Chapter 12

  Songjiang Prefecture was bustling with many Jianghu people who came to attend the martial arts competition and marriage proposal set up by Miss Ding Yuehua, the younger sister of the twin heroes of the Ding family.

  Many people come to the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, and it's inevitable that there are some bad apples among them. As a result, local authorities have a significant additional burden to deal with.

  Gyokuyo Shō, who came here on private business, naturally received a heavy responsibility from the government due to his official rank as a fourth-grade sword-bearing guard and his authority to move around Kaifeng Prefecture.

  It's also an unavoidable situation.

  Xiao Feng saw such a situation and could only sympathize with Zhan Xiao Mao.

  No wonder Nan Xia's personal problems can never be solved, being overwhelmed by official duties, it's hard to solve even if he wants to. Moreover, I don't remember which book I read it in, someone said that Nan Xia can bear the trust of the world, but can't bear the happiness of a woman alone.

  Meow, in an instant, Zhan Zhao was nailed to the lofty and selfless cross of public interest, unable to come down. With such a godly figure on the altar, who would dare marry him? Let him remain single and be worshiped by the world instead.

  Originally, for convenience on the road, Xiaofeng continued to dress as a man, but Xianzhao, in order to avoid suspicion, found her and sent word back, with the result that Xiaohe was quickly delivered over.

  Then, Little Phoenix had no choice but to change back into everyone's beloved daughter's attire, it was truly unbearably miserable.

  Zhan Zhao went to visit Ding's house when Lu Xiaofeng strongly requested to go together.

  Zhan Zhao didn't want her to go, but couldn't resist the persuasion of someone beside him who said "Since we've already told outsiders that she came to Songjiang Prefecture to see this commotion, she can't just bear the name in vain, she must go and take a look". As a result, he could only let her go together.

  When Zhan Showa and Lu Xiao Feng visited Ding's house, they coincidentally met the Five Rats of Trap Island.

  When he saw Xian Zhen, the little phoenix girl, dressed up and standing beside him, Bai Yutang smiled meaningfully and looked at Xian Zhao for a moment before saying: "Miss Lu, you're safe and sound."

  Lu Xiaofeng also smiled lightly and said: "Today I happened to meet Fifth Master, there is a question that I would like to ask clearly in person."

  Bai Yutang waved his hand-held folding fan and said, "Oh, what's the matter?"

  Lu Xiaofeng beckoned him with a crooked finger, "Come on, let's talk about this outside."

  Bai Yutang came with interest, and closed his fan, "Good."

  Zhan Zhao looked at Lu Xiao Feng with incomprehension.

  Lu Xiaofeng didn't even look at him and turned around to walk away.

  Xiaohe naturally followed closely behind the young lady of her household.

  Standing under the eaves outside the house, Lu Xiaofeng turned around and formally asked Bai Yutang, who had been speaking nonsense, "I have something unclear, I'd like to ask for your guidance, Fifth Master Bai."

  "Please go ahead and speak, young lady."

  "While traveling outside, I accidentally overheard some people from the jianghu talking casually, saying that Nan Xiaoyao was looking for his fiancée, and this fiancée's name happened to be the same as mine. The person who spread the rumor looked like Bai Wuchang, I wonder how he responded?"

  Bai Yutang shook his fan calmly and smiled: "Since Fifth Master said it, he wouldn't dare not to acknowledge it. This is what Fifth Master said."

  "Is this going to ruin my reputation? Or do you not want Zhaoyang to attend Ding's daughter's marriage proposal? I think with your character and martial arts skills, if you go on stage to challenge the heroes of the world, you might be able to win the beauty back. It's really not worth implicating my innocent name."

  "Bai Yutang couldn't help but cough and said, 'Miss, don't talk nonsense. I regard Yuehua as a sister.'"

  "Hum, then how did I innocently become Zhan Zhao's fiancée in Bai Wu Ye's words? Even if it was nonsense, it was Five Master who started it first."

  "How can this be the same?"

  "Why is it different? Fifth Master doesn't want Xian Zhao to participate in the martial arts competition because he admires Ding Niang, isn't that admitting his own martial arts skills are inferior to Xian Zhao's?"

  Bai Yutang suddenly got furious, "How can Fifth Master be inferior to that cat?"

  "Since ancient times, mice have feared cats." Little Phoenix added fuel to the fire.

  "Don't think that just because you have that cat backing you up, Old Five won't dare do anything to you."

  "Threatening me with your master's name won't work, just because you're better than Zhan Zhao doesn't mean I'll be afraid of you!"

