Chapter 308
Even if the person standing outside the prison gate today were a man, there would be no pity. After all, Zhang Yiyi's disheveled appearance had nothing to do with beauty. Moreover, she was currently facing Zhan Feiyu and He Nuan.
"Do you want to die?" Zhan Feiyu asked, holding her hand warmer and blinking her dark eyes. Her fair, round face seemed like fine jade under the lamplight.
This made Zhang Yiyi clench her dirty quilt tighter, her gloomy eyes filled with ingrained jealousy and inexplicable hatred.
At her most desperate moment, seeing such a noble young lady, Zhang Yiyi wished she could pounce forward and tear off Zhan Feiyu's face, which was more delicate than tofu.
"Living like this will only be a burden to Xu'er." Her voice remained娇嗲 (jiao dai - delicate and sweet), and Zhang Yiyi sobbed, lowering her head with a look of utter despair. Of course, this was only to conceal the hatred growing in her eyes.
Zhang Yiyi couldn't help but recall her childhood. Ever since she married Yang Shoucheng and later followed the Zhenbian Hou, she hadn't thought about her past for nearly ten years.
In the Zhang mansion, she was a concubine's daughter. Even though she was beautiful and exceptionally intelligent from a young age, the child born to a concubine was an original sin.
What's more, her legitimate mother, the mistress of the Zhang family, was no easy person. She was a hypocritical and venomous woman. She cared about her reputation and never acted directly, but with just a glance from her legitimate mother, many people, whether servants in the mansion or concubines and other children in the inner court, would act on her behalf.
And her legitimate mother was always the dignified and virtuous official's wife sitting in the main seat. Even if she, the tormented concubine's daughter, was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall in the dead of winter, or was subjected to all sorts of torment and abuse by the governess, all she needed was a light remark, "Jade cannot be made into a useful object without carving," and everyone would praise her legitimate mother. As for her, the little concubine's daughter, she had to be grateful for her legitimate mother's teachings.
The prison was dim and cold. Zhang couldn't remember how many times she had hidden in dark corners, envying her elder sisters, He Xiaomei, who were in the spotlight. It was precisely because they were legitimate daughters that they could wear the best dresses, wear the most beautiful hair ornaments, act spoiled with their father, receive the love and various rewards from their grandfather and grandmother.
Zhang had once sworn that she would make a name for herself. She thought she had succeeded, but in the blink of an eye, she was imprisoned. Therefore, the radiant Zhan Feiyu awakened her long-dormant memories, and emotions like jealousy, darkness, and hatred surged into her heart.
Suppressing the twisted hatred in her heart, Zhang said softly and helplessly, "Actually, I should have died long ago. I was too insistent, always thinking of watching Xu'er grow up, watching him get married and have children, so I lingered on."
"Who says the heart of a blade of grass can repay the spring sunshine?" Zhan Feiyu nodded in agreement, then changed the subject, "Since that's the case, I will fulfill your motherly love for Yang Xu."
Zhang Yiyi's expression stiffened as she looked up. What did she mean?
"May I ask how Madam intends to do it? If you want to hang yourself..." Her voice paused. Zhan Feiyu surveyed the empty prison. There was no beam, and her gaze finally settled on the prison door. "Hanging the rope here is also possible. Madam need not worry about not being able to hang it properly. A'nuan is skilled in martial arts, she can help with this small matter."
Zhang Yiyi looked as if she had swallowed a fly, feeling stifled. In the Zhenbian Hou mansion for over eight years, many women would bring their children to pay respects to her, the Hou's wife. Even the most pampered daughters of noble families, though young, carried the innocence and kindness of children in their hearts. In comparison, Zhan Feiyu, who was so serious about urging her to die, outside the prison gate, was like a little devil from the underworld.
Ignoring Zhang Yiyi's contorted expression, Zhan Feiyu pondered for a moment and continued, "I've heard that hanged bodies look terrible, with bloodshot eyes and bulging eyeballs, and the tongue will hang out. Madam, you were so fond of beauty in life, why not try another way? How about taking medicine? Although it's difficult to find a secret medicine that is instantly fatal, if one spends a fortune, one can probably find it."
This vicious little slut! Zhang Yiyi clenched her fists in anger. If she hadn't been accustomed to forbearance and suppression since childhood, she would have cursed Zhan Feiyu loudly at this moment.
"Of course, Yang Xu is away and his return date is uncertain, but he might return at any time. It's too time-consuming to find medicine. Madam, why not just slit your throat or swallow gold?" As Zhan Feiyu finished speaking, He Nuan, who was holding the oil lamp, actually took out a piece of gold from her person, which truly shocked Zhan Feiyu. People usually carried loose silver or silver notes, but A'nuan actually carried gold.
