Volume 4: Gathering of Sages Chapter 686: Help, Hijacking
Hearing the person in the car not answering for a long time, Liu remembered Zhang Shou's frequent comments that his personality could easily kill the conversation. He couldn't help but think carefully before continuing, "Your Highness, has your Highness eaten yet?" He thought about the second half of the sentence but still didn't say it - if he hadn't eaten, lunch would be delivered later, so why not eat at the public school before going back?
The people in the car still didn't answer, but after a moment, there was a light knock on the wall, and then one of the guards from the Ruiqi Battalion who had let Ah Liu in came forward, bowed his head in front of the car door, and then reached out and took a letter from the car. Then, he handed the letter directly to Ah Liu.
Without the other party saying anything, Ah Liu knew that this was definitely not a letter to him, but to Zhang Shou. And the person in the carriage was most likely not the Third Prince. Although he had habitually made such a judgment when he saw the carriage just now, and even asked questions, the thick curtains and the carriage also blocked his instinct to detect the breath, but the other party's action made him vaguely aware that something was wrong.
He didn't say much, took the letter, nodded slightly, and turned to leave. After entering the public school, he went straight to the second grade of Jiuzhang Hall, and just heard Zhang Shou's announcement of the end of get out of class. He rushed in without hesitation, and handed the letter to Zhang Shou. As for the cause and effect, he didn't mention a word.
Zhang Shou was naturally used to Ah Liu's simplicity and roughness. Seeing that the letter was not sealed, he took out the letter and glanced at it. He was stunned.
Because even though there was no signature or heading on the letter, just by looking at the content, one could tell that it was not for him, but for someone else. On a thin piece of paper, there were only a few lines of words: "The queen wanted to kill the second son and save the eldest son. Now that it has been done, Hongshan Chang, a great man in the world, please redress the injustice for the second prince!"
Zhang Shou's mouth twitched, and then he walked out without saying anything, holding the letter. When he got outside, Ah Liu took the initiative to follow him, and he asked, "Who delivered the letter? Where is he now?"
"In the carriage outside the school."
After receiving such a simple answer, Zhang Shou immediately walked out without thinking. But when he arrived at the door, he was stunned to find that the carriage was escorted by a large group of soldiers from the Ruiqi Battalion, which was beyond his imagination. His first reaction was that the Third Prince, the Crown Prince, had gone out of the palace incognito again, but when he thought about the content of the letter, he felt that it was not the case.
Therefore, after carefully weighing the pros and cons, he asked in a deep voice when he came to the carriage: "May I ask, Madam Hong, do you want me to go to Yashe to persuade your father?"
Hong took advantage of the half hour she spent in the morning teaching the Third Prince to paint at Ciqing Palace to directly pass on the letter from last night, and also told him about the old servant's message when she was with Princess Yongping Zhu Ying, her own response, and the whole story of the letter from last night. Sure enough, the Third Prince took it very seriously, not only taking her to see the Emperor immediately, but also persuading the Emperor to let her leave the palace to see Zhang Shou.
At this time, when Hong in the carriage heard Zhang Shou directly reveal his identity and purpose, she pulled open the curtain and then knelt down in the carriage with a sincere and solemn tone.
"My father is a pedantic and unrealistic person, but he has always attached great importance to right and wrong. When he was in Jiangxi, he ignored the fact that it was difficult for an honest official to judge family affairs, and he repeatedly upheld justice for some people who were wronged. But that was because the old head of the mountain and I secretly sent people to inquire and investigate carefully. Those who dared to take advantage of him were identified early on, so he acted impartially and was naturally invincible."
"But this time it's different. I'm only worried that someone will not only send me a letter, but also take action on his side. Then he will be angry and take advantage of it, and make a big mistake. Although there are other ways to stop him, I'm afraid only you, Master Zhang, can convince him. Even if you scold him until he is convinced, it is better than letting others induce him to write a letter and say nonsense."
"You think too highly of me." Zhang Shou could only smile bitterly. However, thinking that the Hong family could mobilize such an entourage, it was obvious that the emperor and the prince also expected this. He couldn't help but ask with a headache, "This is groundless. Will Chief Hong really fall for this trick?"
"There are only a few words on the letter sent to me, but the one sent to my father may not be the same. I don't know if it was sent to me specifically as a warning or if there is something else going on, but at a time like this, it is better to believe it than not. The emperor wanted to summon my father in person, but I persuaded him not to."
