Chapter 29: Couple

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Xiao Baoxin had never met Yang Shao before, but she was familiar with his name. Xiao Jingai was eager to know him before her.

Earlier, she was far away and could not see clearly under the setting sun. Only when she was close did she see clearly that this person was only about twenty years old, yet he was abnormally tall. She was considered tall among women, but in front of him, she only reached his chin.

He had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. He was a handsome man.

In terms of looks alone, among all the men she had seen, he could not even be ranked in the top five. However, he was completely different from those weak young masters in Jiankang City. He had a masculine aura unique to martial artists, and his temperament was extremely special.

Central Scout Soldier, Yang Shao—

Be it his reputation or his official position, he was clearly from the humble class.

What was Xiao Jingai’s reason for wanting to get to know him so urgently? Surely she hadn’t fallen in love with him before they had met?

“Brother Yang is extremely skilled in martial arts, you didn’t see his heroic bearing when he was fighting ten by himself, it was too dashing.” Xiao Baoshu was completely unaware of his sister sizing him up and excitedly told her about the story of his savior.

“Is that so?” Xiao Baoxin bowed slightly to Yang Shao. “Soldier Yang, thank you for sticking up for Baoshu. On behalf of the Xiao family, I thank you. Please accept my bow. It is already late today and it is inconvenient. Tomorrow, the Xiao family will definitely come to thank you.”

“What, it’s not dark yet—”

Xiao Baoshu’s raised voice gradually weakened under Xiao Baoxin’s cold gaze.

“Are you sure you want to walk around in Jiankang with a face like a pig’s head?”

“— Pig’s head?” Xiao Baoshu cried out in shock, no wonder his face was in so much pain, it had already swollen like a pig’s head?! “Those bastards deserved to be beaten up!”

Regarding exempting them from their duties, Yang Shao had heard most of it, but Xiao Baoshu only saw the punishment.

If it wasn’t for Yang Shao’s reassurance, Xiao Baoshu would have thought that they were going to be punished too. He was so scared that he covered his butt while listening to the screams.

“Miss Xiao is too serious. There is really no need to be so serious. It was just a kind favor.”

Yang Shao smiled nonchalantly and revealed his teeth. He waved his hand in a carefree manner and said, “It’s mainly because their words sound too unpleasant and they have bullied too many people. I can’t stand it. Even if it’s not for Brother Xiao, I also won’t sit by and do nothing.”

“Soldier Yang is a righteous man. To Soldier Yang, it may be nothing. But to the Xiao family, you saved our lives.”

Seeing that Xiao Baoxin had repeatedly expressed her gratitude, he would have been unappreciative if he continued to decline, so Yang Shao accepted her thanks kindly.

“Then another day, after Brother Xiao recovers from his injuries, why don’t you invite me to the guesthouse for a meal!”

The guesthouse was where Yang Shao had been during the gang fight. In Jiankang City, it was only a second or third-rate place that even Yang Shao could afford with his salary

“That won’t do, even ten meals won’t be enough!” Xiao Baoshu shouted, “My life isn’t that cheap!”

Jiankang magistrate was worried that if he locked everyone up in one place, they would start fighting again. If that happened, his magistrate office might be destroyed. Thus, he invited Xiao Baoshu and Yang Shao to the courtyard next door. Xiao Baoshu was a person who easily became familiar with others. He could talk about anything under the sun. After the two of them had been locked up together for an entire afternoon, it was obvious that they had developed some revolutionary feelings.

At this moment, there was a burst of laughter not far away. The gloating laughter was hard to ignore.

“Xuan Hui, did you see those people’s faces? They all collapsed! They couldn’t even curse properly!”

“Hahahahahaha! I’ve finally gotten my revenge! Come, let’s go to the Wang family. There’s still one more person I haven’t beaten up!”

Xiao Baoxin looked in the direction of the voice and saw Jiankang magistrate and a dozen or so guards behind him walking over with Xie Xian. She did not recognize the man beside Xie Xian who had his arms around his shoulders. He looked about 23 or 24 years old and had handsome features. But his words were unrestrained and he looked like a rash youth.

To be able to deliver the decree together with Xie Xian, they should both be yellow gatekeepers—

In that case, it wasn’t hard to guess who this person was. He should be the one who was rumored to be Empress Dowager’s beloved nephew, Pan Shuo.

Even though he might not be in the Pugilistic World, it was full of legends about him – this was the exact description of this person.

Xiao Baoxin had never seen this person before, but she had heard all kinds of rumors about him when she was in the backyard.

Back then, he had been conferred the title of a fifth-ranked official by the emperor as a yellow gatekeeper. He thought that he was a high ranking official with a generous salary and was a person with status and wealth. So he openly visited Wang Xing’s family, who was also an official of the court. But Wang Xing didn’t even get up from his bed and refused to receive him.

Pan Shuo pointed at Wang Xing’s nose and scolded him. Then, he went to the palace to complain to the emperor and was reprimanded by the emperor.

The Wang Family looked down on the Pan Family, which was born poor, and did not even give the Emperor any face. After that, they used this matter as a joke, which was enough to show how arrogant the Wang Family was.

“Eh? Eldest Miss Xiao?”

When Pan Shuo saw Xiao Baoxin, he excitedly came over to greet her, “Miss Xiao is truly a heroine. The emperor even praised you for being as brave as your father. Yuan Chen is not good enough for you, I think it’s fine even if you don’t want him.”

There was some ambiguity in his words.

The first half of the sentence was indeed said by the emperor. Like father, like daughter. However, the second half of the sentence was purely Pan Shuo’s personal opinion. However, when these two halves were joined together in a sentence, it was inevitable that people would misunderstand and think that it was the emperor’s words.

… This person, do you have to be overly friendly? We’ve never met before, okay?

Why, she had kicked Fatty Wang, and he had formed an alliance with her?

However, seeing that he had taken the initiative to greet her, Xiao Baoxin could not turn a blind eye and slightly bowed. “His Majesty is too kind.”

“No, I’m serious,” Pan Shuo said seriously. “Yuan Chen is really not a good guy. You should reconsider. Actually, you don’t have to think about it. Just kick him —”

He suddenly pulled Xie Xian over and said, “Look, Xuan Hui is a hundred times better than Yuan Chen. It just so happens that he also hasn’t gotten married or engaged yet …”

“Brother Pan, be careful with your words.” Xie Xian slightly frowned. This fellow was crazy at all times and situations.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, how could he say these to an unmarried man and a woman with an engagement?

“Don’t be angry.” Although Pan Shuo was dim-witted, he was Xie Xian’s colleague and had some bonding with him. Thus, he could still tell from the expression on his face. Especially when his handsome face had darkened and his eyes were clearly emitting a cold glint, he looked a little scary. He hurriedly explained.

“I just saw how beautiful Eldest Miss Xiao is. Wouldn’t she be blind to match with that fellow?”

No matter how magnanimous Xiao Baoxin was, she could not bear to listen any longer. Her face was burning, and she was so embarrassed. It was really her eight lifetimes of misfortune to meet such a dumb fellow.

Although she agreed with what he said at the end, the first part… all those words were spoken by someone with a brain?

Was he trying to matchmake her under the eyes of the public?

“Assistant Minister Pan, please watch your words. It’s already late, I should have returned home earlier. Goodbye.” She bowed slightly, then strode out without even raising her head, leaving everyone behind. If she stayed any longer, she would explode on the spot.