CHAPTER 166: CHAPTER 166: SERVE LIKE AN OX OR HORSE TO REPAY SECOND MISS

It is often said that one’s appearance reflects one’s heart.

Looking at the appearance and demeanor of Wenren Jia, gentle and kind, neither arrogant nor submissive, he doesn’t resemble some petty coward who bows at the sight of power!

Princess Runan is a princess; bowing to her might be expected, but to someone like her? Couldn’t he resist even a little symbolically?

As Tang Xiaobai started to recall if he had any fearsome reputation, Wenren Jia looked up with a confident expression, having reached a conclusion.

"How is it?" Tang Xiaobai asked.

"None corresponds." Wenren Jia replied.

Tang Xiaobai suppressed his excitement, put down the scented drink, and signaled Li Mu with his eyes.

Li Mu again took out a piece of paper from his book bag, unfolded it, and placed it in front of Wenren Jia.

This sheet had five seemingly identical seal imprints.

"Among these five, only two are printed from the same seal." Tang Xiaobai said.

Wenren Jia smiled slightly, said nothing further, and continued to examine.

About a quarter of an hour later, he marked three: "These three imprints come from the same seal."

Tang Xiaobai was speechless for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed, "Mr. Wenren truly excels in this art!"

Wenren Jia still smiled, neither questioning nor urging.

This time, Li Mu didn’t take out anything from the book bag but rather pulled out a flat brocade bag from his person, from which he retrieved two paper scraps.

Two incomplete paper scraps, only half a finger wide, each with a corner of a seal.

Only a corner of the border, without any text, as if torn from somewhere.

One old, one new.

"Dare I ask, sir, are these two imprints from the same seal?"

Wenren Jia looked down at the two pieces of paper.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but Tang Xiaobai felt that this time he bowed his head even lower, obscuring his expression and gaze completely.

Again, after about a quarter of an hour, Wenren Jia lifted his head and slightly smiled: "These two imprints should not be from the same seal."

"Are you sure?" Tang Xiaobai asked anxiously without realizing.

Wenren Jia replied warmly, "About seventy percent certain; if I could see the full picture, maybe it could be two more percent."

Tang Xiaobai frowned.

Seventy percent plus two percent doesn’t even make a full certainty?

"Because it’s been a long time since this imprint, it’s hard to be absolutely certain." Wenren Jia pointed to one of the imprints.

Tang Xiaobai nodded, stood up, and bowed, "Thank you for your trouble today, Mr. Wenren!"

Wenren Jia withdrew his finger and returned the salute: "Second Miss Tang, you are too kind." After the salute, he let his hands hang down, under the cover of wide sleeves, the finger he had just pointed with unconsciously curled slightly...

...

Coming down from the second floor, at the turn of the stairs, they already saw the first floor crowded with customers again, but no one noticed their presence, all eyes were directed in the same direction.

Tang Xiaobai, while descending, curiously peeked and then heard a familiar voice: "Do you think that coming to the Capital City, no one will know about the things you’ve done before?"

Originally walking slightly ahead to guide the way, Wenren Jia abruptly stopped in his tracks. He then beckoned to a shop attendant at the staircase entrance and asked, "Who is causing such a ruckus?"

The shop attendant replied with a distressed face, "It’s the newly appointed Gongsun Chief of the Ministry of Revenue, running into Master Tao from the Huntian Academy, it only took a few words for a quarrel to break out," glancing towards that side, "almost got into a fight!"

Tang Xiaobai recalled the two previous lines Gongsun Yi had said, finding them unsettling, and instructed his companion: "Go throw him out, he’s bothersome to see!"

Li Mu nodded and left.

Soon after, Gongsun Yi’s angry shouts were heard.

As the sound reached the door, Gongsun Yi suddenly let out a sharp cold laugh, loudly saying, "Tang Xiao, relying on the power of the Duke Yan Mansion, does the Duke Yan Mansion know your origins?"

In an instant, it was like a clap of thunder.

Tang Xiaobai nearly lost balance.

What did Gongsun Yi know?

Just then, she saw her companion leading Gongsun Yi out of the crowd, Gongsun Yi was still struggling, but his mouth had something stuffed in it, rendering him speechless.

He looked up, gave her a reassuring smile, turned to the door, and tossed Gongsun Yi out.

"Throw further, Miss, you find him troublesome." He said, then naturally the Duke Yan Mansion attendants outside took over, and he turned back to the staircase, saying, "It’s all clear now, Miss, you can come downstairs."

Tang Xiaobai saw his calm gaze, and only then did she relax her tightened heart, leaning on Cheng Zi’s hand as she continued downstairs.

The customers downstairs seemed to have been frightened by the earlier scene, departing about half of them.

Thus, Tang Xiaobai easily spotted the unusually tall Tao Fen among the crowd.

Tao Fen, broad in build and of hearty disposition, always appeared vigorous and lively.

This time, however, he looked ashen-faced, as if he had suffered a major blow.

Tao Fen also saw her, wiped his face, walked over, and cupped his fists: "Thank you, Second Miss——" Stopping abruptly, seemingly not knowing exactly what to thank her for.

Tang Xiaobai nodded curtly: "Brother Tao, no need for thanks... were you here to buy books?"

Tao Fen shook his head, looking dejected.

Tang Xiaobai recalled what Gongsun Yi had said to him earlier, guessing it must have hit a sore spot.

But she herself didn’t have the mind to manage Tao Fen’s sore spots now; Gongsun Yi’s shouting at her companion also hit her sore spot.

No words needed, they walked out together.

Upon exiting the bookstore, as they parted ways, Tao Fen called her back, showing a determined look.

"Actually... I previously——" he started to speak with some difficulty.

Tang Xiaobai wasn’t particularly interested in knowing, intending to dissuade him from confessing, but he happened to say it all in one breath: "I once hurt someone in Xinfeng!"

Tang Xiaobai was momentarily stunned, then nodded: "I’ve hurt someone too."

Coming from the Duke Yan Mansion, not having hurt a few people would be embarrassing to go back.

Hadn’t they just thrown Gongsun Yi out in front of everyone?

Tao Fen paused briefly, shaking his head: "Not that kind of hurt——" choking himself, unsure how to describe Second Miss Tang’s "hurt," he could only bypass it to mention only his, "I used to practice swordsmanship and accidentally injured an innocent, nearly causing death..." saying this, his expression dimmed.

"Nearly caused death, so it didn’t cause it?" Tang Xiaobai comforted, "How is that person now? Are they well?"

Tao Fen shook his head: "That person was already weak, and because of that sword wound, they’ve been left with a chronic ailment. I came to the Capital City last year because I heard Divine Doctor Feng Hua was here——"

No need for him to say more, Tang Xiaobai knew.

The time when Tao Fen arrived, Doctor Feng had just gone to the Eastern Palace, becoming the Crown Prince’s chief physician.

Who could compete for a doctor with the Crown Prince who had been ill for over ten years?

"So in the meantime, I stayed in the Capital City to study, hoping to find a chance for Divine Doctor Feng to leave the palace." Tao Fen said.

Came especially to seek a doctor, couldn’t find him, so ended up taking a top grade at Huntian Academy as well.

Tang Xiaobai was silent for a moment, then said: "Doctor Feng occasionally still leaves the Palace to treat my mother’s ailments, but he can’t leave the Capital City. Next time I will ask him, if he agrees, you try to bring that injured person to the Capital City, and when Doctor Feng leaves the Palace, please ask him to take a look."

Tao Fen was overjoyed, deeply bowing to Tang Xiaobai: "If that person can be cured, Tao Fen is willing to repay Second Miss by being a loyal servant for life!"