Disheartened Wanderer

As soon as the door opened, Zhao Heng rushed in impatiently, completely losing his usual composure, "Where is Wen Ruo?"

Qi Guanlan grabbed his arm, "She's been poisoned and is unconscious. She hasn't woken up yet. Don't disturb her."

"Unconscious?" Zhao Heng's throat tightened, and he paused for a moment before realizing something was wrong. "Why are you still here? When will she wake up?"

"It's hard to say. What do you want with her?"

Zhao Heng gritted his teeth and looked at him. Only then did he realize that Wen Ruo's support was actually Cao Xi going to Honghu Academy. Cao Jinhai must have come to persuade Wen Ruo, but he was driven away.

Suddenly, a fist landed on Qi Guanlan's face. Caught off guard, Qi Guanlan took the punch head-on and fell to the ground. His face turned from pale to red as he covered his mouth and cursed, "Zhao Heng, are you crazy?"

"You wait here," Zhao Heng said before leaving.

"baffling!"

The blinding sunlight shone through the paper window. It was past noon when a rhythmic knocking sounded. Seeing no response from inside, Qi Guanlan went to the room next door.

Wen Ruo opened her eyes wide. She woke up as soon as she heard the sound, but she was too weak to move. She lay there for a moment with her eyes open, when she heard Qi Guanlan's urging voice from next door and Mr. Yi's annoyed voice.

Wen Ruo's upturned lips were suppressed. Shi Liu Niang was not there. The Fu Jingjiang in Zhang Shusheng's painting had thick eyebrows and big eyes. Matchmakers like to exaggerate three parts into seven parts, but Shi Liu Niang and Aunt Juan would not lie to their own people. She had become increasingly weak these past few days, all because Jiao Dai Hong had been tampered with.

What will Zhang Tingjia's reason be this time?

Wen Ruo took a deep breath, slowly got out of bed, silently washed her face and changed her clothes, then sat at the table, drinking the tea that had long since gone cold.

"Is Wen Ruo awake? I need to talk to her." Zhao Heng came again, apparently because of Cao Xi. Wen Ruo went out and saw that Qi Guanlan had a cut on his lip. "Young Master, who hit you?"

Wen Ruo sighed suddenly, "Young Master Zhao, I can't persuade Sister Cao about this."

Qi Guanlan was still annoyed, but Wen Ruo's words made him instantly understand, and his eyes lit up unusually. "Zhao Heng, why are you in such a hurry about Cao Xi's matter?"

Zhao Heng's expression changed repeatedly, but he remained silent.

Seeing this, Wen Ruo added another strong dose of medicine, "She also invited me to Honghu Academy, but I couldn't get away, so I didn't agree."

"What?" Qi Guanlan turned her shoulder and was about to talk to her when he saw her regretful expression. He suddenly realized, "When did you become so close to Cao Xi? She even tells you before going to the academy."

Even Qi Guanlan knew about it earlier than I did.

"Do you want me to help you recall? Cao Xi even helped her mother write a lawsuit against you." Zhao Heng's jaw was clenched, and his molars were almost grinding to powder.

Qi Guanlan glared at Zhao Heng, "I don't need you to do this."

"Don't make noise, I have a headache."

Qi Guanlan pursed his lips, his gaze fixed on her.

"We met by chance, and I helped him with a small favor, which is how we got to know each other," Wen Ruo said casually, removing his hand. "Young Master, has Brother Xiao Shun found my mother?"

"I'm going to take you there anyway, go put on a cloak."

Wen Ruo nodded and went back into the house. Zhao Heng narrowed his eyes slightly, beckoned to Qi Guanlan, and smiled slightly, "Do you want to know how those two got together behind your back?"

"What mischief are you up to now?" Qi Guanlan stared at the door without moving, his face devoid of any curiosity. Zhao Heng smiled knowingly, put his hands behind his back, and turned away. "Never mind, it's better if you don't know."

Qi Guanlan raised an eyebrow and glanced at him sideways. Seeing that he was about to leave, he shifted his feet slightly. "It won't hurt to listen." He was clearly provoked by him.

As he condescended to turn his ear, Zhao Heng suddenly opened his folding fan and said, "That depends on what you're offering in exchange."