  “……”

  Those two men were drawing their swords outside the house, while the people inside had different expressions. They were all skilled in martial arts, and they heard every word of the conversation between the two men without missing a single word.

  Among all people, the other four mice on the deserted island are the richest.

  Although she didn't show it on her face, in her heart, she was a mix of emotions. Was she defending him to the Ding family? But this effort made his heart feel stifled. It turned out that his words had never entered her heart, and she still thought he had ulterior motives for this martial arts competition.

  "Wu Ye absolutely did not have any romantic thoughts about Ding Yuehua."

  "Making excuses is just covering up, and covering up means there's really something to it. Is Fifth Master now getting angry out of embarrassment?"

  The sound outside, one furious, one carefree, forms a sharp contrast.

  The remaining four people on the island all had an urge to cover their foreheads, and the fifth brother was simply no match for others. What's meant by "the more you describe, the darker it gets" is exactly what happened to the fifth brother.

  "What's wrong with you, girl? You're being completely unreasonable!"

  "Ah, Fifth Master, you're too modest. When it comes to being unreasonable, you can be considered second to none, but no one dares to claim the first spot. Think back to those years, didn't you cause a huge stir over a mere cat and mouse? I wouldn't dare compare myself to you."

  Zhan Zhao quietly left the house.

  The four mice quietly followed him out.

  The Ding twins exchanged a glance, somewhat at a loss for what was going on.

  Xiao He saw Zhan Zhao come out and silently took two steps back, yielding his position.

  "Lu's daughter."

  Lu Xiaofeng turned his head upon hearing the voice, "Governor Zhan, is there something?"

  Bai Yutang was furious and pointed at her, saying to Zhan Zhao: "Zhan Zhao, you quickly take her away from the Fifth Master, otherwise the Fifth Master cannot guarantee that he won't lay a hand on her."

  Zhan Zhao had no choice but to first calm down Bai Yutang's emotions, saying: "Brother Bai, please calm your anger, Miss Lu was also angry and that's why she spoke without thinking."

  Bai Yutang's anger had yet to subside, "Didn't Fifth Master spread the word out just to help you find someone? Now it's all good, the person has been found, but she comes looking for trouble with Fifth Master instead."

  Lu Xiaofeng snorted, "You're the one White Five said I should look for. Am I supposed to go find Zhan Zhao instead?"

  Bai Yutang was unconvinced, "What if it was Zhang Zhao who said that?"

  "There's no need for Old Master Wu to say it, naturally there are those who owe debts and those who are owed."

  Now, Bai Yutang could catch the drift, "That cat didn't say anything, but he tacitly agreed. If he hadn't given his tacit consent, do you think Fifth Master would have dared to spread this rumor and still sit here calmly?"

  “……”

  Lu Xiaofeng slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on the expressionless face of a certain cat-like person, who remained calm and composed. He slightly pursed his lips, supported his chin with his hand, and asked with a skeptical expression: "Will you permit this?"

  Zhan Zhao said calmly: "The Emperor has asked about this matter several times."

  Lu Xiaofeng stepped forward, pointing at him and said: "Do you have a pig's brain? There are countless ways to find someone, but you insist on using the most despicable method. Do you think I'll appear just because I heard that kind of message? Am I as brainless as you?" The more he spoke, the angrier he became, and his hand exerted some force. "I don't care about hearing this, but those who do care won't let you off easily, and it will inevitably implicate Bao Daren, whom you've been assisting and protecting with all your heart. Are you still indifferent?"

  Zhan Zhao's expression turned stern.

  "Don't you think it's too late now?" Lu Xiaofeng didn't even bother to despise him anymore.

  Zhan Zhao was embarrassed that she still had her hands on her chest and couldn't clench her fists to salute, so she dryly said: "I hope Miss will take care of this matter."

  "Why should I help you? Can't you see I'm in a bad mood?"

  Bai Yutang was laughing brightly at this time, hugging his sword and watching the commotion with great relish.

  "This matter is handled by one person."

  "Can you take responsibility? Let you find someone, not let you ruin even my reputation. If I don't investigate, it's nothing, but if I really investigate, do you think Kaifeng Prefecture can escape the consequences?"

  Xiaohe weakly spoke up on one side, "As long as the young lady doesn't pursue it, isn't that fine? The imperial teacher, the madam, and even the marquis all listen to the young lady."

  "Shut up, Xiao He! Whose maid are you? This is not the time to scare him. If you want to tear down the stage, don't choose this moment."

  The onlookers were amused by his loud words.

