Chapter 073

Chapter 073

In the end, Xiao Zhen lost control of his strength, and the blood from his wound smeared onto Tong Sui.

At first, Tong Sui didn’t notice.

From last night until now, she had been truly exhausted. Her mind was preoccupied with so many things that she barely felt the fatigue. The long conversation with Xiao Zhen had barely relaxed her tense heart, followed by a moment of secret indulgence. If not for the need to clean up, she would have fallen into a deep sleep immediately.

The couple lay on their backs, one facing up and the other lying prone, each trying to steady their breathing.

Tong Sui, more modest than him, grabbed the discarded robe nearby to cover herself. It was then that Xiao Zhen reminded her about the blood.

Tong Sui turned back in disbelief and saw the mess. Looking at Xiao Zhen again, his right arm, which hadn’t moved much, was still fine, but the wound on his left leg was a disaster.

She scolded, "You really don’t care about your life!"

Xiao Zhen actually smiled, his narrow eyes filled with joy as he looked at her. "This is called sealing an oath with blood."

Once she boarded the Xiao family’s ship and stained herself with his blood, she couldn’t escape this life.

Tong Sui didn’t understand what he was proud of. She covered herself with the robe and slowly got off the bed, wrapping herself loosely before quickly heading to the southern room.

When she returned, fully dressed, Xiao Zhen was still lying on the bed, shamelessly basking in the daylight.

Tong Sui urged him from behind the door: "You should go clean up."

Xiao Zhen closed his eyes and said, "I’m tired, too lazy to move."

Tong Sui: "But you can’t just lie there like this. What if Grandfather or Second Uncle come looking for you?"

Xiao Zhen: "They’ve seen me like this since I was a child; there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. If it bothers you, help me cover up with a blanket."

Though he sounded shameless, his voice indeed carried a heavy tone of exhaustion.

Indeed, he was the most tired one. Whether it was fighting the bandits, persuading the two hundred young men he brought along, performing in front of the villagers and County Magistrate Liu, or comforting her, his newlywed wife who was scared by the possibility of rebellion.

Those capable of doing more also deserve better care, just like how Tong Sui would feel particularly sorry for the two big black mules that plowed the fields for her family.

She fetched a basin of water and placed it beside the bed, wetting a towel to clean the blood around his wounds. She also wiped his sweaty shoulders and chest, and finally sprinkled some golden wound powder on his leg before covering him with a thin blanket.

Xiao Zhen never opened his eyes, only grabbing her wrist when she was about to leave. "Sleep too."

Tong Sui nodded.

At the Pan family in the east.

After County Magistrate Liu left, the Pan family, like other villagers returning home, gathered in a room to discuss in whispers.

Mrs. Wang sighed, "I hoped Fourth Younger Brother from the Xiao family would become my son-in-law, but who knew such a good person would be gone just like that."

Pan Yuerou lowered her eyes, suddenly grateful that Xiao Ye had taken his time. Otherwise, if he had proposed early and she had married him, she would have become another young widow in the Xiao family today.

Old Lady Pan held her grandson’s hand in fear. "Fortunately, you didn’t go last night." She had already lost two grandsons; she couldn’t bear to lose another.

Pan Dai said, "It was a risky plan from the start. Last night, Thousand Commander Xiao made it clear that he wanted those without family ties, so that if anything happened, their families wouldn’t suffer."

No matter how much the other villagers lamented, it was only temporary. Those with other sons could still find support in times like these.

Pan Yong remained silent.

Pan Yuerou looked at him. "Father, what are you thinking?"

Pan Yong had a suspicion, but mentioning it would only cause unnecessary worry for his family. He sighed, "Fortunately, they managed to kill the bandit leader. Only a few dozen stragglers remain. After seeing the bravery of Lingshui Village, they won’t dare come back unless they gather a force of five or six hundred."

Old Lady Pan clasped her hands together and murmured, "Amitabha, may we live in peace for a few years."

---

Tong Sui slept through the night with Xiao Zhen until the next morning. Whether it was his words or their intimate moments, she had no dreams that night.

Xiao Zhen wasn’t beside her. There were voices coming from the courtyard, one after another. Tong Sui recognized Sun Xinghai and Aunt Xiao’s voices.

She dressed and washed up before stepping out.

Liu Chu sat listlessly in the front hall. Seeing Tong Sui, she perked up and ran over. "Village Headman has come to discuss the burial arrangements... for Fourth Younger Brother and the others."

The bandits’ bodies left in the village were burned, and the villagers’ bodies left in the bandits’ lair would likely meet the same fate. It was too dangerous to retrieve them. Sun Xinghai suggested setting up a memorial stone for the nearly two hundred young men, similar to what Pine Village did previously.

Tong Sui consoled her, "Death cannot be undone. The one most affected is Second Uncle, but he has already mustered the strength to continue living. Big Sister, please try to move on too, or it will only make him sadder."

Liu Chu nodded quickly. "Yes, Grandfather said the same thing last night. Don’t worry, I know what to do."

Leaving Mianmian in the room, the sisters-in-law went to the central courtyard.

All the men of the Xiao family except Xiao Ye were present. When He Shi and Xiao Yuchan saw Tong Sui, they were about to cry again, but she shook her head to stop them.

