420, She Committed Murder (Part 2)
Yuanbao’s eyes darkened.
“As my own brother, is this how you see me?” Yuanbao countered.
“If you had listened to me, it wouldn’t have come to this!”
This was what Yuanbao truly felt.
Back in Xiaohe Village, time and time again, he had refused to accept any favor or bite to eat out of brotherly love, utterly scornful of Miss Xie.
He had no idea where his brother got the nerve to look down upon Miss Xie.
With Miss Xie’s skills and intelligence, how many women in Dazhou could surpass her?
“The master has said that once your health has recovered, you will go to Fengping County to serve by Miss Xie’s side. Duobao, as your brother, I must remind you that this is your only chance to turn your life around. Seize it, and you will remain the respected Guard Commander Duobao. But if you fail to grasp it, no matter how hard you try in this lifetime, you’ll only ever be Duobao!”
Many have advanced by leaps and bounds, and with Duobao’s self-pride, even flattering won’t help him catch up.
Having said his piece, Yuanbao stepped out of the room.
Duobao stood there stunned for a long while.
Yuanbao’s words echoed in his head.
So now, even his own brother looked down on him?
Going to serve by a woman’s side, it made him feel humiliated.
But the master’s commands were given; he had no say, no choice but to obey.
Duobao went to see Li Hengyi. After asking a few questions, Li Hengyi told him to go back to his room to rest and recuperate, with plans to leave for Fengping County on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
The frontier was, for the moment, no place for him.
Duobao silently accepted the order.
His heart twisted in agony!
Fengping County
Xie Mansion
Xie Zhinuan was practicing her calligraphy when suddenly, as if struck by a feeling, she smiled faintly and gently.
Perhaps it was the pleasure of looking at her well-formed characters. Or maybe it was the realization that outside the weather was not too bad.
Or it could simply be the freshness of the new year, where everything seemed nice.
Aided by Uncle Ya, Xie Yi went off to the warm hall to play with the three pets, leaving Zhinuan with more time to attend to her own affairs in the world.
She contemplated buying land to clear and cultivate, to use for farming. Currently, she hadn’t found a suitable place yet, and this required a visit to the Governor’s Office to see Magistrate Liu.
She had heard that some of the beggars outside the city had already been settled. But even though they were settled, it was useless without work to earn a living and fill their bellies.
Zhinuan thought that perhaps she could prioritize these settled commoners when looking for labor to clear the land.
They were no longer beggars.
But before that, she needed to arrange weddings for those four pairs of lovers.
Though they were servants, they were nonetheless celebrating a joyous occasion, and Zhinuan thought it should be festive. She had prepared the dowries, intent on not letting her people be wronged.
If their lives post-marriage went smoothly, they would serve her with even greater devotion and loyalty.
That was the outcome she desired.
Zhinuan put away her brush and inkstone and instructed someone to find a suitable date soon for the weddings. Once that was done, she would arrange a meal with Magistrate Liu to discuss the reclamation project.
As the sudden gust of wind, or rather, when that person appeared, Zhinuan sensed it instantly.
By the time the figure in black appeared on the rooftop, Zhinuan had already quickly drawn her longsword. The figure in black thrust his sword at her. She moved swiftly to parry then counterattacked with her own sword’s arc, and in his moment of astonishment, she severed his head.
“…”
Blood sprayed out.
Xie Zhinuan stumbled backward several steps in shock.
Looking down at the head rolling on the ground, then at the longsword in her hand, she threw the weapon away with force, rubbing her hands frantically against her clothes.
She had killed someone…
She had killed a person!
She had actually killed someone!
Xie Zhinuan bit her lip hard, her whole body shaking.
And like an ostrich, she longed for a place to hide away, to tuck herself out of sight.
Chapter 422