She saw a shadow flicker on the bed, and Uncle Dongli simply replied, "Doctor."
The man immediately jumped off the bed, yelling, "I told you I don't need a doctor! Get out! All of you get out!!" Ning Xian froze the moment she saw him, staring at him in shock—
"What are you still standing there for? Didn't you hear me? Get out!!"
Ning Xian stood stiffly, opening his mouth but unable to utter a sound—the feeling of sorrow swelling and churning in his chest, unable to find an outlet, still lingered, enough to make one forget where they were, what time it was—two words were squeezed out of his throat with difficulty—"Ci Sheng..."
—Ci Sheng?
Why, those eyebrows, those eyes, that pale yet slender figure...
On that day, Ci Sheng's half-body, crushed beyond recognition by the stone pillar, stood in stark contrast to her still gentle and peaceful face, which was gradually losing its color, a sight that was heartbreaking.
Though the voice was soft, the young man before him heard it—Ci Sheng. The two words, clear yet muffled, escaped his throat. In an instant, his face turned even paler, and he took two steps back in terror, then roared, "Get out! Someone, where are they all?! Get them out of here!!"
Ning Xian felt a chill in her heart. Mr. Dongli only glanced at her indifferently and did not ask any questions. She stepped forward, grabbed the young man who was about to rush out to call for help, and said, word by word, "Be quiet, Young Master Du."
The young man's legs went weak, and he swayed. Once exposed, he completely lost his previous arrogance and cried out in panic, "Please, don't tell anyone! Don't tell Master Fang!"
Ning Xian coldly stared at the young master Du, whose name she had never even noticed before, pleading so humbly and absurdly with that familiar face. Her eyebrows, her eyes, everything about this man filled her with sorrow.
The maid outside the door had obviously seen the doctor being kicked out of the room many times before, so she did not come in when she heard the summons. Ning Xian grabbed the man's wrist, clenching her teeth tightly with a fierce and sorrowful expression, unconsciously gripping him so hard that it hurt, but he dared not shout anymore.
Dongli gently pressed down on her shoulder at the right moment, "Ningxian."
She snapped out of her daze, took a breath, slowly released his hand, and forced a cold, hard smile. "May I ask your name?" "Du...Du Zhengnian. You're Cisheng's friend? Please, don't tell anyone, okay? If Master Fang finds out I'm impersonating his son, he'll kill me—"
"Oh? Then why did you impersonate him?"
Ning Xian's cold smile made it impossible to discern her emotions. Du Zhengnian couldn't understand why this woman had such a complex and resentful look in her eyes. Unable to fathom it, he could only honestly say, "I... I just met that mother and child on the road, and we walked together for a while... It's none of my business that they were sick. I even kindly found someone to bury them so they wouldn't be left to rot in the wilderness. Anyway, they're dead, so what's wrong with me taking their place..."
"What, being the Fang family's son is so good that you've even forgotten your own surname?" Ning Xian's voice was momentarily hoarse. Dong Li noticed it, but Du Zhengnian didn't. "The Fang family's escort agency is so big. What's wrong with me being his son, making him happy, and earning some money? Please don't say anything. I'll just make one more profit and leave. I owe a lot of money. Once I pay it back, I can go home—" Ning Xian slammed his hand heavily on the table, and the thick wooden table cracked. Du Zhengnian took two steps back, his face pale.
Why is this the kind of person Cisheng's brother?
Why are our compatriots, who share such similar foreign trade practices, so different?
Without such a brother, the Du family would not have submitted, Cisheng would not have had to pay off her debts, and she would not have met her. If she had never met her, Cisheng would still be that gentle and peaceful person, as gentle as jade and as serene as a chrysanthemum, living a peaceful life. Now, she would be living a good life.
She raised her head, swallowed the bitterness in her throat, and pressed, "Du Zhengnian, haven't you even gone home once?" "What... I'm burdened with so much debt, how could I go home... What business is it of yours whether I go back or not? You're just Ci Sheng's woman, aren't you? Why are you targeting me like this? Did he dump you?" He stammered, still refusing to back down. Ning Xian coldly interrupted him, "Shut up! How dare you mention Ci Sheng! Do you know what the Du Gang is like now? Do you know Ci Sheng is dead?!" Du Zhengnian's face changed, his voice trembling with shock, "Ci Sheng is dead...? How could that be?"
