Inside the Ying Mansion, Song Qing Lian was sitting opposite her son, Ying Yan Long who was slowly sipping his tea.
"Initially, is it not your intention to arrange a marriage between him and Hua Ming Zi? Why did you retreat the moment she refused? This is not like you. Although she is now in mourning for her Father, if we can arrange for an earlier wedding, then at least we can help to fulfill her Father"s wish."
"He is too rash and getting married may not be a good thing for him." When Ying Yan Long thought of Hua Ming Zifirmwho would eventually pay them a visit to bring up the subject of marrying Xue Wen in the future, inevitably his face sank again.
"Then isn"t it right for him to get married quickly so that he can become more stable? Also, when the Hua Family was holding the funeral, didn"t you instruct our Steward and a few of our business a.s.sociates to go over and give the Hua Family a.s.sistance? I thought your younger brother"s marriage was already confirmed. Why is it now, I feel your thoughts seem to be a bit different?"
Song Qing Lian looked at her son"s serious expression and could not help but ask.
In his mind, the image of Hua Ming Zi struggling to put on a brave front to overcome her grief flashed past. His heart tightened and could not help but clench his fists.
How can he let his younger brother marry Hua Ming Zi when he was actually considering his own marriage with Hua Ming Zi? But what he wants is a good virtuous wife. He did not know whether Hua Ming Zi would be willing to let go of the Hua Family"s business and marry into the Ying Family to share his burden and relieve his worries.
"In any case, Hua Ming Zi is still in mourning. Let"s wait for a few more days before we discuss this." Ying Yan Long said with a frown.
"This matter must be settled within 49 days of her Father"s death. Originally, it is already not easy for an unmarried woman to stand steadily and at present, she doesn"t even have any close relatives. She is in possession of such great wealth and even if there are no wolves and tigers in her family, still there is bound to be someone who will be envious of her. You have to help her and moreover she may be a part of our family in future."
"I will help her. Later in the afternoon, after I have completed an inspection on a batch of medicines at the port, I will pay her a visit." These few days, he missed her very much. He knew that she was busy attending to matters related to the funeral, so he did not visit her or disturb her.
"Xue Wen had rushed out in such a hurry, will anything happen to him?........" Song Qing LIan tugged her embroidered handkerchief and her eyebrows unconsciously wrinkled up with worry.
"Mother, don"t worry. The moment he left, the guards were following him. Although his horse, Qingyun is said to be able to run at a fast speed, earlier on some medicine merchants had brought me a kind of tracking gra.s.s. After the gra.s.s is ground into powder, it can be sprinkled on the horse hoofs and the powder will leave special red marks on the ground. A guard had just returned with news that they have found traces of Qingyun at the entrance of Little Dragon Mountain. In a little while, the guards should be bringing Xue Wen home." Ying Yan Long said.
"As a mother, how can I not worry about my child......"
"Dangjia, Old Madame.......Second Young Master has returned!" Steward Zhu stood at the doorway and reported with a serious look on his face.
"Dangjia, please step out to take a look!"
"What happened to him?" Immediately, Ying Yan Long stood up and walked quickly to the door.
"What happened to Xue Wen?" Song Qing LIan also hurried forward.
"Second Young Master is fine and he brought a woman back. The knife wounds on the woman"s body are very serious........" When Steward Zhu recalled the woman"s condition, he could not help but shake his head.
"Send the person to Xinglin Hall first and then summon the doctor to come over." Ying Yan Long frowned and turned around to support his mother to let her sit down first. "You should rest now. I will go over to take a look at the situation. Since he has returned home, nothing will happen to him."
"Alright, go quickly.......go quickly......." She nodded and waved her hand to gesture for him to leave.
Ying Yan Long listened as Steward Zhu reported the condition of the woman"s injuries to him and he frowned.
How is it possible for Xue Wen to create such serious trouble the moment he steps out of the house?
After turning a few corners, as soon as Ying Yan Long entered Xinglin Hall, he was overwhelmed with the metallic smell of blood.
Ying Xue Wen was sitting sideways at the edge of the couch and both his hands were pressed on the woman"s body with one hand on her chest and the other hand on her belly.
Ying Yan Long resisted the urge to scold his younger brother and walked quickly to the couch. "How is her condition?"
"Elder Brother........Hurry, save her!" Ying Xue Wen raised his face that was covered with sweat and he looked towards his Elder Brother.
Ying Yan Long looked at the woman"s face and instantly his face turned pale.
Hua Ming Zi!
"How did she get hurt like this?" Ying Yan Long was so anxious that he blurted out.
"Elder Brother, do you know her?"
"We will talk about this later." Ying Yan Long shouted towards Steward Zhu who was standing at the door. "Quick! Send word to Doctor Qu in the palace to come immediately and get someone to start the incense burner to light up the Calming Incense. Then bring me the blood coagulation medicine Purple Cloud Powder!"
Before he finished speaking, Ying Yan Long had turned around to look at his younger brother and then he asked. "Did she take the "Nine Returning" Pill?"
