Three Kingdoms: Ten Times Speed, Diao Chan Says I'm Too Fast

"waste!"

"A bunch of trash!"

In the bluestone courtyard of the Zhang family mansion, a biting wind swirled with fallen leaves, crashing against the mottled vermilion pillars and making a howling sound.

The stout Zhang Dashanren, dressed in a brocade cotton robe with a glossy jade pendant hanging from his waist, was currently craning his short, thick neck and roaring at a group of bruised and swollen-faced henchmen in the center of the courtyard.

His face turned as red as a ripe purple eggplant, his fat cheeks trembled slightly, and spittle flew far away with his angry curses.

The dozen or so servants were in a sorry state; some were kneeling on the cold stone slabs, their heads drooping almost to their chests; others were lying haphazardly on the ground, clutching their broken bones and wailing in agony.

One of the burly men, with one arm hanging limply at his side (clearly dislocated), drooped his head, cold sweat mixed with dust streaming down his forehead. His voice was hoarse, as if sanded: "Master... I'm incompetent... I couldn't stop those people, and the woman got away..."

Zhang the Philanthropist glared at the burly man with his beady eyes, his veins bulging and the fat on his neck trembling with rage.

He had been eyeing Gan Mei's beauty for quite some time. Ever since he caught a glimpse of her at the temple fair in Pei County last autumn, the woman with her willow-leaf eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and slender figure like a willow branch in early spring, she had taken root in his heart.

These days he had gone to great lengths to find out where Gan Mei was, and finally managed to set up a trap, but who knew that a woman who appeared out of nowhere would ruin his plans!

"Four people! Just four people, and we'll teach you bunch of good-for-nothings a lesson you'll be begging for your parents' tears!"

Zhang the philanthropist kicked the stone bench beside him hard, the bench making a dull thud and chipping off a corner. "Do you think I'm supporting you so you can just freeload? Get out! All of you, get out!"

He suddenly flicked his sleeve, the brocade cuff sweeping across the teacup on the stone table. With a crash, the teacup shattered into pieces on the ground.

Then, he stormed out of the courtyard, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Get the car ready! Get the car ready! We're going to the county government!"

Before long, a lavishly decorated carriage rumbled out of the Zhang family mansion and sped off toward the Pei County government. The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, making a crisp sound that startled pedestrians on the roadside who quickly swerved to avoid it.

Inside the county government office, the main hall was brightly lit with candles.

Zhang, the philanthropist, sat in the pearwood chair next to the magistrate, his angry expression replaced by a pitiful look. Wiping away non-existent tears, he cried out to the magistrate in the main seat, "Magistrate Zhao, you must do me justice! In Pei County, I, Zhang, have always been law-abiding and charitable, as all the people of the county can attest! Now, some wild girl from out of town, with a few people, has injured my servant and even kidnapped the woman I had my eye on. This is clearly bullying the people of Pei County!"

He paused, then quickly stepped forward and added in a low voice, "This year, when the Imperial Court's Sima was raising funds for grain, I donated five hundred shi of grain and two hundred bolts of silk. Your Excellency is aware of this gesture."

County Magistrate Zhao Huai sat in the main seat, wearing a dark blue official robe. He had a thin face and a goatee.

He nodded slightly upon hearing this, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, and slowly said, "I am naturally aware of what Zhang the Great Philanthropist has said. Rest assured, I have no reason to tolerate outsiders running rampant in Pei County."

As he spoke, he looked up at the bailiffs below the hall: "Men! Quickly send a message to the county magistrate, ordering him to take the bandit officer and the city guards and immediately search the entire city for those outsiders! If they are caught, bring them back to the yamen for interrogation; if they are not caught..."

Upon hearing this, the gloom on Zhang Dashan's face instantly vanished, replaced by a fawning smile. He quickly rose and bowed, saying, "Your Excellency is wise! I didn't really intend to kill anyone; I just wanted to vent my anger. I'm sorry to trouble you, Your Excellency. If you can't catch him, then so be it."

"No problem." Zhao Huai responded casually, then picked up his pen and wrote a document to issue a decree, affixed the county government seal, and handed it to the yamen runner.

Before long, several more guards appeared at the city gate of Pei County. In the streets and alleys of the city, squads of soldiers carrying spears began to search house to house. The sound of horses' hooves and shouts broke the original tranquility of the county town.

......

At the end of the main street in Peixian County, there is a restaurant called "Zuixianlou".

