LIGHTNOVELONLINE
Chapter 15
When Li Ming received the news, he came over, looked at the broken sword and listened to Zhang Hu's words, "Let people go further away, check carefully, and be vigilant tonight."
"Yes," the family servants and yamen runners spread out everywhere to check. They did not find any more weapons or see any corpses. But Li Ming, having handled cases for many years, had the intuition that this incident was not simple. Since he had just arrived with his family to take up his post, he did not want to stir up too much trouble. He made a note of this matter first, intending to investigate it in more detail after arriving in Liuzhou.
A while later, Mrs. Lu also learned about the situation. "My lord, why don't we travel overnight?" This place was unsafe, and Mrs. Lu did not want his whole family to be in danger.
Li Ming disagreed, "If we go further, we have to pass through the woods. It would not be good to travel at night."
Mrs. Lu understood Li Ming's meaning—even in daylight, passing through the woods would not be easy, let alone at night. Moreover, they had a lot of luggage with them.
"Madam, I have arranged for the family servants and yamen runners to take turns standing guard around the perimeter tonight. You should also have your female attendants be vigilant." Mrs. Lu nodded. Looking at the distant place, the blackness of the night was like a ferocious beast lying in wait for them.
They had originally planned to set up tents and rest overnight. But at Mrs. Lu's order, they stopped setting up tents. That night they would rest inside the carriage instead. Upon receiving the news, Auntie Mei worriedly held Li Xia's hand, "Could something be about to happen?"
"Auntie, the weather is getting colder now, and the earth is getting colder too. Sleeping in the carriage is better than sleeping in tents," Li Xia said, making Auntie Mei think that her words also made sense. The cooks had prepared dinner. Qiu Shui and Qiu Kui brought back meals for several people and ate inside the carriage. After simple ablutions, it was already deep into the night. Unable to stay awake, Auntie Mei fell asleep leaning against a pillow. After chatting with An Auntie all day, she really was exhausted.
"You guys should also get some sleep," Li Xia said with a yawn to Qiu Ju and the others.
"Miss, what about you?" Qiu Ju rubbed the corners of her eyes.
"I'm not sleepy yet. You guys sleep first. I'll sleep later." Saying so, Li Xia sat at the edge of the carriage, making space so the three of them would have more room to stretch out.
Qiu Ju and the others were indeed tired. Leaning against each other, they fell asleep. Seeing that the three of them were asleep, Li Xia quietly got out of the carriage. She circled around the carriage twice. As the night breeze blew, through her wind ability, Li Xia sensed the movements in the distance.
Li Xia turned and walked towards the periphery. On the way, she ran into Jiao Granny who was standing night watch.
Jiao Granny came forward to greet her, "Second Miss, you haven't slept yet?"
Li Xia was a little embarrassed to say, "I drank a bit too much water during the day."
Jiao Granny understood what Li Xia meant and obligingly said, "Second Miss, does this old woman need to accompany you there?"
"You all have important watch duties. No need to accompany me. The latrine is just over there, also very close by," Li Xia declined. If Jiao Granny accompanied her, how could she get anything done?
Jiao Granny looked at the tent not far away, "Second Miss, I'll be around here. If you need anything, just call for me."
"Alright, thank you Granny Jiao," Li Xia expressed her thanks and headed towards the nearby latrine. Going in, Li Xia used the wind to silently wrap around herself. Under the cover of night, she noiselessly left.
She passed the yamen runners on night watch and stopped about ten meters ahead. Looking back at the direction of the campfire, this distance should be enough that the Li family could not hear any sounds. Li Xia turned her head to look ahead. Right then, several figures in black were rushing over in this direction.
Although there was no confrontation, from the concealed killing intent and bloody aura exuding from these figures in black, Li Xia clearly sensed that these people had killed many. They were not opponents that the Li family servants and yamen escorts could handle.
Li Xia's fingers moved slightly, and soundless wind blades shot out stealthily. The three black-clothed men in front suddenly collapsed while advancing and moved no more. The two men behind, upon seeing this, hurriedly retreated several steps to dodge the wind blades. The two were wary of their surroundings. Other than the sounds of the wind blowing through the leaves, there was nothing else, and they had no idea which direction the hidden weapons had been released from.
