Chapter 40 Shocking news arrives; the remains are collected…

After a good night's sleep, Xiaoyi gently pushed open the window, and the bright spring sunlight streamed into the room. He sat by the window, resting his chin on his hand, basking in the warm sunshine.

Outside the window, the sky was clear and blue, with white clouds drifting lazily by, and forsythia blossoms under the eaves were in full bloom.

A gentle breeze caressed his cheek, and he squinted comfortably, feeling the sweetness in the air and the vitality everywhere.

Xiaoyi leaned against the windowsill, a smile playing on her lips as she gazed at the closed study across the way, lost in thought.

Even though her grandmother and mother had become slaves, they were so capable that it would be easy for them to make a comeback.

Once they find him and their family is freed from slavery, they will arrange a marriage for him.

Zhang Ting can be quite naughty sometimes, always making him cry, but if he gives her two well-behaved and adorable chubby babies, she will definitely treat him well.

Thinking this, Xiaoyi's shoulders trembled slightly, and she giggled.

He got up late today and didn't see Zhang Ting at breakfast.

He went back to his room, found some new clothes, put them on, stood in front of the mirror and looked at himself from left to right. After a while, he took them off, carefully folded them, and reluctantly stroked the smooth satin surface before putting them back in his trunk.

It won't be beautiful if it gets damaged.

In the afternoon, Xiaoyi went to the spice shop.

Zheng Er wanted to follow Zhang Ting, but he wasn't entirely at ease with the shop having rehired a manager.

However, although this person was shrewd, he was still honest. He quickly made a round of inspections and then returned home.

On the road, I encountered an old woman selling chili peppers. She smiled and asked, "Would you like to take some back with you, sir?"

Xiaoyi pouted slightly and stopped to buy a pound.

He was overjoyed and returned home with light steps.

Zhang Ting must be very happy!

Time flew by, and soon they arrived at Zhang's residence.

He hummed a lighthearted tune and carried the cloth bag filled with chili peppers to the kitchen.

Seeing Du Zaolang and Xiao Rong sneaking around together, he frowned slightly, holding up a cloth bag. Just as he was about to suggest adding some chili peppers to the evening's dishes, he overheard their conversation.

“Last month, the execution ground was awash in blood, and I don’t dare walk in the alleys around there anymore.”

"That's right. I heard that the government office beheaded the body and didn't even provide a straw mat. They just threw the body into a mass grave, and the stray dogs in the capital swarmed there because of the smell."

Xiao Yi pouted. People die at the execution ground every day. What's so strange about that?

Du Zhaolang, still shaken, clutched his chest and whispered, "Your Majesty is truly ruthless. It's one thing to let the Lin family go, but the Zong family has produced a Grand Secretary, yet they show such disrespect."

"The entire Zong family was executed; thousands of lives were taken without warning." He nudged Xiao Rong with his elbow. "You have no idea, those people's eyes almost popped out of their sockets; they were so wronged!"

Xiaoyi looked dazed, her mouth half-open, her mind blank. Suddenly, the cloth bag in her hand slipped from her grasp, spilling blood-red chili peppers.

His lips trembled, and his voice quivered: "The Zong family... the entire Zong family was executed."

These words seemed to have exhausted all his strength, and his body went limp and he slid to the ground. The two people rushed over to support him, their mouths opening and closing, but he could not hear any sound.

He grabbed one of their arms, tears welling up in his eyes and blurring his vision. "You're lying to me, aren't you?"

"My grandmother and mother devoted their entire lives to the court! How can they be executed so easily?!"

"The entire clan is utterly loyal to His Majesty and has never harbored any disloyalty. How can the entire clan be exterminated?!"

He shook his head as he looked at the two of them, tears streaming down his face, and choked out, "No, this isn't real..."

"It's not true..."

Xiao Yi suddenly looked up, his face blank and streaked with tears. He abruptly pushed their hands away and rushed out the door.

The two hurriedly followed, but the person had already disappeared.

...

Zhang Ting and Luo Zijun were discussing academic matters when Luo Zijun treated her to a meal, which is why she returned home rather late.

She drank a couple of glasses at the banquet and inevitably became a little tipsy.

At that moment, she was rubbing her temples when she stepped into her house and saw that the courtyard was brightly lit and people were filled with anxiety.

Zhang Ting's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly went over to ask, "What happened?"

Du Zaolang, his eyes darting around and clutching his handkerchief, quietly told her what had happened.

Zhang Ting was extremely shocked, never expecting that there were still some accomplices in her family.

However, let's put that aside for now.

She was somewhat angry and asked sharply, "Since he's disappeared, why didn't you tell me?"

