"Haitang, don't be anxious. Yuan Chen is smart and resourceful, and his martial arts skills are not weak. He is determined that nothing will happen!" In the main hall, Xia Mu comforted Haitang with a strong smile. Although the girl in front of him was the enemy of his beloved daughter's in-laws, she was really a pure and good girl. Xia Muchao had no resentment at all.
"But, the young master has never come home so late!" Haitang walked around and sobbed, "Today there is another thief who wants to do bad things. I'm afraid someone wants to harm him. My lord, you must find a way to save him." !”
Xia Chengyi stood up from his seat, put one foot on the ground, reached out to pull her sleeve, and said warmly, "Haitang, don't you see? Xie Zhi, Lan Falcon, and Hua Fang all went out to look for him and will be back soon. You sit down Come down and have a rest." Xia Chengyi felt as if there was a sword hanging on his neck, but seeing Haitang so anxious, he couldn't help but comfort him, and thought to himself, "Haitang is really much better to brother Yuanchen than me. "
Xia Chengxuan gently composed his hands and muttered something silently. Xia Muchao looked at him, then looked outside. A crescent moon was already hanging high in the sky. He felt even more anxious. He stood up from his seat, walked quickly to the door and asked to the left and right, "When is the appointment?"
Chu Zhong came closer and replied softly, "Your Majesty, it's already three quarters to one hour when Luohufang reported."
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Mr. Yuanchen has sent a message!" Lu Jianting walked quickly, saying with luck all the way. When everyone heard this, their minds suddenly relaxed. Haitang stopped and bent down to listen; Xia Chengyi's drooping eyes suddenly stood up, and his tense face stretched out like a crescent;
"Your Majesty! The martial artist from Nanguo Restaurant has just arrived at the house and brought a message from Young Master Yuanchen. 'The criminal has been brought to justice and the child is fine.' The martial artist said that Young Master Mei Yuanchen discovered the criminal's whereabouts in their restaurant, and the owner of the restaurant helped him. Capture them all." Lu Jianting said anxiously and happily, "Young Master Yuanchen and the owner of the restaurant led a group of martial artists to escort these nine people to the palace. My subordinates have already sent people to drive a large horse sedan to meet them. ”
"Good!" Xia Mu applauded, stroking his hands, "That's great!" Not only was his adopted son safe, but he also caught the culprit who slipped through the net during the daytime assassination attempt. How could he not be delighted? Lu Jianting wanted everyone in the hall to hear these words, so he said them quite loudly. Haitang and Xia Chengyi sat next to each other, holding each other's hands tightly. An indescribable thought seemed to be connected through their hands. They looked at each other and smiled slightly, as if they knew what the other person was thinking.
"Good sister!" Xia Chengyi called.
"Good sister!" Haitang called.
The two spoke softly. Xia Muchao was still two or three feet away from the two of them outside the door, but he could still hear the reply clearly. For a moment, he felt mixed emotions, whether he was happy or worried.
"Haitang, Yiyi, you have heard that Yuanchen is safe and sound and is on his way back. We still have something to discuss, so you should go back and rest first." Xia Muchao turned around and said to the two of them. Although Haitang and Xia Chengyi were reluctant, since they already knew Mei Yuanchen's itinerary, they no longer forced it. They bowed and went back to their rooms.
Xia Muchao, Xia Chengxuan, Chu Zhong, and Lu Jianting were sitting or standing in the hall, waiting for Mei Yuanchen and the gang to return.
"Chu Zhong, do you know whose family owns this 'Southern Restaurant'?" Xia Muchao asked.
Chu Zhong was the other "know-it-all" in the palace besides Du Chong. He chuckled and replied, "This wine shop first welcomed guests in May last year. In less than half a year, it became a gathering place for wealthy officials and officials from the south of the capital to have banquets." The place is really not simple. The boss behind the scenes is Xu Xigong, the eldest son of Xu Xiaoshi from the Xu family in Ruozhou."
"Ruozhou Xu family?" Xia Muchao was quite surprised.
"Yes, it is the Xu family in Ruozhou, Xiahe County, which is known as the number one martial arts family. Xu Xiaoshi is the second master of the Xu family. He is ranked tenth among the world's martial arts masters listed in Zhaixing Pavilion. His eldest son, Xu Xiaoshi, Su Gong, who is thirty-seven years old this year, has been in charge of the Xu family's wine shop and inn since three years ago." Chu Zhong explained in detail.
"Grandpa Chu, tell me about the Xu family." Xia Chengxuan said suddenly after being silent all night.
