“I think… mmmph!”
Lin Chong had just opened his mouth when the delicate-featured woman behind him covered it.
She gave Chen Xiaoyan an apologetic nod and dragged the boy away, only letting go when they were off to the side.
“Mother, why won’t you let me speak?” he complained.
“Shh.” The delicate-featured woman made a silencing gesture and pointed towards Chen Xiaoyan and the direction of the Imperial Palace.
“Silly boy, the waters here run deep. Mother knows what you want to say, but doing so would only cause trouble for your Immortal Fairy sister, understand?”
“Ah?” Hearing that he might cause trouble for Chen Xiaoyan, Lin Chong quickly covered his mouth and nodded. “Mother, I understand.”
Back on the other side, the scholar Wu Yaowen, seeing Chen Xiaoyan’s repeated refusals, was on the verge of despair.
He looked dazed, stammering incoherently.
Chen Xiaoyan curled her lip, no longer wanting to deal with this person, and turned to walk over to another injured man who had yet to regain consciousness.
This injured man was unlucky; he had no family by his side, only a kind passerby looking after him.
“Immortal Fairy.” Seeing her approach, the kind passerby quickly bowed with hands clasped.
Chen Xiaoyan nodded with a smile, crouched down, patted the injured man’s cheek, and asked, “He still hasn’t woken up?”
“I’ve been here the whole time, haven’t seen him move.”
“Mm. Call me over when he wakes.”
“Yes, Immortal Fairy.”
With that, Chen Xiaoyan returned to the side of Lin Chong’s father. This one too showed no signs of waking.
This made her a bit frustrated.
If these two never woke up, wouldn’t she be stuck here indefinitely?
No, she had to think of a way to wake them up.
Thinking this, Chen Xiaoyan looked towards the delicate-featured woman and spoke up as a reminder. “Sister, I have Sect matters to attend to. I cannot stay here for long.”
Hearing her reminder, the delicate-featured woman seemed to understand something and nodded.
“This humble wife understands. Please wait a moment, Immortal Fairy.”
As she spoke, she raised her hand and slapped it across her husband’s face.
Smack!
The sound was crisp and loud. The bright red handprint on the unconscious man’s face made the onlookers wince in sympathy.
Wow, she didn’t hold back at all with that slap. There’s definitely some personal grudge mixed in there.
But the slap didn’t wake him. The delicate-featured woman prepared to deliver another.
Chen Xiaoyan hurriedly stopped her, pleading, “No… sister, no rush, no rush. Let’s wait a bit longer.”
If I let you keep hitting him, a living person will become a dead one.
“Alright, then… then this humble wife will act again later.”
As she spoke, a strange blush actually appeared on the delicate-featured woman’s oval face.
Was she… excited about something?
Seeing this, Chen Xiaoyan’s mouth twitched. Not you, oldest sister? You’re hitting your own husband, why are you blushing like a teapot?
“Make way! The Dali Temple is handling a case. Idlers, step aside!”
At that moment, a group of officials in black and gold uniforms slowly approached from not far away. They wore sabers at their waists, black official hats on their heads, and their expressions were solemn.
“The Dali Temple is here. Quick, let’s go, let’s go.”
The Dali Temple was an institution unique to Shangjing City, responsible for trying criminal cases and administering punishments. In other counties, similar offices were uniformly called Yamen, all under the jurisdiction of the capital’s Dali Temple.
It was equivalent to the Supreme Court in reality.
Common folk had mixed feelings of love and fear towards the Dali Temple.
Fear was natural, as it was a law enforcement agency.
Love, because with the Dali Temple’s existence, although it couldn’t deeply restrain the imperial nobility, it was at least effective against mid- to low-level officials.
The few scholars who saw the Dali Temple’s arrival didn’t look happy. Instead, they sighed.
They knew this matter had already exceeded the Dali Temple’s jurisdiction.
Although the Dali Temple’s authority was broad, unfortunately, it couldn’t touch the Prime Minister or the Princes.