Qi Guanlan was immediately enraged and was about to make a move when Wen Ruo came out. Zhao Heng suppressed his smile and looked at Wen Ruo, "You've just recovered. There's my carriage at the door. How about I give you a ride?"

The carriage stopped at the entrance of Dali Temple. Qi Guanlan walked in front. It was his first time entering Dali Temple prison, and he was there to clear his mother's name and to pick her up with Aunt Yunqing.

The prisons of the Dali Temple are made of steel that has been forged through countless hammer blows. They are never in the light of day, and you can feel the chilly wind as soon as you enter. In winter, they are even more damp and cold. Her mother's complexion turned pale after a few days there. Wenruo's mother is here, and she also has a leg ailment. She must be feeling even worse.

"If you're not looking for Miss Wen's mother, why are you locked up here?" Zhao Heng followed behind the two, unable to get them to leave. Wen Ru shook her head, and Qi Guanlan said awkwardly, "Xiao Shunzi said it's here."

The prison doors opened, and Wen Ruo hugged her clothes tightly, taking the first step out. From afar, she saw Shiliu Niang sitting on the straw bed, with Zhang Tingjia imprisoned next door. There were no other prisoners in the cell.

Her mother leaned against the wall, her eyes vacant, still wearing her own clothes. Next door, Zhang Tingjia had removed all his hairpins and clothes, wearing a white prison uniform with disheveled hair. He noticed her as soon as he heard the noise, and became agitated when he saw who it was, exclaiming, "Wen Ruo!"

"You're not dead?"

Shi Liu Niang looked over instantly, and tears streamed down her face the moment their eyes met. Wen Ruo clenched her fingers, remained silent for a long time, and then murmured, "Mother, I told you, choosing him means abandoning me. Have you forgotten?"

Shi Liu Niang murmured, unable to utter a single word of protest, and slumped her head helplessly. Wen Ruo was extremely disappointed. She didn't even glance at Zhang Tingjia's shouts, and went straight to Princess Rong Jing's side, bowing and saying, "Thank you for your help, Your Highness."

Rong Jing patted the chair and asked with concern, "Why did you come over so soon after the poison was neutralized?"

Wen Ruo sat down, and Qi Guanlan became anxious. He strode over to the two of them and sat down on the other side, asking, "What exactly is going on?"

Zhang Tingjia was stung by this scene. "You found out all along? You tricked me?"

Wen Ruo laughed, "Twice now. It seems that Young Master Zhang really doesn't care about human life. The first time it was for money, what is it this time?"

Zhang Tingjia retorted, "Stop pretending. This is what your mother owes me."

Wen Ruo responded with an "Oh," and said, "Hong Shiliu is just my godmother. She owed you, and I repaid it for her once. There won't be a second time, Your Highness."

Rong Jing nodded and handed the document to her. "The evidence is conclusive. If you sign it, you will be convicted of murder, stripped of your academic titles, and beheaded next autumn. What do you think?"

"Can it be as soon as possible?"

Wen Ruo took the pen and casually signed her name. She had mastered those two characters to perfection. With an indifferent expression, she said, "Could it be in three days? I don't have much time left, and I'd like to set off without any ties."

Qi Guanlan opened his mouth in surprise. Wen Ruo was amused by his appearance, which softened her coldness. "I forgot to tell you, young master, that I have become Master Yi's apprentice and will travel the world with him."

Hong Shiliu collapsed to the ground, her face ashen, and soon burst into loud sobs.

"You've only just been detoxified." Qi Guanlan frowned, looking at Hong Shiliu, his meaning clear, "Aren't you going to treat your leg?"

He didn't believe it. Wen Ruojiu had risked her life and gone to great lengths just to cure her mother's leg.

Wen Ruo lowered her eyelashes and said softly, "It's up to you, you'll have to ask Mr. Yi."

Zhang Tingjia was struck dumb, his face turned pale, and he stared blankly for a long time, his previous toughness vanishing instantly.

Qi Guanlan was so anxious she almost scratched the table. "Mother, what exactly happened?"

How could things have suddenly turned sour? Princess Rongjing shook her head, "I just received a letter from Wen Ruo and asked her to keep an eye on the two of them."

