Chapter 26: Chapter Twenty-Six: A Surge of Determination in Her Heart

The next morning, in Yuanhe County's county town, the common folk buzzed with talk.

In the span of a single night, two major incidents had occurred within the city.

The first: a Daoist temple on the mountainside outside the city suddenly caught fire. The blaze was fierce and burned through the entire night, reducing the temple to ruins; not a single Daoist or worshipper who had come to offer incense managed to escape.

As for the second, it was not so easily spoken aloud.

Those who didn't know what happened asked around for a long time before a middle-aged man finally began to speak, haltingly.

It turned out that last night at the Tianxiang Tower, two men had died in the throes of passion!

"From what I hear, those two were already gravely wounded to begin with."

One man clicked his tongue twice.

"Bodies in that state, and they still couldn't resist going off to the land of beauties for a bit of fun? Truly, they'd rather have a pretty face than their own life!"

Unlike the bustle out on the streets, the mood at the County Magistrate's Residence had now plunged to freezing point; everyone stood in terrified silence.

The National Preceptor, his face dark and stormy, stared at the two crates of Broken Silver on the ground, along with half a vat of broken rice, so angry that his whole body trembled.

He glared fiercely at Meng Feng, looking as though he wanted to bite him to pieces. He clenched his jaw so hard the words came out through gritted teeth.

"This is what you meant by everything being properly arranged?!"

Meng Feng stood to one side, cold sweat pouring down his body.

"National Preceptor, please forgive me. When this subordinate arrived with his men last night, the Kufang had already been looted clean by the thieves from that night. This is all that was left."

As for that half vat of broken rice, he had personally scraped it together off the ground himself.

The National Preceptor suddenly stepped forward, but the movement was too large and pulled at his wound. He immediately staggered, his face turning deathly pale in an instant. Luckily, he grabbed Meng Feng's collar in time and barely steadied himself.

Meng Feng hurried to support him.

"National Preceptor, be careful—has the wound reopened? Someone come, help the Master back to his room to rest, and quickly fetch the Imperial Physician!"

How could the National Preceptor possibly have the mind to recuperate?

He flung aside the young manservant who had come to support him and asked urgently.

"What about the hidden chamber? What happened to the hidden chamber?!"

Inside that place lay every last bit of wealth he had accumulated over the years.

Most importantly, it hid his greatest secret.

Meng Feng was shaken by him until his head spun.

"The hidden chamber the National Preceptor speaks of—is it the one behind the Portrait?"

The National Preceptor stared hard at him.

"How is it?"

Meng Feng quietly stepped back half a pace, shrank his neck, and said in a small voice.

"Inside the hidden chamber, it's even cleaner than outside."

Hearing this, the National Preceptor felt a surge of blood and sweetness lodge in his throat. He forced himself not to spit it out and asked one more question, unwilling to give up hope.

"Was nothing left behind at all?"

The letters were taken too?!

Before Meng Feng could even open his mouth to answer, a constable behind him called out.

"Master, this Subordinate found an object in the hidden chamber!"

The National Preceptor whipped his head around to look, a flicker of hope in his eyes.

"What is it?"

The constable walked up to him, holding something in both hands.

"In reply to the Master, it is a ginseng rootlet."

"Pfft—"

Hearing this, the National Preceptor could hold back no longer. A mouthful of old blood spurted straight out, spraying all over the constable's face.

Then his eyes rolled back and he toppled backward stiff as a board.

"National Preceptor!"

"Quick, fetch the Imperial Physician!"

Meng Feng's face showed great alarm. He hurriedly snatched the ginseng rootlet from the constable's hand and stuffed it straight into the National Preceptor's mouth.

This breath had to be kept going—the National Preceptor absolutely could not be allowed to die on his turf!

The County Magistrate's Residence was once again thrown into utter chaos.

Of course, the Cheng Family knew nothing of all this commotion.

They had been busy the entire morning.

