The Black Horse

ranslated by Wook
Edited by sienz

Huang Youbi immediately became furious when he learned of this matter. He pointed at Bai Zhenting and cursed: “You and I have been friends for so many years, I didn’t expect you to ignore our long-standing friendship to flatter the rich and noble. I’ve been truly blind!”

Bai Zhenting was speechless. He pulled him over to explain again and again: “Brother Huang. I really didn’t intend to conceal it. This matter is because of Shiqi’s mischievousness. She ran away from home with those people, and it’s been awhile since I sent my people to look for her. If it weren’t for her injury, I wouldn’t even know her whereabouts.”

Huang Youbi remembered that after Bai Shiqi was injured, the Bai family’s husband and wife rushed to the scene, and it did not seem to be fake. However, his anger was hard to dissipate: “You didn’t know it at first, but after you came here because of your child’s injury, why did you conceal it from me then?”

Bai Zhenting pulled Huang Youbi away while winking at his subordinate, asking him to quickly find Bai Shiqi— Whoever starts the fire should put it out. Don’t tire one’s father!

“Brother Huang, listen to me. When we rushed over, you had already started the treatment of that person. If I said it then, would you stop it halfway? Although you have certain rules, you have the heart of a healer, and have never given up halfway through treatment.”

Huang Youbi sneered: “So, is it my fault?”

Bai Zhenting: “It’s that unfilial child’s fault! I’ll beat her severely when she comes!”

He had known Bai Shiqi since she was young. She would never bend although beaten, and this problem hasn’t been solved until now. She could even fight against Bai Zhenting. Huang Youbi didn’t know how much courage she had in that body.

He slumped down on the chair, looking extremely tired: “When my father was dying, I promised that I would no longer treat those noble officials. How can I violate my father’s last words?”

Huang Youbi’s father, Huang Yanbo, was very famous in Lianghuai. He was invited by Zong Heng from the marquis house of Huaiyang County to treat his beloved son. Not only did he fail to save Zong Heng’s son, he even lost his life.

Zong Heng was young and vigorous, and he was the first choice of heir to the marquis seat. At that time, his concubine gave birth to an adorable and jade-like son. But nobody expected that the child contracted a disease after only a hundred days. Many physicians had been invited, but nobody succeeded. Finally, it ended at Huang Yanbo’s door.

The child’s condition actually improved under Huang Yanbo’s care. However, the child suddenly died one evening. In anger, Zong Heng didn’t listen to any reason and sent Huang Yanbo to jail. He was beaten until only a breath was left before he was sent back to the Huang’s residence, and died the next day.

At that time, Huang Youbi was a fourteen-year-old boy. He rushed to the county office to appeal for his father’s grievance, but was beaten out by the county magistrate. He recuperated for nearly two months before he could stand up again.

Mother Huang knelt before his bed and pleaded bitterly, asking him to obey the last words of his deceased father. And so, from then on, Huang Youbi would not treat the rich and noble officials, only the common people.

This incident was a painful and tragic memory in his life. Even decades later, he still remembered vividly the bloody appearance of his dead father.

After Zhu Shoumei’s startled appearance, Bai Shiqi knew that this moment would come sooner or later.

When Huang Youbi went to look for Bai Zhenting, Bai Shiqi simply informed Zhao Wujiu of what she knew about the tragedy in Huang Youbi’s family: “I agreed to this before because I thought Your Highness will immediately return to the capital after your legs are cured. By then, you will have no more communication with Old Man Huang in this life, and he can heal you without knowing your identity. Who’d expect…”

Zhao Wujiu got up and said: “I will accompany you there. In any case, Mister Huang has been lied to. I’m also responsible.”

Bai Shiqi pondered for a moment and suddenly asked casually: “I heard that Zong Heng is still alive now. I wonder what is the relation between Your Highness and Zong Heng?”

