As Tong Aning and Lou Yingyu went downstairs, Azhu politely asked, "May I hit him?"
Tong Aning and Lou Yingyu exchanged a glance, and then simultaneously slapped their foreheads.
The people at Spring Breeze House had never heard of such a request before, but since they were going to beat up this scumbag who had dined and dashed, some even gave their sticks to Azhu.
Azhu looked up and smiled gently, "Thank you."
They thought that the blow wouldn't do anything... Just as the people at Spring Breeze House were thinking this, they suddenly heard the man's agonizing screams, more horrific than a pig being slaughtered.
The group exchanged bewildered glances. "So powerful?"
When Azhu returned the stick, she still smiled gently and politely, clearly the demeanor of a noble lady. No one would have guessed that she had just almost broken that person's leg.
When Azhu arrived, Lou Yingyu pulled her aside and looked her over, praising her profusely. "You are truly a martial arts genius."
Azhu looked at her reddened palms, shook her head, and said regretfully, "I still couldn't break his leg. I need to continue training my strength."
Tong Aning: "..."
Lou Yingyu rolled up her sleeves. "What's so difficult about that? I'll just go and finish it off with another blow."
Before Lou Yingyu could step forward, Xue Lin arrived first.
The people at Spring Breeze House had no choice but to stop. Although they were fearless, they still had to maintain appearances, lest they be caught red-handed.
Feng Cheng, his face swollen like a pig's head, squinted at the scene and wept with joy. He reached out and grabbed Xue Lin's trouser leg, howling, "My lord, save me! My lord!"
Feng Cheng struggled to his feet, now smug and self-satisfied, and said with his hands on his hips, "Just wait, the adults will deal with you."
The people at Spring Breeze House couldn't help but curse him, "You think you can get away with anything just because you're given a little respect...?"
He was tugged at by the person next to him.
Feng Cheng said, "Sir, this man dares to threaten me to your face! Arrest him!"
After speaking, Feng Cheng looked at Xue Lin expectantly, rubbing his hands together as if excited about what was about to happen.
Xue Lin waved his hand, and two men stepped forward and restrained Feng Cheng.
Feng Cheng: "?"
"Sir, are you mistaken?"
"You're kidding me," Xue Lin said calmly, "You're being accused of murdering your wife and children."
Feng Cheng's expression faltered for a moment. "Injustice! Injustice!"
Xue Lin ignored him, instead glancing up at the three large characters of Spring Breeze House. He said, "Your wife has only been dead for three or four days, and you're already squandering her money here?"
Feng Cheng felt a little guilty, as he was almost drowned in the spittle of the surrounding crowd. He hurriedly said, "I didn't squander any money, otherwise I wouldn't have been beaten by the people from Spring Breeze House."
Xue Lin looked at him. "You mean, if you had one, you'd be having a good time inside right now?"
Xue Lin slowly approached. Although he was young, he was tall, and when he looked down at people, the deep look in his eyes was almost suffocating.
Feng Cheng shuddered.
Xue Lin said, "Your wife has passed away, yet you're indulging in pleasure at the Spring Breeze House. Is that right?"
Feng Cheng's eyes darted around. "I... no, I just went in to eat."
"Yes, yes, yes," Feng Cheng convinced himself, and he said with his head held high, "I'm just going in to eat. After my wife died, I was heartbroken and didn't eat for three days. Can't I even eat?"
[Yes, yes, you ate and even watched a dance performance. Who could enjoy themselves like you?]
Just then, a young woman passed by in Spring Breeze House. Looking at the huge crowd, she waved her handkerchief, covered her nose, and said with disdain, "Why haven't they gotten rid of these people yet?"
The people at Spring Breeze House crossed their arms. "He said he came to eat."
Upon hearing this, the girl's eyes hardened, and she slapped Feng Cheng twice across the face. She angrily said, "Say it again, who said they wanted to play the pipa alone, dance alone, and sing alone?"
Feng Cheng stammered, "I don't know."
"My stern and just sir!"
The girl wiped her face and looked at Xue Lin, "You must stand up for us!"
Xue Lin frowned. "Take him back."
Tong Aning and the other two followed them to the Jingzhao Prefecture.
Not long after Feng Cheng was brought back, an elderly couple dressed in plain clothes arrived.
Alas, the elderly bury their children.
Lou Yingyu also felt a pang of regret.
After the court session began, it was actually Feng Cheng who started to angrily interrogate the defendant.
"Father, Mother, you said yesterday that you would give me all of Ajing's dowry. A person should keep their word. How can you go back on your word so easily?"
[Holy crap, this is outrageous!]
Qu Jing's parents were so angry at the sight of this person that their hearts ached.
Qu's father pointed a trembling finger at Feng Cheng, "You mean, it's our fault for not letting you take our daughter's dowry to Spring Breeze House to indulge in debauchery?"
"Otherwise what? Look at the state they've been in!"
[Isn't this a true reflection of your appearance? Calling you a pig is an insult to pigs; you're worse than a beast!]
Well said!
Qu's father glanced outside; Feng Cheng was still being aggressive.
Mother Qu pounded her chest hard. "It's our fault! It's our fault! We didn't realize you were a beast in human form, that you ruined our daughter and our grandson."