"Yes, he's dead!" Ning Xian stepped forward and grabbed his collar with both hands. "You killed him! You and I killed him!!"
"You killed him! You and I killed him!!"
Du Zhengnian paused, then abruptly shook off Ning Xian. "What nonsense are you talking about? What does it have to do with me? You're talking nonsense, you must be talking nonsense. Isn't he perfect in every way? He's obedient and well-behaved, never offends anyone or causes trouble, and always acts like a good boy. Everyone dotes on him. How could someone like him die?"
Ning Xian coldly stared at his nonchalant face, a sharp pain shooting through her heart, chilling her to the bone. She raised her hand and punched Du Zhengnian hard, sending him sprawling back onto the bed. She stared at him and said again, word by word, "Du, Ci, Sheng, is, dead."
Du Zhengnian covered his face and froze, finally daring not to speak again.
Mr. Dongli walked over, gently patted Ning Xian's shoulder, and came to Du Zhengnian. "Well then, whether you are Young Master Du or Young Master Fang, I should treat you."
"No, I don't need it, go away!"
Mr. Dongli straightened up and said with a faint smile, "Judging from your complexion, young master, although you are pale, there is no sallowness or dullness. Your steps are unsteady, but you are not swaying. This should be due to your long-term indulgence in a life of debauchery. Young master, are you just pretending to be sick?"
"I... I wasn't faking illness! Anyway, get out! All of you, get out!"
"Leave?" Ning Xian sneered. "Your 'illness' is so severe, how can I leave? This is probably the only thing I can do for Ci Sheng... to properly treat your 'illness'! [Young Master Fang] If you don't want to be killed by Old Master Fang, you'd better accept treatment, hmm?" A hint of bitterness crept into her cold smile. Yes, this was the only thing she could do for Ci Sheng after his death. She and he were both murderers who killed Ci Sheng!
That's always been what she thought.
Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Young Master of the Escort Agency (from "The Story of My Wife Climbing the Wall") by Lian Zhi Qingting.
Gui Juezi truly lived up to his reputation as a legendary healer in the martial arts world. Although he was eccentric and had many "ailments," he was always quick to cure. That day, Master Fang was allowed to see his young master, who indeed seemed much better. He no longer complained of pain and was no longer unable to stand due to weakness. However, Master Fang was soon asked to leave again. In Gui Juezi's words, he did not want anyone to disturb him before the illness was completely cured and the root cause removed. He also did not want Master Fang's indulgence to worsen the young master's condition.
A doctor is someone whose life hangs in the balance, so you have to do whatever he says. Therefore, Young Master Fang's room was moved to a small, secluded courtyard at the west gate of the escort agency, where unauthorized personnel were not allowed to enter.
This is already the morning of the third day—meaning that Dongli Laobuxiu has been away from home for two whole days and two nights with Ningxian, and he hasn't come back, and Ningxian doesn't even know to come back!
Feng stood with his chest puffed out at the back door, where no one ever appeared, emanating a chill from his body. Hua Hua crouched down and groped his way past him from behind—then groped back—carrying a bowl of red bean porridge, which he chilled behind Feng before walking away and drinking the chilled porridge.
—I won't wait any longer, he'll go find them!
"Do you know where to look?" Mu Yuan immediately realized his intention.
"Only a blind man like you wouldn't know."
The people who came that day all wore the same logo on their clothes—Fang's Escort Agency.
Fang's Escort Agency was very famous in this area, and the street it was located on was bustling and prosperous. Before Feng even approached Fang's Escort Agency, he saw Ning Xian running past in a fit of rage. He hurried over, "Ning Xian, where are you—"
"Feng?" Ning Xian paused only briefly before pulling him up and continuing to run. "Come help me!"
Ning Xian was hastily dragged to a gambling den. As soon as she entered, someone noticed her alertly and rushed out the back door— "You stop right there!"
