Patting Zhan Feiyu’s head soothingly, Yin Wuyan’s voice was clear and indifferent, "I have noted this enmity."
In the courtyard filled with corpses and the smell of blood, Yin Wuyan's words sent a chill down one's spine.
Deng Zhiwu glanced at the annihilated black-clad figures. Revenge, even now? Although he didn't know who sent them, the death of dozens of assassins in one night was a significant loss.
"Mm." Zhan Feiyu nodded vigorously, a cold glint flashing in her dark eyes. A true gentleman would not let such a grievance go unavenged!
After a few steps, Yin Wuyan's peripheral vision swept across the courtyard, "Don't look!"
"Okay." Her voice was soft and obedient. Zhan Feiyu didn't want to look at the scattered corpses either, but thinking of He Sheng and the others, she tugged on Yin Wuyan's hand, "It has nothing to do with Ah Nuan and them."
The fact that so many assassins were deployed impressed Zhan Feiyu with their audacity, showing no regard for the Emperor, the court, or the law.
Not surprised that Zhan Feiyu would plead for He Sheng and the others, Yin Wuyan glanced at Zhan Feiyu walking beside him. In the darkness, the little girl with a smile like a flower made it impossible to refuse.
"Get up." His clear voice lacked any warmth or emotion. Yin Wuyan led Zhan Feiyu towards the small courtyard, "Watch your step, there's a threshold... The sky is about to brighten, you should sleep. Don't be afraid, I'll be in the room..."
Zhong Guang, long accustomed to this drastic shift in attitude, looked at He Sheng and the others who were still kneeling and said with a smile, "Alright, all of you, get up. Deal with the corpses first, don't let them bother Little Fatty."
Deng Zhiwu straightened up instantly as Zhong Guang approached, his eyes complex, filled with admiration, reverence, and an unyielding fighting spirit. Deng Zhiwu had always considered himself talented in martial arts until he saw Zhong Guang in action, which shattered his last shred of pride.
"Thank you, Second Young Master Deng, for your help." Zhong Guang clasped his hands in greeting, still with his usual carefree demeanor, his brows raised, and a wild smile on his face, much like the dissolute youths of the capital.
"You're welcome. Since we encountered this, we couldn't let them try to kill a young girl." Deng Zhiwu chuckled twice. He called it help, but if they hadn't arrived, his own group would likely have been annihilated.
Deng Zhiwu and his men were all injured, and with a courtyard full of corpses to deal with, after a few polite exchanges, they returned to their rooms to dress their wounds. Such a commotion would likely attract the yamen officials at dawn.
Deng Zhiwu's previous room had nearly caught fire. Fortunately, after they broke through the window, the innkeeper and a few servants bravely rushed in to extinguish the flames.
Peeking through the window crack at the courtyard below, Deng Zhiwu ignored his own wounds. "Uncle Huang, who are these people? Why does everyone know me?"
If this were the capital, Deng Zhiwu, as the second son of the General's mansion, was somewhat of a figure. But this was Huaian Prefecture. Zhan Feiyu knew his identity, and Zhong Guang also knew. Deng Zhiwu didn't realize he was so famous.
Uncle Huang had a cut on his arm, but it didn't damage the bone. He was applying medicine and looked at the curious Deng Zhiwu, "Second Young Master, don't say what you shouldn't, and don't ask what you shouldn't. Deploying so many assassins is not something we can interfere with."
Uncle Huang didn't regret taking Zhan Feiyu from the alley, but he also didn't want to drag the General's mansion into unknown danger. Whether it was the assassins before or the two people who appeared later, with their ability to fight a hundred at once, this was not something Deng Zhiwu should inquire about.
"Second Young Master, Uncle Huang." The round-faced guard standing by scratched his head, hesitating whether to speak.
"Little Liu, why are you stammering?" Deng Zhiwu looked at Little Liu with disdain, wondering when this dawdling habit would change.
Little Liu wiped his face, glanced around warily, gritted his teeth, and lowered his voice almost to a whisper.
"What..." Deng Zhiwu's shocked exclamation was cut short as Uncle Huang covered his mouth.
Uncle Huang was also startled. "You two go guard the entrance. Little Liu, are you sure you saw correctly?"
"Although I only caught a glimpse, it was definitely a Dragon Pendant." Little Liu nodded vigorously. He was a martial artist, and although the courtyard was dark, there was still moonlight. Little Liu was sure he hadn't mistaken it.
Deng Zhiwu sat down on a chair, stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, "That's not right. That little girl just now was only eight or nine years old. Her age doesn't match the princesses in the palace!"
The youngest in the palace was the Eighth Princess under Consort Jing. However, it was rumored that the Eighth Princess was frail and sickly, taking medicine before she could even drink milk. It was Consort Jing who stayed by her side day and night to nurse her back to health.
