The memorable tranquility was shattered by Physician Cheng's loud cry—"The blood is still flowing...!"
Two guards restrained him but failed to silence him. As an upright physician, he simply couldn't stand idly by while watching a wounded man bleed profusely before his eyes.
Shao Shang snapped out of her daze and glanced sideways at Ling Buyi's still-bleeding shoulder wound. She stepped forward and said impatiently, "The broken arrow's already been pulled out—why are you still dawdling? Come and treat the wound! Shouldn't a physician have parental compassion? How can you not be anxious?"
At these words, Physician Cheng felt such indignation he nearly howled at the heavens! But before he could make a sound, the two guards flanking him simultaneously shifted further apart, leaving him utterly speechless.
—Indeed, from the girl's angle, she couldn't see the physician's left arm being twisted behind his back.
Liang Qiu Fei nearly laughed but was sharply elbowed by his elder brother, forcing the young man to straighten his expression.
Li Wulang couldn't bear to watch and turned to stare outside. Li Taigong smacked his lips a few times, realizing he'd accidentally plucked several strands of his beloved beard in his agitation, and could only release his grip to slump onto his stool.
Physician Cheng silently stepped forward to perform his duties. Seeing this, Shao Shang retreated a step, intending to return to her seat below. Only when she turned did she notice her original stool had been moved—it now sat slightly below and to the right of Ling Buyi's main seat at the head position.
The scarred guard smiled amiably: "Young Lady, please be seated."
Shao Shang paused momentarily before sitting down woodenly.
She recalled how in the Cheng household, whenever Cheng Mu was absent and Old Man Cheng received guests from the main seat in Nine Dapple Hall, Madam Xiao's seat would be placed exactly like this. So was this a gesture of respect to the host? But this house belonged to Li Taigong—though she had arranged it. Or was it because the Cheng family's status surpassed the Li family's...
In her dazed state, she suddenly caught the rich aroma of strong liquor. Focusing, she saw Physician Cheng repeatedly cleansing Ling Buyi's wound with an entire freshly opened jar of potent alcohol.
Li Taigong sniffed appreciatively and remarked with a smile, "Now that's a fine vintage—over ten years old!"
Liang Qiu Fei couldn't hide a hint of pride: "You've got a sharp nose, old sir. This was found in Prince Chen's palace storerooms—aged fine liquor, no one knows how long it's been stored. His Majesty bestowed it at New Year's, originally meant for victory celebrations."
Shao Shang also inhaled deeply, thinking the liquor was indeed strong yet smooth, mellow and fragrant. She nearly said, I could distill high-proof alcohol for you—don't waste such fine liquor, why not give it to my Old Man Cheng instead?
Of course she couldn't voice this. When someone saves your life and you haven't even repaid the interest, how could you covet their liquor too?
Ling Buyi glanced sideways at the girl, then at the embroidered handkerchief still clutched in his hand—after extracting the broken arrow, the girl had immediately returned the cloth and rewound the neck cord around her own hand. Young as she was, her temperament was clear and straightforward, without the slightest hint of lingering attachment.
Then Physician Cheng began excising the necrotic flesh.
The sizzling, scraping sound of cutting flesh, the small strips of blackish-red swollen rot being removed and placed on a tray—Shao Shang's scalp crawled. Yet the bare-shouldered man sat calmly with hands on knees, expression composed. Apart from his pallor and slightly pursed lips, one might think nothing was happening.
Seeing the crimson corner of his lips against snow-white skin from the side, Shao Shang inexplicably thought: For someone wielding such power, he's remarkably young...After removing the rotten flesh, cleaning the wound, and applying medicine, Physician Cheng left without even turning back, carrying his medicine bag. Just by watching his retreating figure, Li Wulang could tell the physician had suffered great distress.
Ling Buyi, assisted by Liang Qiu Fei, slowly put on his robes one by one, then drank half a bowl of wine to steady himself before raising his hand to summon someone in.
