Zhang Zhirou looked straight at Qin Yi'an with a candid gaze. "I do not know who this woman you speak of is. I merely helped A-Li’s lifesaver leave the city. As for where she went after that, I have no idea."
"Miss Zhang, are you determined to shield that woman?"
Zhang Zhiyi was struck by the term "lifesaver." "What lifesaver?"
Zhang Zhirou gave him a soft, sharp glare. "Big brother, let’s discuss this after Head Constable Qin has left."
Zhang Zhiyi was momentarily stunned, a look of helplessness crossing his handsome face. He turned to Qin Yi'an and said, "Head Constable Qin, my sister has made herself quite clear. As for your accusation of 'shielding,' I hope you have substantial evidence! My sister may not be a government official, but she is a member of a military family; I will not stand for her to be accused so casually!"
Stung by Zhang Zhiyi’s rebuke, Qin Yi'an realized his choice of words had been improper and felt an immediate sense of regret. "My apologies, General Zhang, I spoke out of turn..."
"It is not to me that you owe an apology," Zhang Zhiyi interrupted coldly.
Hearing this, Qin Yi'an turned to Zhang Zhirou to make amends. "I am sorry, Miss Zhang. I spoke carelessly and caused offense. I beg your pardon."
Zhang Zhirou didn't feel particularly offended; after all, she had indeed hidden the person he was looking for.
Concealing her guilty conscience, she said, "Never mind. I am not a petty person, and I know you are only doing your duty, Head Constable. However, it is late, and I fear that if you stay at the General’s Estate any longer, it might not bode well for my reputation."
Zhang Zhiyi’s expression shifted, and he looked at his sister with resignation. To think a young lady would dare say such a thing!
As for Qin Yi'an, the words felt like a thunderbolt striking his head. Terrified, he hastily offered his farewells.
Watching Qin Yi'an finally retreat, Zhang Zhirou hadn't even had a chance to smile before she received a sharp rap on the head from Zhang Zhiyi. "You girl! You have no filter at all!"
Seeing there were no outsiders left in the room, Zhang Zhirou immediately hugged her brother's arm to coax him. "Big brother, I just wanted to tell you what happened today!"
"Mind your manners!" Zhang Zhiyi’s handsome brows furrowed. "You are seventeen now! What would people think?"
Zhang Zhirou pouted, let go of his arm, and sat to the side, sulking.
Ignoring her, he turned to Zhang Zhili. "A-Li, you tell me. What happened today?"
Compared to Zhang Zhirou, Zhang Zhili was far more reliable. That girl had been spoiled rotten by him!
Zhang Zhirou protested, "Why ask A-Li? He knows much less than I do!"
"Sister!" Zhang Zhili felt slighted; how could she speak of her own brother that way? He was still young, after all—it was normal if he didn't understand some things!
Exhausted by Zhang Zhirou’s endless bickering, Zhang Zhiyi darkened his face. "Speak properly!"
Knowing that she shouldn't push her luck any further—her brother was genuinely angry now—Zhang Zhirou sat obediently beside him and began to tell him about Shu He.
...
Half an hour later.
"So, you’re saying that woman really might be the culprit behind the West Suburbs murders?" Zhang Zhiyi asked.
Zhang Zhirou paused, her chopsticks mid-air, a look of hesitation on her face. "I don't care if she is. If she is, that only proves that the injuries on Xiao Yi'er were caused by that gang! If those people had fallen into my hands, I would have made them wish for death!"
Zhang Zhiyi looked at the flicker of cruelty on his sister’s fair face and frowned. "When did you become so filled with resentment? Always talking about death—is that how a young lady should speak?"
"Big brother, you didn't see it! Little Xiao Yi'er’s small body was covered in wounds, she was so thin she was nothing but skin and bone! Tell me, what kind of vicious person would do such a thing to a child? Don't those people deserve to die?" Zhang Zhili agreed with his sister and chimed in to defend her.
"Exactly! That child is so frail a breeze could knock her over! I have never seen such a wretched child. I don't even know how she survived!"
Every time Zhang Zhirou thought of Xiao Yi'er’s miserable state, she couldn't stop herself from wanting to cry. She couldn't understand why the heavens were so cruel, forcing such a small child to endure such suffering.
Zhang Zhiyi felt they were exaggerating, but seeing his sister’s red and swollen eyes, it seemed she hadn't just cried once or twice. It didn't look like a ruse.
"A-Li, remember, you cannot eat fish!"
"Oh, right, right! I was just thinking about Xiao Yi'er and didn't even look at what I was picking up."
