Chapter 2, The Bride Snatching (Part 1)
Tang Tiehan led a group of black-clad warriors, resembling dark clouds pressing down, and in an instant, they had arrived within five zhang of Liang Dazhuang. Holding a familiar bronze staff in his hand, Tang Tiehan rolled his eyes and roared like a sudden clap of thunder, startling Liang Dazhuang into a shiver: "I am Tang Tiehan, the undefeated champion of the horse market. Damn it, you blind scoundrel, how dare you forcibly take my sister."
Tang Tiehan saw his sister lying motionless on the grass, while Hu Xiaotian was half-naked beside her. His sister's corset was also thrown not far away, and he still did not know what this scoundrel had done to his sister. In a moment of anger, he thought, regardless of the status of the scholar's son, your father is an official, and our family’s elder is also a court official, so let's fight! When he heard that this fat man dressed as a servant actually dared to call him brother, his anger surged even more. Wasn't this a humiliation to him?
Tang Tiehan led his subordinates to rush to the back door, which was tightly closed. Several servants inside had bolted the door. Tang Tiehan shouted, "Hu Xiaotian, listen to me. My father is the Deputy Minister of the Imperial Chariot Department. If you dare to forcibly take my sister, as long as he reports you to the Emperor, your entire family will be executed and your heads will roll." He did not consider that with his father's official rank, it was not so easy to meet the Emperor.
Liang Dazhuang secretly groaned, today’s matter was indeed tricky, and this young master was truly a source of worry. Liang Dazhuang leaned forward and whispered, "The flood has submerged the Dragon King Temple, and a family does not recognize its own. Brother Tang, our master is the Minister of Revenue, Lord Hu! Please show some respect!" At this critical moment, he had no choice but to bring up his master's title.
Tang Tiehan saw that they had actually taken his sister and fled, and he hurriedly mounted his horse, leading the crowd in hot pursuit. The onlookers began to stir, with some even straining to keep up in order to witness the commotion. In an instant, the noise of the crowd surged, and someone shouted: "A bride snatching... A bride snatching... The son of the Minister of Revenue is forcefully taking a commoner girl..."
Liang Dazhuang's expression changed immediately upon seeing Tang Tiehan leading a group towards him, and he hurriedly warned Hu Xiaotian, saying: "Young Master, something bad has happened... they have come looking for trouble"
At this moment, more than twenty warriors also followed, surrounding Hu Xiaotian and his group completely
Liang Dazhuang said in a low voice: "Rank Six!" Then, with a tone full of flattery, he continued in a low voice: "Master is Rank Three!" His words were filled with pride
In fact, there was no need for him to speak; Hu Xiaotian had already noticed the commotion long ago
A line of more than twenty people, dressed in bright clothing and riding fierce horses, exuded an imposing presence. Wherever they went, tourists were frightened and scattered in all directions, deeply afraid of being caught unawares.
After controlling the water, the standard rescue procedure involves artificial respiration, specifically the mouth-to-mouth method. Hu Xiaotian had originally prepared for this, but when it came time to implement it, he discovered that the girl in the red dress had already regained her autonomous breathing. Although it was weak, her current vital signs indicated that she should be fine. Therefore, Hu Xiaotian no longer needed to continue performing actions that challenged societal norms and shocked the onlookers. He was just about to gently set the girl down.
You ... ...
A sudden clatter of hooves echoed from outside, causing the onlookers to scatter. They saw a burly man with a black face, dressed in a green brocade robe, charging forward on horseback, accompanied by more than twenty warriors. The black-faced man had a square jaw, thick eyebrows, bulging eyes, a flat nose, and thick lips. Although he was robust in build, his appearance was exceedingly ugly. Riding a black steed, the burly man shouted, "Ah, how dare he! I will curse his ancestors for eight generations! Who dares to snatch my sister? I will surely tear him to pieces!"
Liang Dazhuang quietly turned around to take a glance, quickly shutting his small eyes, and inwardly sighed, "Young master, oh young master, you are being foolish again!"
The girl in the red dress was tossed around by Hu Xiaotian, and with a series of splashes, she sprayed out several mouthfuls of clear water. Due to excessive water intake, the abdominal pressure became too great, and the water sprayed out with considerable force, inevitably hitting Hu Xiaotian's crotch. After all, it was water heated to a temperature of thirty-seven degrees, and Hu Xiaotian's cold, soaked pants suddenly felt a faint warmth.
Hu Xiaotian stood up, holding the dazed girl in the red dress, with a dagger pressed against her back, smiling with a hidden threat: "Everyone get off your horses, or I will kill your sister right in front of you!" Hu Xiaotian understood in his heart that he was merely using intimidation. If the burly man led his subordinates to rush forward, he would not be able to harm anyone. However, he was certain that Tang Tiehan would not dare to do so. He never expected that he, who usually abided by the law, would actually resort to taking a hostage. In the current situation, this was the only way to control the overall situation.
Hu Xiaotian chuckled, "Let her go? Hehe, let me go home and think it over carefully." He raised his whip and urged his steed to flee in the direction of the Minister's residence, while four of his servants, riding stolen fine horses, followed closely behind him, holding the girl in red captive.
