A buzz of discussion rose on the street.
"That sounds reasonable, but something still feels off."
"Right, if this person is truly guilty, send him to the authorities and have him beheaded."
"No, it’s not entirely fair to say this Young Master Xie deserves to die. It seems the fire was an accident."
"Yes, that’s what was said earlier."
"But that doesn’t make sense either. What does it matter if it was an accident? So many people died—are their deaths meaningless?"
So this girl was here to seek justice for the deceased villagers? Xin Ding, having listened to the chaotic chatter, felt he roughly understood.
"Boss," he said admiringly, "people in the capital are truly impressive."
If it were folks from their countryside, they’d only watch the commotion and never step forward to champion a cause.
Zhang Gu, however, kept his eyes fixed on the young man and woman in the center, shaking his head with a sigh. "What do you know?"
Of course, he didn’t understand—his experience was limited. But by observing more, he would learn. Xin Ding also stared intently at the young pair.
By the third-floor window, the girls exchanged glances. So, was Chu Zhao seeking justice for the dead villagers?
"She’s too—" Qi Leyun frowned but stopped short of saying "meddlesome." With dozens of lives at stake, she couldn’t dismiss it as trivial. Instead, she muttered, "She’s really addicted to fighting. This matter has nothing to do with her father, so why is she causing a scene? Why drag Young Master Xie the Third into it?"
What does this have to do with Young Master Xie the Third?
Near another tavern window, Liang Qiang opened his eyes, his anger slightly diminished but his brow furrowed tightly. Even if it wasn’t for this Xie family scion, her actions were highly inappropriate.
"She’s far too combative," he said.
The young man beside him laughed. "She’s always been combative. You shouldn’t be realizing this only now—she hit your sister, insulted your uncle and aunt—"
Liang Qiang shook his head. While his Liang family might have reasons to resent her, and the Third Prince’s grievances were somewhat understandable, targeting the Xie family was baffling—there was no feud or reason for it.
Though his Liang family did have a grudge against the Xie family.
Could this girl be doing it for him? The thought crossed Liang Qiang’s mind as he stared intently in that direction.
As discussions swirled around, the middle-aged man and his group grew somewhat restless.
"Miss Chu," the middle-aged man scolded, "you’re being unreasonable."
"How am I being unreasonable?" Chu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Is what I said wrong? If he’s guilty, send him to the authorities. What, is your Xie family afraid to do so?"
Anger flickered in the middle-aged man’s eyes.
"Are you insane?" Xie Yanlai cursed from behind. "What’s it to you?"
He turned around, glaring fiercely at the girl.
"Why are you so determined to throw me in jail? What do you want? I didn’t burn you to death!"
How arrogant! The crowd’s murmurs grew louder. So, this young man’s audacity really stemmed from the Xie family’s refusal to send him to prison?
A public beating was just for show—a mere formality.
The crowd’s expressions toward the middle-aged man and his companions shifted noticeably.
Sensing this, the middle-aged man was about to speak when a kindly old servant stepped forward from behind.
"Miss Chu, you’ve misunderstood," he said. "The public shaming isn’t for the world to see—it’s for the family’s younger generation."
The younger generation? Chu Zhao was taken aback.
The old servant turned and pointed behind him. "All the family members in the capital are following behind. The Third Young Master said, let everyone see—this is the consequence of a Xie family descendant running amok."The crowd also hurriedly looked back. Following the old servant's indication, scattered individuals emerged from the crowded masses. They varied in age—some older, some youthful and naive—all dressed in fine brocade robes. Their expressions ranged from frightened to grave to ashamed, their faces pale, clearly having suffered quite a shock.
"We must be cautious and uphold propriety, never committing acts that violate heaven's principles and harm reason," one of them said, his gaze falling on the wounds on Xie Yanlai's back before he quickly averted his eyes in fear. He bowed to the surrounding commoners. We beg our elders and fellow villagers to judge wisely."
So that's how it is. The surroundings erupted in noise again, this time with relief and admiration.
"The Xie family's discipline of their children is truly remarkable!"
"So this is what the Dongyang Xie family is like—no wonder they're widely praised."
"This is the true demeanor of a noble and prestigious clan."
The girls by the window also breathed sighs of relief. Qi Leyun even happily slapped the railing. "See? Young Master Xie the Third is just that impressive!"
She turned to glare at Chu Tang.
"Chu Zhao is truly petty-minded!"
Chu Tang said, "What does this have to do with me? She doesn't listen to me anyway."
