Chapter 57: Kidnapping

Xu Qi’an received a warm reception from Song Qing, and the two of them sat at the table, holding fragrant tea and engaging in friendly conversation.

“To be honest I’m a little suspicious of you,” Song Qing took a small sip and said, “I’ve been checking out your ancestors for the past few days.”

Is it really appropriate to talk about checking his ancestors in front of others… Xu Qi’an wasn’t surprised by this and smiled as he asked rhetorically, “How’s the checking going?”

“Too clean.” Song Qing shook her head and didn’t continue the topic, pulling out a pile of rice paper and handing it over, “Let me show you my recent research.”

Xu Qimin said I have made up the stunt of the high level people in the traveler’s side, but you don’t even ask …. You tech geeks don’t care about that at all.

He took the manuscript, scanned it a few times, and nearly spat out a mouthful of tea.

Above in addition to the plant grafting theory he told Song Qing, this guy also cited several cases with divergent thinking. For example:

Man and horse grafting.

The advantages are listed a whole lot, for example, Da Bong never have to think about the resources of war horses, and soldiers do not have to worry about not having excellent war horses. Because we are mature soldiers, we can be our own war horse …..

Another example: capturing avian demons and mating them with humans to create half-demons that can act as an air force.

Magical girl learns about …. Bah, reproductive isolation understand ….. Xu Qi’an set aside the rice paper, calmed his shocked three views, and said, “This time, I came to the Sitian Supervisor because I have something I want to ask Brother Song for help.”

“But there’s no harm in saying it.”

“You should know that I have offended Squire Zhou.”

“Caiwei spoke with me.” Song Qing put down his tea cup and said solemnly, “Unfortunately, I can’t help you, the Sifu does not meddle in dynastic affairs, His Majesty does not allow it. Besides, a minister with real power in his hands is already beyond the upper limit of my ability.”

“Elder brother Song don’t rush, I need you to do something simple ….” Xu Qi’an spilled his idea.

“That’s impossible,” Song Qing rejected outright, “Mister Song is honorable and bright, and would never do such a thing.”

Xu Qi’an thought about it and was ashamed, ”It’s my poor consideration …. Senior Brother Song, let’s continue talking about your grafting theory. With all due respect, it’s impossible to succeed.”

Song Qing frowned and sat upright, assuming the rigor of an academic discussion.

“I’m sure you know in your own mind that the cat that had to be kept in a glass jar is an example. But you must be puzzling over why it failed and what the reason was.”

Song Qing leaned forward a bit, her breathing becoming rapid as she stared wide-eyed at Xu Qi’an, “You knew?”

Xu Qi’an said, “I didn’t participate in the research, so I don’t know where the real reason lies, but I can provide you with a theory.”

Rationale?

What Song Qing lacks the most is the theoretical basis, the sect-opening patriarch is rare after all, alchemy is profound, and if you want to continue to move forward, the support of theory is indispensable.

Xu Qi’an slowly said in the gaze of Song Qing’s suddenly bright eyes:

“Have you ever heard of the periodic table of elements?”

What periodic table of elements? What does this have to do with my experiment? Ten thousand question marks flashed through Song Qing’s mind.

He breathed more and more rapidly, feeling that he was about to touch the door of truth of alchemy. As a fanatic of alchemy, every hair of his sweat stood up in excitement.

Before he could ask, he heard Xu Qi’an leisurely say, “The principle of alchemy is equivalence ….”

…..

The Marquis of Mighty War is in the inner city on Bird’s Nest Street, which is the land of the nobles, and all the way down there, there are all the marquises and counts as well as the dukes.

The Marquis of Weiwu is a hereditary title, rising in the battle for the throne three hundred years ago. Since then, he has not had much power in his hands.

The side door opened, and a wonderful young girl with a slightly round face walked out surrounded by maids and escorts, wearing a gorgeous Luo dress with a skirt that reached her heels, and her embroidered shoes were hidden as she walked.

