A thief and a robber join forces

  Zhen Ming couldn't bear to see him like this, and with a mix of sadness and anger, he said: "Your sister Zhang has been kidnapped by two black-clad masked men. You're still shouting and yelling here, if you had protected her, she would have been sold off long ago!"

  The young boy's face, still with a hint of childishness, turned red: "You're talking nonsense! I watch Zhang sister fall asleep every night, who dares to catch her? It must be you who hid her and won't let me see her! Return my Zhang sister to me quickly!"

  "I can return her to you, it depends on whether you have the guts or not, dare or not dare to go with me to a place."

  "What's there to be afraid of!" The young man didn't think and blurted out, then hesitated for a moment and asked: "Where?"

  "You'll know when you get there."

  Those slaves hurriedly said: "Young master, don't listen to him, he doesn't look like a good person at all. There's a big scar on his face and his martial arts skills are so good, it's possible that he's a human trafficker who wants to kidnap you and sell you, don't believe him!"

  The young man hesitated.

  Zhen Ming said bitterly: "Every second you hesitate, your sister Zhang is in greater danger. Think carefully, if you don't dare to go, then don't come sneaking around looking at Sister Zhang again, and don't say you like her again either. A coward like you doesn't deserve it."

  "Who are you calling a coward!" The young man's face turned bright red with anger, and he no longer hesitated. He turned around and shouted at the slaves behind him: "All of you get back! None of you are allowed to tell anyone about today's events, or else I'll have someone beat your butts to a pulp! Did you hear me?"

  "Little, little ancestor, if something happens to you, we won't be able to bear it..."

  "I've made up my mind! You all go back, if anyone asks, just say I'm at the Hundred Flowers Building listening to Sister Frost play a tune!" The young man flicked his hand and walked over to Zhen Mingshu, staring at him fiercely: "Let's go!"

  "Where is your horse?"

  "Bring my horse over!"

  A slave had to run to bring the horse over, which was a majestic and exceptionally fine white horse. Even if someone didn't understand horses, they could tell that this horse was extremely valuable and not suitable for ordinary people to ride.

  Zhen Ming couldn't help but take another look at the exceptionally handsome young man in front of him. He had a slender build, a face as smooth as jade, long hair that flowed like a stream, and eyebrows that resembled swords. His eyes were clear and bright, and he wore elegant and luxurious clothing, looking every inch the pampered son of a wealthy family. If one didn't know about his habit of stealing jade and sniffing flowers, anyone would be unable to help but exclaim in admiration at first glance - what a lively and spirited young man!

  "You ride the horse, I'll show you the way."

  The young man was taken aback for a moment, "You can't ride?"

  Zhen Ming's face sank: "Do you want to save your sister Zhang or not? If so, get on the horse!"

  The young man turned around and stepped onto the horse, his movements elegant and refined. At a glance, it was clear that he had been trained since childhood. In comparison, Zhen Ming's awkwardness in mounting the horse was even more pronounced. With great difficulty, he finally managed to climb onto the horse's back, tightly grasping the saddle as he pointed in the direction where the carriage had disappeared.

  "Go that way! Catch up with that horse carriage!"

  "Charge!" The young man shouted loudly, his legs clamping tightly around the horse's belly. With a sharp whinny, he sped off in the direction of the departing carriage...

  Several slaves stared blankly as the two disappeared around the corner of the alley, and then came to their senses, shouting: "Hurry back to inform Master Steward, the young master has been kidnapped!"

  ……

  The young man rode his horse skillfully through the streets and alleys of Luoyang City, apparently very familiar with every street in Luoyang City.

  Zhen Ming bitterly sat behind him and asked: "How old are you?"

  The boy irritably replied: "Why should I tell you!"

  "You're still young, but you seem quite familiar with Luoyang City. I suppose you've been sneaking peeks at the sisters in every household?"

  "Pfft! Do you think anyone is worthy of this young master's attention? Those mediocre women aren't even worth this young master's glance!"

  "So you're saying it's an honor for someone to be peeped at by you?"

  The young man raised his head and said proudly, "Of course, when I come of age, I will immediately use a grand sedan chair to bring Zhang sister back home as my formally married wife. At that time, no one can compete with me for her, and she won't have to work hard making tofu anymore."

  Zhen Ming sighed and said, "I didn't think you'd still be thinking of your sister Zhang like that."

  "She is my woman, if I don't protect her, who will?"

  As they spoke, the young man had already ridden his horse and found the carriage that Zhen Mingshu was talking about.

  "Follow it and see where it goes, your sister Zhang is on that horse carriage." Zhen Ming said quietly.

  That young man fiercely said: "If you dare cheat me, I will definitely beat your butt!"

  ……

  The horse carriage stopped in front of a large mansion, and the two men in black got off the carriage. They carried Zhang's body on their shoulders from the bag and walked up the steps to the entrance, where one of them knocked on the door.

  The knocking sound seemed to conform to a certain rhythm, as if it were some kind of pre-arranged signal.

  The gate opened, and a head poked out from inside. After looking around cautiously, the gate was slightly opened again, and a hand beckoned to the two men in black. As soon as they stepped inside, the gate slammed shut with a loud bang.

  The two men dismounted and crouched at the corner of the alley, poking out their heads to look around.

  This is a luxurious and grand mansion, on the gate's signboard, two golden large characters "Pei Fu" are written.

  The young man furrowed his brow, looking at the two white cloth bags slung over their shoulders earlier, and it was clear that there was a woman inside. Only then did he believe Zhen Ming's bitter fate, knowing that Zhang Shi had indeed been kidnapped by these people.

  "Isn't this Pei Qiantong's home?"

  "Do you know him?"

  That young man's face had a proud look: "Hmph, this young master knows many people! This is even Water Messenger Pei Qiantong, a mere fifth-grade official of the sesame and green bean rank, yet he dares to have lewd thoughts about my sister Zhang..."

  "That's easy, go and get him back." Zhen Ming kicked him out with a foot, kicking him in the butt.

  That young man was kicked into a state of panic, frightened and ran back, complaining: "No way, no way, if Pei Qiantong finds out that I sneaked out at midnight to have fun, and tells Jin Zongguan, I won't be able to come out and play again!"

  It's really frustrating. This guy was just acting like he feared nothing and would die to protect Zhang, but now he's become a turtle with its head and tail withdrawn.

  "Did you just kick me?" The young man looked puzzled.

  Zhen Ming bitterly pretended not to hear, and said in a low voice: "It seems that we need to think of another way to sneak in, otherwise Zhang sister will be in danger."

  The young man immediately put aside the fact that Zhen had kicked his butt earlier and asked with a tense face, "How did you sneak in? And besides, the Pei residence is so big, how do you know which room they're hiding Zhang Jie in?"

  Zhen Ming's bitter face slightly lit up as he glanced around, his eyes falling on the white horse beside him. He said with a hint of a smile, "Actually, there is a way, but it depends on whether you truly want to save your sister Zhang or not."

  "Of course it's true!"

  "You leaned in close..."