Chapter 296: She Comes With Me

Chapter 296: She Comes With Me

The servant led them into the complex. Hui wandered along behind him, looking around more closely this time. The grand manors roof was missing a tile or two, though it had been well hidden, and some of the paint chipped off the walls and pillars. The floor, though clean, showed signs of disrepair; in places, the cobbles rose and fell with unseen roots, or simply jolted up out of the earth with age. The servants wore old and worn clothes, some even cleverly patched. He raised a hand to his chin. Its well hidden, but now that Im looking, its clear the manor has fallen on hard times.

Of course, it remains that theres a gap between what Id expect and what the Fu Clan calls hard times, but at least I can tell that theyd faced some difficulties, now that Im looking for it.

A little boy came hurtling out of one of the buildings straight toward Hui and Ying Lin. Chasing after him, a servant glanced at the visitors and fell back subtly. The boy raced ahead and slammed into Huis leg. He toppled backward and hit his head. For a second, he blinked at the sky in silence. Then tears welled up, his cheeks reddened, and he opened his mouth and wailed.

Hui glanced down. He looked at the boy, cast a wary look at the servant, then crouched and extended a hand to the wailing child. Startled, the child took his hand and climbed to his feet, his tears forgotten.

Who are you? he asked, looking up at Hui.

Hui smiled. A passing physician.

The servant rushed forward at last and took the child from Hui. Panicked, he checked over the boy. Young Master! Are you hurt?

Instantly, the child began to wail again.

Hui wrinkled his brows subtly, ears aching. He resisted the urge to cover them and looked at the child. Young Master? Huh, it is the same boy from yesterday. Fu what was it? Eh did Aunty Wen not say?

The boy nodded bravely, but tears still rolled down his cheeks. The servant glared at Hui. You how dare you injure our Young Master, Fu Yinfei!nove(l)bi(n.)com

Hui blinked. Instinctively, he backed up and bowed deeply. I apologize. I never meant to interrupt Young Masters path. Ah? Blaming me for this young child running into my leg? I did nothing, Elder Brother! Im innocent!

Fu Yinfei ran into Xie Hao, not the other way around! Ying Lin snapped, stepping forward. She crossed her arms and looked down on Fu Yinfei and the crouching servant.

Dont hurt them! Its my fault. I ran into him, Fu Yinfei insisted.

Hui nodded, smiling at the child. What a good, honest kid. Hes better than a manorful of servants.

The servant frowned. Still, they injured Young Master. They ought to be punished.

Fu Yinfei glanced at Ying Lin and shook his head.

Ah puppy love. How cute, Hui thought, shaking his head slightly.

Gritting his teeth, the servant backed away. Mind yourselves. Next time wont be so simple.

Hui bowed. Of course, of course. Many thanks for sirs kind warning.

What an obvious setup. The servant chased the boy toward me and deliberately didnt stop him. Someone in this manor wants me gone, by any means necessary. He touched his shoulder, where the sword qi had been sealed into his arm. Was that not a mistake, perhaps, but a deliberate attempt to sabotage my health? Does Han Qin want me dead? A fellow doctor well, what if I found that seal in Fu Liyus body? If hes the one who put it there, and did so maliciously, then

Is Han Qin acting alone? Does the Fu Clan know about the seal? Or is someone in her family conspiring against her?

But why? Are they jealous? Does her sister want that sleazy Mo Gonglu, too? Is she going to succeed some kind of technique or fortune?

Only one way to find out. Adjusting his robes, Hui followed their guide deeper into the manor. Time to descend into the belly of the beast.

I wonder how long it will take for the man himself to appear, now that his setup has failed