Chapter 124
Yu Ying could feel that she had been under surveillance for two days.
They were likely observing to see if she was alone and thus an easy target.
When the servant brought her hot tea, she gave him a note to pass to the innkeeper.
In the morning, when Yu Ying went to the stall, she took the dagger that Fu Wei had left for her, along with some of her powders.
Itching powder and lime powder.
Leaving her room and encountering the yamen runners downstairs, she just gave a brief nod without drawing attention, not receiving the usual greeting of "Mrs. Yu," indicating the innkeeper had already passed on the message.
Yu Ying sighed in relief internally.
While she was followed to the stall, the public setting deterred any overt action.
Upon reaching the stall and seeing Su Liu unharmed, Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief and again reminded her, "The woman from yesterday likely had accomplices. Be cautious to avoid any retaliation."
Su Liu, still a girl of sixteen or seventeen, paled slightly upon hearing this.
Yu Ying intended to alert her, not frighten her, so she added, "Don't be too scared. We'll close the stall early for the next few days, and I'll arrange for someone to patrol the area. If there's no issue, I'll let you know."
Su Liu nodded hastily.
After advising her, Yu Ying glanced outside the stall, figuring out where the hidden watchers were. She discreetly withdrew her gaze and refrained from looking outside.
Having stayed alert all of last night without rest, she felt extremely sleepy today.
Seeing her tired state, Su Liu suggested, "Why don’t you rest for a while, Boss?"
With only a few customers around, Yu Ying, sitting at the table, thought of the vigilance required at night and agreed, asking Su Liu to wake her in half an hour.
She moved her chair to a corner and dozed off on the table for a brief rest.
Closing the stall by mid-afternoon, Yu Ying returned to the inn. The bustling lobby and the partly open doors of the rooms occupied by the yamen runners seemed to silently assure her they were watching.
Yu Ying sighed in relief, instructed the innkeeper to send dinner at the third quarter of You hour, and then went to her room.
She needed to rest while it was still light, as she had to remain alert throughout the night.
Since the traffickers hadn’t acted last night, probably just scoping out the situation, they were likely to make their move tonight after observing for a full day and night.
As the night deepened, the inn quieted down, and the lights in the guest rooms went out.
Gently, a door opened, and a head peeked out. After looking around, the person whispered to someone behind, “Didn’t we agree when we fled to Lingnan not to abduct people anymore?”
The person behind him frowned, exasperatedly saying, "Stop being so squeamish, it's no way to achieve anything big!"
Continuing, he added, "Initially, we just planned to extort some money, but that woman got our mother sent to prison. She brought it upon herself, so it's not our fault. With her looks, we can easily sell her for several tens of taels. With that money, we can bribe the guards, making our mother's time in jail more bearable."
They would have an easier life too.
Their voices were deliberately low, but they didn't consider that walls have ears.
The Yu County yamen runners guessed that the people in the next room might act tonight, so they remained alert all night, closely monitoring any movements.
Hearing the faint sound of a door opening, no one made a sound; they all silently grabbed their clubs and positioned themselves near their doors, ready to catch the criminals red-handed.
Someone with keen hearing, listening closely to the wall, intermittently heard voices discussing jail, extortion, looks, and several tens of taels.
From these snippets, it was clear what the two men intended to do.
Anger surged within them.
Mrs. Yu was a respected figure in their office, and Mr. Fu had specifically asked them to look after his wife in his absence.
These two men were grossly overestimating themselves!
As more subtle sounds came from the next room, the people tightened their grip on their clubs.
Yu Ying, sitting on the edge of her bed, remained vigilant. Suddenly, she heard a faint rustling on the roof. Her expression turned stern, and she quickly armed herself with a small crossbow, taking cover in the narrow space between the head of the bed and the wall, alert and ready.
Focused on the door, she was startled by a slight noise at the window. Turning her head, she saw a shadow slowly pushing open the slightly ajar window, followed by another figure leaping into the room.
