Chapter 128 The Aftermath of Qishan: A Bewildering Tale

"This servant will certainly serve my mistress well, very well," he said through gritted teeth, a half-smile playing on his lips.

She actually made a pregnant man serve her, haha, Zhang is really shameless.

While inwardly cursing Zhang Ting three hundred and fifty times, Zong Suyi gently pounded her legs with both hands, and asked with perfect poise, "My lady, do you think my strength is alright?" Her voice was like being coated with a thick layer of honey, so sweet it was cloying, yet it also concealed a hint of sharpness.

Zhang Ting let out a comfortable sigh, "Your cooking skills are truly remarkable."

Zong Suyi smirked, thinking to himself: You wish!

Seeing that she gradually relaxed her guard and closed her eyes under his care, he was overjoyed; his chance for revenge had come!

Zong Suyi gathered all her strength into her hands, clenched her fists tightly, and punched someone's leg.

He must get his revenge today!

Just as he was about to avenge his great enemy, he suddenly felt a tug, and in an instant, the world spun around him. He stared blankly with wide eyes, only managing to grab onto something in front of him to steady himself.

When she came to her senses, she found herself lying on her back on Zhang Ting, with something stuffed in her hand. Zong Suyi was so angry that she punched her hard.

He cursed, "You bastard!"

Zhang Ting hugged him tightly, resting her chin on his head, her voice tinged with laughter: "I was just teasing you, don't be angry, okay?"

The warm breath on Zong Suyi's face, and the gentle voice in his ear, made his cheeks flush instantly. He softened his voice and said shyly, "I'm not angry with you." His wife is so gentle. Actually, she didn't do anything really bad, did she?

The sun was blazing outside, but it couldn't stop the leisurely white clouds from drifting by.

Zong Suyi chuckled twice, feeling that even though the weather was hot, their lives were still extremely harmonious.

Zhang Ting followed his gaze to the sky, a slight smile curving her lips. Suddenly, she asked him to open the object in his hand and take a look.

Zong Suyi did as he was told, opened his palm, and unfolded the paper, which was a silver note worth ten thousand taels.

He covered his lips with one hand, both surprised and delighted, "This, this..." How did his wife suddenly receive so much money? The cost of ice along the way was very high, and the original thousand taels had almost been squandered. This silver note was truly a timely rain.

Zhang Ting told him to keep it, to use for expenses along the way. "My finances are still decent, I certainly won't let you suffer with me," she said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind his ear. It was a little embarrassing to admit, but Magistrate Hu had forced it on her before she left, and wouldn't let her go if she refused. Sigh!

Overjoyed at receiving this unexpected windfall, Zong Suyi hugged her head, kissed her on the cheek, and smiled sweetly.

"My son is so lucky to have you as his mother!"

That's great! With this money, my baby won't have to suffer with them after he's born!

Seeing him so happy, Zhang Ting smiled along with him.

After a while, she looked down at his flat stomach, reached out and gently touched it, her eyes filled with a clear and tender feeling like flowing water.

Little one, we'll meet in seven months. Mom and Dad are really looking forward to your arrival.

...

Inside the county government office.

"well!"

Recently, Magistrate Hu was exhausted and heartbroken. He lay half-dead in his chair, letting out a heavy sigh.

Her ten thousand taels of silver notes, the wealth she had just accumulated, were once again swallowed up by Zhang Ting, that greedy creature.

At first, Magistrate Hu was reluctant to accept the money and handed over the silver notes with great reluctance. However, Zhang Ting refused to accept them. If he refused, it meant he wouldn't do the job. This startled her greatly. She had to smooth things over with Prefect Liu. She begged and pleaded in every way possible before Zhang Ting, this great Buddha, finally condescended to accept the money.

It's strange that I have to spend a lot of money to get rid of trouble whenever I encounter Zhang Ting. Could it be that... I'm just not destined to have any wealth?

Magistrate Hu was terrified and immediately straightened up. That wouldn't do! She had to find a master to change her luck.

Everything else can be delayed, but this is the one thing we can't be careless about! Magistrate Hu stood up and went to the Buddhist temple with his servants.

Half an hour later, in the backyard of the county government office.

"Young master, the master has gone to Jianlan Temple."

The beautiful maidservant, kneeling on the ground, kept turning the prayer beads in her hand. Upon hearing this, she opened her eyes and said, "Then come with me to see the eldest young master." He slowly stood up, his face no longer showing any coquettishness, but his eyes filled with hatred that went deep into his bones.

Butterfly, oh butterfly, do you really know how to fly? You almost escaped the scare of having your home confiscated and your head chopped off.

Xu Linlang must remember not to be impatient, not to be impatient. One day, she will make this wicked and corrupt official lose all his reputation and everything.

His brows and eyes held a deep melancholy as he arrived at the Buddhist hall, where the county magistrate Zhengfu resided.

Xu Linlang glanced at the gilded plaque, lowered her head with hatred, and thought, "The Bodhisattva who saves people from suffering is useful, how could she let his family die a miserable and unjust death?"

He wiped his slightly damp eyes, composed himself, and stepped into the Buddhist hall.

Zheng was picking up the Buddha beans one by one with her head down and eyes downcast.

Xu Linlang was favored by Magistrate Hu and was in charge of the inner quarters. She raised her chin and ordered someone to send away the servants around Madam Zheng.

Xu Linlang approached him, "Brother, you've been picking beans for so many years, has the Bodhisattva heard your suffering and pleas?"

Zheng ignored him and focused intently on picking out the broad beans one by one.