  Zhan Zhao's face also hung a helpless smile, "Is this young lady satisfied now?"

  Lu Xiaofeng withdrew his hand, shaking it a few times with some effort, and said in a slightly bitter tone: "Hey, Zhan Zhao, are you made of iron? Your chest is as hard as steel, it's poking my hand and it hurts."

  ……

  What's this?

  This is called having your cake and eating it!

  "It's Zhan Mou's fault." Zhan Zhao softened his tone.

  Bai Yutang handed his Hua Ying Jian forward and said enthusiastically, "Fifth Master's sword is lent to you, it doesn't matter if you chop a few more."

  Lu Xiaofeng raised an eyebrow, "Is White Five being so generous because he knows that Ding's dowry includes the Giant Void Sword and the Azure Lute Sword, and now that he has a new love, he no longer wants to see this old flame?"

  Bai Yutang's hands were shaking, "Does your mouth have to be so merciless?"

  "Am I bothering you?"

  "You're so cautious you won't be able to get married."

  "Oh dear, I have to thank Master Wu for this. Now that I'm a famous flower with an owner, if no one wants me, I'll just stick with this imperial cat. Let's see if he dares not to marry me."

  Xiaohe stretched out his hand to support his forehead, and the young lady's mouth was satisfied, but he really buried himself in the pit.

  Bai Yutang burst out laughing.

  Zhan Zhao stared at her blankly, his ears secretly turning red, this unguarded girl was really...

  Jiang Ping finally understood what was going on at this time, and could only laugh and stroke his small mustache, not knowing what else to say.

  "Lu Niang——"

  Lu Xiaofeng glared at her, "What? Are you saying that I've wronged you, Miss?"

  Zhan Zhao had no choice but to shut up.

  "Just listen to what I have to say and don't worry, I'm not at the point where I need to resort to trickery in order to get married."

  Others: “……”

  Girl, can we say you're playing with people?

  Xiaohe looked up at the sky, today's weather is really great!

  Zhan Zhao hugged his fist and said, "I understand."

  "Zhan Da Xia, Bai Wu Ge."

  A pretty voice suddenly inserted at this time, Lu Xiaofeng looked up and saw a beautiful woman in an apricot-colored shirt who was not only elegant but also had the heroic spirit of a Jianghu.

  Like!

  This girl matches with the cat perfectly!

  Lu Xiaofeng finished his appraisal and looked at Zhan Zhao again.

  Zhan Zhao suddenly understood the meaning in her eyes - this girl is not bad, hurry up and make a move.

  Bai Yutang held his sword and leaned against the pillar, his eyes darting back and forth between the three of them several times, the schadenfreude in his eyes unable to be concealed.

  "This is Miss Ding." Zhan Zhao introduced her to Lu Xiaofeng.

  Lu Xiaofeng nodded and thought: I know.

  "Miss Ding is good."

  Bai Yutang spoke up before Zhan Zhao could, introducing Lu Xiaofeng, "This is the adopted daughter of Grandmaster Pang, you can call her Miss Pang."

  Lu Xiaofeng shot him a glance and said, "Miss Ding, don't listen to Bai Yutang's nonsense. My surname is Lu."

  Bai Yutang said: "I heard you are on the Pang family tree, with a name and a surname."

  Lu Xiaofeng was annoyed, "Where did you hear this from? Rumors?"

  "Miss, really, Master has already entered your name into the ancestral records."

  Lü Xiao Feng couldn't believe it, "I'm not even here, how can I enter?"

  "Really got in."

  Zhan Zhao added, "This is indeed true. The adults have also come to explain in a letter. The Holy One has decreed that the young lady will enter the Tiandian Xingyu Bureau to handle affairs, and has bestowed upon her a golden plaque, which can be used to supervise all aspects of criminal justice. Although she does not hold an official position, she enjoys the same salary as officials of the same rank. Recently, the imperial edict and the golden plaque were delivered to the capital."

  Lu Xiaofeng's eyes widened, and she pointed at Zhan Zhao for a long time before finally speaking in a grinding tone: "Zhan Zhao, Zhan Xiongfei, Zhan Huwei, Master Zhan, Little Cat Zhan... couldn't you have told me about this beforehand? Ah?! I would have known it was going to end up like this, and even if you had beaten me to death, I wouldn't have followed you obediently back then..." What kind of karma did my sister accumulate in her past lives that she can't seem to sever ties with the imperial court? She's already dressed as a man, and yet, as a woman in feudal society, she still managed to infiltrate the Ti Xing Si, a central government agency.

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