Chapter 217: Chapter 98 Gifts_1
The night sky was dark and heavy clouds concealed the moonlight.
In the silent, elongated alley of West Street, the clang of swords clashing rang sharply in one’s ears.
Lu Tong pulled Yin Zheng back to the entrance of the medical hall, where just outside, two figures were entwined in unceasing combat. The assailant hiding by the doorway was clearly no match for the other combatant, and after a few exchanges, fell into defeat. A kick to the chest sent them reeling, and a sword was pressed against their throat.
The man dressed in guard’s attire turned his head, revealing a somewhat stern face, and asked Miss Lu, "Miss Lu, have you been injured?"
Lu Tong shook her head.
Yin Zheng, still recovering from the shock of the ambush, heard the man address Lu Tong as "Miss Lu" and looked at him in astonishment, "Miss... do you know this man?"
Lu Tong glanced at the subdued assailant on the ground and said, "Let’s talk inside."
The door of the medical hall was closed, and the man in black was dragged by the man into the courtyard.
Yin Zheng looked on with suspicion, about to speak, when she saw Lu Tong take a small bottle from her sleeve and walk over to the captured man. Bending down, she grasped his chin and forcefully poured the entire contents of the bottle down his throat.
The guard looked on in surprise at this action, and Yin Zheng was taken aback as well.
Eventually, Lu Tong withdrew her hand and nonchalantly tossed the empty bottle into a bamboo basket in the courtyard.
Yin Zheng swallowed hard and asked Lu Tong in a soft voice, "Miss, are you going to kill him?"
The guard standing beside her looked at Yin Zheng in shock upon hearing this.
Lu Tong replied, "It’s just a bit of muscle relaxant powder; I’m only preventing him from harming himself."
Yin Zheng nodded and, catching the guard’s odd look, realized her blunder and hastily added, though awkwardly, "I was just joking earlier; we’re a medical hall that treats and saves people. How could we possibly kill someone... But what exactly is going on here?"
Lu Tong looked down.
In the pitch-dark courtyard, the perpetrator, dressed entirely in black, almost merged with the gloom of the night, his face unfamiliar, his eyes glaring venomously at Lu Tong, clearly a brute of the worst kind.
The knife he had used to attack Lu Tong lay on the ground. She walked over, picked up the blade, and ran her finger slowly along its spine, her tone calm.
"He came to kill me."
"Breaking into a private residence and attempting murder... Under the Emperor’s very nose in Shengjing, to think such a rogue would dare to act," she mused, her eyes lighting up, "Ah, the murderer of the body found on Mount Wangchun has yet to be caught; it could well be him."
The adjacent guard started to speak, then hesitated.
The man in black scoffed, "Cut the crap; if you’re going to kill or maim me, just get it over with!"
Lu Tong smiled wryly and shook her head lightly, "We in the medical hall can’t take justice into our own hands. A dangerous person like this should be handed over to the Imperial Court."
She secured the knife, "Report to the authorities, Yin Zheng."
...
The courtyard of the Prince’s Mansion was eerily quiet.
The Baby Washing Ceremony had ended, and the guests had dispersed; the quiet after the feast seemed even lonelier than usual. Pei Yunshu sat in the room, tucking in Treasured Bead with a small blanket, about to let the nanny take the little girl to sleep when Fangzi gently pushed open the door curtain, saying softly, "My lady, the Princely Heir has arrived."
Pei Yunshu looked up to see Pei Yunmeng following Fangzi into the room.
He must have just come in from outside, his robes carrying the autumn night’s chill. He set down his sword and approached Pei Yunshu, peering at Treasure Bead.
Treasure Bead, snuggled in the nanny’s embrace, slept soundly, the little girl being only a month old and knowing only to eat and sleep, looked so peaceful it brought a smile to one’s lips.
Pei Yunmeng whispered, "Is she asleep?"
Pei Yunshu gestured to the nanny to take Treasure Bead inside the room. She then looked back at Pei Yunmeng and shook her head, "Why did you suddenly come?"
Pei Yunmeng sighed and sat down at the small table, pouring tea while saying, "I could hardly miss my niece’s full-moon celebration, could I? I was just delayed on the way here."
Pei Yunshu looked at him, words on the tip of her tongue.
At today’s Baby Washing Ceremony, Lord Zhao Ning Pei Di had also attended, and she did not know if that was why Pei Yunmeng had not appeared; he had always been impatient with anyone from the Pei Family.
Pei Yunmeng asked with a smile, "What is it?"
Pei Yunshu set aside her thoughts and feigned complaint, "At today’s ceremony, quite a few ladies discreetly inquired about you. I suspect there were few who really came for Treasured Bead, and more who were interested in you. Too bad you weren’t there. By the way..." Suddenly remembering something, Pei Yunshu asked softly, "I heard the Commandery Prince say that the Empress Dowager intends to arrange a marriage for you, is there any truth to that?"
Pei Yunmeng sipped his tea, chuckling, "Where do these baseless rumors come from?"
"It would be good if Her Majesty the Empress Dowager really had this intention. After all, you’re not getting any younger; you should start considering these matters," Pei Yunshu added.