Two soldiers carried in a long silk scroll, which they unfurled before everyone. It turned out to be a map marked with mountains, rivers, and villages. Shao Shang was utterly baffled, but Li Taigong recognized it as a map of Yanzhou.
With a grave expression, Ling Buyi said, "I've passed through Yanzhou several times, but I've never been to Dongjun before. Currently, there are several remnants of rebel troops wreaking havoc in this area. Over the past few days, I've eliminated two groups, but one fled south of Qing County to Xiaozhuang and then disappeared. I would appreciate your guidance, Taigong. With the Imperial Guards blocking the east, which direction are they most likely to flee?"
Li Taigong was startled and blurted out, "Could it be as Cheng Niangzi guessed—has something happened to His Majesty?"
All eyes turned to the young girl seated at the upper right. Shao Shang felt extremely awkward and cursed the old man inwardly for his loose tongue.
Ling Buyi looked intrigued. "What did you guess?"
Shao Shang waved her hands frantically, flustered. "No, no... I was just guessing wildly! It doesn’t count, really!"
The quick-tongued old man hurriedly added for her, "Young Lady Cheng said someone is plotting treachery—first delaying the imperial procession, then launching a sudden attack. That’s why no one in the west knows anything yet."
Shao Shang let out a few dry, forced laughs.
Ling Buyi gazed at her with amusement before saying, "You guessed half right. Indeed, someone harbors ill intent, but His Majesty had already sensed it. However, out of past affection, he hoped the culprit would repent. Yet the traitor proved vicious—when his plot failed, he scattered the recently surrendered bandit remnants from Qingzhou and spread the rumor that 'the Emperor intends to slaughter them all.' Then, the mastermind escaped in the chaos."
Li Taigong, thinking of the hard-earned peace in their villages over the years now under threat, lamented loudly, "His Majesty is too kind-hearted! Why spare affection for such traitors? They should be dealt with immediately!"
Remembering the unconscious Sang Shi and the casualties among the Cheng Family, Shao Shang chimed in, "Yes, yes!"
Ling Buyi found her eager agreement rather endearing and smiled. "High-ranking regional officials affect the entire realm with a single move. His Majesty has already secured the overall situation—he just didn’t anticipate their cruelty."
Li Taigong gasped and slapped his thigh. "High-ranking regional officials?! Was it our provincial governor who rebelled? Thank heavens our commandery governor held firm, preventing the chaos from spreading west!"
Ling Buyi’s lips twitched. "No, it was your commandery governor who was misled into rebellion. The governor of Yanzhou remained loyal, defending His Majesty and quelling the unrest. That’s why the area west of Qing County remains largely unharmed. His Majesty will issue an edict in a few days."
This time, without waiting for Li Taigong to speak out of turn, Ling Buyi turned directly to Shao Shang. "Did you guess this too?"
Shao Shang’s ears burned with embarrassment, and she could only force another laugh. "This young lady knows nothing, nothing... haha..."
Noticing the girl glaring at him from the corner of her eye, Li Taigong felt sheepish and stroked his beard as he walked over to examine the map. Casually, he asked, "From where did those bandits flee?"
Ling Buyi replied, "The trouble began in Hua County."Li Taigong turned around excitedly and exclaimed loudly, "Young Lady Cheng guessed right! The trouble did indeed occur in Hua County. Fortunately, Madam and the Young Lady's party didn't go to Hua County, or they would have walked right into the tiger's den! Young Lady Cheng is truly clever!" Being an honest man, he thought to himself that the young girl might be sensitive about losing face twice earlier, so this should help her regain some dignity.
Ling Buyi suppressed a laugh. "That's not entirely accurate. His Majesty had already taken precautions and was stationed at a manor east of Hua County. The disturbance was quickly suppressed as soon as it began. So if you had gone to Hua County yesterday, it would have been peaceful and safe."
Li Taigong gave an awkward chuckle and quickly lowered his head to study the map. Liang Qiu Fei and Li Wulang turned away to hide their smiles, while all the guards in the room, from the scar-faced one down to the two soldiers holding the map, struggled to contain their silent laughter.
