Ye Jingchuan’s eyebrows twitched somewhat exaggeratedly as he looked at Zhou Weizhao, feeling rather dazed. “You didn’t see it—that little girl is even more frightening than my father! And to think I was worried she’d be scared by those people. Now it seems she’ll be lucky not to kill them all!”
Zhou Weizhao’s eyes darkened slightly. Just now, someone had already reported to them in detail about how Song Chuyi had interrogated those people. To be honest, this made him believe even more in the dream Song Chuyi had described.
If she hadn’t truly experienced such piercing pain, she—a young girl with little life experience—shouldn’t harbor such deep hatred toward people.
The night grew deeper, the remnants of moonlight spilling onto the leaves, coating the surrounding scenery with a faint layer of yellow.
Estimating that the time was about right, and having no doubts about Song Chuyi’s capabilities, Zhou Weizhao called to Ye Jingchuan to leave first. The Tartar raiders outside should also be about dealt with by now.
Song Ren, Song Jue, and Ye Jingkuan each personally led teams, surrounding from four sides and setting ambushes on two, finally using fire oil to burn the Tartar raiders until they were almost reduced to ash.
When Zhou Weizhao and Ye Jingchuan arrived, the fire still hadn’t diminished, the soaring heat baking them until they both frowned.
Ye Jingkuan, having been busy all night, showed slight signs of fatigue, but his face bore a satisfied smile. Seeing them, he hurried over.
Nine days after these Tartar raiders had entered Tongzhou, they were finally completely annihilated. The remaining few fish that had slipped through the net were no longer a threat—they could be caught at leisure.
Facing these vicious Tartar raiders, the price they had paid was unbelievably small. All of this was thanks to Song Chuyi’s foresight and brilliant strategies. Because of this, Ye Jingkuan was deeply impressed by this young lady.
“Just now I was busy with things here and vaguely heard that something happened in the rear courtyard?” Ye Jingkuan was somewhat puzzled, then asked with some concern, “Nothing serious happened, right?”
After all, there was Elder Chen’s granddaughter in the rear courtyard, as well as the Sixth Miss of the Earl’s household.
Ye Jingchuan instinctively wanted to tell them what had just happened, but Zhou Weizhao spoke first.
“Nothing serious.” Zhou Weizhao gave Ye Jingchuan a meaningful look, using his eyes to signal him not to say more, and glanced casually at Song Ren, who had stood up in shock. “Just a small group of Tartar raiders. They’ve all been executed.”
The Crown Prince had fifty elite Imperial Guards by his side, plus those several Taoist priests with exceptional martial skills he’d brought down from Longhu Mountain. Dealing with a few raiders was indeed a small matter.
Song Ren and Song Jue exchanged glances, both setting down the hearts that had been hanging high.
The problem that had troubled everyone for nearly half a month was finally resolved, and everyone felt relaxed. However, Ye Jingkuan was still worried in his heart about how to handle the aftermath of this incident and how to minimize Ye Jingchuan and Yuan Hong’s responsibility to the lowest degree possible.
When Song Chuyi stepped out of the granary, the night was as thick as ink. If not for the lanterns providing illumination, one couldn’t see their hand in front of their face. Darkness always made people uneasy.
Nanny Xu, having heard the news, rushed over to meet her and saw her standing in the night like a white jade statue, her entire being emanating an icy coldness. Her complexion was rather poor, presumably due to being frightened tonight and having been busy for half the night. Nanny Xu’s heart ached terribly. She stepped forward and took hold of her, only then feeling that she seemed to recover some human warmth.
“Miss, how did it go?” Nanny Xu reached out to feel her forehead, her gaze full of concern. These past few days, Song Chuyi had been rising early and sleeping late every day. Nanny Xu was truly worried she wouldn’t be able to hold up.
“I got everything clear, and obtained all the testimonies.” Song Chuyi’s voice was very low, as if she had no more strength. “Nanny, the person who delivered things for her yesterday—in a while, take two people and go arrest her. It was she who communicated with these people and informed them of my residence.”
Nanny Xu ground her teeth in hatred, cursing viciously in extreme anger, “She will definitely receive her retribution!”
Yes, Li Shi would definitely receive her deserved retribution. But this retribution wouldn’t come from heaven—it would come from herself.
Nanny Xu also told her that she had already arranged Lianyi in a reliable tenant farmer’s household—after all, Song Jue and Song Ren were here, and if they recognized Lianyi, it would easily cause complications.
Song Chuyi nodded, and Nanny Xu asked her in a low voice, “When we return this time, shall we expose her to the Old Master and Old Madam? Her courage is growing larger and larger. She actually dared to fish in troubled waters and try to have someone kill you in the chaos… This can’t go on. Who knows what other vicious schemes she’ll think up?”
“It’s about time.” When Song Chuyi reached this topic, she suddenly turned to ask Qing Tao, “How is it? Has there been any news from the people sent to Jinzhong?”
By rights, if the Cui family received the letter and replied, it would only take about half a month through the postal stations, and it had been almost half a month now.
Neither her own status nor her age was sufficient to have Li Shi executed. Only if the Cui family stepped forward could Li Shi pay the heaviest price.
And now, she wanted more than just Li Shi’s death.
Li Shi was the Second Madam of the Earl’s household. On ordinary days she followed the rules precisely. Even if she wanted to go out, she had to first report to the Old Madam or the First Madam. Without help from someone outside, she simply wouldn’t have the ability to hire so many thugs and ruffians.
And who this person helping her was—it was so obvious even thinking with one’s toes could figure it out.
The Li family mother and daughter really thought this world was theirs to tyrannize. They even dared to do something like hiring people to commit murder…
Today had been chaotic all day long. Qing Tao didn’t know whether any letter had been delivered, so she shook her head. “I don’t know yet if any letter was delivered, but judging by the days, it should be soon.”
While speaking, they had already reached the courtyard. Seeing the mess and bloodstains all over the ground, Nanny Xu could easily guess what the scene had been like. Precisely because she could guess how critical the situation had been, her hatred toward Li Shi grew even deeper. She couldn’t help but curse again in both anger and anxiety. After cursing Li Shi, she couldn’t help but curse Miss Chen as well. “What an ungrateful wretch! If we hadn’t kindly taken in their siblings back then, they would have been fed to the Tartar raiders long ago, yet she repays kindness with enmity!”
Nanny Xu had already tidied up the room, but the window paper couldn’t be replaced in time. However, to avoid alarming Song Ren and Song Jue, they had to make do for now.
After preparing Song Chuyi’s inner garments, Nanny Xu came over somewhat hesitantly to ask her, “Miss, after all, such a big commotion happened here. If the First Master and First Young Master ask about it tomorrow, what should we say? With all those things in the courtyard, relying on just ourselves, we can’t clean them up completely in a short time…”
“We don’t need to cover it up ourselves.” Song Chuyi let Qing Tao and Hong Yu dry her hair, and smiled to reassure Nanny Xu. “His Highness the Crown Prince and Young Master Ye will explain for us. Nanny, you needn’t worry.”