The two were nervous, their eyes scanning their surroundings as they gripped the sabers in their hands tightly. A breeze picked up. Sensing danger, the two men dodged to the side. Focusing their attention ahead, they did not notice that Li Xia had already circled around to their rear. Li Xia directly stabbed two wind blades into the vital points of both men. She rapidly moved away to avoid being splattered with blood.
After confirming that the two men were dead, Li Xia stealthily returned to the tent. She checked herself carefully to confirm that there wasn't a single drop of blood on her. Li Xia put on an outer garment and walked out of the tent.
Upon exiting, she saw Jiao Granny standing not far away. Seeing Li Xia emerge, Jiao Granny's expression relaxed. As Li Xia walked over, Jiao Granny caught a whiff of scent from her body and couldn't help but cover her nose.
Li Xia also couldn't stand the smell on herself and covered her nose. She looked at Jiao Granny, smiling awkwardly.
Jiao Granny put down her hand, "Second Miss, this old woman is being rude." To make a nose-covering gesture in front of the young mistress was very impolite indeed. Jiao Granny was afraid Li Xia would complain about her to the lady of the household and she would be punished.
"Granny Jiao, not to mention you, even I can't stand this smell on me," Li Xia said unconcernedly. "Granny Jiao, how come you're standing night watch alone?" Li Xia remembered that Mrs. Lu had arranged for the night watch to be in pairs.
"Lame Auntie's leg affliction acted up. I let her go back to rest," Jiao Granny quickly explained. She had a close relationship with Lame Auntie and didn't want her to be punished by the master and mistress.
Lame Auntie—Li Xia knew she was the fire-stoker auntie in the kitchen. Not only were her legs lame, but her hands and face were also severely burned. Thinking of this, Li Xia couldn't help but curiously ask, "Granny Jiao, do you know what happened to Lame Auntie's legs and the injuries on her face?"
Seeing that Li Xia did not blame her and instead asked about this matter, Jiao Granny explained. Lame Auntie was originally from Bailang County. Back when Li Ming had yet to arrive at Bailang County to take up his official appointment, the common folk here suffered terribly.
Because Lame Auntie's husband could not pay the poll tax, he was taken away to perform hard labor. As a lone woman, Lame Auntie earned money washing clothes for others to raise her child. As a result, during a smallpox epidemic, her child passed away. Because the child died of smallpox, her husband's clan wanted to cremate the child. Lame Auntie was unwilling. It was then that her legs were broken, and she was burned from trying to snatch back her child's corpse.
Frightened by Lame Auntie's fierceness, the clansmen ran off. Carrying her child's body, Lame Auntie crawled out of the county town, wanting to find a place outside the city to bury her child. It just so happened that the newly appointed Li Ming and Mrs. Lu were passing by. Taking pity on Lame Auntie, Mrs. Lu gave her money for the burial expenses of her son. Also sympathizing with her utter destitution and lack of dependence, Mrs. Lu allowed her to make ends meet by stoking fires in the kitchen.
Li Xia couldn't help but praise Mrs. Lu upon hearing this, "Mother has a kind heart."
"Every winter, our mistress holds congee charity food kitchens and donates money and supplies to orphanages," Jiao Granny chimed in.
"Did Lame Auntie's husband ever come looking for her afterward?" Li Xia continued asking.
Speaking of this, Jiao Granny sighed, "I heard that man fell into a river while laboring and died just like that."
Hearing this, Li Xia couldn't help but lament, "Lame Auntie's lot in life is also too bitter."
"The first half of Lame Auntie's life was bitter. But encountering the mistress is the blessing cultivated from her previous life," Jiao Granny went on to praise Mrs. Lu's kindheartedness.
Li Xia nodded in agreement, "Mother is kindhearted, and Father is also a good official. Now, compared to before, the lives of Bailang County's common people are worlds apart."
"Why are you still awake, chatting out here so late into the night?" Li Hui walked over holding a torch, glancing at Jiao Granny. Jiao Granny quickly lowered her head.
"Big brother, I couldn't sleep and was chatting with Granny Jiao," Li Xia took the responsibility onto herself.