"Madam is overthinking; there's nothing physically wrong with her. You don't need to worry," Rong Zhi explained beside Li Zhao, seeing that Li Zhao remained silent.
"Mother, you've suffered," Zhang Yajing said, her voice catching as she touched "Madam Zhang's" face.
"Excuse me, Divine Doctor Lin. Could I have a moment alone with my mother?"
"Of course... Cui Xi, let's go outside!" Before leaving, Rong Zhi gave Li Zhao a look, signaling him to perform well.
Li Zhao found himself in a predicament, with no choice but to agree.
Once outside, Cui Xi quietly asked, "Divine Doctor Lin, who was that?"
Rong Zhi whispered something into her ear.
"Ah? Will... will it not be discovered?" Cui Xi was a little nervous and found the situation absurd.
"That depends on his acting skills."
Rong Zhi's disguise technique was impeccable, but a mother and daughter's connection involved subtle nuances that an outsider would find hard to imitate. Therefore, Rong Zhi deliberately had Li Zhao sit in a dimly lit area and instructed him to speak sparingly. If he could not maintain the act, he was to feign sleepiness and dismiss Zhang Yajing. The plan was for him to get through this short encounter successfully; if not, they would have to reveal the truth.
The two didn't go far. Rong Zhi pressed herself against the wall, peeking through a gap in the window to observe the situation inside, while Cui Xi held her breath.
In the distance, Xia Yunting stood with a yamen runner. Both figures were hidden in the shadows. The yamen runner glanced at Xia Yunting several times, wanting to strike up a conversation. The County Princess had arrived in Changping County, looking for the current great general. This man was precisely the one the officials suspected the most. If he could elicit any information, it would be a great achievement! However, this thought only flickered through his mind before being repelled by the man's aloof aura. He didn't even dare to offer a polite greeting, let alone try to extract any information.
Just as everything was proceeding smoothly here, Chu Qingze was enduring a form of torture.
"What are you doing?" Bound tightly and placed on the bed, he stared in horror at the scantily clad women in front of him, and at Xiao Yao, who was dressed normally but with a murderous expression.
"I told you, if you give me the information I want, I'll let you go," Xiao Yao threatened. This was the first time she had seen a man afraid of women, and this man was reportedly a renowned divine doctor throughout Changping County, who seemed to be on friendly terms with the recent couple from out of town. She naturally intended to interrogate him thoroughly.
"I've already told you, I don't know any Xia Yunting! If you're looking for someone, you can have the authorities post a notice. Using private torture is punishable by imprisonment!"
"Hmph, do you think I'm easily scared? Do the laws here apply to me?" Chu Qingze frowned, "Who are you?"
"Ahem, listen closely!" Xiao Yao cleared her throat. "I am the daughter of the only prince of different lineage in this dynasty, and also the County Princess personally enfeoffed by the Emperor, Xiao Yao!"
"County Princess?" Chu Qingze scrutinized Xiao Yao with suspicion. After a moment, he suddenly scoffed, "What kind of County Princess would shamelessly drag a man into a brothel? I think you're dreaming and fantasizing about being a County Princess. In reality, you're likely some ill-bred girl from nowhere, lacking shame and upbringing!"
"Don't just try to win with words. If you don't tell me the origin of those two people, I won't be polite." Hearing herself insulted like that, Xiao Yao was also enraged. She beckoned to a woman beside her. The woman smiled charmingly, leaning in languidly, her eyes seductively half-closed. "Young Master, are our sisters not serving you well enough that you refuse to speak?"
Chu Qingze's face turned pale, feeling as if countless insects were crawling on him. With a forceful shake, he flung the woman away. He then tilted his head and began to retch violently onto the floor. The woman who had just been flung away showed no anger. Instead, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and chuckled. She beckoned to her companions, and they all called out in unison, "Young Master," as if about to pounce on him.
"Don't! Don't! I'll tell you!" At the critical moment, Chu Qingze caved and cried out for mercy.
Xiao Yao waved her hand, and the women retreated, standing obediently behind her. Xiao Yao gestured for Chu Qingze to speak.
Chu Qingze said, "The two of them are..."
"What did you say?" As Chu Qingze trailed off, his voice suddenly became quieter. Xiao Yao instinctively leaned forward. At that moment, Chu Qingze suddenly raised his head and smashed it towards Xiao Yao.
Xiao Yao shrieked and stumbled back two steps, while the other women screamed in fright.
"You dare hit me!" Xiao Yao was furious and rolled up her sleeves to strike. Chu Qingze didn't dodge. Just as Xiao Yao's fist was about to land, he rolled to the side, and her punch landed heavily on the bed. He wasn't entirely unscathed; the hem of Chu Qingze's clothes was caught under Xiao Yao's fist, and the sachet he carried opened, spilling its pills onto the bed – red, yellow, and green.
Chu Qingze quickly moved closer, using his two fingers, which had limited mobility, to grab a pill. He crushed it and, using his internal energy, shot it out. The powder exploded right under Xiao Yao's nose. Xiao Yao froze for a moment. Realizing she had been drugged, she quickly covered her mouth and nose, but it was too late. She soon felt dizzy, her body went weak, and she collapsed to the side. The other women were stunned.
