HLnovel Chapter 201 The Shield for Being Caught in the Crossfire of the Imperial Examination (5)
Chapter 201 The Shield for Being Caught in the Crossfire of the Imperial Examination (5)
The two "pleasantly" completed their exchange; the princess had only prepared for two days.
Ten large chests of neatly arranged silver ingots were then magnificently transported to Xu Fu's presence.
"Everything is here," the princess said, looking meaningfully at Xu Fu.
"Count it, if the number is correct—" He then gestured for them to leave.
Xu Fu spent most of the afternoon carefully inspecting each silver ingot.
He was so happy that he sent someone to report to the princess, "Now that the money has arrived, we can set off at any time."
"However, the Princess will still need to send someone to escort us on the return journey."
This time, the eldest princess didn't resort to underhanded tricks; she directly gave the order.
He sent his guards with a large entourage to escort Xu Fu back to his hometown in a high-profile manner.
As for the reason why the third-ranked scholar disappeared for so long...
Xu Fu sat in the carriage, listening to the discussions among the people outside, and only then did he learn the "inside story"—
The newly appointed third-ranking scholar, due to poor health and acclimatization issues, fell ill and recuperated at the Princess's residence for over half a month.
The princess was kind-hearted and only planned to let the person go after he had fully recovered.
This large convoy, besides serving as a protective force, was also there because the eldest princess had bestowed upon the third-ranking scholar a generous "bride price."
Because of the deep affection the third-ranking scholar received from the Princess, he felt he had no way to repay her kindness and decided to offer himself to her.
After returning to her hometown to pay respects to her ancestors, she was "married" into the Princess's mansion in a grand and glorious manner.
For the safety of her beloved, the princess specially dispatched her personal guards to escort him throughout the journey.
The princess's entourage, however, specially took Xu Fu on two laps around the city.
To ensure that everyone in the capital, young and old, knew that the two of them were going to get married.
Only then did the escort team release Xu Fu.
"Looks like 20 taels won't be easy to get," Xu Fu muttered with a laugh.
He thought he had her figured out, but the princess retaliated in kind.
"That works too!" After careful consideration, Xu Fu looked forward to his life ahead even more.
The car swayed and bumped along for ten days, during which they "sightseeed and enjoyed the scenery."
The news that the third-ranking scholar would become the emperor's son-in-law spread far and wide; the one who returned to the county town even earlier than Xu Fu was...
The news that the third-ranked scholar had become the emperor's son-in-law.
When Xu Fu returned to the county town where the original owner lived, while he was still at the city gate...
The county magistrate, along with a large group of officials, was already waiting for Xu Fu.
Upon seeing the cleared city gates, Xu Fu was immediately filled with wicked thoughts.
"System, give me a few tear gas canisters—" Xu Fu immediately ordered the system.
Xu Fu not only wanted to escape, but also to make off with the 20 taels of silver in full view of everyone.
After all, there really wasn't a sweetheart waiting for him back home!
Moreover, he was manipulated the whole way; did they really think Xu Fu was a good-tempered person?
[Host, this is ancient times! Forget about tear gas.]
However, this system can create a thick fog for you—
"This... I can't really get away from this, can I?!" Xu Fu hesitated for a moment.
[Host, how could you back down?! This isn't like you. Don't be afraid.]
"Then who's to blame if I can't escape?!" Xu Fu retorted, echoing the other's tone.
If you can't escape, then you're out of luck.
"Hmph!" Xu Fu rolled his eyes dismissively, mainly because the ten boxes were scattered across five carriages.
Moreover, each carriage, in addition to the driver, was also guarded by two guards.
Each of the five carriages was guarded by 15 armed guards on either side...
Xu Fu was speechless. He didn't know if they were spying on him or protecting the silver!
Moreover, those large boxes were so heavy that fewer than six people could move each of them...
This may explain why the princess was so confident and unafraid that Xu Fu would take the items away.
As Xu Fu dismounted from the carriage, he synchronized the time with the system.
[A dense fog lasting 30 seconds will only cause intermittent flashes of white light to obscure your vision.]
"Alright!" Xu Fu nodded, his toes twitching inside his boots.
[Two hundred points, 3, 2—]
"Damn it!" Xu Fu only managed to utter one curse before his vision was instantly enveloped in white mist as the system's countdown began.
Where did the fog come from?
"I can't see anything at all?!"
"Alert! Alert everyone!"
Xu Fu ignored the panicked guards and relied on the system's cheat codes...
She moved nimbly through the crowd.
Xu Fu spent 20 seconds storing all ten large chests containing silver into his spatial storage.
【8, 7, 6——】
The system's countdown was like a series of heavy hammer blows, making Xu Fu tense up.
With three seconds left in the countdown, Xu Fu seized a horse and mounted it.
He didn't forget to shout, "Where did you little thieves come from? Let me go right now—"
"Ah, help!" Xu Fu shouted, and then the system played a cacophony of hoofbeats.
They made the sound of a group of people riding away on horseback.
At the same time, Xu Fu quickly slipped into the city gate not far away.
As the system countdown reached its final second, Xu Fu had already entered the city gate.
Then, carrying his mount, he flashed into the space.
[Host, living beings cannot be stored in this space—]
The system's voice had barely faded when the horse beneath Xu Fu became erect.
Instantly frozen into a sculpture—
Due to inertia, Xu Fu was thrown forward and fell directly from his horse to the ground.
Fortunately, the horse was frozen in place; otherwise, if Xu Fu had fallen to the ground, he might have been trampled by its hooves...
"System, you damn rip-off!!!" Xu Fu rubbed his sore backside and scrambled to his feet.
Compared to the physical pain, the ten large boxes piled together were even more enviable.
Xu Fu limped quickly toward the box.
He opened all the boxes, and the dazzling white light almost blinded Xu Fu.
"They're mine, they're all mine—"
Xu Fu shouted excitedly and began to feel around in the boxes one by one.
Fortunately, Xu Fu remained vigilant throughout these days.
Moreover, these boxes were all under his watchful eye, making it absolutely impossible for them to have been replaced.
The thought that the princess was about to lose both her wife and her army instantly relieved Xu Fu's depressed mood.
"I've put up with you all this way, let's see how arrogant you can be now?!"
Xu Fu also considered simply disappearing into the crowd.
However, the original owner's great revenge was not avenged; not only the male protagonist, but even the princess was largely unharmed.
How could Xu Fu possibly admit defeat so easily?!
So Xu Fu stayed in the space for about ten days, until people got tired of it.
That's when they appeared in the county town under the cover of darkness.
Xu Fu specially wore old-age makeup and chose a restaurant.
They ate and drank inside, and also stocked up on enough food in the space.
On a sunny morning, Xu Fu reverted to his original divine attire and appeared before the people with an air of nonchalance.
"After the system and the space are taken out, will that horse still be alive?"