“That Zong family… must not be touched, I’m afraid that word will leak out.”

Zhang Ting pressed her hand to her forehead, looked up and sighed. If such a special person fell into her hands, the whole capital would probably know about it. What was there to worry about?

Du Zaolang was clueless, and Zhang Ting was helpless.

Moreover, it's not safe at night, so the most urgent thing is to find Xiaoyi first.

Where have you searched for them?

Du Zaolang answered each question, and this time there was nothing wrong with his answers.

Zhang Ting instructed, "Continue searching in other places."

She turned and asked, "Where's Zheng Er?"

"The spice shop is busy today, so they probably haven't returned yet."

Having no other option, Zhang Ting called Li Ruilian back to help him search.

Going to a mass grave late at night is really creepy.

The carriage traveled through the silent darkness. Crows hid among the trees, watching the moving behemoth and cawing hoarsely. Hungry wolves, their eyes gleaming, lurked in the grass, waiting for their chance to strike.

The dirt road bumped and swayed until it finally came to a stop.

Zhang Ting and Li Ruilian got out of the car. At night, wild animals came out to roam, and both of them carried knives for self-defense.

Holding a lantern in one hand, she stared at the cold glint of the knife tip, and had a strange feeling that she wasn't there to find someone, but to kill.

Thinking this, Zhang Ting chuckled to herself.

They discussed splitting up and acting separately with Li Ruilian.

She walked ahead, carrying a knife, and called out loudly, "Xiao Yi—"

The swarm of stray dogs noticed the person approaching and barked fiercely at her.

However, Zhang Ting slightly raised his knife, and they were stopped by the cold light, whimpering and running away with their tails between their legs.

The officials in charge of the mass graves were perfunctory and irresponsible, simply covering the corpses with a shovel of soil and letting the stench of death fill the air.

Even though Zhang Ting covered her face with a towel, she could still smell the stench, which made her feel nauseous.

As she walked, she accidentally kicked one of the women, causing her to stumble and nearly fall. She swayed a few times before managing to regain her balance.

Her face, covered by the towel, darkened, and she clenched her fists involuntarily. What if these people ever fell into her hands...

After searching the mass grave, Zhang Ting still couldn't find Xiao Yi. He met up with Li Ruilian and saw that her face was pale and her eyes were filled with fear. He thought that she must have seen all the dead people from the first half of her life tonight, so he comforted her, saying, "Why don't you go back to the carriage and wait? I can manage on my own."

How can you expect the employer to search for the job all by himself while he goes back to rest?

Li Ruilian gritted her teeth and insisted on persisting.

Zhang Ting sighed, seemingly with some regret, "Alright then, you go look in the west, and I'll go check in the east."

She walked quickly eastward, and once she was away from the mass grave, she pulled off the towel on her face and took a deep breath of the fresh air.

The night was cloudless, and the bright moon shone brightly.

There is a pool of water here, reflecting the moon, its surface shimmering in the breeze.

After a moment of calm, Zhang Ting suddenly caught sight of two green lights flashing in the grass. Her eyes sharpened, and she gripped the hilt of her knife tightly.

The lurking wolf, realizing it had been discovered, grinned and bared its fangs, then lunged at her.

Zhang Ting's skills honed over the past few days were not for nothing. He dodged to the side and swiftly swung his knife at the necks of the two wolves. One wolf was caught off guard and its head fell to the ground, while the other luckily dodged.

Seeing its companion dead, it knew it was no match for Zhang Ting. Its eyes narrowed, and it stared intently at Zhang Ting, letting out a threatening growl as it retreated.

Zhang Ting had heard that wolves held grudges against her, and she was not going to let it go. She rushed forward, raised her knife, and quickly ended its life.

She looked around carefully, glanced at the blood dripping from the tip of the knife, and touched her chin. This small team only had two members?

Zhang Ting, carrying the blood-dripping blade, continued forward, calling out, "Xiao Yi—"

After walking a few steps, they saw something weakly thrashing about in the pool.

She narrowed her eyes and walked in that direction.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Xiao Yi, or rather, Zong Suyi.

He was hidden in the hazy mist, his wet clothes clinging to his body, making his physique appear even thinner, and his black hair was loose and dripping wetly down his back.

Zhang Ting frowned slightly and called out, "Xiao Yi."

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Zong Suyi abruptly stopped in his tracks, turning his stiff neck to look at the person who had approached.

His beloved stood on the shore, holding a dim lantern, and called to him, "Come here."

