Chapter 64.
The commotion over the capture of the thieves lasted until the early hours, after which everyone returned to their homes to rest.
In the morning, having barely closed their eyes for an hour, Fu Wei and Fu Zhen were up again and headed to Yu County.
Fu Wei's plain palanquin inevitably drew attention as he traveled.
This was actually within Fu Wei's expectations.
Fu Wei currently had only three choices.
Either continue lying in bed helplessly, never leaving the house.
Or reveal that his legs were nearly healed.
Lastly, he could continue to pretend to be crippled and travel in a wheelchair.
Among these, a decision had to be made.
Huo Minzhi, knowing his life was gradually improving, would at most try to cause disruptions.
Moreover, the distance from Wuling County to Yu County was over two thousand li. Even if someone noticed his wheelchair, they would ponder whether to send a message to Wuling County. By the time the delay was over and Huo Minzhi's people arrived, it would be almost two months later.
After two months, in the coldest season, even exiled criminals would wait until April of the next year to be escorted.
If life gradually improved, Huo Minzhi might wait a few months before targeting him again.
However, if Huo Minzhi knew his legs were healed, regardless of the severe weather and many obstacles, he would still send someone to strike him and the Fu family again.
After weighing the options, Fu Wei chose the latter. Therefore, in his letter, he asked his friend to make a plain palanquin for him, making it easier to travel.
Today, as they needed to escort the three thieves to Yu County, Fu Zhen might have to push Fu Wei's palanquin, so Song Sanlang and He Dalong also went along to keep an eye on the thieves.
Yu Ying, having almost stayed up all night, slept until Chen hour before rising and thus didn't see Fu Wei off.
After breakfast, she went to check on the condition of the medicinal field.
Uncle He, Auntie He, and He Erlang were all in the field, helping to replant the damaged medicinal seedlings.
He Erlang was the first to spot Yu Ying, his face lighting up with a smile, he called out, "Sister-in-law Yu."
Uncle He and Auntie He also noticed Yu Ying, and they stopped their work.
As she approached, Uncle He told her, "We've checked everything. Only about twenty herbs can't be saved, so there’s not much loss."
Yu Ying also went down to the field to inspect.
Last night it was too dark to see clearly, but now in daylight, she saw some seedlings had been uprooted and tossed aside, others trampled and broken.
Fortunately, just as Uncle He had said, the damage wasn’t too severe.
Relieved, Yu Ying thanked them, "Uncle He, Auntie He, and He Erlang, thank you for coming so early to help. I appreciate it."
Auntie He replied, "We're neighbors, and you've helped us a lot too. No need for formalities."
Yu Ying smiled and then joined them in replanting the uprooted seedlings.
Passing villagers stopped and curiously asked, "Mrs. Yu, were those thieves really sent to the county office?"
Despite occasional friction among villagers, they united against outsiders who threatened one of their own.
The villagers were indignant last night, as if their own fields had been damaged.
Yu Ying, who initially felt indifferent towards the villagers, now felt a newfound fondness for them.
She responded, "This morning, my elder brother, He Dalong, and Song Sanlang escorted them to Yu County."
A villager speculated, "It must be some other village jealous of our people making money, so they came to destroy our fields."
The villagers used "we" and "our," as if the Fu family's earnings also reflected well on them, showing a strong sense of community pride.
Some were curious about the wheelchair Fu Wei used, but as some villagers were well-informed, Yu Ying didn’t need to explain; they did it for her.
When asked where it came from, Yu Ying made an excuse: "My second brother is well-traveled and had seen these designs before. I earned some money and spent it all on making this wheelchair for him."
The others didn’t question further and believed her.
Due to frequent interruptions for conversation, Yu Ying hardly did any work, and it was already midday.
Finally, after all the chatting villagers had left, Yu Ying exhaled deeply and looked towards Yu County.
Auntie He noticed her gaze and comforted her, "Don't worry, there won't be any problems."
By midday, Fu Wei had his elder brother book a room at Tongyue Inn where he stayed alone, instructing them to take the captives to the magistrate’s office.
Initially, Fu Zhen was concerned, but when he heard that his younger brother had arranged a meeting, he figured Fu Wei was meeting someone secretive and didn't want to be exposed, so he complied and went with He Dalong and Song Sanlang to the magistrate’s office.
Fu Wei waited quietly in the inn room, and about half an hour later, someone knocked on the door.
Fu Wei looked up towards the door and said indifferently, "The door is unlocked."
Shortly after his words, someone pushed the door open.
The person who entered was a young man in his mid-twenties, tall and well-built, with a handsome and honest face.
This man was Shen Mingcong, a friend Fu Wei had known for several years and shared life-and-death experiences with.
Upon entering and seeing Fu Wei, Shen Mingcong’s face lit up with excitement as he exclaimed, “Jinzhi!”
But then, as if remembering something, his eyes fell on the plain palanquin Fu Wei was sitting in, and his smile faltered.
“Jinzhi, your legs…”
Fu Wei smiled at him, “It’s a long story. Close the door first.”
