Seeing that the two women had been forced to the edge of the cliff, Zhao Xing rushed over without waiting for rescue. "Release them!" Zhao Xing shouted from behind the six cultists.
Upon recognizing Zhao Xing, Granny Li excitedly grasped the old lady's hand, "Old Madam, it's Zhao Xing! We're saved!" Although the old lady felt somewhat reassured upon seeing Zhao Xing, she was still worried that he would be outnumbered.
Zhao Xing drew his sword and stabbed at the six men. The leader of the cultists stepped back, grabbed the old lady, and held a knife to her neck, threatening Zhao Xing, "If you don't stop, I'll kill her!"
After recognizing the old lady and Granny Li, Zhao Xing threw down his sword. "My general will be here soon. Be smart and release my old lady. Otherwise, you'll die a horrible death!"
The leader of the cult laughed loudly, "You corrupt Qing officials are cowards, fine, but do you think we, the people of the Mingqi Cult, are the same as you?" Just as he finished speaking, a group of soldiers rushed over, crouching behind Zhao Xing with bows and arrows. Zhao Xing kicked the sword off the ground and gripped it again.
The other five fought back fiercely, but were all killed by arrows. The leader of the cult was spared because the old lady was held hostage.
Seeing the knife against her neck, the old lady lost her usual composure and could not utter a word, her eyes fixed on the gleaming blade. The pebbles falling from the cliff edge sounded like the mournful cries of death to her.
Seeing her master being held hostage, Li Mama, who had been pushed to the ground by the leader of the cult, pounced on the leader and bit his leg when he wasn't paying attention. The leader of the cult was focused on the stalemate with Zhao Xing and didn't notice Li Mama at his feet. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his leg and his hand holding the knife loosened.
Seeing the leader of the cult members distracted, Zhao Xing threw his sword straight at him. By the time the leader reacted, Zhao Xing's sword had pierced through his body, and he lost his footing and plummeted off the cliff. As he fell, he swung his knife heavily across the old woman's back.
The old lady fainted from the pain and staggered towards the cliff. Zhao Xing rushed forward and caught her before she fell. Granny Li took out a handkerchief from her waist and wiped the blood gushing from the old lady's back.
Zhao Xing quickly picked up the old lady and ran towards the carriage, sending one person to inform Fukang'an at full speed and another to fetch a doctor from the city to go to the Fucha residence.
Xi Ying packed Fu Kang'an's luggage, and before she even reached Changting Garden, she saw E Lan looking around at the entrance. "Sister E Lan really treats the Fucha Mansion like her own home, running back and forth three times a day. Aren't you afraid people will suspect us?" Xi Ying said, not even glancing at E Lan, and walked straight in.
E Lan chased after Xi Ying, rattling off a string of words: "You certainly don't arouse suspicion. Now that your husband is about to leave home, you're all smiles. Anyone who doesn't know better would think you're having an affair!"
Xi Ying knew that E Lan was angry about Fu Kang'an and Yan Ning leaving the mansion, so she spoke even more cheerfully, "When a husband's honor brings honor to his wife, I, as a mere woman, should naturally take my husband's honor as my highest honor. How dare I harbor resentment and dissatisfaction in the face of the imperial decree!"
Seeing that Xi Ying didn't seem to care about Fukang'an leaving the capital, E Lan became suspicious and pulled her aside. "Actually, you knew all along that Brother Kang was going to leave the capital, didn't you? You deliberately sent me to the Empress Dowager to persuade Yan Ning to also be expelled from the Fucha Mansion, and in serious cases, she might even lose her life. That way, by the time Brother Kang returned, everything would be set in stone. Even if Brother Kang was a general, there would be no way to reverse the situation. Xi Ying, you are so cunning!"
Nine layers of clouds unfurled like a cloud screen, revealing the spring colors and peach blossoms. Under the soft light, the peach blossoms were as pink and delicate as a beautiful woman's face, though Xi Ying's beauty paled in comparison. She wasn't strikingly beautiful; she had only been able to marry into the Fucha family because of her title as the daughter of the Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu. Although Fukang'an's affection for her wasn't deep after their marriage, he still doted on her. Xi Ying thought she could live a simple and ordinary life like this.
Until Xi Ying's father was stripped of his official position and demoted to a harsh frontier, her entire maternal family had to rely on the Fucha family for support; until E Lan was made a princess and became Fukang'an's betrothed. She began to understand that in this deep mansion, if one did not fight for oneself, one could only be bullied. Therefore, she learned to be a virtuous and gentle general's wife, to be more patient, and to accept Xiang'er and Yan Ning with a dignified and generous smile.
The world is vast, but Xi Ying only ever saw this small patch of sky. One lonely day after another passed, and the beautiful moonlit night of her first marriage to Fukang'an became blurred in her memory. Later, she only remembered the faint, approving smile on Fukang'an's face when he saw her.
Since Fukang'an never set foot in Changting Garden again, the night there has long been shrouded in darkness. No matter how the wind blows or how the rain falls, it cannot stir up even a glimmer of light.
Tears streamed down Xi Ying's face. Now, she was no longer waiting for Fukang'an's approving smile, but for a moment of respite when Fukang'an left the capital for a long journey.
Yan Ning held the peacock feather robe that Zhu Xiang had retrieved, her mind heavy and her face as if weighed down by a mountain. She didn't want to dance. But the best way was to use the peacock dance to arouse the peacock's fighting spirit, as it was the time of year when peacocks were courting, the transition from March to April.
Although the Empress Dowager had not given an order, Yan Ning was required to make the peacock display its tail feathers, but the Emperor's will was unpredictable. Yan Ning worried that if the Empress Dowager was displeased, not only would her life be in danger, but the entire Su family would also be implicated.
The old lady said nothing about the Empress Dowager's decision to send Yan Ning to the palace, and Yan Ning, after much thought, finally understood. It was because she and Fukang'an were not married; no matter what crime she committed, as long as the old lady kept her out of the Fucha household, the Fucha household wouldn't suffer any major consequences. On the other hand, the Su family, now that they had adopted Yan Ning as their daughter, placed the fate of the entire family on her shoulders.
Yan Ning lifted the peacock feather robe, closed her eyes, and gently asked Zhu Xiang to help her change.
Madam Zhang closed the door tightly and asked Su Qi anxiously, "Master, why did the Empress Dowager summon her to the palace? I hope it's not some kind of trouble. We must sever ties with her as soon as possible!"
Su Qi also looked worried. "She's about to marry General Fucha, so it shouldn't be anything bad. We need to stay calm and not forget that Teng'er is still in prison. If anything happens to Teng'er, I'd like to go with him."
Su Qi's words brought tears streaming down Zhang's face. "Why is my life so miserable! My daughter passed away when she was seven years old from an illness, and my son was raised with all my love. He insisted on becoming an official in the capital, but before he had even served for a year or two, he was thrown into the palace prison!"
Su Qi quickly covered Zhang's mouth and scolded her sternly, "What nonsense are you talking about! Have you forgotten what you told the adults? If we reveal even the slightest flaw, Teng'er's life will be in danger."
Zhang nodded with tears in her eyes.
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