Chapter 4

More than ten carriages were slowly making their way along the official road, with dozens of mounted guards accompanying them.

Even though the sun was shining brightly, the chill of early spring still lingered. The horses pulling the carriages were exceptionally spirited, and some of them, impatient to gallop to warm up, began to move until a neigh from the lead horse made them stop, shaking their heads and snorting.

Inside one of the carriages, a hand holding a book moved slightly, and the curtain was lifted. A pale face emerged, and a middle-aged man with black hair slowly turned his gaze and asked, "Who is intercepting the Wang family's convoy?"

The guard leader, Jin Qiyi, holding a short spear, stepped forward and respectfully said, "Young Master, it's a young man."

The middle-aged man lowered the curtain, and the carriage fell silent again.

Jin Qiyi spurred his horse forward, seeing the young man surrounded by his men. His eyes filled with killing intent, he ordered, "Find out who he is."

Ahead, a horse was convulsing on the ground, and the rider leaped up, unharmed but disheveled, angrily shouting, "Little thief, how dare you intercept my carriage!"

Yang Xuan gripped his sword hilt, but he knew that if he acted rashly, these men would cut him to pieces in an instant. He narrowed his eyes, looking at the large men closing in on him, calculating which direction to break through.

Too late!

As the horse leaped, and as Yang Xuan was momentarily stunned, the large men swiftly completed their encirclement.

Why did I freeze?

Yang Xuan thought about how he had foolishly reached out to try to pull the horse back, which led to his current dire situation. He wanted to slap his forehead.

He raised his eyes, appearing relaxed but secretly ready to break through and run, "I am a traveler."

"Travel permit," a large man extended his saber, his eyes ambiguous.

This was a hint for him to seize the saber and break through from there.

Two large men intentionally aimed their bows at the side... If Yang Xuan broke through from there, the two bows would lock his path.

Yang Xuan obediently took out his travel permit and placed it on the saber. Without a travel permit, he couldn't move an inch, but he thought he could reach Chang'an by taking a different route, crossing mountains and valleys. However, he didn't know that in Chang'an, things would be even more troublesome. Without a travel permit, the best outcome for him would be being forced into hard labor, and upon verification that the Yuan Prefecture had not issued him one, he would be severely punished, likely exiled.

The man stared at him, "Why do you carry a saber and a bow?"

Yang Xuan felt this man was too domineering, "I am a hunter; carrying a bow and arrows is not illegal, right?"

The man took the travel permit and glanced at it, then turned back and said, "He is a hunter."

Jin Qiyi stepped forward, "Where are you from, and where are you going?"

The man lowered his head, "I am a hunter from Dingshan County, preparing to go to Chang'an to join my relatives."

This travel permit was prepared by Yang Lue, and the so-called relatives had probably already disappeared.

Jin Qiyi said coldly, "Why did you intercept the convoy?"

Yang Xuan was taken aback, "I was walking on the side, where there is enough space for three carriages to pass. Why did you hit me?"

This is unfair!

The large men's eyes were cold, with a hint of surprise and mockery, as if they had heard the biggest joke in the world.

Jin Qiyi shook his head, knowing this was a naive young man, likely on his first long journey.

"Ten lashes, let's go!"

This was the lightest punishment.

Yang Xuan knew the convoy likely had a noble, but so what? Could a noble just punish people at will? He was angry, pulling out half of his saber, "Why?"

This young man, who had not fought earlier, was now furious over ten lashes... Jin Qiyi lightly exclaimed, just about to increase the punishment, when the voice of the middle-aged man from the first carriage came, very calm: "Is he a hunter from Dingshan County? Bring him along, I will ask him questions on the way."

Jin Qiyi's body relaxed, "Understood." He told Yang Xuan, "Follow us, and if you try to leave the convoy, you will be killed without mercy!"

"Killing is punishable by death!" Yang Xuan was defiant, but he was a bit scared inside.

These people seemed calm, but their eyes showed unwavering determination, as if killing him was as easy as killing a chicken. Yang Xuan had only traveled between his village and the mountains, and the only noble he had seen was the village head, Yang Qiyuan. Yang Qiyuan seemed authoritative, but they were all neighbors, and he feared being attacked at night, so he wouldn't punish people without cause.

Who are these people?

Yang Xuan was forced to follow, "I am going to Chang'an."

Jin Qiyi said indifferently, "We are also going to Chang'an."

So that's it!

Yang Xuan touched his chest, where his last possessions were, feeling hopeful, "Then... can you give me some hot water? Just boil an extra bowl."

This person actually took the bait... Jin Qiyi's eyelids twitched, "Hot water is free."

Yang Xuan was delighted, leaning in to ask, "Hot water is free? Then... what about dry cakes?" Thinking about the dozen or so dry cakes he had, enough for five to six days, he felt greedy and a bit embarrassed, "I still need to buy more cakes, um... you won't let me leave the convoy..."

Jin Qiyi's face turned slightly red, "Here you go."

Yang Xuan's eyes lit up, "Can you give me a discount?"

Jin Qiyi turned back, "It's free!"

The Wang family's wealth was immense; they wouldn't care about the cost of a few cakes. He trembled, and the large men looked at him strangely, as if trying not to laugh.

Jin Qiyi walked to the carriage and spoke softly.

The middle-aged man inside said calmly, "Ordinary people are fine."