Shen Mingcong hurriedly shut the door.
Fu Wei cautiously asked, "Have you told anyone about your trip to Lingnan?"
Shen Mingcong replied, "As you instructed, I haven't told anyone. I took a month's leave on the pretext of visiting my parents, so I can only stay in Yu County for three days before I must leave."
Hearing this, Fu Wei slowly stood up with the support of the chair's armrest, under his friend's astonished gaze, and briefly explained how Huo Minzhi broke his legs and forced him into marriage.
Shen Mingcong's face showed anger as he cursed, "That heartless beast!"
After cursing, he explained to Fu Wei, "I tried to investigate where you were exiled, but faced many obstacles. Even the Fu family's old records only mentioned your exile to Lingnan without specifics. I've been sending people to Lingnan for months with no success. If it weren't for your letter, I wouldn't have known you were in Cangwu County."
Fu Wei's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this, a hint of confusion and doubt arising in his mind.
But with other matters at hand, Fu Wei temporarily suppressed his doubts and said to his friend, "I asked you to come to Yu County to help me with two things."
Shen Mingcong's expression became serious, "Tell me."
Fu Wei spoke slowly, "First, I need your help to resolve a problem. After that, I need you to introduce me to the Magistrate of Yu County. That's the second thing."
Shen Mingcong pondered briefly, then said, "Introducing you to the Magistrate shouldn't be a problem with my current status. But I'm worried the Magistrate might communicate with that despicable person."
Fu Wei calmly replied, "I'll handle that."
Shen Mingcong had no doubt in his capabilities and nodded, "Alright, I'll introduce you to the Magistrate."
After agreeing, he then asked, "What's the trouble you mentioned?"
"My wife is in Yu County doing medicinal herb trade and has been troubled by local ruffians hired by the medical halls. These ruffians have been caught red-handed and taken to the magistrate’s office. If nothing unusual happens, they'll probably just be treated as petty thieves."
Fu Wei looked at him and said, "I need you to apply some pressure on the Magistrate at the office."
He currently served as a clerical officer in Wuling County. Although he had no official rank, his position as a clerical officer of a major county granted him enough influence to make a small-town Magistrate respectful and cautious.
The two tasks Fu Wei mentioned were not particularly challenging for Shen Mingcong.
However, hearing that he needed to help his wife resolve an issue, Shen Mingcong couldn't help but be curious, "From what you said earlier, your marriage was not of your own volition, but you don’t seem to be resentful about it."
Mentioning Yu Ying, Fu Wei’s eyes softened with a hint of a smile.
"She is an extraordinary woman. If you met her, you would be impressed by her too."
Shen Mingcong looked at his friend with surprise, then laughed, "It seems that scoundrel unwittingly pushed the right person into your life."
Fu Wei just smiled without saying anything.
After a few exchanges, Shen Mingcong suddenly asked, "With that scoundrel treating you so, did the Governor... not intervene?"
Mentioning his foster father, Fu Wei's expression gradually turned cold, "He did not."
Shen Mingcong showed a look of astonishment.
Fu Wei advised him, "He used to work under my biological father. There must have been some irreconcilable conflict between them. So, regarding the matter of my legs, pretend you don’t know."
After a moment of thought, he warned, "And don’t mention anything about me to him, to avoid implicating you."
Shen Mingcong frowned, puzzled, "What kind of conflict could make the Governor disregard twenty years of father-son relationship and leave you in such a state?"
Fu Wei lowered his gaze, responding, "Perhaps it's his grudge regarding my biological father's collusion with the enemy."
Hearing this, Shen Mingcong was momentarily speechless, not knowing what to say.
After a brief silence, Fu Wei shook off his somber mood, looked up, and said, "Let's head to the magistrate's office first."
In the back courtyard of Luo's Medical Hall, Manager Luo, dressed in plain robes, sat leisurely in a rocking chair, sipping tea.
In the following days, he anticipated that the woman's matter would be resolved, and the discerning townspeople would understand what they should and shouldn't do.
It was like eliminating a major nuisance; how could he not feel content and at ease?
Just then, a young pharmacy assistant hurried from the front pharmacy into the back courtyard. Hearing the footsteps, Manager Luo opened his eyes, wondering if news had already arrived.
He sat up straight and waited for the assistant to approach.
The assistant arrived and quickly said, "Manager, the managers of Li's and Zheng's halls have come."
Manager Luo, puzzled, asked, "Why have they all come?"
Shouldn't they be waiting at home for his good news?
As he was about to send the assistant to invite them in, the other two managers entered the backyard with anxious expressions.
Dismissing the assistant, Manager Luo greeted them with a smile, "Why have the two managers suddenly come here?"
"Manager Luo, don't you know what happened today?!" Manager Li exclaimed in surprise.
Manager Luo was startled for a moment, then shook his head, "What happened?"
Manager Zheng interjected, "Today, the people of Lingshui Village took the captured thieves to the magistrate’s office. Those thieves not only vandalized the medicinal fields at night but also robbed a cart on the road during the day. Hearing this, we both thought of Manager Luo."