The Dali Temple personnel quickly secured the scene, pushing back the surrounding spectators.
Then, a young man in brocade robes led two teams of Dali Temple constables forward.
This man had a face as fair as jade, and his uniform was different from the others. Theirs were black and gold, while his was white and gold.
“Assistant Minister, the scene is secured, except for…”
“Dismissed.” The man waved his hand, signaling the constable to leave.
“Yes.”
The young man in brocade looked at the two pink figures at the center of the scene, his elegant brows slightly furrowing. This is bad.
If Tianxiang disciples are involved in this, it becomes troublesome. I hope these two Immortal Fairies aren’t the hot-headed type.
He was observing Chen Xiaoyan and Chong Chong, and the latter two were also sizing him up. It had to be said, this NPC was indeed quite a dandy.
Despite his delicate features, he gave off an illusion of imposing authority without needing to show anger.
The man stepped forward and bowed with clasped hands to the two women. “This minor official is the Assistant Minister of the Dali Temple, Ouyang Hua. Greetings to the two Immortal Fairies.”
“Mm.” Chen Xiaoyan nodded in acknowledgment.
As for Chong Chong, she didn’t even acknowledge him.
Ouyang Hua swept his gaze over the scene. Seeing only two men unconscious, he understood the course of events.
The report he received mentioned over a dozen casualties, but only two were here. Clearly, these two had intervened.
“Thank you, Immortal Fairies, for your aid.”
“It was nothing. By the way, these two are unconscious and cannot be treated here. Please have someone carry them to a medical clinic.”
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Hua shook his head. “Immortal Fairy, everyone under heaven knows that Tianxiang’s medical arts are considered miraculous. Compared to the minor skills of medical clinics, they are safer here.”
Chen Xiaoyan fell silent. What’s wrong with these people?
Can’t you see I want to make a run for it?
Dammit! Should I just slip away?
But looking at Lin Chong’s hopeful gaze, she couldn’t bring herself to just teleport back to the Sect.
Sigh, fine, fine. Consider it me, Chen Xiaoyan, owing you from a past life.
“That’s fine too.”
“Immortal Fairy! Immortal Fairy!” The scholar Wu Yaowen approached again. This time, he didn’t bow with clasped hands but chose to kneel directly.
Thump.
His knees hit the ground.
It’s said a man’s knees hold gold. In ancient times, aside from the Empress Phoenix Honor, men generally wouldn’t kneel easily, especially to a woman. Doing so could easily invite ridicule and scorn from others.
However, his current action didn’t garner a trace of disdain from the crowd. Instead, there was more sympathy and admiration.
Was a Tianxiang Immortal Fairy an ordinary woman?
No, she was a celestial being.
“Immortal Fairy, on behalf of this unfortunate mother and daughter, I beg you. You must see that justice is served for them. In this life and the next, I, Wu Yaowen, will serve as your ox or horse to repay your kindness.”
Perhaps having been discouraged by Chen Xiaoyan, his words lacked their previous fervor, but this couldn’t stop the crowd’s respect for him.
“A fine man! Wu Yaowen, I’ll remember that name.”
“We’re both scholars, why is the gap so vast?”
“Indeed, indeed. Look at those few over there, they seem to be scholars too. Tsk tsk, worlds apart.”
These words made the faces of the other scholars flush red with embarrassment and shame.
They quickly slipped away.
Hearing this, Ouyang Hua felt slightly displeased, but with Chen Xiaoyan and the other present, he couldn’t say much.
Having a grievance and not seeking the Dali Temple, but seeking Sect disciples instead?
Hmph. Rotten wood cannot be carved.
“Assistant Minister, I’ve already investigated clearly.” Suddenly, a constable ran over and whispered the details of the incident into his ear.
Including the culprit.
“Mo Nichang?” Ouyang Hua was taken aback.
“It’s her.”
Ouyang Hua’s brow furrowed. This is difficult. No wonder this scholar sought Sect disciples to see justice done. The perpetrator’s background is too deep.