Chapter 447: Ominous Portents, A Hair’s-Breadth from Disaster
Zhu Ping’an went off to look for the missing horse, and Li Shu insisted on following, along with the little maid Baozi. Of course, their true purpose was not horse-hunting at all, but flower-picking.
On this side of the valley, the water and grass were lush and abundant. A winding yellow-mud path snaked inward, just wide enough for a single carriage to pass. Zhu Ping’an decided to follow the path first, thinking that perhaps someone had mistakenly led his horse away while grazing.
The forest here was utterly untouched by human hands. Bathed in sunlight, everything that met the eye was green. Green canopies swallowed up the sky, green grasses spread endlessly beneath the trees, and even the trunks themselves bore layers of moss accumulated over countless seasons. The valley, steeped in green, exuded a quiet, almost poetic serenity. As they followed the yellow path deeper into this sea of verdure, the occasional birdcall rang out—yet instead of breaking the silence, it made the valley seem even more tranquil.
Zhu Ping’an searched along the path for a long time without seeing any sign of the horse. Meanwhile, Li Shu and the little maid Baozi had already filled one basket with wildflowers, placed it into the carriage, then cheerfully took out an empty basket and continued picking with undiminished enthusiasm.
Just as Zhu Ping’an was about to give up, a sudden fragrance drifted into his nose. It was rich and savory—uncannily similar to the smell of roasted meat.
Someone was barbecuing?
Which family was this, enjoying themselves so leisurely out here? Had they seen his horse? It would be perfect to go and ask.
After a moment’s thought, Zhu Ping’an followed the scent. It seemed to come from behind a sloped rise, partially hidden by waist-high shrubs. If not for the guiding aroma, the slope would have been easy to miss.
The closer he got, the stronger the smell became. Wisps of bluish smoke from the fire behind the slope were now clearly visible. The slope formed an abrupt bend in the terrain; Zhu Ping’an and the two women circled around from below, and as they rounded the corner, they suddenly emerged in front of the slope.
The scene of the barbecue appeared abruptly before Zhu Ping’an and the others—and just as abruptly, Zhu Ping’an and his companions appeared before the people barbecuing.
Things were not what he had expected.
This was no gathering of refined young masters or noble ladies. Instead, six men stood there in tattered clothes, their bodies powerfully built. Two of them bore visible wounds, crudely wrapped in strips of cloth. Their faces carried a fierce, hardened look, as if they had been in a fight not long ago.
Sunlight shone down, and something behind them in the grass caught the light with a faint white glint. Zhu Ping’an instinctively narrowed his eyes. There was no need to guess—it was sunlight reflecting off metal blades.
Don’t tell me… these are runaway bandits?
Zhu Ping’an’s head began to throb. He was a frail scholar, accompanied by two women utterly incapable of defending themselves, and the three of them had just blundered straight into this scene. No matter how he looked at it, it felt like lambs walking willingly into a tiger’s den.
And then there was the barbecue itself.
Zhu Ping’an’s gaze froze. The thing roasting over the fire—now dismembered—was his missing horse. Even in pieces, it was unmistakable. The distinctive saddle unique to the Linhuai Marquis’s estate lay nearby, and the poor horse’s severed head was still dripping with blood. There was no denying it: these men had stolen his horse… and roasted it.
Thinking about it, that flashy black horse of his—vain and forgetful of its master—had really been absurdly lucky. If Zhu Ping’an had ridden it today, then the one on the fire right now would have been that gaudy creature instead. The thought made him grind his teeth in regret.
Honestly, that idiot black horse had luck beyond reason.
Far away at the Linhuai Marquis’s estate, the said black horse stood separated by a railing, rubbing heads affectionately with the neighboring little red horse. It suddenly sneezed for no reason at all. With its limited brain capacity, it merely flicked its tail in confusion and continued rubbing heads, utterly unaware of the danger it had escaped.
Zhu Ping’an no longer thought about the lost horse. His mind raced with only one question now: how to get out of this alive.
Six brawny men of clearly dubious origins, hiding out here to conceal their tracks—and the three of them had just openly walked right into their midst.
If these men were ruthless, the three of them could easily be silenced forever.
If they were greedy, robbery was almost guaranteed.
If they were lustful… Li Shu was a woman of breathtaking beauty, the kind who could topple cities. Baozi, though slightly less striking, was still considered quite pretty compared to most. And her figure—well developed, no less impressive than certain actresses in those island films—was all too evident when she bent over to pick flowers. Just thinking about it made Zhu Ping’an’s scalp tingle.
No matter how he looked at it, this spelled extreme danger.
Although less than half a second had passed since he appeared before the slope, Zhu Ping’an already felt alarm bells blaring deafeningly inside his head.
As he frantically searched for a way out, Baozi the little maid suddenly spoke up. She clenched her small fists, puffed out her round cheeks, and launched an indignant accusation with righteous fury:
“Hey! Young Master-in-law, that’s our horse! That saddle is unique to our estate—you can recognize it at a glance. You—you actually stole a horse from the Linhuai Marquis’s household! Such nerve! Hmph! We’ll send you horse thieves straight to the magistrate!”
When it rains, it pours.
Hearing Baozi’s voice brimming with misplaced justice, Zhu Ping’an felt his vision go dark. This was not the time to assign blame, was it?! Had she no brain at all? Great Auntie, would you please open your eyes and look at the situation?!
Li Shu’s expression also changed when she heard Baozi. She quietly edged closer to Zhu Ping’an, as if proximity to him might somehow grant her safety.
The six burly men opposite them stiffened as well. Zhu Ping’an and the others appearing so suddenly had already caught them off guard; Baozi’s shout only made things worse.
Zhu Ping’an clearly saw two of them reach subtly toward the grass beside them.
Damn it—they’re about to make a move!
At that critical moment, Zhu Ping’an spoke.
Despite the danger, he forced himself to appear calm and composed, raising a hand to stop Baozi from saying anything more.
“What nonsense are you spouting?” he scolded lightly. “I’ve served at the Hanlin Academy and seen all kinds of people. These gentlemen here don’t look like bad men to me. When a tiger falls to the plains, it suffers hardship—who hasn’t had hard times? If my fine horse could fill the bellies of these heroes, then it hasn’t lived its life in vain.”
He tapped Baozi lightly on the forehead, then cupped his hands and smiled toward the six men. His manner was generous and magnanimous, like a benevolent patron from some modern retelling of Water Margin, known for righteousness, charity, and wide friendships.
His words were carefully chosen. On one hand, he subtly revealed his identity—he was an official, not an ordinary man. If anything happened to him, the court would surely pursue it relentlessly. On the other hand, he made it clear he would not pursue the matter of the stolen horse. Just a horse—eaten was eaten. He did not mind at all, fully displaying goodwill.
“Hua’er,” Zhu Ping’an said gently, “go to the carriage and fetch a jar of good wine.”
After speaking, he instructed Baozi to retrieve the wine. Li Shu loved comfort and indulgence, and the carriage was well stocked—there happened to be a fine jar of wine onboard.
“You’ve eaten my prized horse,” Zhu Ping’an said with a smile. “How could you do so without good wine? That wouldn’t do my horse justice.”
“What? Young Master-in-law…” Baozi pouted, clearly unhappy. How could it make sense to give wine to people who had stolen their horse?
“You silly girl, what are you fussing about?” Li Shu interjected smoothly, her dark eyes glinting with clever understanding. She shot Baozi a look and urged her on with a soft, coaxing scold. “Don’t you know my husband loves befriending heroes? I’ve heard that eating fine horse meat without wine harms the body. Hurry and fetch the wine so these heroes can warm themselves.”