Entering the Capital

Seven days later, An Changde returned to Anyuan County, travel-worn and dusty.

Yong Prefecture was some distance from Anyuan County. By horseback, a round trip took two days.

However, An Changde's family was not wealthy. Especially after An Changfu died, since they had previously shamelessly gone to An Changfu for money, but had now fallen out with him, they had not asked for silver in two months. They could barely afford even one horse now, so in the end, they had no choice but to seek out merchant caravans heading to or passing through Yong Prefecture.

Merchant caravans traveled rather slowly, and they spent even more time on the road than An Changde and his wife had expected.

Returning with An Changde was also a trusted aide of Jiang Prefect. His name was Qian Youhao. He looked ordinary, but his eyes gleamed with shrewd calculation. Jiang Zhongting had entrusted the matter of dealing with the An Family entirely to him.

That afternoon, An Changde brought Qian Youhao to the county yamen to see Magistrate Zhang.

The moment Magistrate Zhang heard that An Changde had invited the Yong Prefecture prefect's trusted aide, he immediately came out to receive them. Once he heard their purpose, he told them something at once, having already suspected it.

"Brother Changde, Lord Qian, you've come a step too late."

An Changde thought he was making excuses. He had done the same thing last time, but this time An Changde had backing. He immediately snapped, "Magistrate Zhang, I know you're afraid of getting yourself into trouble, but now the prefect is supporting us. What are you still afraid of? Or do you not even respect the prefect?"

Magistrate Zhang knew at once that he was threatening him. Afraid that Qian Youhao might misunderstand, he hurriedly explained, "Brother Changde, you misunderstand this magistrate. What I mean is that the An Family's young master left Anyuan County yesterday. You truly have arrived too late."

"What did you say? He really left Anyuan County?"

Before An Changde could voice his shock, Qian Youhao's expression turned cold.

Magistrate Zhang forced a smile. "It's true. He left yesterday afternoon. By the time my men received the news, he had already taken people out of Anyuan County. I learned that he took all the people from An Changfu's main branch with him, as well as several maids and servants. The An Family's steward stayed behind, but he's merely an insignificant person."

Qian Youhao's face darkened. Their plan had been aimed mainly at An Ziran. With him gone, the plan could not be carried out. An Changfu's three concubines held no real authority and could not make decisions. Capturing them would be useless, and they likely carried little weight in An Ziran's heart. As for that steward, he was merely a servant who could be discarded at any time.

"Could your plan have been leaked?"

Qian Youhao's sharp gaze landed on An Changde. Things could not possibly be such a coincidence.

An Changde's heart skipped a beat under his stare. He stammered, "That... should be impossible. Only my wife and I knew the entire plan. Absolutely no third person knew. Besides, I think he merely left for a while. The An Family's foundation is all in Anyuan County. He can't possibly abandon it."

Qian Youhao fell into thought. If An Ziran was not avoiding them, then had something important suddenly happened to the An Family, forcing them to leave now? With that thought, he immediately looked at Magistrate Zhang.

"Did you find out anything?"

Magistrate Zhang froze. He had not expected this man to be so perceptive. After learning that An Ziran had left yesterday, he had indeed sent people to investigate. By this morning, he had already learned the reason. That matter should have spread throughout the An Family by now.

"I heard that the An Family's old master once became sworn brothers with an out-of-town merchant. The man gave Old Master An half a jade pendant, and they agreed that if either of them had children in the future, they would become in-laws. The person betrothed was the An Family's third young miss, An Yuzhi."

"Is there such a matter?" Qian Youhao looked at An Changde.

An Changde frowned and thought for a moment. "When my father celebrated his sixtieth birthday, there was indeed an out-of-town merchant staying in our home. Their relationship was truly very close, like brothers. But I never heard my father mention any betrothal."

Qian Youhao said thoughtfully, "He's merely an out-of-town merchant. Do they think that by becoming related to him, they can contend with the prefect?"

Magistrate Zhang chuckled. "Lord Qian, you don't know this, but that out-of-town merchant may not be an ordinary merchant. I heard he lives in Gentlemen City. The An Family believes that he may be an influential figure there, so the An Family's young master decided to go to Gentlemen City to find him and have them fulfill the marriage agreement."

The moment those words were spoken, both An Changde and Qian Youhao's expressions changed.

It was no wonder they were shocked. Like Steward Su, they believed that even if he was a merchant, anyone able to live in Gentlemen City surely knew many powerful and influential people.

