Chapter 94 — Aftermath
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 4 of 4
Old Madam Wu smiled. "We set out for the capital in a couple of days. Perhaps he fears his father will test his lessons, for he has shut himself in his room to study these past days, burning the lamp until midnight and letting no one disturb him. Had it not been for Zhi today, I doubt anyone could have knocked at his door—he has gone out with Zhi, saying some fellow students wished to give him a send-off."
Ji Yong laughed. "No wonder Brother Wu is so well liked. He has a generous, forthright nature. Had it not been for him that day, we should never have found that country estate!"
Old Madam Wu was startled. "What country estate?"
Ji Yong's smile faltered for an instant, but he quickly recovered and said with a laugh, "Oh, we went out together that day and lost our way, and Brother Wu helped us find the road." Then he raised his teacup and drank several large mouthfuls, as if to cover something up.
Suspicion stirred in Old Madam Wu's heart.
After seeing Ji Yong off, she summoned the young servant who attended Wu Shan and questioned him closely.
Though the servant had been warned by Wu Shan, he dared not conceal anything from Old Madam Wu, and soon poured out every detail of Dou Yan's abduction like beans from a bamboo tube.
Old Madam Wu's face changed drastically at his words. Again and again she asked the servant: "When you got there, that Pang Kunbai had already been beaten half to death? And yet the Fourth Young Lady was entirely unharmed, with a crowd of unfamiliar guards about her?"
The servant swore, "Madam, I would not dare deceive you. If I speak a single false word, may lightning strike me and may I die a wretched death!"
Old Madam Wu motioned for him to say no more and instructed him in a low voice, "Never mention this again, or you shall be beaten to death with rods."
The servant shuddered, nodded again and again, and scrambled out of the hall on all fours.
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Sisters and brothers, I beg you for pink tickets...
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