"The Shen Ting acupoint also has slight bruising," Yin Wuyan said, putting down his teacup. He gazed at the restless Zhan Feiyu.
The blind old woman's body had already been examined by the coroner. Since she had committed suicide, the coroner would not pay much attention to any other bruises on her body, especially since the cause of death was so obvious.
Furthermore, her eyesight was poor, and her son and daughter were both paralyzed and seriously ill. The blind old woman had to take care of them, so most of the marks on her body were from collisions. It was easy to get injured while chopping vegetables or boiling water.
With her head lowered, her long black eyelashes concealed the panic and unease in her eyes. Zhan Feiyu thought her plan was flawless, but she hadn't expected to be exposed so quickly.
"To the right of the alley is the Zeng family's Baofeng Cloth Shop," Zhan Feiyu spoke again. Her round, chubby face no longer held childishness, appearing calm and indifferent. "I changed my handwriting and dropped a note to the Zeng family."
The note was tucked into her purse, and it only contained one sentence: Zhan Lao Er helped the lame beggar escape from Shangsi County.
"Killing with a borrowed knife?" Although it was a question, Yin Wuyan had already seen through Zhan Feiyu's intentions. Hou Fei, the Jade-Faced Gentleman, had died by her hand. Even if the Zeng family turned Shangsi County upside down, they would never find the lame beggar.
"Yes," Zhan Feiyu nodded honestly. She wanted to study and take the imperial examinations, so she had to protect her reputation. Whether she was called hypocritical or vicious, Zhan Feiyu had to resolve the matter with the Zhan family, but she couldn't get her own hands dirty.
As for the Zeng family's methods, one could tell from the fate of their servant Wang Ming, who was paralyzed in bed. Regardless of whether there was evidence, the Zeng family would take action against Zhan Lao Er. He was just a peasant; as long as no one died, it would be fine. Moreover, Zhan Feiyu had "evidence."
Silence spread in the private room, like a guillotine hanging overhead. The fact that it hadn't fallen yet made people's hearts tremble.
Zhan Feiyu secretly glanced at Yin Wuyan. Would the Imperial Guards get involved in such a minor case? After all, the blind old woman had committed suicide. "With your intelligence, it shouldn't be difficult to deal with the Zhan family," Yin Wuyan said, scrutinizing Zhan Feiyu. Although she was just a short, plump little girl, her schemes and composure far surpassed those of many adults.
Yet, her method of dealing with Zhan Lao Er was simple and crude. She had even made an enemy of the entire Zhan family. It wouldn't be difficult to resolve the Zhan family without bloodshed.
Uh... Zhan Feiyu recalled her answer to Tutor Lin that day: appeal to reason, move with emotion, and entice with benefits. The only person the Zhan family truly needed to deal with was her second uncle.
Zhan Lao Er was hypocritical, greedy, and selfish. If Zhan Feiyu enticed him with benefits, had an open and honest conversation with Zhan Lao Er, or perhaps signed a contract, promising to help the second branch when she became successful, or even gave Zhan Lao Er a handle, Zhan Lao Er would likely not fall out with Zhan Feiyu. After all, with a contract and a handle, he wouldn't be afraid of Zhan Feiyu reneging on her word.
And Zhan Feiyu was still young. Ten years later, when she was fully grown, it would be easier to deal with Zhan Lao Er. Yet, she chose a path of mutual destruction, preferring to be abandoned by everyone rather than temporarily making peace with Zhan Lao Er.
"I just don't want the second branch to take advantage," Zhan Feiyu replied indignantly.
Looking at the childish Zhan Feiyu, Yin Wuyan said sarcastically, "Just kill them all and be done with it?"
Her puffed-up cheeks deflated instantly. Zhan Feiyu rolled her eyes at him impatiently. That was a human life. "The Jade-Faced Gentleman was an accident, it was out of desperation!"
Zhan Feiyu maintained a stern face, speaking righteously and trying to vindicate herself.
