Zhong Li felt an unprecedented fear rise in her heart.
She shouted at Lin Jin, "Lin Jin, Lin Jin!"
Lin Jin must have heard her. After glancing back at her, his lips moved, and he shouted, "Run! Save the young lord!" At the same time, his sword was drawn, and he engaged the black-clothed attackers.
Although Zhong Li had not directly fought these people, she remembered the tragic state in which Gai Chen had died, indicating their extraordinary skill.
Lin Jin was undoubtedly capable, but facing so many, the only outcome was death.
She could not just wait for death.
Thinking this, Zhong Li rushed to the carriage door, trying to open it. However, no matter how hard she pulled, the door remained stubbornly shut.
Confused, she poked her head out the window again. This time, she finally saw the situation clearly. Lin Jin had anticipated her actions and had used the reins to secure the door. Moreover, a dagger was stuck in the horse's flank, which was why the horse, unafraid of the surrounding attackers, had been able to charge out with her.
"No!" Zhong Li shook her head, looking back at Lin Jin, who was beginning to retreat. She propped herself up, trying to force herself out of the window. But the window was too small; her shoulder became stuck, and no matter how hard she struggled, she could not get out.
"Lin Jin!" Zhong Li's eyes turned red. She screamed hoarsely, her free arm trying to pry open the wooden planks of the window.
Earlier, she had found Lu Wuxie's carriage luxurious and sturdy. Now, she hated whoever had built the carriage so strong.
"No! Lin Jin!" Zhong Li cried, shaking her head. Tears welled up and fell like raindrops onto the withered leaves in the forest, only to be crushed by the carriage's rear wheels.
"Bastard, bastard!" Zhong Li gave up on the idea of jumping out the window and turned her attention back to the carriage door. She rammed it repeatedly, completely unaware of the pain in her shoulder.
But the carriage door remained unmoving.
Zhong Li didn't know how long she had been hitting it. Just as she started to feel dizzy and her breathing became shallow, she lunged forward inside the carriage again. Before she could hit the door, her foot slipped, and she fell back onto the carriage. At the same time, a small cabinet door, where Lu Wuxie often kept things, was kicked open by her, and a cold flare rolled out.
Seeing the cold flare, Zhong Li felt a surge of hope. She picked it up, took out the fire starter from her怀, reached her hand out the window, and placed her last hope on the cold flare.
A whistle pierced the sky.
Zhong Li slumped to her knees inside the carriage, her hands clasped tightly. Tears wet her clothes. Now, all she could do was pray, pray that the Hua family would see the cold flare and rush to save Lin Jin.
"Dong, dong!"
The bell of Baolin Temple chimed in her ears. Zhong Li stood up, wanting to try once more to break free. Suddenly, the carriage overturned. Before she could react, she tumbled inside the vehicle. She felt her head hit something hard, and then she lost consciousness.
-------------------------------------
Sparrows chirped incessantly on the branches, like the gossiping grannies next door or the men practicing martial arts in the morning, disturbing the peace of the neighborhood.
Zhong Li thought sparrows were the most tenacious of all birds, present in winter and summer alike.
She opened her eyes, looking dazedly at the two birds squabbling by the window. It wasn't until all her consciousness and memories returned that she tried to sit up.
However, as soon as she moved her arm, a sharp pain struck her, causing her to fall back onto the bed.
"Oh, you're awake, Li'er?" Hua Yao entered with a basin of water. Seeing Zhong Li stir, she placed the basin on a shelf and hurried to her side.
Zhong Li gestured with her hand, signaling Hua Yao to help her up.
Hua Yao had her recline on the bed and, fearing she might be uncomfortable, placed a soft cushion behind her.
"Where is Lin Jin? Where is Lin Jin?" Zhong Li's mind was filled with thoughts of Lin Jin. She didn't care at all about how she was rescued or what happened in between.
Seeing Zhong Li's agitation, Hua Yao hesitated to speak.
"Yao'er, where is Lin Jin?" The more Hua Yao remained silent, the more frightened Zhong Li became. She had already begun to imagine gruesome scenes of Lin Jin's death.
"Yao'er, the more you don't speak, the more frightened she will become," Lan Heng, hearing the commotion, also entered the room.
Hearing his voice, Zhong Li turned all her questioning gaze towards Lan Heng.
Lan Heng cleared his throat twice, trying to calm his suppressed emotions, and said, "Lin Jin has been saved."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li let out a long sigh of relief.
However, Lan Heng's subsequent words plunged her back into despair: "But he is severely injured, his head sustained a violent impact, and his internal organs are damaged. He is essentially a living corpse. Whether he wakes up depends entirely on fate."
"What did you say?" Zhong Li's tears began to flow again, unnoticed.
Seeing her distress, Hua Yao could no longer control herself. She stood up, covered her mouth, and went behind the screen to cry.
Lan Heng lowered his eyes, saying apologetically, "Li'er, this was a lapse in judgment by the Dali Temple. I shouldn't have let Lin Jin escort you back alone... I..."
"Where are those people?" Zhong Li interrupted Lan Heng's rambling apologies, wiping her tears forcefully. Her face became stern as she asked.
"What people?" Lan Heng inquired.
"The ones who surrounded Lin Jin?" Zhong Li clarified.
Lan Heng replied, "We captured two alive. They are now detained in the Ministry of Justice, personally watched by Zeng Fan. Fearing they might harm themselves, I had them given sleeping medicine."
"Good!" Zhong Li nodded. She looked up at Lan Heng and asked, "Lord Lan, now that the case of the chate grass has been solved, am I cleared of suspicion?"
"Naturally," Lan Heng answered.
"Good!" Zhong Li asked again, "Then have I had my official position restored?"
"Yes!" Lan Heng confirmed.
"Good!" Zhong Li nodded and continued, "With Miaoyun and Miaohui dead in this case, the main thread seems broken. However, if I can find new clues, would you entrust this case to me to investigate?"
"This..." Lan Heng hesitated. "Li'er, this case was granted by the Empress and the Emperor to A Wu. Although we know A Wu is a suspect, we still lack definitive evidence. Therefore..."
Zhong Li smiled and took something out from her怀.
Lan Heng glanced at it, and his shock was so great that he knelt on one knee.
"To see this hand token is to see the Emperor. Lord Lan, if I say again that I want to investigate this case, do you have any objections?" Zhong Li asked again.
Lan Heng smiled, stood up, and said, "Li'er, give me half an hour, and I will handle it."
"Wait!" Zhong Li stopped Lan Heng. She added one more sentence.
After hearing it, Lan Heng said, "Alright, I will also handle this matter," and turned to leave the room.
Hua Yao, having finished crying behind the screen, walked out.
Zhong Li looked at her tear-streaked face and her stubborn expression and said, "Yao'er, do me a favor."
"Li'er, tell me."
"Please help me put on my robe. I need to interrogate Xu Qing!"