Chapter 120 Who Is That Man?
Then Su Jiuyue and Wu Xiyuan mounted the horse after the food was ready for Dacheng who had been standing guard over the charcoal.
The saddle made the ride a somewhat uncomfortable experience for Su Jiuyue by getting the two of them too close to each other. She sat there in the way she was cuddled by Wu Xiyuan, feeling his muscled chest and even gradually flushing.
But Wu Xiyuan liked the feeling of being attached despite his ignorance.
When the two of them arrived, Wu Xiyuan dismounted from the horse first and then turned to lift Su Jiuyue and ease her on the ground.
Wu Zongyuan, who stood not far away, fixed his eyes on the saddle when the two of them dismounted from the horse.
He had good vision and glimpsed the patterns on it. Then he frowned, asking, "Where did you get the saddle?"
Huang Husheng didn't notice that until he heard Wu Zongyuan's words. Then he said, "What a great saddle!"
Wu Zongyuan gave it a meaningful look. Then he turned to Su Jiuyue and repeated, "Where did you get it?"
Although it was beyond Su Jiuyue why he probed into it, she couldn't ignore his question given his identity. So she had to tell him, "In Bull Town."
"How much is it?"
"One hundred."
Wu Zongyuan looked at it in disbelief and lowered his head, mumbling to himself, "How can it be possible?"
Soon, he looked up and asked, "Was it a man in his thirties with whiskers and a mole under his eye who sold it to you?"
Su Jiuyue tried to recall the man's look and then turned to Wu Zongyuan in surprise. "You seem to be right. How do you know that?"
Wu Zongyuan asked instead of answering her question, "When did you buy the saddle? Take me there."
His insistence on it made things difficult for Su Jiuyue since the last thing she wanted to do was deal with him given his identity.
"Zongyuan, it's been three days. The man might have left there after selling the saddle to us. If so, then where can we find him?"
"Let's talk about it later. But the man is an old friend of my father's and I have something important to ask him. So please bother to take me there for him," Wu Zongyuan pleaded.
Su Jiuyue still hesitated. "But you can't even get into the city since your portrait has been posted on the city gate."
Wu Zongyuan bowed low to her. "Then could you oblige me by finding and inviting him over to see me?"
"The man seems to be difficult. So he won't necessarily come with me even if I go there for you," Su Jiuyue said.
Wu Zongyuan thought for a while before taking out a jade pendant and handing it to her. "Just show it to him if he refuses to come with you."
Su Jiuyue took the jade pendant and felt it a great burden to her.
She sighed and could only comfort herself with the thought that it was predestined.
Whoever Wu Zongyuan was, the two of them had been connected since she saved him for the first time.
"Well. I'll go there tomorrow." Finally, Su Jiuyue agreed.
Huang Husheng who stood beside them asked, "Why did you go to Bull Town? The turmoil has ended?"
His question reminded Su Jiuyue of the reason why she came here. "Yes. Prince Yan's people have taken over the town where all the refugees have been suppressed. Even the government began to distribute food to people and we got six and a half kilos of grains."
Hearing that, Huang Husheng's eyes flashed with surprise. "Then have you been to my home?"
Su Jiuyue nodded. "The town has become very down at heel and we detoured there on the way back home. But we couldn't see what was going on inside since the door was shut."
Hearing that, Huang Husheng couldn't stick here anymore since he had some business to deal with. That was why he traveled miles for the visit.
Then he instantly said, "I'll go with you!"
He was not asking for Su Jiuyue's advice but informing her of it.
No one could stop him from being home with his family.
As for Wu Zongyuan, he would be left here with Dacheng's company. Huang Husheng thought he would adapt since he had been taught to work hard without being spoiled.
"Dacheng, Zongyuan will be left in your care. I'll be back soon," Huang Husheng said.
Wu Zongyuan felt it somewhat weird. After all, Wu Zongyuan was picked up by his family, so Huang Husheng was the one who was bothered to take care of Wu Zongyuan. But now Huang Husheng sounded as if he caused the trouble.
But Wu Dacheng was too insensitive to give it another thought, just putting it down to Huang Husheng's affection for Wu Zongyuan after spending days together.
So Wu Dacheng promised without hesitation, "Mr. Huang, don't worry. I'll take good care of Zongyuan."
Then Huang Husheng turned to Wu Zongyuan and was about to prostrate himself. But it was stopped when he met Wu Zongyuan's gaze and took the hint.
"Zongyuan, I have to go home for some unfinished business."
Wu Zongyuan gave him a nod of approval.
Then Huang Husheng wound up heading for the Wu's with Wu Xiyuan and Su Jiuyue and staying there for the night.
The next day, Huang Husheng and Su Jiuyue set off at dawn.
Wu Xiyuan badgering Su Jiuyue to let him join them, but Su Jiuyue refused since she was afraid there might be some danger during this journey.
Finally, she managed to talk her way out of it by promising to get him some sugar when she was back.
Huang Husheng rode the horse while Su Jiuyue walked ahead pulling on the reins on the outward journey.
When they arrived at the town, Huang Husheng spotted the wanted poster on the city gate.
He frowned and never expected such a change to happen in only several months when he was away from Capital.
He wondered why Mu Zongyuan was lost in a difficult situation although there was no news that the emperor passed away.
It was beyond him but no one gave him the answer.
After paying the guards for the passage, they headed straight for the Huang's.
The gate was still shut. Huang Husheng dismounted from the horse and walked up. He pushed the door but it didn't open.
He knocked on the door hard. "Is anyone inside? Please open the door."
A quarter later, a familiar voice came from inside, "Who is it?"
Hearing that, Huang Husheng was instantly beamed with pleasure. "Zhong, it's me!"
Zhong was so surprised to hear his voice and instantly opened the door from the inside.
"Mr. Huang, are you back? I'm overjoyed to see you again!"