Chapter 91: You’ve got yourself into serious trouble!

At dusk, Ning Yaxin’s carriage came to a stop outside the Ning family’s gates.

As soon as it halted, a man hurried over from nearby. It was Zhang Zhishen.

For days now, Zhang Zhishen had stationed himself at the Ning residence. In the morning, when Ning Yaxin left the house, he would appear once; in the evening, when she returned, he would appear again.

Every time, he would beg for her forgiveness, repeating the same few words over and over.

Ning Yaxin was utterly fed up with him. She had told him many times not to disturb her, but Zhang Zhishen simply would not listen, continuing his relentless appearances morning and night.

Fortunately, he still knew enough restraint not to go to the Fragrant Skin emporium to find her, or Ning Yaxin truly would have lost all patience.

In truth, Zhang Zhishen had considered going there, but after much thought he finally abandoned the idea.

He understood that if he did, he would only drive Ning Yaxin further into anger, and then she would truly never forgive him.

“Yaxin, you’re back. You seem to be home a little earlier than yesterday.”

The moment he reached the carriage, Zhang Zhishen began talking to himself, while naturally taking down the little step stool beside the coachman.

It was the kind of low stool used as a foothold, making it easier to get in and out of a carriage.

These past few days, Zhang Zhishen had personally placed the stool there each time, all to show Ning Yaxin his sincerity and remorse. The Ning family’s coachman had long since grown used to it.

While waiting for Ning Yaxin to alight, Zhang Zhishen said, “By the way, Yaxin, I just noticed a shop nearby that sells wine-sweetened rice dumplings. They taste quite good. Why don’t we go eat there together?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the carriage curtain was lifted.

But the one who emerged was not Ning Yaxin. It was Xu Mo.

The moment Zhang Zhishen saw him, he froze.

Xu Mo widened his eyes in feigned surprise. “Oh? Isn’t this Young Master Zhang? What are you doing here?”

Zhang Zhishen immediately stepped back and looked at the carriage, thinking: no, this is definitely Yaxin’s carriage, and that is Yaxin’s coachman. So why is Xu Mo the one coming out?

Xu Mo, stepping down from the carriage, looked down and laughed. “Well now, Young Master Zhang, you’re really quite thoughtful. Knowing I was coming, you even set out the stool for me. Not bad at all... thanks, Young Master Zhang!”

With that, Xu Mo stepped down from the carriage.

“Why are you in the carriage?” Zhang Zhishen’s brow furrowed at once.

Xu Mo ignored him and turned to look inside the carriage.

Then another person emerged from within, Ning Yaxin herself.

“Miss Ning, watch your step.”

With that, Xu Mo extended a hand with perfect courtesy, allowing Ning Yaxin to take it as she descended.

Seeing that the two of them had returned in the same carriage, and that Ning Yaxin had even taken his hand, Zhang Zhishen was instantly filled with jealousy, and fury surged up within him.

“Yaxin, how could you let him ride in the same carriage with you?” Zhang Zhishen said, pointing at Xu Mo.

Ning Yaxin did not answer. Instead, she looked at Xu Mo.

On the way here, Xu Mo had already instructed her that when she saw Zhang Zhishen, she need say nothing at all. He would handle everything.

Xu Mo replied, “Young Master Zhang, Miss Ning invited me to her home for a meal. I rode back in her carriage. What exactly is the problem?”

“And besides, whether we ride together or not, what business is it of yours? Who do you think you are, questioning us like this?” Xu Mo was utterly unceremonious.

Ning Yaxin had not expected Xu Mo to speak so sharply, and immediately worried that he might clash with Zhang Zhishen.

Zhang Zhishen was livid. Pointing at Xu Mo’s nose, he said to Ning Yaxin, “Yaxin, I just don’t understand. How can you possibly be working with this kind of scum?”

“That gambling addict! Not only did he squander the family fortune, he even pawned off his own lawful wife. He was expelled from the academy as well! He’s a complete and utter disgrace!”

Over the past two days, Zhang Zhishen had sent people to inquire about Xu Mo. Today, when he invited Ning Yaxin to eat wine-sweetened rice dumplings, it was because he wanted to persuade her to sever all ties with Xu Mo.

