Chapter 178

A cold gleam filled Xie Jin's eyes, and his gaze turned grim.

"I know who you are. You're Zhang Xiaoqing's lackeys. You'd better pray he can save himself. Otherwise, every last one of you will die."

He had no patience to say more. He ordered their mouths gagged, then gave his instructions.

"Li Lan, take these men and the carriage outside the city and keep them under guard. Brother Wu, come with me. We're taking this young woman back."

"Yes."

At the Zhao Residence, Shen Lantang sat in a room lit by two lamps. Their dim flames flickered whenever the wind stirred, and she watched the courtyard with a restless heart.

It wasn't that she doubted Xie Jin. He was a skilled fighter, and he had plenty of men with him. But so much had happened since she left Zhaojing. It was as though the stories she'd only ever seen on television had come to life around her.

A sudden commotion rose in the courtyard. Shen Lantang rushed to the door and saw Xie Jin and Brother Wu returning. Brother Wu was carrying a young woman.

Shen Lantang froze. "What happened? Who is she?"

"She was in one of the carriages they were taking out tonight."

Shen Lantang understood at once. Her expression changed, and she hurried forward to examine the young woman's face. "Get her inside."

Wu You laid the young woman on the bed. Shen Lantang had already noticed her disheveled clothes and the unmistakable marks on her wrists and neck. After one look, she turned to the others.

"You two go outside. Brother Wu, bring me a basin of water. Xie Jin, ask Madam Zhao to come."

"All right."

Both men acted at once. Madam Zhao was woken in the middle of the night. Xie Jin gave