Chapter 42: Sufficient Reasons
Chapter 42: Sufficient Reasons
Xiao Jia said calmly, "Reporting to the Second Master, I am not a samurai and have no qualifications to be a samurai. It's just that the master of the family took care of me and let me live in the samurai courtyard. At that time, Butler Liu made it clear to me that I am not a real samurai and do not need to participate in any samurai actions."
Xiao Hu's face darkened and he turned to look at the head of the family, Xiao Cong.
Xiao Cong stepped forward and said to Xiao Xia softly, "I did not ask you to participate in the warrior action, but now I am asking you to practice martial arts and strengthen your body. What's wrong with that? Haven't you always wanted to become a real warrior?"
Xiao Xia bowed and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Patriarch. I have other things to do and cannot stay in the martial arts hall for three hours a day. Please forgive me, Patriarch. I can move out of the Warrior Court and return the Warrior Card."
Xiao Hu was furious, pointing at Xiao Xia and stammering, "What are you... talking about?"
"Second brother, calm down!"
Xiao Cong waved his hand to calm Xiao Hu down. He smiled and said to Xiao Xia, "What are you going to do if you don't practice martial arts? If you have a good reason, maybe I will give you a special approval!"
Xiao Xia had already made up his mind, and he said slowly: "Xunzi said: If you don't climb a high mountain, you don't know how high the sky is; if you don't stand by a deep stream, you don't know how thick the earth is; if you don't listen to the words of the ancient kings, you don't know how great knowledge is.
The children of Gan, Yue, Yi and He are born with the same voice but grow up with different customs. This is due to education!
"Master, I need to study and don't have that much time to practice martial arts!"
The warriors around were in an uproar, and everyone quietly gave a thumbs up. He actually used studying as an excuse to avoid practicing martial arts. This was unheard of. Awesome! Awesome!
Xiao Cong stroked his beard happily and said, "You like reading, which is also a positive thing. Since..."
Xiao Cong was about to approve Xiao Xia to withdraw from the Warrior Academy, but Xiao Hu became anxious. If Xiao Xia went to study, he would not be able to control himself. What if he left Jiangdu without permission, how would he explain to the King of Han?
He interrupted Xiao Cong in a hurry, "Master, please listen to me!"
Xiao Cong nodded, "You say!"
Xiao Hu said quickly, "I tested Xiao Qilang at the main residence that day. I think he has a talent for martial arts. It would be a pity if he didn't practice martial arts. How about this! Since the head of the family has asked, I will make an exception for him. He must come to the martial arts hall every day, but the time is not limited!"
Xiao Cong didn't want to offend his brother, so he nodded and said to Xiao Xia, "You have been weak since childhood. Practicing martial arts to strengthen your body is indeed good for you. You should be able to accept Second Master's suggestion!"
Xiao Xia didn't hate practicing martial arts in the martial arts gym, he just didn't have the time. Since there was no limit on his time, then of course he could just come and punch in every day.
He nodded, "Thank you for your kindness, Master. Thank you, Second Master, for helping me!"
Xiao Hu was relieved, and immediately put on a stern face, saying to Xiao Xia coldly: "The rules I set are never negotiable. The reason I made an exception for you is not because the head of the family interceded for you, but because you are not a real warrior, but you also have a warrior iron plate, so you must report to the martial arts hall every day, do you understand?"
"Junior understands. If there are special circumstances, can I ask for leave?"
Xiao Hu ignored him and said to everyone: "I am strict, but I am not heartless. If there are special circumstances at home, you can ask for leave, but it must be approved by me, otherwise it will be regarded as automatic resignation!"
…………
"Xiao Qilang, you scared me to death. If you don't want to practice martial arts, you can tell the Second Master in private! How can you humiliate him in public?"
Back in the yard, Xiao Zhurong kept complaining to Xiao Xia.
"Fortunately, the master of the family is here today. If he were gone tomorrow, and you dared to openly contradict the Second Master like this, he would beat you to death to establish his authority."
"Where is the master going tomorrow?"
Xiao Zhurong sighed, "Go ask the Jiangning Xiao family, they also have a Baibao Liuli lamp."
"Oh! The case is just left unresolved?" "Then what should we do? Liu Erhu is dead, and all clues are gone. In fact, everyone thinks that it was Zhang Zongguan who stole it, but there is no evidence!"
"Does your father think so too?"
Xiao Zhurong shook his head. "I don't know what Daddy is thinking. He won't say anything!"
Xiao Xia hesitated for a moment, then put his arm around his shoulders and whispered, "I'll tell you a secret. Liu Erhu was killed by the Second Master. I saw it with my own eyes!"
Xiao Zhurong's eyes widened. "How is that possible? When did you see it?"
"That night Liu Erhu came to kill me. I found him and I hid outside. He went back without finding me. I followed him all the way. When he was about to leave the rental house, Erye, who was hiding on the roof, stabbed him in the back with a sword. I was scared to death!"
"and then?"
"Then you came running. You were the first one to run. Someone behind you shouted at you to wait. The Second Master crossed the bridge and left. I quickly ran away too."
Xiao Zhurong was still confused, "What does this mean?"
"Kill and silence!"
Xiao Zhurong was stunned for a while and said, "Could it be that you still speculated before that the Second Master took the things away? But... the key is in my father's hand. He told me that it has never been stolen!"
Xiao Xia sneered, "Who has the key tonight?"
"It's in the hands of the Fourth Master. He's on duty tonight!"
"What if the Fourth Master goes to get a key made today?"
Xiao Zhurong immediately understood, "You mean, the Second Master made a key privately?"
Xiao Xia nodded, "I still say the same thing, except for the four of them, no one knows which box the Baibao Liuli Lamp is in!"
Xiao Zhurong felt sad and sighed, "This is a scandal, don't tell anyone!"
"I only tell you this kind of thing. I think your father knows it too!"
Xiao Zhurong nodded. "Dad had a quarrel with the patriarch, saying that it shouldn't be left unresolved like this, but the patriarch still decided to close the case. The brothers probably knew about it, but there was nothing they could do."
After a pause, Xiao Zhurong whispered, "I'll tell you a secret too. My father told me that the Second Master was born out of wedlock, and his mother was beaten to death by the old lady using family law. That's why the head of the family has always felt sorry for him and treats him as a legitimate child."
Can you indulge yourself without limits just because you feel guilty? Xiao Hu stole the Baibao Liuli Lamp, which obviously showed that he had colluded with the powerful people in Chang'an, either the crown prince or the King of Han. As the brother-in-law of King Jin Yang Guang, the consequences of doing so are very serious. Who knows, there might be another Xiao Moke who would stab King Jin in the back.
However, Xiao Xia did not want to ask about this matter for the time being. When will he have the chance to persuade the patriarch again? He nodded and said, "No wonder the four brothers are not of one mind! Forget it, it's too late, let's go to bed!"
The two of them went into their respective rooms. Xiao Xia fell headfirst onto the bed, struggled to take out two pills and put them into his mouth. Without even taking off his shoes, he fell into a deep sleep.
Xiao Xia didn't notice that there was a thin man in black clinging behind the big wardrobe in the corner like a gecko, his eyes as bright as a wolf in the dark night.
(End of this chapter)