"Yes." Ying Xue Wen nodded again. His hands were still pressed on her bleeding wounds and he did not dare to let go.
Ying Yan Long looked at Hua Ming Zi lying on the couch with a pale face. Her body was continuously trembling and she was still bleeding from the several big wounds. He tightened his lips and after a long time, he said between his teeth.........
"Who did this to her?"
Ying Xue Wen told him everything about the situation at that time. His Elder Brother had always been as steady as Mount Tai* without any change of expression even under stress. But as he watched his Elder Brother"s eyes reflected with violent flashes of lights and a face that was full of unrestrained anger with the desire to take the life of that dog, Luo Ji Cai, Ying Xue Wen became more impa.s.sioned with his words.
(Mount Tai is Taishan Mountain, a magnificent and beautiful rocky mountain formed about 30 million years ago located in the North-eastern part of China between Jinan, Changqing, Feicheng and Tai"an. When one is compared to Mount Tai, it means that person is majestic, steady as a rock and awe-inspiring.)
"Elder Brother, you can rest a.s.sured that I will deal with that Luo Ji Cai, who is worse than a beast.........."
"Did anyone see you?" Ying Yan Long interrupted him.
"No one saw me."
"I understand. Now, you have to go personally to Hua Mansion and invite their Stewards to come over. They should be very anxious by now. Just tell them that you have saved Hua Dangjia and when they are here, we will tell them everything."
"Hua Mansion........Hua Dangjia.........she, she, she........" Ying Xue Wen stared foolishly at his Elder Brother and then turned to look at "her" lying on the couch. "She can"t be Hua Ming Zi......is she?"
Ying Yan Long looked at the suddenly shocked expression on his younger brother"s face and after pressing his lips tightly, he said in a low voice.
"That"s right, she is Hua Ming Zi."
"She......she is so beautiful........why then does she need to wear a veil?......."
"Even when she wears a veil, it caused her such harm. Can she not wear a veil?" Ying Yan Long looked at the gaping bleeding wound in her abdomen and his chest tightened with pain.
"When did Elder Brother see her actual face?"
"A life is at stake! Is it the right time to talk about this now?! Are you not supposed to go to Hua Mansion?!" Ying Yan Long"s thick eyebrows knotted and Ying Xue Wen immediately got up.
"Alright, I will go right now!. Do you want me to go to the Magistrate Court to report this case?" Ying Xue Wen asked.
"Do you want to make a report against the Prime Minister"s son, the Elder Brother of a Concubine for kidnapping a woman on the street and for attempted murder on a woman?" Ying Yan Long asked quietly while his mind was already in the process of planning on how to handle this matter.
"Why can"t a report be made? It was really Luo Ji Cai who did it!" Ying Xue Wen looked at the expressionless face of his Elder Brother and could not help but raise his voice. "Surely this can"t be left as it is! Are there no laws?!"
"I won"t let this matter rest. But reporting this matter to the Magistrate"s Court is a path that is doomed for failure. First, you should go and do what I have instructed you to do and then we will weigh the pros and cons. After her life is saved then we can discuss this further."
"Alright. Elder Brother, come and press on her bleeding wounds."
As Ying Xue Wen was walking out of the door, he could not help but turn to look back.........
Even though he knew that he should only be worried about Hua Ming Zi"s injuries at this time, but when he thought of Hua Ming Zi, the corners of his mouth curved up. No wonder his Elder Brother had always hoped that he would marry Hua Dangjia and as expected, his Elder Brother had always been right!
"Xue Wen........." Ying Yan Long called out.
"What is it?" Ying Xue Wen turned to look at his Elder Brother.
"You did very well."
Ying Xue Wen was stunned and then his eye rims turned red! His Elder Brother, who had never praised him before, said that he had done well!
"Why are you still here?! Hurry up and go!" Ying Yan Long ordered.
"I"m going right now!" Ying Xue Wen smiled at his Elder Brother and then as if he had taken a magical potion, he flew out with running footsteps.
He had only run a few steps forward and could not help but turn back and said. "After she wakes up, I will immediately marry her and help to clear her name."
Ying Yan Long"s face became solemn and was glad that Ying Xue Wen had already turned around.
He looked down at the body that was covered with blood and looked at Hua Ming Zi who had long fallen into unconsciousness due to the extreme pain. He felt angry, annoyed, sad and unbearable....... all the emotions that he had never experienced before all surged into his heart at the same time.
"If only I knew you are to suffer this kind of pain, I would have let you marry into the Ying Family immediately after the funeral."
He pulled out a silk handkerchief to wipe off the sweat from her forehead and said. "Stay alive......Give me a chance......."
She lay on the couch motionless and he became more anxious. He walked to the door and shouted loudly. "Why are the Calming Incense and the Purple Cloud Powder not here yet? Quick!"
The servants outside the door were all scared by him. Everyone ran off to search for someone to bring the things he wanted........because no one had ever seen him so fl.u.s.tered and exasperated before.
Who is the woman that is lying inside Xinglin Hall?.........