CHAPTER 116: CHAPTER 115: WHAT IF HE RECOVERS?

Yu Xiaolian did not know Pan Jinrong, but standing behind Pan Jinrong was a face she recognized all too well.

When Yu Xiaolian saw Zhao Kuo, Zhao Kuo also simultaneously saw her. As soon as their eyes met, both of their expressions changed.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Kuo had blatantly become the Pan Family’s minion for money and had followed Pan Jinrong to Yangcheng.

Jiang Lin’s Poisonous Insect Bottle was definitely stolen by him.

He must not be allowed to return alive.

Yu Xiaolian glanced at Zhao Kuo and pretended to panic as she ran towards the backyard.

Zhao Kuo had been searching for the Yu Changhe family, specifically looking for Yu Xiaolian.

Before, he didn’t know anything about the Witch Clan, but ever since the Pan Family and the Prince Huainan’s Heir interacted, he realized that Yu Changhe had actually brought back a descendant of the Witch Clan.

However, he hadn’t told anyone about it, not even Pan Jinrong.

The mysterious Witch Clan that both Prince Huainan’s Heir and the current Crown Prince were searching for made Zhao Kuo internally excited.

Seeing Yu Xiaolian was like seeing a large gold ingot beckoning to him.

He felt thankful that he hadn’t told Pan Jinrong that Yu Xiaolian was a member of the Witch Clan.

The tremendous credit and benefits were right before him, and he wouldn’t let anyone else share the spoils.

As long as he captured Yu Xiaolian and delivered her to the Crown Prince, he might secure a position in the Capital in the future.

Even without an official position, the rewards granted by the Crown Prince would be enough for him to live extravagantly for a lifetime.

Once he had money, he wouldn’t have to humble himself any longer and endure Pan Jinrong’s disdain.

Thinking of the days bowing and scraping beside Pan Jinrong left Zhao Kuo with reddened eyes.

Zhao Kuo rushed forward swiftly to chase Yu Xiaolian, fearful of her escape.

Zhao Kuo intercepted the panicked and disoriented Yu Xiaolian by the well in the backyard.

"Xiaolian, why did you run when you saw Uncle Zhao?" Zhao Kuo asked with a smug expression.

The front was in chaos now, with everyone involved in a scuffle.

This was practically a godsend chance for him.

Zhao Kuo kept trying to approach, while Yu Xiaolian wore a barely perceptible sinister smile and ran circles around the well.

She appeared frantic and aimless, yet Zhao Kuo simply couldn’t catch her.

While preventing Zhao Kuo from getting closer, Yu Xiaolian asked, "Uncle Zhao, why are you chasing me?"

Zhao stopped in his tracks, thought for a moment, and displayed a smile he thought was benevolent, "Uncle Zhao has been looking for you... your father, and seeing you out of the blue, Uncle Zhao got a little excited. Xiaolian, don’t run anymore, lead Uncle Zhao to find your father. I haven’t seen him in ages, and today I must have a good drink with him."

Yu Xiaolian asked again, "Uncle Zhao, why did you come to Yangcheng?"

Zhao Kuo hesitated; he couldn’t say he came with Pan Jinrong, as it was Pan Jinrong who had broken Yu Changhe’s leg.

Thinking a child can be easily fooled, Zhao Kuo lied effortlessly, "Your grandfather met with an incident. Your grandma asked me to come to Yangcheng to find your father. I’ve been looking for many days now, and today I’ve finally run into you."

Zhao Kuo extended a hand, gesturing to take Yu Xiaolian’s hand, "Xiaolian, come, lead Uncle Zhao to your father."

Yu Xiaolian clasped the fist-sized electric shock stick in her palm, extending her hand with an innocent face.

To Yu Xiaolian’s surprise, Zhao Kuo did not take her hand but instead sneered and violently grabbed Yu Xiaolian’s arm, which inadvertently caused her electric baton to jab right into Zhao Kuo’s stomach.

At maximum current, the effect was immediate, and within two seconds, he was on the ground.

Zhao Kuo’s whole body went numb, his body involuntarily convulsing and shaking.

Yu Xiaolian put away the electric baton without wasting words and, under Zhao Kuo’s horrified gaze, began dragging him towards the well.

"Hey, don’t throw him into the well. If there’s a dead body in the well, will I still be able to do business?" Zheng Yuanye said, appearing in the backyard with a bloodied sword.

Yu Xiaolian: "..."

All because that damn Zhao Kuo was so robust; she couldn’t manage to drag him at all.

What should she do now? She couldn’t possibly kill him in front of Zheng Yuanye.

"This person was trying to catch me earlier, but he suddenly fell to the ground, convulsing for some unknown reason, perhaps due to an illness," Yu Xiaolian explained with a hint of guilt.

Zheng Yuanye nodded, "As long as you’re okay, I’ll call two people to tie him up later. Were you scared? Come with me."

Yu Xiaolian waved her hand, "I’m fine; go call someone. I’ll watch him."