Once inside, the two figures cautiously glanced toward the bed before stealthily approaching the bed draped with curtains.
One of them, holding a damp cloth, gently lifted the curtains.
The room was dim, almost impossible to see, but guided by instinct, the blanket was pulled back.
Just as the blanket was lifted, the door was slammed open. Before the two intruders could react, four or five people rushed in. The momentarily stunned pair quickly realized...
—They'd been trapped!
They tried to escape, but as they headed for the window, they were met with a barrage of blows, their cries alerting the guests downstairs, who hurriedly dressed to investigate. However, they were stopped at the staircase by two tall men saying, "Official business, please step aside," piquing everyone's curiosity.
With the candlelight brightened, Yu Ying stepped out and told the constables, "They surely have accomplices still in the city. Interrogate them about their hideout, quickly!"
The two, beaten into convulsions, pleaded for mercy. Fearing for their lives after the severe beating, they immediately disclosed their hideout.
Among the seven constables at the inn, two stayed to protect Yu Ying, one went to call for reinforcements from the yamen, and the others escorted the thieves to their hideout.
In just a short while, the second floor was quiet again. The innkeeper, relieved but dismayed at the damaged door, dared not voice his displeasure.
The constables borrowed materials from the innkeeper to fix the door. Seeing the repair underway, the innkeeper's mood improved slightly.
After fixing the door, the constables assured Yu Ying, "Madam Yu, please rest easy. We'll stand guard outside tonight."
Yu Ying nodded, thanked the constables, then closed and locked her room door from the inside. She placed a stool against it for extra security and meticulously secured the windows before finally feeling reassured.
After attending to these precautions, she walked wearily to the bed, sat on the edge, then lay down with a heavy sigh.
How could she not be afraid?
Her fear stemmed not from danger to herself, but from the helplessness of being unable to assist others in peril.
Yu Ying covered her eyes with her hands, feeling a dull ache from the lack of rest in recent days.
Despite a momentary sense of relief, a sense of unease lingered in her heart.
She wondered if Fu Wei was safe and everything had gone smoothly for him.
Early the next morning, Yu Ying heard from the constables about the two thieves apprehended last night.
Following the thieves' confession, a house was discovered, guarded by two men.
Inside, there were two malnourished young girls, around eleven or twelve years old, abducted and forced into labor, enduring hunger and beatings.
Two young women were also found, kidnapped for the depraved gratification of four men.
Regarding the imprisoned women, it was revealed they were formerly involved in human trafficking but expelled for an offense. Knowing the lucrative nature of the trade, they harbored crooked ambitions.
Accompanied by her two sons and a nephew, she delved into human trafficking. After becoming wanted criminals, they fled to Lingnan, intending to lay low and extort money, but their plans quickly unraveled, leading to their downfall.
The case was presided over by the chief clerk of the prefectural yamen. Although the criminals were apprehended by the Yu County constables, in the absence of the governor, the issue of rewards was postponed. Nevertheless, someone was sent to offer commendations.
No sooner had the officials from the yamen left, than someone hurriedly returned to the inn.
Yu Ying, after drinking tea and preparing to visit the stall to check on Song Sanlang's grain collection, was about to leave when she saw Wu, the junior constable accompanying Fu Wei, running up to the second floor, sweating profusely.
A sense of foreboding struck Yu Ying.
—Could something have happened to Fu Wei?!
Wu, the junior constable, rushed to Yu Ying, panting, "Madam Yu, quickly, gather your things and come with me to Qinggong Mountain."
Yu Ying's hand tightened in anxiety, struggling to remain calm, she asked, "Has something... happened to my husband?"
Despite her effort to stay composed, her voice trembled.
Wu hurriedly shook his head to clarify, "Not Mr. Fu, it's Brother Fu Zhen. Mr. Fu sent me and Huo, the constable, back to fetch you, and he asked you to bring suturing materials and hemostatic herbs."