Manager Li probed, "Were those people sent by Manager Luo?"
Manager Luo, upon hearing the initial words, felt a jolt in his heart, wondering how those ruffians were caught so easily.
He wanted to deny it, but after a moment's thought, he lifted his chin and admitted, "Indeed, I sent them."
The other two managers immediately panicked.
Manager Li anxiously said, "Now that the men are caught, what if they confess about us?!"
The other manager, as if realizing something, suddenly calmed down and said to Manager Luo, "We've never had any contact with those street thugs. You, Manager Luo, were the one in contact with them."
Manager Luo glanced at them calmly, "If I get into trouble, don’t think you can escape either."
As the two showed a mix of shock and anger, he continued with a relaxed smile, "But why would I be in trouble? Even if they name me, where’s the evidence?"
The two exchanged looks.
Manager Luo added, "I never gave them any silver, nor met them in person. I can simply claim they are falsely accusing me. Besides, my brother is a clerk in the magistrate’s office; he will surely help me."
"Moreover, we contribute substantial taxes to the magistrate’s office every year. Even if the Magistrate knows it was me, he will likely downplay the matter, turning a major issue into nothing."
Smiling, he looked at them, "If I undertook this, I had my reasons to be confident. Look how frightened you are, so panic-stricken."
Upon reflection, the two realized the truth in his words and began to relax, breathing a sigh of relief.
Manager Luo's smile faded as he closed his eyes slightly, "I just never expected that a mere farmwoman would be so difficult to deal with..."
Those street ruffians, whom ordinary merchants and gentry would avoid, how exactly did that farmwoman manage to handle them?
After tidying up the medicinal field, Yu Ying returned home.
She had initially planned to compare the facial creams she bought yesterday, but her thoughts kept drifting to the situation in Yu County, leaving her distracted.
Unable to concentrate, she eventually decided not to bother and resolved to wait for news.
It wasn't until the late afternoon that Fu Zhen returned with He Dalong, but Fu Wei and Song Sanlang were nowhere to be seen.
Yu Ying inquired, "Where's the second brother?"
Fu Zhen replied, "The second brother is staying overnight at the inn. I was concerned about him being alone, so I asked Song Jun to look after him in Yu County."
Fu Wei stayed in Yu County?
Hearing this, Yu Ying vaguely guessed that things hadn't gone smoothly today.
"What happened today?" she asked.
At this moment, Luo Shi brought in two cups of tea.
After drinking the tea, He Dalong angrily said, "I think the Magistrate is trying to protect that Manager Luo!"
Luo Shi, looking worried, asked, "Why do you say that?"
He Dalong set down his cup, "In court today, those thieves only admitted to disliking a woman doing business and wanting to teach you a lesson. They vehemently denied any connection with Manager Luo of Luo's Medical Hall and even accused us of coercing them to frame him!"
Wen Xing and Luo Shi widened their eyes in shock upon hearing this.
Recalling yesterday's events, Wen Xing expressed anger, "How can they do this! Did the Magistrate really believe them?!"
Both Fu Zhen and He Dalong had grim expressions, their silence speaking volumes.
Fu Zhen said gravely, "The Magistrate warned us, if we falsely accuse others, we too could be thrown into jail."
Hearing this, Yu Ying’s expression darkened.
She reflected on how the Magistrate's actions against the gossipy women had been commendable, but his handling of the current situation was hard to judge.
Was it truly a failure to discern the lies of those men?
Or was there some vested interest at play, making him reluctant to investigate further?
He Dalong took a deep breath and clenched his fist, "Those people only received ten lashings and a seven-day detention."
Just as he finished speaking, the sound of horse hooves "clattering" suddenly came from outside.
Everyone in the dining room was startled, then Fu An rushed in from outside, saying urgently, "There’s a court messenger riding a horse towards our house!"
The group exchanged glances in surprise and then heard someone outside shouting, "Is this the Fu residence?"
Stepping outside the dining room, they saw Huo the court messenger dismounting from his horse.
Fu Zhen stepped outside the fence gate and responded, "This is the Fu residence. May I ask what brings the officer here?"
Huo the court messenger, having a bit of acquaintance with Mrs. Yu, did not display the typical arrogance of other messengers.
He nodded at Mrs. Yu and then said, "The Magistrate has ordered a retrial of those thieves tomorrow. Those who testified in court today and Mrs. Yu are required to appear at the county office to confront the thieves directly."
Yu Ying and the others showed looks of surprise upon hearing this.
Yu Ying pondered for a moment, then stepped out of the courtyard to inquire, "Why would the Magistrate order a retrial? Can Huo the court messenger share any details?"
Huo the court messenger lowered his voice, "I don’t know much, just that after the trial of those thieves, a distinguished guest visited the county office. After the guest left, the Magistrate sent me to Lingshui Village to summon you to the county office."
Hearing this, Yu Ying understood that Fu Wei's connections had influenced the situation.
She nodded and thanked him, "Thank you for making the trip. Why not stay for a meal before returning?"
