Chapter 94: An Assassination Attempt

“All right, none of that is what I asked. Liu Fu, all you need to do is recover here. I take money to solve problems for others. Do you understand?”

Qiao Qingyun had, in truth, given up. Reasoning with Liu Fu was nearly impossible.

Just listening to him call her “Your Ladyship” at every turn, how could he possibly accept that she did not want to go back?

“But the Master has not yet cast off his wife, Your Ladyship…”

“If you say another word, I’ll make sure you never speak again.”

Qiao Qingyun’s voice turned sharp. With a wave of her hand, she walked out. When someone came in again, it was no longer Qiao Qingyun, but the caregiver she had hired.

“If you need anything, just tell me at any time.”

The caregiver spoke respectfully. Though his eyes held a faint distance, at the very least there was now someone here to look after her.

Early the next morning, Qiao Qingyun finally managed a full night’s beauty sleep. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Zhong Shi standing in the room, and she nearly jumped.

“Ah!”

“Miss, it’s me.”

Zhong Shi woke with a start as well. Seeing the frightened look on Qiao Qingyun’s face, he immediately cupped his fists and spoke.

He had thought his silent entrance had frightened her.

“A young lady’s private chamber cannot be entered so carelessly! Get out, now!”

The woman shouted at Zhong Shi, greatly exasperated.

Zhong Shi froze, then suddenly realized something. A faint flush rose to his face, and he looked a little embarrassed.

“Miss… someone tried to assassinate you last night, so this subordinate was worried and kept watch here the whole time.”

“Assassinate?”

Qiao Qingyun stared at Zhong Shi in disbelief. Zhong Shi nodded.

“Yes. Luckily, this subordinate and Hong Ying were both on night watch, so they failed. Young Master Feng also came first thing this morning. He is outside.”

At that, Qiao Qingyun hurriedly threw on a coat and rushed out.

As soon as she reached the doorway, she saw the main gate tightly shut. Even Liu Fu and Yuan Zaichun had come out.

Both of them were wounded—how were they still running around?

“Qingyun.”

Feng Ke turned and saw that it was Qiao Qingyun. He hurried over, his face full of apology.

“I’m sorry, Qingyun. Last night was so busy that I couldn’t come keep you company. I nearly let you be assassinated.”

“It’s fine. Zhong Shi and the others were guarding here. Ordinary people couldn’t get in.”

With that, Qiao Qingyun strode straight toward the corpses. After studying the scars and tattoos on their bodies, she frowned.

“Zhong Shi, see whether they’re the same people who tried to kill you last time.”

Zhong Shi froze. He had not paid attention to those details last night; all he had wanted was to kill them quickly and make sure Qiao Qingyun was safe.

“Yes. Let me take a look.”

He stepped forward at once. The moment he looked down, his brow furrowed.

“They are?”

“Yes.”

At that answer, Hong Ying was furious. He stormed over and kicked the corpses twice more.

“So the bastard’s still not dead in the head! You were determined to kill our young lady, weren’t you?”

He grabbed the wine jug at his side and was about to hurl it at the bodies.

“Hey! What are you doing?”

Qiao Qingyun stopped him swiftly. Hong Ying said indignantly, “Miss! They wanted to kill you. Now that they’re dead, they might as well die more thoroughly!”

Before Qiao Qingyun could stop him, Hong Ying had already struck a torch and set the bodies ablaze.

“Hey! Put it out, quickly!”

At Qiao Qingyun’s command, Zhong Shi could no longer care about the wounds from the night before. He rushed to the well, drew up water, and with one bucketful extinguished every last flame.

“Miss!”

Hong Ying stamped his feet anxiously. After all, everyone said a healer should have a compassionate heart—surely Qiao Qingyun was not softening at a time like this?

“Ha… you really are too impulsive. Zhong Shi, were you and Hong Ying hurt?”

Zhong Shi froze, instinctively trying to hide his left hand behind his back, but Qiao Qingyun noticed at once and pulled it forward.

Sure enough, there was a bloody gash across the center of his palm.

“You caught a blade bare-handed? Have you lost your mind? What if…”

“There is no what if. It was this subordinate’s negligence. By the time I reached your doorway to take up guard, I had already heard footsteps. If I had not used my hand, that sword would have gone into you.”

Zhong Shi kept his head lowered and obediently recounted everything that had happened the night before, word for word.

Only then did Qiao Qingyun swallow back all the reproaches on her lips.

Qing Luo glanced at Feng Ke and, understanding what Qiao Qingyun intended, spoke up. “Young Master Feng, why don’t you, Hong Ying, and I bury these things together?”

“Yes, Qing Luo is right. If we burn them, they’ll draw attention for sure. Better to bury them deep.”

“Very well.”

Feng Ke had changed greatly from before. Once, he had been nothing more than a frivolous young playboy. Though that wickedly charming face remained, the way he carried himself had changed enormously.

“Thank you.”

Hong Ying was naturally uninjured, because later they had discovered Zhong Shi had been wounded and assumed he would be easier to deal with, so they had all gone after Zhong Shi instead.

“Come on. I’ll bandage you when we get back. Look at that wound—if it gets infected, you’ll need an injection.”

Qiao Qingyun shook her head helplessly. The only reason she kept Zhong Shi by her side was that he was loyal enough; otherwise, even if the heavens themselves came calling, she would never keep a disaster around.

“Yes.”

Watching the two figures gradually move farther away, Liu Fu walked over to Yuan Zaichun’s side. It was plain to see the man’s eyes were filled with guilt.

“My lord, you only just woke today. You should go back and rest first.”

“Mm.”

The man did not truly answer, merely gave a perfunctory reply before following Liu Fu back into the main hall.

Once inside, he saw Qiao Qingyun again, personally changing Zhong Shi’s dressing.

“Does it hurt?”

She asked softly about Zhong Shi’s thoughts and sensations. Yet Zhong Shi was a rough man by nature and did not feel much pain. Still, the feeling of being cared for like this made him lose himself for a moment.

“No.”

“Mm. If it does hurt, tell me. It’s fortunate the wound isn’t deep. If it were deeper, I might have had to stitch it.”

At those words, Zhong Shi’s mouth actually curved into a smile.

If that were the case, Qiao Qingyun would have to spend even more time looking after him.

“Don’t smile. Honestly, do you think stitching is pleasant? It hurts a great deal, and you won’t be able to work for a while either.”

“This subordinate understands.”

Meeting Zhong Shi’s eyes, Qiao Qingyun’s face flushed red. She suddenly remembered that Zhong Shi, too, liked her.

She had never noticed. When Yuan Zaichun went upstairs, his gaze had also remained fixed on Qiao Qingyun, never leaving her for a single moment.

“My lord, let’s go.”

Liu Fu let out a soft sigh and urged him on. Even if he wanted to win her back now, it was already too late.