Shao Shang: Taigong, I beg you, please stop talking!
The eastern commandery covered a vast area with a dense population. After standing before the map for a long time, Li Taigong hesitated uncertainly: "...Lord Ling, to be honest, while I wouldn't claim to know this area like the back of my hand, I'm quite familiar with its roads and rivers. But as for where these bandits might go, I truly can't..."
Before he could finish, Shao Shang sprang to her feet and declared boldly, throwing caution to the wind, "Taigong, don't trouble yourself. People leave traces, and bandits have motives! If those bandits aimed to plunder and kill, they'd naturally head for populated areas. But if their goal was to create chaos and escape while His Majesty's forces were busy suppressing the unrest, they'd definitely take remote paths—especially through hidden mountain passes!"
This time, Li Taigong didn't dare offer praise lightly. He quickly looked to Ling Buyi for his reaction, only to find the general gazing at the girl with a faint smile. "You're absolutely right," he said. The man known throughout the Capital City for his stern and efficient demeanor looked remarkably young and handsome when he smiled.
Shao Shang finally felt vindicated, biting her lip slightly as she smiled in triumph.
Ling Buyi kept his eyes on the girl as he spoke. "In the chaotic years of the past, even if it meant leaving fields untended, every region would organize a militia to protect their homes. But in recent years, those militiamen have likely returned to farming. Faced with sudden unrest, it's like releasing wolves among sheep. That's why His Majesty ordered all other matters set aside to prioritize suppressing the bandits. Taigong, this group of bandits is among the most dangerous, planning to flee south into Jing Province and then enter Shu."
Li Taigong stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly before turning back to the map.
Li Wulang thought to himself: Lord Ling, your explanation is excellent, but could you at least face my father while speaking?
"So these past few days, you've been busy pursuing the bandits, which is why you delayed treating your injuries?" Shao Shang finally understood.
Ling Buyi smiled. "A tiger is easy to slay, but ants are hard to exterminate. Besides, spring planting is about to begin. If people delay the land for a season, the land may fail them for a year. The common folk have finally found some stability—we can't let anything go wrong."
Shao Shang suddenly felt the man before her grow taller in her estimation. This must be what those loyal ministers and valiant generals from ancient texts were like. She rewarded him with a sweet smile. "I think you're absolutely right too."
Ling Buyi smiled without replying, his gaze fixed on the girl's eyes—truly sparkling like stars, full of vitality.
Li Wulang silently glanced at his father: Father, aren't they flirting right now?
Li Taigong: You keep your mouth shut.
Finally, the old man pointed to two locations on the map. "If they're fleeing, they'd likely take these two routes."Ling Buyi nodded in thanks and ordered the soldiers to put away the map. Shao Shang quickly inquired about the safety of her pig-headed uncle. Ling Buyi replied, "The county magistrate of Qing County is loyal and brave. Upon hearing the news, he immediately rushed to aid the king. When I left, County Magistrate Gongsun was reporting to His Majesty in the tent. If your uncle has entered Qing County, the city walls there are high and sturdy, so he should be safe."
Shao Shang smiled on the surface but cursed inwardly—stupid uncle, with a brain like that, no wonder he’s nothing but a big pig’s trotter! Just wait till I tell Aunt—if I don’t exaggerate this story properly, I’ll change my surname from Cheng!
At that moment, the older guard from earlier entered. The arrow that had pierced his left arm had been removed, and the wound was now bandaged. He stepped forward and clasped his fists, saying, "Young Master, we have captured forty-two bandits in total. They’ve all been identified—each one has blood on their hands."
Ling Buyi frowned slightly. "Why so many captives?" His tone implied they should have been killed instead.
The Li father and son both felt a chill in their hearts. Shao Shang was also startled and couldn’t help but glance at Ling Buyi.
