CH 23

Chapter 23: Accident

As long as Jiao Ru didn’t focus on Zhou Liangyu, Zhou Qing wouldn’t be troubled.

Her brother was good at everything. However, she didn’t know if he had read too many books for scholars or if he was pure and good by nature, because he didn’t have many malicious thoughts, so he was easily fooled by Jiao Ru in his previous life.

Easing her thoughts, Zhou Qing cast off those jumbled thoughts at the back of her mind and discovered the herbal transcript that Father Zhou handed to her.

It was the life-long work of the former Dynasty’s Master herbalist, which not only recorded various types of herbs but even some lost herbal recipes.

She grew up dealing with herbs and really liked to mix them. Obtaining this item was like a treasure, she held the record the whole day and didn’t let go.

At the moment, Zhou Qing was sitting next to a table by the window, studying it carefully in daylight.

Instead of reciting it word by word, she carefully comprehended the Master’s experience; she immersed herself in it to understand his state of mind when mixing herbs. After repeatedly doing it for several days, any lingering depression and anxiety in her heart faded a lot. The whole person looked very calm, like bamboo in the mountains and forests, but it made people ignore the beauty of her appearance.

The days passed uneventfully. Zhou Qing did not have the slightest intention of returning to the Luo family. By now, everyone in the Herbal Store sensed the atmosphere and knew the couple was afraid of a disagreement. Otherwise, it would not be so.

Zhou Qing did not mean to explain. She took a few steps toward Yu Fu, pleading in a low voice, “Brother, please do me a favor.”

Yu Fu, like Wang Lu, was also a child under the tutelage of Father Zhou. He had a great mind and a good hand in business but he was not set up on his own. He was willing to work in the Herbal Store as a small fellow and was also a person who knew how to repay kindness.

Now that Wang Lu was no longer present, he became the shopkeeper, staying behind the counter every day. With his clever mouth, he would boast to the sky about the store’s herbs, MuXi oil, Fu body fragrance powder, and other things. The female customers were coaxed to smile, prompting them to pay for numerous products.

“What does the lady want to do?”

“You keep an eye on Luo Xinyue for me, see how she is doing lately?”

Yu Fu knew that Luo Xinyue was Zhou Qing’s sister-in-law, but the relationship between the two wasn’t good. That woman was greedy by nature and would hold anything rare in her hands, which was very disgusting.

His eyes were suspicious, but Yu Fu did not ask further. He watched the little sister grow up; he knew she had a good heart and would not do malevolent deeds.

In that case, it was no big deal to keep an eye on Luo Xinyue.

He went out and came back with a tight frown, saying in a deep voice, “Miss, Luo Xinyue is not at home. I don’t know where she went. There were a lot of women with broken mouths saying she ran away with someone. The Luo family is now in a mess.”

The eyes showed a few moments of surprise, but after carefully thinking about it, Zhou Qing could also guess a few points. Her little sister-in-law was pregnant with Wu Yongye’s blood, and to marry into the Marquis of Changxia House, she could certainly not give birth easily. So perhaps, she would go to her lover’s side to avoid the limelight.

Zhou Qing waved her hand and said, “Senior brother does not need to bother. I can’t interfere with the affairs of the Luo family, so I might as well read the herbal recipes in my room.”

Yu Fu nodded repeatedly.

Little sister was still pregnant; if she was in that chaotic environment of the Luo family, what if she got angry and harmed her body?

“That’s right. You might as well stay home for a while longer and return when the baby is born?”

Rubbing the pattern of the cuff with her soft fingers, Zhou Qing smiled but did not answer.

——–

Zhou Qing promised the commander that she would go to the Xie Manor every three days to make herbs for him to calm his spirit. This evening, just when the Herbal Store was about to close, Yu Fu saw a black-clothed guard with an anxious face. When he came in, Yu Fu jumped.

“Is the customer here to buy herbs?” Why is there a strong aura of bloodshed on your body?

He did not dare to ask the second half of the question, but the guard spoke in a rough voice, “Please ask Madam Luo to come out. My master has urgent business to seek.”

Looking up, Yu Fu was a bit flustered, but he still couldn’t help but shake his head, “It will be dark soon. Once the lady is out of the door, wouldn’t she be spending the night in your house? You should come back tomorrow morning.”

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Yi’s face suddenly turned gloomy, no longer saying anything else. He lifted the curtain, rushed directly to the backyard where people lived, opened his mouth, and shouted, “Is Mrs. Luo here? Please come out and meet me.”

When he opened his mouth, he specifically used some internal force. His voice was loud and clear, spreading throughout the entire Zhou family in a flash.

The people who stayed in the room pushed the door and came out. Zhou Qing placed down the scroll in her hand and stood in the courtyard while supporting her back, ignoring the startled eyes of his parents and brother, and asked, “Guard Xie, did something wrong happen?”

Xie Yi’s face tightened as he shook his head, “My lord has an urgent matter and wants to see you.”

The Commander’s handsome silhouette and the intimidating aura around him came to mind. Zhou Qing did not think Xie Chong would send someone to find her for no reason. At this moment, the reason Xie Yi appeared in the herbal store might be that one’s medullary sea had a problem.

Even after death, the Zhou family’s innate nature would not change. The Commander kept the Xuande Furnace for her and saved their family from perilous events. It was a great favor. It was a mountainous kindness that was as deep as the sea. Zhou Qing could not pay it all in this lifetime. What reason did she have to refuse?

She nodded slightly and spoke softly, “Guard Xie, don’t be anxious. I’ll talk to my family first, bring the herbal blending tools, and then we’ll leave.”

Although Xie Yi was inwardly anxious, he knew she could not be rushed. He could only force down his emotions and acquiesce.

Approaching her worried family, Zhou Qing smiled and spoke to Father Zhou, “There is a nobleman who helped our family. At the moment, he is not feeling well and needs to have his mind eased. This daughter will go to his home and will be back tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Father Zhou sighed. He knew that the nobleman Qing’er mentioned was Xie Chong, the Commander of the Jin Yi Guards. Such a person was in charge of the entire Northern Zhenfu Division. No matter what, he could not be offended.

“Father, you do not need to worry. You know best the effect of the tranquilizing incense. The lord will not be detrimental to your daughter.”

After saying that, Zhou Qing returned to her room to get the herbs and bring the herbal ware, then got on the carriage and went straight to the Xie Manor.

There was no curfew rule in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and there were not too many people on the street at night; most people would wait until after nightfall to go out, wherein the market would be lively by then.

The carriage soon arrived at the manor. Zhou Qing walked to the door of the study with familiarity. The small hand had just pushed open the carved wooden door when the awful scent of sticky blood came to her face, causing her face to instantly pale.