Zhao Wujiu laughed: “This prince has no friendship with all the marquis houses in Jing, let alone a marquis house in Huaiyang. I’m afraid the old marquis doesn’t even remember what I look like.” When he was still a child, the Marquis of Huaiyang came to Jing to see the emperor. They had seen each other from a distance. At that time, Zhao Wujiu was young and didn’t even need to attend the palace banquet. After that, he went to the frontier for a few years.

Bai Shiqi breathed a sigh of relief: “It’s fine if you don’t have friendship with him.”

Zhao Wujiu: “What are your ideas? Can you tell me?”

Bai Shiqi: “If the Marquis of Huaiyang is proven guilty of something, can you… avenge Old Man Huang?”

The people of Jianghu could deal with each other’s life and death, but Huang Youbi’s enemy was a family with authority. Even if she had the intent, she was powerless.

Zhao Wujiu touched her head: “If this happens, I will not tolerate it.”

***

Bai Shiqi entered the door without a word, and rushed to kneel in front of Huang Youbi, holding his leg while crying to admit her mistake: “Old Man Huang, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t hide it from you, but I truly didn’t mean to!”

Huang Youbi had never experienced the occasion where someone held his thigh to admit their mistake. This situation made him extremely uncomfortable: “Get up! Get up before you speak!”

Bai Zhenting was sitting at the side, looking at his cub who was using the same trick she usually used to deal with him on Huang Youbi, making his furious friend almost unable to sit on the stool, and he sighed inwardly: Huang Youbi is such a good person!

Zhao Wujiu stood at the door and stared blankly.

Bai Shiqi spoke while crying, her tears fell successively, she knelt in front of Huang Youbi and confessed: “When I was young, my father told me about Uncle Huang’s family. At that time, although I was young, I practiced martial arts seriously so after I grew up, I could find a chance to kill Zong Heng to avenge Uncle Huang!”

She rarely called him “Uncle Huang” so politely, which showed the sincerity of her attitude of admitting mistakes today.

Huang Youbi only had the apprentice Zhu Shoumei by his side. He was lonely for half of his life, and regarded his old friend’s child, this quirky cub, as his nephew and loved her.

[T/N: Yes, it’s nephew and her.]

“Get up!”

Bai Shiqi still knelt on the ground and refused to get up. She said: “As I grow older, I found that Zong Heng is actually very powerful. I had no choice but to keep an eye on the movement of his family. After knowing the identity of His Highness Prince Zhou, I thought of this: Others may not be able to touch him, but what about the emperor’s son?”

Huang Youbi’s stretched hands that were trying to stop her, paused.

Bai Shiqi knew that she had reached the critical phase, so she continued to encourage him while wiping a handful of tears on her face: “His Highness Prince Zhou has a very good reputation. His legs were also injured to protect the country. Uncle Huang healed his legs without knowing his identity, this should not violate the elders’ last words. Since Uncle Huang has saved His Highness from pain for the rest of his life, then I’m sure… he will listen to your grievances and deal with Zong Heng’s wrongdoing… Isn’t this… killing two birds with one stone?”

Still kneeling before Huang Youbi, she looked up. The normally unreasonable bastard suddenly admitted her mistake like a lovable cub. Huang Youbi was actually aware of her tricks.

But the most terrible thing is that he actually thought that this little bastard’s calculations were quite reasonable.

Huang Youbi fell silent.

Bai Shiqi took advantage of the situation and gestured to Zhao Wujiu behind her.

Zhao Wujiu cleared his throat and stepped forward to express his standing: “Mister Huang healed this prince’s legs. I don’t know how to express my gratitude, as the elder doesn’t love gold and material objects. However, this prince can get justice for you.”

Huang Youbi’s attitude finally loosened: “That Zong Heng has been in Huai Yang for decades, and the matters had passed for so many years. Besides, there is no evidence, how can I get justice for my father?”

