Facing each other
Ah Li took out a bottle of antidote and shook it in front of him, saying, "You have been poisoned by me and can't move now. I will feed you half of the antidote, enough for you to walk back to your father. I don't want money, I just want you to answer three questions for me, and I will let you go. If I see you in Hedong Village and you are indeed with your father Cui Zhentian, then I will give you the remaining half bottle of antidote. But if you lie..."
Before Ah Li could finish her threatening words, Cui Zhongshu said quickly, "No, no, ask."
"What are you planning to do by coming to my house?"
"I just saw that you guys have a lot of money and are generous, so I wanted to come and rob you to practice my skills so that I can impress my father when I go back."
"Based on what you know from your Cui family's surveillance, there are so many people on the street watching us. Are they after money?"
Upon learning that they knew the Cui family was spying on him, he realized it must be a bandit. However, since he looked unfamiliar, he figured he wasn't from one of the camps the Cui family was allied with. Fearing he was hostile and might die today, Cui Chongshu became cautious and serious.
"It's true that the Cui family is keeping watch, but that information will only reach my eldest brother and my father. People like us only know about the fat sheep when we get a share. I don't know your news, and it wasn't given to me. I heard it from people in other villages. I can't answer this question, but I can tell you other news that may be more useful than what you know."
"You tell me, I'll listen to whether it's enough for me to let you go."
"Eighty miles west of Hedong lies Tianma Village. Have you heard of it? It's the one made up entirely of refugees. The village's leader claims to be a descendant of a loyal official from Liangzhu. He threatens to rob the rich and give to the poor, just to build a tomb for those loyal officials and generals who were beheaded. Tianma Village arrived earlier than us. The village leader's youngest son is only ten years old, and my father asked me to take him out to play. I don't like that kid who likes to pick his nose, but he accidentally told me about a fat sheep down the mountain. They're generous and look like a newlywed couple visiting from a wealthy family. They don't have any servants or thugs with them, so they're the best of the best. He said his brother had already gone down the mountain to snag this fat sheep, so that the betrothal gift for the bride would be even bigger."
After listening to it, Ah Li felt uninterested and said, "This news is not enough."
"Wait! Let me be frank. You're also bandits. I don't know which stronghold your husband is the leader of, but I can pinpoint a rough area. Not many people use poisonous insects. The information I'm sharing is definitely enough to buy my life. Your husband should understand what I mean. Also, the other half of their betrothal gifts should have already left Tianma Stronghold today. And I wouldn't dare sell you out on this news, so it's well worth it."
After listening, A'li looked back at A'xun, and seeing him nod, she fed him the half bottle of antidote.
"You go."
After struggling to get up from the ground, Cui Zhongshu clung to the window sill and joked before leaving: "No fight, no acquaintance. It would be nice if we could be friends."
A'li said with disgust: "You are so stupid." Then he slammed the window shut without caring about anything.
After retying the red string around the window and administering the poison, the two men lay back on the couch, conversing in voices only audible to them: "Has Hedong Village already finalized the marriage with Tianma Village? Then why are they holding this martial arts competition to find a bride? You said earlier that the town wasn't necessarily more dangerous than the village, and you didn't go up the mountain in advance. Do you know something?"
"Well, my father and I were just guessing before, but we didn't expect it to be Tianma Village. It seems we can't go to Hedong Village. I will find a doctor tomorrow, and I need my wife to cooperate with me in the performance."
After saying that, A Xun whispered the plan to her.
The next day, Ah Li slept until noon, but Ah Xun was not in the room. He had placed some snacks on the table, and under the teacup was a note telling her not to leave the room and not to open the door no matter who knocked. If anyone broke in, she was to find the right moment to use the poisonous insect to escape, or, if necessary, use the talisman he had left behind.
This place was full of dangers, so Ah Li obediently held the talisman he left behind and sat on the couch waiting for him to come back. He waited until it was almost dark before he returned to the house exhausted, with two people following him.
"Madam, are you feeling better? I found a good doctor in town named Zhao, who is quite famous. I asked him to come and see you."
Ah Li decisively pretended to be in pain and said, "It's better now, let him in."
Doctor Zhao came in and took her pulse, then quickly replied, "Congratulations, Madam is pregnant."
Ah Li looked surprised. She held Ah Xun's hand and said excitedly, "Husband, I'm pregnant..."
Her happiness was short-lived. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she asked worriedly, "Doctor Zhao, yesterday, when my husband and I came back from shopping, I felt listless. I only ate two or three bites of dinner last night and vomited them all. I think I caught a cold from my thin clothes. Will this affect my child?"