"Second Miss, will this do?"

Cheng Feng held up two sharpened tree branches and asked Cheng Qiuruo.

Cheng Qiuruo lifted her head from her book, glanced at them, and nodded.

"More or less, but they need to be a bit sharper still. Sharpen a few more."

Cheng Feng nodded in acknowledgment.

"Yes, this subordinate understands."

Cheng Qiuruo turned her attention back to that book on Mozi's mechanical arts—this book was truly wonderful!

She had finally found a chance to be of help to her family!

Cheng Qiuruo felt her whole body brimming with strength. She carefully tucked the book away against her body, then ran over to Wu Meng's side.

"Second Miss of the Cheng Family, is this the kind of scarecrow you meant?"

Looking at the two life-sized scarecrows before her, Cheng Qiuruo nodded.

"That's right, remember to wrap the scarecrows in your Jiedai uniforms."

Wu Meng and Feng Shan nodded.

"Good."

After finishing her inspection here, Cheng Qiuruo ran over to where Cheng Feng and the others were, and joined them in whittling branches. Seeing everyone working until their heads were drenched in sweat, Meng Shi called out.

"Everyone rest a while, let's eat first!"

A few people went to the river to wash their hands, then took their bowls.

"It's dumplings! And made with white flour!"

Feng Shan exclaimed.

Then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"So fragrant!"

Although Wu Meng was also very surprised, he didn't show it the way Feng Shan did.

Silently, he picked one up with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth. After biting down, his eyes widened slightly.

So fresh, so delicious!

Thin skin, generous filling—one bite and the juices burst, savory and springy.

He picked up another one, this time only gently biting through the dumpling skin to reveal the filling inside.

It was shrimp!

"There's actually shrimp meat!"

Feng Shan let out another exclamation.

The two exchanged a glance, their expressions solemn, trading a look, and their respect for the Cheng Family grew several degrees deeper in their hearts.

If before their friendly overtures toward the Cheng Family had only been to give themselves a chance at survival, now their resolve to follow the Cheng Family had grown much firmer.

To think the Cheng Family had such deep foundations—even driven to this state, even in a desperate situation, they still had contingencies.

Perhaps, while staying alive, they could also look forward to a brighter future?

Cheng Old Madam quietly took in the expressions of the two men, and continued eating in silence.

Yu'an stretched out his chubby little fingers, clumsily gripping chopsticks that were very long and very inconvenient for him.

Staring at the small bowl before him, his round, plump face was full of earnestness.

He picked up a dumpling, stuffed it into his mouth with an "om nom," and instantly narrowed his big eyes.

Mmm, the dumplings Fairy Sister gave are so delicious!

Seeing him eat so happily, An Luo smiled knowingly.

She also sped up her cooking; every time she watched Zaituan eat, her own appetite would soar.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Wang Shi saw her daughter still busy and called out again.

"Ruoruo, come eat first!"

Cheng Qiuruo turned her head and replied.

"Alright, Mother, just a little left, I'll eat once I'm done!"

Wang Shi's brows furrowed slightly, just about to go over, but was stopped by Cheng Old Madam.

"Let her be busy."

Cheng Old Madam gazed at Cheng Qiuruo's busy back and sighed softly.

"This child is bottling up a fire inside her. If she doesn't let it out, in the long run, it won't do her any good."

Hearing this, Wang Shi lowered her head and her gaze fell, thinking of her own husband, and her eyes reddened too.

Having met with such a great calamity, they were all bottling up a fire inside them.

When she first heard the terrible news, she had even entertained the thought of following the General in death—but she couldn't!

They had to live, they couldn't die, they absolutely couldn't fall, they absolutely could not let those people have their way.

They would raise Yu'an into adulthood, and let him avenge the Cheng Family!

One day, they would reveal to the world everything the Emperor had done to the Pingnan Marquis Residence, and let all the people under heaven see his true face!