If the prescription and testimony of that year were still available, they could still be checked. But after many years, even Zong Heng might not remember Huang Yanbo, let alone the servants in the Marquis Mansion.

Bai Shiqi made a conclusion: “In any case, Zong Heng has committed more than one crime. We don’t have to bother to investigate what happened in the past. Since there are other people who died in his hands, we only need to pull out one of his current sins to pay off the grievances of Grandpa Huang!”

Huang Youbi touched her head with his large, withered hand: “Get up, you little snake! I won’t blame you anymore!”

I took a lot of effort to design this plan for him, why am I to blame?!

Afterwards, Bai Zhenting also asked his child: “How did you know that Zong Heng has done illegal things?”

Bai Shiqi: “Dad, did you not know that Zong Feng, Zong Heng’s second son has a strange hobby? Nobody knows how many maids were tortured inside the Marquis Mansion, but it is said that the older servants hear whenever Zong Feng goes out to drink, the female entertainers will tremble, unwilling to serve his needs. Whoever is forced to serve him by the old hostess will be bedridden for at least half a month… and some of them couldn’t even make it through.”

Bai Zhenting glared at her, his breathing became rougher and rougher. His chest bulged as he spoke: “You… What kind of things have you learned outside?”

Bai Shiqi jumped off and yelled as she fled: “I just listened to Zong Feng’s story when I was idle. I didn’t follow his way! He has a father who can cover the sky with one hand, if I’m the one who kills a lady, no one can cover up for me…”

Bai Zhenting became furious and roared: “Are you saying your old man is not capable?”

Su shi heard the movement and watched this familiar scene with a headache: “Can you two stop for a while?” It has been quiet for some time. Now it’s noisy again.

Bai Shiqi grimaced: “I’m not the one who makes trouble, Mum. Why don’t you tell that to Dad?” Then like a wisp of smoke, she disappeared.

AD

Su shi: “… …”

Bai Zhenting was fiddling with his beard when he saw the little bastard slipping away. It reminded him of the old days, and he felt a bit nostalgic. He then coughed twice because his throat felt uncomfortable: “Wife, make me a cup of throat-relieving tea.” It’s been awhile since he shouted, now his throat felt painful.

Su shi stared at him: “You deserve it!”

Translated by Wook
Edited by sienz

Bai Shiqi ran back to her room out of breath, and saw Zhao Wujiu sitting at the table looking at the waterway map she had drawn. Not giving him any attention, she grabbed a cup and drank the cold tea in one gulp, then under Zhao Wujiu’s bewildered gaze, sat down while still gasping for breath: “I haven’t exercised for a long time, I can’t even breathe after running.”

Zhao Wujiu pointed to the tea cup: “… …”

Bai Shiqi only realized after a while: “…Yours?”

Zhao Wujiu nodded.

Bai Shiqi felt embarrassed: “…I’ll let someone bring you a new cup.”

Zhao Wujiu picked up the teapot and poured the tea into the teacup before slowly sipping it. Bai Shiqi often played in entertainment places, nobody knew exactly how many women had fallen under her tricks, but everyone knew that she never had any serious intention when doing it. However, for some reason, she felt embarrassed upon seeing this act of Zhao Wujiu.

She spread out the paper and ground the ink to ease the embarrassing atmosphere between the two.

Zhao Wujiu seemed ignorant, and even reminisced about the old times: “I was in the frontier for ten years. Whenever I got thirsty on a raid to the enemy camp, the skin water pouch would be passed from mouth to mouth by more than a dozen people.”

Bai Shiqi: “… …” You do the things that only lovers do with so many people?

Her uneasiness was instantly relieved.

Seeing her face returning to normal, Zhao Wujiu bowed his head and began to draw a picture of the water course, the corners of his mouth slightly curved where Bai Shiqi could not see.

The next day, Huang Youbi took Zhu Shoumei to say their farewells. It was nearing the end of the year, he was going back to his hometown to pay homage to his ancestral grave: “I will be staying at home for a while, if there’s something, you can send someone to pass the word.”

