Жан Чунь - Глава 24
Wen'er was furious and demanded to know what they intended to do. One of the bandits chuckled and said, "We don't know if we're going to sell them to a brothel or keep them as concubines for the master. We'll decide when the master arrives." The other bandits laughed loudly at this.
Wen'er suddenly quieted down and asked the bandit, "How much money do you think we could get if we were sold to a brothel?"
The bandit sized them up and laughed, "You're not worth much, but that girl next to you could fetch tens of thousands of strings of cash."
Wen'er wasn't annoyed. She turned her head and smiled at him, saying, "So that means if you sell us, you'll only get tens of thousands of strings of cash. But do you know that if you hand us over to the authorities, you can get hundreds of thousands of strings? Because we're the most wanted thieves in Bianjing."
The bandit leader, who had been silent until now, suddenly sneered, "Girl, give it a rest. Do you think we don't know who you are?"
"
Wen'er retorted angrily, "Since you know this, you still dare to offend me? I'll have my father skin you all alive!"
The bandit leader coldly replied, "I'm afraid you'll be torn to pieces before you even see him." Then, not wanting to hear her angry curses, he picked up two pieces of cloth and stuffed them into her mouth. He then looked at Pang Di and stuffed one piece into her mouth as well.
Pang Di listened to their words and observed their behavior, discovering that they had clearly come prepared and that their kidnapping was obviously purposeful. Moreover, these people were very obedient to their leader and behaved in an orderly manner, as if they were well-trained, definitely not ordinary bandits.
They were just women, and had never had any grudges against anyone. After thinking about it carefully, they guessed that this matter was probably caused by enemies who had caused their father-in-law's reforms.
The bandits sat down one by one, not in a hurry to leave, as if waiting for someone. Although they were bound, they were not violated. At one point, a bandit reached out to touch Pang Di's face, but was immediately stopped by the bandit leader.
After waiting a while, they heard the sound of approaching hooves. One of the bandits stood up, opened the door, and said, "It must be the young master."
But then fell silent, clearly indicating that the person who entered was not the young master they were waiting for. The bandits inside the temple immediately stood up alertly, and several of them surrounded Pang Di and Wen'er, blocking them from seeing the newcomer.
The bandit leader said to the newcomer, "We outnumber you, young master. You should find somewhere else to rest."
The man paused for a moment, then footsteps sounded again, indicating he was preparing to leave. Pang Di thought that the newcomer wasn't with them and might be able to rescue them, so she was determined to hurry and let him see their bound state. She suddenly stretched out her leg and kicked the nearest bandit with all the strength she could muster.
It hit him squarely in the calf. The bandit cried out in pain, turned around and slapped Pang Di across the face, cursing, "You bitch!"
"
The man immediately looked over.
A young man in white brocade robes. He had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, a serene expression, and seemed vaguely familiar.
Pang Di wondered: Where have I seen him before?
Upon seeing them, he frowned slightly and asked the bandit leader, "Were they kidnapped by you?"
The bandit leader did not answer, but only said, "I advise you not to meddle in other people's business." As he spoke, he raised the knife in his hand.
He suddenly turned around, his clothes fluttering, and his white figure spun around. There were clanging sounds all around, and the bandits' knives were scattered all over the ground.
They didn't even see him draw his sword.
Pang Di smiled: "Now we're saved." Wen'er, her eyes wide open, was completely oblivious to her surroundings.
The bandits were dumbfounded, still suspecting a trap, and they all picked up their weapons and rushed forward to fight.
He wielded his sword in response, his movements calm and leisurely as if he were strolling in a garden.
They were utterly defeated. In no time at all, their opponents had fallen to the ground.
However, he didn't seriously injure them, only slightly scratching their hands and feet. The bandits lay on the ground, looking at the young man in white, their eyes filled with terror.
The bandit leader's coarse cloth clothes were torn by the sword, revealing a crimson robe underneath. The young master noticed this, walked over, used his sword to lift the coarse cloth covering his face, carefully examined the crimson robe, and then said to the bandit leader, "Go, bring Cao Ming to me."
The bandit leader scrambled to his feet and fled. The other bandits also got up and ran away. The young master didn't chase after them, but went straight over to untie Pang Di and Wen'er, removing the rags from their mouths.
The two women bowed to him in thanks, and he immediately returned the bow with his hands clasped in return.
Pang Di looked up and scrutinized him for a long time before finally remembering, "You are the young master who 'leaved Yangguan Pass and faced the green mountains.'"
He seemed a little lost, as if he couldn't recall the events of that year's Qingming Festival.
Pang Di reminded him, "My husband is Wang Pang. We met briefly during the Qingming Festival in the third year of the Xining era when he and my husband went on an outing."
He suddenly understood. He bowed deeply again and said, "So it's you, my sister-in-law."
Wen'er was puzzled and was about to ask for details when suddenly there was another commotion outside, and someone shouted, "Who just injured my servant? Come out and face your death!"
The young master went outside upon hearing the sound. The two women, inevitably worried, followed closely behind.
There were about thirty or forty people outside, including the bandits from earlier. The leader was dressed in fine clothes, looked to be in his early twenties, and rode on horseback with an arrogant and domineering demeanor.
The young master looked at him calmly and said, "Cao Ming, did you do this?"
The man he called out, Cao Minggang, was immediately shocked upon recognizing him. He dismounted, swept his robes, and knelt on the ground, trembling as he said:
"Our servants do not recognize Your Highness and have been very offensive. Please forgive them!"
The surrounding servants were also astonished at the sight, and they all knelt down as well.
The young master ignored him and asked only, "Whose idea was this?"
Cao Ming hesitated, remaining silent for a long time, before finally whispering, "It's a misunderstanding..."
The young master then stopped asking and said to him, "Then I will ask the Empress Dowager to come and question you personally after I return to the capital. You may leave now."
Cao Ming lowered his head and said, "Is Your Highness traveling alone? Perhaps I should send someone to escort you?"
The young master shook his head: "No need. You may leave."
After hesitating for a long time, Cao Ming finally got up, mounted his horse, and led his men to turn around and leave.
Wen'er looked at him, quite surprised and curious, and asked, "Who are you?"