Brother Liubao rushed over with his men and stopped the women, then exclaimed, "Lady, are you alright?"
Brother Liubao tried to help Tie Hailan up, but she pushed him away. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and clumsily rose from the ground.
Afterward, she walked towards the outside of the Sky Blue Building in a daze, staggering as she went.
In the deep of night on the long street, Taihang Town had no curfew. Even though the night had deepened, occasionally, a few figures could still be seen.
Tie Hailan walked aimlessly; the autumn wind brought a chill that slightly cleared her mind.
Past events replayed in her mind frame by frame. When she came to her senses, she found herself standing outside Sunji Dim Sum Shop.
She had actually returned here.
A very strong thought suddenly popped up in her heart.
She had to get clarification!
So she rushed forward in one leap.
She was about to knock, but just then, bright torches flared up, and the sound of horse hooves followed.
Fang Lanshan, riding a horse and holding a torch high, led her men and surrounded Sunji.
Fang Lanshan shouted loudly, then kicked open Sunji’s main door and barged in with her men.
He Su had already gone to bed, but suddenly heard a loud bang. She sat up frantically and saw Fang Lanshan rushing into her room.
"Officer Fang??" She looked at Fang Lanshan in surprise only to see Fang produce a warrant and say, "He Su, you have colluded with horse bandits and committed murder! Officer Han has commanded us to apprehend you!"
He Su’s heart skipped a beat.
This had always been her deepest secret.
"No, could there be some misunderstanding..." she was not convinced until seeing the coffin, but Fang Lanshan waved her hand, prompting two Yamen Government Officers with ropes to rush forward.
He Su tried to resist but was pinned down on the wooden bed, face down, back up, her arms roughly grabbed behind her back and then bound with ropes.
Fang Lanshan and her team swept away He Su like the wind. Before leaving, she gave Tie Hailan a nonchalant glance, furrowed her brow momentarily, then focused straight ahead as she escorted He Su back to the Government Office to report.
In the backyard of the Government Office, Dong Huiying with a clatter chopped up the dried herbs with a cleaver while Shujun rolled up her sleeves to help.
Previously, Dong Huiying had promised to help Han Yue treat her husband’s illness. However, last year she had left hastily, and though she had left a box of pills meant for a few months, they had lasted a year by being sparingly used.
Now, Officer Han had learned that Lady Xiao Dong had returned, which was a delight; he had promptly "invited," that is, brought her over.
Feeling somewhat guilty, Dong Huiying tirelessly worked through the night to make more and more pills.
Seeing the fine beads of sweat on his wife’s nose, Shujun rolled up his sleeves and gently pressed on her nose.
"Tired? Why not sit down and take a break?"
Afterward, she continued clattering away, clatter and clang.
The two of them talked about Liang Yuening, who initially came to Taihang Town with Shujun. Later, Shujun had Yuening travel back up the mountain to clean their fathers’ graves, and the silly boy, since leaving, aside from occasionally sending a letter, had never come back.
"Once things here are settled, we’ll go up the mountain, fetch Yuening, and then return to Purple Garden," Shujun said, while Dong Huiying asked in confusion, "Settled?"
Looking at Shujun, who seemed very confident, it seemed like things were progressing quite well.