Sixteen or seventeen years old, pretty appearance, a pair of eyes bright and godly, high temperament, eyebrows flying between the grace added to her aura, extremely attracted attention.

Zhang Yuying entered the sedan chair at the entrance, and the bearer carried the sedan chair and walked slowly toward the City God Temple.

She is going to go to the City God Temple today to offer incense and have a fasting meal, and then go to Wen Yuan Bo’s mansion to look for her familiar bosom friend to drink tea and chat.

Take a look at the forbidden books secretly circulated in women’s boudoirs, and chat about which family’s sons have reached a suitable age for marriage. Comment on the outstanding scholars who won this year’s fall exam and guess whether they can get high school in next year’s spring exam.

Maybe there’s even a son-in-law of his own in there.

After traveling two streets, the maids following by the sedan chair suddenly heard a commotion.

The two-horse carriage in the rear did not know what was going on and lost control, and the driver tugged on the horse’s reins with a death grip, waving the whip with a terrified expression:

“Get out of the way, all of you…”

Pedestrians scurry around for cover.

“Quickly, quickly stop the carriage.” The maid was alarmed, commanding the escorts to stop the carriage while ordering the sedan bearer to take cover.

The escorts were short-handed and only intercepted one, while the other crashed into two of the sedan bearers, and the sedan chair flipped over to in an instant.

The two remaining bearers and the maid instinctively saved themselves, swooping to one side to hide, and the scene was instantly chaotic.

After a short period of confusion, the two carriages continued to run away furiously, and it was only then that the maid got up in a frenzy and ran to the sedan chair to check:

“Second Miss, Second Miss how are you?”

No one answered.

The maid’s heart sank as she violently lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and froze, and after a few seconds, screamed, “Second Miss is gone!!!”

The sedan chair was empty.

……

Inner city, somewhere in a small courtyard.

Zhang Yuying knows she’s been hijacked, though she doesn’t know by whom.

She’d been awake for a while, and after relieving the initial headache, she’d been in a constant state of fear inside.

As the concubine daughter of the Marquis of Weiwu, her treatment on weekdays was only a little worse than that of the first daughter, and far better than the other sisters. Her father and mother-in-law loved her dearly, and the first daughter, who was both a sister and a cousin, was extremely affectionate with her.

When has such a thing ever happened to a pampered, pampered, pampered, pampered, pampered, pampered person.

With silence all around her, her hands and feet bound, and a cloth in her mouth, she was terrified.

“Clang!”

Outside the courtyard, there was the sound of a door opening, followed by footsteps.

Zhang Yuying’s heart instantly lifted, fear exploded in the bottom of her heart, she didn’t know what she was about to face, but it definitely wouldn’t be good.

“Hey,” footsteps stopped outside the house, and someone gave a heave and a lewd laugh, “That’s a pretty bitch, I just snuck in and checked the goods, beautiful!”

“You are so cheap …..” The other said, paused, and added, “I can’t believe you didn’t call me along.”

Zhang Yuying was ashamed and angry, tears welling up in her eyes.

The two figures continued to talk:

“She’s still a fledgling.”

“Nonsense, this Marquis of Weiwu’s second daughter is still waiting for her daughter.”

Zhang Yuying was shocked, they know who I am, they know that my father is the Marquis of Might, how dare they kidnap me?

This shows that the person behind the scenes is by no means an ordinary person.

“What do you think Duke Zhou will do with this bitch, even though she’s an extremely outstanding beauty, it doesn’t seem too safe to keep her all the time.”

“Heh, overthink it. At best, Mr. Zhou will play for a while, and when he gets tired of it, he’ll strangle her to death with a handful of strangles and bury her in this courtyard, who knows?”

“When Mr. Zhou gets tired of playing, let’s follow with a few mouthfuls of soup, this bitch is fine skinned and tender, much more watery than the women in the hookah.”

“Yeah, if it wasn’t for Mr. Zhou wanting a taste, we’d have done her by now.”

“Who made him the son of the Minister of the Household, go, go, go, go and drink.”

“It’s not good, is it?”