Zong Suyi's eyelashes trembled slightly, and his empty eyes regained their light. Tears welled up in his dry eyes again, streaming down his cheeks, mingling with the water droplets that slid down his hair, gathering at his thin, white chin, before suddenly plunging into the pool.

He felt as if he had found a boat in a desperate situation, and suddenly turned and ran towards her.

"Zhang Ting!"

Zong Suyi tripped over the pebbles in the water and stumbled forward. Zhang Ting dropped the lantern, grabbed his arm, and pulled him up.

The bright moon hangs high in the sky, and the shadows of the trees sway.

Zhang Ting released his arm, then raised her hand to cup his snow-white, jade-like cheeks. The silvery moonlight shone on his sorrowful eyes, creating a hazy glow.

His clothes were disheveled, revealing his beautifully shaped collarbone. His gaze went upward, and his prominent, delicate Adam's apple trembled frequently.

Zong Suyi trembled all over, stammering incoherently, "Why? My mother and grandmother devoted their entire lives to the country and its people, and why were they killed?!"

He looked at Zhang Ting, his eyes red and swollen, and cried out in a piercing voice, "Zhang Ting, I have no family left! Not a single one!"

Zhang Ting stared at him quietly for a while, then suddenly threw away the blade in her hand and pulled him into her arms.

She gazed at the bright moon without saying a word, listening to the faint sobs in her arms, and patted his back soothingly.

The moon is bright and the wind is gentle; the night is chilly.

The person in his arms was trembling, whether from the cold or from unstable emotions.

Zhang Ting took off his outer robe and wrapped it around Zong Suyi, picked up the blade and hung it on his waist, then picked him up horizontally.

Zong Suyi wrapped her arms around her neck, nestled quietly in her arms, her whole body relaxed, but her expression was unfocused.

Zhang Ting stepped onto the main road, but after only two steps, the wolf head she had just chopped off was pressed against her shoe, leaving dark bloodstains on the surface. She clicked her tongue and kicked the wolf head into the bushes.

"Thump—"

The person in his arms seemed startled, their pupils dilated, and they abruptly withdrew their hands. "What was that sound!"

Zhang Ting tugged at her clothes with one hand to cover his eyes and casually replied, "Oh, it's nothing, I just kicked a pebble."

Hearing this, he relaxed again.

The carriage stopped to the north. To get there, they would have to pass through a mass grave. Just thinking about having to smell the stench of corpses again made Zhang Ting's face contort with pain.

They ran into Li Ruilian on the road. When she saw that Li Ruilian was carrying someone in her arms, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her face turned deathly pale, and she covered her mouth with her trembling hand and followed behind.

In the silent mass grave, several crows circled overhead, emitting harsh, hoarse cries that sent chills down one's spine.

As Zhang Ting walked by, he startled a crow that was pecking at carrion nearby. The crow cawed a few times, then flapped its wings and flew to the trees.

Startled by the unusually shrill voice, Li Ruilian, who was behind her, felt even more fear in her eyes. She took a few steps back and almost tripped and fell to the ground.

Zong Suyi suddenly looked up and said blankly, "I heard someone calling me."

Zhang Tingteng pressed his head down, his eyes fixed straight ahead: "You misheard."

He clutched Jin Ting's clothes, lowered his head, and his eyes were lifeless.

Just as they were about to shove the person into the carriage and get out, they heard a murmur.

"I couldn't find my grandmother and the others..."

Zhang Ting thought to herself: Nearly two months have passed since the incident, and along the way, wolves, dogs, and crows have gathered. If I recognize the bones, I might be able to find them.

He comforted him, saying, "Perhaps a kind person has already collected his remains."

Zong Suyi's face was ashen, and she shook her head helplessly. None of the students, colleagues, or friends that her grandmother had helped dared to stand up for her in times of crisis. Those people were nothing but opportunists who swayed with the imperial power. How could they risk their lives to collect the remains of the Zong family?

Today was too chaotic. Li Ruilian had one hand on the bicycle frame, her lips were pale, and her legs were weak. Her condition did not look good.

Zhang Ting told her to take her time and wait until she felt better before the group continued their journey back.

Outside, Li Ruilian was driving her carriage, the sound of wheels rolling and horses' hooves hitting the ground incessant, and her shouts could be heard from time to time.

The room was completely silent.

There were too many things to do that day. Zhang Ting leaned against the side and closed her eyes to rest, but her mind was racing.

The first thing that came to mind was Zong Suyi's background. His entire family was executed, but he alone escaped and was reduced to a slave. Who was behind this? Zhang Ting felt a chill run down his spine just thinking about it.

Many people in the capital must have noticed her. What should we do?

