Yu Rong walked over to Rong Zhi and said something. After receiving a reply, his face showed disappointment.
"Village Chief, the Prefect has wiped out the human traffickers and rescued our loved ones. Please don't hide them any longer. Let us in to see them!"
A young male voice shouted, immediately drawing unanimous agreement from the crowd.
"That's right, we're all waiting."
"I wonder if my grandson is still alive."
The elder ones were already wiping away tears.
"Everyone..." Yu Rong called out with a heavy heart, as if wanting to say something. Before he could finish, someone in the crowd shouted, "Let's go in and see!" The crowd immediately surged forward, beginning to search with excitement and anxiety on their faces.
"This..." Yu Rong looked at Rong Zhi with a troubled expression. Rong Zhi shook her head. No matter how cruel this matter was, they would eventually know.
As expected, after a while, incredulous voices echoed through the crowd.
"Why aren't they here?"
"Village Chief, my daughter wasn't taken long ago. Why isn't she here? Did you miss her when you went to pick them up?"
Yu Rong didn't know how to answer and could only cast a pleading gaze at Rong Zhi.
He hadn't expected this either. With so many people lost, he had no hope of finding them. Who would have thought that a young man from that couple from out of town would suddenly tell him that the human traffickers had been caught and the people rescued? In his excitement, he hadn't thought of the consequences and had his wife inform the entire village. He had overlooked one problem: some people had been missing for a long time, and finding their remains would be good enough. Since seeing those patients, he had counted several times. He could only find two people from their Yunshui Village. The rest were either from the county town or other villages.
At that time, he had excitedly notified each household. Now, how could he face them?
Rong Zhi was accustomed to such scenes. She said, "When we searched, only these people were left. We hope everyone will accept their condolences."
Many people in the crowd lowered their heads, some sighing heavily, some shedding tears, and some looking at Yu Rong with blame. Yu Rong wished he could bury his head in the ground, his usual rugged demeanor completely gone.
Disappointed villagers left one after another. Only the few who had driven the carts remained in the courtyard. Yu Rong walked towards Rong Zhi with a hint of loss and asked curiously, "Miss Lin, how did you find those human traffickers?"
After all, the missing persons cases had never been resolved.
"It has nothing to do with us. This is all the Prefect's doing. We don't understand official matters. I am just a doctor, responsible for treating them. By the way, Village Chief, I'll have to trouble you to help me find the relatives of these patients so they can go home after being treated. We are unfamiliar with the area and it's difficult to find them. I'll entrust this to you."
"These are minor matters."
Yu Rong looked at the patients again, his face filled with compassion. "These damned people, they've caused too much suffering!"
As he spoke, he waved to the crowd. "Everyone, go back!"
Only then did the villagers hitch their horses to the carts and return home.
The next issue was the placement of the patients. Fortunately, although the haunted house was a bit gloomy, it was spacious enough. Several side rooms were sufficient to house all the patients, but there weren't enough bedding. Rong Zhi asked Xia Yunting to buy some overnight. They were settled down, and food was also purchased for them to eat.
By the time everything was done, it was late at night, and Rong Zhi finally felt the belated fatigue.
Her body was still weak. After days of being under constant tension, her nerves relaxed, and she felt her bones go limp. After a quick bath, she fell asleep.
Meanwhile, at the county yamen, Zhang Chu's heart was pounding out of his chest as he faced the Prefect. He was especially startled by the people captured behind him. Coupled with Li Zhao's report that the secretary had gone missing and hadn't been found, he felt as if the sky had fallen. Had all his secret dealings been discovered?
"Zhang Chu, how is it that such a matter occurred under your jurisdiction without you discovering it for so long?"
Lu An slammed the gavel, his demeanor imposing.
"This... your subordinate can explain."
"Explain what? The only explanation I can see is that you were also involved and have been covering for them. I think your term as county magistrate is over."
"Your Excellency, spare me!"
Zhang Chu immediately knelt and kowtowed.
Lu An raised an eyebrow. He had confessed without Lu An saying anything. With such little courage, how could he do bad things?
Suddenly, a woman in red rushed out. "Your Excellency, my father had his reasons!"
Zhang Yajing stood in front of Zhang Chu. Although her tone was firm, her expression betrayed some guilt.
"Then tell me, what were his reasons?"
Zhang Yajing was stumped. She couldn't explain it, or rather, she had only guessed that her father was involved in the Yanzi Mountain affair. She had no concrete evidence.
"My father is innocent. Although my father's character is not the best, he is a good person at heart and would never collude with those bandits."
Outside the main hall, Cui Xi, clinging to the doorframe, looked anxious.
"How could Madam rush out like this? If I don't look after her, Master will surely beat me to death."
Chu Qingze, who had just arrived, hesitated. He looked at the thick stack of evidence in his hand and felt conflicted. Why was Zhang Yajing here? Should he give the evidence or not?
After much deliberation, Chu Qingze still walked in.
"Divine Doctor Chu!"
Zhang Yajing looked helpless. Just as she was about to ask Chu Qingze to speak a few words for her father, she saw Chu Qingze walk directly towards Lu An and hand him the thick stack of papers.
