Chapter 69: Heng Ha Er Jiang

  Xia Fu flashed to the side, avoiding the gaze of the crazy women at the door, and beckoned to the two Zhu brothers. The two saw him, hastily tidying their clothes and tying their belts as they walked over.

  Zhu Zhida adjusted his hat and said with a very bad tone: "Young Master Yang, what's going on in front of your house? It's even more lively than the vegetable market."

  Xia Liu sighed and said, "I didn't think so either. There are matchmakers in front of the door, people introducing virtuous girls to me as concubines, and even salesmen selling maidservants. I never thought that becoming a maid in my house would become the most popular profession in Qingzhou..."

  Zhu Zhechun snorted in disgust, "Pfft! He's lost the most profitable shop and still managed to get a good reputation out of it. Who can reason with him?"

  "Second brother!"

  Zhu Zhihou rebuked him loudly and gave his younger brother a signal with his eyes, only then did Zhu Zhichun reluctantly shut up.

  Zhu Zhihou changed his expression and smiled at Xia Yu: "Yang Gongzi, this time, we brothers are here on the orders of our father."

  Xia Liu said calmly: "Oh?"

  Zhu Zhihou said with some difficulty: "This... about last time..., cough, we brothers were also in a hurry and made some rash moves..."

  Xia Liu said with a smile that was not quite a smile: "Whether you are reckless or not doesn't matter to me, the problem is with Prince Qi. If His Highness has no objections, I naturally won't make a big deal out of it..."

  Zhu Zhihou's face flashed with a hint of anger, but he suppressed it and asked, "According to Young Master Yang's words, what should be done about this matter?"

  At that time, Xia Xian returned home with Xiao Ding, and as soon as he entered the door, he saw Zhu Zhihou and Zhu Zhichun, two brothers, bringing a group of servants to catch his sister Zhu Shanbi and Cui Yuanlie, who had eloped. Because Xiao Guanshi led people to block them, they started fighting, breaking many things. However, during this delay, Xiao Guanshi ordered someone to take Cui Yuanlie and Zhu Shanbi away first, so they were not caught by the Zhu brothers.

  When Xia Fan returned, Xiao Guanzheng was about to send someone to the government office to report their crime of breaking into civilian homes. Xia Fan was already anxious about Xiaodi's injury, and seeing this scene made him furious. He stopped his family members who were going to report to the government office, first sent Xiaodi into the house, and then asked someone to quickly invite a doctor to diagnose and treat her. Then he personally went out to deal with the matter. Xia Fan did not argue with them, nor did he fight with them. He wandered around his own mansion for a while, looking at what had been smashed, and then turned into the study.

  Half an hour later, a terrible list of claims emerged: Qin Hui's used pen, Di Qing's used knife, Yang Guifei's used washbasin, An Lushan's sat-on bench, the green bricks on the wall of Huo Qubing's house, and the leather collar worn by Li Si's small yellow dog when he was beheaded...

  All antiques!

  Don't you believe?

  It doesn't matter if you don't believe me. These are all antiques that were purchased for Prince Qi and haven't been sent over yet. If you don't believe me, go ask Prince Qi himself.

  This bill was sent to the Zhu's residence, and when Mr. Zhu Wenhao saw it, he almost fainted.

  King Qi is not someone to be trifled with! He clearly knew that Yang Xu was cheating, but he had no way to stop it. Just the other day, King Qi had just acted shamelessly, pretending to relocate land and extorting a large sum of money from the wealthy merchants of Qingzhou. How could Zhu Wen Hao believe in King Qi's integrity? If this lawsuit were to be brought before King Qi, he would definitely take advantage of the situation and claim that these broken antiques were indeed valuable relics that he had spent his own money to buy back, and Zhu Wen Hao would surely be ruined.

  The big daughter who had been raised for over a decade ran away with someone else and left behind a pile of rotten debts. Mr. Zhu was so angry that he first beat his two sons, then led the two troublemakers to Qingzhou Nuclear Peach Garden Village to find the elder of the Cui family to settle the account.

  Cui Yuanlie didn't dare to come out for several days, hiding in the Yang's house with Miss Zhu. Old Master Cui was worried that he couldn't find his precious grandson. After hearing a few words from Mr. Zhu, Old Master Cui ran back into the house and took out his dragon-headed cane, puffed out his chest and glared at Mr. Zhu, saying that the adopted daughter of the Zhu family was ungrateful and had seduced his precious grandson to run away from home, demanding that the Zhu family return his grandson, otherwise he would drag him to the Golden Hall to file a complaint.

  Mr. Zhu only then realized that he had hit an iron plate, and unexpectedly the old man of the Cui family was quite powerful. The old man Cui raised his imperial cane, and Mr. Zhu didn't even dare to fight back, so he could only flee with his tail between his legs. Mr. Zhu returned home with a humbled expression, carefully thinking for several days, and finally came to two realizations: Firstly, if Yang Xu refused to let go, this debt would be impossible to repay, even if he sold all his possessions; Secondly, even if the little scoundrel from the Cui family eloped with his precious daughter and had a fat baby boy, as long as that old codger Cui Yuanlie was still alive, Mr. Zhu wouldn't be able to do anything to him.

  So, Mr. Zhu finally decided: swallow his teeth and blood, endure it! As long as Yang Xu can magnanimously tear up that absurd and meaningless bill, as long as he can find that thieving maid intact, this matter will be settled, so the Zhu brothers came to the Yang's house again.