Huo the court messenger shook his head, "No, thank you. The mountain roads are dangerous at night; I must return to Yu County before dark."
"In that case, we won’t keep you any longer."
Huo the court messenger nodded, mounted his horse, and left.
After the messenger departed, villagers hurried over to inquire about the situation.
He Dalong briefly explained to them what happened at the county office today.
Yu Ying returned to the house, lay down on the bed amidst the outside commotion, and sighed while gazing at the thatched roof.
The retrial must certainly be Fu Wei's doing.
With the retrial, there is a ninety percent chance of a favorable outcome.
Following this incident, the medical halls would naturally hesitate to make any rash moves against her.
However, this isn't a permanent solution; if they continue to collude against her, it could still pose a hindrance.
She needed to think carefully about how to resolve this obstacle.
In the evening, after bathing, Yu Ying returned to find the house empty, feeling somewhat unaccustomed to it.
After all, for the past few months, she was used to seeing Fu Wei as soon as she entered the house. But his absence today made the house feel much emptier.
Yu Ying realized that since the night of the storm, she and Fu Wei had been living together in the same room for almost three months.
When they were together, they could chat about anything, adding a bit of spice to their otherwise dull and entertainment-less life. Thus, Yu Ying didn't find the nights boring or too quiet.
Looking at the empty room, Yu Ying still felt uneasy. So after applying her facial cream, she went to Luo Shi’s room to bring Fu Ning back to her room.
She continued teaching Fu Ning the five vowels. With only her own voice in the room, it felt more like talking to herself.
Besides, teaching Fu Ning to speak had been somewhat effective.
When Fu Ning tried to say "ah," a faint sound came out, but the progress was still not very noticeable.
Soon, the little girl became sleepy, and Yu Ying let her go to bed.
After Fu Ning fell asleep, the room became even quieter.
But it seemed that whether Fu Ning was asleep or not, the room was always quiet.
Yu Ying glanced at the empty side of the bed and sighed softly.
Remembering that she needed to get up early to walk to Yu County the next day, and couldn't afford to stay up late, she decided to sleep as well.
Tense from the events of the previous day up until now, and despite feeling unaccustomed to Fu Wei’s absence, Yu Ying quickly fell asleep.
Thus, Yu Ying's discomfort only lasted for an hour.
Late at night, in Yu County.
The light from the lanterns outside the inn's corridor faintly shone into the room, along with slivers of moonlight filtering through the gauze window, casting a dim and serene glow on the inn's floor.
Despite it being late at night, Fu Wei was still unable to sleep.
He lay awake, staring at the tent ceiling without any trace of sleepiness.
Had it not been for the necessity to return to Jade County tomorrow, and his still healing legs which he feared would be a burden, he would have never stayed in Jade County today.
He wondered about the current situation at home.
And he was even more uncertain if Liuniang, in his absence, would spare a moment to worry about him.
As Fukuwei was pondering, an arm suddenly smashed heavily against his chest.
Distracted by thoughts of home, Fukuwei was caught off guard and grunted upon the impact. He then turned his head and silently looked at Song Sanlang, who was sound asleep beside him.
Just as Fukuwei was about to move the arm off his chest, the slumbering Song Sanlang, seemingly sensing the chill, suddenly withdrew his arm and tucked it back under the quilt.
Fukuwei averted his gaze and let out a deep sigh.
Fortunately, he only had to endure this for one night.
The next day, news spread in Jade County that a case just settled yesterday at the county yamen was to be retried today.
This news sparked curiosity among the people, wondering why a common case of theft and vandalism would suddenly be retried. Was there some hidden story behind it?
Early in the morning, a yamen runner went to the Luo Medical Hall and said to the master, "The magistrate wants to retry yesterday's case from Lingshui Village, as the master was mentioned by a witness yesterday. Please accompany us to the yamen."
Upon hearing this, the master of the medical hall frowned and asked, "Wasn’t the case already closed? Why would it be retried all of a sudden?"
Since the master’s younger brother was a clerk at the county yamen, the yamen runner replied very politely, "We are also unaware of the reason."
The master pondered for a moment and then responded, "Even if it is retried, what does it have to do with me? Surely, just being mentioned doesn’t make me a suspect, does it?"
The yamen runner replied with difficulty, "We too are merely carrying out our duties impartially. We hope Master Luo can understand. It might just be a formality, and there's no need for concern."
How could one not be concerned?
It should have been a simple matter, already settled, and now suddenly a retrial is called. There must be some unforeseen development!
Fearing this development might implicate him, the master of the medical hall, after much deliberation, said, "Then please wait a moment for me."
He turned and entered the medical hall, instructing his accountant to prepare twenty taels of silver, to accompany him to the county yamen.
If he couldn't come back, the twenty taels were to be given to the magistrate as a favor.
At the same time, he sent a medicine boy to pass messages to Masters Li and Zheng.
— If he were to end up in jail, and they dared to stand by idly, he would surely confess their complicity as well.
Having secured his backup plan, the master of the medical hall then followed the yamen runner to the yamen.