In an instant, the young and handsome man seemed to transform. Just moments ago, he had been gentle, courteous, and benevolent, but when speaking of the bandits, his words carried an undercurrent of overwhelming bloodshed, as if he didn’t regard them as "people" at all.
She thought, This man is a good person, but his killing intent is a bit too strong.
The older guard seemed accustomed to this and chuckled. "These useless cowards were bold enough to plunder women and children, but the moment they realized they couldn’t win, they surrendered faster than anything!" With that, he had the leading bandits brought in, tightly bound.
Five men were dragged in, covered in sweat and bloodstains, their clothes soiled with what appeared to be urine and feces. A foul stench filled the room as soon as they entered, making Shao Shang wrinkle her nose in disgust.
The moment the five bandit leaders were inside, they began wailing and pleading. Ling Buyi showed remarkable patience, waiting calmly for them to finish their cries before speaking. "So, you’re all saying you were forced into banditry against your will?"
A bandit with a large blue birthmark on his face bawled, "I... I was originally a squad leader under His Majesty’s command, just doing my duty! But then my superiors rebelled, and I got dragged into it without knowing what was happening..."
The bandit missing an ear beside him quickly added, "General, please understand! We were just following orders! Even when we turned to banditry, it was the deputy general who commanded us. We just wanted to live honest lives, marry, and have children..."
They took turns speaking, their words punctuated by sobs, tears, and even drool. The other three, less eloquent, could only chime in with "Exactly!" and "That’s right!"
"Did you come around Cong Village southeast of Qing County?" Ling Buyi asked.
The five men were confused but nodded.
"And you claim you were all under Zhang Sui’s command?" Ling Buyi continued.
The five eagerly confirmed this, with the birthmarked man adding, "If General Zhang hadn’t died so early, we wouldn’t have been like headless flies, committing such grave crimes!"
Ling Buyi nodded. "Come to think of it, when I was young, Zhang Sui once taught me how to wield a blade." He seemed to recall something and sighed. "How unpredictable life is. Though Zhang Sui started as a bandit, after being captured alive by Fan Chang, he settled down and served faithfully as a deputy general. Years have passed, and now the world has turned upside down. Fan Chang, swayed by slander, plotted treason, and the first to oppose him loudly was Zhang Sui. As a result, Fan Chang had him brutally killed on the spot—his limbs severed, his head cut off..."
A glimmer of hope appeared in the five men’s eyes, and they began pleading even more fervently, praising General Zhang’s kindness and benevolence toward his subordinates.To everyone's surprise, Ling Buyi didn't even lift a finger as he calmly said, "Drag them out and execute them along with the rest." Then he pointed at the man with the large blue birthmark and the one-eared man, "Bury these two alive."
The Li father and son gasped in shock. They had thought Ling Buyi would spare them, never expecting such an abrupt change.
Shao Shang was also startled, thinking to herself: This man may be good-hearted, but his moods are quite unpredictable.
Just as the guards were about to drag the five men away, the birthmarked man continued his hoarse wailing. Ling Buyi raised his hand to pause the guards and said with a faint smile, "You rabble were already scattered days ago. You must have used these same lies to deceive the soldiers at Congxiang garrison, didn't you? Then under cover of night, you slaughtered everyone at the post station—old and young, men and women alike—before stealing weapons to resume your plundering."
His expression turned cold as he continued, "Kill them all. Leave none alive."
The five men turned pale with shock, never imagining this young commander had uncovered everything. The birthmarked man still refused to accept his fate, crying out, "...They were going to hand us over! What choice did we have? We had no other option!"
Even the usually compassionate Li father and son now felt nothing but hatred.
Shao Shang said bitterly, "Hmph! General Zhang Sui only turned to banditry because of these chaotic times. Given any other path, he would never have chosen this life. But you lot—at the first sign of trouble, you can't wait to prey on common folk! No other option? Couldn't you have hidden in a cave until things settled? Couldn't you have lived quietly as ordinary people? Do you really think His Majesty would issue warrants to hunt down insects like you?" Feeling she might have overstepped, she quickly turned to Ling Buyi with an apologetic smile, "Isn't that right, Lord Ling?"