  These two men, who didn't look like they were going to be of any help, had already eaten their fill and explained the purpose of their visit. Xia Yu smiled: "Gentlemen, those antiques were indeed purchased by me on behalf of Prince Qi. However, Prince Qi only said that the new palace was being built and that he needed some decent antiques to put inside once it's completed, but he didn't specify which ones. Yuan Lie and I have a deep friendship, one that can be said to be as close as brothers. As the saying goes, 'brothers are like hands and feet', while money is just something external. If the Zhu and Cui families were to become in-laws, I wouldn't want to make things difficult for my good friend's father-in-law and brother-in-law over such trivial matters. What do you think?"

  Zhu Zhechun's face turned red with rage as he glared at him and said: "You..."

  Zhu Zhihou pulled him back and chuckled twice: "I understand, Mr. Yang's meaning is actually Cui Yuanlie's meaning?"

  Xia Liu smiled but didn't answer. Zhu Zhi nodded heavily and said, "Alright, I'll report back to Father after we return home. This matter still needs Father's decision."

  Xia Liu smiled and said: "In that case, I won't see you off. I'll quietly await good news."

  As soon as Zhu Zhihou and his brother left, Xia Jiong also left the main hall, leaving Xiao Guanshi to continue fending off those enthusiastic women. He slipped out of the side door of the Yang mansion. In a hidden place, Zhu Zhihou and his brother secretly watched, and when they saw Xia Jiong sneaking out of the door, Zhu Zhichun's fists clenched in anger, saying: "I knew it, my sister and that little brat Crui must have been hidden by him. Look, he must be going to report to Cui Yuanlie."

  "Settle down, have you forgotten the teachings of your father? If it weren't for your impulsiveness last time, how could we have been deceived by that Yang fellow? Shut your mouth and just follow me to investigate where Little Sister is hiding. We'll report back to Father and let him make the decision."

  The two brothers said, and quietly crept up, Xia Fu had not noticed anyone following him. They made seven turns and eight twists until they reached a quiet alley. There was a house on the side of the wall. Xia Fu looked around and pushed open the door to slip inside. The Zhu brothers hiding in the corner of the wall quickly followed.

  Inside the house, Choi Won-ryeol and Ha-seon stood in the main hall talking. Choi Won-ryeol said: "Thank you, Brother Mun-hwan. If it weren't for your help, I really wouldn't know what to do."

  Xia Liu smiled and said, "As the saying goes: it's better to destroy ten temples than to break one family tie. Being able to bring about a good outcome for your younger brother is also a virtuous deed, hehe. I've heard their tone has already softened somewhat, perhaps Mr. Zhu will change his mind after all. Moreover, although your Cui family may not be as prominent as the Zhu family, it's not far behind either. You are an upright and honest scholar with unlimited prospects. Your grandfather is also extremely favored by the current emperor, so in terms of social status, you're a suitable match. Not to mention that you and Miss Zhu have mutual affection for each other."

  Outside the door, the Zhu brothers stuck to the seam of the door and listened with gritted teeth. If it weren't for Zhu Zhonghou repeatedly making eye contact and hinting, Zhu Zhipure would have kicked the door long ago.

  "Shall I... inform my grandfather about this and ask him to send someone to propose a marriage?"

  Xia Liu murmured and said: "It's also good this way, so your father-in-law will have a step down."

  Choi Won-ryeol hesitated and said: "Mun-hwan hyung, do you think the Zhu family will agree? What if he doesn't consent..."

  Xia Fu said in a deep voice, "Yuan Lie, eloping with the young lady from a good family is a serious offense. If things go wrong, it will ruin your reputation and career. If he doesn't agree, Miss Zhu must be sent back."

  Two people outside the door heard a joyful sound, and Xia Yu coldly smiled and said: "Originally in the future you will become one family, you should leave some face for Master Zhu. But if he doesn't agree, I think you don't need to beg him either. After all, Miss Zhu has already become your person, raw rice has been cooked into cooked rice, after several rounds of love, it's possible that she is already pregnant. You might as well be ruthless and send Miss Zhu back home, and see if he will eagerly ask you to marry his daughter or if you will humbly go to his door to propose."

  As soon as the Zhu brothers outside the door heard this, one of them stumbled and the two heads knocked together. Both their faces turned black, but they didn't dare make a sound, only covering their heads to listen, and then they heard Cui Yuanlie say: "This...this isn't good, is it? If it gets out, my father-in-law will lose all face."

  "He is unkind, and you are unjust."

  Zhu Zhihou couldn't listen anymore, he hastily gestured to his brother and turned around to leave. In the room, Xia Fan and Cui Yuanlie were still talking back and forth, when suddenly a soft cough was heard outside the door, Peng Ziqi pushed open the door and walked in, his smiling eyes scanned the two of them and said: "Alright, no need to put on an act anymore, those precious ones have already left."

  Choi Won-ryeol let out a deep sigh and plopped down into the chair, while Hwang Sun-oh raised a cup of cool tea to his lips. Paeng Ji-hye snorted in amusement, her beautiful eyes fluttering towards Hwang as she scolded, "You're really something else, using such tactics! If Master Zhu doesn't fall for it, what's Miss Zhu supposed to do?"

  Alas! This little girl, still dressed in men's attire, but her expression and tone have become increasingly unguarded about the fact that she is a woman. If this continues, I don't know if Xia Liu, who already has a bad reputation in Qingzhou, will gain another bad name for being fond of handsome young men and having cut-sleeve tendencies...

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