"Haha, I would like to thank you for your interest." Chu Zhong went to sit next to Xia Chengxuan and said with a smile, "It is no coincidence that the Xu family in Ruozhou is regarded as the number one family in the martial arts world. The pure Wuji Kung Fu passed down from their family is The swordsmanship of the Xu family is so famous that no one in the world knows about it. There are three living elders of the Xu family, the eldest master Xu Xiaojue, the second master Xu Xiaoshi, and the third master Xu Xiaoyi. Xu Xiaojue is nearly seventy years old and has not been involved in worldly affairs for a long time. Xu Xiaoshi is the head of the Xu family. He is the person in charge of everything, and he has single-handed control over all the wealth and property. Xu Xiaoyi is obsessed with practicing martial arts and rarely cares about mundane matters. He is the number one master of the Xu family. In today's martial arts world, he is second only to Xuan Yue of Kuchan Temple. The master and Yi Qilin from Yufeng Escort are ranked third in the world. Not to mention the ignorant Xu Xiaojue, two people from the Xu family are ranked among the top ten masters in the world. No sect in the world can compare with them today."
"Sure enough, you are worthy of the first family." Xia Chengxuan said solemnly.
"The younger generation of the Xu family is said to have more heroes. Among them, Xu Xiaoyi's third son Xu Jinye is the most famous. This year, he must be twenty-seven years old. He is one of the two most famous young masters in the martial arts. There are about twenty-five masters in Zhaixing Pavilion. Others like Xu Xuyan, Xu Xumo, and Xu Xuxun have all made a name for themselves in the world. I had never heard of Xu Xuggong before. He is old, but since he has the ability to overpower Xu Jinye and become the second-generation steward of the Xu family, I think there must be something extraordinary about him."
"That's a good statement!" Xia Chengxuan said simply.
"In addition, the Xu family has a rich business. The business of silk fabrics, grains, wine shops, and inns is getting bigger and bigger. It almost runs through the territory of Dahua. Its customers in Fuzhong are also increasing, and it is said that the number has exceeded 5,000. There are so many top-notch people. With masters, immeasurable financial and manpower, no family or sect in the world can compare with him!" Chu Zhong sighed with emotion.
After Chu Zhong finished speaking, no one spoke in the hall, and the time and space were as quiet as calm.
After about a cup of tea, there was a rustling sound outside the door, "Your Majesty, I think it's the young master and the others who are back. I'll go take a look." Lu Jianting stood up and said, and then walked out.
Sure enough, dozens of people were seen walking towards the main hall in the courtyard. Lu Jianting took a closer look and saw that Mei Yuanchen was among them, walking at the front and coming quickly.
"Uncle Lu! Could you please send someone to pick him up?" Mei Yuanchen came up and thanked him.
Lu Jianting smiled and waved his hands and said, "It's not enough to thank you for what you have to do. The prince and the crown prince are in the pavilion." Halfway through his words, he found that Xia Chengxuan had followed him.
"Yuanchen, just be fine!" Xia Chengxuan stretched out his hand and patted Mei Yuanchen's left shoulder heavily, breathing a long sigh of relief. At three o'clock in the morning, Haitang sent a servant to report that Mei Yuanchen was nowhere to be found after searching the house. Xia Chengxuan was really surprised. While rushing to Yuqiong Langyuan, he sent someone to report to his father. Afterwards, Xia Muchao discussed with everyone in the main hall of the side hall, and sent hundreds of people out to search. Until this moment, he felt relieved.
"Chengxuan, it's all up to me, I'm so sorry!" Mei Yuanchen said with shame. Seeing that Xia Muchao had also come, he remembered that Xu Suigong was still there, and hurriedly introduced to everyone, "Father, Chengxuan, this is Xu Suigong of the Xu family in Ruozhou. It was Mr. Xu who took action to restrain him tonight." These nine villains!" He said and pointed to the old man who was tied up and collapsed on the ground.
After Xia Muchao heard this, he held his hand to Xu Sugong and thanked him, "Muchao, thank you very much, Mr. Xu, for your generous action! I can't thank you enough!"
Xu Xigong hurriedly returned the gift, bowed and said, "Don't you dare! It's Mr. Mei who found these nine people. These people have poor martial arts skills. Mr. Mei is a distinguished guest of my wine shop, how can I ask him to do it himself? I'm the victim on the lower body. , I’m just taking action on my behalf. Even if I don’t take action, it would be extremely easy for Mr. Mei to subdue these people. How can I dare to take the credit for this?"
Xia Muchao smiled and said, "In any case, it was indeed Mr. who took down these nine people today, and Muchao is still very grateful!"
"I really don't dare, I really don't dare!" Xu Sugong kept saying his thanks, expecting that everyone in the palace must have something else to discuss, so he said with a courtesy, "Your Highness, the villain has been sent, so I can't wait to disturb you! This way gone back!"
"In this case, Mu Chao cannot stay." Xia Mu Chao returned the gift and said to Lu Jianting, "Jianting, escort Mr. Xu and his party back home!"
"Don't boast about your merits, don't flatter when you want; be decisive in your actions, and never leave anything behind." Watching Xu Su gong go away, Xia Muchao sighed softly, "The Xu family in Ruozhou has many talents!"
