Hua Zhi did not linger in Zhenyang any longer. Despite her injuries causing excruciating, tearing pain with every step, she checked out and departed early the next morning.
"Young Lady, Young Lady, wait!"
This voice had become all too familiar these past few days. Standing at the bow of the boat, Hua Zhi watched the person carrying a bundle run aboard. "Young Master Jiang, this is..."
"Since I have no urgent matters to attend to anyway, returning early or late makes no difference. I'll just take advantage of your favorable winds, Young Lady."After their previous side-by-side repulsion of enemies, Jiang Huanran had become distinct from the other noble young masters of the capital in Hua Zhi's eyes." Though not warm, she was no longer as cold as before. She nodded and said, "The boat is large with many empty rooms. Feel free to choose one, Young Master Jiang."
"Thank you, Young Lady." Jiang Huanran grinned widely, showing all his teeth, yet it wasn't unpleasant.
Hua Zhi smiled slightly and turned to slowly walk toward the cabin.
As soon as her back was turned, Jiang Huanran secretly gasped, his features scrunching up in pain. The run had likely reopened his wounds—it truly hurt. He couldn't help but admire how Young Lady, whose injuries were clearly more severe than his, showed no sign of discomfort at all.
Who would have thought? Raised in the same secluded inner chambers, while other young ladies complained of hand pain from embroidery, Young Lady was here fighting life-and-death battles. He had encountered this just once on his trip—who knew what she might have experienced in the year since the Hua family's downfall.
Even if he told people after returning, probably no one would believe him. Better that they don't! He didn't care to share anyway. The fewer who knew about Young Lady's extraordinary nature, the better. Once back, he'd have his mother propose marriage!
Turning these thoughts over in his mind, dreaming sweet dreams, Jiang Huanran grinned again, his wounds seeming to hurt less.
The journey from Zhenyang to Jiangling took two and a half days. During this time, Hua Zhi never once stepped outside her room. Aside from resting, Little Six spent most of his time by Hua Zhi's side. She would teach him intermittently, not through rigid lecturing but mostly using practical examples.
The Gu family had ruled the land for nearly two hundred years. That the kingdom remained relatively stable to this day at least proved the Gu family wasn't foolish. Little Six was particularly intelligent, with one rare advantage: he excelled at summarization. Whenever Hua Zhi finished explaining an example, he could quickly extract its essence—precisely what the example aimed to convey.
With such a bright student, Hua Zhi found teaching highly rewarding. She saw nothing shameful in it, allowing both Wu Xiaoshuang waiting outside the door and Jiang Huanran who often dropped by to listen as they pleased. What they gained from it was their own affair.
The boat docked at Jiangling's inner port right on schedule.
Shaoyao's temper, suppressed for days, could no longer be contained. She looked murderous, as if ready to devour someone at any moment. Jiang Huanran always gave a wide berth to this young lady who constantly wore a Veiled Hat.
"Cao Cao, your trip is official business. I have no proper standing, so I won't accompany you."
Shaoyao immediately nodded. "Focus on recovering properly. I never planned to bring you anyway. Little Six, come with me. I'll show you how the Seven Constellation Bureau operates!"
Hua Zhi frowned slightly but didn't object. It would be good for him to see—a bird raised in a gilded cage cannot withstand storms.Without caring about the consequences this might bring, Shaoyao didn't want to wait another moment. She herded the tied-up captives in a chain off the boat and headed straight for the Chief Administrator's Mansion, while Yu Tao followed her orders to fetch garrison commander Li Shiren from outside the city.
Only Bao Xia, Xu Ying, and Jiang Huanran remained on the boat. Even Wu Xiaoshuang had been taken away by the Sixth Prince. Over these three days, he had come to understand that this child younger than him would be his future master.
Jiang Huanran stood at the bow watching the crowd depart, his expression grave. He vaguely sensed something but couldn't be certain, nor dared he be. If his suspicions proved true, then the Hua family...
Inside the cabin, Bao Xia had Xu Ying stand guard outside, instructing him not to stray even for a moment before carefully bolting the door. With so many men aboard, she was constantly on edge.
"Miss, why did you refuse Miss Shaoyao's suggestion? Even keeping just one of those guards would have been better."
"Shaoyao needs the manpower more than I do. Besides, she left me something for self-defense. That's enough. Go tell the captain to weigh anchor and move the boat away from shore, but not too far."
Bao Xia looked bewildered. "This maid doesn't understand..."
"Just in case." Hua Zhi was accustomed to preparing for the worst. If the boat was offshore and someone discovered it belonged to Cao Cao's companion intending to capture her to threaten the Seven Constellation Bureau, she could immediately flee, freeing Cao Cao from worries about her safety. Yet by staying close to shore, they could still provide timely assistance if Cao Cao needed extraction.
Given the Seven Constellation Bureau's deterrence in the Daqing Dynasty, she hoped it wouldn't come to that.
Meanwhile, Shaoyao had already reached the Chief Administrator's Mansion. "Sound the drum."
Yu Tao stepped forward, took the drumstick, and channeled all his strength into his arms. Each strike resonated louder than the last until the ninth blow shattered the drum.
Soon someone emerged from inside, initially aggressive and ready to shout, but upon seeing the large crowd outside, his courage faltered. The sight of the broken drum drained his remaining bravado. He staggered back a step before steadying himself, trembling as he asked, "Who are you people? Why have you sounded the drum?"
The Chief Administrator's Mansion's drum had sat outside for years—it might not be struck once in a decade, as ordinary people couldn't afford the consequences.
Shaoyao shoved Zheng Bei forward, making him collapse just two steps from the servant. Without needing further prompting, Zheng Bei scrambled over, weeping and wailing, "Steward Wen, it's me! These people want to kill me! Save me, please save me..."
Steward Wen, who had meant to retreat, recognized the voice and found himself firmly grabbed. Supporting the man, he staggered back two steps before barely regaining his balance. "Brother-in-law? Is that you? Good heavens, what... what happened to you?"
Zheng Bei indeed looked pitiful. "Battered and bruised" would be an understatement—his face was swollen and gleaming, as if it might burst and ooze at the slightest touch, his hair disheveled, appearing utterly wretched.
By then, the Manor Guards had arrived a step late. Seeing the situation, they drew their swords and assumed defensive positions.
Shaoyao snorted coldly, whipping Zheng Bei back toward her with her whip. "Tell Mu Yunyang to come out."
Steward Wen didn't dare delay and hurried inside to summon him.
Mu Yunyang, in his early fifties with a neatly trimmed short beard, arrived quickly. Accompanying him was his beautiful second wife Zheng Shi, whom he had married just a few years prior—clear evidence that he hadn't been engaged in proper business even in broad daylight.Zheng Shi anxiously searched through the crowd, "Xiao Bei, Xiao Bei, where are you?"
With a flick of her whip, Shaoyao sent Zheng Bei rolling right before her.
Though frightened enough to turn pale, Zheng Shi remembered to maintain her composure, covering her mouth to suppress a scream in her throat. Seeing her brother's state, she immediately burst into tears, "Xiao Bei, oh heavens Xiao Bei... Master, Master, come quickly and look..."
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