265. They seem calm and unhurried because they're truly out of options.

The guards obeyed and carried the wailing magistrate outside. Soon, a shrill scream came from outside, followed by silence.

Not long after, the guards came to report that the officials who had followed the magistrate in committing evil deeds had been caught. Some of the most troublesome ones had been beheaded on the spot for trying to resist, and the rest had been imprisoned in the county jail.

Xie Wenling nodded, his tone calm: "Compile their evidence and, once we return to the capital, I will personally hand it over to His Majesty for his decision."

Only Lin Fuman and Xie Wenling remained in the private room, and the atmosphere was somewhat somber.

Lin Fuman looked out the window, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

She could understand Xie Wenling's actions, and even thought it was a good thing he killed her.

But because of this, she felt a little panicked and guilty.

She believes she should not condone this method of "establishing authority through killing".

In modern times, people who break the law are punished by law, but here, human life seems to be exceptionally cheap.

Xie Wenling seemed to see through her thoughts: "I know you think it's cruel, and I won't explain it to you, but I will give you a piece of advice—if you should fight for something, you should fight for it, instead of giving up."

Lin Fu knew exactly what he was talking about.

Just like in a play, she should have stood up to point out the errors, demand revisions, and fight for the opportunity to vindicate herself, Little Moon, and other women, and to fight for the glory that they deserve.

Instead of feeling tired and giving up.

That's not all, there's more.

She was wrong.

She paused for a moment, then said, "I understand, thank you. By the way... now that the plague is under control, the bad guys have been dealt with, and the supplies have been delivered, is the matter in Qiuhe City considered over?"

“Not yet,” Xie Wenling shook his head. “The greatest danger is yet to come. The Prince of Zhennan has not made a move.”

Lin Fu was startled: "You mean, the Prince of Zhennan is going to attack us?"

“He’s targeting me,” Xie Wenling said, walking to the window and looking at the distant city wall. “His ambition has been hidden for a long time. When I fell ill in Qiuhe City, he not only refused to send reinforcements but also sabotaged me at every turn, trying to kill me in Qiuhe City. Now that I’m awake and the plague is under control, he certainly won’t let this go.”

Lin Fu was somewhat worried: "What should we do now? The Prince of Zhennan is so powerful, can we stand against him?"

She looked up at Xie Wenling, hoping to hear a "there's a way" answer from him.

After all, although she couldn't agree with Xie Wenling most of the time, she still had to admit that he was indeed a reliable person.

But this time, it seems she's going to be disappointed.

Xie Wenling simply turned around, his gaze falling on the twilight gradually settling outside the window, his tone flat and devoid of any emotion: "There's no way, we can't fight it."

His confidence stemmed from the imperial army and Dou Shichen in the capital.

However, the heavy snow blocked the roads, and even when a little snow melted, it was immediately covered by a new snowfall.

It's as if even God is against him.

If the main force can't get through, even if a small number of elite troops are sent, they'll only be sent to their deaths.

As a result, the imperial army lost its confidence.

As for the latter, it did have some effect, allowing the Prince of Zhennan to delay the inevitable instead of directly trying to mobilize troops to kill him.

However, the Prince of Zhennan knew very well that once he returned to the capital, he himself would not be far from being purged.

It's obvious which he would choose between his own life and his son's.

Both of their sources of confidence have vanished.

So Xie Wenling looks calm and unhurried now because he really has no other choice.

Lin Fu was completely dumbfounded: "Huh? What did you say?"

"I said, I have no choice. So, you should go back to the capital first."

“Go back to the capital? What would I do if I went back alone? The plague in Qiuhe City has just been brought under control, and now the Prince of Zhennan is causing trouble again. What would I be if I went back now?”

“It’s for your own safety,” Xie Wenling turned around and looked at her with a puzzled expression. “If the Prince of Zhennan really makes a move, Qiuhe City will become a battlefield. If you stay here, you will not only be of no help, but you will also become a burden.”

"A burden?" Lin Fuman could hardly believe her ears. Her tone was full of indignation. "The antibiotics I brought saved so many lives, and now you're saying I'm a burden? Xie Wenling, do you think only people like you who wield swords and spears are useful, while those of us in the pharmaceutical field can only hide in the back?"

“I didn’t say that; it was your own idea. Tomorrow morning, I will have someone arrange a sled to take you back to the capital.”