She gave up on pushing through the noisy, crowded people and simply flipped over their heads. Feng Wei frowned slightly, completely bewildered as to who she was chasing, and had no choice but to follow her.
Entering an alley through the back door, Ning Xian quickly closed the distance even without using his light-footed skills. The person ahead looked thin and weak, but was adept at escaping for their life, running incredibly fast as if their legs were about to give way. Ning Xian bent down, picked up a plate-sized rock from the ground, and threw it with all their might—
"Are you deaf or something?!"
The stone struck the man squarely on the head, sending him sprawling to the ground, convulsing. Ning Xian ran over and kicked the man twice, yelling, "You looking for death?! I warned you not to leave the house! And you dare run away from me?!" He added another kick, then another—Feng followed and quickly noticed Ning Xian's expression…it seemed he was on the verge of breaking his string again?
Although he wasn't interested in whether the person on the ground was dead or alive, since Ning Xian was chasing after him, it was obviously better not to let him die like that, right? If she kept kicking like that, it really wouldn't be safe. He pressed down on Ning Xian's shoulder, "If you kick him again, he'll die."
Ning Xian finally stopped, still fuming. "Help me carry him back!"
Feng bent down to pick him up, but as soon as he turned him over, he paused for a moment—he had seen this face not long ago… He had witnessed his death and personally accompanied Ning Xian to take his body home.
He glanced up at Ning Xian, though he didn't know who this person was, he was worried about the impression this face would have on Ning Xian. Ning Xian, still angry, didn't notice his concern and turned away, saying, "Let's go!"
Feng carried the half-dead young man and followed her over the wall into the Fang family's backyard. Mr. Dongli came out of the house to greet them. He was not surprised to see Feng and simply smiled and said, "You're back?"
"Ugh! A leopard can't change its spots. If he dares to sneak out again, I'll break his legs so he'll behave himself from now on!" Mr. Dongli smiled and took the man from Feng's hands. He paused slightly when he saw the bloody hole in the man's head. "This..." "Oh, please fix it for me."
...Do you think this is for mending a pot or a water tank?
"By the way, have you been changing Hua Hua's eye dressings on time?" Dong Li asked while settling Du Zhengnian in. Feng nodded, and he added, "It seems we won't be able to go back anytime soon. Since you're here, let's bring him along too. Don't delay his treatment; his eyes are very important." Feng nodded again, but hesitated, glancing at the person on the bed. Dong Li understood his meaning and smiled apologetically, "I only know his name is Du Zhengnian. Do you recognize him?"
Feng was taken aback. He wasn't familiar with Ci Sheng and didn't know he had an older brother, but when he heard that Ci Sheng's surname was Du, he had a general idea. "Is Ning Xian alright?"
Dongli smiled faintly, "You've known her longer than I have. Is she such a fragile girl?"
He had indeed been overthinking it. Only then did Feng turn around and go back to fetch the restless blind man.
Flying around, the blind man, Huahua, was quickly brought over. Upon seeing Ning Xian, he immediately began complaining as if he'd found his tribe, "Xianxian, you have no idea how badly he treated me these past two days while you were gone, leaving Ah Huang and me at home. It's indescribable..." Even without his complaints, Ning Xian could easily guess what he was going to say. —Helping a blind man walk around was something Feng lacked patience for. Serving a blind man food and water was something Feng lacked compassion for. What had these two been eating for the past two days? The answer: "We skipped breakfast, bought meat buns for lunch, vegetable buns for dinner, and buns again the next day—if we keep eating like this, I'll turn into a bun!"
Ning Xian patted his shoulder, "—At least he still knows how to pair vegetables and meat. Don't worry, even if you turn into a steamed bun, you'll still be a dashing and debonair steamed bun."
...He didn't want to be a stunningly beautiful but shallow person.
"Duanxian'er, is the young master's illness difficult to cure? Is it necessary for us to stay here for so long?"
"Yes, it's difficult to cure. However, there is a simple way—if he continues to be so stubborn." If he is going to remain so hopeless, she will break both his legs and make him "Young Master Fang" for the rest of his life.
