"How are those people?"
"They're fine."
Hearing this, Xia Yunting's tone relaxed slightly. Rong Zhi felt a stir in her heart. Had he used his own body to shield those people as they escaped?
After applying the medicine, Rong Zhi helped Xia Yunting sit up and bandaged him. The wound was too large, so Rong Zhi had to wrap the bandages around his upper body layer by layer. Each time she reached the end, Rong Zhi had to get close to Xia Yunting. Moreover, Xia Yunting had grown a stubble on his chin after three days, which pricked her. As she leaned back to avoid it, Rong Zhi found Xia Yunting staring intently at her, making her blush.
"Does your wound still hurt? You have the leisure to stare at me."
Rong Zhi said this as she lightly pressed his back. Xia Yunting winced and cried out in pain. Rong Zhi gave a triumphant smile.
"Xiao Mo, are you trying to murder your husband?"
"Husband..." Rong Zhi put away the bandages and looked at his tightly wrapped body. She had intended to say that he wasn't quite her husband yet, but the words that came out were: "Looking like this, do I need to plot to kill you?"
Xia Yunting: "..."
Was he being looked down upon?
After dealing with Xia Yunting, Rong Zhi quickly went to the side room. Chen Xing was already lying on the bed, and Liu Hong was cleaning his wounds. Gu Xinlan had her face turned towards the wall, covering her eyes with her hands.
Rong Zhi was somewhat surprised. What was this pose? Was she praying?
"Chen Xing, how are you?"
Chen Xing looked up, his brows furrowed, but he still managed a smile, "I'm fine, Madam."
"Really fine? You look like you're in a lot of pain."
Rong Zhi leaned in to examine Chen Xing's wounds and noticed that his injuries were lighter than Xia Yunting's, so he shouldn't be in this much pain.
Chen Xing felt too embarrassed to say that the young lady by the wall had wanted to check on him because he was severely injured. As soon as she lifted a corner of his clothes, this man had pulled her away. In the confusion, he had accidentally pressed on his wound, and it still felt like it was burning.
"Xinlan, you can go out first."
Gu Xinlan quickly covered her face and left.
"Brother Liu Hong, what injuries does Chen Xing have?"
"His back is quite severely injured, as if he was hit by a large rock. He has bruises on his knees, and his left hand is fractured. Other than that, he's fine."
Although described simply, the wound on his back was truly gruesome.
Since Rong Zhi was here, she took over the task of cleaning the wound and said to Liu Hong, "It's alright now. You can go out and keep Xinlan company."
"Okay."
Rong Zhi cleaned efficiently, asking Chen Xing as she worked, "What exactly happened this time? Why was it so urgent, and were there any other injuries?"
Chen Xing said, "We were taking the prefect to rescue the common people, but we were obstructed by the local foreman. They set off explosives in the mountains, and some of the rescued civilians were injured. They are currently being treated locally. The prefect said that once their injuries are healed, he will take them back to Changping County together. He also insisted on severely punishing the county magistrate, Zhang Chu, and has already brought people back to demand accountability."
They actually used explosives to blow up the mine, no wonder the injuries were so severe. That Zhang Chu was truly causing immense harm. However, if there were to be punishment… she hoped Zhang Yajing was alright.
"Cui Xi, why haven't I heard any news from my father these past two days? Has he already been punished? Will he be beheaded?"
Zhang Yajing, having just recovered some of her health, was eager to go out and gather information.
Cui Xi thought about the news she had just heard and decided it was best not to tell her young lady. So, she forced a smile.
"Miss, there's no news lately, which is the best news. His Lordship's matter was beyond his control. The prefect will surely be understanding. Once this matter is clarified, his Lordship will be able to return home."
"Really?" Zhang Yajing looked at Cui Xi with a worried expression and suddenly sighed, "Cui Xi, you can't even lie well."
"..."
From Cui Xi's expression, Zhang Yajing knew her guess was correct. If there were no problems recently, why were the servants in the mansion becoming increasingly rude? Several had even resigned one after another.
"Miss, don't listen to others' nonsense. His Lordship will be fine."
"Destiny dictates life and death, wealth and honor are ordained by heaven. Whether there's trouble or not, let's go and see."
She took a dagger for protection and walked out the door in a few steps. Cui Xi quickly followed, "Miss, wait for me!"
The two of them went all the way to the entrance of the yamen. The guards had been replaced by the prefect's men. Seeing someone approach, they stepped forward to stop them.
"Stop, what are you doing?"
Zhang Yajing said, "Visiting a prisoner."
"Visiting a prisoner?"
"County Magistrate Zhang Chu is my father."
The two hesitated. One of them said to Zhang Yajing, "We'll go in and report. Wait here." With that, he ran inside.
Cui Xi hadn't expected her young lady to be here to visit a prisoner. Fearing that she might hear something, she tried to persuade her, "Miss, let's go back. His Lordship will be fine here. Even if you bring a dagger, you can't save him."
"Who said I want to save him?" Zhang Yajing rolled her eyes. Seeing a guard come out and make a gesture for her to go in, she nodded in thanks and followed the guard inside, all the way to the prison, where she found her father in a dark and damp cell.
"Someone's here to see you," the guard shouted inside.
Zhang Chu looked up and was startled to see Zhang Yajing. He quickly tidied his disheveled hair and came to the cell door, asking, "Why are you here?"