"No one knows a father better than his daughter. His character is that he only believes what he sees and does not believe what others say. When he gets stubborn, he thinks that the emperor is forcing him to shut up. So I am afraid that I will make things worse. I can only ask the emperor and the prince to let me come out to meet you, Mr. Zhang. And..."
Hong paused, then hesitated for a moment before gritting her teeth and saying, "Besides, I'm also worried that the letter to me might say one thing, but the letter to my father might say something else. My father is very dissatisfied with me teaching His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to paint, and thinks that I'm treating him like a first-rate painter. So if the two sides say something different, I'm afraid it will only anger him. Otherwise, I plan to go there in person."
"If you can wake up my father, not only me, but also Yuzhang Academy will be grateful to you, Master Zhang, for your generosity!"
Do you think I'm a superman with a full skill of "slapping the head"? I'm not a Shaolin monk, I don't know the lion's roar! Moreover, I can pick up a ruler and teach the third and fourth princes a lesson, and I can let Zhang Chen use a ruler to control the Banshan Hall, but I can't beat up Hong Shanchang, right?
Zhang Shou complained in his heart, but although he and Hong Shanchang only had a grudge but no friendship, Hong was a good person. Most importantly, if Hong Shanchang, that big mouth, really made random comments about royal affairs, then maybe even the innocent Third Prince would be taken in. He didn't know whether the gentle and polite little prince would become the person he hated in the future, but at least he had a good impression of the little guy now. So although he didn't like to meddle in other people's business, he really couldn't refuse this time.
The problem is, there has never been a shortage of such self-righteous old scholars throughout history! Sometimes they are more difficult to deal with than real villains!
As for the soldiers of the Ruiqi Battalion who followed the order of the Emperor Hong, they only understood that the Emperor Hong wanted Zhang Shou to persuade the head of the Hongshan Army about something, but they knew nothing about the details. However, no one thought too much about it, although it was strange. After all, as a soldier, he was supposed to follow orders and did not have too many thoughts. Or, in other words, those who have too many thoughts would not be good soldiers.
So, when Zhang Shou finally agreed and Hong bowed again to express her gratitude, the guard who had just received the letter and delivered it to Ah Liu went to the front of the carriage and lowered the curtain. Then, he bowed solemnly to Zhang Shou as a farewell. In a moment, such a large group of people left as they came, and the street in front of the public school became empty again.
As for the other people in the public school, they also heard the noise outside and wanted to come and see the excitement. However, Lu Wan was suppressing the group of noble children in Banshan Hall, and the others were intimidated by the presence of A Liu. When they finally came out, there was no excitement to watch. They didn't even know what the situation outside had just been.
Zhang Shou did not immediately go to Yashe to find Hong Shanchang to give him a wake-up call, but waited calmly for lunch to be delivered, and then not only finished his own portion in one go, but also went to Ah Liu to get half a steamed bun. When he was sure that he had recovered his strength, he walked slowly for a quarter of an hour in the public hall shared with Lu Wan and Liu Zhiyuan to digest the food, and then he planned to go out.
But just as he reached the door of the public hall and had not yet left, he heard Lu Wan, who had remained silent behind him, suddenly speak up: "Master Zhang, it is said that a gentleman uses his mouth instead of his fists. You are a gentleman with a sharp tongue, so you have always been successful. But sometimes, even if you have the upper hand in words, you may not necessarily win. At times like this..."
Seeing Zhang Shou turning his head to look at him, Lu Wan said with a smile: "As the saying goes, a master can be defeated by random punches."
Is this saying something that has been around for a long time? Zhang Shou laughed in silence, but he bowed his hands to thank Lu Wan for his reminder, and then walked out of the door. Although he didn't know how the cunning Lu Wan figured out the clues, he just racked his brains to think about it for a long time, which was to use a surprise attack first and then make a fuss.
Otherwise, asking him to reason with an old stubborn person is simply a mental disorder!
Zhang Shou boarded the car and entered the city again with a group of people and horses, and stopped in front of the elegant house that entertained the mountain masters. When he got off the car, he saw a familiar figure walking out with his head held high. It was none other than Mountain Master Hong!
When the two looked at each other, all the new and old grudges came to their minds... Of course, that was nonsense. Zhang Shou certainly didn't have much hatred towards Hong Shanchang, his defeated general, but Hong Shanchang must have felt different towards him.
