Rong Zhi brought Zhang Yajing to the outskirts. The night was thick, and only the sound of wind rustling through the grass accompanied Zhang Yajing’s low sobs.
The two arrived at the Zhang family’s ancestral graves. Unlike a mass grave, here, rows of tombs were orderly, with stone steles bearing the names of each deceased written in neat characters.
At the very front, and the newest grave, Zhang Yajing stopped. In the moonlight, she slowly knelt, tracing the deeply indented characters on the tombstone, and couldn’t help but cry out in pain.
“Mother! Your unworthy daughter!”
Rong Zhi sighed softly and stood behind, listening to Zhang Yajing talk about trivial matters to the tombstone. A gust of mountain wind blew past, carrying the sound of her sobs far away.
In the distance, Xia Yunting leaned against a tree, quietly watching the scene. Feeling footsteps approach from behind, Xia Yunting spoke, his magnetic voice echoing in the dark night: “Don’t go over yet.”
Chu Qingze stopped in his tracks. Seeing the two figures in front of the tombstone from afar, his feet felt as if they were leaden.
“Is she alright?”
Chu Qingze was asking about Zhang Yajing.
He had already visited Zhang Yajing’s home earlier and learned everything that had happened from Cui Xi and Li Zhao. He was worried that Zhang Yajing would not be able to bear it if she suddenly learned of Madam Zhang’s death.
“With Xiao Mo around, she’ll be fine.”
Xia Yunting said with certainty, possessing a strange power that brought reassurance. Chu Qingze’s worries lessened. He remembered Xiao Yao’s situation and said, “There’s someone calling herself a county princess who is inquiring everywhere about Xia Yunting’s whereabouts.”
He recounted the day’s events and then looked at Xia Yunting, awaiting his response. He thought that if the person was indeed the one Xiao Yao was looking for, there would surely be some reaction.
Xia Yunting said, “She is indeed a county princess, and I did promise to help her find someone. However, whether she can be found depends on luck.”
Chu Qingze’s face showed disappointment. He had thought that after collaborating for so long, the other party would not hide anything from him. He was almost certain that the person was Xia Yunting, but since he didn’t want to say, he wouldn’t embarrass himself.
He sighed, “This Xia Yunting is really unlucky. That county princess is a complete rogue, a pervert! If he really encounters that county princess, he’ll be in grave danger.”
Xia Yunting remained noncommittal.
Amidst the rustling wind and crying, the night receded, and the sky turned a fish-belly white. Zhang Yajing kowtowed three times to Madam Zhang’s tombstone. She then stood up, her face a little pale, but her expression was no longer as painful as last night. She seemed to have found peace.
“Doctor Lin, thank you for accompanying me.”
Rong Zhi stroked her head, “It’s good that you can open your heart.”
“I have bid farewell to my parents. I have decided to sell my property and distribute the money to the poor, so that those who have suffered can afford medical treatment. This will also be a form of atonement for my father.”
“Your intentions are more precious than superb medical skills.”
Rong Zhi smiled in agreement.
Zhang Yajing did as she said. Upon returning, she indeed sold her property. Of course, these assets were quietly sold off by Li Zhao through hired hands. To prevent the common people from feeling resentment if they knew the source of the money, the funds were distributed in the name of the government to the suffering people of Yanzi Mountain and the mines.
This was an act of immeasurable merit. Lu An, while distributing the silver, praised her repeatedly, saying that although Zhang Yajing was a woman, she was more righteous and understanding than her official father.
However, as they continued the distribution, Lu An noticed something was amiss.
“Why is there so much silver? Was Zhang Chu’s family that wealthy?”
He looked at the remaining silver, which was more than half, and began to doubt his own memory.
He had personally counted the recovered stolen goods. Zhang family’s rosewood furniture, antique vases, and jade ornaments, while some were precious, were still few in number. How could they have been sold for so much silver?
“Sir, this also includes all of Doctor Chu’s assets. Doctor Chu said that he had some personal grudges with Miss Zhang in the past and felt he had wronged her. Therefore, to atone for Miss Zhang’s father, he is willing to donate all his property.”
An attendant explained. Lu An then understood.
Chu Qingze had practiced medicine in Changping County for many years, so it was not surprising that he had such savings.
“In that case, distribute it all. Don’t say too much about the Zhang family’s silver. Be sure to explain to the people that some of this silver belongs to Doctor Chu. We can’t let him do good deeds in vain!”
“Yes!”
The attendant accepted the order and left with the remaining silver.
“Doctor Chu?”
A voice filled with doubt made Lu An’s skin crawl.
Good heavens, why was this ancestral great-grandmother here again?
“Does this Doctor Chu have such great prestige in Changping County?”
Xiao Yao rubbed her sore shoulders, a murderous look on her face.
Lu An immediately put on a smile, “County Princess Xiao Yao, why are you up so early? You worked so hard the past few days, you should rest properly.”
“Rest?” Xiao Yao’s voice turned cold, “It’s all Chu Qingze’s fault. He dared to trick me! Xiao Yao and he are irreconcilable enemies! Even if I can’t find Xia Yunting this time, I will skin him and pull out his tendons! Let him know that Xiao Yao is not to be trifled with! Hmph!”
She snorted and left, seemingly to settle the score with Chu Qingze.