Though relieved it wasn't Fu Wei, hearing it was Fu Zhen, Yu Ying couldn’t relax, her palms sweaty with anxiety.
Without delay, she quickly packed her belongings, left a message with the inn's constable to inform Song Sanlang at the stall about her urgent departure.
On the carriage, Yu Ying finally heard the full story from Wu, the junior constable.
There was a traitor among Prefect Shen's men, leading to chaos during the hunting expedition.
Prefect Shen, out on a hunting excursion, found Fu An's hunting skills impressive despite his limp, resulting in more game than others. This amused the Prefect, who kept Fu An by his side thereafter.
Yesterday afternoon, while roasting game in the woods, an assassin attempted to kill Prefect Shen. Fu An was nearby, and Fu Zhen was also present to watch over him.
During the chaos, everyone protected Prefect Shen, but only Fu Zhen shielded Fu An, sustaining a deep slash from his arm to his chest. They returned still unconscious.
Hearing this, Yu Ying turned pale.
Wu, the yamen runner, didn’t mention Fu An’s leg, indicating it remained undiscovered.
In the carriage, Yu Ying inhaled sharply, asking, "Aren't there physicians on a hunting trip?"
Before Wu, driving the carriage, could reply, Huo, another yamen runner, replied grimly, "All the physicians were attending to Prefect Shen. They barely glanced at us before leaving."
It was an undeserved disaster!
Yu Ying’s expression darkened.
After a moment of silence, she asked, "After an assassination attempt, shouldn't they return to the city? Why is Prefect Shen still at the hunting grounds?"
Huo replied, "Prefect Shen's eldest son is missing, and they are still searching for him."
Hearing this, Yu Ying refrained from further questions, only asking, "How long until we reach the hunting grounds?"
Huo glanced at the sky and estimated, "We should arrive by the afternoon."
Anxiously concerned for both Fu An and Fu Zhen, Yu Ying urged the carriage to hurry, enduring the jolting ride that unsettled her stomach.
Upon arriving at the outskirts of the hunting ground, they were stopped and denied entry.
Wu insisted, "We're from Yuxian, accompanying Master Fu. We returned to the city last night for a physician and have a token of passage."
"A token won’t suffice. Master Yang ordered earlier this afternoon, no outsiders allowed to prevent assassins from infiltrating," the guard stated firmly.
"Sir, Master Fu’s brother is critically ill. Please make an exception and inform the authorities once more!" they pleaded.
"There are physicians in the hunting grounds, yet you chose to go back to the county for another. Who knows if you harbor ill intentions!"
Wu, the yamen runner, nearly choked on his own anger at these words, yet he dared not express it.
As Wu was fuming, Yu Ying lifted the carriage curtain and addressed the guards.
"I am Fu An's wife, a physician with my own clinic in Yuxian. I accompanied my husband to the county. It's my duty as his sister-in-law to assist when his elder brother is injured, so they went back to fetch me."
The guard looked at her, remaining indifferent: "Master Yang has ordered that no one is allowed into the hunting grounds."
"We may not enter, but surely, sir, you can. We just ask you to relay a message to my husband, informing him of my arrival. We won’t hold you responsible for anything."
While the guard frowned, Yu Ying added, "My husband is Yuxian's aide, personally summoned by the Prefect. He might be able to persuade the Prefect to let us in."
Hearing this, the guard perceived an underlying implication.
Although she suggested the Prefect might relent, her words also subtly reminded him of her husband's influence with the Prefect. If something unfortunate befell Fu An's brother, they could be blamed.
Skeptical of her medical skills but weighing the situation, he said, "Wait here. I'll report your request."
After instructing his colleague to watch them, the guard went to convey the message.
About fifteen minutes later, the guard returned, glancing at them: "Follow me inside."
Internally, he was relieved he had spoken up, avoiding potential resentment.
