Chapter 158 Anger

Chapter 158: Temper

The journey back to the capital was urgent, and the two carriages almost never stopped day and night.

When Zhu Qing got tired of driving, Third Master took over;

When Huang Qi got tired of driving, Li Buyan took over;

When the horses got tired, they were changed at the stations.

Thankfully, the carriages made by the monks were simple but surprisingly sturdy. After traveling for most of the journey, they still hadn't fallen apart.

But the people inside were falling apart.

Minister Pei spent his days huddled in the carriage, saying that he was just one breath away from death due to the bumpy ride.

Yan Sanhe also spent her days huddled in the carriage, sleeping all the time as if trying to make up for the sleep she had missed over the past two months.

The most unusual behavior came from Third Master Xie.

He spoke less, ate less, and looked weathered.

Zhu Qing saw this with his eyes and felt it in his heart, thinking about how vibrant Third Master had been just two months ago.

Standing among a crowd, he had an impressive figure and handsome face, attracting glances from young and old ladies alike.

Now...

He looked like a wild man!

Not only did he look like a wild man, but he had lost his sweet tongue, becoming as silent as a gourd. No matter how Pei Xiao tried to tease him, he would only respond with one word: "Scram!"

Seeing this, Li Buyan, during a break, secretly pulled on Zhu Qing's sleeve and asked, "How does your Third Master usually relieve his temper? Should we find someone along the way to help him with that?"

Zhu Qing blushed so much that even the soles of his feet turned red.

He thought, what kind of person asks such things?

Twenty-five days later, on an evening, the two carriages broke down simultaneously, their wheels cracking.

The six of them had no choice but to abandon the carriages and ride horses.

After riding for a while, they saw the official post where they had once rested. It was also here that Zhou Ye had stolen their money.

Thinking of Zhou Ye, everyone dismounted and looked in the direction of Nanning Prefecture, feeling melancholic.

"Third Master."

A voice suddenly sounded from behind.

Xie Zhifei turned around, frowning, "Why are you here?"

Ding Yi, seeing his master, was first stunned, then his eyes welled up with tears.

"My lord, how did you become like this?"

Ignoring the strange clothes, the dusty face, and the unkempt beard, why had he become so thin that his chin was sharp?

To be in this state is not bad at all!

Xie Zhifei touched his beard, "I asked you a question. Why are you here?"

Ding Yi wiped away his tears, "I waited and waited for my lord, but you didn't come. I became worried and came out to meet you."

It must be because Father and Eldest Brother were worried.

Xie Zhifei turned to Yan Sanhe, "Shall we stay overnight, take a hot bath, and have a good meal? If I go back looking like this..."

The Xie family would be terrified!

Yan Sanhe nodded, "After dinner, come to my room."

Ding Yi's eyes widened.

What did he hear?

Miss Yan invited Third Master to her room, alone...

"Are you going to get the innkeeper to prepare water and food?"

Xie Zhifei couldn't stand Ding Yi's foolishness and gave him a light tap on the head, "Did you bring some of my clothes?"

Ding Yi hurriedly nodded, "Yes, yes, I brought clothes for both my lord and Master Pei."

Xie Zhifei: "What about Miss Yan's clothes?"

Ding Yi was taken aback. What did Miss Yan's clothes have to do with him?

Xie Zhifei became angry and gave him another tap on the head, "A servant who can't understand his master's intentions is useless. He should be castrated and sent to the palace."

Ding Yi was almost in tears.

What had he done wrong?

After waiting anxiously, he was now facing the prospect of having his little brother cut off?

Zhu Qing shook his head helplessly and pulled Ding Yi aside, whispering, "From now on, whatever my lord has, Miss Yan should have too."

Ding Yi: "Ah?"

"Please don't!"

Zhu Qing: "In a while, you'll also go to Miss Yan's room. Think about what you can and cannot say beforehand. Don't upset the master; he hasn't been in a good mood lately."

...

Bathing, eating.

Third Master Xie walked into Yan Sanhe's room with a stern face.

Behind him followed Pei Xiao, and behind Pei Xiao was Ding Yi.

Yan Sanhe had already had Li Buyan brew some tea.

She pushed the teacup towards Third Master Xie, who took it and drank a sip, almost spitting it out.

"Yan Sanhe, what kind of devilish tea is this?"

"Bitter chrysanthemum tea, to cool your temper."

Xie Zhifei glanced at Pei Xiao: Does the master have a temper?

Pei Xiao snorted: It's about to explode!

Xie Zhifei: That obvious?

Pei Xiao: What do you think?

Yan Sanhe: "Ding Yi, what's the current situation with the Ji family?"

Following Zhu Qing's prompt, Ding Yi respectfully replied, "Miss Yan, the situation with the Ji family isn't too good."

Pei Xiao instantly changed his expression: "How bad is it?"

Ding Yi glanced at him, "Lord Ji has been tortured; Twelfth Master is critically ill; Ninth Miss..."

Pei Xiao's heart sank: "What happened to her?"

Ding Yi: "Two months ago, Ninth Miss committed suicide by slamming her head against the wall in prison."

A thunderbolt struck out of nowhere, leaving everyone stunned.

Pei Xiao felt as if he had been split in two, one half in terror, the other in disbelief.

Xie Zhifei's face turned pale: "Why did she slam her head?"

"I've carefully inquired and found two reasons. One, her engagement was broken off, which had already caused her great distress. The other reason is that on the day of the family's arrest, she was... She also overheard some idle talk in prison, and then..."

"A few words of idle talk led to suicide?"

Li Buyan sneered repeatedly, "What a waste of our efforts to save her."

Pei Xiao slammed his fist on the table, "Li Buyan, what the hell are you saying?"

"Truth!"

Li Buyan's chest heaved, "Did I say anything wrong?"

Pei Xiao angrily retorted, "Who's like you, shameless and unashamed?"

Li Buyan sneered, "Precisely because I'm shameless and unashamed, I'm still alive. If Ninth Miss had learned even a little from me, she wouldn't have died."

"You..."

"Even if you argue until you're blue in the face, will she come back to life?"

Yan Sanhe's eyes were cold as ice, "How was the aftermath handled?"

Ding Yi bit his lip, "The body was claimed by Lady Pei and hastily buried. Because of this, the women of the Ji family have been moved to the Flower Goddess Temple."

Yan Sanhe glanced at the soulless Pei Xiao, "What is the Flower Goddess Temple?"

"It used to be a nunnery but is now used to detain the female relatives of officials who have committed crimes. A bit of silver can get you access."

Ding Yi: "Master Pei, Lady Pei visits every few days to bring food and clothes. Life there is better than in North Division."

Pei Xiao looked dazed, as if he hadn't heard.

Yan Sanhe continued, "Which branch does Twelfth Master belong to?"

Ding Yi: "He is Lord Ji's youngest son."

Yan Sanhe: "Where is he now?"

Ding Yi: "All the male members are in North Division's prison. Imperial Doctor Pei goes in every ten days to treat him."

Yan Sanhe calmly asked again, "Has the court sentenced the Ji family yet?"