349 Extortion

"Not at all, not at all, Your Lordship jests!" Sir Fei demurred repeatedly, smiling as he said, "Our Fei residence lacks the authority to deal with those who break the law. It must be a misunderstanding. My younger brother is ill, and I heard your friends are renowned doctors from the Capital City, so I invited them to our estate to treat him."

Qiao Muchen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Invited, you say?"

"Yes, yes, they were invited," Sir Fei affirmed.

Zhao Yue remarked with a cold sneer, "Then your household certainly has a unique way of inviting people."

Sir Fei desperately wanted to drag his bedridden brother, Fei Cai, out of bed and give him a sound thrashing for causing such trouble.

However, he maintained a smile and said, "My Lord, you jest. Your friends are currently being well looked after in our residence."

With that, he ushered Qiao Muchen and the others into the estate.

After Sir Fei led Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue to the living room, he called for a maidservant to serve tea. Then he smiled and said, "My Lords, please wait here a moment. I will go and bring your friends over."

Qiao Muchen, curious to see what tricks Sir Fei was up to, nodded.

Sir Fei immediately bowed, a smile on his face as he exited. He signaled the bodyguards to watch the distinguished guests in the living room closely, then hurried to Mr. Fei's private courtyard.

Once inside the courtyard, he launched into a tirade against his younger brother, who was lying on the bed: "Fei Cai! You've always been lawless, and I've tolerated it. But how many times have I told you recently to keep a low profile? People from the Capital City are coming, and you must not offend those you cannot afford to offend. Yet, you just won't listen!"

"Do you even know who you offended today? The people you kidnapped are from the Capital City! Surely you've heard about the upheaval in the Capital a month ago?"

"The newly-appointed top scholar, highly favored by the Emperor, is coming to Suzhou to serve as a judge. These people are all friends of that judge!"

Fei Cai stared at him, wailing unintelligibly. After a long while, Sir Fei finally understood what he was trying to say: if the Emperor truly valued this official, why send him to Suzhou to be a mere judge?

Sir Fei retorted irritably, "Who is the Jiedushi of Suzhou? Lord Li! And who is Lord Li? Elder Song's student! This judge is also Elder Song's student. Use your brain!"

"Later, when I bring them here, you are to apologize to them personally until they forgive you. Understand?"

Fei Cai was still reluctant.

Sir Fei pressed on, "Look at your current state! Do you want to spend the rest of your life bedridden? Only Divine Healer Zhao offers a sliver of hope for your recovery. Think about it carefully!"

These words finally got through to Fei Cai, and he instantly quieted down.

After scolding Fei Cai, Sir Fei finally felt a bit relieved. He then asked Mrs. Fei to take him to find Zhao Zhitong.

「---」

At this time, Zhao Zhitong and the others were sitting in the courtyard, chatting and speculating how long it would take for the Fei Clan to come begging. Just as they were speaking, Sir Fei hurried over.

When he saw Zhao Zhitong and her companions, he noticed that apart from an old woman, all of them were young. It then occurred to him that Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue were also young, so their friends would naturally be of a similar age.

But which one is the Divine Doctor from the Capital City? As this thought crossed his mind, he subconsciously glanced at Yang Yunniang. But this old woman doesn't look the part.

Just then, Mrs. Fei introduced Zhao Zhitong, saying, "Sir, this is Divine Healer Zhao from the Capital City."

Looking at Zhao Zhitong, Sir Fei was only momentarily stunned before he smiled and approached. "Divine Healer Zhao, I've long admired your reputation. On behalf of my worthless brother, I offer my sincerest apologies."

"Sir Fei, I cannot accept such an honor. I am no divine healer, merely a charlatan your Mr. Fei kidnapped and brought here," Zhao Zhitong replied, her tone polite yet distant.

Wei Zijian also snorted sarcastically, saying, "Indeed! We're all just charlatans, eagerly awaiting punishment from your Mr. Fei. We certainly couldn't possibly accept Sir Fei's apology."

Sir Fei's expression stiffened for a moment before he quickly composed himself, speaking in a placating tone, "It is my fault as his elder brother. I failed to manage him properly, allowing him to commit such a grievous error. I apologize on his behalf."

Zhao Zhitong was somewhat surprised that Sir Fei was being so deferential.

After apologizing, Sir Fei chuckled and said, "If you are still not appeased, I will have my unworthy brother apologize to you personally."

"Divine Healer Zhao, please be magnanimous and overlook my worthless brother's offense; don't trouble yourself with him."

"Sir Fei, what are you implying? How could I dare to pick a fight with the esteemed Fei Clan?" Zhao Zhitong retorted. "Your Fei Clan is so formidable, even claiming my younger sister's own embroidery was stolen from you."

Sir Fei was dumbfounded. How on earth did embroidery get involved in this?

At that moment, a servant handed Sir Fei the embroidered handkerchief retrieved from the buyer, saying, "Sir, this is it." The servant then recounted the entire incident.

Upon seeing the embroidery on the handkerchief, Sir Fei couldn't help but be taken aback, a flash of pleasant surprise in his eyes.

But he quickly concealed it, feigning anger as he said, "Nonsense! While this embroidery bears some resemblance to our Fei Family's needle skills, it's clearly a different type! Mr. Fei is ill and his eyesight is failing; are you all as muddled as he is?"

After scolding the servant, he turned back to Zhao Zhitong with a smile. "You see? This is all a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding."

Sir Fei had said everything he could think of that was conciliatory, but Zhao Zhitong remained unmoved, giving him no face whatsoever.

They kidnapped me and now they think they can just let the matter drop? That would be letting them off far too easily! It's like the saying goes: easy to invite the gods, difficult to send them away.

Finally, seeing no other way, Sir Fei angrily had Fei Cai carried over to apologize to Zhao Zhitong in person.

Seeing Fei Cai's current miserable state, Wei Zijian felt an overwhelming urge to laugh boisterously and curse, "Serves you right!"

"See? See? My master told you! You've done too many wicked deeds, and this is your retribution! That's why you're in this state. You just wouldn't believe it!" Wei Zijian exclaimed.

Fei Cai had completely lost his previous arrogance. He was genuinely terrified now; the thought of lying in bed, unable to move for the rest of his life, was worse than death.

Therefore, he prostrated himself on the ground, wailing his apologies to Zhao Zhitong.

At this, Zhao Zhitong finally reacted, saying lightly, "There's still a chance for you. However, from now on, you must only do good deeds and never revert to your evil ways. Only then can your illness be cured. If you commit evil again, your life will be forfeit."

Fei Cai just nodded frantically, desperate for Zhao Zhitong to save him, not truly registering what she had said.

Zhao Zhitong coughed lightly.

Wei Zijian instantly understood her cue and extended his hand. "As the saying goes, one spends money to avert disaster and pay for healing. Surely you didn't expect my master to treat him for free?"

At these words, Sir Fei's smile returned instantly. "Ah, look at me, I completely forgot! Servants!"

Following his command, a servant soon brought in a tray of silver ingots.

This little? That's hardly enough, Zhao Zhitong thought. Despite this, she merely nodded. Wei Zijian, without hesitation, stepped forward and pocketed all the silver.

Zhao Zhitong continued, "I have a specially formulated medicine. Take it monthly. After two years, you might be able to stand again. Henceforth, you must come to me for the medicine each month. It will cost five hundred taels of silver per month. Do you agree to the treatment?"

"Five hundred taels of silver a month?" Mrs. Fei exclaimed in surprise. "That's far too much!"