Although Jiang Zhongting was the prefect of a province, he was ultimately an official posted away from the capital. Yong Prefecture was not a well-known place either, and there was not much profit to be made there. Given his circumstances, the number of times he had entered the capital could be counted on one hand. If that merchant truly had an impressive background, a mere prefect would certainly have to consider the official hat on his head.

"This matter is of great importance. I'll send people to investigate it thoroughly. If it's true, I'll inform the prefect." Qian Youhao made his decision swiftly, then hurried away.

An Changde was also preoccupied. He needed to return home and discuss this with his wife. The old master had never told him about this, yet had given such a good opportunity to Changfu's daughter. He clearly had a daughter too, so why give it to Changfu? A trace of resentment toward his father rose in his heart.

Meanwhile, the An Family's convoy had already traveled a considerable distance. In another day, they would reach Gentlemen City.

Gentlemen City was only a day and a night's journey from Anyuan County, but their pace was rather slow. After all, there were women and children in the carriages, so they could not travel too hastily.

When they passed through Mei Town, An Ziran saw the exhaustion on everyone's faces and ordered the convoy to stop at an inn to rest.

While the others rested, An Ziran summoned An Yuzhi to his room.

An Yuzhi looked blankly at her calm-faced brother. Even now, she did not know why they had suddenly set out for the capital. She only knew that Brother Ziran had made the decision abruptly, without even bringing the concubines along.

"Brother, why did you want to see me?" An Yuzhi looked at him timidly.

An Ziran picked up the teapot and poured her a cup of hot tea before speaking. "I know you're confused about this journey. Sit down. I'll explain it to you slowly, and then you can tell me your decision."

Noticing that Brother Ziran's tone had become serious, An Yuzhi grew nervous as well.

An Ziran pushed the hot tea toward her. "Have some tea first."

An Yuzhi immediately cupped the tea in both hands. The warmth seeped into her palms, and strangely, she really calmed down in an instant. She lowered her head and took a small sip, the hot tea warming her throat as well. "Brother, tell me."

An Ziran said, "You've stayed in the inner courtyard all this time, so you don't know the An Family's current situation. I'll tell you now. The An Family is facing a great disaster. Our enemy is very powerful. If we don't handle it properly, the An Family will fall into outsiders' hands. When that happens, our whole family may end up destitute in the streets. Your brother may even be framed and thrown into prison..."

An Yuzhi stared wide-eyed in disbelief. She had never known. Since childhood, her mother had taught her that women only needed to manage themselves well. Men handled outside affairs, women handled the household. Women could not interfere in men's matters, so she had never deliberately tried to learn anything.

"Why are you telling me this?" An Yuzhi lowered her head. Her hands clenched the handkerchief in her lap tightly, her fingertips reddening slightly from the force.

An Ziran poured himself a cup of tea. Only after finishing it did he say, "Because our trip to the capital is related to you. Two days ago, Steward Su told me that Grandfather once arranged a marriage for you. The other party may be from the capital. This time, we're going to the capital to find them and have them fulfill the marriage agreement and marry you. This is the token they left behind back then." As he spoke, he took out the half jade pendant he carried with him and handed it to her.

An Yuzhi did not take the jade pendant. She only stared at him blankly.

An Ziran understood how she felt. She had suddenly been told that she already had a marriage arrangement, and she did not even know what the other person looked like. If this were the twenty-first century, a girl would have rebelled, perhaps even run away from home.

An Yuzhi's face flushed red. In a soft, timid voice, she asked, "Brother, what kind of person is he?"

An Ziran looked at the blush on her face in surprise. She accepted it just like that? Perhaps he had been thinking about it wrong. Women in feudal times had been deeply poisoned by the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. They would only conform, never resist.

"I don't know either. Once we reach the capital, we'll look for him."

An Yuzhi nodded. "I'll leave everything to Brother."

Half an hour later, the An Family convoy set out again. The journey remained peaceful, and Little Brother An did not cry or fuss either. Whenever An Ziran went to see him, the boy would beam with delight, his grape-like black eyes growing brighter and brighter. At last, one day later, the convoy arrived at Gentlemen City.

The bustling, lively atmosphere rushed over them at once. As Da Ya's capital, Gentlemen City was far more prosperous than the small county town of Anyuan County. Aside from An Ziran, everyone else widened their eyes, their expressions filled with both surprise and excitement.

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