Ling Buyi couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Nothing could be more correct."
Li Wulang glanced back at his father: Father, are they really not flirting right now?
Li Taigong, irritated, ignored his son and stepped forward. "These vile rats aren't worth sparing, but perhaps we could just execute the leaders and sentence the rest to hard labor. Lord Ling, since ancient times, killing those who surrender has been considered inauspicious."
Ling Buyi's tone remained gentle but his words carried an edge: "You're too late with that advice, old sir. In these past days, how many bandits have I executed? Have you seen me take prisoners?"
Li Taigong wrung his hands anxiously. "But... but killing those who surrender... ultimately, ultimately..."
Ling Buyi's expression remained indifferent. "When Bai Qi buried alive nearly 500,000 Zhao soldiers at Changping, that was inauspicious. When Xiang Yu slaughtered 200,000 Qin troops under cover of night at Xin'an, that was inauspicious. Because those soldiers could have fought desperately to the end. But these..." He pointed contemptuously at the five bandit leaders, "They only surrendered when blades were at their throats. What could they have done even if they hadn't surrendered?" A few years of schooling had made the old man so pedantic.
At this moment, Shao Shang suddenly spoke up: "Lord Ling, why not hand these captured bandits over to me? I'll execute them."
Her words shocked everyone present. Li Taigong nearly tore out his beard in astonishment, while Li Wulang almost choked on his own saliva—what was happening to the world?!
The scarred guard and the older guard exchanged glances. Their Young Master was already eccentric enough, but now this delicate young maiden was proving just as peculiar."Killing those who surrender is inauspicious, but they haven't surrendered to me, right?" Shao Shang said to Li Taigong. "So there's no problem if I kill them, correct?"
Li Taigong was left speechless, gaping, and now it was his turn to look at his son Li Wulang for help.
Just as Ling Buyi was about to speak, Shao Shang turned her head and asked, "Is there anything more severe than burying alive?" She wasn't very familiar with the popular punishments of this era.
The one she asked was Liang Qiu Fei, who, seeing his Young Master also looking at him, stammered, "...Dismemberment by chariots?"
Shao Shang seemed quite satisfied with this answer and nodded. Then she stood up with great authority and took two steps forward. The guards who were about to drag the five bandit leaders out saw Ling Buyi's glance and swiftly pushed them back into the room, forcing them to kneel.
Shao Shang asked, "Last night, you captured several of my family's maids. Where are they now?"
The five bandit leaders exchanged glances and quickly denied responsibility, claiming it was the work of other leaders who were already dead.
Pointing at the 'One-Ear,' Shao Shang sneered, "Stop pretending. You were among those who crossed the Cheval-de-frise that night! I remember clearly—you also grabbed a maid when you fled back."
Seeing no way to deny it, 'One-Ear' began pleading for mercy, insisting he hadn't mistreated the maids.
A hint of bloodlust flashed in Shao Shang's eyes as she enunciated each word, "My family generals have already investigated. Eight were taken, and now only two remain." Fortunately, those two women were plump and graceful, so the bandits kept them alive for further abuse. Though their condition was horrifying, they had survived, and she would ensure they were properly cared for in the future.
Hearing this, the five bandit leaders knew they were doomed. If all the maids had been killed, they might have denied it, but with two survivors, the truth would inevitably come out.
"I don't expect you to be gentlemen. Rape and abuse are bad enough, but you also vented your frustration over failing to breach the Cheng family's defenses on these helpless women—torturing and beating them all night, even cooking and eating several of them this morning!" Shao Shang held nothing back, laying out the full horror.
Li Taigong, who had witnessed such atrocities before, was deeply shaken, his body turning cold. Li Wulang was utterly terrified.
The guards in the room, unaware of these details, were filled with righteous fury.