They had just entered the camp when someone rushed in, carrying a young man covered in blood, followed by seven or eight soldiers, each with varying degrees of injuries, almost all drenched in blood.
Then someone shouted, "The young master has returned, the young master has returned!"
Yu Ying observed the injured with a complex expression, not rushing forward to examine them.
She clearly understood the priority between her elder brother and these men. Besides, the young man was the governor's legitimate son, likely to be the focus of attending physicians, leaving no need for her assistance.
Yu Ying, along with Huo, the constable, and Wu, the junior constable, quickly approached a tent.
Upon lifting the tent flap, she was immediately struck by the strong scent of blood.
The first sight that greeted her was Fu Zhen, lying on a makeshift wooden bed, pale-faced, his upper body covered with a quilt, and his shoulder bandaged.
She then turned to see Fu Wei.
Fu Wei looked back at her, his handsome face worn with fatigue, as if he hadn't slept since the previous day, with bloodshot eyes.
Upon seeing her, he managed a weary smile, the first expression he had shown in days, "You're here."
His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't had water in a long time.
Yu Ying nodded and walked to the bedside.
Wu, the junior constable, and Huo, the constable, waited outside, ready for any tasks.
Fu Wei, looking at his pale-faced elder brother, said in a hoarse voice, "At that moment, my legs went numb, I couldn't move, but my elder brother risked his life to protect me."
In that instant, Fu Wei felt an indescribable complexity in his heart.
He had indeed accepted his place in the Fu family, but the lack of childhood ties created a sense of estrangement, an unspoken barrier that had always existed between them.
Yet, seeing Fu Zhen protect him in such a way, how could Fu Wei's heart not be filled with complex emotions?
Not to mention, when Fu Zhen was conscious, he said something — "You are my real brother; of course, I must protect you."
Fu Wei felt a jolt in his heart upon hearing these words.
Since yesterday, he had been vigilantly by the bedside, not eating or drinking, nor leaving, fearing that in his absence, no one would care for Fu Zhen and his peril would go unnoticed.
Chapter 124
Yu Ying could feel that she had been under surveillance for two days.
They were likely observing to see if she was alone and thus an easy target.
When the servant brought her hot tea, she gave him a note to pass to the innkeeper.
In the morning, when Yu Ying went to the stall, she took the dagger that Fu Wei had left for her, along with some of her powders.
Itching powder and lime powder.
Leaving her room and encountering the yamen runners downstairs, she just gave a brief nod without drawing attention, not receiving the usual greeting of "Mrs. Yu," indicating the innkeeper had already passed on the message.
Yu Ying sighed in relief internally.
While she was followed to the stall, the public setting deterred any overt action.
Upon reaching the stall and seeing Su Liu unharmed, Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief and again reminded her, "The woman from yesterday likely had accomplices. Be cautious to avoid any retaliation."
Su Liu, still a girl of sixteen or seventeen, paled slightly upon hearing this.
Yu Ying intended to alert her, not frighten her, so she added, "Don't be too scared. We'll close the stall early for the next few days, and I'll arrange for someone to patrol the area. If there's no issue, I'll let you know."
Su Liu nodded hastily.
After advising her, Yu Ying glanced outside the stall, figuring out where the hidden watchers were. She discreetly withdrew her gaze and refrained from looking outside.
Having stayed alert all of last night without rest, she felt extremely sleepy today.
Seeing her tired state, Su Liu suggested, "Why don’t you rest for a while, Boss?"
With only a few customers around, Yu Ying, sitting at the table, thought of the vigilance required at night and agreed, asking Su Liu to wake her in half an hour.
She moved her chair to a corner and dozed off on the table for a brief rest.
Closing the stall by mid-afternoon, Yu Ying returned to the inn. The bustling lobby and the partly open doors of the rooms occupied by the yamen runners seemed to silently assure her they were watching.
Yu Ying sighed in relief, instructed the innkeeper to send dinner at the third quarter of You hour, and then went to her room.