Magistrate Zhu and Captain Wu, to avoid suspicion, had not come over. However, the prison was too quiet, and Zhan Feiyu's voice was normal, so the two standing not far away could hear everything clearly.
"Captain Wu, is this really okay?" Magistrate Zhu's voice trembled. Despite the cold weather, he was covered in a cold sweat. Could these words really come from an eight-year-old girl?
Captain Wu glanced disdainfully at the timid Magistrate Zhu and replied in a low voice, "Have you forgotten this little ancestor's identity? Let alone killing one Zhang, even killing the entire Zhang family, who would dare to complain?"
The fearsome Jinlongwei (Forbidden Dragon Guard) truly lived up to its reputation. How old was this little ancestor? If she were ten or eight years older, Captain Wu dared not even think about it.
Magistrate Zhu, who was being looked down upon, was very displeased and couldn't help but retort, his voice even lower, "But she is Scholar Gu's disciple, a Grand Scholar of the Grand Secretariat!"
Although Magistrate Zhu was just a minor official, Xiangwu County was now a mixed bag of dragons and snakes, with many forces lurking within. Although Zhan Feiyu's identity had not been publicly revealed, those who needed to know already knew. This was also why Magistrate Zhu was always respectful to Zhan Feiyu.
As for the Jinlongwei, Magistrate Zhu was also afraid just thinking about it. But no matter how terrifying the Jinlongwei was, they wouldn't dare to offend Scholar Gu. Magistrate Zhu was actually very surprised. Zhan Feiyu was a scholar, so why did she get involved with the notorious Jinlongwei? Wasn't this ruining her reputation?
Magistrate Zhu and Captain Wu, who were mutually disgusted, looked at each other again. Neither of them spoke, fearing that the more they knew, the faster they would die.
As for the prison, Zhang Yiyi coughed heart-wrenchingly, with blood seeping from the corners of her mouth. She had already caught a cold due to the dark and cold prison. After taking medicine, her cough had not improved. Every night, she coughed incessantly. Zhang Yiyi also knew that she needed to recuperate properly, otherwise, she wouldn't recover anytime soon.
But she had been angered by Zhan Feiyu just now, which triggered her cough. Fortunately, this cough meant she didn't have to answer Zhan Feiyu's questions, so Zhang coughed even harder, her body hunched as if she were coughing out her internal organs.
"Miss, perhaps we should stop?" He Nuan said softly, looking at Zhang Yiyi with sympathy. "She probably won't live much longer like this. If Miss intervenes, perhaps Young Master Xu will hold a grudge, and it will be a good deed done with bad intentions."
At this moment, Zhang wished that this god of destruction, Zhan Feiyu, would leave immediately, go far away. It was better to live a lingering life than to die. As long as she was Yang Xu's birth mother, no one would dare to take her life. She was still thinking about future wealth and glory, and a life of being served by maids.
Zhan Feiyu sighed, "Then let's not bother."
A moment later, after confirming that Zhan Feiyu had left the prison, Captain Wu and Magistrate Zhu, who had returned, quickly found a doctor. When gods fight, mortals suffer!
If Zhang Yiyi really died in prison, as the Magistrate of Xiangwu County and the one responsible for guarding prisoners, neither of them would be able to escape blame.
Perhaps it was because Magistrate Zhu and Captain Wu's gazes were too intense that the old doctor's hands trembled a few times. Anyone who didn't know would think there was something fishy going on, especially since Magistrate Zhu was famous for his love of beauty, and Captain Wu had been in the army for a long time and was said to find a sow more attractive than a beauty.
A quarter of an hour later, after taking her pulse three times and performing the four diagnostic methods of "looking, listening, questioning, and touching" again, the old doctor assured them, "Your Excellencies, please rest assured, the patient's body is fine. The cough is just a chronic condition. Continue to take the previous prescription. To recover completely..."
The old doctor was stating the obvious. In the harsh environment of the prison, where one couldn't eat or sleep well, even strong men couldn't endure it, let alone a sickly woman. Therefore, to recover completely, she could only go out and recuperate with medicinal herbs.
After confirming that Zhang Yiyi had not been poisoned, Magistrate Zhu and Captain Wu breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she was alive, their heads would be safe.
...
Leaving the county yamen's prison, the carriage was supposed to return to the Qiu mansion. Although the Chinese New Year was approaching, the streets of Xiangwu County were lively, with various hawking sounds echoing. The commoners buying New Year goods outside seemed accustomed to the freezing weather, and they were all smiling.
However, Zhan Feiyu had no interest in visiting shops in the cold weather. But the carriage was stopped halfway.
He Sheng steadily stopped the carriage, holding the reins in one hand and the whip in the other, and asked coldly, "Sir, what is your business?"