Including Liang Dazhuang and the servants, all of them were so frightened that they hid to the side, revealing the true nature of these lackeys at a critical moment. Each one was as timid as a mouse, and none were willing to take a beating for their master. The servants also had principles; they would sell their bodies but not their lives
Upon hearing the shouts of the crowd, Hu Xiaotian could not help but feel great joy. To forcibly seize a commoner's daughter, ha ha, being a villain who forcibly takes a commoner's daughter is not so bad after all
Liang Dazhuang could be considered well-informed in the capital. Upon seeing the burly man with a dark face, he immediately recognized him as Tang Tiehan, the eldest son of Tang Wenzheng, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Tang Tiehan was indeed a tyrant in the capital, relying on his father's influence to secretly control the horse market transactions in the city, profiting immensely from it. He usually kept a group of idle thugs to bully and dominate the market, committing numerous misdeeds. The horse market was not far from Cuiyun Lake, and he had just heard the news that his sister had been thrown into the lake by a gang of ruffians and subsequently rescued only to be humiliated. Speaking of ruffians, who in the vicinity of the horse market could be more unscrupulous than him? Anyone who dared to bully his sister was courting death, as it would be tantamount to slapping the Tang family in public. Tang Tiehan immediately gathered more than twenty of his subordinates, fully armed, and rode out to rescue his sister.
Hoover also said: "Young master, you go ahead on horseback, and we will hold the rear..." He spoke with utmost loyalty, yet his legs trembled as if they were made of chaff, and his voice noticeably quivered. Although these servants were physically strong, they lacked practical combat experience; they relied solely on their master's official position to flaunt their power. When it came to fighting, they could manage against a smaller number, but when they suddenly saw over twenty opponents charging at them, they were nearly frightened out of their wits. Although these servants were physically strong, they lacked practical combat experience; they relied solely on their master's official position to flaunt their power. When it came to fighting, they could manage against a smaller number, but when they suddenly saw over twenty opponents charging at them, they were nearly frightened out of their wits.
At this thought, Tang Tiehan disregarded everything else, pulling on the reins as the black horse charged directly at Liang Dazhuang, causing him to quickly dodge to the side in fright. Tang Tiehan raised the bronze staff in his hand and roared as he rushed towards Hu Xiaotian, exuding an overwhelming intent to smash Hu Xiaotian into a pulp with a single blow.
Liang Dazhuang gripped the handle of his waist knife, mustering his courage to block the path of Tang Tiehan and his group. He suddenly let out a loud shout, not to intimidate the others, but to bolster his own courage: "Halt! Who goes there?"
Hearing Tang Tiehan cursing outside, Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "What Deputy Minister of the Imperial Chariot Department, isn't he just a lowly stable keeper?" He turned to Liang Dazhuang and asked, "What rank is the Deputy Minister of the Imperial Chariot Department?"
Cuiyun Lake is not far from the Minister's Residence, and Hu Xiaotian and his companions are well-acquainted with the route. Although Tang Tiehan and his group continue to pursue them, they do not dare to get too close, fearing that they might provoke Hu Xiaotian and truly harm his sister. They can only shout from behind, using threats, intimidation, softening their tone, and deception, employing every tactic at their disposal. However, Hu Xiaotian remains indifferent, watching helplessly as this group takes his sister into the Minister's Residence.
Upon returning to the Ministry of Personnel, the group of servants immediately regained their spirits. Hu Xiaotian ordered someone to tie up the still dazed girl in red. He had just witnessed her fiery and fierce nature; this little vixen had just lashed him with a whip, and the sting was still painfully fresh.
Hu Xiaotian coldly looked at Tang Tiehan and said: "Although you are not very smart, you must learn to be a little more honest. If your sister dies, it will be because of you, and I fear your conscience will never be at peace for the rest of your life. Why don't you hurry up and step back a bit!"
Hu Xiaotian calculated with his fingers, his father holds the rank of third grade, and the difference between the two families is not trivial. A higher official can easily suppress a lower one. My father can crush your father into dust in no time with his official position.
However, Hu Xiaotian still smiled with a grin, and he had somehow produced a dagger in his hand. The sharp edge of the blade gently pressed against the snow-white, tender neck of the girl in red, and then he smiled at Tang Tiehan and said: "Do you believe I can cut your sister's neck with one stroke?"
Hu Xiaotian sighed and said: "Threaten me? I fear nothing, not even your threats!" With a flick of his dagger, he managed to cut off a strand of the girl's long hair, a single hair? I will directly cut off a strand of your hair.
Hu Xiaotian glanced at the chestnut horse tied to the tree. Not to mention his lack of riding skills, even if he were an expert rider, it would be impossible for him to escape smoothly from the pursuit of those twenty men. However, Hu Xiaotian was not afraid at all. Looking at the group of fierce warriors, he simply said, "Why should I escape? Dakang also upholds the law"
Seeing that Tang Tiehan still had no intention of dismounting, Hu Xiaotian shouted sternly: "Dismount! Do you really want to enjoy a live dissection by this young master?"
Tang Tiehan did not know what现场解剖 meant, but he was startled by Hu Xiaotian's shout. He hurriedly waved his hand, signaling everyone to dismount. Upon receiving his command, the group of warriors dismounted one after another
Hu Xiaotian instructed his subordinate to bring over three horses, handing the girl in red to Liang Dazhuang, directing him to continue the hostage situation by holding a knife to her neck, while he himself mounted the chestnut horse
Tang Tiehan said: "Let my sister go!"
Tang Tiehan was startled and pulled the reins sharply, causing the black steed to let out a long neigh, its hooves raised high, nearly throwing Tang Tiehan's robust body off the horse. He was furious, his eyes nearly bursting with rage, yet he was constrained by the fear of endangering his sister's life. He threatened, "If you dare to harm a single hair on my sister, I will ensure that you are torn to pieces!"