Bai Zhi was puzzled: “Grandpa, why don’t you let him in?”
Dongfang Mu said: “You should rest. If he is here, how will you rest?”
*
In the Northwest, Huangtou Village.
A government officer looked for Zhang Shumei and Bai Erzhu and handed them a letter.
The husband and wife were illiterate, so they let the officer read it. The two of them looked very nervous. After all, their daughter had been away for so long and they didn’t know what she does outside. So as soon as they saw the officer came looking for them, they immediately became nervous.
The government officer said: “Bai Dazhu and Bai Dabao committed a crime in the capital and were arrested by the Yamen. Before the court trial, they committed suicide. This is a notice from the Yamen in the capital.”
Bai Dazhu and Bai Dabao were dead? So, what about Bai Zhenzhu?
“Nothing else? That’s all?”
The officer nodded his head: “That’s it, nothing else.”
“Then, are there any other relatives mentioned in it?”
The officer shook his head: “None, they didn’t mention it. If there are other relatives, this notice will not be sent here. This notice will be sent here, which means that you are asked to collect the corpses. If you don’t go, the government will dispose of it on its own.”
Bai Erzhu bit his lip and did not speak, but his hand slightly trembled when he took the notice.
The officer left when he finished his business, leaving the husband and wife relatively speechless.
Even after a long time, they still couldn’t understand why Bai Dazhu had to poison their family. Not to mention, he even burned their house, so now, they don’t even have a decent residence.
And why did Bai Zhenzhu follow them? Did she volunteer? Or was she forced? They were poisoned and almost burned with the house, does she know about this?
“What should we do?” Mrs. Zhang looked at Bai Erzhu.
Bai Erzhu shook his head: “I don’t know either.”
In the end, it was his elder brother and nephew, so he wanted to bring people back from the capital and bury them in the ancestral grave of their Bai family.
But now, their family was struggling to live so badly. They don’t have money to travel to the capital and money to travel back.
Bai Erzhu looked at Zhang Shumei: “What do you think?”
Zhang Shumei was silent for a while, then suddenly raised her head and said, “I want to go.”
Bai Erzhu was taken aback: “What?”
“I want to go to the capital. Since both Dazhu and Dabao died in the capital, Zhenzhu must also be in the capital. She doesn’t understand anything. Dazhu and the others must have deceived her. If we don’t pick her up, what will happen if she is bullied there?”
In the end, it was her daughter. She can’t just sit back and watch. And now that she knew that Bai Dazhu and Bai Dabao were dead, she can’t help but get even more worried for Bai Zhenzhu’s safety.
Bai Erzhu said: “But, how we will go there? Now, we don’t even have food to eat. The capital is not close. We need money to eat, drink and sleep along the way. Where we will get the money?”
Zhang Shumei looked at the house that had been burnt but had not fallen. “Let’s sell the house and the field. Anyway, Zhenzhu is our daughter. We can’t ignore her.”
Bai Erzhu sighed, and finally nodded: “Okay, it’s up to you.”
*
Bai Zhi rested at home for a day and returned to the imperial hospital with a refreshing atmosphere. The princess’s legs no longer hurting and have regained some consciousness. She can move, but they were still not much strength.
“How is it?” Bai Zhi asked while tapping the Yangguan acupoint.
Princess Qianfang frowned: “It hurts!”
Bai Zhi nodded, then pricked a few more acupoints if she felt in pain.
Jin’er asked, “How come it hurts? Is there a problem?”
Bai Zhi waved her hand: “It’s good if it is painful. It proves that she is recovering. I am going to give her acupuncture treatment now. Go and close the door.”