Qi Leyun slapped the railing again. "I'll go pull her back before she makes a complete fool of herself."
With that, she ran downstairs. The other girls exchanged glances, and a few followed her.
Liang Qiang watched the Xie family disciples standing in the street and nodded, sighing softly. "Although the Xie sons are detestable, I truly admire Young Master Xie the Third."
What a pity he couldn't form a marriage alliance with someone like that.
His gaze fell on the girl for a moment. Well, perhaps there will be another chance later. This wasn't the right occasion to speak or interact with her.
He would find an opportunity to tell her later that Young Master Xie the Third was worth befriending and she shouldn't act recklessly without regard for consequences.
...
...
Despite the fluctuating emotions around her, Chu Zhao remained calm.
"Even so, they can't avoid being sent to the authorities," she said. "This street doesn't belong to your Xie family for you to occupy and discipline your own disciples."
This was truly making a scene.
The middle-aged man looked at her, not hiding the malice in his eyes. It was clear this girl had come targeting their Xie family.
Chu Ling? What did Chu Ling intend by this move?
Whose side was Chu Ling on?
The Zhao Family? The Third Prince?
The old servant's expression remained calm as he said with a smile, "Of course they must be sent to the authorities." He turned to give orders. "Where are the carriages?"
A servant acknowledged the command, and the crowd parted once more as a carriage slowly approached.
"We won't truly parade them through every street in the city," the old servant continued. "Young Master the Third has ordered that after ten lashes as discipline, they are to be taken by carriage to the government office."
He then looked at the middle-aged man. "Ten lashes should be sufficient, right?"
The middle-aged man raised his whip and said coldly, "One more lash remains."
Without giving anyone a chance to react, he viciously whipped Xie Yanlai.
Xie Yanlai seemed not to notice the whip coming, standing firm and unmoving.
With a dull thwack, the whip sent a spray of blood droplets flying in the sunlight.
Chu Zhao watched as a flicker of agony crossed the young man's face, his thin lips pressed tightly together. He didn't utter a sound.
"Enough," the old servant said with a mix of pity and helplessness. "Young Master Yan Lai, please board the carriage."
Without a word, Xie Yanlai turned and walked toward the carriage. Refusing any assistance, he pushed himself up and into the vehicle. The forceful movement made his wounds gush blood, sprinkling the ground with crimson.
The middle-aged man flung his whip down fiercely. "Let's go."But Chu Zhao was faster than him: "I'm going too." As she spoke, she had already run to the carriage, propped herself up with both hands, and climbed aboard.
"You!" The middle-aged man glared and pointed at her.
"I want to see if you're really taking him to the authorities," Chu Zhao said calmly from the carriage. "I'll be watching you."
Qi Leyun and the other girls ran over just in time to see this scene. Furious yet helpless, she stamped her foot: "Chu Zhao, come back at once!"
"I must keep an eye on them for the villagers who died," Chu Zhao declared. With that, she lifted the carriage curtain and went inside.
Qi Leyun and the others couldn't very well drag her out, so they could only watch helplessly.
The middle-aged man's veins bulged on the back of his hand, looking as if he intended to pull her out, but the old servant shook his head.
"Very well," the middle-aged man said with a smile. "Thank you for supervising, Miss Chu. Let's go together then."
As soon as he finished speaking, another girl rushed out from the crowd and boarded the carriage with lightning speed.
What now?! The middle-aged man's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Miss, I'm coming too!"
Fortunately, the girl called out.
A maidservant. Like mistress, like maid. The middle-aged man gritted his teeth, cracked his whip and shouted "Let's go!"
...
...
Inside the carriage, isolated from the outside world, Chu Zhao faced only the young man's fierce glare.
"Are you insane?" he said coldly. "What good does sending me to the authorities do you?"
Chu Zhao took something from A Le, deliberately drawing out her words: "So your family never actually intended to send you to the authorities after all."
Xie Yanlai sneered and leaned closer: "What does my family's business have to do with—"
Before he could finish, the girl swiftly covered his mouth.
His voice was muffled as a pill was forced inside.
Caught off guard, Xie Yanlai inhaled sharply and swallowed the pill. He let out a choked cough, nearly suffocating—
"This pill can stop bleeding, strengthen tendons, and replenish qi," the girl's voice said by his ear. "Even soldiers pierced by spears on the battlefield can cling to life long enough to be rescued."
What nonsense! Crazy! He hadn't been stabbed!
Xie Yanlai felt tears welling up from being choked.
Who asked you to interfere!
OpenNovel