Bai Zhenting reluctantly sent his old friend away, and was about to return home with his wife and child, only to hear that Bai Shiqi had been signed to act as Zhao Wujiu’s aid, so he could only let her go to cause more trouble, and accepted the pair of Song Si and her servant, plus Qiu Yunping whom she stuffed over to him.

“In any case, Qiu Yunping’s accounting skill is very neat, you can use him.”

Qiu Yunping finally finished writing a storybook. He timidly gave it to Miss Song Si to read. He was eager to hear her comments, so naturally he wouldn’t follow Bai Shiqi.

Bai Shiqi was only responsible for composing stories, as for the writing, she seldom read it. Even if Qiu Yunping begged her to read it, she only skimmed a few chapters before throwing it away, because she was more interested in talking about it.

On the contrary, Miss Song Si was reluctant to leave Bai Shiqi’s side. She stood beside the carriage and spoke a lot: “Master must take care of your own body and avoid dangerous things, lest you make this servant unable to sleep at night.”

Bai Shiqi sent her parents and concubine to the carriage and watched them leave. As if the Monkey King’s curse had been lifted, it was obvious to see that her whole body finally relaxed.

On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhao Wujiu took a group of guards along with Zhao Ziheng and Bai Shiqi to Gaoyou County.

The guard commander of Gaoyou County was the 30-year-old Luo Dajue, whose half of face was covered with a thick beard. Seeing Prince Zhou, Zhao Wujiu who came out of nowhere, he repeatedly confirmed his identity, and only believed that it was truly Zhao Wujiu because he was sitting in a wheelchair.

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Yu Ang pretended to be an old servant, Zhao Ziheng appeared as his true self, a white silk pants young childe, and disguised as Zhao Wujiu’s young advisor Su Qi was Bai Shiqi.

The barracks of Gaoyou Guard Station seemed to have not been repaired for a long time. The officers and soldiers were dressed shabbily, and even the weapons in their hands were old and blunt.

Just like the news Zhao Wujiu had heard from his personal guard before, the situation of Gaoyou’s Guard Station was too strange.

When it was time to eat, Zhao Wujiu finally understood something.

Luo Dajue is said to have participated in the war against the Japanese at the coast. In the past few years, small groups of Japanese pirates colluded with local pirates and constantly invaded the region. He was promoted after several raids, and the moment the fight was settled, he was transferred to Gaoyou. Although he was a commander, his personality was too upright and not slick enough to be suppressed by his colleagues and superiors.

Zhao Wujiu guessed that there must be an embezzlement, which caused the current poverty of Gaoyou Guard. Even the food that was brought up was very simple and crude. The old servant who delivered the food had a lame leg and apologized: “My lord hurried down to the river to catch two fishes for this banquet. I hope these nobles will not dislike it.”

The dishes on the table were very simple. Except for one braised fish and one steamed fish, the rest were all vegetarian dishes. They were not as good as the food that Bai Shiqi provided onboard on the way to escort provision to Jing.

Bai Shiqi took a bite of the fish with her chopsticks. Luckily, the cook of Gaoyou Guard was good at cooking, and the food was still edible. It wouldn’t bring dishonor to the dead fish.

Zhao Wujiu: “Where is your Lord Luo? Why did he not come to accompany the guests?”

The old servant answered with a low voice: “My lord… is outside.”

Luo Dajue sent someone to send a table of simple meals to Prince Zhou. On the one hand, he was really poor. On the other hand, he was afraid of being hated by Prince Zhou.

Bai Shiqi came out and exclaimed upon seeing Luo Dajue: “Lord Luo, why are you worried about this?”

A penny stumped the hero. Luo Dajue was poor and as he only served as an official, he didn’t even have enough to pay for the food to entertain his superiors. This was simply an oddity among the rich and powerful officials of Lianghuai.