She needed to rest while it was still light, as she had to remain alert throughout the night.
Since the traffickers hadn’t acted last night, probably just scoping out the situation, they were likely to make their move tonight after observing for a full day and night.
As the night deepened, the inn quieted down, and the lights in the guest rooms went out.
Gently, a door opened, and a head peeked out. After looking around, the person whispered to someone behind, “Didn’t we agree when we fled to Lingnan not to abduct people anymore?”
The person behind him frowned, exasperatedly saying, "Stop being so squeamish, it's no way to achieve anything big!"
Continuing, he added, "Initially, we just planned to extort some money, but that woman got our mother sent to prison. She brought it upon herself, so it's not our fault. With her looks, we can easily sell her for several tens of taels. With that money, we can bribe the guards, making our mother's time in jail more bearable."
They would have an easier life too.
Their voices were deliberately low, but they didn't consider that walls have ears.
The Yu County yamen runners guessed that the people in the next room might act tonight, so they remained alert all night, closely monitoring any movements.
Hearing the faint sound of a door opening, no one made a sound; they all silently grabbed their clubs and positioned themselves near their doors, ready to catch the criminals red-handed.
Someone with keen hearing, listening closely to the wall, intermittently heard voices discussing jail, extortion, looks, and several tens of taels.
From these snippets, it was clear what the two men intended to do.
Anger surged within them.
Mrs. Yu was a respected figure in their office, and Mr. Fu had specifically asked them to look after his wife in his absence.
These two men were grossly overestimating themselves!
As more subtle sounds came from the next room, the people tightened their grip on their clubs.
Yu Ying, sitting on the edge of her bed, remained vigilant. Suddenly, she heard a faint rustling on the roof. Her expression turned stern, and she quickly armed herself with a small crossbow, taking cover in the narrow space between the head of the bed and the wall, alert and ready.
Focused on the door, she was startled by a slight noise at the window. Turning her head, she saw a shadow slowly pushing open the slightly ajar window, followed by another figure leaping into the room.
Once inside, the two figures cautiously glanced toward the bed before stealthily approaching the bed draped with curtains.
One of them, holding a damp cloth, gently lifted the curtains.
The room was dim, almost impossible to see, but guided by instinct, the blanket was pulled back.
Just as the blanket was lifted, the door was slammed open. Before the two intruders could react, four or five people rushed in. The momentarily stunned pair quickly realized...
—They'd been trapped!
They tried to escape, but as they headed for the window, they were met with a barrage of blows, their cries alerting the guests downstairs, who hurriedly dressed to investigate. However, they were stopped at the staircase by two tall men saying, "Official business, please step aside," piquing everyone's curiosity.
With the candlelight brightened, Yu Ying stepped out and told the constables, "They surely have accomplices still in the city. Interrogate them about their hideout, quickly!"
The two, beaten into convulsions, pleaded for mercy. Fearing for their lives after the severe beating, they immediately disclosed their hideout.
Among the seven constables at the inn, two stayed to protect Yu Ying, one went to call for reinforcements from the yamen, and the others escorted the thieves to their hideout.
In just a short while, the second floor was quiet again. The innkeeper, relieved but dismayed at the damaged door, dared not voice his displeasure.
The constables borrowed materials from the innkeeper to fix the door. Seeing the repair underway, the innkeeper's mood improved slightly.
After fixing the door, the constables assured Yu Ying, "Madam Yu, please rest easy. We'll stand guard outside tonight."
Yu Ying nodded, thanked the constables, then closed and locked her room door from the inside. She placed a stool against it for extra security and meticulously secured the windows before finally feeling reassured.
After attending to these precautions, she walked wearily to the bed, sat on the edge, then lay down with a heavy sigh.
How could she not be afraid?
Her fear stemmed not from danger to herself, but from the helplessness of being unable to assist others in peril.
Yu Ying covered her eyes with her hands, feeling a dull ache from the lack of rest in recent days.
