Chapter 27 - North Camp

Who are these people? Shen Ziqiao was very curious but she knew that it wasn’t the right time for that.

“Third Miss Shen, where are you headed to this late?” One of the tall, skinny and young men by the scholar raised his eyebrows at her as if he knew Shen Ziqiao.

“What does this have to do with you? Get out of the way!” Shen Ziqiao said, pointing at the beard man. “If you delay me, I will make sure you guys get a lesson!”

The principles of a female side lead  — Whenever it was the time to act arrogant and despotic, don’t miss the opportunity.

“Third Miss, a thief stole a valuable item from our residence and the thief disappeared after we chased him to this point. Sorry for offending you, but please forgive us.” The scholar said in a gentle voice, apologizing, but his eyes were on Qi Zheng.

How could Shen Ziqiao know who they were? “What do I have anything to do with a stolen item from your residence? I still need to head to the village, so don’t annoy me.”

“Third Miss is heading to the village right now?” The scholar seemingly smiled at her, clearly not believing her.

“You think that I’ll tell you about how I was kicked out of the family?” Shen Ziqiao asked. Her arrogant and haughty look right then was quite similar to the original Shen Ziqiao.

The scholar curled his lips up into a smile and said, “Since this is the case, why is there a man in Third Miss’s carriage?”

“Right, who is he?” The tall and skinny man followed along and asked.

Shen Ziqiao turned her head around to look at Qi Zheng. Seeing that his acting skills were much better than hers, acting like an innocent child curling up in a corner in fear, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Him? His name is Qi Zheng.”

“Why is this Qi Zheng in your carriage? You guys clearly…” Before the tall and skinny man could say the word ‘adultery,’ the scholar stopped him.

The scholar smiled and bowed with his hands held in front towards Qi Zheng and said, “As it turned out, you’re Young Master Qi. Sorry for the lack of manners.”

The tall and skinny man stared at him unhappily and asked, “What Young Master Qi?”

Shen Ziqiao replied, “Qi Family’s Young Master and Duke An’s eldest son. What? You guys think that he stole the item?”

The scholar smiled and shook his head. “Sorry for delaying Third Miss Shen and Young Master Qi’s travels. Be careful while traveling at night.” As he said this, he had the people move aside, so the carriage could go through.

Shen Ziqiao placed the curtains down and coquettishly humphed, saying, “Let’s go!”

The foot boy driving the horse carriage hurriedly sat at the front, driving the carriage away nervously. As they approached the men holding torches, the foot boy noticed that they were all sturdy men, standing by the two sides of the mountain road while looking unfriendly. The foot boy’s legs started shaking.

“Tch. What are they doing?” Shen Ziqiao looked through the window curtains and likewise, was shocked by the scene. She glanced skeptically at the men, who acted like they had facial nerve paralysis.

Hong Ying and Hong Yu kept their same positions, unmoving.

Shen Ziqiao stared at them confusedly. How come they weren’t nervous or afraid when they saw those people before? “What’s with the two of you?”

Qi Zheng faintly glanced at Shen Ziqiao and quickly tapped on Hong Yu and her sister.

Hong Ying immediately shrieked and said in a sobbing tone, “Third Miss!”

“You’re fine, you’re fine!” Shen Ziqiao held onto Hong Ying’s shoulders and comforted her in a low voice. She then glared at Qi Zheng and asked, “You… What did you do to them? You hit their pressure points?”

The legendary pressure points. How come she didn’t see Qi Zheng do anything before?

Hong Yu stared at Qi Zheng in fear. She was different from the naive Hong Ying. She naturally heard of Qi Family’s Young Master, but she didn’t think that this person was that fool...

He doesn't look like a fool at all!

Qi Zheng’s chilly gaze landed on Hong Ying and he said, “I just don’t want them to ruin my plans.”

Shen Ziqiao patted Hong Yu and Hong Ying’s shoulders, smiling and saying, “Don’t worry. I have information against him. If someone needs to be afraid, it should be him.”

She really overestimated her abilities! A glint of a smile flickered past Qi Zheng’s eyes.

“Who were those people?” Shen Ziqiao asked.

Qi Zheng stared strangely at her and asked in a deep voice, “You don’t know who they are?”

“Not familiar. I forgot.” Shen Ziqiao said, even though those people treated her quite casually.

Hong Yu moved to Shen Ziqiao’s side and sat next to her, but her eyes were on Qi Zheng. She explained in a low voice, “Third Miss, those people were from the North Camp.”

“North Camp? They’re soldiers? How come they look like bandits?” Shen Ziqiao said. No wonder they knew her. Her father was a general. “How do you know?”

“Lord Lu from before… I met him in the Shen Family and heard others say that he is North Camp’s military counselor.” Hong Yu whispered.

Shen Ziqiao revealed a look of realization. She smiled at Qi Zheng and said, “Young Master Qi, what did you steal from them? To the point that so many people were chasing after you… Why did you act stupid, though? Do you feel very accomplished when you act stupid? Also, shouldn’t you steal from the rich and help the poor?” Shen Ziqiao asked. She was quite curious as to why Qi Zheng was acting stupid and even got the military camp’s people after him...

Qi Zheng’s expression became colder and colder as Shen Ziqiao asked the questions.

“If you don’t want to answer, that's fine.” In the end, Shen Ziqiao’s curiosity was defeated by her fear. Qi Zheng could decide to kill her to prevent others from knowing that he was pretending to be a fool.

… No. If something happened to her, wouldn’t the people from the North Camp all know that Qi Zheng was the culprit?

Shen Ziqiao straightened her back as a result and asked confidently, “You’re still not leaving? Do you plan on going to the village with me then?”

Qi Zheng said in a low voice, “They’re still following.”

“What?” Shen Ziqiao was stunned and was about to lift the curtains when Qi Zheng held onto her wrist. “Don’t look. You’ll startle them. Someone will come and pick me up tomorrow.”

“If I allow you to come to the village with me, then what about my reputation?” Shen Ziqiao asked unhappily. She had finally cleared her relation with him.

Qi Zheng curled his lips up slightly as if mocking Shen Ziqiao. What reputation?

Hong Ying and Hong Yu had heard that the Third Miss might get engaged with the Qi Family’s young master from the Shen Family. At that time, they thought that Young Master Qi was a fool, but who knew it was the man in front of them?

He seemed quite familiar with the Third Miss. Did she know that he was pretending to be a fool long ago?

There were too many horrors tonight. The two servant girls couldn’t keep up with all the changes, so they quietly watched Shen Ziqiao and Qi Zheng talk, stunned.

“Just what did you steal from them?” Shen Ziqiao asked.

However, Qi Zheng asked, “Are they both your servant girls?”

Shen Ziqiao knew what he was afraid of and she pursed her lips, saying, “Don’t worry. They won’t tell others about how you pretended to be a fool.”

Hong Yu and Hong Ying were both afraid after they met Qi Zheng’s angry gazes. They both nodded firmly, indicating that they wouldn't say anything.

“You didn’t answer me. What did you steal from them?” Shen Ziqiao was still incredibly curious.

Qi Zheng faintly glanced at her and closed his eyes to rest, saying nothing.

Shen Ziqiao secretly gave him the middle finger. What was he acting cool for?! He was just a man who acted cold on the surface, but was actually passionate!