Deng Zhiwu thought of Zhan Feiyu's chubby cheeks. She had even sneakily attacked a black-clad figure with a dagger. This did not resemble the sickly Eighth Princess who couldn't even withstand the wind.
"Perhaps she's a hidden gem." Uncle Huang shot a warning glance at the foolish Deng Zhiwu. If she were a princess from the palace, she certainly wouldn't be out. Moreover, although Zhan Feiyu had an extraordinary bearing, she lacked the nobility and arrogance of the Emperor's sons and grandsons. She was more like a young lady raised in a scholarly family.
Deng Zhiwu nodded in understanding. "Or perhaps a county princess?"
As long as they were royalty, it was normal to have a Dragon Pendant. It didn't have to be a princess. Perhaps it was a county princess or a county lord from some prince's family.
But then he thought that someone dared to assassinate royalty, and Deng Zhiwu touched his neck with a shiver. Fortunately, the assassination failed. Otherwise, the General's mansion might have been implicated.
...
The external wound medicine from the General's mansion was far inferior to that of the Forbidden Dragon Guards. Therefore, when Yin Wuyan placed the basin and cloth on the table and took out two porcelain bottles of medicine, Zhan Feiyu was stunned.
"Big Brother, I've already put medicine on the wound on my arm. How about applying it again tomorrow?" Zhan Feiyu said crisply, raising her left arm to add conviction.
Yin Wuyan shot her a cold glance. Zhan Feiyu's expression froze, and she slowly lowered her raised arm.
Compared to the bite on her right hand, when the bandage on her left arm was removed, revealing a bloody wound, Zhan Feiyu smiled obsequiously. "Actually, it doesn't hurt anymore."
Zhong Guang, who had just entered, saw the wound. His smiling expression suddenly changed. "How did you get such a serious injury?"
A piece of flesh had been torn from her left arm, leaving a bloody mess. The skin around the wound was red and swollen. If this were on a grown man's arm, it would only be a superficial wound. But Zhan Feiyu's arm was fair and tender, like lotus root, making the wound look particularly gruesome and terrifying.
Yin Wuyan had changed his appearance, but his narrow phoenix eyes were chillingly cold. Zhong Guang dared not speak and gave Zhan Feiyu a look of "good luck."
Yin Wuyan gently cleaned the wound and then applied the medicine. He remained silent, and the timid Zhan Feiyu dared not speak. Her big eyes blinked, looking at Yin Wuyan pitifully.
A quarter of an hour later, after bandaging Zhan Feiyu's right hand and left arm again, Yin Wuyan's clear voice broke the silence in the room. "Are there any other injuries?"
"No..." Meeting Yin Wuyan's cold and deep phoenix eyes, Zhan Feiyu changed her tune. "I was bitten on the leg too."
Zhong Guang looked at Zhan Feiyu sympathetically. The little fatty had indeed stumbled into a ditch this time. However, these people even used hunting dogs, indicating they were determined to kill the little fatty.
Zhan Feiyu propped her raised right leg on a round stool. The wound on her calf was also a tearing wound. She cautiously glanced at Yin Wuyan who was applying medicine. "Big Brother, will I get rabies?"
The Great Qing Dynasty did not have rabies vaccines. Zhan Feiyu hadn't felt anything while escaping, but now, looking at the bloody wound and thinking she might die of rabies, she felt inexplicably wronged.
The hand applying medicine paused. Yin Wuyan looked at the little girl with a distressed face, unsure if it was from pain or fear, her eyes were even reddening. Yin Wuyan's heart softened, and his voice softened as well. "These specially trained hunting dogs are fed specific medication every year, so they won't have rabies."
"Really?" In her excitement, she pulled on the wound on her leg. Zhan Feiyu, whose joy turned to sorrow, cried out in pain, her fair, chubby face contorted.
Yin Wuyan pressed Zhan Feiyu's leg with his left hand and gave her a cold glance. "Sit properly."
"Oh." Zhan Feiyu grinned and sat up obediently. However, she pulled on her chest and cried out in pain again. Her straightened back instantly hunched like a shrimp.
The hand holding the medicine bottle tightened. Yin Wuyan knew without asking that his pampered little girl was injured elsewhere.
The atmosphere in the room became eerily frozen again. Zhong Guang suddenly regretted coming. Wouldn't it have been better to stay outside and help He Sheng and the others deal with the corpses?
Yin Wuyan continued to apply medicine, but his voice was chilling. "Hang all those corpses at the city gate!"
"Yes, I'll go now!" Zhong Guang immediately agreed, shaking his head apologetically at Zhan Feiyu. His figure flickered, and he left. He was afraid of being angered by Seventh Master if he stayed any longer.
