Zhan Lao Er looked at the Zhan family members in the room and the constables in their uniform, armed with sabers. His first thought was that the girl had been killed by the blind old woman.
However, when he met Zhan Feiyu's dark, round eyes, Zhan Lao Er sat up abruptly, aggravating the wound on his back, and slumped back onto the bed like a dead dog.
"Lao Er."
"Master." Zhan Lao Tai and Xiao Yao Shi looked at Zhan Lao Er, whose face was as pale as a dead man, with worry. But Constable Fei remained silent with a grim expression, so the two of them dared not step forward.
Were the constables here to arrest him? Zhan Lao Er clutched the quilt in fear and confusion. However, he had meticulously considered everything before taking action.
Thinking this, Zhan Lao Er calmed down and feigned unbearable pain, groaning, "Dad, what happened? How did I get injured?"
Zhan Lao Tou looked at Constable Fei. Seeing him nod, Zhan Lao Tou quickly recounted the events.
"Dad, Mom, I'm fine. My back just hurts terribly." Zhan Lao Er's heart settled, and he only regretted that the blind old woman was truly blind to mistake him for the dead girl.
No, how could he have had no awareness at that time?
Zhan Lao Er suddenly looked up at Zhan Feiyu, his heart churning like a stormy sea. It was this damned girl who had swapped the wontons! He had eaten the bowl containing the sleeping potion.
"Master, you were all harmed by this damned girl," Xiao Yao Shi glared hatefully at Zhan Feiyu, gritting her teeth. "If she hadn't pretended to be kind and saved a madwoman, how could she have attacked you fiercely while you were asleep, almost costing you your life?"
"Don't talk nonsense. This was an accident, and it has nothing to do with Xiao Yu," Zhan Lao Er chided Xiao Yao Shi, putting on the guise of a kind and benevolent elder. "Xiao Yu, your second aunt was frightened. Second Uncle doesn't blame you."
Seeing Zhan Lao Er's leniency, Zhan Lao Da and Zhan Lao Tou breathed a sigh of relief. Although Zhan Lao Tai and Xiao Yao Shi were unwilling, with the constables present, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law did not dare to make a fuss, and they shot daggers at Zhan Feiyu.
After Constable Fei finished his questioning, he left Huichun Tang with his two subordinates.
"Uncle Fei, Zhan Lao Er and the blind old woman do not know each other, nor do they have any enmity. It seems the case can be closed," Constable Zhao said with a hint of relief. The case had been cleared up so quickly, and he could sleep soundly tonight.
"You have worked hard all day. Rest for half a day tomorrow before returning to the yamen," Constable Fei granted them leave.
By the time they returned to the county yamen, it was dusk. Constable Fei first reviewed the coroner's autopsy report, then examined the testimonies of Wang Ming, Wang Zhen, and the neighbors. Combined with Zhan Lao Er's statement, the case could indeed be closed.
Half an hour later, in the rear residence of the county yamen.
A young attendant standing under the corridor slightly turned his body. "My lord, please let Constable Fei in."
The study was lit. Magistrate Chen had changed out of his official robes and was wearing a tea-brown gown. Hearing the door open, he placed his brush on the landscape brush rest. "How is the investigation of the case progressing?"
"Here is the case file for your perusal." Constable Fei respectfully handed over the file.
If it were a major or important case, the county yamen would not have the authority to close it. The case file would need to be transferred to the Xuanxuan Prefecture, and the final judgment would be made by the prefect. However, for ordinary cases, Magistrate Chen could directly pass judgment.
After reviewing the case file, Magistrate Chen asked, "Is it related to the Zeng family or the Zhu family?"
"Your Excellency, your subordinate sent people to investigate and found no connection," Constable Fei was not surprised by Magistrate Chen's inference.
Although Landlord Zhu was a local gentry, Zhu Kun was the son-in-law of Chief Clerk Zhao. Magistrate Chen was also aware of Liu Wangcai's earlier rampage at the Zhan family's residence. Fortunately, Chief Clerk Zhao had warned Zhu Kun to stop. However, it was possible that Zhu Kun might seek revenge on the Zhan family later.
As for the Baofeng Cloth Shop, the Zeng family was even more suspicious. Madam Zeng had managed to save her fetus, but she needed to rest in bed for three months to ensure the pregnancy.