Despite a momentary sense of relief, a sense of unease lingered in her heart.
She wondered if Fu Wei was safe and everything had gone smoothly for him.
Early the next morning, Yu Ying heard from the constables about the two thieves apprehended last night.
Following the thieves' confession, a house was discovered, guarded by two men.
Inside, there were two malnourished young girls, around eleven or twelve years old, abducted and forced into labor, enduring hunger and beatings.
Two young women were also found, kidnapped for the depraved gratification of four men.
Regarding the imprisoned women, it was revealed they were formerly involved in human trafficking but expelled for an offense. Knowing the lucrative nature of the trade, they harbored crooked ambitions.
Accompanied by her two sons and a nephew, she delved into human trafficking. After becoming wanted criminals, they fled to Lingnan, intending to lay low and extort money, but their plans quickly unraveled, leading to their downfall.
The case was presided over by the chief clerk of the prefectural yamen. Although the criminals were apprehended by the Yu County constables, in the absence of the governor, the issue of rewards was postponed. Nevertheless, someone was sent to offer commendations.
No sooner had the officials from the yamen left, than someone hurriedly returned to the inn.
Yu Ying, after drinking tea and preparing to visit the stall to check on Song Sanlang's grain collection, was about to leave when she saw Wu, the junior constable accompanying Fu Wei, running up to the second floor, sweating profusely.
A sense of foreboding struck Yu Ying.
—Could something have happened to Fu Wei?!
Wu, the junior constable, rushed to Yu Ying, panting, "Madam Yu, quickly, gather your things and come with me to Qinggong Mountain."
Yu Ying's hand tightened in anxiety, struggling to remain calm, she asked, "Has something... happened to my husband?"
Despite her effort to stay composed, her voice trembled.
Wu hurriedly shook his head to clarify, "Not Mr. Fu, it's Brother Fu Zhen. Mr. Fu sent me and Huo, the constable, back to fetch you, and he asked you to bring suturing materials and hemostatic herbs."
Though relieved it wasn't Fu Wei, hearing it was Fu Zhen, Yu Ying couldn’t relax, her palms sweaty with anxiety.
Without delay, she quickly packed her belongings, left a message with the inn's constable to inform Song Sanlang at the stall about her urgent departure.
On the carriage, Yu Ying finally heard the full story from Wu, the junior constable.
There was a traitor among Prefect Shen's men, leading to chaos during the hunting expedition.
Prefect Shen, out on a hunting excursion, found Fu An's hunting skills impressive despite his limp, resulting in more game than others. This amused the Prefect, who kept Fu An by his side thereafter.
Yesterday afternoon, while roasting game in the woods, an assassin attempted to kill Prefect Shen. Fu An was nearby, and Fu Zhen was also present to watch over him.
During the chaos, everyone protected Prefect Shen, but only Fu Zhen shielded Fu An, sustaining a deep slash from his arm to his chest. They returned still unconscious.
Hearing this, Yu Ying turned pale.
Wu, the yamen runner, didn’t mention Fu An’s leg, indicating it remained undiscovered.
In the carriage, Yu Ying inhaled sharply, asking, "Aren't there physicians on a hunting trip?"
Before Wu, driving the carriage, could reply, Huo, another yamen runner, replied grimly, "All the physicians were attending to Prefect Shen. They barely glanced at us before leaving."
It was an undeserved disaster!
Yu Ying’s expression darkened.
After a moment of silence, she asked, "After an assassination attempt, shouldn't they return to the city? Why is Prefect Shen still at the hunting grounds?"
Huo replied, "Prefect Shen's eldest son is missing, and they are still searching for him."
Hearing this, Yu Ying refrained from further questions, only asking, "How long until we reach the hunting grounds?"
Huo glanced at the sky and estimated, "We should arrive by the afternoon."
Anxiously concerned for both Fu An and Fu Zhen, Yu Ying urged the carriage to hurry, enduring the jolting ride that unsettled her stomach.