“It’s almost dusk, let’s buy the wine and come back.”

The sound of footsteps moving away, followed by the sound of the courtyard door closing, made it seem as if the two men had gone out for a drink.

Mr. Zhou? The son of the Minister of the Household?

The image of a brocade-clad male flashed through Zhang Yuying’s mind, recalling the encounter at last year’s Lantern Festival.

He’s still pining for himself …..

Tired of playing …. Have a mouthful of soup…kill someone and bury the body in the yard to destroy it …. Being raised in the mansion in the careful care of the thousand-dollar girl, scared and trembling, tears came out of the eyes.

“Oooooh…” she struggled to make a sound while twisting her limbs in an attempt to break free of her bonds.

Suddenly, he realized that the rope around his wrist had loosened a little.

Zhang Yuying froze for a moment, then quieted down, no longer making a sound of movement, but her hands twisted and twisted with force.

I don’t know how long it took, but the delicate skin of her wrists rubbed and broke, hot and raw, and she finally opened the bundle.

Immediately she sat up, untied the ropes from her feet, and tiptoed to the door of her room, listening patiently for a few moments to make sure that no one was in the yard, she carefully walked out into the yard.

After looking east for a while, she clenched her silver teeth and ran as fast as she’d ever run in her life, rushing to the door of the yard and pulling the bolt.

The door didn’t open, it was locked on the outside.

“Oooh ….” Ms. Zhang let out a desperate wail.

…..

Across the street from the courtyard, Xu Qi’an held a bowl of noodles in his hand, and beside him stood Xu Xinnian.

“Nice dirty talk, oh.” Xu Dailang habitually irritated Er Lang.

Jiro ignored him and gazed at the courtyard gate, “Will she not be able to get out? Why did you lock the courtyard gate.”

“A strong desire to survive inspires potential, trust me, she’s out. Just climb the wall.” Xu Qi’an sucked in a mouthful of noodles and explained in a low voice, “Without locking the door traces would be too heavy.”

This small courtyard was the private residence that Zhou Li had bought outside, and there was a woman with good posture kept in the mansion. Now that woman and the maids and maidservants concierge in the courtyard, totaling four people, were all locked up in the mirror by Xu Qi’an.

That small jade mirror could hold items as well as living things, and Xu Qi’an had taken the servants in the house to try it out.

If it wasn’t for that mirror, the plan to kidnap Ms. Zhang would have been extremely difficult, and might even have been a steal.

At that moment, the two men saw a head emerge from the fence, and Zhang Yuying, with her hair in a messy bun, poked her head out.

After carefully surveying the area for a while, he climbed out of the fence and jumped down.

She seemed to have broken her foot, lying on the ground for half a day, and only after a long time did she get up strong while crying. Holding onto the wall, she fled to the street with a jump.

As a young lady from a wealthy family with fine clothes, it was a great injustice to be able to make it this far.

They went out to buy alcohol and would be back at dusk …. She looked at the setting sun and knew she was still truly safe for now.

Maybe they can’t run far before being chased back, maybe a few more steps and the two sides hit the ground running.

At exactly the right moment, a group of cloaked Imperial Sword Guards patrolling the city passed by.

Zhang Yuying, who was afraid of encountering kidnappers on the road or being caught up by them, looked like she had seen a savior and greeted them with tears.

Before the imperial sword guards drew their swords, they screamed, “I’m the daughter of the Marquis of Weiwu, I’ve been abducted, you guys save me.”

Several Imperial Sword Guards looked at each other and immediately surrounded them.

The surrounding people stopped to watch, and the head Imperial Swordsman asked, “Who has abducted you.”

“It’s Zhou Li, Minister Zhou’s son Zhou Li from the Ministry of Households.” Zhang Yuying broke down and cried.

Knock, knock, knock …. The drums of the curfew came in synchronization.

Xu Qi’an placed the bowl on the street and said, “Let’s go, find an inn to rest, and go home tomorrow to wait for news.”

PS: This chapter is 3200 words long and hard.