Chapter 175

Xie Jin instinctively thought of his leg, then remembered how Shen Lantang had thrown herself over him to protect him during the day. After a moment's hesitation, he shook his head.

"No."

Shen Lantang eyed him suspiciously. After a while, she said, "All right. I believe you."

Now that they had been honest with each other, Shen Lantang slowly lay down again. Should this man go learn how to lie?

A little later:

"You sent someone to protect me in secret? Then the things I told you before..."

Xie Jin: "..."

Xie Jin fell silent.

Shen Lantang and Xie Jin slept reasonably well that night. After breakfast the next morning, they planned to ask Madam Zhao about Gentry Liu.

When they reached the courtyard, Madam Zhao was eating with her two children. Every day lately had left her on edge, as though she were riding a roller coaster; her heart rate had hardly dipped below 120. Yesterday had brought one small matter to a close, and she had finally relaxed enough to eat with her children in the courtyard.

Shen Lantang looked at Madam Zhao, whose exhaustion had become plain over the past few days. Even in this warm moment, a trace of worry lingered in her eyes.

"What's wrong? Aren't we going in?"

Shen Lantang sighed.

"Let's leave her alone for a day. Once that man arrives, she'll probably go back to being too worried to eat."

"All right," Xie Jin said.

After all, in the entire affair between the County Magistrate and the Zhao Family, Madam Zhao had been... largely beside the point. She was more of a symbol.

"Oh, Mama Su."

Mama Su happened to pass by, and Shen Lantang called out to her.

"Mama Su, there's something I'd like to ask you."

"Please go