Pei Zhu was still observing. Seeing Cheng Si about to leap forward to attack, he raised his hand to stop him. “Wait, he’s already unconscious. He won’t cause any trouble.”
“Who knows if he’s faking?” Cheng Si still gripped his staff tightly, unwilling to slacken even a bit. If the man was pretending, neither he nor the Magistrate would stand a chance. Carefully approaching, Cheng Si suddenly exerted force, shoving the man’s hand away so it wouldn’t reach the Magistrate.
Who knows what he had touched before daring to grab their lord’s clothes—this could have been fatal!
From afar, the man had seemed imposing; now up close, he was even more terrifying. One arm alone was as thick as Cheng Si’s thigh, and his short tunic only emphasized his height and broad build. He was like a bear. Once Cheng Si managed to roll him over, he fell silent. His face… actually looked quite bear-like. The beard covering the lower half of his face was so striking that it drew all attention, making one overlook the fact that his facial features were actually quite regular.
Cheng Si knew the Magistrate had a soft heart and immediately warned him, “Sir, this man blocked your way for no clear reason—he must have some plan. We can’t let our guard down.”
Pei Zhu shook his head. “I think he’s just fainted from hunger.”
Upon further inspection, the two also noticed a horse lying by the roadside, exhausted to death. It was a pity—though not a particularly fine horse, it was still a life lost. How far must it have run, day and night, to end up like this?
Turning back, Pei Zhu studied the man carefully. Though tall and strong, he was Han Chinese in appearance. This wasn’t Pei Zhu’s first time rescuing someone; today luck was on his side. Heaven surely wouldn’t purposely send a villain to torment him.
Cheng Si still hesitated. “Sir, are we really going to save him? We don’t even know if he’s a villain.”
Pei Zhu softened. “Save him. Saving a life is worth more than building a seven-tiered pagoda.”
With that, he tried to drag the man back using both hands and feet, but it was useless. The man was too sturdy; Pei Zhu and Cheng Si together couldn’t lift him onto the horse. With no other option, Pei Zhu ran ahead to the county office, calling for an ox cart to carry him back.
At the office, Cheng Si and four others finally managed to carry the man inside.
Zheng Xingcheng frowned, irritated by the chaos. “What is Pei Zhu up to? Every so often he drags someone back—does he think the county office is some kind of charitable infirmary?”
Zhang Rusheng, always aligned with Zheng Xingcheng, replied, “What else? His compassion flared up again. Our Magistrate doesn’t have much extra money, but he’s quite adept at pitying the poor and weak.”
Zheng Xingcheng recalled the massive man they had struggled to carry—how could he associate such a figure with poverty or weakness? The previous guest, Wang Chuo, was fine—at least he was refined—but this one, if he intended to stay, was another matter entirely. Look at that size—what a glutton! How much food would it take to keep him alive?
Pei Zhu walked by holding a bowl, unaware of Zheng Xingcheng’s judgment, and greeted him. After getting a glare, he scratched his head and turned, encountering Wang Chuo.
Wang Chuo was standing by the door, expression complex and unreadable.
Pei Zhu paused, recalling something Wang Chuo had once said, and suddenly had an absurd thought. Being incapable of keeping things to himself, he stepped forward to verify: “Master Wang, could this be the old acquaintance you mentioned?”
Wang Chuo lowered his head, hiding his expression. “Your insight is unmatched, Sir.”
Pei Zhu gasped, almost biting his tongue. How could the world be so coincidental? The old acquaintance was a lie; the enemy was real. He immediately instructed Wang Chuo not to approach.
Out of consideration, Wang Chuo insisted on going.
Pei Zhu guessed that Wang Chuo might want to resolve a misunderstanding. If so, he couldn’t act rashly to block him. He handed Wang Chuo a bowl of brown sugar water, reminding him: “Just clear up any misunderstandings. But if a conflict arises, be sure to call for help.”
He feared the sturdy man could crush Wang Chuo with a single punch; considering their physiques, Wang Chuo would have no chance in a fight.
Watching the ripples in the bowl, Wang Chuo thought of his own uneasy heart. After today, would Pei Zhu still care so much for him? Probably not.
Wang Chuo smiled wryly and stepped inside. A moment later, he turned back, showing Pei Zhu a reassuring smile: “There may be some commotion, but rest assured, I’ll handle it and come out safely.”
Pei Zhu had no idea how chaotic it would be, and anxiously waited by the corridor. Cheng Si and Wei Ping were stationed nearby, ready to intervene at a moment’s notice.
Wang Chuo probably cared for this old acquaintance; otherwise, he wouldn’t have prepared the sugar water.
Suddenly, a furious shout erupted from inside.
Pei Zhu’s eyes widened and he instinctively stood up, but recalling Wang Chuo’s warning, he restrained himself.
God, please don’t let anything happen to Master Wang—he’s the only penman in our office.
After a violent struggle, things seemed to settle, though no one emerged.