Zhan Feiyu dared not question Yin Wuyan's decision and could only force a dry smile. "Won't the people entering the city tomorrow morning be scared?"
Considering Xinglong Inn and the Huaian Prefecture prison, Zhan Feiyu estimated at least forty to fifty corpses. Hanging them on the city walls was a chilling thought.
External wounds were actually easy to treat, but internal injuries were different. They required a doctor's diagnosis before medication could be administered.
In the courtyard, upon hearing Zhong Guang's command, no one felt it was inappropriate. Everyone had seen how much their Seventh Master cared for Miss Zhan. Deploying so many assassins showed a firm resolve to kill. It was normal to even whip the corpses and leave them exposed to the elements, let alone hang them.
"Kang Su, go inside." As soon as Zhong Guang said this, a figure appeared from the shadows. A face that seemed impassive showed a hint of grievance and resistance.
"Little Fatty has internal injuries." Zhong Guang rolled his eyes speechlessly. It was better to sacrifice a comrade than oneself. Who told Kang Su that his medical skills were only slightly inferior to Ji Zhaoce's?
He Nuan's movements paused, and guilt and self-reproach reappeared on her face. "I'll go in and help."
"No, Seventh Master is holding back his anger." Zhong Guang grabbed He Nuan's arm and said, looking at her solemn expression, "Alright, although your protection was inadequate today, the responsibility doesn't entirely fall on you."
Zhong Guang kicked a corpse on the ground. There were forty to fifty assassins, and only eight people were with the little fatty. It could only be said that the mastermind was insane. This was a massacre. It was no wonder Seventh Master directly hung the corpses on the city wall. Zhong Guang couldn't imagine how the news would be received in the capital.
"Seventh Master, your subordinate is here to examine Miss." Outside the room, Kang Su spoke with trepidation.
Yin Wuyan stood up. "Come in."
The door creaked open. Sitting on the chair, Zhan Feiyu curiously looked at the person who entered. Dressed in black night-blooming clothes, his young face looked even younger than Uncle Zhong Guang.
Zhan Feiyu extended her right hand, and Kang Su placed his fingers on Zhan Feiyu's wrist.
Earlier in the alley, although Zhan Feiyu had successfully ambushed and slit the black-clad man's throat, she had also taken a punch. Her ribs were not injured, and her internal organs were fine. It was just a flesh wound. The bruises on her abdomen needed to be massaged, and she needed to drink medicine for a few days.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Zhan Feiyu saw the medicinal oil Yin Wuyan brought and suddenly yelped like a startled kitten, her voice high-pitched. "I'll have An Nuan apply the medicine!"
Although she was a nine-year-old fatty, her soul was that of an adult. Lifting her clothes, massaging her stomach... Zhan Feiyu's ears turned red with embarrassment.
Yin Wuyan paused, looking at Zhan Feiyu's resistant expression and her blushing ears. Only then did he remember the concept of gender separation.
After a while, He Nuan came in, and Yin Wuyan stood in the courtyard.
Inside the room, Zhan Feiyu's pained cries of "ao ao" could be heard intermittently. To break up the bruises, He Nuan had to use force. Zhan Feiyu was in so much pain she was about to cry. She would rather take another punch.
"Seventh Master, the little fatty has suffered this time." Zhong Guang said in a low voice, secretly glancing at his Seventh Master. "I've already sent a message to Little Liu. They should be able to find out the origin of these assassins soon. Seventh Master, what about the Emperor?"
This matter could not be kept secret. Governor Chu would also report to the court, as a large number of assassins attacking the Huaian Prefecture prison was a public provocation to the court.
Moreover, the little fatty was Scholar Gu's only disciple. For a young girl, the mastermind openly deploying so many assassins, Zhong Guang couldn't imagine how furious Scholar Gu would be when the news reached the capital.
Of course, with the corpses of these assassins hanging on the city walls, the old scholars and stubborn old men in the Censorate would definitely impeach the Forbidden Dragon Guards. His Seventh Master's reputation was now even more ferocious than the evil spirits in the underworld.
"Since they dared to act, they are not afraid of being investigated," Yin Wuyan said coldly, his icy phoenix eyes looking at the pitch-black night sky. "The Emperor will also intervene at that time."
The scapegoat would eventually be pushed out! Yin Wuyan's gaze was cold and bloodthirsty. Scholar Gu, as a trusted minister of the Emperor, naturally could not defy the Emperor's will. However, the mastermind miscalculated that the Forbidden Dragon Guards would intervene.
Zhong Guang was stunned and frowned in thought. "Seventh Master, are you saying that the princes are behind this?"
If the Emperor could be made to intervene, it must involve the princes, and not just one. No matter how wise and mighty the Emperor was, he was still a father, and he would protect his sons. The little fatty was merely Scholar Gu's disciple. Comparing the two, it was clear which was more important!