The restaurant was a two-story building with blue bricks and gray tiles. A bright yellow apricot flag fluttered in the wind at the entrance, with the three powerful characters "Zui Xian Lou" written in ink on it. In the open space in front of the building, an inconspicuous blue cloth carriage was parked, which was the one that Duan Liuqing and his party had been riding in.

The light inside the carriage was dim.

Duan Liuqing, dressed in a simple, close-fitting outfit, sat upright to one side, calmly gazing at the street scene passing by outside the car window.

Gan Mei, on the other hand, kept her head down the whole time, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, and her eyes filled with lingering worry.

Only when the carriage slowly came to a stop, its wheels creaking softly against the ground, and Duan Liuqing straightened his sleeves, preparing to alight, did Gan Mei finally raise her head.

Her clear almond-shaped eyes were red and filled with anxiety; her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, with a hint of a sob.

Duan Liuqing keenly noticed her unusual behavior, turned to the side, raised an eyebrow and asked, "What? Judging from your expression, do you have something to say to me?"

Gan Mei bit her pink lower lip and nodded, her fingertips turning white from the force: "This... Zhang Dashan has a lot of influence in Pei County and a good relationship with the county magistrate."

"You...you injured his men, he definitely won't let this go. Now the government troops are searching the whole city, what...what should we do?"

"hehe."

Upon hearing this, Duan Liuqing suddenly chuckled softly. She reached out her hand, extending it towards Gan Mei.

Ganmei instinctively shrank back, but the carriage was already cramped, so where could she hide?

Duan Liuqing's fingers were slender and fair, like the finest white jade. She gently brushed away the messy bangs on Gan Mei's forehead, tucking a strand of hair that had been blown away by the wind behind her ear. Her movements were incredibly gentle.

A faint smile played on her lips, her voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable strength: "When you truly understand who I am, and who I represent, you won't be so worried anymore."

She looked at Gan Mei's still tense face and smiled, "Now... smile. They're just clowns, not worth your frown."

Gan Mei was stunned, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, filled with confusion.

Who is she? Who exactly is she?

Who is behind him? Could it be... a subordinate of some important figure?

Countless questions swirled in her mind, causing her to momentarily forget how to react.

Just then, the soft footsteps of a servant came from outside the carriage. Immediately afterwards, the curtain was lifted from the outside, and a warm light shone in, illuminating the corners of the carriage.

Gan Mei then realized that the carriage had already stopped in front of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

The aroma of food and wine wafted from inside the building, mingling with the scent of winter sunshine, creating a sense of inexplicable peace.

Duan Liuqing was the first to get off the carriage. She walked briskly and gracefully into the restaurant.

Gan Mei quickly composed herself and followed closely behind, her steps a little flustered, but her eyes couldn't help but curiously survey the restaurant.

The first floor of Zuixianlou is for casual seating. Several square tables are neatly arranged, and many diners are already seated there. Some are talking and laughing loudly, while others are drinking with their heads down. The air is filled with the aroma of wine and food.

The workers, dressed in short jackets and carrying trays, moved about busily, but strangely, they seemed not to see Duan Liuqing and his group. They neither greeted them nor cast any strange glances at them, continuing to busy themselves as if nothing was wrong.

This scene made Gan Mei feel even stranger, and her doubts deepened.

Ignoring the noise on the first floor, Duan Liuqing glanced around and then walked towards the wooden stairs leading to the second floor.

The wooden ladder is made of thick planks, and it makes a soft "creaking" sound when you step on it.

Gan Mei followed closely behind her, her heart pounding.

The second floor is completely different from the first floor. It is eerily quiet, with only a few elegant seats and a few ink landscape paintings hanging on the walls, adding a touch of elegance.

And sitting by the window was a man.

The man wore a long black robe with a jade belt around his waist. His dark hair cascaded down his shoulders. He rested his chin on one hand, gazing calmly at the street scene outside the window. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, illuminating his handsome and upright features.

Even just a profile view exudes an indescribable air of majesty and nobility, making one hesitant to look directly at him.

Gan Mei only glanced at him briefly, but she felt that this man was definitely not an ordinary person, even more distinguished than any gentry or official she had ever met.

The man sitting by the window seemed to hear footsteps and slowly turned his head. When his gaze fell on Duan Liuqing, his originally deep and cold eyes softened instantly, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

One second ago, an invisible, powerful aura seemed to envelop the entire second floor, making it almost impossible to breathe. But the moment the man smiled, that oppressive atmosphere vanished like ice and snow melting away.

The coldness on Duan Liuqing's face vanished instantly, replaced by a sweet smile.

Ignoring Gan Mei following behind her, she quickly walked up to the man, her eyes crinkling with affection.

