Chapter 56

Chapter 56

"Sir, are... are you... alright?" Shopkeeper Hu could barely speak from running too fast.

Despite that, Shopkeeper Hu immediately looked the man up and down, and only relaxed when he saw he was unharmed.

"In such a hurry, is your house on fire?" The man stopped and frowned slightly at the wheezing Shopkeeper Hu.

"Your servant..." Shopkeeper Hu took a couple of deep breaths, finally catching his breath. "Your servant heard that a horse went berserk on the street and trampled someone to death..."

Hearing this, the man gave him a speechless look. "Do you think I could be trampled to death by a horse?"

If a frightened horse could take his life, he'd have died hundreds of times by now!

Then, realizing what Shopkeeper Hu had said, the man frowned. "What did you say? A horse went berserk and trampled someone to death?"

Shopkeeper Hu nodded. If he hadn't heard that someone was trampled, and knowing his master had come this way, he wouldn't have rushed over frantically.

If his master got into trouble in Jinghe County, he might as well be dead.

The man turned to look at the dead horse lying not far away, unclaimed, and felt utterly exasperated.

No one was hurt, and the horse was dead. How did it turn into someone being trampled to death?

Could the rumors get any more absurd?

From the time the horse went berserk to now, at most a quarter of an hour had passed.

By tomorrow, would everyone on this street be dead from trampling?

The man shook his head, ignored Shopkeeper Hu, and walked off.

Shopkeeper Hu quickly followed.

Meanwhile,

On the second floor of an unremarkable tea house by the street, near the window.

A man in a blue brocade robe watched them leave, snorted coldly, and cursed, "Meddlesome!"

Then he ordered the person behind him, "Have the horse disposed of. Make it clean."

His tone was filled with bitterness and hatred. The person behind him sighed inwardly.

But he still replied respectfully, bowed, and withdrew.

...

After parting from the man, Lu Wanxiao and Song Changting wandered the streets for a while, making sure no one was following, then returned to Biren Creek.

As luck would have it, no sooner had they entered Biren Creek than Fu Ziyi and Song Zhangqi returned right behind them.

"Brother Changting, Sister-in-law."

Fu Ziyi waved and greeted them loudly, then led Song Zhangqi quickly over to them.

"Brother." Song Zhangqi obediently greeted Song Changting, then glanced at Lu Wanxiao and quietly added, "Sister-in-law."

"Good boy, Zhang Qi." Lu Wanxiao praised him with a smile. "Were the fireworks nice?"

Song Zhangqi nodded. "Nice."

It was his first time seeing fireworks, and he genuinely found them beautiful.

Lu Wanxiao couldn't help but find his obedient manner amusing.

Fu Ziyi, seeing that they had also just returned, casually asked, "You two went out too?"

Song Changting hummed in acknowledgment. "We took a stroll around Jinghe Street."

"Jinghe Street?" Fu Ziyi frowned, alarmed. "I heard someone was galloping a horse there and trampled several people to death. Were you hurt?"

Hearing their conversation, Song Zhangqi looked anxiously at his brother.

Song Changting waved his hand reassuringly. "Don't worry. Your brother and sister-in-law are fine."

"I'm glad you're both okay," Song Zhangqi said, relieved.

Seeing that he looked tired, Song Changting told him, "Go wash up and sleep. Get up early tomorrow to read."

"Yes, Brother." Song Zhangqi obediently replied, then turned to get water to wash up.

As for Lu Wanxiao, upon hearing Fu Ziyi's words, she was left speechless. "...???"

"Someone galloped a horse and trampled several people to death?"

It had only been a short while. How had the rumor already become this exaggerated?

"That's right!" Fu Ziyi nodded and sat down on a nearby stool. "They say the horse went mad, trampled several pedestrians to death, threw its owner off, and seriously injured him. Fortunately, a man in white appeared out of nowhere and managed to control the horse, or the owner would have died under the hooves too."

Hearing this, Lu Wanxiao suddenly remembered a meme she'd seen online.

There was a man who, due to work and other reasons, hadn't returned home for two consecutive Spring Festivals. Then the village spread a rumor that he'd committed a crime and was sentenced to three years in prison. Knowing this, he rushed home the third year during National Day. Then the villagers said he'd behaved well and was released early...

So this is what they mean when they say rumors can kill!

After Fu Ziyi finished, he noticed Lu Wanxiao's expression was complicated and asked curiously, "What? Didn't you encounter it?"

"We did encounter the runaway horse, but not anyone being trampled to death." Lu Wanxiao spread her hands, then remembered Song Changting had something to discuss with Fu Ziyi. She yawned.

"You two chat. I'll head to the room first."

Song Changting nodded. "Mm, if you're sleepy, go to bed first. I'll be right there."

Lu Wanxiao: "...???"