Chapter 342
Although the men Qiu Feng brought were desperate, they were there for money. When Commander Dou and Old Man Tie led their men to attack, these individuals immediately scattered like a disorganized mob.
"I'm not going to die," He Nuan said, looking at Qiu Jingyuan, who was crying her eyes out. Her usually gentle nature was tinged with annoyance. Qiu Jingyuan was simply too good at crying; she had only sustained a shallow cut on her arm. Although it bled quite a bit, a sprinkle of medicinal powder stopped the bleeding.
"You lowly servant, I'll have my father arrest all of you!" Qiu Jingyuan's hoarse voice rang out. Her eyes, red and swollen from crying, showed no gratitude, only resentment that He Nuan had been too slow to act, thus causing her to be cut.
Zhan Feiyu, who had just found Madam Qian, heard Qiu Jingyuan's reprimand before she even arrived and couldn't help but laugh.
"Miss Zhan, please calm your anger. Jingyuan is spoiled by her family and speaks without thinking. I hope Miss Zhan will overlook her words," Madam Qian, though somewhat disheveled, was protected by her martial attendant, leaving her merely startled but unharmed.
Seeing Zhan Feiyu's half-smile, Madam Qian felt a jolt of unease, despite Zhan Feiyu being only a ten-year-old girl. She quickly offered an apology.
"Madam Qian need not be so polite. Ah Nuan saved the young lady of the Qiu residence. This favor naturally falls to the third branch of the Qiu family to repay," Zhan Feiyu said with a sinister smile. If she couldn't extract a heavy price from the third branch of the Qiu family, her years of study would have been in vain!
Upon seeing Zhan Feiyu approach, He Nuan put away the medicine bottle and immediately went to meet her. "Miss."
Qiu Jingyuan was somewhat intimidated by Zhan Feiyu. Gone was her earlier arrogance, and her voice became hesitant. "What do you want? I'm telling you..."
"Ah Nuan saved your life. Do you acknowledge this life-saving debt?" Zhan Feiyu asked, her round eyes narrowing in the sunlight, the threat evident.
Qiu Jingyuan blinked. She had thought she was safe when she heard Commander Dou's voice not long ago. She had then rushed out of the side room where she was hiding, only to run face-to-face with a desperate man trying to escape.
Fortunately, He Nuan had arrived in time to save her. Hearing Zhan Feiyu's words now, Qiu Jingyuan understood. Her face immediately showed disdain, and she reverted to her usual haughty self. "Don't worry, I'll have someone send silver tomorrow. Enough for her to spend her entire life!"
Truly from a humble background, asking for benefits after saving someone. Qiu Jingyuan looked at Zhan Feiyu and He Nuan with disdain. They claimed to be scholars, but they were clearly blinded by money.
"It's good that you acknowledge it. Ah Nuan, bring me the brush and ink. Let's be clear from the start. To prevent Miss Qiu from reneging on her word, it's best to put it in writing," Zhan Feiyu said, her face showing a greedy expression, as if genuinely worried Qiu Jingyuan might go back on her promise.
The situation was now under the control of Commander Dou and his men. He Nuan also noticed two Imperial Guards observing from the shadows, so she was no longer worried about Zhan Feiyu's safety. He Nuan immediately turned and went into the house to find the brush and ink.
Madam Qian also strode over and looked at Qiu Jingyuan's injured left arm with concern. "Jingyuan, are you alright?"
"Auntie," Qiu Jingyuan said, observing Madam Qian, whose hair and clothes were only slightly disheveled, but who was otherwise unharmed.
Seeing the martial attendant following closely behind her, Qiu Jingyuan's face fell. She spoke in a sarcastic tone, "This lowly servant is quite loyal. Auntie managed to remain safe during such chaos. It's a pity Mother said it was like being at home when I came to Auntie's. It seems those words were just to fool people. When danger arose, no one cared about my fate."
Madam Qian was nearly fifty years old and had managed the Qian family's businesses for many years, dealing with all sorts of difficult people. She did not get angry at Qiu Jingyuan's mocking words.
If Madam Qian were to get angry at every foolish thing Qiu Jingyuan had done since arriving in Longyou Dao, she would have died of anger long ago.