"Your Excellency, this is the evidence I have collected."
Evidence? What evidence? Zhang Yajing's heart sank.
Lu An took it and looked at it. His face instantly turned angry. He coldly snorted at Zhang Chu, "You still say you weren't covering for them? The evidence is conclusive. I will have you imprisoned. After dealing with the bandits of Yanzi Mountain, I will deal with you! Guards, lock him up!"
At his command, guards from both sides immediately stepped forward and took Zhang Chu away.
"Father!"
Zhang Yajing wanted to chase after him, but the guards stopped her.
"Let me go!"
She struggled a few times, but these guards were brought by Lu An and wouldn't listen to her. Zhang Yajing's anger surged, and she fainted.
"Miss!"
Cui Xi quickly caught Zhang Yajing. After shaking her for a while and finding that she was still unconscious, she started crying in fright.
"Divine Doctor Chu, why did you have to produce the evidence now? Miss's health is already poor, and now... it's terrible! Miss's face is turning blue. Divine Doctor Chu, please save our young lady."
Chu Qingze's expression was grave. He quickly took her pulse, pinched her philtrum, and pressed a few vital acupoints. Zhang Yajing's complexion gradually improved.
"Quickly take your young lady back to her room to rest."
He stepped back with a frown. Cui Xi nodded. She wanted to help Zhang Yajing up, but Zhang Yajing was a head taller than her, and she couldn't lift her.
"Divine Doctor Chu..."
"Ugh!"
Before Cui Xi could finish speaking, Chu Qingze was already leaning against a pillar, retching. Lu An, standing nearby, was startled.
"What's wrong?"
Chu Qingze, still retching, pointed at the guards beside him. Lu An immediately understood.
"You quickly take this young lady back to her room and find a doctor to look after her properly."
"Yes."
The guards carried Zhang Yajing back, and Cui Xi ran along with them, tears streaming down her face.
Lu An stared at Chu Qingze with wide eyes. "There's no need to be so dramatic. I thought the girl was quite attractive. You don't need to vomit!"
Chu Qingze finally recovered and apologized to Lu An. "Apologies, Your Excellency. It's an old habit. The patient is important. I will take my leave now."
"Oh..."
That night, Yunshui Village and the yamen were bustling with activity. On the official road from the imperial city to Changping County, several figures galloped on horseback.
The next day, Rong Zhi woke up to the sound of bustling activity outside. She turned and saw that no one was by her side. The figures moving outside included several tall and strong men. Rong Zhi rubbed her eyes, thinking she was mistaken. When her consciousness cleared, she saw a familiar face – the one who had brought her osmanthus cakes on her wedding day.
"Young Master Jiang, as per your instructions, we have dispatched personnel to search for the headquarters of the Blood Drinking Pavilion. I believe we will have results soon." Chen Xing habitually tried to kneel on one knee but managed to stop himself.
"Good." Xia Yunting nodded. "There might still be remnants of the Blood Drinking Pavilion in the county town. One is of medium build and wields a short sword. The other is sickly. Investigate quietly and do not alarm anyone."
"Yes."
Chen Xing took the order. Just as he was about to set off, a young lady walked out of the room. He hesitated for a moment, then clasped his hands and said, "Madam."
"Hello." Rong Zhi nodded and looked around. She noticed that there were about ten people standing in the courtyard. Xia Yunting also seemed to have changed, returning to his stoic and serious general demeanor. His amnesia was completely over.
"You discuss your business. I'll go check on the patients."
She felt that Xia Yunting would have many things to say to Chen Xing and tactfully entered the side room.
Seeing Rong Zhi go in, Chen Xing asked with some curiosity, "General, you and this young lady..."
"We are merely investigating a case together. Nothing has happened."
"That's good then." Chen Xing leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Your subordinate investigated and found that on your wedding day, it was Xing Jiahui who secretly switched the bride, and that young lady then entered the General's mansion. However, Xing Jie insisted that our side was responsible and claimed that his people from the Prime Minister's mansion were wronged. He insisted on sending her over. We said that the General had not yet been found and it was not convenient for Xing Jiahui to enter the mansion. Xing Jie then directly submitted a memorial to the Emperor. The Emperor has already ordered that when you return, you are to personally escort Xing Jiahui and use an eight-bearer sedan chair for a second wedding ceremony."
At this point, Chen Xing's face was filled with disgust. This shameless Xing Jie was truly taking advantage of every opportunity.
Xia Yunting merely grunted, as if he had expected this.
"Your subordinate has also investigated another matter." Chen Xing looked up, his tone slightly excited. "Zhang Can might still be alive."
At this statement, Xia Yunting's eyes lit up. "Where?"
"The specific location has not yet been found, but it's likely in a county town in the southern region."
"Continue the investigation. Ensure that the person is found as quickly as possible."
"Yes."
After speaking, Chen Xing took out an embroidered handkerchief from his怀 and handed it to Xia Yunting. "Princess Ning Hui asked me to give this to you. She said she is very worried about you."