The guards reported that Shiliuniang had arrived at the inn and immediately questioned the scholar about why he was laughing. Wenruo was suddenly bleeding from all seven orifices; was it the scholar who did it?

The scholar immediately admitted it.

Shiliu Niang tried to drag him to report to the authorities, but the scholar pushed her to the ground. Not satisfied with that, the scholar angrily stepped on her knees, saying that she looked down on him and that Wen Ruo actually wanted to marry someone else. After saying a few words, he started hitting her.

At first, Shiliu Niang knew to cover up, but when the scholar finished speaking, he only mentioned Miss Yue, saying that she owed Miss Yue. Shiliu Niang replied, "You know," and then she stopped fighting back.

"I ordered my men to arrest the scholar and send her mother home, but she refused, saying all the way that she wanted to exchange her life for his."

Once brought back to prison, this is how he was. He wouldn't say anything no matter what was asked, and no torture could be used. Zhang Tingjia, relying on his mother Wen Ruo, was completely unfazed.

Rong Jing glanced at Zhang Tingjia, a hint of murderous intent flashing in her eyes. He actually dared to try and use Wen Ruo's mother to escape the death penalty. If he really succeeded, he might use Wen Ruo's death to make Shiliu Niang demand repayment and ask Rong Jing to pave the way for him. It was not impossible that such a thing would happen.

Qi Guanlan picked up the inkstone and smashed it over, "Vicious."

Looking at the ink stains on the ground, Zhang Tingjia knew he was about to die. Suddenly, he burst into laughter and said shamelessly, "It's all because of you. Blame it on her knowing too much, and blame it on me knowing too late."

He overheard Pomegranate Mother and Fool talking and learned the origin of the jade pendant and the reason why the mother and daughter were so kind to him.

They really thought this old woman felt deeply guilty towards Miss Yue, but it turned out she was just talking the talk and sent her son away with a little charcoal and a few cotton clothes.

An adopted daughter married out of wedlock in a grand and glamorous manner.

"I think you're just trying to climb the social ladder and get rid of this good-for-nothing."

"You knew I was an imposter, yet you kept it from your mother. You knew I poisoned her, yet you still played along, saying you had to choose one of two options. You were just using a little trick to make yourself feel at ease leaving."

Pomegranate Girl couldn't believe her ears and raised her head in a daze, "Are you a fake?"

Where did the jade pendant come from?

She stood devastated on the other side of the iron bars, and if something hadn't been blocking her way, she probably would have rushed out and fought back. "Where did this come from?"

Shiliu Niang sat on the ground, screaming hysterically. Zhang Tingjia had mentioned Wen Ruo twice before leaving, but she didn't even dare to turn around and question him.

Zhang Shusheng snorted coldly, "Now that things have come to this, I have nothing to hide. Why don't you come with me? I'll satisfy your curiosity before your head rolls."

Wen Ruo glanced around and understood the meaning of "possessing a treasure is a crime." She slowly walked up to him and said, "So you were an imposter."

So her mother recognized her by the jade pendant, but Miss Yue might have sold it long ago. So many years have passed, who knows how many times it's changed hands, to conclude she's a descendant of Miss Yue based solely on a jade pendant is just too outrageous.

"So you want to latch onto me and marry me?" Wen Ruo's lips curled up, and she glanced at him with disdain, her tone nonchalant, "What a piece of trash."

Zhang Tingjia froze on the ground, staring into her eyes, which were full of mockery, laughing at his despicable behavior and delusions. "He really didn't tell you?"

Qi Guanlan wanted to laugh but held it back. "So he was tricked. A scholar tricking another scholar, how wonderful."

“I suspect that the reason he was able to fool and provoke you wasn’t just because it was fake. Jade pendants have always been tokens of love,” Wen Ruo said, resting her chin on her hand and pondering each word. “You have a wife back home?”

Zhang Tingjia: "You're quite clever."

"So he knew you had a family, and couldn't bear to see you ruin my life by taking advantage of my kindness, so he lied and told me about the jade pendant, hoping to make you give up on me. But you went so far as to poison me?"

Wen Ruo blinked and couldn't help but click her tongue, "But thinking back to what happened before, it doesn't seem so surprising."

Zhao Heng came to her side and asked, "Where did you find such a fine young man?"