"It was too chaotic just now. Qiu Feng took you and left first. Auntie only found out you were hiding in the north side room when she met Miss Zhan," Madam Qian explained calmly.
Who could have imagined that Qiu Feng would dare to go on a killing spree within the Qiu residence? In such chaos, let alone Qiu Jingyuan being a distant relative, even if she were Madam Qian's own daughter, Madam Qian might not have risked her life to save her. The older one gets, the more one fears death.
Qiu Jingyuan scoffed. The wound on her arm still pained her, and her mood grew increasingly unpleasant. However, she dared not do anything to Zhan Feiyu. Her gaze shifted, and she suddenly spoke with malice, "Auntie, I'm timid and was frightened just now. Qing Hong also died protecting me. Auntie, have her protect me during this time!"
Qiu Jingyuan pointed at the martial attendant behind Madam Qian with her uninjured right hand. Before Madam Qian could reply, she coldly questioned, "Does Auntie refuse? Were all those words of affection for me lies?"
"Madam, I am willing," Dong Yan said first, not wanting Madam Qian to be put in a difficult position.
Madam Qian was indeed in a dilemma. Dong Yan was her trusted confidante. For years, when she went out to inspect shops, Dong Yan had been at least half responsible for her safety. On several occasions, Dong Yan had protected her at the risk of her own life.
Martial attendants were different from ordinary maids. It was not easy to train a loyal and skilled martial attendant. Madam Qian, with her shrewdness, could see Qiu Jingyuan's ill intentions.
"Don't act as if we're parting in death. It's a blessing from a past life to be able to serve me!" Qiu Jingyuan sneered dismissively. She would let this lowly servant off for now and deal with her once she was safe.
He Nuan returned with the brush and ink. Seeing Qiu Jingyuan quickly pick up the brush and write, Madam Qian stood silently aside. She had intended to remind Qiu Jingyuan earlier, but now, Madam Qian preferred her to suffer a small loss.
"There, I'm not like those short-sighted village girls," Qiu Jingyuan said, tossing the brush aside. She looked at Zhan Feiyu mockingly. She was actually afraid she would renege on her promise. Truly a country bumpkin. No matter how much she studied, she couldn't change her inherent poverty.
Zhan Feiyu took the paper handed to her by He Nuan and quickly scanned it. The writing on the paper was clear: she, He Nuan, had saved her life, and she would repay the debt. Her signature was at the bottom.
"Alright, Miss Qiu is indeed straightforward," Zhan Feiyu smiled. After the ink dried, she folded the paper and put it away. "I'm going to the front to take a look."
"Wait, I'll go with you!" Qiu Jingyuan said urgently. Although Dong Yan was by her side, Qiu Jingyuan had witnessed He Nuan's skills. If she stayed here and another straggler appeared, what would happen? It was safer to follow Zhan Feiyu.
...
The Main Courtyard.
The ground was still littered with bodies lying in disarray, and the air was thick with the smell of blood. The yamen constables and prison guards were carrying away the bodies, and the weapons dropped on the ground were being collected and piled together.
"Did the little girl capsize in the gutter?" Qiu Zongxi chuckled as soon as he saw Zhan Feiyu. When Qiu Feng suddenly gave the order to attack, Qiu Zongxi had not missed Zhan Feiyu's stunned expression. This was how a young girl should look. She was always so calm and composed. Hah, she had capsized.
Zhan Feiyu carefully avoided the bodies on the ground and looked speechlessly at the loudly laughing Qiu Zongxi. "Sir, it's your residence that was destroyed. I'll be leaving in a few days anyway."
Qiu Zongxi looked at the pooling blood on the ground, his smile freezing. He then looked at the devastated courtyard and the main hall, and his anger flared up. "Where is that little beast Qiu Feng? I'll skin him alive today!"
It was not surprising that Zhan Feiyu was stunned at the time. No one probably expected Qiu Feng to dare to go on a killing spree within the Qiu residence.
"He disappeared after the melee," replied Commander Dou. Not to mention Qiu Zongxi's temper, Commander Dou was also full of frustration. He would be the one to clean up this mess in the end.
...
