Even if Rong Zhi wished to inquire, no one in the entire imperial city knew of Xia Yunting's whereabouts. To find out more, she would have to infiltrate the imperial palace.
Another half a month passed before Rong Zhi visited Zhang Yajing at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.
In half a month, Zhang Yajing had adapted to life at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion. Besides her usual studies of medical texts, she spent her days helping Fang Tianhua find medicinal herbs and attending to patients. She was a quick learner, as she had often been ill at home and had become knowledgeable through prolonged sickness.
Cui Xi followed Zhang Yajing like a shadow.
The Hundred Herbs Pavilion was a busy and lively place.
Just as Rong Zhi felt that everything was going well, she suddenly sensed a gaze fixed upon her.
"Yajing, you're busy. I'll go check the backyard."
"Mm, be careful not to step on the herbs I'm drying."
Rong Zhi acknowledged her and then, with a light touch of her toes, soared into the air as if she had wings. She leaped over a fleeing figure and landed steadily.
A gust of wind swept past her. Just as the person was about to escape, Rong Zhi stuck out her foot, causing the person to fall flat on their face.
"What are you hiding from? I'm not a ghost, I won't eat you."
It turned out this person was the physician Wang whom Rong Zhi had apprehended from a brothel in Changping County. Without the adulation of a crowd, his mysterious demeanor vanished, leaving him looking somewhat sleazy.
"You're not a ghost, you're more terrifying than one."
His livelihood was going well, and then she tricked him into this unfamiliar place to do hard labor, without pay, and with no means of escape. His life was utter misery.
Rong Zhi glanced around. The backyard, from its nooks and crannies, was filled with disciples at work. There were those still in open-crotch pants and those with white beards. Some were boiling medicine, some were reading, some were sweeping the courtyard. However, they were all so quiet that they seemed to have no presence.
Rong Zhi was a bit puzzled and asked him, "I've found so many like-minded companions for you. Aren't you happy?"
"Bah!" Physician Wang spat on the ground. "There isn't a single girl here. What's there to be happy about!"
Indeed, he was from a brothel, his mind occupied by women all day.
"Once you've learned all the skills here, what kind of girl can't you have?"
Physician Wang wore a bitter expression. By the time that day arrived, he would likely be in his grave.
Just then, Fang Tianhua walked by with a set of keys. He saw Rong Zhi but acted as if he hadn't. Physician Wang, however, grabbed him.
"Master! Don't go, you haven't agreed to my request yet."
Fang Tianhua's face showed impatience. He shook him off, "Don't talk to me about such absurdities. Since you're a physician, focus on learning medicine. What do you care about what happens outside?"
Rong Zhi was curious. "What is it you're requesting?"
Physician Wang shrunk his neck, afraid to speak.
Fang Tianhua remembered something and let out a scoff, "A iron tree blooms, an old ox craves tender grass. The tender grass is with someone else, and you can't have it even if you want it."
Hearing this, Physician Wang's face turned as red as an overripe persimmon.
Rong Zhi crossed her arms and shook her head. "Who would have thought, an old steed in the stable still dreams of galloping a thousand miles. Which brothel girl has caught your eye now?"
"Hurry and tell me, what's there to be embarrassed about? I'll tell you, she has more influence than I do. If she agrees to let you leave, then you can go."
Seeing Physician Wang's hesitation, Fang Tianhua urged him on.
Physician Wang finally replied, "Her name is Dong Mei. She's a new girl brought in by Li Guaizi of Hulu Lane. They say she's being prepared to be sold as a concubine to a wealthy family. Half a month ago, I treated her for a cold, and she begged me to take her away."
So, it was a twisted fate.
People in the hands of traffickers had no control over their own lives, let alone their marriages.
Rong Zhi asked gossipy, "How old is that girl?"
"Sixteen..." Physician Wang's voice grew softer.
He recalled when he went to see her, the young girl lay on the bed like a fragile beauty, so delicate and lovable that even an iron tree would blossom.
Rong Zhi couldn't help but chuckle. "How old are you?"
"Forty-eight."
"Pfft hahahahahahahahahahahahaha..." Rong Zhi laughed so hard she leaned against the wall. "You're old enough to be her grandfather, and you're still lusting after a young girl. Aren't you afraid of breaking your teeth on that tender grass?"
Physician Wang's lips twitched. He glared resentfully at Fang Tianhua, thinking that if he hadn't insisted on him speaking, he wouldn't have been so humiliated.
Fang Tianhua cleared his throat to ease the awkwardness.
"That girl is indeed somewhat attractive. I heard that the General's Mansion is recruiting maids. If that girl has a bit of luck, she might even get in as a second wife."
Hmm? Hearing this, Rong Zhi's smile faded.
In Hulu Lane, a man with a mole on the corner of his mouth whipped the ground with a string of his whip, making a cracking sound.
"You think you're so special, wanting to run away? If you run, where will I find my money? If you run again, I'll break your legs."
A disheveled, tear-streaked young girl knelt on the ground, crying piteously.
"If I don't tie you up, you won't behave." The man took a rope and tightly bound the girl to a pillar before muttering curses and returning to his room.
It was late at night, and the courtyard was dark, with only the chirping of birds in the trees. The girl tilted her head, dozing off intermittently.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept past her face. She jolted awake, only to find nothing there.