Zong Suyi hugged his arms and huddled on the other side, letting his wet hair stick to his face. As if lost in thought, his eyelashes drooped and his face turned ashen.

The mass grave was desolate and remote; we didn't arrive at Zhang's residence until late at night.

After watching Zong Suyi enter the east wing, Zhang Ting instructed Du Zaolang to boil water and serve him a bath.

Du Zaolang, terrified of death, hesitated and said, "Miss, will anything happen to the family because of him in the future...?"

Zhang Ting recalled that Du Zhaolang's own background wasn't exactly clean.

But she didn't want to get entangled with him, and simply said, "Just do as I say."

Seeing that the young lady was displeased, Du Zaolang dared not be presumptuous and quickly agreed.

Zong Suyi watched this scene through a slit, gripping the windowsill tightly until her fingertips turned white.

After a while, Du Zaolang came to the room to bring water, keeping a respectful distance from him.

"Young master, the water is ready."

Immediately, he hurriedly fled the door.

Zong Suyi, still fully clothed, sank straight into the water, letting the hot water wash over his head and fill his mouth and nose. A strong feeling of suffocation swept over him, and his lungs felt as if they were being burned by flames.

The pain awakened his instinctive fear of death, and he finally couldn't hold back and rushed out of the water.

Zong Suyi lay on the wooden tub, coughing violently. Once his lungs calmed down, he couldn't help but cover his face, his shoulders trembling violently, tears streaming from between his fingers, and soft sobs escaping his throat.

The voice was kept extremely low, and could only be faintly heard inside the room.

He has no relatives left.

No one will shelter him from the wind and rain anymore.

The water was scalding hot, but he felt so cold.

......

Zhang Ting had a difficult night.

After washing up and taking a shower, she lay in bed as usual, but her mind was not at peace.

"She dedicated herself to finding a way out for children from poor families... She was renowned during her lifetime, but after her death, no one wrapped her body..."

"I... as her friend, am also a timid and cowardly person, only daring to wear apricot-colored clothes... to wear mourning clothes for her."

"You're so young, yet you're so mature for your age. What do your family say about your upbringing? It's outrageous."

"My grandmother and my mother devoted their entire lives to the country and its people, how dare you kill them?!"

She turned over, trying her best to clear her mind, but after a while she still tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep.

Zhang Ting got up and lit the lamp, that was all.

Months ago, she also managed to save her life by relying on the name of Grand Secretary Zong, so this time she was repaying her.

She wore a light blouse and sat down at the desk. She picked up the pen with her right hand, but to avoid having her handwriting recognized, she switched to her left hand, though her handwriting with her left hand was extremely ugly.

After careful consideration, I finally put pen to paper.

Now, throughout the world, perhaps only Grand Secretary Xu is willing to risk defying the imperial decree to collect the remains of the clan.

Zhang Ting stopped writing; there were only three short sentences on the paper.

The Xu family has strict rules; success or failure depends entirely on whether the item can be delivered to Grand Secretary Xu.

......

At midnight, a letter was placed upright in the center of the Xu family mansion gate. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew the letter to a corner.

Just as dawn broke, the gatekeeper opened the gate, yawning sleepily. Her eyes inadvertently caught sight of a brown piece of paper in the corner. She assumed it was something the old woman who swept the place yesterday hadn't cleaned properly, and muttered a few curses under her breath.

He walked over and picked it up, only to find it was a letter with five large characters scrawled on it: "To be opened by Grand Secretary Xu."

"Huh?"

Since it concerned the master of the house, the gatekeeper dared not make a decision on his own and hurriedly handed the envelope to Steward Xu for a decision.

The handwriting was messy, the envelope wasn't even sealed, and I heard it was found in a corner. Every detail revealed the sender's perfunctory attitude and disdain.

Butler Xu frowned, his wrinkled face full of seriousness.

If this letter had been placed openly in the middle of the road, she wouldn't have paid any attention to it and would have treated it as a flattering gesture. However, the other party's attitude of being afraid of being seen or noticed made her extremely serious and she dared not open the letter at all.

While the adults were still away at the morning court, I quickly handed it to her.

Xu Pin had already put on his official robes and was rinsing his mouth with tea when he saw Steward Xu rushing over in a hurry. He was quite surprised and asked, "Old Xu, what urgent matter do you have so early in the morning?"

Butler Xu, panting heavily, handed her the letter before he could even reply.

Although Xu Pin was puzzled by his old friend's hasty actions today, he still accepted the letter and hurriedly opened it out of trust in her.

Unfolding the letter, Xu Pin squinted and struggled to decipher the messy, crude handwriting. The letter, though only three sentences long, sent shivers down her spine.