Zheng Yuanye glanced at Yu Xiaolian in surprise, "You’re not scared?"

"You holding a bloody sword is even scarier, alright? You better leave, don’t linger in front of me."

What if he recovers after a while?

Zheng Yuanye glanced at the bloody sword in his hand; indeed, it was quite terrifying.

"Then you just watch him from a distance."

As soon as Zheng Yuanye left, Yu Xiaolian didn’t hesitate and directly pressed the electric baton against Zhao Kuo until Zhao Kuo was electrocuted all over, stiffened, and breathed his last.

As Yu Xiaolian put away the electric baton, Zheng Yuanye returned with two workers, carrying ropes.

"Tie him up!"

The two workers, trembling, went over and securely tied Zhao Kuo up, carried him to the front hall, and threw him on the ground.

No one went to check Zhao Kuo’s breath, and Yu Xiaolian wouldn’t be foolish enough to remind them.

Zheng Yuanye no longer had the demeanor of a teahouse shopkeeper at that moment; he completely looked like a brave and invincible general.

One kitchen helper remarked, "I never thought our shopkeeper’s skills were so good, knocking all these troublemakers down with just a few moves."

Yu Xiaolian eyed Zheng Yuanye. Is this what Zheng Yuanfeng meant by handling the Pan Family?

Pan Jinrong and the thugs he brought were all tied up tightly now, with some having sword wounds on their bodies, and their mouths were stuffed with rags used by the waiter to wipe the tables, angrily glaring at Zheng Yuanye.

Just as Yu Xiaolian was wondering how Zheng Yuanye would deal with the aftermath, Pan Jingui arrived at Mountain Moon Residence with a squad of government officers.

The leading officer arrogantly remarked, "Dare to brawl under the County Magistrate’s nose? Men, take them all to the county government for questioning."

Pan Jingui had been observing the situation here, originally thinking his brother’s intervention would surely scare the Mountain Moon Residence silly. Who would’ve thought they’d lose to one person’s efforts?

Fortunately, he’s often paid respects to Yangcheng’s County Magistrate. Seeing things weren’t going well, he immediately asked the government officers to come.

Zheng Yuanye watched coldly, "These people caused damage at my teahouse. If you want to take them away, you must pay Silver."

The leading officer sneered disdainfully, "It’s true what they say about merchants; Silver matters more than lives, doesn’t it?"

Zheng Yuanye retorted with a cold laugh, "My life, you have no say over it."

The leading officer, feeling slighted, instantly erupted in rage, "It’s unimportant if I have no say. The County Magistrate does. Take them all."

Zheng Yuanye and Pan Jinrong, among others, were taken by the officers to the county government.

Yu Xiaolian was anxious and immediately ran to Qingquan Academy to find Zheng Yuanfeng.

Compared to the frantic Yu Xiaolian, Zheng Yuanfeng was calm and composed.

"Why are you in such a hurry? I already said I have arrangements," Zheng Yuanfeng said, fiddling with his fan, "Just go home and wait for news."

Yu Xiaolian was stunned. Your cousin was just arrested, and you’re still so calm?

She had heard from Dame Ge that that County Magistrate Ke in the county government and his wife’s brother are corrupt, only recognizing money rather than people.

Judging by the officers’ stance, they were clearly siding with the Pan Family. Now that Zheng Yuanye is taken by them, how could this end well?

"Cousin won’t be in trouble, and Mountain Moon Residence won’t be in trouble. Don’t overthink!" Zheng Yuanfeng lightly tapped Yu Xiaolian’s head with his fan.

Yu Xiaolian recalled Zheng Yuanye mentioning that Doctor Zheng was once an Imperial Physician and hurriedly asked, "Tell me the truth, is your identity... not as simple as it seems?"

Zheng Yuanfeng glanced at Yu Xiaolian with a half-smile, "Do you think... there’s a possibility that I’m the Emperor’s illegitimate child, living among the common folk?"

Yu Xiaolian rolled her eyes, "No way!"

I’m someone who knows the script, don’t try to fool me.

Zheng Yuanfeng suddenly recalled what Teacher Wan said in the morning and reminded Yu Xiaolian, "Yu Yanran is volunteering to investigate Yu Wanying’s cause of death in Yangcheng to prove her innocence. She’s at the women’s academy now.

If she questions you, just act like you know nothing, got it?"

Yu Xiaolian nodded, pretending to be naive was her specialty.

Zheng Yuanfeng began urging her to leave, "I have to go back to class. You should go back!"

Yu Xiaolian didn’t go straight home but instead went to Mountain Moon Residence to wait for news.

It wasn’t until evening that Zheng Yuanye still hadn’t returned.

The strange thing was that when school was over, she went to Mingxiang Building, and Zheng Yuanfeng was nowhere to be found.

Zhao Erya came out under her father’s orders to find her and bring her back.

Yu Xiaolian had to follow Zhao Erya back home first.

Before leaving, she told Shopkeeper Hai that if anything happened, someone must inform her.