Chapter 64.
The commotion over the capture of the thieves lasted until the early hours, after which everyone returned to their homes to rest.
In the morning, having barely closed their eyes for an hour, Fu Wei and Fu Zhen were up again and headed to Yu County.
Fu Wei's plain palanquin inevitably drew attention as he traveled.
This was actually within Fu Wei's expectations.
Fu Wei currently had only three choices.
Either continue lying in bed helplessly, never leaving the house.
Or reveal that his legs were nearly healed.
Lastly, he could continue to pretend to be crippled and travel in a wheelchair.
Among these, a decision had to be made.
Huo Minzhi, knowing his life was gradually improving, would at most try to cause disruptions.
Moreover, the distance from Wuling County to Yu County was over two thousand li. Even if someone noticed his wheelchair, they would ponder whether to send a message to Wuling County. By the time the delay was over and Huo Minzhi's people arrived, it would be almost two months later.
After two months, in the coldest season, even exiled criminals would wait until April of the next year to be escorted.
If life gradually improved, Huo Minzhi might wait a few months before targeting him again.
However, if Huo Minzhi knew his legs were healed, regardless of the severe weather and many obstacles, he would still send someone to strike him and the Fu family again.
After weighing the options, Fu Wei chose the latter. Therefore, in his letter, he asked his friend to make a plain palanquin for him, making it easier to travel.
Today, as they needed to escort the three thieves to Yu County, Fu Zhen might have to push Fu Wei's palanquin, so Song Sanlang and He Dalong also went along to keep an eye on the thieves.
Yu Ying, having almost stayed up all night, slept until Chen hour before rising and thus didn't see Fu Wei off.
After breakfast, she went to check on the condition of the medicinal field.
Uncle He, Auntie He, and He Erlang were all in the field, helping to replant the damaged medicinal seedlings.
He Erlang was the first to spot Yu Ying, his face lighting up with a smile, he called out, "Sister-in-law Yu."
Uncle He and Auntie He also noticed Yu Ying, and they stopped their work.
As she approached, Uncle He told her, "We've checked everything. Only about twenty herbs can't be saved, so there’s not much loss."
Yu Ying also went down to the field to inspect.
Last night it was too dark to see clearly, but now in daylight, she saw some seedlings had been uprooted and tossed aside, others trampled and broken.
Fortunately, just as Uncle He had said, the damage wasn’t too severe.
Relieved, Yu Ying thanked them, "Uncle He, Auntie He, and He Erlang, thank you for coming so early to help. I appreciate it."
Auntie He replied, "We're neighbors, and you've helped us a lot too. No need for formalities."
Yu Ying smiled and then joined them in replanting the uprooted seedlings.
Passing villagers stopped and curiously asked, "Mrs. Yu, were those thieves really sent to the county office?"
Despite occasional friction among villagers, they united against outsiders who threatened one of their own.
The villagers were indignant last night, as if their own fields had been damaged.
Yu Ying, who initially felt indifferent towards the villagers, now felt a newfound fondness for them.
She responded, "This morning, my elder brother, He Dalong, and Song Sanlang escorted them to Yu County."
A villager speculated, "It must be some other village jealous of our people making money, so they came to destroy our fields."
The villagers used "we" and "our," as if the Fu family's earnings also reflected well on them, showing a strong sense of community pride.
Some were curious about the wheelchair Fu Wei used, but as some villagers were well-informed, Yu Ying didn’t need to explain; they did it for her.
When asked where it came from, Yu Ying made an excuse: "My second brother is well-traveled and had seen these designs before. I earned some money and spent it all on making this wheelchair for him."
The others didn’t question further and believed her.
Due to frequent interruptions for conversation, Yu Ying hardly did any work, and it was already midday.
Finally, after all the chatting villagers had left, Yu Ying exhaled deeply and looked towards Yu County.
Auntie He noticed her gaze and comforted her, "Don't worry, there won't be any problems."
By midday, Fu Wei had his elder brother book a room at Tongyue Inn where he stayed alone, instructing them to take the captives to the magistrate’s office.
Initially, Fu Zhen was concerned, but when he heard that his younger brother had arranged a meeting, he figured Fu Wei was meeting someone secretive and didn't want to be exposed, so he complied and went with He Dalong and Song Sanlang to the magistrate’s office.
Fu Wei waited quietly in the inn room, and about half an hour later, someone knocked on the door.
Fu Wei looked up towards the door and said indifferently, "The door is unlocked."
Shortly after his words, someone pushed the door open.
The person who entered was a young man in his mid-twenties, tall and well-built, with a handsome and honest face.
This man was Shen Mingcong, a friend Fu Wei had known for several years and shared life-and-death experiences with.
Upon entering and seeing Fu Wei, Shen Mingcong’s face lit up with excitement as he exclaimed, “Jinzhi!”
But then, as if remembering something, his eyes fell on the plain palanquin Fu Wei was sitting in, and his smile faltered.
“Jinzhi, your legs…”
Fu Wei smiled at him, “It’s a long story. Close the door first.”