At this moment, Rong Zhi had already entered the room. The room was filled with smoke. The person on the bed turned over and slept even more soundly.
Rong Zhi removed the incense and turned to search the room.
Generally, when such traffickers sold people to wealthy families, there would be a contract, two copies, one with the trafficker and one with the main household. She wondered if the Xia family had visited.
While searching the wardrobe, Rong Zhi found a small box. Inside, she discovered a stack of papers. She took out a tinder and lit it, revealing it to be a contract from the Xia Mansion. It stated that they intended to purchase four maids, and had already settled on Chun Tao, Xia He, Qiu Ju, and Dong Mei. They would be picked up the very next morning.
Close call! If she had been a day later, she would have missed this golden opportunity.
Rong Zhi put the contract back as it was. She searched various parts of the courtyard and finally found a small locked room in the backyard. Through the window, Rong Zhi saw three women confined inside.
Including the one tied to the pillar, there were exactly four. Could these be Chun Tao, Xia He, Qiu Ju, and Dong Mei?
With the numbers fixed, even if she wanted to interfere, there was no room. It seemed she could only replace one of them. However, if she replaced one, that girl would inevitably have to escape and find a place to live. If that girl were to speak out about this after leaving, it would cause her more trouble. It would be safer to keep her within sight.
She recalled Physician Wang mentioning Dong Mei and decided to call out softly, "Dong Mei."
The girl at the far end immediately raised her head. Rong Zhi couldn't help but sigh, "Beautiful." This girl had a pair of peach blossom eyes. Although she was sold, she wasn't emaciated like other girls. Instead, she was as plump and dewy as a water peach, beautiful and radiant.
Even Rong Zhi, a woman, couldn't help but praise her.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" Dong Mei came to the window, speaking very softly to avoid alarming the other two.
Rong Zhi said, "I'm here to save you. Who sold you?"
"My parents sold me. We had no food at home, so they sold me."
"Do you know where you're being sold to?"
"Yes, the General's Mansion."
"Do you want to leave? I can help you escape."
"No!" Dong Mei seemed startled and quickly waved her hands.
"I can't leave. I've already signed the contract. If I escape, the General's Mansion will capture me and beat me to death."
"You don't need to worry. I'll arrange everything else. I can guarantee your safety and ensure you're not discovered."
"That won't do either. Even if I get out, I'll have nowhere to go."
"I can arrange a place for you to live and survive properly."
"No..." Dong Mei took a couple of steps back. It seemed she was only now becoming wary of Rong Zhi.
"I'm not going anywhere. Please leave quickly!"
Rong Zhi rested her chin on her hand and thought for a while. Although she was reluctant to mention it, she finally said, "Do you remember the doctor who treated you for your cold half a month ago? He's the one who sent me to save you."
"It was him..." Dong Mei's eyes darted around, and her fear deepened. "I don't know any doctor. Please leave quickly. If you don't leave, I'll start shouting."
As she spoke, she was about to shout. Rong Zhi used her light footwork and swiftly disappeared from the window.
She found the girl's behavior peculiar. At first, she hadn't been surprised by her appearance. Instead, after she asked a few questions, the girl became very frightened.
Had she been threatened before? Or did she not trust her?
It seemed she would have to find another way.
Rong Zhi went to the front courtyard and saw that the girl tied to the pillar was motionless.
She walked closer curiously and felt for a breath under her nose. There was no sign of life.
Rong Zhi clenched her fist, a flicker of regret flashing across her face. When she passed by earlier, the girl had still shown signs of life. If she had discovered this sooner, this girl wouldn't have died.
Since that was the case, she might as well go with the flow.
Rong Zhi untied the girl from the pillar, hoisted her onto her shoulder, and left the place. Not long after, Rong Zhi, wearing the girl's clothes, returned, having inflicted many similar wounds on herself.
She used the rope to tie herself to the pillar, quietly waiting for dawn.
She would send the girl to Chu Qingze, who would arrange for her burial.
Traffickers were truly heartless. The girl had hundreds of wounds all over her body, some festering, some exposing bone. No wonder she had died so quickly.
If it weren't for the approaching dawn, Rong Zhi would have definitely taught that trafficker a lesson.
The eastern sky was already showing a pale, fish-belly white. Rong Zhi had barely managed to get some sleep when she heard the sound of people getting up from inside the room.
Li Guaizi rubbed his eyes, feeling as if he had never slept so deeply. Last night, it was as if he had taken medicine, sleeping soundly until daybreak.
After getting up, he went into the courtyard. He first glanced at Rong Zhi, ensuring she was tied to the pillar, before nodding with relief. Then, he went to the backyard.
Not long after, angry shouts were heard from within.
"Still sleeping? Why don't you sleep to death! Get up quickly!"
A series of footsteps followed, and three girls appeared in the front courtyard.
"Chun Tao! How are you?" A slender-eyed girl with a somewhat seductive look pounced forward, asking with tears streaming down her face.
So, the deceased girl was named Chun Tao.
"I'm fine," Rong Zhi said in a weak voice, trying to prevent them from recognizing her voice.
The slender-eyed girl quickly untied Rong Zhi. As she was untying the ropes, Rong Zhi feigned a few cries of pain.
"I'm telling you, the General's Mansion is coming to pick you up soon. All of you will wash up and make yourselves presentable. Don't disgrace me!" Li Guaizi picked up his whip, his demeanor fierce.