Chapter 222: Chapter 222: My Cousin Taught Me

Seeing the black-robed man standing in front of her, Zhi Wan was stunned.

’So that basin of scalding water... was it this black-robed man who blocked it for me?’

Realizing this, she immediately asked with concern, "Sir, are you alright?"

The man kept his head down and said nothing.

But Zhi Wan saw water dripping down his robe.

Seeing this, her expression changed, and she asked urgently, "Sir?"

The black-robed man finally raised his head and glanced at her. "I’m fine. Don’t worry."

His voice was deep and mellow, with a touch of hoarseness that lent it a world-weary quality.

Zhi Wan was taken aback. When she saw his familiar eyes, she couldn’t help but ask, "Were you an acquaintance of my parents? We met yesterday at their graves as well."

The black-robed man was silent for a long time. Just as he turned to leave, he said faintly, "I... suppose so."

Zhi Wan wanted to ask more, but the black-robed man quickly walked out of the restaurant and swiftly removed his outer robe.

Seeing this, Zhi Wan quickly chased after him. "Sir, you saved me! Please leave your name and address, so I may come and thank you properly!"

But the black-robed man didn’t look back, and soon he vanished into the crowd.

"Wan’er, are you alright?" At that moment, Lady Wei rushed over, grabbed Zhi Wan, and looked her over from head to toe.

"Aunt, I’m fine." Zhi Wan came back to her senses and shook her head.

"As long as you’re fine, as long as you’re fine." Lady Wei patted her chest, still shaken.

What had just happened had been too sudden. Luckily, that black-robed man had blocked the scalding water for Wan’er.

Otherwise, if that boiling water had been thrown on Wan’er, how could she have endured it?

"My Lady, Miss, how should we deal with that woman?" At that moment, Jiang Shi stepped forward to ask for instructions.

Zhi Wan and Lady Wei walked back into the main hall.

The floor of the restaurant’s main hall was a greasy mess.

Only then did Zhi Wan and Lady Wei realize that the woman hadn’t thrown scalding water, but boiling hot oil.

This realization enraged Lady Wei.

"You wretched woman, what grudge do you have against my child that you would resort to such a vicious method?"

The woman had been pinned to the ground by the guards, a complete mess. Hearing this, she screamed obscenities, "You’re the family of that dog official Lu, you all deserve to die! My only regret is that I couldn’t destroy that vixen and avenge my master!"

Hearing this, Lady Wei was still confused, but Zhi Wan understood.

"You’re a servant from the corrupt official Zeng Gong’s family?"

The woman’s pupils shrank. She didn’t answer, only saying hatefully, "You vixen, kill me or cut me to pieces, go right ahead! This old woman isn’t afraid of you!"

Zhi Wan gave her a scornful look. "Kill you? I’d be afraid of dirtying my hands. You threw hot oil at me in front of everyone, intending to disfigure me. Such a vicious, brazen act in defiance of the law must naturally be handed over to the Government to be judged!"

"You... you vixen, you’ll die a horrible death!" The woman gritted her teeth in fury.

"You should worry about yourself. You’ve committed a wicked act, and you won’t meet a good end!" Zhi Wan said, then turned to the onlookers. "This old woman is a servant of the corrupt official Zeng Gong! Zeng Gong took bribes and persecuted the people of Yangzhou, a true cancer and tyrant of the city! He was brought to justice by the imperial envoy sent by the Court a while ago. I can’t believe a servant from the Zeng family is not convinced and still wants to seek justice for that corrupt official!"

"So she’s a servant from the Zeng family?"

"Zeng Gong plagued Yangzhou for years. He was finally brought to justice, and this old woman can’t tell right from wrong, still defending a corrupt official like him? How disgusting!"

"What a loyal dog of a servant! I bet she received plenty of benefits from the Zeng family to be so devoted to a corrupt official!"

"Kill her! Kill her!"

In an instant, the crowd was in an uproar.

The customers grabbed whatever they could get their hands on and threw it all at the woman.

Jiang Shi had already escorted Zhi Wan and Lady Wei out of the restaurant and into their carriage.

"When it’s about enough, send the old woman to the Government," Zhi Wan instructed.

"Yes!" Jiang Shi replied respectfully. After arranging for guards to escort the two back to the villa, he returned to the restaurant.

In the carriage, Lady Wei looked at Zhi Wan with unconcealed surprise.

Zhi Wan paused, touching her own face. "Aunt, what is it? Is there something on my face?"

Lady Wei shook her head and took her hand. "Wan’er, your performance just now truly astonished me."

She had always thought Wan’er was timid and cowardly, someone who needed protection.

But Wan’er’s actions just now made her realize that Wan’er was not as weak and easily bullied as she usually appeared.

’I’m only just realizing today that I don’t seem to know Wan’er very well at all.’

Hearing this, Zhi Wan paused. She knew her recent actions had made her aunt suspicious.

"My cousin taught me," she finally said softly.

"Ah Zhan?" Lady Wei was surprised.

Zhi Wan lowered her head. "Yes. Didn’t I come to Yangzhou with my cousin a while ago? He’s the one who taught me that one can’t be too weak."

Hearing this, Lady Wei’s doubts were dispelled. "Oh, so your cousin taught you. I thought..."

She didn’t say what she had thought.

But Zhi Wan knew.

’Aunt thought my usual demeanor was all an act.’

Zhi Wan couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.

’Living under someone else’s roof for so long has made me cautious and careful, afraid to show my true personality. Most of the time, I am putting on an act... but my respect for my aunt has never been fake.’

"You were great just now. You should be a bit fiercer, then others won’t dare to bully us." Lady Wei didn’t overthink it; in fact, she was happy to see Zhi Wan’s change.

Seeing that her aunt didn’t blame her, Zhi Wan secretly sighed in relief. "As long as Aunt doesn’t dislike me for it."

"You silly girl. You’re becoming better and better, how could I dislike you? I’m only gratified," Lady Wei said.

She meant these words sincerely.

’Although I can protect Wan’er, I can’t guarantee there won’t be times I’m careless. Besides, I can’t be by Wan’er’s side at every moment. Only when Wan’er can stand up for herself will she not be bullied by anyone.’

"Right, what was that woman all about? When she mentioned a ’dog official named Lu,’ she couldn’t have been talking about your cousin, could she?" Lady Wei said, changing the subject.

Zhi Wan explained, "When my cousin and I first arrived in Yangzhou, the local officials held a banquet for him at the Hongyun Restaurant. My cousin brought Zhenzhu and me along. That woman was the wet nurse of one of those officials. That official committed a crime; his household was confiscated and he was convicted. I imagine the woman ended up working as a kitchen helper here at the Hongyun Restaurant. She must have seen me by chance just now and decided to take her revenge."

The last part was her own speculation, but she felt it was close to the truth. She would know for sure once Jiang Shi returned from the Government.

"I see," Lady Wei nodded, then frowned. "This is all your cousin’s fault for dragging you into this."

Zhi Wan shook her head. "How is this my cousin’s fault? It’s clearly that old woman who is brazen, vicious, and unable to tell right from wrong."

Thinking back to what had just happened, Lady Wei still felt a wave of fear.

If it weren’t for that black-robed man, Wan’er would have suffered terribly.

"Why did that man save you?" Lady Wei was very puzzled.

Yesterday at the graves, the black-robed man had refused to even acknowledge Wan’er’s questions. It was unexpected that he would step forward to save her at such a critical moment.

The thought of that hot oil pouring over someone’s body made Lady Wei’s scalp tingle.