As expected, he saw that Director Hong was stunned at first, then excited, then indifferent, and finally he snorted and walked straight towards him, without even looking at him, and walked away on his own.
In a flash, Zhang Shou grabbed Chief Hong Shan's arm with his hand, and then, having practiced some tricks of catching and escaping with Ah Liu in recent days, he easily made the man unable to move, but his face still showed a calm and relaxed look, as if he had met an old friend.
"Master Hong, what a coincidence! I just happen to have something very important to ask you."
Chief Hong felt that Zhang Shou's grip on his hand was like an iron clamp, and he could not break free at all. He could not help but shout angrily, "I have no friendship with you, and I have nothing to say to you!"
"Why be so formal? They say we are ministers in the same palace. After all, we have taught together in the Imperial College and at the Imperial Lecture Hall. How can you say that we don't have a relationship?" Zhang Shou kept on pestering him, but he smiled and pulled Hong Shanchang to his carriage. "A Liu just told me that a very good shop has just opened in the food court near the Xinglong Tea House in the outer city..."
When Ah Liu heard Zhang Shou calling his name, his eyes sparkled, and he immediately hummed, "Yes, it tastes good, just right for eating and talking at the same time."
However, at the same time as he said the words "tastes good", the boy had already appeared on the other side of Chief Hong Shan. He seemed to hold Chief Hong Shan's right elbow very naturally, and then gently flicked a certain part.
The next moment, Hong Shanchang, who was still trying to struggle, felt an indescribable numbness in his elbow. He was so frightened that he almost cried out, but then a cold and eerie voice came to his ears: "Don't move, or you will bear the consequences!"
Before he had time to think clearly about the consequences of this "one's own consequences", Hong Shanchang was put into the car by the master and servant very neatly - of course, if you want to say that it was kidnapping, it is not wrong. After sending the people to the car, Ah Liu got out again, and saw that the old servant who had just followed Hong Shanchang out of the Yashe was dumbfounded, so he smiled at him.
The young man had no idea how frightening his unnatural smile was. When he saw the old servant shudder and take a step back, he coughed and said, "My young master would like to invite Master Hong to have a drink. He will send him back soon."
Ah Liu lied with his eyes open, totally ignoring the fact that Zhang Shou and he were both full of food and drink, and it was past dinner time. He nodded slightly and got on the carriage again. The well-trained coachman and the ten guards from the Sharp Cavalry Battalion, even though they were dazzled by what they had just seen, did not raise any objections, and they surrounded the carriage and drove away.
As for the doorman with slack eyes and the old servant of the Hong family in front of the Yashe gate, it was not until a long time after the group of people had left that they finally woke up from their dreams.
In public, Master Zhang actually took Principal Hong away... No, should we say he kidnapped him?
However, seeing that there were not many passers-by around, some were whispering, some were puzzled. The two doormen looked at each other, and one of them immediately laughed and racked his brains to find an excuse for Zhang Shou: "It is said that the daughter of Director Hong is working with Zhang Xueshi's fiancée, Miss Zhu. Director Hong himself and Zhang Xueshi are acquainted with each other. It is natural for two old acquaintances to go out for a meal!"
The other doorman immediately coaxed the old servant in with a smile on his face, and after persuading people to wait for Principal Hong to come back in the room, he immediately ran to Principal Xiao and Principal Xu. He remembered that Principal Yue had gone to class in the afternoon, and the two seemed to have not gone out. As expected, he found that the two principals who had some friendship were playing chess.
As a doorman, he had no right to approach and talk to the two emperors who were treating him with courtesy. But at this time, something extraordinary happened. After talking to the two men's followers, he finally came forward and explained the incredible thing that had just happened at the door. However, what he got was a laugh from Xiao Shanzhang.
"Although Master Zhang is a bit young and impetuous, he has always been very sensible. What you said when you comforted the old servant of the Hong family was correct. Don't worry. He will definitely send the person back before dusk."
Zhang Shou knew that he had kidnapped Hong Shanzhang right in front of Yashe. If the news got out, it would cause a huge uproar . Who knows how many people would attack him as if they had found a treasure. But in the situation just now, he had no other choice but to be quick and decisive instead of arguing with others. At this moment, sitting in the moving carriage, seeing Hong Shanzhang's eyes wide open like copper bells, he smiled calmly at him.
"Mr. Hong didn't yell or claim that I robbed you."