What do students across the country think of her now?

My second question is, what does His Majesty think of her now?

Three questions: How does the Xu family conduct themselves when they are away from home?

Xu Pin clutched the letter, then slumped into a chair, letting out a heavy sigh.

Steward Xu was startled and hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with this letter?"

She hunched over, staring blankly at the dimly lit doorway.

Now, students all over the world believe that she framed the imperial family and harmed loyal officials, and they hate her to the bone; Xu Zhengyue voluntarily became His Majesty's dog, and she, as his mother, must be nothing more than an old dog in His Majesty's heart; she was promoted to Grand Secretary, and the entire Xu family thought that the emperor had bestowed great favor upon them, and they acted arrogantly and domineeringly.

Little did they know, the next step was into the abyss.

On the surface, the letter was questioning her, but in reality, it was a warning and admonition.

I wonder where she got this good fortune from?

Xu Pin asked softly, "Did the sir leave an address? Or any other token?"

Steward Xu shook his head blankly and replied, "The gatekeeper reported that there was only this letter."

Xu Pin let out a sigh of relief, deeply regretting that he could not get to know this wise man.

She lowered her head, pondering what she could still do to salvage the situation.

After a moment of silence, he instructed Steward Xu, "I am not feeling well today, please ask for leave on my behalf."

"I heard that the entire Zong family was left to rot in the wilderness; my heart aches greatly."

"Go to Zhengjun and get another ten thousand taels of silver to repair the tomb and send the entire clan to their final resting place."

Steward Xu vaguely understood and replied, "Yes."

Xu Pin stared at her intently, his tone leaving no room for argument: "Xu Feng, you handle this matter personally. Make sure it's done properly."

"Also, speak to Prefect Song and make sure those negligent and irresponsible clerks in the government office are severely punished." With that, Xu Pin propped herself up on her knees, and Steward Xu quickly stepped forward to help her up.

"Yes, sir, please rest assured."

......

Zhang Ting stayed up until the end of the 1-3 AM last night before going to sleep. She only managed to doze off for an hour before getting up and practicing martial arts with Li Ruilian as usual.

In the courtyard, Li Ruilian threw a punch at Zhang Ting with lightning speed. Zhang Ting dodged to the side, the wind from the punch just grazing her face. She immediately swept her fist at Li Ruilian's feet, but Li Ruilian nimbly dodged it. The two took a step back, and in an instant, their fists met again, exchanging blows and kicking up several withered leaves.

The discussion ended at the end of the Mao hour (5-7 AM).

Zhang Ting took a towel from the side to wipe his sweat, then casually draped it over his shoulder, and poured a cup of tea on the stone table next to him, handing it to Li Ruilian.

Li Ruilian's brow was beaded with sweat. She took the drink with practiced ease and downed it in one gulp. "As expected of the boss, you are exceptionally talented. Now you can rival Zheng Er."

Zheng Er was already second only to herself among the four of them. At this rate, she wouldn't have anything left to teach in less than two years.

Zhang Ting is very satisfied with her current progress. Learning martial arts is not something that can be accomplished overnight. She has been studying and practicing diligently for several years, and she would be grateful if she could reach half of Li Ruilian's level.

This can be considered a small step forward. Zhang Ting is not stingy with money for those around her and promised to give Li Ruilian a red envelope at the end of the month.

Overjoyed, the other party quickly bowed to her, saying, "Thank you so much, mistress!"

With this extra money, she could get better horseshoes, and if she had any left over, she could buy a batch of high-quality fodder...

Zhang Ting immediately knew what she was happy about, shook his head, and went back to his room to take a bath. "What a horse fanatic!"

If I don't find her a job raising horses in the future, I'll be doing myself a disservice.

Despite only sleeping for an hour last night and having a vigorous martial arts practice this morning, Zhang Ting is full of energy.

She put on her clothes, dried her hair until it was half dry, tidied herself up in front of the mirror, and then opened the door to call Xiao Rong in to help her get ready.

Xiao Rong, who was holding a needle and thread, poked her head out and said, "Hey! You're here."

Zhang Ting walked into the courtyard and found that the fallen leaves had been swept clean.

She bathed very quickly and finished sweeping the courtyard in a short while, which was quite efficient. She even praised Xiao Rong: "I saw you doing needlework, and you swept so quickly today."

After Zong Suyi developed chilblains on his hands, the heavy responsibility of sweeping and cleaning fell to Xiao Rong, who had fewer chores.

However, Xiao Rong was not happy to hear the master's praise, but rather a little embarrassed. He glanced at the closed east wing next to him and replied, "Miss, it was the young master who cleaned it today."