"What are you waiting for? Go get me a knife!" Chu Qingze glared at the women. They had seen him as a doctor before; they were acquaintances. Now, for a few taels of silver from Xiao Yao, they were betraying him. They were truly heartless! The women exchanged glances, still hesitant.
"You all heard just now. She's a County Princess. When she leaves here, to prevent anyone from knowing she frequented a brothel, she will surely silence everyone. You'll be the first to suffer." Hearing this, the women turned pale with fear. One of them quickly fetched a dagger and untied Chu Qingze's ropes.
"Divine Doctor Chu, what should we do?" one woman asked anxiously, deeply worried about her future.
"What else can we do? Report it to the officials. Say a madwoman came here, insisting she was a County Princess."
"Ah? Will that work?"
"That's up to you." Chu Qingze didn't waste any more time with them. He had originally been pursuing Zhang Yajing, but it was already late at night, and he didn't know how she was. Chu Qingze soon left, leaving the women to argue among themselves.
"Why don't you go report it?"
"No, you should go."
"You go..."
At Zhang Mansion, the candles in the room had burned down significantly, leaving only short stubs. The flickering candlelight cast shadows of two figures leaning against each other. Zhang Yajing lay on "Madam Zhang's" lap, like a fledgling bird returning home after a long absence, her face filled with affection.
"Mother, I want to go out and study medicine. I want to become a doctor and help people." She spoke with a hint of guilt in her voice.
Li Zhao was surprised by her decision. For a moment, he almost suspected Zhang Yajing knew about his mother's death. After all, if his mother were still alive, she would never have wanted to leave. However, judging by Zhang Yajing's tone, it seemed he hadn't been exposed. He dared not respond further, merely patting her shoulder. In his deliberately disguised, slightly hoarse voice, he said, "If you want to go, then go. Don't worry about things at home."
"Mother." Zhang Yajing hugged his waist and was silent for a long time. Li Zhao hugged her back, and for a while, neither of them spoke.
After a long time, Li Zhao felt a dampness at his waist. Zhang Yajing's voice was slightly hoarse. "Thank you."
"Thank me for what?" Li Zhao found the words strange.
"Thank you for everything you've done for me," Zhang Yajing tightened her grip. "Li Zhao."
Li Zhao: "..."
Rong Zhi: "..."
Cui Xi: "..."
Li Zhao's body stiffened. In that instant, he frantically recalled their previous conversation. It seemed he hadn't revealed any flaws. Lowering his head, he saw Zhang Yajing staring intently at him, and he instinctively averted his gaze.
"Miss... how did you... realize I'm not Madam?" Zhang Yajing tried to smile but failed, tears welling up in her eyes. "My own mother, how could I not recognize her?"
"..."
"Li Zhao, what happened to my mother?"
"Miss, are you thirsty? I'll get you some water." Li Zhao instinctively tried to evade.
"Li Zhao!" Zhang Yajing pushed Li Zhao down onto a chair, forcing him to meet her gaze. Under her strong, irresistible stare, Li Zhao swallowed. "Madam she..."
"Passed away, right?" By this point, Zhang Yajing's voice was trembling.
Li Zhao closed his eyes and nodded forcefully.
"What happened?" Zhang Yajing grabbed Li Zhao's arm and shook him violently. "I only left home for a short while, and my mother is gone. What exactly happened?"
"Miss, please calm down."
"Miss!" Cui Xi, sensing trouble, rushed in and pulled Zhang Yajing away. Zhang Yajing turned and saw Cui Xi, raising her hand to strike. Cui Xi quickly closed her eyes.
The expected pain didn't come. Zhang Yajing slowly knelt on the ground, covering her face. "Why, why didn't any of you tell me?"
"Miss, we were worried about you," Cui Xi's voice also choked with emotion.
"Yajing, don't blame them. I came up with this plan." Rong Zhi had considered this possibility. Since the truth was out, she could only do her best to protect Zhang Yajing's physical and emotional state. Zhang Yajing didn't respond. Her sobs, initially quiet, gradually became uncontrollable. All her grief and regret turned into tears, and by the time her voice was hoarse and the candlelight in the room was dimming, Zhang Yajing finally began to calm down.
No one spoke, they simply stayed by her side. Finally, Rong Zhi spoke, "I know where your mother is buried. I'll take you to visit." She stepped forward and extended her hand to Zhang Yajing. Zhang Yajing's body was still trembling. Rong Zhi bent down, slipped her arms under Zhang Yajing's armpits, and helped her up.
"Divine Doctor Lin, my mother is gone..." Zhang Yajing's eyes were red, like a wronged little rabbit. Rong Zhi said nothing, merely pulled her into her embrace and patted her back. At this moment, all words of comfort seemed pale and powerless.
"You two stay here and keep watch." Seeing Cui Xi and Li Zhao still looking lost, Rong Zhi told them to remain. The two hesitated, seemingly uneasy. Rong Zhi added, "I will protect her." Only then did they nod.
Rong Zhi left with Zhang Yajing alone. Xia Yunting and the yamen runner, hidden in the darkness, naturally saw them.
"Why are they leaving already? Is it over?" The yamen runner was puzzled. He turned his head and found Xia Yunting had vanished. "Huh? Where did he go?"