[He's such a good actor.]
Feng Cheng: "You can't blame everything on... just because you lost your daughter."
Cen Yu said sternly, "That's enough."
He looked at Feng Cheng, "I haven't even spoken yet, why are you in such a hurry?"
Feng Cheng wisely kept quiet.
Mr. Qu recounted in detail how his daughter and grandson died and the clues they discovered.
Qu Jing's health suddenly deteriorated three months ago. She sought divine guidance and consulted numerous renowned doctors, but all methods failed to improve her condition.
Until two months ago, Feng Cheng found a prescription, and Qu Jing's condition improved significantly after drinking it.
Mr. Qu said painfully, "We only realized something was wrong after our daughter passed away. We asked around for the prescription, and after many twists and turns, we finally found out from an old doctor that the prescription was actually a slow-acting poison."
Cen Yu said, " Feng Cheng, is there anything else you want to say?"
Feng Cheng gritted his teeth and said, "To tell you the truth, even if Ajing is well cared for, she doesn't have much time left to live. Although this prescription is a slow-acting poison, it can prolong Ajing's life, Father, Mother..."
Feng Cheng covered his face and wept. " Ajing did all this so that she could have more time to spend with you all."
Qu's father didn't believe his explanation. "What about Yin'er?"
" Yin'er was born prematurely to Ajing and was already frail. He couldn't accept the blow of Ajing's death..."
"Fart."
Qu's mother interrupted Feng Cheng's endless ramblings, pointing angrily at him and Feng Cheng, "I won't believe a single word you say. You can fool others, but you can't fool me."
"Mother, I know you're sad that Ajing is gone, but..."
[This was all premeditated.]
Three months ago, Feng Cheng offered to manage the shop to Qu Jing, but Qu Jing refused.
[So Feng Cheng, having gone this far, decided to go all the way. First, he poisoned Qu Jing Qu Jing, but then, worried he wouldn't gain her trust, he gave Qu Jing the medicine prescribed in the formula. This formula was the antidote for the first poison, but it was itself another kind of poison. Once the poison entered her lungs and internal organs, it was too late to save her.]
"Beast, beast."
Qu's father grabbed Feng Cheng's collar fiercely.
Cen Yu had them separated, and the men he sent out returned quickly just as he was taking his seat in court.
Tong Aning's words are all true.
Qu Jing's parents suddenly lost all their strength, as if they had aged ten years. They murmured, "Why, why?"
"Why?" Feng Cheng no longer concealed his malice. "Of course, it's because Qu Jing values money more than me."
"What about Yin'er? Yin'er is your own son!"
"My biological son?" Feng Cheng scoffed. "Doesn't that mean he'll also have to share the money with me?"
Qu Jing's parents were shocked, and then felt a chill run down their spines. This was a monster who only knew money and had no emotions or desires.
Cen Yu ordered Feng Cheng to be taken away.
He walked up to the two elderly men and said solemnly, "If nothing unexpected happens, it will definitely be beheading."
The Qu family parents nodded. "Thank you, Lord Cen."
The two supported each other and slowly walked out.
Tong Aning stopped in front of them and said, "The sunlight is beautiful today."
The two looked up and were blinded by the sunlight, just like the sunlight on the day Qu Jing was born.
The two continued walking forward, neither knowing whether they were heading towards a new beginning or an abyss.
After a long silence, Lou Yingyu asked, "Are we still going to eat?"
Tong Aning said, "Eat. No matter what happens, you have to live well."
Lou Yingyu and Azhu looked at Tong Aning, who was bathed in sunlight, her profile gentle.
*
"You've pricked the wrong spot again."
Xue Ruyun patted Tong Aning's head with a palm-leaf fan.
"Oh."
Tong Aning took out new silver needles.
Watching her actions, Xue Ruyun teased, "If someone came, wouldn't they be pricked into a hedgehog by you?"
Tong Aning said slowly, "That's why I don't practice acupuncture on real people now."
Then she muttered, "There wasn't even a real person for me to do the needlework."
Xue Ruyun: "..."
Seeing her calm and composed demeanor as she continued to try, Xue Ruyun asked, "Aren't you annoyed?"
Tong Aning raised her head and looked at Xue Ruyun. She smiled and asked, "Why are you angry?"
Tong Aning's gaze was firm. "If you make a mistake, try a different approach and keep going. You'll eventually get it right."
Xue Ruyun paused, then asked, "Don't you think you're not smart enough?"
Tong Aning smiled sheepishly, "I'm not very bright to begin with, but Master doesn't mind my stupidity. Since Master is so dedicated, I will be even more dedicated."
"It seems our Aning is wise beyond her years."
When Yingtao arrived, Tong Aning had just successfully inserted the needle into the right spot. She held the silver needle with great pride.
Yingtao said, "Miss, Eunuch Wang has arrived, and Madam requests Doctor Xue's presence."
Tong Aning glanced at Xue Ruyun and said cheerfully, "Master, is Eunuch Wang here to see you?"
[My master's surname is also Xue, could it be that he's related to the imperial family?]
Tong Aning looked at Xue Ruyun again, her eyes filled with longing for ascension.
[When one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!]
Xue Ruyun: "..."