"I'm not going back!" Lin Fu retorted, "Little Moon sent me to deliver medicine and bring you back. I have to complete both of these tasks!"

She thought Xie Wenling would be angry and argue with her, but Xie Wenling just glanced at her, didn't say anything more, and turned to walk out.

Lin Fuman watched his retreating figure, feeling both angry and anxious, but unsure of what to do.

She knew Xie Wenling was telling the truth; the power of the Prince of Zhennan was indeed terrifying. But she couldn't bear to abandon the people of Qiuhe City and the unfinished business and go back.

-

The next morning, before dawn, Lin Fuman was awakened by a knock on the door.

She thought it was someone from Shenyang Nong who had come to call her to see a patient. As soon as she opened the door, she saw two guards standing at the door, holding her package in their hands.

“Miss Lin, Lord Xie has instructed us to escort you to the city gate. The sled is ready.” The guard’s tone was respectful, yet carried an unyielding firmness.

Lin Fuman's heart sank: "I'm not going! Have Xie Wenling come and talk to me!"

“The lord has important matters to attend to and does not have time to come,” the guard stepped forward. “Miss, please do not make things difficult for us. The lord is only doing this for your own good. Your early return to the capital will put Princess Fukang at ease.”

"For my own good?" Lin Fuman took a step back. "He just thinks I'm in the way! Don't come any closer, I'm not going with you!"

But how could a child like her possibly stand a chance against two strong and burly guards?

With a little effort, the guards dragged her out.

Upon arriving at the city gate, Xie Wenling was standing beside a sled, where a sled team that had just delivered supplies was preparing to return. He was talking to the leader of the team.

Seeing Lin Fuman being supported, he simply said, "Let her go."

The guards released her, and Lin Fuman immediately rushed to Xie Wenling, her eyes filled with anger: "Xie Wenling, what right do you have to force me to go back? Who do you think you are?"

Xie Wenling bypassed her and gave the guard a wink.

The guards immediately stepped forward, put Lin Fuman on the sled, and then packed up her three dogs and brought them up as well.

Lin Fuman still tried to struggle.

Xie Wenling finally spoke: "Stop making a fuss. Your medicine has already saved many people, and your mission is complete. You should go back and be with the county princess so she won't worry about you."

After all, one of them has to go back, right?

If they both disappear or die, I'm afraid even the little dumpling wouldn't be able to bear the blow.

Lin Fuman didn't know why, but she understood what he meant.

Seeing the bloodshot eyes, my anger gradually subsided.

She knew that Xie Wenling was doing it for her own good, but he was using a rather blunt approach.

She took a deep breath, stopped struggling, and whispered, "You have to be careful too. If... if something happens to you, Little Moon will be very sad."

Xie Wenling nodded, said nothing more, and turned to walk into the city.

He can't escape.

There must be spies of the Prince of Zhennan in Qiuhe City. Once the spies discover that he is missing or has been replaced, the Prince of Zhennan will definitely intercept and kill everyone who leaves the city.

In any case, the endings are all pretty much the same.

He'd rather stay here than have more people die.

The sled slowly began to move. Lin Fuman turned back to look at Xie Wenling's back, her feelings towards him were complicated.

She disliked Xie Wenling's coldness and ruthlessness, yet she had to admit that he was indeed a responsible person.

-

The capital city.

The residence of the Marquis of Beiding.

The little dumpling was sitting in the yard, holding a letter from Xie Wenling in her hand, her little brows furrowed tightly.

The letter stated that the plague in Qiuhe City had been brought under control, but there were still some matters to attend to, and he would be able to return to the capital later. It told her not to worry.

But the little dumpling just couldn't put her mind at ease.

Although the handwriting on the letter was Xie Gege's, it was much more messy than usual, as if it had been written in a hurry.

She folded the letter, put it in her bosom, and felt uneasy.

The next day at school, the little dumpling sat in the Wenhua Hall, still looking absent-minded.

The little princess next to her noticed that something was wrong and leaned over to whisper, "Little Moon, what's wrong? Is something on your mind?"

The little dumpling looked up at the little princess and whispered, "Brother Xie said he will stay in Qiuhe City for a while longer, and Yue'er is a little worried about him."

"Worried about him? What's there to worry about? If you miss him, we'll go find him together! It'll be like a trip to Qiuhe City, won't it be great!" the little princess said matter-of-factly.