Pei Zhu was frantic, wondering what had just happened.
The heavy wooden chair had shattered, luckily missing everyone.
Jiang Zhou, having regained consciousness, panted heavily, feeling regret. Had it not been for his two days of hunger making him weak, that blow could have killed Wang Chuo!
Wang Chuo, seeing that he had vented enough, scolded him: “Do you intend to kill the one who saved your life?”
Jiang Zhou wiped his face, disgusted. Earlier, Wang Chuo had used the sugar water as a pretext to make him inhale it sharply, waking him. Truly a cruel “rescue”: “You expect me to survive on two mouthfuls of sugar water? Dream on!”
“Of course, it wasn’t for the sugar water. In fact, today it was Magistrate Pei Zhu of Yongning County who saved you. Sir Pei has a kind heart and could not bear to see you die on the road, which is why he brought you to the county office. The sugar water was prepared for you, and I, thinking we were old acquaintances, wanted to clarify past grievances—so I asked him to stay away for a moment.”
Jiang Zhou scowled at his solemn demeanor: “Grievances? I only have grievances with you, thief—no favors.”
Wang Chuo retorted, “Do you know how you survived?”
Jiang Zhou shivered. He had been targeted by Wang Chuo and the corrupt emperor, stripped of rank and exiled for crimes he didn’t commit. He had escaped during a relay station fire and returned home incognito.
Wang Chuo said calmly, “Have you ever wondered why the fire happened just in time? After the station burned, the court assumed you were dead, no longer pursued. Have you thought why I knew your whereabouts and could easily draw you here? Examine the sequence of events—can any withstand scrutiny?”
With each word, Jiang Zhou’s expression darkened. He despised the truth: he had been saved by Wang Chuo, and he refused to admit it. Now exposed, he blazed with rage: “Stop your pretentious talk! You might as well have killed me outright, like you did Shen Jiangshi.”
Wang Chuo stood rigidly by the bed, nails digging into his palms, guilt threatening to consume him.
Had Pei Zhu been present, he would have known. When Wang Chuo had been rescued, he had looked the same—ready to self-destruct at any moment.
Jiang Zhou mocked: “Shall I remind you, Grand Tutor, how you flaunted power to have General Shen executed? He saved you twice! All of us, haven’t we been saved by him? Even that dog emperor was carried from the dead by him. You, for power, caused his exile and the death of his family. Wang Wenqian, isn’t it you who’s cursed?”
Wang Chuo suppressed his emotions. “General Shen’s daughter did not die.”
“You think I’ll believe that?”
“Believe it or not, up to you.” Wang Chuo avoided elaboration. “I brought you here not to debate right or wrong. Now, the Hu tribes are rebelling, and Yongning County is in peril. We need your strength to repel the enemy.”
Jiang Zhou, seeing Wang Chuo’s face, felt disgust. Hearing his commanding tone, his hatred surged: “Why should I help you?”
“Because I saved your life.”
“…Damn.”
Grinding his teeth, Jiang Zhou forced down his nausea. Rage still boiled, and he sneered: “Fine, after dealing with this, I’ll still want your life.”
Shen Jiangshi must not die in vain. That dog emperor must die. Wang Chuo, the treacherous villain, must face justice.
“Do as you wish,” Wang Chuo responded without resistance.
Jiang Zhou mocked him, but after a moment, noticed something amusing: this dog emperor’s lackey seemed protective of the young magistrate. Could he have switched allegiances?
Interesting. Did the young magistrate even know who Wang Chuo was?
Leaning on the bed, Jiang Zhou laughed harshly: “I should find that magistrate and thank him properly.”
Wang Chuo didn’t move.
Jiang Zhou frowned: “What, can’t I even employ a frontier magistrate?”
He threatened to expose everything to make Wang Chuo act. Wang Chuo knew resistance was futile. “He doesn’t know our identities. He thinks I was a tutor from a merchant family. Be careful what you say.”
From behind came Jiang Zhou’s mockery: “Grand Tutor Wang is as full of lies as ever.”
Wang Chuo didn’t care—he only needed to avoid revealing the truth. Their identities were too sensitive; one misstep could mean death. With his wings not yet full, he would not stir trouble.
When the door opened and Wang Chuo emerged unharmed, Pei Zhu and the others breathed a sigh of relief. But upon learning that Jiang, the gentleman inside, wished to see Pei Zhu, Wei Ping and Cheng Si tensed again.
Wang Chuo reassured them: “If you’re worried, you may follow. He never intentionally harms anyone. With him here, the Hu tribes need not be feared.”
Pei Zhu’s eyes flickered. “Then I must go see him!”
Though the Magistrate insisted on going, Cheng Si and Wei Ping, cautious as ever, drew their knives and flanked Pei Zhu protectively.
Wang Chuo watched them leave.
He wondered how Pei Zhu would react upon learning the truth—perhaps he’d think poorly of him. Wang Chuo sighed wryly and left alone.