Several exquisite dishes and a pot of warm wine were laid out on the table.

Duan Liuqing picked up the wine pot and skillfully filled the empty wine cup in front of him with wine, his movements fluid and graceful.

"Have a seat." The man's voice was deep and pleasant, with a hint of doting. "You must be tired from your journey."

Duan Liuqing shook her head, her smile growing even sweeter, her tone carrying a hint of coquetry: "I'm overjoyed to be out with His Majesty, how could I possibly feel tired?"

Upon hearing this, the man chuckled.

He reached out and gently stroked Duan Liuqing's delicate nose, his movements incredibly tender.

Gan Mei, who was standing not far away, was stunned by what she saw. Her mouth was slightly open and she couldn't close it for a long time.

She simply couldn't imagine that Duan Liuqing, who had just been so heroic and decisive outside the city, would now be nestled against a man like a well-behaved little girl.

Just who is this man?

“It has all been investigated.” After Duan Liuqing sat down, his smile faded and his expression became serious. “There are no troops gathered in the nearby counties. It seems that what that person said was true. Sima Fang and Zhuge Gui’s people must have believed the information he sent back.”

Upon hearing this, the man nodded slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his deep eyes: "In that case, let's proceed according to the original plan."

"Starting from Pei County, we will rectify official corruption and win over the hearts of the people. As for Pengcheng, we will set it aside for now. Once we have established a firm foothold, we will march south and take Xiapi directly."

He paused, then looked at Duan Liuqing: "Later, send someone to convey the message to the generals, telling them to proceed step by step and not to rush things."

"Yes." Duan Liuqing nodded immediately, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

Just as the two were talking in hushed tones, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the restaurant, with the faint sounds of soldiers shouting and people talking.

Duan Liuqing frowned slightly. She got up, walked to the window, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked outside.

At the entrance of the restaurant, a squad of soldiers had gathered, armed with spears, surrounding the blue cloth carriage and the two attendants guarding it. Leading them was a captain in black robes, pointing at the carriage and shouting sternly.

Duan Liuqing turned his gaze from the window to Gan Mei, who was standing to the side with a pale face, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Gan Mei had obviously heard the commotion outside. She trembled with fright, her hands clenched tightly together until her knuckles turned white, her face drained of color, and her lips trembled, unable to utter a complete sentence.

"I didn't expect these people to be so quick," Duan Liuqing muttered under his breath, his tone revealing no trace of panic.

Hearing the noise outside, the man looked up and asked Duan Liuqing in confusion, "What's going on? What happened outside?"

Duan Liuqing turned around and recounted in detail how he had rescued Gan Mei outside the city and injured Zhang Dashanren's servant.

After saying that, she beckoned to Gan Mei, who was standing to the side trembling, and said in a flat tone, "Come here."

Gan Mei trembled with fear. She lowered her head and staggered to Duan Liuqing and the man, not daring to lift her head. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and she looked extremely pitiful.

Duan Liuqing got up and walked to Gan Mei, reached out and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to raise her head.

Her gaze fell on Gan Mei's exquisitely beautiful face, then turned to the man, a playful smile curving her lips, her tone carrying a hint of boasting: "Your Majesty, look. This is the new 'pet' I've found for you, she's incredibly beautiful. What do you think of her?"

The man's gaze fell on Gan Mei's face, and when he saw her features clearly, he couldn't help but be slightly taken aback. The woman before him had eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like autumn water, and skin as white as snow. Although she looked fearful, it only added to her pitiful charm. She was indeed a rare beauty.

He chuckled and shook his head, gently tapping Duan Liuqing's forehead. "You," he said helplessly, "you always cause me so much trouble. We haven't even settled in Pei County yet, and you've already brought me back a beauty. Don't I have enough problems already?"

Duan Liuqing pouted and snorted in dissatisfaction: "I just saw that Your Majesty is working hard on the front lines and doesn't even have anyone to keep you company. This woman is beautiful, and keeping her by Your Majesty's side can help you relieve your fatigue."

"Your Majesty..."

"This king..."

These two names exploded in Gan Mei's mind like a thunderclap.

Her body trembled uncontrollably, and her almond-shaped eyes widened as she stared at the man before her in shock.

Although she didn't know who the person before her was, the title "Your Majesty" represented the highest status. What ordinary official or gentry would dare use such a self-address?

Could it be...? Could he be...? A prince in distress? Or perhaps...?

Countless thoughts churned in Gan Mei's mind, making her forget her fear for a moment, leaving her only with shock and bewilderment.