Zhang Yajing didn't speak. Her gaze sharpened, and she lunged forward with a dagger, aiming it at him.
"My Lord!" Cui Xi exclaimed in alarm.
"Ah!"
Zhang Chu jumped to the side in fright, but he was still stabbed in the abdomen. Although it wasn't deep, the smell of blood filled the air.
"What are you doing? Do you dare to kill your own father?"
Zhang Chu's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Zhang Yajing.
"You've done so many bad things. Rather than being paraded through the streets and disgraced, it's better to die cleanly in prison!"
She threw the dagger inward. The blade grazed Zhang Chu's scalp. Frightened, Zhang Chu's eyes widened, and he lost consciousness in one breath.
"What's going on?"
A jailer heard the commotion and came to investigate. He found Zhang Chu unconscious inside and opened the door to check. He found the dagger on the ground.
"This... Miss, how could you attempt to assassinate an official?"
The jailer was one of Zhang Chu's former subordinates, so he treated Zhang Yajing with some politeness, but he couldn't understand why Zhang Yajing would attack her own father.
Zhang Yajing clenched her fists, her brows furrowed as she looked at her comatose father, a multitude of complex emotions flashing in her eyes. Just as the jailer was helping Zhang Chu up, pinching his philtrum, and fanning him, Zhang Yajing's voice became hoarse.
"Brother Jailer, is my father beyond saving?"
The jailer, still busy, replied, "It's nothing. He's just lost a patch of hair from his scalp. But Miss, you were too impulsive. Who stabs their own father with a knife? Can't you discuss things properly? If there's any negligence in my supervision, the prefect won't let me off."
"I'm not talking about that."
Zhang Yajing took a deep breath. "What have they discovered about my father recently?"
The jailer paused and looked back to see Cui Xi frantically waving her hands behind him. He then smiled, "Miss, don't worry about it. His Lordship is fine. It's just that when those people confessed, it had nothing to do with His Lordship. They were so powerful, His Lordship was forced into it. He'll just be detained for a few days."
The "they" the jailer mentioned were the members of the Blood Drinking Pavilion. Hearing the jailer say this, Zhang Yajing relaxed slightly.
At this moment, Zhang Chu slowly woke up. He touched his scalp and felt a bare, cool sensation. His gaze met Zhang Yajing's, who looked both regretful and worried. He couldn't help but laugh and cry.
"Daughter, what gossip have you heard outside again? You came to the prison to bother your father."
"Nothing," Zhang Yajing mumbled.
Zhang Chu touched his bald head and sighed, "Don't make such a fuss. Spend more time with your mother when you have the chance."
"My mother..." Zhang Yajing murmured, a hint of exhaustion in her eyes.
"You better be alright, or my mother and I won't forgive you."
Zhang Yajing eventually left the county yamen. After such an incident, even if she didn't leave herself, the jailers inside wouldn't dare let her visit again.
Cui Xi breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, her young lady hadn't caused any major trouble.
Upon returning to the mansion, Zhang Yajing told Cui Xi to withdraw and went into Madam Zhang's bedroom herself.
Madam Zhang was looking frail and tired due to Zhang Chu's situation. Zhang Yajing entered and called out "Mother," then rested her head on her mother's lap.
"Mother, will my father be alright?"
"Silly girl, what could happen to your father? Take care of yourself and don't let your mother worry."
Madam Zhang stroked her hair and comforted her softly.
Her voice soothed Zhang Yajing's anxiety, and she nodded, closing her eyes wearily.
Just then, an anxious voice suddenly came from outside.
"Madam! This is bad! The prefect has learned about His Lordship's human trafficking. The prefect wants to punish His Lordship, and he might even be executed!"
Li Zhao rushed in. Just as he was about to pay his respects, he saw Zhang Yajing in the room and froze.
"Miss, why are you here?"
Zhang Yajing shot up. "What did you say happened to my father?"
Li Zhao was in a dilemma, not knowing whether to speak or not. Madam Zhang's face darkened. She had been asking Li Zhao to gather news from outside all this time but had kept it from Zhang Yajing. She hadn't expected her daughter to overhear it today.
"Daughter, you should go back first."
Madam Zhang tried to dismiss Zhang Yajing.
However, Zhang Yajing's expression became grim.
"I'm not going back. I want to hear exactly what happened. Li Zhao, you tell me."
Her tone was forceful, showing no intention of leaving. Li Zhao had no choice but to answer truthfully.
"The prefect said that our lord, under the guise of conscription in the county and various villages, was kidnapping people and selling them to other counties to mine. He even almost caused death with explosives. These are serious crimes, and with multiple offenses, His Lordship is in grave danger."
"What..." Zhang Yajing's face turned pale. The peace she had just found was shattered.
Madam Zhang behind her was getting anxious. Why was this constable telling her all the truth? Couldn't he make up a lie?
She tried to find an excuse to change the subject. Noticing Li Zhao repeatedly touching his buttocks, she asked, "What's wrong with your buttocks?"
Li Zhao's face flushed with embarrassment. "Yesterday, the madam of the brothel came to pay protection fees, and the prefect's officers saw it, so they... beat us up. The prefect also said that our lord accepted bribes, which is also a considerable crime. He told us to be careful."
Zhang Yajing: "..."