Chapter 35: You

Xiurong County City.

Er Zhu Zhao was carried into the Er Zhu residence, where Er Zhu Rong stood on the outer corridor.

“Uncle, you must avenge me!”

The Er Zhu clan youths who had been punished by Wei Qingbin now knelt in the courtyard, stripped of their former arrogance.

Er Zhu Rong ignored Er Zhu Zhao and looked at the group of Er Zhu youths, their faces like mourners, and asked:

“Do you feel wronged?”

Led by Er Zhu Dulu, they all nodded.

“Feel wronged? Bury it!”

The long-suppressed fury in Er Zhu Rong’s heart erupted at last.

“I’ve warned you repeatedly—this isn’t Bei Xiurong. Shed that Hu Ren stench, or you’ll make us a laughingstock.”

The group lowered their heads.

“You’ve been reckless all along, got caught red-handed, and brought me this much shame. Before long, all of Luoyangcheng will know what kind of scum the Er Zhu clan produces!”

“Clan Chief, we know our mistake!”

“All of you are confined to your homes. No more going out to cause trouble!”

The Er Zhu youths bowed and left, leaving only Er Zhu Zhao behind.

Er Zhu Rong descended the corridor, wooden sandals clacking, and stood beside Er Zhu Zhao, staring at his bloodied buttocks.

“Does it hurt?”

Er Zhu Rong’s question unlocked a flood of bitterness in Er Zhu Zhao’s heart.

“Uncle, that bastard Li Shuang framed me for everything he did! That old dog Wei Qingbin is shielding him! I’m sure they’re in cahoots, plotting against our Er Zhu clan!”

Er Zhu Rong’s gaze grew colder as he listened.

“Looks like you haven’t suffered enough!”

Er Zhu Zhao froze, then heard Er Zhu Rong issue his order.

“Twenty more military lashes!”

The Qihu warriors beside Er Zhu Rong moved to carry Er Zhu Zhao away, but he barked a stop!

“Right here!”

If they took him away, out of Er Zhu Rong’s sight, the Qihu warriors would just swing lazily. But here, they dared not fake it.

“Commander, forgive us!”

“Wait!” Er Zhu Zhao turned to Er Zhu Rong. “Uncle, why are you doing this?”

Er Zhu Rong’s hawk-like eyes pinned him.

“I ask you—did you intend to testify at the Inspector’s mansion in Sizhou and falsely accuse your third uncle?”

“Yes, but—”

Er Zhu Rong cut him off, his voice heavy with meaning.

“In my life, I hate traitors most of all.”

Inside the prison cell.

Er Zhu Ying’e looked listless, her face pale and worn.

These past days had felt like a lifetime away.

Though Er Zhu Ying’e, as a woman, had been given special treatment—a private cell, special meals—the prison held mostly criminals, thieves, and murderers.

Every night, screams echoed endlessly, like hell itself, filling Er Zhu Ying’e with dread.

Father, brother—why won’t you come save me?

Er Zhu Ying’e silently prayed, never expecting the first face to appear would be the one she least wanted to see.

“Niece, missed me?”

At the sight of Li Shuang, the hope in Er Zhu Ying’e’s eyes dimmed.

“Why are you here?”

“What, you’re not happy to see me? I came specially to get you out!”

Er Zhu Ying’e turned away, hugging her knees like a bullied little girl, pouting.

“Hmph, I don’t need you to save me!”

Li Shuang clapped his hands. The jailers hurried over, faces beaming with flattery.

“Commander, your orders?”

“Open the cell door.”

Er Zhu Ying’e watched as the prison door—her nightmare for days—opened easily, and Li Shuang stepped inside.

“Do as you please. You can leave anytime. The door stays open.”

As he spoke, Li Shuang pulled out an oil-paper parcel.

“Two white flour buns inside. Still warm. Eat them.”

Er Zhu Ying’e recoiled, turning her head. She had no fondness for Li Shuang—the bandit who kidnapped her.

“I’d rather die here, bash my head against the wall, than—”

As the oil paper opened, a rich aroma spread. Er Zhu Ying’e fell silent.

Her face flushed. Her stomach growled.

These days, she hadn’t eaten properly—exhausted in body and spirit.

“Fine, I’ll eat one of yours.”

Er Zhu Ying’e grabbed the bun, bit into it—the wheat fragrance filled her mouth. Though Bei Xiurong was remote, she’d been raised in luxury: little seafood, but plenty of mountain delicacies.

None of those delicacies compared to this simple white bun.

In an instant, all the built-up grievances were released.

Tears streamed down Er Zhu Ying’e’s face as she devoured the first bun in three bites, then snatched the second from Li Shuang’s hand.

“So delicious!”

Li Shuang smiled.

“Then our old grudges are settled?”

Er Zhu Ying’e wiped her tears, studying Li Shuang. Suddenly, the man she’d once found repulsive looked… handsome.

“Dream on!”

“If not for you, I’d be an imperial consort in Luoyangcheng right now!”

“You owe me. Do you think two buns settle it?”

Er Zhu Ying’e stood, brushing dust from her clothes. In that moment, her disgrace vanished—she was once again the brightest jewel of Bei Xiurong, Princess of Er Zhu Chuan.

“But you didn’t want to be an imperial consort in Luoyangcheng, did you?”

“What I don’t want is still mine,” Er Zhu Ying’e stepped forward, locking eyes with Li Shuang. “Remember—you’ll always owe me.”

With that, Er Zhu Ying’e stormed out of the cell, eager to leave it behind.

Li Shuang watched her graceful back, helplessly.

“Has she decided to extort me?”

Sizhou City, Inspector’s Mansion.

“Was Er Zhu Ying’e released?”

“Just taken away by Li Shuang.”

Inside, Wei Qingbin stared at a military dispatch arriving from afar, his mood grim.

Yao He, puzzled by his expression, asked:

“General, if you intended to release the Er Zhu clan youths, why did you humiliate them so harshly? Doesn’t that just invite their hatred?”

Wei Qingbin stroked his beard and sighed.

“I didn’t choose to release them. The situation forced my hand.”

Wei Qingbin handed the dispatch to Yao He. The moment he read it, his eyes widened.

“Huaihuo Garrison has fallen too?”

“That fool Yuan Xu thought he’d reap the benefits of others’ strife. I say—he’s the fish!”

Wei Qingbin’s heart swelled with regret and rage.

“If His Majesty had listened to me and kept that wolf cub Yujiulu An’gui from returning north, how could the northern border now be in such chaos!”

A gust of wind swept through the room, scattering papers. Wei Qingbin gazed at the curling black clouds on the horizon, feeling the chill of early spring—a bad omen.

A storm is coming!

……