"Oral pain is a normal reaction to pregnancy, but you're still very young, so it shouldn't be this severe. Let's observe first. Does she have any other symptoms?"
"Otherwise… I had a little spotting last night, but very little."
"Madam, you are newly pregnant. It is best to lie down and rest more. Avoid moving around too much and avoid catching a cold. I will prescribe some medicine to help with the pregnancy. Please take it for seven days and I will come back for a follow-up visit. If you feel any discomfort, please call me immediately."
As he spoke, Doctor Zhao waved to the little girl who had been carrying his medical box for him. She immediately took out writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone from the box so that Doctor Zhao could write.
During this time, the little girl would secretly glance at A'li from time to time, but would quickly lower her head for fear of being discovered.
"This little girl is so cute. She's already here to follow up on patients at such a young age. She looks so adorable. Husband, give her two rewards."
"Thank you for your reward, Madam. Please don't blame me, Madam. Xue'er is mute. She can hear your praise, but she can't reply. I thank you for your reward on her behalf."
Although she was being praised, Xue'er's eyes showed fear and terror instead of joy. It wasn't until Ah Xun personally stuffed the silver into her plain clothing pocket that she weighed the heavy bag in disbelief and gestured to Ah Li to say thank you.
"You're welcome. Come with Doctor Zhao next time and I'll give you a reward."
"Thank you, ma'am. Here's the prescription. If you follow it, the baby will be born within seven days. Don't worry, ma'am. Staying cheerful is better for the baby. We won't disturb you while you're pregnant. Goodbye."
After seeing Doctor Zhao off and making sure he had left Yunzhao Tower, the two of them closed the door and talked.
"Where did you go today? Did someone commit suicide again in town last night?"
"I went out to get some information. Well, eight people died last night, one of them being the wife of a wealthy rice merchant in town. She was over seven months pregnant. This was the rice merchant's first child, and the couple were incredibly loving, childhood sweethearts who had been married less than a year. Logically, suicide was out of the question. The rice merchant couldn't accept this, so he carried the body to the yamen and knelt outside, begging the high-ranking officials from the capital to investigate. Once he was there, the thirteen families whose victims had died also started rioting, carrying the bodies. The stench outside the yamen was unbearable."
"Now that fourteen people have died, the possibility of suicide is very small. The murderer is really becoming more and more rampant. Now he dares to kill eight people in one night."
"Yes, and all eight of them insisted that their house was haunted. They either saw a female ghost killing people or heard strange noises. Each person's details were extremely realistic. For a while, the whole city was in an uproar. After the excitement subsided, there were few people on the streets."
Ah Li was horrified when she heard this, and moved closer to Ah Xun's arms in fear. "Are there really ghosts? So many people have seen them. It's really scary. Let's finish our business and go back quickly."
"Are you scared? Do you want me to take you back first?"
"I don't want to. I can't leave you here alone. A young girl like me can't become a widow at such a young age. I want to stand by you through thick and thin."
Cha Suxun held her in his arms and couldn't help but sigh happily: "Oh, you are really my good wife."
"That's right, I'm such a good wife, you have to marry me in this life or else you will regret it for three lifetimes."
"I have always wanted to be with you forever. But I am afraid that after you die, the marriage thread between us in this world will be severed, and you will no longer want to marry me. But fortunately, I have had you for one life, and I have heard you say that you want me to marry you in my next life. I am already very satisfied."
He sounded somewhat pessimistic, and his tone was full of resignation and helplessness, as if he already knew what would happen in the future.
Ah Li was puzzled, but she still sat up, hooked her fingers with him, and said seriously: "Then when we are both dead, we will be married again in the netherworld, and I will marry you with all my soul and spirit. That way, even if we are reincarnated and we don't know each other, our souls will be husband and wife in every life."
Hearing this, Cha Suxun was speechless. All his selfish thoughts were aroused by her words at this moment. After obtaining happiness, one will crave more.
There was even an idea in his mind that couldn't disappear.
They were both a loving couple for a lifetime. Perhaps if they were more loving, they would be able to surpass the weight of the mortal Wen Yici in her heart...
"If I break my promise, I will never be able to turn..."
Before she finished her oath, Cha Suxun quickly covered her mouth and said, "Alright, alright, I believe you. You don't have to make such a heavy oath."
After releasing her, Cha Suxun changed the subject, saying, "After I left the government office today, I saw a drunk and troublesome old woman in a tent in front of a small tavern. She was telling stories about this 'ghost' that's been causing a lot of trouble in the capital. A group of people gathered there to listen, and there were witnesses in the crowd to several of the stories she told. I didn't leave until I finished listening, but it was a bit scary. Do you want to listen?"
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