Shen Mingcong hurriedly shut the door.
Fu Wei cautiously asked, "Have you told anyone about your trip to Lingnan?"
Shen Mingcong replied, "As you instructed, I haven't told anyone. I took a month's leave on the pretext of visiting my parents, so I can only stay in Yu County for three days before I must leave."
Hearing this, Fu Wei slowly stood up with the support of the chair's armrest, under his friend's astonished gaze, and briefly explained how Huo Minzhi broke his legs and forced him into marriage.
Shen Mingcong's face showed anger as he cursed, "That heartless beast!"
After cursing, he explained to Fu Wei, "I tried to investigate where you were exiled, but faced many obstacles. Even the Fu family's old records only mentioned your exile to Lingnan without specifics. I've been sending people to Lingnan for months with no success. If it weren't for your letter, I wouldn't have known you were in Cangwu County."
Fu Wei's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this, a hint of confusion and doubt arising in his mind.
But with other matters at hand, Fu Wei temporarily suppressed his doubts and said to his friend, "I asked you to come to Yu County to help me with two things."
Shen Mingcong's expression became serious, "Tell me."
Fu Wei spoke slowly, "First, I need your help to resolve a problem. After that, I need you to introduce me to the Magistrate of Yu County. That's the second thing."
Shen Mingcong pondered briefly, then said, "Introducing you to the Magistrate shouldn't be a problem with my current status. But I'm worried the Magistrate might communicate with that despicable person."
Fu Wei calmly replied, "I'll handle that."
Shen Mingcong had no doubt in his capabilities and nodded, "Alright, I'll introduce you to the Magistrate."
After agreeing, he then asked, "What's the trouble you mentioned?"
"My wife is in Yu County doing medicinal herb trade and has been troubled by local ruffians hired by the medical halls. These ruffians have been caught red-handed and taken to the magistrate’s office. If nothing unusual happens, they'll probably just be treated as petty thieves."
Fu Wei looked at him and said, "I need you to apply some pressure on the Magistrate at the office."
He currently served as a clerical officer in Wuling County. Although he had no official rank, his position as a clerical officer of a major county granted him enough influence to make a small-town Magistrate respectful and cautious.
The two tasks Fu Wei mentioned were not particularly challenging for Shen Mingcong.
However, hearing that he needed to help his wife resolve an issue, Shen Mingcong couldn't help but be curious, "From what you said earlier, your marriage was not of your own volition, but you don’t seem to be resentful about it."
Mentioning Yu Ying, Fu Wei’s eyes softened with a hint of a smile.
"She is an extraordinary woman. If you met her, you would be impressed by her too."
Shen Mingcong looked at his friend with surprise, then laughed, "It seems that scoundrel unwittingly pushed the right person into your life."
Fu Wei just smiled without saying anything.
After a few exchanges, Shen Mingcong suddenly asked, "With that scoundrel treating you so, did the Governor... not intervene?"
Mentioning his foster father, Fu Wei's expression gradually turned cold, "He did not."
Shen Mingcong showed a look of astonishment.
Fu Wei advised him, "He used to work under my biological father. There must have been some irreconcilable conflict between them. So, regarding the matter of my legs, pretend you don’t know."
After a moment of thought, he warned, "And don’t mention anything about me to him, to avoid implicating you."
Shen Mingcong frowned, puzzled, "What kind of conflict could make the Governor disregard twenty years of father-son relationship and leave you in such a state?"
Fu Wei lowered his gaze, responding, "Perhaps it's his grudge regarding my biological father's collusion with the enemy."
Hearing this, Shen Mingcong was momentarily speechless, not knowing what to say.
After a brief silence, Fu Wei shook off his somber mood, looked up, and said, "Let's head to the magistrate's office first."
In the back courtyard of Luo's Medical Hall, Manager Luo, dressed in plain robes, sat leisurely in a rocking chair, sipping tea.
In the following days, he anticipated that the woman's matter would be resolved, and the discerning townspeople would understand what they should and shouldn't do.
It was like eliminating a major nuisance; how could he not feel content and at ease?
Just then, a young pharmacy assistant hurried from the front pharmacy into the back courtyard. Hearing the footsteps, Manager Luo opened his eyes, wondering if news had already arrived.
He sat up straight and waited for the assistant to approach.
The assistant arrived and quickly said, "Manager, the managers of Li's and Zheng's halls have come."
Manager Luo, puzzled, asked, "Why have they all come?"
Shouldn't they be waiting at home for his good news?
As he was about to send the assistant to invite them in, the other two managers entered the backyard with anxious expressions.
Dismissing the assistant, Manager Luo greeted them with a smile, "Why have the two managers suddenly come here?"
"Manager Luo, don't you know what happened today?!" Manager Li exclaimed in surprise.
Manager Luo was startled for a moment, then shook his head, "What happened?"
Manager Zheng interjected, "Today, the people of Lingshui Village took the captured thieves to the magistrate’s office. Those thieves not only vandalized the medicinal fields at night but also robbed a cart on the road during the day. Hearing this, we both thought of Manager Luo."