Although he was wearing an ordinary padded jacket, his build indicated that the young man came from the military. Ignoring He Sheng, the coachman, the guard respectfully said to the carriage, "Miss Zhan, my young master invites Miss Zhan to have tea at the teahouse."
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Zhan Feiyu poked half her head out. "My young master invites me to a meeting, so I should go? Wouldn't that mean I have no face at all? Hmph, what arrogance!"
With an extremely arrogant attitude, Zhan Feiyu snorted disdainfully, then arrogantly ordered, "A'sheng, turn back. Anyone who dares to stop the carriage will be charged for the damage if they are run over!"
The guard, however, did not show any anger. He just didn't expect Zhan Feiyu to be so unreasonable. But glancing at her round face, she was still a child, so arrogance and unreasonableness were normal.
Seeing that He Sheng was about to flick the reins and continue driving the carriage, the guard immediately announced his identity, "Miss Zhan, please calm your anger. My young master is the heir of the Zhenbian Hou. Please accompany us."
As his voice fell, the guard waved his hand, and instantly, several figures emerged from the shadows. Although they were still standing not far away and had not approached, if Zhan Feiyu refused to cooperate, they would probably resort to force.
...
Leaving the county yamen's prison, the carriage was supposed to return to the Qiu mansion. Although the Chinese New Year was approaching, the streets of Xiangwu County were lively, with various hawking sounds echoing. The commoners buying New Year goods outside seemed accustomed to the freezing weather, and they were all smiling.
However, Zhan Feiyu had no interest in visiting shops in the cold weather. But the carriage was stopped halfway.
He Sheng steadily stopped the carriage, holding the reins in one hand and the whip in the other, and asked coldly, "Sir, what is your business?"
Although he was wearing an ordinary padded jacket, his build indicated that the young man came from the military. Ignoring He Sheng, the coachman, the guard respectfully said to the carriage, "Miss Zhan, my young master invites Miss Zhan to have tea at the teahouse."
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Zhan Feiyu poked half her head out. "My young master invites me to a meeting, so I should go? Wouldn't that mean I have no face at all? Hmph, what arrogance! Leaving the county yamen's prison, the carriage was originally heading back to the Qiu mansion. Although the Chinese New Year was approaching, the streets of Xiangwu County were lively, with various hawking sounds echoing. The commoners buying New Year goods outside seemed accustomed to the freezing weather, and they were all smiling.
However, Zhan Feiyu had no interest in visiting shops in the cold weather. But the carriage was stopped halfway.
He Sheng steadily stopped the carriage, holding the reins in one hand and the whip in the other, and asked coldly, "Sir, what is your business?"
Although he was wearing an ordinary padded jacket, his build indicated that the young man came from the military. Ignoring He Sheng, the coachman, the guard respectfully said to the carriage, "Miss Zhan, my young master invites Miss Zhan to have tea at the teahouse."
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Zhan Feiyu poked half her head out. "My young master invites me to a meeting, so I should go? Wouldn't that mean I have no face at all? Hmph, what arrogance! Leaving the county yamen's prison, the carriage was originally heading back to the Qiu mansion. Although the Chinese New Year was approaching, the streets of Xiangwu County were lively, with various hawking sounds echoing. The commoners buying New Year goods outside seemed accustomed to the freezing weather, and they were all smiling.
However, Zhan Feiyu had no interest in visiting shops in the cold weather. But the carriage was stopped halfway.
He Sheng steadily stopped the carriage, holding the reins in one hand and the whip in the other, and asked coldly, "Sir, what is your business?"
Although he was wearing an ordinary padded jacket, his build indicated that the young man came from the military. Ignoring He Sheng, the coachman, the guard respectfully said to the carriage, "Miss Zhan, my young master invites Miss Zhan to have tea at the teahouse."
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Zhan Feiyu poked half her head out. "My young master invites me to a meeting, so I should go? Wouldn't that mean I have no face at all? Hmph, what arrogance!"
With an extremely arrogant attitude, Zhan Feiyu snorted disdainfully, then arrogantly ordered, "A'sheng, turn back. Anyone who dares to stop the carriage will be charged for the damage if they are run over!" m..oΓg
The guard, however, did not show any anger. He just didn't expect Zhan Feiyu to be so unreasonable. But glancing at her round face, she was still a child, so arrogance and unreasonableness were normal.
...
With an extremely arrogant attitude, Zhan Feiyu snorted disdainfully, then arrogantly ordered, "A'sheng, turn back. Anyone who dares to stop the carriage will be charged for the damage if they are run over!"
The guard, however, did not show any anger. He just didn't expect Zhan Feiyu to be so unreasonable. But glancing at her round face, she was still a child, so arrogance and unreasonableness were normal.
...