Shao Shang continued, her voice icy, "You tortured and murdered those maids, raped them, then cooked and ate them—was that also 'necessary'? Were there no game in the forest? Did you not bring rations? No, you were just indulging your savagery, feasting on human flesh for amusement. Do you even deserve to be called human? Since you’ve chosen to be beasts, I’ll treat you as livestock—slaughtered however I please!"
'One-Ear,' realizing death was inevitable, suddenly lunged forward a few steps and roared, "You dare?! Even as vengeful ghosts, my brothers and I will haunt and tear you apart—!" Before he could finish, a guard gagged him, but he still snarled like a wild beast, his eyes filled with primal fury. Even Li Wulang couldn't help but feel a chill of fear.
Shao Shang recoiled a step, startled, but the memory of the two girls' broken, mutilated bodies steeled her resolve. If not for her family generals desperately stopping her, she would have seen the gnawed bones and skulls at the feasting site.Furious beyond measure, she took two more steps forward and sneered, "Don't give me that nonsense! Once you become ghosts, you'll only be judged in the underworld for all the evil you've committed! You'll be sent to the eighteenth layer of hell to suffer torment! And yet you still have the nerve to come after me?! Hmph, just because you were strong, you thought you could prey on the weak. Now that you've fallen into my hands, I can do the same to you. Right now, I can tear you into as many pieces as I please! I've already had the surviving women identify those who ate human flesh and those who committed murder—they'll all be torn apart by chariots!"
The remaining four bandit leaders still wanted to curse and struggle, but with a gesture from Ling Buyi, several guards forcefully dragged them out.
Shao Shang suppressed the weakness in her legs and the lingering fear, determined to see this matter through to the end. She cupped her hands toward the Li father and son and Ling Buyi, saying, "I’ll go oversee the execution now, so I’ll take my leave—ow!"
Ling Buyi, who had somehow already moved beside her, gently pressed her back onto the stool and said softly, "You don’t need to go. Drawing and quartering is too troublesome—let’s just have them torn apart by five horses. I’ll oversee it."
Shao Shang refused and stood up again. "No need, I’ll oversee it!"
"You shouldn’t go," Ling Buyi said, looking at the stubborn girl. "You’ve never seen such a scene before—you’ll have nightmares."
"I won’t have nightmares!" Shao Shang lifted her chin. "I never have nightmares! Even if you don’t let me oversee it, I’ll still go watch with my own eyes how these beasts die!"
Ling Buyi closed his eyes briefly, then after a moment, said indifferently, "Do you like bridges? My residence has many arched bridges, some even built with the craftsmanship of Gongshu Ban."
The words seemed abrupt and nonsensical, but only one person in the room understood.
Shao Shang felt dizzy, her vision darkening. As expected, he had guessed.
She slumped back onto the stool, weak all over but forcing herself to remain composed. "Since Lord Ling insists so graciously, I’ll humbly accept." When it was time to back down, she would—a wise person knew when to yield. It would be best to see as little of this man as possible in the future!
Ling Buyi shook his head helplessly and stood to leave. Just as he reached the door, he suddenly turned back and said to Shao Shang, "The abduction of those maidservants wasn’t your fault. At your young age, what you’ve done is already remarkable. And also…" He paused. "Drink a bowl of calming herbal medicine before bed tonight, understand?"
Shao Shang nodded blankly, not entirely sure what to make of it.
She thought to herself, This man is still a good person—just a bit too controlling.
Watching Ling Buyi and his entourage walk out, Li Wulang heaved a huge sigh of relief and went to support his elderly father. "Father, I still think they were flirting."
Li Taigong: "…No, I must go tell Madam Sang and Lord Cheng."
Author’s Note:
At this moment: Ling Buyi & Yuan Shen are 21, the female lead is 14, Cheng’s eldest brother is 18, Cheng’s second brother & Lou Yao are 16, and Cheng Shao Gong is the same age as the female lead.
My deepest apologies, but I can only continue updating every other day. Daily updates are absolutely impossible for me—bows deeply, sorry!
Thank you all for your support.
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