Manager Li probed, "Were those people sent by Manager Luo?"
Manager Luo, upon hearing the initial words, felt a jolt in his heart, wondering how those ruffians were caught so easily.
He wanted to deny it, but after a moment's thought, he lifted his chin and admitted, "Indeed, I sent them."
The other two managers immediately panicked.
Manager Li anxiously said, "Now that the men are caught, what if they confess about us?!"
The other manager, as if realizing something, suddenly calmed down and said to Manager Luo, "We've never had any contact with those street thugs. You, Manager Luo, were the one in contact with them."
Manager Luo glanced at them calmly, "If I get into trouble, don’t think you can escape either."
As the two showed a mix of shock and anger, he continued with a relaxed smile, "But why would I be in trouble? Even if they name me, where’s the evidence?"
The two exchanged looks.
Manager Luo added, "I never gave them any silver, nor met them in person. I can simply claim they are falsely accusing me. Besides, my brother is a clerk in the magistrate’s office; he will surely help me."
"Moreover, we contribute substantial taxes to the magistrate’s office every year. Even if the Magistrate knows it was me, he will likely downplay the matter, turning a major issue into nothing."
Smiling, he looked at them, "If I undertook this, I had my reasons to be confident. Look how frightened you are, so panic-stricken."
Upon reflection, the two realized the truth in his words and began to relax, breathing a sigh of relief.
Manager Luo's smile faded as he closed his eyes slightly, "I just never expected that a mere farmwoman would be so difficult to deal with..."
Those street ruffians, whom ordinary merchants and gentry would avoid, how exactly did that farmwoman manage to handle them?
After tidying up the medicinal field, Yu Ying returned home.
She had initially planned to compare the facial creams she bought yesterday, but her thoughts kept drifting to the situation in Yu County, leaving her distracted.
Unable to concentrate, she eventually decided not to bother and resolved to wait for news.
It wasn't until the late afternoon that Fu Zhen returned with He Dalong, but Fu Wei and Song Sanlang were nowhere to be seen.
Yu Ying inquired, "Where's the second brother?"
Fu Zhen replied, "The second brother is staying overnight at the inn. I was concerned about him being alone, so I asked Song Jun to look after him in Yu County."
Fu Wei stayed in Yu County?
Hearing this, Yu Ying vaguely guessed that things hadn't gone smoothly today.
"What happened today?" she asked.
At this moment, Luo Shi brought in two cups of tea.
After drinking the tea, He Dalong angrily said, "I think the Magistrate is trying to protect that Manager Luo!"
Luo Shi, looking worried, asked, "Why do you say that?"
He Dalong set down his cup, "In court today, those thieves only admitted to disliking a woman doing business and wanting to teach you a lesson. They vehemently denied any connection with Manager Luo of Luo's Medical Hall and even accused us of coercing them to frame him!"
Wen Xing and Luo Shi widened their eyes in shock upon hearing this.
Recalling yesterday's events, Wen Xing expressed anger, "How can they do this! Did the Magistrate really believe them?!"
Both Fu Zhen and He Dalong had grim expressions, their silence speaking volumes.
Fu Zhen said gravely, "The Magistrate warned us, if we falsely accuse others, we too could be thrown into jail."
Hearing this, Yu Ying’s expression darkened.
She reflected on how the Magistrate's actions against the gossipy women had been commendable, but his handling of the current situation was hard to judge.
Was it truly a failure to discern the lies of those men?
Or was there some vested interest at play, making him reluctant to investigate further?
He Dalong took a deep breath and clenched his fist, "Those people only received ten lashings and a seven-day detention."
Just as he finished speaking, the sound of horse hooves "clattering" suddenly came from outside.
Everyone in the dining room was startled, then Fu An rushed in from outside, saying urgently, "There’s a court messenger riding a horse towards our house!"
The group exchanged glances in surprise and then heard someone outside shouting, "Is this the Fu residence?"
Stepping outside the dining room, they saw Huo the court messenger dismounting from his horse.
Fu Zhen stepped outside the fence gate and responded, "This is the Fu residence. May I ask what brings the officer here?"
Huo the court messenger, having a bit of acquaintance with Mrs. Yu, did not display the typical arrogance of other messengers.
He nodded at Mrs. Yu and then said, "The Magistrate has ordered a retrial of those thieves tomorrow. Those who testified in court today and Mrs. Yu are required to appear at the county office to confront the thieves directly."
Yu Ying and the others showed looks of surprise upon hearing this.
Yu Ying pondered for a moment, then stepped out of the courtyard to inquire, "Why would the Magistrate order a retrial? Can Huo the court messenger share any details?"
Huo the court messenger lowered his voice, "I don’t know much, just that after the trial of those thieves, a distinguished guest visited the county office. After the guest left, the Magistrate sent me to Lingshui Village to summon you to the county office."
Hearing this, Yu Ying understood that Fu Wei's connections had influenced the situation.
She nodded and thanked him, "Thank you for making the trip. Why not stay for a meal before returning?"
