Chapter 158 - Locked Outside the City

Chapter 158: Chapter 152: Locked Outside the CityZhao Hanzhang wanted Zhao Erlang to practice martial arts and consume his excess energy, so naturally, she couldn’t let him ride a horse to Wu Castle to pay respects.

So every day, he runs there with people and runs back again, and also listens to Ji Ping’s instructions to help move things and repair houses in the city. In the afternoon, he runs to pay respects and then returns.

Today Ji Ping’s task for them was to move the dried grain to the warehouse, so they were late coming out.

He’s stubborn; his sister said he must visit the elders every morning and evening, so he must do it every day. Therefore, at dusk, he ran to pay respects.

Fu An, who was tasked with recording their grain moving efforts, unknowingly ran out of the city gates with them. When he realized where they were, it was too late to turn around.

After all, he was a servant, and these were the young master’s brother-in-law; he had to give him some face.

So panting heavily, he followed them to Wu Castle, watched Zhao Erlang kowtowing to the Zhao Family’s Fifth Grandfather, then left Wu Castle to return to the city.

Fu An couldn’t help but say, "Second young master, it’s already dark. Isn’t the city gate closed by now?"

Zhao Erlang replied, "Then we’ll call for them to open it. Sister is still waiting for me at home."

He insisted on leading everyone to run towards the city gate.

They advanced by running; they were used to running by this time, reaching the gate in less than half an hour.

Sure enough, the city gate was closed.

The eleven youngsters stood under the gate, looking up anxiously as Zhao Erlang shouted, "Open the gate quickly! I’m back, I want to go inside!"

The people on the gate recognized Zhao Erlang but didn’t dare open it casually; this was a city gate. Who dares to open it without Zhao Hanzhang’s orders?

So they shouted back, "Second young master, please wait a moment, I’ll go request Lady Zhao’s permission."

After saying that, he quickly ran down the city wall, grabbed a horse, and rushed to the county government to seek approval.

Zhao Erlang wasn’t making a fuss; he just leaned against the city wall with the others, waiting. Mosquitoes buzzed around them, particularly annoying.

He waved his hand dismissively, slapping his face with a stance as if wanting to perish with them. Fu An watched in alarm and hurriedly stopped his motions, reaching out to wave around him to help drive the mosquitoes away.

The other troop members saw this and gathered around to assist, "Second young master, it must be because your blood is sweeter, that’s why mosquitoes love biting you."

Zhao Erlang: "Really?"

"Really."

Zhao Erlang was about to say something when he suddenly pricked up his ears, "Do you hear the sound of horses?"

While they were wondering, the guard on the city wall noticed some distant riders and loudly called out, "Who goes there! Xiping County is closed, halt immediately."

They were a bit frightened, especially with the second young master below.

The guard on the wall anxiously paced around, pulling at his companion, "Shouldn’t we open the gate first and let the second young master in? If something happens to him, Lady Zhao will surely punish us severely."

While hesitating, the riders arrived below the wall. As Zhao Erlang and the others were standing hidden in the shadows, and with it being dark, the newcomers didn’t notice them, only shouting instructions to the guards, "There’s an emergency military order from the Inspector Mansion, open the city gate immediately!"

The guards on the wall relaxed slightly upon hearing this, their tone turned milder, "Please wait a moment, I will report this right away."

They then asked, "Do you have official documentation and seals?"

"The document is here, it’s an urgent military order! Stop wasting time and open the gate, delaying the battle will be on you!"

The troop members didn’t open it; they weren’t the Imperial Army. Their mistress was Zhao Hanzhang, who had issued orders as soon as they took control of Xiping County. No one could release the gate without her orders, not even the second young master. Who were these people?

The guards’ tone grew unfriendly, causing a rough reply, "You’re ordered to wait, so wait until we report."

The riders panicked and shouted, "How dare you! This is a critical military order, all county cities must immediately open the gates upon receiving urgent orders. Do you dare defy it?"

The key was they weren’t the Imperial Army, the guards on the wall paid no heed.

"I’ve heard Xiping County has come under Zhao Family’s control. Do you plan to rebel by not obeying the superior’s orders since you’ve switched allegiance?"

Zhao Erlang, who had his mouth covered in silence, couldn’t bear it anymore, yanked Fu An’s hand away and pointed at the riders, shouting, "How dare you insult my Zhao Family! Even I have to wait patiently, who do you think you are?"

The two riders were startled by the sudden voice, one almost having a heart attack, while the other fainted directly and fell off the horse.

Zhao Erlang exclaimed, jumped up, and pulled everyone to testify for him, "They’re bad, they’re framing me deliberately, just like sister and the others!"

Zhao Erlang hurriedly sought everyone’s confirmation, "I didn’t hit him, didn’t even touch him!"

Fu An: "...Yes, second young master didn’t hit him. He just fainted from fright."

Zhao Erlang’s eyes widened, full of confusion mixed with pride, "Am I really this impressive?"

The troop youths huddled behind him, whispered, "Second young master, do you think he might be scared to death?"

The rider, having calmed down after being scared stiff, heard their discussions, gradually realized it wasn’t a ghost, but a person!

Pale-faced, he tried to dismount and check on his companion but found his legs still trembling slightly, unable to press against the stirrups. He pointed to the barely visible figures in the shadows and said, "Come over here and help him!"

Zhao Erlang was a kind-hearted boy; he led the group forward to turn over the fallen man and move him aside, avoiding him being trampled by the horse.

Fu An checked the man’s pulse, confirmed he was still breathing, and sighed in relief, "He’s alive."

Zhao Erlang stared at his nose, "Need to pinch his philtrum, pinching it will wake him up."

He added, "My sister said, when older sister fainted before, sister pinched her hard, and she woke up immediately."

Upon hearing this, Fu An pinched the man’s philtrum hard, after a long time the man groaned twice, struggled to half-open his eyes, barely making out the figures, met a few pairs of eyes glimmering in the darkness, his eyes widened again, and he fainted.

Zhao Erlang was also shocked, fell backward sitting on the ground, sought verification from everyone, "He fainted on his own, it’s not my fault."

The ones surrounding him also stepped back, echoed to the rider, "Yes yes, he fainted on his own."

The rider was angry, "Why are you idling around, help me down!"

Everyone turned to Zhao Erlang; they listened to him.

Zhao Erlang thought for a moment; his sister had told him not to easily trust strangers outside, so he sternly refused, "No way, who knows if you’re a bad guy?"

Frustrated, the rider shouted, "Who are you, hiding near the city walls for?"

Finally he shouted at the guards on the wall, "Hurry up and open the gate, if anything happens to the envoy, not even all your lives would compensate for it."