With these words, Yang Xuan敏锐地察觉到周围的杀机在缓缓消散。

下午，车队在一处荒原停下。

金七言带着人整理营地，杨玄蹲在边上愁眉苦脸的，扯着地上去年留下的枯草，不知自己该不该去提醒他们。

“年轻人在想什么？”

不知何时，中年男子走到他身后，一身简单的装束，但隐隐透着贵气。

想到能有免费的食宿，杨玄起身行礼，诚恳地对他的金主说：“我以前饿坏了就想去找东西吃，如果装食物的房间被牢牢锁住，我就会想尽办法进去。但当时房间却开了个口子，我兴高采烈地进去，结果阿娘……”

我不该叫王家阿娘……杨玄心中又生出了矛盾，“阿娘就守在里面，一顿棍子让我此后再也不敢靠近那间屋子……”

母亲为何这样对待儿子？难道是穷得揭不开锅了？中年男子哪里知道这些普通人的烦恼？他负手看着斜阳，平静得如同斜阳下的远山。

杨玄看到那辆一直没动静的马车动了，两个侍女站在车边，掀开车帘……其中一个侍女回头，不屑地说：“转过身！”

杨玄慌忙转过身，就听到一个少女的声音。

“二叔！”

本想问话的中年男子回身微微一笑，“先歇着，晚些就用饭。”

是个贵女啊！

杨玄赶紧避开。

金七言过来了，行礼道：“二郎君。”

中年男子缓步而行，金七言跟在身侧。

“我此次出行，长安城中知晓的人不少。王家掌握矿山，淳于家打造兵器，这便是珠联璧合，但如此产业也引来许多觊觎。想给王家一击的人不少……”

金七言低头，“这一路遭遇了三股刺杀，不过都不足为虑。想来那些人也是跳梁小丑。”

“所以你布置营地便轻忽了吗？”

中年男子的声音很轻，却如惊雷般在金七言耳畔回荡，他惶然，“小人不敢。”

中年男子目光扫过右侧，见杨玄站在那里帮忙卸东西，“营地四周封闭，如果有人想冲进来，你能猜到他从哪边，用什么方法吗？”

金七言摇头，“不能。”

中年男子叹道：“既然如此，为何不开个口子，夜里让人在口子后面设下圈套……人啊！便是贪婪之辈，有现成的口子为何不走，偏生要从麻烦的地方想办法？这便是人心！”

金七言身体一震，“二郎君高明。”

中年男子指指右侧的杨玄，“是那个少年的主意。”他淡淡道：“如此，知己知彼，而暗中窥探王家的人却什么都不知道，未战便夺了先声。这个少年……倒也有趣。”

竟然是他？金七言看了一眼杨玄，不禁一怔。

“二叔。”

少女没戴羃䍦，大概是在车里闷坏了，一头秀发垂下，娇嫩的脸上全是不耐烦，秀眉蹙着，“二叔，我要骑马！”

中年男子微微一笑，“王家女在外策马疾驰倒也是一段佳话，不过这里穷乡僻壤，难免有些凶徒。且等出了元州再说。”

少女不满，“二叔你就哄我，咦！那人是谁？”

中年男子淡淡道：“一个乡野小子罢了。”

“哦！”少女又开始缠着二叔要自由……

杨玄希望能有免费的食宿，只需干饼子和热水就行了，没想到却有熏肉熬煮的热汤，里面竟然放了香料。

杨玄是个感恩图报的人，吃了王家一顿饱饭，就去帮忙收拾。

晚上，他和一个叫黄老二的人住在同一个帐篷里。

杨玄知道这是监视之意，倒也不在意，晚上倒下就睡。

黄老二从未见过这般心大的人，不禁愣住了，良久笑道：“乡野小子不知王家威名，倒也寻常。”

随后就是漫长而无聊的赶路时间。

第七日，眼看就要出了元州，杨玄的马术也有些模样了。

“二叔，我想吐。”

少女显然是受不了了，掀开车帘频繁骚扰二叔。

午饭后，中年男子无奈答应了。

“不许乱跑。”

但得了自由的少女就像脱缰的野马，带着几个护卫冲了出去。

杨玄不经意间瞥到了少女的侧颜，心跳如雷。

娇嫩的脸，小巧却挺直的鼻，菱角般的红唇……

杨略说过要给他说亲，还是个读书人的女儿，但他这一走，这事多半是没了。想到那个少女会因为不能嫁给他而郁郁寡欢，杨玄不禁有些内疚。后来又觉得自己这般俊逸不凡，将来定然能寻个漂亮的小娘子为妻。

后来，少女不情不愿地回来了。

杨玄瞥了她一眼，觉得真美。关键是带着一股子贵不可言的气质，让人生出各种心思。

我没有痴心妄想！

杨玄有些心虚。他的梦想就是寻个识字的女人为妻，以后他出去打猎，妻子在家教授孩子识字……

他的目光猛地扫过少女。

少女正在偷偷摸摸地想往侧面林子里跑，顽皮的模样让中年男子莞尔一笑。他刚想叫人把少女带回来，杨玄却看了少女一眼。

“无礼！”

王家无疑是贵不可言，所以王家女被乡野小子瞥一眼，那就是癞蛤蟆偷窥天鹅般的大逆不道。

中年男子勃然大怒。

护卫们怒不可遏……

少女不屑地看了杨玄一眼，