Qiu Jingyuan pointed at the martial attendant behind Madam Qian with her uninjured right hand. Before Madam Qian could reply, she coldly questioned, "Does Auntie refuse? Were all those words of affection for me lies?"
"Madam, I am willing," Dong Yan said first, not wanting Madam Qian to be put in a difficult position.
Madam Qian was indeed in a dilemma. Dong Yan was her trusted confidante. For years, when she went out to inspect shops, Dong Yan had been at least half responsible for her safety. On several occasions, Dong Yan had protected her at the risk of her own life.
Martial attendants were different from ordinary maids. It was not easy to train a loyal and skilled martial attendant. Madam Qian, with her shrewdness, could see Qiu Jingyuan's ill intentions.
"Don't act as if we're parting in death. It's a blessing from a past life to be able to serve me!" Qiu Jingyuan sneered dismissively. She would let this lowly servant off for now and deal with her once she was safe.
He Nuan returned with the brush and ink. Seeing Qiu Jingyuan quickly pick up the brush and write, Madam Qian stood silently aside. She had intended to remind Qiu Jingyuan earlier, but now, Madam Qian preferred her to suffer a small loss.
"There, I'm not like those short-sighted village girls," Qiu Jingyuan said, tossing the brush aside. She looked at Zhan Feiyu mockingly. She was actually afraid she would renege on her promise. Truly a country bumpkin. No matter how much she studied, she couldn't change her inherent poverty.
Zhan Feiyu took the paper handed to her by He Nuan and quickly scanned it. The writing on the paper was clear: she, He Nuan, had saved her life, and she would repay the debt. Her signature was at the bottom.
"Alright, Miss Qiu is indeed straightforward," Zhan Feiyu smiled. After the ink dried, she folded the paper and put it away. "I'm going to the front to take a look."
"Wait, I'll go with you!" Qiu Jingyuan said urgently. Although Dong Yan was by her side, Qiu Jingyuan had witnessed He Nuan's skills. If she stayed here and another straggler appeared, what would happen? It was safer to follow Zhan Feiyu.
...
The Main Courtyard.
The ground was still littered with bodies lying in disarray, and the air was thick with the smell of blood. The yamen constables and prison guards were carrying away the bodies, and the weapons dropped on the ground were being collected and piled together.
"Did the little girl capsize in the gutter?" Qiu Zongxi chuckled as soon as he saw Zhan Feiyu. When Qiu Feng suddenly gave the order to attack, Qiu Zongxi had not missed Zhan Feiyu's stunned expression. This was how a young girl should look. She was always so calm and composed. Hah, she had capsized.
Zhan Feiyu carefully avoided the bodies on the ground and looked speechlessly at the loudly laughing Qiu Zongxi. "Sir, it's your residence that was destroyed. I'll be leaving in a few days anyway." Qiu Zongxi had not missed Zhan Feiyu's stunned expression. This was how a young girl should look. She was always so calm and composed. Hah, she had capsized.
Zhan Feiyu carefully avoided the bodies on the ground and looked speechlessly at the loudly laughing Qiu Zongxi. "Sir, it's your residence that was destroyed. I'll be leaving in a few days anyway."
Qiu Zongxi looked at the pooling blood on the ground, his smile freezing. He then looked at the devastated courtyard and the main hall, and his anger flared up. "Where is that little beast Qiu Feng? I'll skin him alive today!"
It was not surprising that Zhan Feiyu was stunned at the time. No one probably expected Qiu Feng to dare to go on a killing spree within the Qiu residence.
"He disappeared after the melee," replied Commander Dou. Not to mention Qiu Zongxi's temper, Commander Dou was also full of frustration. He would be the one to clean up this mess in the end.
Qiu Zongxi looked at the pooling blood on the ground, his smile freezing. He then looked at the devastated courtyard and the main hall, and his anger flared up. "Where is that little beast Qiu Feng? I'll skin him alive today!"
It was not surprising that Zhan Feiyu was stunned at the time. No one probably expected Qiu Feng to dare to go on a killing spree within the Qiu residence.
"He disappeared after the melee," replied Commander Dou. Not to mention Qiu Zongxi's temper, Commander Dou was also full of frustration. He would be the one to clean up this mess in the end.
...