Xu Linlang looked down at his right foot and said, "You're already lame, why are you still ruining yourself like this?"

Zheng paused for a moment, then said calmly, "I don't care what you want to do, and you shouldn't meddle in what I want to do." With that, she continued what she was doing.

"I didn't come here to catch up with you, but I heard that person did exceptionally well in the imperial examination, ranking first in the second class. Not only that, but she's still very clean-lived." Xu Linlang leaned down, her voice gentle, "Brother, what a wonderful wife she is! Do you think she's still waiting for you?"

Zheng's hand holding the chopsticks trembled, and she said in a trembling voice, "Don't meddle in other people's business. I won't help you."

Xu Linlang saw his wavering and continued to tempt him: "You were forced to marry Hu Die back then, but now that man has achieved great success and is enough to rival Hu Die. Why don't you..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was sternly interrupted: "Shut up!"

Zheng stood up from the ground with a limp, stared at him for a moment, then suddenly turned her head away, her face deathly still, and said, "You don't understand anything."

"Go back, I won't help you."

He left only these words behind, then turned and limped into the inner room.

A searing pain shot through my right foot. Strange, it wasn't raining today.

Tears fell like beans onto the ground, spreading out in circles.

His broken and decaying body was no longer worthy of his beloved.

...

The sun was high in the sky, and waves of heat rolled in.

After walking for a while, the horse suddenly stopped and lay down on the ground.

The carriage jolted suddenly, spilling the ice basin inside. Just as Zong Suyi was about to be thrown out, Zhang Ting quickly pulled him back and held him in her arms, feeling a wave of fear wash over her.

He's not even three months pregnant yet; if he gets thrown out, what will happen?

Zhang Ting helped the person out of the carriage and found a shady spot to rest, while the coachwoman took care of the funeral arrangements outside. However, the horse refused to get up no matter what she did.

Her expression was somewhat displeased due to the recent events.

Zong Suyi comforted her instead, "Alright, nothing's happened yet, has it?" He hugged Zhang Ting and patted her back to calm her down, "Don't be angry, don't be angry..." Before he could finish the word "angry," he was suddenly confronted with a huge black horse face, with a few dry grasses in its mouth.

He frowned in confusion. How come this horse looks exactly like their Dundun?

Zong Suyi wondered if he was seeing things, so he closed his eyes, opened them, and looked again. There was still a black horse with a glossy coat standing in front of him.

He pushed Zhang Ting aside, staring blankly at the black horse, "My lady, look at this horse..."

Zhang Ting turned around in confusion, and the black horse excitedly nudged her with its hooves and neighed.

She was also a little surprised, "They ran so fast."

"What do you mean?" Zong Suyi didn't understand. The next moment, a little black horse, a replica of Dundun, jumped out with hay in its mouth and looked at them. The mother and daughter's actions were exactly the same.

Zong Suyi felt dizzy. He really thought he saw Dundun and her daughter, but shouldn't they be staying in the capital as government horses? How did they end up here?

He rubbed his forehead, wondering if he had heatstroke.

Zong Suyi was about to tell Zhang Ting that he was feeling unwell, but before he could finish speaking, a series of thunderous hoofbeats rang out.

Looking to the side, under the blazing sun, dust billowed, and four women, their faces obscured, dressed in burlap clothes and with curved knives at their waists, rushed toward them.

With a fierce and menacing aura, and carrying a knife, could he be a bandit gang?

Zong Suyi's pupils contracted, and she nervously gripped Zhang Ting's clothes.

Three zhang away from them, the four women reined in their horses and dismounted.

As they drew closer, Zong Suyi could see their faces clearly; they were Li Ruilian, Zheng Er, Liu Da, and Wang Wu.

What... what's going on? Didn't the wife tell him that everyone in the manor had abandoned her? And that he was the only one left by her side?

Zheng Er strode up to her employer, knelt on one knee, and said with great joy, "Reporting to the employer, accommodation in Fengxian County has been arranged."

Zhang Ting smiled and nodded, then personally helped her up, saying, "Butler Zheng, thank you for your hard work."

Zheng Er's eyes were bright, and although he was covered in dust, he was full of energy. "It is my blessing to be able to work for the master. How could it be hard work?"

Zhang Ting looked at her with satisfaction and then inquired in detail about the affairs of Fengxian County.

It turns out that on the day of the incident, she summoned the four people to her side and ordered them to pretend to sever ties with her, but in reality, they should leave Beijing immediately to first investigate Fengxian County and settle their luggage and all their belongings.

This served two purposes: first, to create the illusion that she was abandoned by everyone, so as not to arouse the emperor's suspicion; and second, to dig out that box of gold bars before the court could seal off her old residence in Lütian County.

"So, you're lying to me again?" Zong Suyi frowned in disbelief, pointing at Zhang Ting.

I had been heartbroken for a long time because everyone had abandoned her, and I took meticulous care of her during that time, afraid of upsetting her. But it turns out, it was all a lie!

That liar, that wicked woman, that heartless man, she even preys on pregnant men!

Zhang Ting cleared her throat awkwardly, trying to salvage the situation: "Actually, it's not exactly a lie, it's a different kind of truth. My lord, you must understand, back then, Kyoto was fraught with danger, and the more people who knew, the more perilous it became. You understand me, right?" She looked at him expectantly and trustingly, making no mention of the days when he served her with such devotion.

Her stunningly beautiful face captivated Zong Suyi, leaving him mesmerized and unable to look away. When he saw her firm and trusting gaze, he felt dizzy and couldn't think of anything else.

He nodded blankly.

Only one thought crossed my mind: My wife is amazing.