Chapter 152: How to Lend a Helping Hand (X)

Jiang Pengji lost her smile when the other man remained silent. She then quickly asked, “What’s so hard about this question?”

The man quickly brought his hands up in respect and stuttered, “No… I’m not good with words and never learned much. I’m a rough person who has never met someone as kind as you. I’m… I’m just nervous and can’t find the right words to speak.” While saying that, the man broke out in a cold sweat. He could not shake off the feeling that he had been seen through.

“Sit and chat with me,” Jiang Pengji said while gesturing at the stool next to her. “It’s boring to stand around.”

Stools were convenient things that were introduced to the Central Plains by foreigners. It quickly became the norm to carry them around or have them in one’s yard. If the common folk wanted to gossip with their neighbors, they could just break out the stools and chat for hours.

The stools were not only portable, but they were small and cute, too.

He looked at the small stool before looking at himself. The man gingerly sat down and used his legs to hold up most of his weight to prevent adding stress to the small furniture. He was so tense that it looked awkward.

When she noticed his actions, Jiang Pengji’s smile gained more radiance. When the man saw that, he nearly leapt up in fright.

“Don’t be so tense. Didn’t you say that I’m like a living buddha? Would buddha hurt anyone?”

Due to her body’s age, Jiang Pengji had yet to hit puberty and her voice was still childish sounding, but she still made her voice gentler. Not only did the man not let his guard down, he was even more on guard against her. That could be owed to his warrior instinct.

“Langjun must be joking. You’re so adorable, how could you hurt anyone?” The man was so nervous he stuttered a little and his back was covered in cold sweat. His hands even trembled a little.

“That may not be,” Jiang Pengji said as she picked up a small stone. She then threw it at the water. The stone skipped across the water’s surface before it sank.

“I heard from my father that I have a cousin in Meng County. He has feminine features and if he were to wear a girl’s clothes, he would be adorable and could enchant the crowd. Have you heard of him?”

The man’s heart thudded in his chest and he had to keep a lid on his rage. He schooled his expression and gave a dry laugh. “I’m just a ruffian with no home. Anyone who sees me will cover their noses and steer clear. How could I have heard of any nobility business?”

“Oh, so you haven’t heard? That’s a pity. I was thinking maybe one day you’d get a chance to see him.” Jiang Pengji shook her head in pity and her words caused the man to clench his fists.

It was as though she was blind to the man’s reactions. She continued skipping rocks across the waters with one hand, while the other was rested on her knees and under her chin.

“I originally thought his feminine looks were something that others just said. No matter how soft and gentle a man looked, they’d still be a man. But two days ago, I saw him. He’s more beautiful than any girls I’ve ever seen.”

The man was plunged into an inner turmoil when he heard that. He was afraid Jiang Pengji would realize his identity, yet he was elated at knowing about Meng Liang’s whereabouts. He was furious when he thought about his revenge… But he quickly regained himself and kept a lid on his emotions.

He was in Hejian County and the child before him was Liu She’s son. He could not do anything to him. Meng Liang was hiding in the Liu residence and that restricted his actions. If he were to be rash, he would drag his men down with him.

Due to his conflicting emotions, his voice turned husky when he spoke. “I’m afraid…”

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“Afraid of what?” Jiang Pengji laughed and lifted a hand to pat the man’s back. “You were curious enough to come see me. Aren’t you curious about the real beauty?”

The man was dumbfounded.

The two were talking quietly. Naturally Qiguan Rang and Xu Ke were unable to hear a single word from their fishing spot about twenty meters away, but that did not stop them from being able to deduce what their conversation was about.

“I feel sorry for that officer. Lanting is up to his usual mischief.”

Qiguan Rang’s gaze was straight ahead, as though he were really focused on fishing. Xu Ke felt like rebutting, but Jiang Pengji was his master and she had a sharp hearing. Even with their distance, she might have heard him.

“How do you know that that’s the officer Langjun’s been searching for?” Xu Ke asked without moving his lips much. His voice loud enough for only Qiguan Rang to hear.

“Even if that’s not the officer, it has to be someone close to him. Why else would your Langjun smile like that… He looks like a cat trying to act innocent with a mouse in its mouth…”

Why would one show hospitality without a word or ulterior motive? They had to be a crook or bandit.

Xu Ke was silent. Qiguan Rang was right. His young master hated doing things that had no meaning, as it wasted time.

Once she showed an interest, that would mean that it would be time well spent because it benefited her.

“Other than that, you don’t have any other opinions?” Xu Ke asked.

Even if Qiguan Rang was someone his young master had set her eyes upon, Xu Ke still wanted to get a feel of the other man himself.

Qiguan Rang did not rise to Xu Ke’s provocation, but a flash of interest showed in his eyes.

“Have you not noticed that that man is now sitting next to Lanting?”

If that man were a real homeless man, would he have had the guts to sit next to a nobility?

Even if Jiang Pengji allowed it, the common folk would be fearful and would have rejected doing so in case something untowards were to happen.

Once Qiguan Rang pointed that out, Xu Ke quickly noticed that, too. The fishing rod jerked a little in his hands and the fish that were about to bite the bait quickly scattered.

A moment later, Xu Ke glumly added more bait to the fishing rod before he continued their hushed conversation. “I have to say that I do admire your observational skills. I finally understand why my Langjun is so interested in you.”

Qiguan Rang pursed his lips. “I think when Lanting first saw him, he had already guessed that man’s identity.”

“Eh?”

Qiguan Rang sighed. “Lanting’s eyes… If there’s nothing, don’t make eye contact with him. He can see through everything.”