Zhang Ting raised an eyebrow. Had the sun risen in the west? Wasn't he the one who hated cleaning the most? Last time, she only mentioned that he should continue cleaning after he recovered, and he became listless and sullen.

Entering the main hall with doubts, the food was already laid out. Zong Suyi sat upright on the stool, head bowed, eyes fixed straight ahead.

Seeing the long, narrow shadow cast on the ground, he quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Miss."

Zhang Ting wanted to ask him something, but as soon as her gaze fell on him, she remembered his troublesome past. She swallowed the words she was about to say, sat down gracefully, and simply said, "Let's eat."

Her three short words felt like charity to Zong Suyi. Contrary to his usual behavior, he kept his head down, his voice choked with emotion: "I dare not, I dare not. I was ignorant and arrogant before, and offended my master. It was only because my master was kind that he did not hold it against me."

"Now that I know the difference between high and low, how dare I disregard rank?"

After saying this, he lowered his head and left the main hall.

Zhang Ting opened her mouth, but didn't say anything to stop them.

Zong Suyi's background was a ticking time bomb for her.

Maintaining a distant relationship between the two is beneficial to her in every way.

After Zong Suyi left the main hall, he slowly raised his head. His once handsome face was covered with tears, and his eyes were filled with sorrow.

Zong Suyi wiped away his tears. Zhang Ting probably didn't know his background before, right? Otherwise, she wouldn't have let him stay by her side. She might have thought he was some lost young master.

But now that she knows, she must find it hilarious that someone would let a lowly slave who could never rise above her circumstances run rampant.

The most ridiculous thing is that this lowly slave actually dared to dream of marrying his master.

He covered his face in humiliation, as if he had returned to the day he was dragged to the front of the stage to sell his wares, and was slapped hard by the broker. But he could no longer feel anger, only fear and trepidation, and endless fear of the future.

He wiped the tears from his face with a handkerchief, then walked into the kitchen with his head down.

Du Zaolang, Xiao Rong, and Xi Ge sat around a table to eat.

"I really don't know what Miss is thinking? Allowing such a huge threat to exist in the house."

"That's right, no one who gets involved with the main family ends up well."

Zong Suyi stepped into the kitchen, and all three of them saw him.

But Du Zhaolang remained silent, and Xiao Rong asked awkwardly, "Young master, does the young lady have any instructions?"

He stared at the ground and whispered, "I'll come here to eat someday."

Du Zaolang assumed he had fallen out of favor and was even less willing to associate with the jinx. He had almost finished his meal, so he put down his chopsticks and went back to his room.

Xige, holding the bowl, nudged Xiaorong's arm and pulled him away.

Zong Suyi sat down quietly, but then heard someone outside the door muttering, "What a troublemaker, making everyone make room for him."

"Brother Xi, please stop talking."

The sound faded into the distance, but he couldn't hold back his tears, which streamed down his face and landed on the table.

In the afternoon, Du Zaolang presented Zhang Ting with the accounts and a gorgeous blue robe.

"He said he's not going to care anymore?"

Du Zaolang carefully observed Zhang Ting's expression and replied in a low voice, "The young master said that he is weak and incompetent and unfit for a great responsibility."

Zhang Ting closed her eyes, rested her hands on the desk, and gently rubbed her temples. "Take the accounts and manage them for now; send the clothes back to him."

Still not entirely at ease, he advised him: "Be cautious in everything you do, and think thrice before you act."

"yes."

......

It has been raining for several days in a row, and the sun has not come out for a long time.

Zhang Ting had nothing to do today, so she went to the Ke Ying Building to check the accounts and received more than four thousand taels of silver. This was the only good thing that had happened recently, and a smile appeared on her face.

In the afternoon, he brought water and gifts to discuss poetry and literature with Luo Zijun.

But when Luo Zijun got to a certain point, she was surprised to find that Zhang Ting was daydreaming.

"Does my sister seem to have something on her mind?"

Zhang Ting didn't hide anything from her and nodded, "There's something I really don't know how to handle."

Luo Zijun was surprised: "In all the world, there are things that cause you, sister, distress?"

In her eyes, Zhang Ting was calm and composed, always able to handle things quickly and efficiently, and she was also very tactful. Even if a problem couldn't be solved immediately, she would secretly gather her strength and wait for the right opportunity.

Luo Zijun felt deeply that there was nothing her sister couldn't do.

Zhang Ting waved her hand, saying there were many things she couldn't do.

But just as she was about to speak, she suddenly remembered something and immediately swallowed the words that were about to come out.

With a sigh, he began to talk to Luo Zijun about other things.