If she was called cold-blooded and selfish, she still held onto a shred of kindness. Yin Wuyan observed Zhan Feiyu with a cool gaze for a long time. "As long as you don't regret it."
What was this person here for? After watching Yin Wuyan leave, Zhan Feiyu pouted listlessly. She looked at the untouched pastries and tea on the table, then hopped off the chair and ran over.
"Delicious!" Her eyes lit up, her chubby face filled with joy and satisfaction. Zhan Feiyu ate the pastries with gusto, casually picking up the teacup and taking a few sips.
Unlike the bitter tea dregs at home, the aroma of Biluochun tea was long-lasting, perfectly complementing the sweetness of the pastries.
After a satisfying meal of tea and pastries, Zhan Feiyu, with her bulging little belly, slumped onto the chair. "There are a thousand bushels of grain in books; to eat and drink well, one must study hard!"
After her感慨, Zhan Feiyu clenched her small fists and encouraged herself. She tidied her appearance and resumed her usual well-behaved and sensible little demeanor before walking out of the private room.
In the private room separated by a wall.
Chong Guang stared dumbfounded at the short, plump figure on the street. "Seventh Master, this fat girl studies just for the sake of her appetite?"
"Tidy up," Yin Wuyan said expressionlessly. Thinking of Zhan Feiyu feasting heartily, which he had seen through the mechanism, a faint smile quickly flashed in his phoenix eyes. No matter how worldly-wise she seemed, she was still just a seven-year-old girl.
...
Jinlin Village, Zhan family's second branch.
Little Yao Shi handed him the bowl of medicine and served Zhan Lao Er after he drank it. She then sat by the bedside, feeling increasingly resentful. "With the county magistrate backing that wretched girl, are we just going to forget about this five hundred taels of silver?"
The bitter taste of the medicine was nauseating. Zhan Lao Er's face was grim. The wounds on his back had scabbed over, but his chest still ached faintly whenever he moved too much. Even speaking too loudly caused pain. He knew his lungs and heart had been injured.
"My dear, is the county magistrate just bored, meddling in such a small matter?" Little Yao Shi's face twisted with resentment.
After Constable Fei had invoked Magistrate Chen's backing for Zhan Feiyu at the Huichun Hall that day, Constable Ma had visited Zhan Lao Er at home to help him recover from his injuries. However, his words clearly conveyed a warning to the second branch.
Since ancient times, it was unwise for commoners to fight against officials. Even though Old Madam Zhan was biased towards the second branch and disliked Zhan Feiyu, she dared not offend the constables. The five hundred taels of silver compensation was no longer mentioned.
"Enough, stop nagging. If you have time, urge Da Lang to study hard, and we won't be suppressed by that dead girl!" Zhan Lao Er roared angrily. The pain in his chest and lungs twitched, making Zhan Lao Er as irritable as a trapped beast.
Little Yao Shi was stunned by his roar. Looking at Zhan Lao Er's ashen face, she pouted aggrievedly, "I'm just upset. Da Lang doesn't study hard, and there's nothing I can do."
"You go out, I want to sleep for a while." Zhan Lao Er felt so defeated for the first time. He clenched his fists unwillingly, but he was helpless!
The village and the clan all sided with that dead girl, let alone Tutor Lin. Now even Constable Fei and Brother Ma were like this. Even with a mind full of schemes and calculations, Zhan Lao Er could do nothing about Zhan Feiyu.
After returning from the county, Zhan Feiyu did not return to the Zhan family. Instead, she first went to the old clan elder's house. Using the remaining candied hawthorns, she had Shanwazi call the village head over as well.
"Great-Grandfather," Zhan Feiyu said respectfully to the old clan elder. "No matter what, Second Uncle was injured because of me. I went to Huichun Hall today and asked. The senior physician said Second Uncle injured his lungs and heart and cannot do heavy labor in the future."
The village head and the old clan elder exchanged glances. Zhan Lao Er's injury was indeed an unforeseen disaster that no one could have predicted. However, being unable to do heavy labor was also a big problem. The Zhan family children all needed to study, and this was not a small sum of money.