While Zhang Zhiyi was lost in thought, Zhang Zhirou’s urgent voice rang out. He looked over, confused. "Why stop A-Li from eating fish?" He loved fish the most.
"Sister He said that A-Li shouldn't eat fish from now on! She also said that in the future, all of A-Li’s food must be handled by someone he trusts!" Zhang Zhirou moved the plate of fish from in front of A-Li to her own side. "Although I don't know why she said that, I trust that she has her reasons!"
Beside them, Zhang Zhili nodded repeatedly in agreement. "Yes, I think so too!"
Zhang Zhiyi was stunned. Usually, this pair was notoriously difficult to manage; how had they become so obedient to that woman’s words?
"Tomorrow, I will go with you to see her," Zhang Zhiyi said before leaving the table.
Outside the General’s Estate, Shen San saw Qin Yi'an coming out and hurried to meet him. The heavy snow had nearly frozen him solid.
"Chief, what did they say?"
Seeing Shen San shivering violently, Qin Yi'an brushed the snow off him. "Let’s talk when we get back."
...
East Suburbs.
Before the sky had even begun to brighten, Shu He had already risen to apply needles and brew medicine for Xiao Yi'er. The world was quiet, but sounds began to drift in from the next-door kitchen.
As it turned out, the two kitchens were connected.
"Hurry, hurry! Are the provisions ready? The young master is about to set off!"
An old man’s voice came from behind the wall, laced with urgency.
The cooks replied, "Yes, it’s all done..."
Uncle Zhang carried the packed goods toward the main hall, just in time to hear Nan Qi’s voice.
"Master, the snow is still falling outside, and there is a thick accumulation on the ground. The carriage cannot move..."
"Cousin, there is nothing urgent in the north anyway. Why not wait a few days until the snow melts before leaving?" A woman wearing a green gown and a white fox-fur cloak stood there, her exquisite face revealing a hint of joy. She walked toward the handsome man, her eyes filled with expectation.
Baili Moqing sat in his wheelchair. As the woman approached, he couldn't help but frown.
Seeing this, Nan Qi immediately stepped forward to push the wheelchair further away, then said to the woman, "Miss Xiyun, you know that the Master does not like people getting too close."
Ever since *that* incident, Baili Moqing had developed an aversion to women getting near him. If not for the fact that she was his cousin, she likely would have been driven out long ago.
A flicker of cruelty crossed Nangong Xiyun’s brows, but she quickly masked it. She controlled her voice, trying to make it sound as gentle as possible. "Nan Qi, even if I have acted incorrectly, you cannot speak to me like that, can you?"
She was, after all, the daughter of General Nangong Zhen of the Garrison Army; how could she tolerate being scolded by a servant?
Nan Qi pursed his lips in silence, wanting to say more, but Baili Moqing’s cold, indifferent voice cut in. "If you are constantly acting out of place, then go back to Heng Mountain!"
Nangong Xiyun’s face paled, and a look of humiliation washed over her. He would say such harsh things to her, all for the sake of a servant!
She stared at him, full of disbelief. "Cousin, you... how can you treat me like this?"
"Then how should I treat you?" Baili Moqing looked at her, clearly displeased by her "soft threats." If it weren't for the sake of his uncle, Nangong Zhen, he would not want to see any woman in his presence for even a second.
"Cousin Moqing, you were not like this before!" Nangong Xiyun couldn't accept his attitude. They had played well together as children; she had always loved following behind him, and he had never been cold to her. Why had everything changed?
Baili Moqing indifferently looked away; he hated seeing women crying the most. "You also know that was the past."
"Cousin, are you afraid that I mind your legs?" Nangong Xiyun’s eyes flickered. Thinking he was being insecure, she hurriedly explained, "Cousin, believe me, I don't mind! No matter what you become, I will never care! Don't be insecure, don't drive me away, okay?"
Nan Qi rolled his eyes silently at this. This woman was truly narcissistic! What was his Master’s status? As if he would be insecure because of her!
"Nan Qi, we will depart after the snow stops."
How could Nan Qi not understand his Master’s meaning? He nodded immediately and pushed him into the main room.
Seeing Nangong Xiyun about to follow, he said, "Miss Nangong, you heard the Master’s words clearly enough, didn't you?"
Nangong Xiyun gritted her teeth, a trace of resentment flashing across her face, followed by a glimmer of obsessive hope.
The two estates fell into silence again. As the heavy snow swirled, a rustling sound emerged from outside the walls of the two large courtyards.
Beneath the white snow, several heads appeared, their gazes fierce and burning, each face revealing an eager, predatory intent.