On the way back to the Zhang residence in the evening, the driver passed several incense and candle shops, all of which were sold out. He wondered, "Which family has had so many deaths recently?"

The owner of the incense and candle shop happened to overhear this and said with a smile, "They've all been bought by Lord Xu's household."

"Please come again the day after tomorrow if you wish!"

The driver waved his hand hastily. Why would she buy incense and candles for no reason? It's too unlucky.

Zhang Ting remained outwardly calm, but inwardly thought: It's done.

Upon entering the inner courtyard, Du Zaolang saw her return, called Xiao Rong to help set the table, and then they all left together.

The hall was lit with dim lanterns. Zhang Ting sat alone in the main seat, staring at the empty space opposite her, her brow slightly furrowed.

She hadn't seen Zong Suyi for quite some time; it seemed as if he was deliberately avoiding her.

After quickly finishing their meal, they strolled around the courtyard to digest.

Just as I reached a corner, the door next to me was suddenly pulled open.

A thin, pale-faced boy emerged. He looked haggard, with much of the flesh on his cheeks gone, and he seemed as if he could float away at any moment.

Zhang Ting glanced at Zong Suyi, but he quickly looked away, his eyes darkening, and he bowed to her respectfully.

"Miss."

Zhang Ting looked away and told him to get up.

He took two steps, but then stopped.

She turned around and her gaze fell on the ground beside her. She said in a low voice, "I heard today that the bodies of the entire Zong family have been reburied."

"The official who disposed of the body has also been dismissed from his post."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zong Suyi suddenly looked up, rushed to Zhang Ting without thinking, grabbed her arm, and asked excitedly, "Really?"

After saying that, he suddenly realized what he had done, abruptly released Zhang Ting's hand, awkwardly took two steps back, lowered his head, and nervously twisted his hands together.

"Please forgive me, Miss; I lost my composure."

Zhang Ting glanced at his hand and suddenly asked, "Are you that afraid of me?"

Feeling somewhat disheartened, she abruptly turned her gaze away, tossing out, "Qingming Festival is in a couple of days. Tell Du Zaolang to prepare more offerings for the sacrifices. Go and pay your respects then." Then, she turned and left.

Zong Suyi stared blankly at her retreating figure, forcing himself to look away, his heart filled with sorrow.

Since ancient times, people of good and bad social classes have not married. What is he still hoping for?

But Zong Suyi couldn't help but call out to Zhang Ting, who stopped and turned to look at him.

Her indifferent expression was like a sharp knife piercing his chest. His lips trembled, but he still said, "Thank you, Miss."

Zhang Ting lowered his eyelids, straightened his gaze, and said, "You don't need to thank me. I didn't go to the Zong family to collect the remains."

Get some rest.

She left without looking back.

But Zong Suyi had a strong intuition that the entire Zong family was able to be reburied and laid to rest because of her.

North of the city, the Xu residence.

Xu Pin leaned back in her chair, the lamplight flickering, half of her face hidden in the darkness, her shadow flashing in and out.

"Is everything taken care of?"

Steward Xu bowed and replied, "I received your instructions and began to deal with it. However, many of the corpses were rotten and unrecognizable, making it impossible to identify their identities or names."

Xu Pin understood and asked, "Are Granny Zong and her daughter's tombstones complete?"

"Sir, the tombstones have already been erected for those two."

Xu Pin nodded, stood up, and said, "Xu Feng, old buddy, you're still the one who gets things done most smoothly."

"Does the manor have any leftover paper money or ingots?"

"Sir, there are indeed some left."

Xu Pin put his hands behind his back and looked up, "Then tomorrow, come with me to send these to the mass grave to pay respects to our old friend."

Butler Xu remained silent for a long time. Xu Pin looked up and saw that she looked hesitant and worried.

"My lord, if you go there in person, His Majesty will surely have even more complaints. This time... you were responsible for the funeral of the entire Zong family, and I heard that he was furious inside, and even Miss Yue was punished."

Xu Pin's cloudy eyes revealed a deep melancholy, and his voice was hoarse: "While she is young, let her suffer more, remember the pain, so that she will think more carefully about what she does in the future."

Being someone's dog means that if your master is unhappy, he can kick you at any time.

"Xu Feng, we're all getting old."

If His Majesty truly punishes the Xu family for this, it would be a good thing. While she still has a few years left to live, he can pull the Xu family out of the vortex.

Suddenly, a figure rushed in.

Xu Zhengyue had just returned from court, dressed in official robes, his face ashen, his chest heaving violently. "Mother, why did you do this?"

"Do you know what people outside are saying about you? They say you're crocodile tears, all pretense of compassion."