Huo the court messenger shook his head, "No, thank you. The mountain roads are dangerous at night; I must return to Yu County before dark."
"In that case, we won’t keep you any longer."
Huo the court messenger nodded, mounted his horse, and left.
After the messenger departed, villagers hurried over to inquire about the situation.
He Dalong briefly explained to them what happened at the county office today.
Yu Ying returned to the house, lay down on the bed amidst the outside commotion, and sighed while gazing at the thatched roof.
The retrial must certainly be Fu Wei's doing.
With the retrial, there is a ninety percent chance of a favorable outcome.
Following this incident, the medical halls would naturally hesitate to make any rash moves against her.
However, this isn't a permanent solution; if they continue to collude against her, it could still pose a hindrance.
She needed to think carefully about how to resolve this obstacle.
In the evening, after bathing, Yu Ying returned to find the house empty, feeling somewhat unaccustomed to it.
After all, for the past few months, she was used to seeing Fu Wei as soon as she entered the house. But his absence today made the house feel much emptier.
Yu Ying realized that since the night of the storm, she and Fu Wei had been living together in the same room for almost three months.
When they were together, they could chat about anything, adding a bit of spice to their otherwise dull and entertainment-less life. Thus, Yu Ying didn't find the nights boring or too quiet.
Looking at the empty room, Yu Ying still felt uneasy. So after applying her facial cream, she went to Luo Shi’s room to bring Fu Ning back to her room.
She continued teaching Fu Ning the five vowels. With only her own voice in the room, it felt more like talking to herself.
Besides, teaching Fu Ning to speak had been somewhat effective.
When Fu Ning tried to say "ah," a faint sound came out, but the progress was still not very noticeable.
Soon, the little girl became sleepy, and Yu Ying let her go to bed.
After Fu Ning fell asleep, the room became even quieter.
But it seemed that whether Fu Ning was asleep or not, the room was always quiet.
Yu Ying glanced at the empty side of the bed and sighed softly.
Remembering that she needed to get up early to walk to Yu County the next day, and couldn't afford to stay up late, she decided to sleep as well.
Tense from the events of the previous day up until now, and despite feeling unaccustomed to Fu Wei’s absence, Yu Ying quickly fell asleep.
Thus, Yu Ying's discomfort only lasted for an hour.
Late at night, in Yu County.
The light from the lanterns outside the inn's corridor faintly shone into the room, along with slivers of moonlight filtering through the gauze window, casting a dim and serene glow on the inn's floor.
Despite it being late at night, Fu Wei was still unable to sleep.
He lay awake, staring at the tent ceiling without any trace of sleepiness.
Had it not been for the necessity to return to Jade County tomorrow, and his still healing legs which he feared would be a burden, he would have never stayed in Jade County today.
He wondered about the current situation at home.
And he was even more uncertain if Liuniang, in his absence, would spare a moment to worry about him.
As Fukuwei was pondering, an arm suddenly smashed heavily against his chest.
Distracted by thoughts of home, Fukuwei was caught off guard and grunted upon the impact. He then turned his head and silently looked at Song Sanlang, who was sound asleep beside him.
Just as Fukuwei was about to move the arm off his chest, the slumbering Song Sanlang, seemingly sensing the chill, suddenly withdrew his arm and tucked it back under the quilt.
Fukuwei averted his gaze and let out a deep sigh.
Fortunately, he only had to endure this for one night.
The next day, news spread in Jade County that a case just settled yesterday at the county yamen was to be retried today.
This news sparked curiosity among the people, wondering why a common case of theft and vandalism would suddenly be retried. Was there some hidden story behind it?
Early in the morning, a yamen runner went to the Luo Medical Hall and said to the master, "The magistrate wants to retry yesterday's case from Lingshui Village, as the master was mentioned by a witness yesterday. Please accompany us to the yamen."
Upon hearing this, the master of the medical hall frowned and asked, "Wasn’t the case already closed? Why would it be retried all of a sudden?"
Since the master’s younger brother was a clerk at the county yamen, the yamen runner replied very politely, "We are also unaware of the reason."
The master pondered for a moment and then responded, "Even if it is retried, what does it have to do with me? Surely, just being mentioned doesn’t make me a suspect, does it?"
The yamen runner replied with difficulty, "We too are merely carrying out our duties impartially. We hope Master Luo can understand. It might just be a formality, and there's no need for concern."
How could one not be concerned?
It should have been a simple matter, already settled, and now suddenly a retrial is called. There must be some unforeseen development!
Fearing this development might implicate him, the master of the medical hall, after much deliberation, said, "Then please wait a moment for me."
He turned and entered the medical hall, instructing his accountant to prepare twenty taels of silver, to accompany him to the county yamen.
If he couldn't come back, the twenty taels were to be given to the magistrate as a favor.
At the same time, he sent a medicine boy to pass messages to Masters Li and Zheng.
— If he were to end up in jail, and they dared to stand by idly, he would surely confess their complicity as well.
Having secured his backup plan, the master of the medical hall then followed the yamen runner to the yamen.