Luo Dajue hung his eyebrows in shame and said in hesitation: “His Highness… doesn’t dislike it?”

Prince Zhou was the biological son of the current emperor, very noble, the food served today must have looked like pig or dog’s food in his eyes.

Bai Shiqi was sent by Prince Zhou to question him.

Bai Shiqi squatted side by side with him: “His Highness is kind, how could he blame Lord Luo for poor hospitality?”However, there was something she felt very strange: “Gaoyou is a rich region and it is not far from Yancheng, it is reasonable to say that Lord Luo shouldn’t be this poor. How could you… be in such dire straits?” 

She also dealt with some officials, whose brains are only filled with fat, on the canal. This was her first time meeting such a poor official, so she was very surprised.

Luo Dajue said frankly: “The military funds… is not enough, and the higher-ups did not agree to increase it. The brothers in the station can’t even eat enough, let alone practice.”

“Tsk, tsk. Seeing your military strength, if you come across a group of pirates, I don’t know whether it is the pirates or your brothers who will run away first.” In terms of equipment, they couldn’t even compare with the bows and arrows used by the majority of the pirate groups.

Luo Dajue frowned: “I have asked the local government office to allocate more food and weapons, but my words always fell to the bottom of the sea. They’ve never returned any news.”

Bai Shiqi patted him on the shoulder and whispered her idea: “Lord Luo, have you ever thought about… doing things by the side door?”

[T/N: Doing things by the side door: Doing something dishonest.]

Luo Dajue’s eyes widened: “You mean doing something illegal?” The tower-like man shivered: “I will be punished!”

Bai Shiqi was amused by him: “Lord Luo is really interesting.” She spoke in a low voice and pointed out: “There are private salt dealers everywhere. If you don’t sell it, there will be others who sell it. It is not difficult for Lord Luo to send a team of trusted brothers to do it. After a few trips, you won’t have to worry about shortage of food and clothing.”

Luo Dajue was shocked: “You… What are you implying? I have never done anything illegal. Selling salt privately is a felony. How can I drag my brothers into the water? Only by doing difficult and tiring things can we toughen up. Therefore, how can we think of doing things by the side door?”

This person was truly inflexible. In this corrupted Lianghuai, such a person was very rare.

Zhao Wujiu heard about this, and after several days of observation, he found that, as he and the old servant of the guard station said, Luo Dajue was an upright official. His daily hobby is fishing, and his daily dishes are all kinds of fresh fish. As a result, the cooking skill level of the station’s chef had risen.

Upon finding someone from the same kind, Yu Ang gave birth to a sense of sympathy. He walked about Luo Dajue several times, still using the identity of an old servant. Luo Dajue guessed the old servant must be complaining about his lack of hospitality… But then he found that there were too many irregularities, and only felt overwhelmed.

When the time was right, Zhao Wujiu revealed the secret decree and the tiger tally, Luo Dajue happily handed over the command of the army to Zhao Wujiu, and stood at the end of the team neatly, consciously acting as a small soldier.

For a long time,the Gaoyou Guards’ entire responsibilities rested on his shoulders, forcing the bear-like man to turn into a coward. He was obviously eight feet tall, but his shoulders and waist had drooped to beyond recognition.

[T/N: ‘forcing the bear-like man to turn into a coward’ this is actually a play on words. The word coward 狗熊 has the character of bear 熊 in it.]

Luo Dajue happily ushered in a new life where he unloaded his shoulders and became a pawn, and threw the mess to Zhao Wujiu.

Zhao Wujiu sent Shu Changfeng to the government office, and soon escorted several ships of military weapons and winter clothes, which were distributed according to the register.

Luo Dajue asked Shu Changfeng in private: “Did the people at the office give you trouble?”

“Naturally they did not.” Shu Changfeng then said in his heart, his backing is so strong, how can an ordinary official dare to offend the prince?