"His Majesty also offended the Xu family because of this matter, not only criticizing his daughter, but also your good apprentice, Prefect Song, was reprimanded this morning!"

She put her hands on her waist, her face contorted with rage.

Upon hearing this, Xu Pin remained calm on the surface. After a moment, he seemed to realize something, then pointed at her and said with a smile, "Aren't you His Majesty's little dog? His Majesty dotes on you more than anything, why would he make trouble for you?"

Hearing her sarcastic tone, Xu Zheng's face twisted with anger. He lowered his head and said indignantly, "Mother! I did this for the sake of the Xu family's century-old foundation. Mother, please don't mock me for this."

Xu Pin nodded thoughtfully, "So it was all for the sake of the Xu family's century-old legacy. You've gone through so much trouble, my good child. Even if people outside call me an old dog, it's all worth it!"

Xu Zheng glared at her, then turned his face away in an instant, gritting his teeth and spitting out two words: "Mother."

Xu Pin sat down in the chair, his face serious, and said softly, "Kneel down."

Xu Zheng clenched his fists, lifted his official robe, and was about to kneel down before her, but she stopped him.

"Go change into some casual clothes. I get annoyed just looking at you in these clothes." After saying that, she turned to Steward Xu and said, "Xu Feng, bring me my cane."

Butler Xu hesitated, then turned and went into her bedroom, only to come out with a long ruler.

She placed it on the table beside Xu Pin and smiled awkwardly, "Please forgive me, my lord, this is all I could find."

Xu Pin glanced at her and said, "You all spoil her. She'll know what's good for her when something happens." But he didn't ask Steward Xu to bring a new cane.

During this time, a servant brought a cup of tea.

Xu Pin gestured for Steward Xu to sit down, handed her his own cup, and then turned to scold, "Blind thing! Can't you see your Grandma Xu is here too?"

The servant immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness, but it was Steward Xu who pleaded for him, and Xu Pin finally let him go.

Butler Xu was about to bring the tea back to her when Xu Pin waved his hand with a smile, "Old friend, we're practically family, why are you being so polite with me?"

"Drink up, drink up. You must be tired after spending so much time with me."

Despite the kindness and generosity she had received from her master for decades, Steward Xu could not help but tear up every time.

"Eh." He took a sip of the tea.

A short while later, Xu Zhengyue hurriedly changed into a dark-colored dress and arrived. She went straight to Xu Pin, lifted her robe, knelt down, and straightened her back.

"Your daughter is unfilial, please punish me, Mother."

Xu Pin stood up, gripped the handrail, and walked over with a long ruler, asking her to extend her left hand.

"Slap—" The palm instantly turned bright red.

"Where are you being unfilial? You're practically the most filial daughter ever. This old woman is already this age, and she still gets called an old dog? The good reputation she's built up over the past decades is ruined in an instant!"

"Slap—" The palm of her hand visibly swelled up.

"You flattered and fawned on your superiors! You acted like a eunuch! You've completely disgraced the Xu family."

Xu Pin was old and weak, and tired from the beating, the steward helped her sit down. She asked, "You brat! Do you know your mistake?"

Xu Zheng's eyes were bloodshot, and tears kept flowing down her face. Her hands trembled with pain, but she still stretched them out straight, her back ramrod straight.

He said, word by word, "I...didn't...do...wrong."

Xu Pin pointed at her with trembling hands and said to Steward Xu, "Xu Feng, look at her, look at her! What a wretched girl!"

Steward Xu helped her catch her breath, just as the servant came over to serve tea again.

Steward Xu quickly took the tea, skimmed off the foam for Xu Pin, and handed it to her, saying, "My lady, please have some tea to calm your nerves."

Xu Pin took the drink and finally felt better. She closed her eyes, and the housekeeper, Xu, skillfully went around to her back and gently massaged her temples.

A moment later she opened her eyes and said, “Get up, you wicked girl, lest your father think I’m being harsh on you.”

Her face was somber, and her tone was resolute: "I've discussed it with your mother-in-law, and we'll send you to a post outside the city next year."

Xu Zhengyue's eyes widened, and she suddenly stood up. Her knees ached, and she stumbled and fell to one side. Butler Xu hurriedly supported her, feeling extremely distressed.

Her left hand trembled slightly as she let her guard down, and she raised her voice: "Mother!"

Xu Pinwei lowered her raised hand and turned her head away. "It's not up to you."

Xu Zhengyue stared intently at her mother's face, gritted her teeth, and said, "I cannot obey." With that, she bowed to Xu Pin and left.

"That wretched girl!"