Lu An felt his eyelids twitch and suddenly worried about the safety of this Doctor Chu. However, on second thought, if the county princess’s attention was now focused on Doctor Chu, wouldn’t she stop pressuring him to find Xia Yunting?
Thinking this way, it was a blessing in disguise. Doctor Chu, please sacrifice yourself a little.
“These past few days, the people have received silver and are grateful to the government. However, when they think of Zhang Chu’s past actions, they can’t help but curse him.”
Rong Zhi listened to the whispers outside these past two days and couldn’t help but sigh to Xia Yunting.
Xia Yunting said, “Those assets should have been confiscated by the government. Lu An showed leniency and returned them to the Zhang family. It can already be considered as regaining what was lost.”
A strange noise came from the room. Chu Qingze emerged carrying several skeletons. From the gap in the half-open door, it could be seen that the room was now empty, with only bottles of medicine of various sizes left on the shelves.
For this donation, Chu Qingze had also sold some of his household furniture and belongings. Now, he was about to give away the medicinal pills he had made. Rong Zhi and Xia Yunting had come today to help Chu Qingze pack and organize.
Chu Qingze placed the skeletons on the ground and also heard their conversation, so he interjected, “Zhang Chu’s wealth was originally gained by exploiting the people’s labor and cream. Now it can be considered as returning to its rightful owners. Zhang Chu has already enjoyed it. I just wonder what he will think when he hears this news in prison.”
“My father already knows.”
Before she was seen, her voice was heard. Zhang Yajing entered from outside, followed by Cui Xi.
The three turned around in unison and saw Zhang Yajing with a smile on her face, not angry at Chu Qingze’s words.
“I just visited my father and told him about donating the property. My father also agrees, saying that he has done so many bad things, and now he can finally atone for some of his sins.”
She looked at the empty courtyard, somewhat surprised, “Doctor Chu, are you planning to move out the entire house?”
Since kneeling at her mother’s grave all night last time, Zhang Yajing seemed to have figured things out. She no longer felt awkward around Chu Qingze and no longer avoided him.
Chu Qingze said, “Since I had already said that I would sell my property and donate it to the people, I must keep my word. It’s convenient to donate it all at once, isn’t it?”
“You have always practiced medicine for the people, healing their illnesses and solving their troubles. This time, you are also donating so much silver. Everyone must be very grateful to you.”
“That’s not necessarily true,” Chu Qingze smiled with a hint of ambiguity.
“Why do you say that?” Zhang Yajing asked, puzzled.
“Do you remember last time in Yunshui Village when I personally admitted that I poisoned you to gather information about Yanzi Mountain?”
Zhang Yajing nodded, and for a moment, she seemed to understand something.
“Now that everyone has taken the money, they may not say anything openly, but behind our backs, they might call me a despicable villain.”
Mentioning this, Rong Zhi cast a sympathetic look at Chu Qingze.
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay in Changping County for long.”
“Then…” Zhang Yajing’s heart stirred, and she instinctively wanted to ask if he was willing to go to the imperial city with her. But the words caught in her throat. After all, everyone has their own aspirations, and Doctor Chu must have his own plans, so it was better not to say anything.
“The yamen is currently busy distributing silver everywhere. They probably can’t handle it all at once. Why don’t we go and help?”
Rong Zhi intended to create some private space for the two of them and left with Xia Yunting.
“Miss, I see that Doctor Chu’s house is so large, and it will probably take some time to clean. I’ll go help Doctor Chu tidy up.”
Cui Xi was also very observant. She grabbed a broom nearby and entered the side room, closing the door with a bang.
Zhang Yajing and Chu Qingze were speechless, only smiling slightly.
Rong Zhi found the tent where silver was being distributed to the people on the street. A constable stood inside, registering the people who came to claim the money. For families whose relatives died at Yanzi Mountain, the subsidy was 300 taels. Those who were rescued from Yanzi Mountain received 200 taels. Those who died at the mine received 200 taels. Those who were rescued from the mine received 150 taels. In short, subsidies were allocated based on the severity of the situation, and the standards were fair.
The constable was busy and greeted Rong Zhi with a polite smile when he saw her, “Miss Lin!”
“Hello, Constable Brother. You’re very busy today. Let me help you.”
Rong Zhi got straight to the point, went to the innermost area, and took over the registration task. Xia Yunting stood aside, acting as a mascot of his own volition.
Originally, there were many people queuing today. With so much silver to receive, the queue was quite chaotic, with many trying to take advantage of the situation. But as soon as Xia Yunting stood there, everyone quieted down.
The constable breathed a sigh of relief, “Thank you, Miss Lin. The news of the subsidies hadn’t spread much a few days ago, so there weren’t many people. But today, everyone came at once, and I was really overwhelmed. I was just about to go back to the yamen to find help.”
Saying this, he handed a small booklet to Rong Zhi, “This is a list of all the victims from Yanzi Mountain and the mines. Miss Lin, you just need to check the names on the list. If the name of the claimant’s family is not on this list, you don’t need to pay any attention to them.”
Rong Zhi understood, took the booklet, and opened it. It was filled with dense names written in small, neat characters. Among them were many familiar names, people from Yunshui Village.
She glanced into the crowd and indeed saw a few familiar faces.
So, she said loudly to everyone, “Everyone, don’t worry, come one by one. Explain your situation, and after registering, you can collect your silver!”