“Hey, hey, hey, what are you yelling about? So loud—do you know you’re disturbing the neighbors?” Xu Mo said, reaching out and brushing aside Zhang Zhishen’s pointing hand, with considerable force.

That motion at once enraged Zhang Zhishen. He stepped forward and snapped at Xu Mo, “What, afraid everyone will know? Didn’t you do all of these things? You dare do them, but not own up to them?”

Xu Mo showed no fear at all and immediately shot back, “That’s right, I did them! So what? Miss Ning herself doesn’t mind it, so why are you dancing around like a fool?”

Xu Mo then added, “You know what this is called? This is called a mother hen brooding over ducklings... meddling where you don’t belong!”

“What did you say?”

In a rage, Zhang Zhishen seized Xu Mo by the collar with his left hand and raised his right fist.

Xu Mo not only did not flinch, he even thrust his face forward, taunting him loudly. “Come on! Hit me! If you don’t hit me, I’m your grandson! Come on...”

Ning Yaxin was horrified. Without the slightest hesitation, she rushed forward, forcefully shoved Zhang Zhishen away, and shielded Xu Mo behind her.

“Zhang Zhishen, I do not want to see you. Leave immediately!” Ning Yaxin’s expression was furious, her tone utterly resolute.

When Zhang Zhishen saw that she had actually pushed him so hard and was even driving him away, it felt as though a needle had pierced his heart.

“Yaxin! You... you were not like this before. How could you... how could you become like this now?” Zhang Zhishen was overcome with anguish, shaking his head repeatedly.

Xu Mo was anxious too, thinking: Miss, what are you doing? Don’t spoil my plan!

Just as Zhang Zhishen stood there, heartbroken and ready to leave, Xu Mo suddenly shouted, “Zhang Zhishen, thinking of running? Not a chance!”

With that, Xu Mo charged forward and shoved Zhang Zhishen with both hands.

Zhang Zhishen had practiced martial arts since childhood; his stance was exceptionally stable. Add to that his tall and sturdy build, and Xu Mo’s push did nothing at all—instead, it was Xu Mo who staggered back a step.

That move only made Zhang Zhishen even more furious.

In the heat of his rage, Zhang Zhishen thrust both hands hard against Xu Mo’s chest, sending Xu Mo stumbling back several steps before he crashed heavily to the ground.

“Ow—!”

The instant he hit the ground, Xu Mo began crying out loudly, his expression wildly exaggerated.

“It’s broken, it’s broken... my waist is broken!” he wailed in agony, loud enough for the whole street to hear.

“Mr. Xu, what’s wrong?” Ning Yaxin cried out in alarm and immediately ran over, intending to help him up.

But Xu Mo kept shaking his head and shouting, “Don’t, don’t, Miss Ning, don’t use any force. My waist hurts—hurts terribly. Oh, ow, ow...”

Zhang Zhishen was completely stunned. Looking down at his own hands, he could not understand it at all. He had barely used any force—so why had this fellow been thrown so far, and why had he fallen so heavily?

Lying on his side, Xu Mo pointed at Zhang Zhishen and said, “You’re finished. You’re finished. You injured me—you’ve got a huge problem on your hands!”

“Someone come! Call the authorities! Hurry and call the authorities! I’m not letting him off!” Xu Mo cried, while contorting his face in apparent agony.

Before long, more and more passersby gathered around, casting strange looks at Zhang Zhishen and pointing at him incessantly.

“I didn’t! It wasn’t me—he fell by himself! It has nothing to do with me!”

Zhang Zhishen kept explaining, with a huge, invisible mark of injustice seemingly branded across his forehead.

Just then, Captain Xiong suddenly appeared, bringing four constables with him as he strode forward.

Pushing through the crowd, Captain Xiong came to stand between the two sides and sternly asked, “What are you doing? What happened?”

Xu Mo immediately said, “Officer, your timing couldn’t be better. Hurry and arrest him! He injured me... ow, ow, my waist, my poor old waist!”