The Prefect of Dongzhou roared, "How dare you!"
Xue Zining sneered, "Sir, are you not the one who is too bold by detaining my husband? You even dare to detain an imperial envoy?"
"Throw her out, throw her out! How could an imperial envoy have a shrew like you for a wife?"
As he spoke, the Prefect of Dongzhou waved his hand, and the guards behind him surged forward.
"Retreat," Xue Zining said in a low voice.
Xue Yan and Xue Song exchanged glances and retreated. Back at the inn, Xue Song finally spoke, "Your Majesty, are you no longer planning to save Young Master?"
Xue Zining replied, "Wasn't it your Young Master's original intention that I not save him?"
Xue Song was startled, "Your Majesty, Xue Song does not understand what you mean."
"If you don't understand, go ask Xue Yan," Xue Zining turned and entered the room.
Xue Song looked at Xue Yan and cozily approached her, "Xue Yan, tell me, won't you?"
"Tell you a ghost," Xue Yan rolled her eyes at Xue Song and also returned to her room.
Xue Song scratched his head. Should he go and ask the Young Master?
Never mind, since His Majesty said it was fine, the Young Master would likely be fine. With this thought, Xue Song slept soundly and peacefully.
Outside the inn, Liang Yihan looked at the few people who had not reappeared and said to Liang Yizhi beside her, "Brother, look, I told you they were extraordinary, and you didn't believe me. Now do you believe?"
Liang Yizhi frowned. He hadn't expected that woman to be the wife of an imperial envoy. If it were before, he would have hesitated no longer to report to the imperial envoy.
But after experiencing these events, he had come to understand that officials protected each other, and those so-called imperial envoys were nothing but the same kind of people.
However, he found it hard to believe that such a decisive woman would be the family member of those people.
But as his sister had said, no matter how much he didn't want to believe it, he had to believe his own eyes. It was indeed, truly, absolutely true.
"Brother, stop thinking about her. It's crucial that we avenge Mother and Father," Liang Yihan said.
Liang Yizhi nodded. Ever since his father left, his and his sister's lives had been solely about avenging their father. For two years, it had been like this every day. He felt somewhat weary.
Finding a dilapidated temple sheltered from the wind, Liang Yizhi gathered some dry grass and spread it out. Liang Yihan lay on it, while Liang Yizhi sat beside her, blocking the cold wind blowing in from the leaky window.
The autumn chill made one shiver, let alone the late autumn night that sent a chill deep into one's heart.
Soon, Liang Yihan's breathing became even, but Liang Yizhi found himself becoming more and more alert, unable to sleep at all.
He opened his eyes. The bright moon was still outside. Moonlight streamed through the window, spilling onto the ground, giving the place some light.
He inexplicably remembered the past. At that time, his father was the Commandant of Dongzhou, in charge of Dongzhou's fifteen hundred soldiers. His father had forced him to learn martial arts. Unfortunately, good times didn't last. Dongzhou suffered a severe drought, and the relief grain was delayed in reaching the people. His father went to discuss the matter with the Prefect.
He accidentally learned that the relief grain had already arrived in Dongzhou. The Prefect, in collusion with the Commandant of Records and others, had stored it to later sell at inflated prices.
His father was furious and vowed to report the Prefect to the imperial court. However, officials protected each other, and the Prefect had already learned of his father's intentions.
Thus, the Prefect framed his father, accusing him of embezzling relief grain. His father was arrested, and the next day news came that his father had committed suicide out of guilt.
How could his father commit suicide out of guilt? It was obvious to him that the Prefect of Dongzhou was responsible.
His mother, overwhelmed by grief, fainted and, upon waking, was driven to madness. On the third day, she was found by the household servants, dead in a dry well.
In just a few days, he and his sister became orphans.
But even so, the Prefect of Dongzhou was not willing to let go. He even wanted to seize the Liang family's fortune for himself.
He and his sister were driven out. When they returned, the Liang mansion had been reduced to ashes.
For two years, their lives could only be described as begging. When would this end?
As day broke, Liang Yizhi woke up to find his sister gone. He quickly got up to look for her.
Later, he found Liang Yihan in the woods behind the inn. She was picking up fallen fruits from the trees.
Watching his sister carefully pick up the fruits as if they were treasures, he felt a pang of heartache.
At her age, his sister should have been properly waiting at home for a suitor to come and marry her.
But since their father's departure, her life had changed. She was no longer the carefree daughter of the Liang family, no longer the young lady who could wait at home for a suitor to marry her, and no longer someone who could call out to Father and Mother.
Liang Yizhi turned his head and sighed. His own life was inconsequential, but what about his sister? Her life shouldn't be like this.
Liang Yihan finished picking the fruits and saw her brother standing there. She quickly waved and called out, "Brother, look! I picked so many fruits!"
Liang Yizhi smiled, but the smile froze on his face. Liang Yihan was just delighted that she had picked so many fruits and wouldn't have to starve anymore.
Holding the fruits, Liang Yihan happily approached her brother and said, "I didn't expect there to be so many fruits here. Brother, we can eat for several days."
"Yihan."
Liang Yihan was slightly taken aback. Her usually jovial brother was looking at her with rare seriousness, and an inexplicable feeling arose in her heart. She could only ask cautiously, "Brother, is something wrong?"
"Yihan, if you go to the Prefect's mansion again, don't follow me," Liang Yizhi said.
Liang Yihan was stunned. "Brother, why are you suddenly saying this?"
"Yihan, you've grown up, and you should have your own life. My carrying out revenge for Father is enough. I won't bring you along."
Liang Yihan lowered her eyes upon hearing this, "Brother, are you looking down on me?"
"Yihan, you're so smart, you know I'm not looking down on you. I'm worried about you. You should have better choices."
"Then what about you, Brother? Don't you have better choices? If you can, why can't I?"
"Yihan..."
Liang Yihan turned her head and said, "Brother, don't say any more. I won't leave by myself, and I won't abandon you. Brother, don't even think about driving me away. I won't go."
"Yihan, you shouldn't be so stubborn."
"Brother, you should know that we Liang family members are stubborn. We are stubborn in what we believe, and we will not change, nor will we allow for any chance of change."
"Alright, then let's go find the imperial envoy's wife," Liang Yizhi said.
Liang Yihan was stunned. "Brother, what are you looking for her for?"
"To enter the Prefect's mansion," Liang Yizhi said, word by word.
Liang Yihan was startled. "Brother, won't that be a bit too risky?"
"Fortune favors the bold."