled the woman from her embrace, as if discarding a piece of rag.

Help, help!" Ruo Wei called out loudly with all her strength

A frail figure weaved through the crowd, dressed in a simple blue robe, with glossy black hair tied up with a wooden hairpin, resembling a young acolyte. Zhao Hui furrowed his brow, could it be a petty thief taking advantage of the chaos?

That is to say, mother went out to handle some matters today, so she has not yet left the city

"Young lady! Young lady!" Ruowei called out urgently, her heart in a state of turmoil. This location is situated at the mountainside, with a considerable distance from both Sanyuan Temple and Qixia Temple, making it difficult to ascend or descend.

This time, if Wei listened carefully, the sound was coming from a hollow in the woods. She picked up a stone from the mountain path, gauged its weight, held it tightly in her hand, and boldly walked over.

Upon this thought, if only the clouds of worry could disperse immediately, my mood would become clear and bright.

Oh? I wondered why it looked so awkward, it turns out she is a woman! He let out a cold laugh, gripping Ruowei's throat with one hand as if to take her life, pressing her down into the grass, while his other hand reached to tear at her robe

In the grass, there lies a young woman, completely naked, appearing to be no more than seventeen or eighteen years old. Her complexion is fair, and her features are beautiful, resembling a delicate flower. However, her body is covered with marks of abuse and spots of blood. Not far away, there are torn pieces of pink clothing, and blood continues to flow from her lower body and head.

"Esteemed guest, what would you like to order?" The waiter greeted warmly.

Today, atop the city tower, Zhao Hui stood quietly, bathed in the glow of the setting sun. His nine-inch stature seemed to reach for the heavens, resembling a descending deity or a terrestrial sovereign. Zhao Hui, true to his name, was in his twenties, with a magnificent appearance and strong features. The brilliance in his eyes radiated without reservation, and he exuded an aura of dominance akin to that of a lion king.

"Did you harm her?" When the moment arrived, Ruowei instead felt unafraid.

Go, act according to the plan, increase the manpower, and leave no stone unturned. If what happened a few days ago occurs again, I cannot guarantee the safety of my neck! Zhao Hui picked up the teacup from the table, took a slow sip, and gave further careful instructions.

It stirs a longing in the hearts of those who see it

Yesterday, when my mother went up the mountain to see herself, it was already late in the day, and she certainly would not leave the city overnight. If she were to leave, it would be today, and she intends to head north. Among the thirteen city gates, she can only exit through this one. Therefore, it should be possible to encounter her. Could it be that they left the city early this morning and thus missed each other?

If Wei immediately pressed a piece of cloth against her forehead wound, then removed the wooden hairpin from her head to use as a silver needle, and applied pressure to several acupoints on her body to stop the bleeding