Luo Dajue felt very uncomfortable in his heart, and could only hide to the side to digest this news.

After all the weapons and winter clothes were distributed, Zhao Wujiu finally started training to improve their combat power. Zhao Ziheng, who hadn’t gotten up early for a long time, was pulled out of the bed by Bai Shiqi and was thrown into the cold outdoors. He hopped about in anger while thinking. Then he went back to the room and warmed up his body by the fire: “Shiqi, the New Year is coming soon, can’t you let me sleep late for a few more days?” He secretly added in his heart: Being this vicious and barbar, which young man will marry you?

While warming up in place, Bai Shiqi urged Zhao Ziheng: “Now that you’ve gotten up, hurry up and practice. Don’t waste the good time in the mornings.” Only after escaping from the recent mortal danger did she realize that the training arranged by Leader Bai before was not sufficient. She was only aware of her limits after facing the situation of life and death.

From far away, Zhao Wujiu was in a wheelchair and was being pushed by Shu Changfeng to inspect the sergeants for training. Zhao Ziheng didn’t want to exercise, so he changed the subject: “You said that Cousin Brother is already able to stand. Why is he still in a wheelchair?”

“Old Man Huang once said that his legs were severely injured, so they should not be strained too much. Apart from the prescribed rehabilitation, of course, he should take good care of them”

“I thought Cousin Brother was trying to trick people.”

Prince Zhou, who was able to fight on horses, became disabled. If the officials of Lianghuai heard of this, would they become negligent and not have much fear?

“I haven’t seen Senior Master for three days, I didn’t expect you to think about these problems with your brain.”

[T/N: Senior Master here is Zhao Ziheng in case it is not clear enough.]

“What are you talking about?” Zhao Ziheng picked up a rifle and replied: “Today this good student must ask you for some tips.”

Her marksmanship was terrible. Bai Shiqi’s specialty was close fighting and diving, and she was an amateur with weaponry. Under the circumstances where the enemies use rifles, Bai Shiqi would probably escape without her life, making the brothers of the shipping group swayed with laughter.

On New Year’s Eve, Bai Shiqi proposed to go to the city to celebrate the New Year, but Zhao Wujiu rejected it; she mentioned going back to Suzhou for the New Year, but Zhao Wujiu ruthlessly dismissed the idea again. She couldn’t help being frustrated: “Your Highness is going to stay here and let Lord Luo fish for our New Year’s food?”

Luo Dajue felt like a hero whose abilities was recognized and enthusiastically urged her to stay: “I dare not say anything else, but fresh fish should be enough. Why don’t you stay so we can spend the New Year together?”

Bai Shiqi: “… …”

On the New Year’s Eve, Bai Shiqi silently dispelled the idea of ​​sending someone into the city to order a table of dishes, honestly followed Zhao Wujiu to the army, watched the year with the rough men in the army, drank two bowls of wine using a stoneware pottery bowl, and silently muttered in her my heart: From now on I can also go out and brag about being a soldier!

On the first day of the New Year, a tragedy occurred in the waters five miles away from Gaoyou Guard Station. A cargo ship was robbed and no one on board survived.

The news went back to the county office and exploded like fireworks. The nearby villages got the news, so the villagers spread it around in private, and soon the Gaoyou Guards heard it as well.

Bai Shiqi hated those pirates who murder to rob the most, and spoke in anger: “What a psoriasis-like bunch of people. We cleaned them up again and again, but they still exist.”

[T/N: So I had to search what psoriasis is :lmaocry: a skin disease marked by red, itchy, scaly patches.]

Zhao Wujiu ordered twenty or so seemingly strong soldiers, and then took Luo Dajue and Bai Shiqi with him. Yu Ang chased after them: “This old slave has good legs and feet, and can help His Highness pour tea and water. Please take this old slave with you.” He also almost died in the hands of the pirates, and hated this kind of case even more.