Shopkeeper Zeng was a petty and vengeful man. The lame beggar had disappeared, but Wang Ming, the attendant, was still alive. It was also possible that the Zeng family had taken revenge, intending to ruin Wang Ming's family.
As for Zhan Feiyu and Zhan Lao Er, whether they were innocently involved, neither Zhu Kun nor Shopkeeper Zeng would likely care about the life and death of ordinary citizens.
"Your Excellency, your subordinate noticed that Zhan Lao Er's expression was unusual during the interrogation, as if he was hiding something," Constable Fei did not forget the look of panic and unease on Zhan Lao Er's face the moment he woke up. Although he had quickly suppressed it, it had not escaped Constable Fei's sharp eyes.
Magistrate Chen's only impression of the Zhan family was of the cute, fair-skinned little girl, Zhan Feiyu. If it weren't for Zhu Kun's matter involving Chief Clerk Zhao, Magistrate Chen wouldn't have known that Zhan Feiyu had such high academic talent.
"You send someone to investigate again," Magistrate Chen said after some thought. "Please take twenty taels of silver from the steward and send it to Huichun Tang, as a commendation from this county for the good deed of the Zhan family's young lady."
Constable Fei was stunned. Did His Excellency care so much for a little girl?
Recalling that Magistrate Chen had personally gone to the Zhan family to preside over the competition, Constable Fei immediately replied, "Yes, your subordinate will attend to it now."
...
It took a hundred days to recover from broken bones and tendons, let alone Zhan Lao Er, who had been stabbed seven times. He was half-dead even if he didn't die.
Initially, the Zhan family worried about Zhan Lao Er's injuries and resented Zhan Feiyu. No one thought about the money. After eating a few biscuits for dinner, their minds cleared, and the matter of money was brought to the forefront.
"Dad, I asked the senior physician. The hemostatic medicine used to save second brother is the best, costing one tael of silver per bottle. The senior physician used two bottles at the time," Zhan Lao Da's words made the faces of the Zhan family members present turn extremely grim. That was already two taels of silver gone.
Zhan Lao Da continued, "Second brother lost a lot of blood. The senior physician used ginseng slices in the medicine, and this medicine needs to be taken for half a month, after which the prescription will be changed. The total cost for consultation and medicine is eighteen taels."
"Didn't they say Huichun Tang is cheap? Why so much silver!" Xiao Yao Shi shrieked. Eighteen taels of silver! That was two years of earning without eating or drinking, and more money would be needed later.
Zhan Lao Tou and Zhan Lao Tai also had grim expressions. Although saving second brother's life was the most important thing, spending so much silver felt like cutting off a piece of their flesh.
"Eldest brother, master was harmed by your daughter. This money must be paid by your first branch!" Xiao Yao Shi said fiercely, her hateful gaze fixed on Zhan Feiyu. If it weren't for Li Shi protecting her, she would have beaten this wretched girl to death!
"The family is out of money," Zhan Lao Tai echoed, her gaze pressing towards Zhan Lao Da. She deliberately stretched out her neck to reveal the scarred wound. "It's not enough to harm me, and now you want to harm Lao Er. If you don't harm all the Zhan family members to death, your first branch will not stop."
"Mother, I will pay the money," Zhan Lao Da said with a distressed expression. Although he didn't know where to find the money, second brother was implicated by Xiao Yu, and he would pay the money even if he had to sell himself into servitude.
Li Shi remained silent. She knew her words would be useless.
As for the money, what she had earned in the past was all handed over to her mother-in-law. This money was a debt, but Li Shi was not afraid. As long as Xiao Yu could study and pass the Tong Sheng examination in two years, the money would not be a problem.
"Dad, I'm fine now. Let my wife stay to take care of me. You and eldest brother go out and find an inn to stay for the night," Zhan Lao Er said in a hoarse voice, his breathing becoming labored after a few words.
"Why waste that money? It's not cold. Squeeze in this room," Zhan Lao Tou was unwilling to spend more money. The little private savings of the first branch were probably all spent by Xiao Yu on ink and brushes. Second brother's medical expenses still had to be paid by the family. They had to save every coin.