The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!-Chapter 222: Dropping the Act Is No Fun Anymore
By the time they returned to the alley, it was nearing dusk.
Yu Tingwan was carrying several bags of paper-wrapped oil-fried cakes, which swayed with her movements.
She had walked so much today that her legs were starting to feel sore.
Just a few months ago, she still had to gather firewood, straining herself to bundle it up and drag it down the mountain, wearing out the soles of her shoes.
But now there was no need to worry about making a living, and she didn’t have to work, so Yu Tingwan lived leisurely, and this made her lazy.
"Aunt."
Nannan was squatting at the door playing with stones, and when she saw her, she ran over.
Nannan said in a childish voice, "Why didn’t you take me when you skipped class?"
Yu Tingwan: ???
"Who said I skipped class?"
"Grandmaster said so."
"Then he’s slandering me."
Nannan looked up at her in confusion.
But didn’t you sneak away halfway?
Yu Tingwan felt no shame at all and handed her a few oil-fried cakes.
"Take these and eat them, and don’t forget to share them with your grandmaster."
"Just say... just say he has a good student who respects him, who doesn’t forget about him even when going out. Tell him not to keep clinging to small matters, with his age, he should be more magnanimous."
Seeing Nannan obediently agree, Yu Tingwan happily returned to the Wei Family.
Hui Niang was busy washing vegetables, and upon hearing her return, looked over, worried that the basket behind Yu Tingwan might crush her.
She flicked the water off her hands and quickly came to help.
"Why did you buy so much?"
As the basket was taken off, Yu Tingwan felt relaxed and rubbed her shoulders, "I bought them because they were cheap."
She handed over the oil-fried cakes, "I bought them on the way back. They’re crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and still hot. Father and mother, have a taste."
Hui Niang took a bite, finding it quite tasty.
The portion wasn’t large, just enough to sample the flavor, since they’d have a proper meal later.
Hui Niang ate while tidying up the basket. Everything inside was for the family to eat or use.
"Why didn’t you get something for yourself?"
Hui Niang said, "I saw the pearl flower on Miss Liu’s head and it looked really good. If you bought it and wore it, you’d look even more charming."
Yu Tingwan laughed, "I find them too heavy."
"She wears a Jade Pendant, you..."
Yu Tingwan responded, "It’s excessive."
Hui Niang was about to say something more when she saw incense and gold and silver foil stuffed inside the basket...
She understood.
The death anniversary of her in-laws was approaching.
"Where is your husband?"
"In the room."
"I’ll go see."
The room had a coal fire burning.
Yet, the windows were wide open.
After Yu Tingwan entered, she frowned, closing the doors and windows.
Then...
She discovered Wei Zhao was not there.
————
Wei Zhao was currently in a hidden secret room.
The room was dimly lit, only a few kerosene lamps providing illumination. He sat on a chair brought by Chi Yu, leisurely brewing tea.
On the ground not far away lay a sack, with something inside struggling and twisting.
It was a person.
Chi Yu stood respectfully by his side, "It happened to be when Imperial Hospital’s Zheng Xu returned home to pay respects to his ancestors, our people in Yu City got the news and swiftly captured him."
"His accompanying family members were also captured alive and are locked in the next room awaiting your command."
The teapot bubbled as it boiled.
Chi Yu stepped forward to untie the sack, revealing Zheng Xu inside, gagged and bound, his face pale and showing his age.
Zheng Xu was both enraged and furious.
Although he was not highly skilled, he managed to do well in the Imperial Hospital without being heavily utilized over the years.
Many Imperial Physicians speculated privately that he had backing. Otherwise, how could he be allowed to return home unscathed while the Crown Prince lay gravely ill?
He was certainly satisfied.
But never did Zheng Xu expect that not long after his carriage had set out on the main road, half an hour from reaching home, there would be a loud bang, and the carriage shattered to pieces. He tumbled to the ground, not even having time to react before being knocked unconscious.
Upon waking up, he found himself inside a sack, tossed on a horse, jolted all the way. He felt as if his organs would be shaken out.
Initially, he thought it was reckless mountain bandits!
But when he saw Chi Yu, he was dumbfounded.
"Mm! Mm!"
He couldn’t speak, but his expression was agitated.
Chi Yu pulled out the cloth from his mouth.
"V-Vice General Chi?"
"Why is it you?"
Zheng Xu asked, "Why did you capture me?"
Chi Yu did not respond.
He stepped aside, retreating to one side.
It was then that Zheng Xu saw Wei Zhao, who had been obscured by Chi Yu earlier.
His hairs stood on end, suddenly shocked.
His heartbeat thundered like a war drum, and his breathing felt like cotton was being pulled from his lungs. A chilling sensation spread from his feet to every part of his body, fear flickering in his eyes, his high-pitched voice nearly cracking.
"Wei... General Wei."
"You actually... you... you’re not dead?"
He trembled, trying to inch backward.
Wei Zhao looked at his ugly posture with disdain.
Though the secret room was quite cold, Zheng Xu’s forehead was covered in large beads of sweat.
Zheng Xu forced a smile, "It’s really good to see you’re unharmed."
"When you return to the Capital, the Holy Emperor will be very happy."
"I have always admired you greatly."
"After hearing of your death in the battlefield, I was deeply saddened, but now that you’re safe, though I don’t know what happened, it seems that the heavens opened their eyes and couldn’t bear to see you come to harm."
Zheng Xu was extremely uneasy.
He looked at Wei Zhao cautiously.
Wei Zhao’s eyes were dark and stormy, filled with a terrifying storm.
Zheng Xu fell silent, not daring to utter another word.
But Chi Yu grabbed him by the collar, dragging him forward, pulling him to Wei Zhao’s feet.
Zheng Xu felt pain and panic, his situation miserable.
The cold feel on his chin was a dagger, and Zheng Xu was forced to lift his head.
The dagger moved downwards, leaving behind red marks, and the pricking pain came as blood beads appeared.
Zheng Xu’s teeth chattered, wanting to back away, but Chi Yu held him down firmly.
Wei Zhao held the dagger with extreme coldness in his eyes, his lips moved, "Why are you trembling like this? Did I scare you?"
"General Wei, I’ve never wronged you, why would you..."
"Years ago, when Duke Shun was bedridden, though I was incapable of healing him, I was attentive, taking care of things like preparing and boiling medicine, discussing prescriptions with other Imperial Physicians."
"Though I have no merit, there was hard work. If I’ve offended you somehow, I apologize..."
Before Zheng Xu could finish his words.
Wei Zhao mercilessly plunged the dagger through his neck.
Just slightly off, and it would have sprayed blood three feet away.
Being an Imperial Physician, Zheng Xu knew no one would die immediately. But if the wound was left untreated for too long, it would be disastrous.
He convulsed in pain, almost fainting.
But even so, he heard his only son’s screams from outside, pleading for his father’s rescue.
His only son, whom he had cherished like a treasure since childhood.
Wei Zhao released the dagger, leisurely pouring tea.
"Pretending to be ignorant is no fun anymore."
"I lack patience, so if your beloved son ends up with missing limbs or life, it will be you who is saddened."
Zheng Xu had no room for considerations.
He might die if he turned coats and betrayed, but if he didn’t speak up, Wei Zhao wouldn’t let him leave alive.
He wasn’t foolish; he knew what choice to make.
"I’ll talk, I’ll tell you everything."
"Years ago, Duke Shun’s death wasn’t due to illness, but poison."