After sending off Sun Xinghai, Xiao Mu said to Xiao Shouyi, "Although we won’t hold a funeral for Fourth Younger Brother, we should inform our in-laws. Second Brother and the others are injured, so you should go to Taohuagou."

Xiao Shouyi replied, "I’ll go right away."

Tong Sui looked at the old man.

Xiao Mu gave his granddaughter-in-law a subtle nod before retreating into the room.

Tong Sui didn’t have time to think further and was pulled into the room by the womenfolk for consolation. At this moment, she wished everyone could be as calm as Lin Ningfang. Everyone crying made it hard for her not to join in, yet consoling them was exhausting.

Xiao Shouyi rode a donkey to Taohuagou. By midday, the Tongs borrowed a cart from the village, and the whole family of four came over.

Zhou Qing entered the Xiao family courtyard and burst into tears. "My dear fourth nephew! I only met him once, how could he be gone?"

Tong Sui: ...

After finally finishing another round of mutual consolation, Tong Sui led her younger brother back to the eastern courtyard, leaving her parents and elder brother to entertain Old Man Tong and Xiao Zhen.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Zhen accompanied the three members of the Tong family over, allowing Tong Sui to talk with her family while he took Tong Shan elsewhere.

Tong Sui nervously closed the door.

Zhou Qing came into her daughter and son-in-law's new house, not considering herself an outsider, and scooped a basin of cold water to wash her face.

Tong Sui handed a towel to her mother.

Zhou Qing looked embarrassed: "I cried so much just now; I wonder what Old Man Tong and my son-in-law thought."

When she didn't know the truth, she did feel sorry for her daughter's younger brother-in-law, but there was more acting involved, and it turned out to be in vain.

Tong Sui: "Mother, if you hadn't cried, they would have felt even colder."

Putting that aside, Tong Sui looked worriedly at her father, mother, and elder brother: "What do you think about this? I only found out last night what they were planning, and there was no chance to inform you."

Zhou Qing hugged her daughter, stroking her head and face: "When I first heard from my son-in-law, I was just scared. You, when did you become so daring? Shooting arrows from the roof is one thing, but running off to the bandits' den? If something had happened, how would your mother have coped?"

Tong Sui whispered: "I had no choice."

If she hadn't stepped forward, the He family would have been in trouble. If she hadn't pretended to be held by Kong San, the stone gate of the bandits' den wouldn't have opened smoothly.

It was like standing on a branch in a storm; wherever the wind blew, she had to sway, going with the flow.

Tong Gui said angrily: "Second Master still doesn't trust me. He went to Pine Village to call Zhang Wengong on a donkey. It was so fast; he could have called me too. Then I could have taken a shortcut with the messenger and joined up with your two hundred people."

Tong Youyu slapped him: "This is a matter of life and death, not a petty fight. Your son-in-law didn't call you because he was looking out for you."

Tong Gui: "I'd rather he used me than take my sister into danger."

Zhou Qing glared at him: "If he knew the bandits were definitely coming last night, he could have called you earlier. The question is, did he know? The situation was urgent, and with so many people watching, his mind was split into four parts. How could he have thought of you?"

Tong Gui lowered his voice: "Now he can, right? I want to help in the mountains too."

All the fields have been planted, and Second Uncle can take care of Second Aunt and the younger brother. As a man, staying home does nothing. Might as well do something important in the mountains.

Tong Sui was shocked: "Aren't you afraid of being implicated here, yet you still want to jump in?"

Tong Gui straightened his back, determined: "Second Master doesn't trust the government, and neither do I. What Second Master dares to do, I dare to do too. Unfortunately, I don't have their brains or skills."

He's reckless. Tong Sui looked at her parents.

Zhou Qing said: "Forget that our families are already tied together. Even if we weren't, as long as my son-in-law trusts us and wants us to join them, your father and I support your elder brother joining them. The damned government doesn't protect its people; why can't we raise our own troops to protect ourselves? Just look at Imprisoned Dragon Ridge; if your son-in-law doesn't occupy it, new bandits will, and they'll come to harass the people again."

Tong Youyu glanced at his wife, frowning: "We live at the foot of the mountain, so we're not afraid of anything happening. I'm worried about Father-in-law and the others. If news leaks, they live in the city and won't even have time to escape."

Zhou Qing: "Just follow what your son-in-law said. After paying the summer taxes, Aman, you and your son-in-law should go to the city and bring your grandfather and the rest to our home. In this rotten world, living in the city is not as safe as living in the mountains. Didn't see Mr. Song is not in a hurry to move away? If the government had any hope, he would have sought an official position long ago."

In her view, Mr. Song is as cunning as a fox, and where the fox nests is a good place.

Tong Sui: "But if we suddenly go to fetch Grandfather and the others, won't it seem suspicious?"

Zhou Qing: "You're thinking too much because you're guilty. The county is so big, and the magistrate is only interested in making money. He won't notice a doctor missing. If neighbors ask, say your father is unwell and needs someone to watch over him for a while. Your uncle and aunt are concerned and have come to stay for a short while."

Tong Sui: ...

When she stayed at her parents' house for half a month during gun-making, Xiao Zhen's excuse was that her father had injured his leg and needed care. Now her mother is using her father's health again.

Tong Youyu laughed dryly: "It's fine. I don't mind. As long as our whole family is safe and sound."