Du Zhengnian woke up soon after, and still unable to grasp her situation, she thought of Ning Xian's brutality and exclaimed, "Get her out! Is this woman crazy?! She actually threw stones at me and kicked me—if my father finds out—"
"Your father? Which father?"
Ning Xian asked with a sarcastic smile, and Du Zhengnian's expression changed, and he reluctantly stopped talking.
"If I weren't afraid of causing trouble for Mr. Dongli and making it impossible for him to stay here any longer, I could kidnap you right now and lock you up anywhere. Even your fake father, surnamed Fang, wouldn't be able to find you—you'd better understand your current situation and stop bothering me!"
Having known Duan Xian'er for so many years, this was the first time Mu Yuan had seen her like this. He couldn't see the face of that annoying man, but the name "Du Zhengnian" was undeniably intriguing. Thanks to his exceptionally good memory, he vaguely remembered that this was the name that owed Youmingtian a huge debt—the usually carefree Left Envoy Mu, having spent so much time by Long Jue's side, had somehow learned a little bit about things.
Du Zhengnian was almost forced to live a life of strict discipline, subsisting on simple porridge and vegetables, buried in piles of literary books to "cultivate his mind," and required to run and practice martial arts in the courtyard from time to time to exercise. Ning Xian didn't seem to be imprisoning Du Zhengnian; she merely gave him a stern warning, forbidding him from going to gambling dens, brothels, taverns, and any other places of corruption. She didn't care about other places, only that he had to report when he went out. But since there were no restrictions on his going out, those places were incredibly tempting to Du Zhengnian.
It could be said that she was exposing him nakedly to those temptations, and then, without any suspense, he couldn't resist them, followed by her merciless and violent punishment. Sometimes, even others didn't know whether she was trying to instill fear and apprehension in Du Zhengnian regarding those temptations, or if she was simply venting her frustrations.
But no one would stop her. Du Cisheng's death remained buried in her heart. Even though she never mentioned it and always acted as if nothing was wrong, she couldn't forget it. She needed an outlet; otherwise, Cisheng's death would rot in her heart.
Du Zhengnian was cautiously approaching the door, preparing to leave when no one was paying attention, when Ning Xian's voice came from above, "Where are you going?"
He withdrew his hand, looked up, and saw Ning Xian sitting casually on the wall. He cursed inwardly, "Is he crazy to sit here like this for no reason?"
"I...I'm going out for a walk..."
"Okay, remember not to accidentally go to places you shouldn't go again."
Du Zhengnian grumbled twice, opened the door and went out.
He wandered around several streets away, not daring to get too close for fear of being seen by the security company. Fortunately, this "young master" had only been there for two days before "falling ill," so not many people at the security company had seen him. However, he didn't dare to casually enter gambling dens or taverns, so he just hesitated and paced around outside.
"Fang Zhengnian!"
He instinctively turned around and saw several thugs walking out of a restaurant. His expression changed, and he hurriedly turned to flee— "Fang Zhengnian! You're still alive! Stop right there!!"
He ran desperately toward the镖局 (镖局 is a type of security escort agency), caring nothing for the sake of temporary safety. At least he remembered he couldn't return through the main gate.
"Open the door! Open the door!! Help!"
The door remained closed, and at Mr. Dongli's request, all the guards at the west gate had been removed. He knocked for a long time, but only Ning Xian reappeared on the wall, sneering, "Running in such a hurry, causing trouble again?"
"No! No, please help me! I'll agree to anything! I'll go back to the Du family, I'll never gamble or mess around again, I'll do anything you want!"
"He's there! Grab him!"
The figures of those thugs had already appeared at the alley entrance. Du Zhengnian panicked and hurriedly said, "Aren't you Cisheng's woman?! Help me, I'll change anything!"
"Shut up! You have no right to mention Cisheng!"
As they were talking, the group arrived and were about to reach out when suddenly a thick hemp rope swept across the air. Even through their clothes, it stung painfully. Looking up, they noticed the hemp rope in the woman's hand on the wall.
"Whose little brat are you? Don't get in our way! Otherwise, your whole family will be ruined here!" Ning Xian lashed the person's face with the rope again. "Speak to me politely."