Upon arriving at the outskirts of the hunting ground, they were stopped and denied entry.
Wu insisted, "We're from Yuxian, accompanying Master Fu. We returned to the city last night for a physician and have a token of passage."
"A token won’t suffice. Master Yang ordered earlier this afternoon, no outsiders allowed to prevent assassins from infiltrating," the guard stated firmly.
"Sir, Master Fu’s brother is critically ill. Please make an exception and inform the authorities once more!" they pleaded.
"There are physicians in the hunting grounds, yet you chose to go back to the county for another. Who knows if you harbor ill intentions!"
Wu, the yamen runner, nearly choked on his own anger at these words, yet he dared not express it.
As Wu was fuming, Yu Ying lifted the carriage curtain and addressed the guards.
"I am Fu An's wife, a physician with my own clinic in Yuxian. I accompanied my husband to the county. It's my duty as his sister-in-law to assist when his elder brother is injured, so they went back to fetch me."
The guard looked at her, remaining indifferent: "Master Yang has ordered that no one is allowed into the hunting grounds."
"We may not enter, but surely, sir, you can. We just ask you to relay a message to my husband, informing him of my arrival. We won’t hold you responsible for anything."
While the guard frowned, Yu Ying added, "My husband is Yuxian's aide, personally summoned by the Prefect. He might be able to persuade the Prefect to let us in."
Hearing this, the guard perceived an underlying implication.
Although she suggested the Prefect might relent, her words also subtly reminded him of her husband's influence with the Prefect. If something unfortunate befell Fu An's brother, they could be blamed.
Skeptical of her medical skills but weighing the situation, he said, "Wait here. I'll report your request."
After instructing his colleague to watch them, the guard went to convey the message.
About fifteen minutes later, the guard returned, glancing at them: "Follow me inside."
Internally, he was relieved he had spoken up, avoiding potential resentment.
They had just entered the camp when someone rushed in, carrying a young man covered in blood, followed by seven or eight soldiers, each with varying degrees of injuries, almost all drenched in blood.
Then someone shouted, "The young master has returned, the young master has returned!"
Yu Ying observed the injured with a complex expression, not rushing forward to examine them.
She clearly understood the priority between her elder brother and these men. Besides, the young man was the governor's legitimate son, likely to be the focus of attending physicians, leaving no need for her assistance.
Yu Ying, along with Huo, the constable, and Wu, the junior constable, quickly approached a tent.
Upon lifting the tent flap, she was immediately struck by the strong scent of blood.
The first sight that greeted her was Fu Zhen, lying on a makeshift wooden bed, pale-faced, his upper body covered with a quilt, and his shoulder bandaged.
She then turned to see Fu Wei.
Fu Wei looked back at her, his handsome face worn with fatigue, as if he hadn't slept since the previous day, with bloodshot eyes.
Upon seeing her, he managed a weary smile, the first expression he had shown in days, "You're here."
His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't had water in a long time.
Yu Ying nodded and walked to the bedside.
Wu, the junior constable, and Huo, the constable, waited outside, ready for any tasks.
Fu Wei, looking at his pale-faced elder brother, said in a hoarse voice, "At that moment, my legs went numb, I couldn't move, but my elder brother risked his life to protect me."
In that instant, Fu Wei felt an indescribable complexity in his heart.
He had indeed accepted his place in the Fu family, but the lack of childhood ties created a sense of estrangement, an unspoken barrier that had always existed between them.
Yet, seeing Fu Zhen protect him in such a way, how could Fu Wei's heart not be filled with complex emotions?
Not to mention, when Fu Zhen was conscious, he said something — "You are my real brother; of course, I must protect you."
Fu Wei felt a jolt in his heart upon hearing these words.
Since yesterday, he had been vigilantly by the bedside, not eating or drinking, nor leaving, fearing that in his absence, no one would care for Fu Zhen and his peril would go unnoticed.
