Early the next morning, Yun Zhu led her daughter out of the west wing.
As soon as they stepped outside, she noticed dark circles under the eyes of Lu Jinghai and his wife, Lady Yang, who looked as if they were in a hurry to leave.
“Elder Brother, Sister-in-Law, where are you heading?” Yun Zhu asked.
“To the county seat,” Lu Jinghai replied. “Zimo and his two brothers didn’t come back last night. I went out earlier to ask around and found out that the three of them went after the carriage from Yingchun Brothel yesterday at noon.”
Yun Zhu was startled.
*Did those brothers go to rescue Lu Jinglan?*
Lady Yang said, “I just hope nothing bad happens!”
A place like Yingchun Brothel was not something mud-legged peasants like them could afford to provoke.
“Don’t worry too much. Among those boys, Zibin is the only impulsive one. Zifeng is clever, and with Zimo watching over them, they’ll be fine.” Lu Jinghai was no less worried than Lady Yang, but as a man, he kept his anxieties hidden.
“Elder Brother, Sister-in-Law, let us come along too,” Yun Zhu said resolutely.
After all, this matter was somewhat related to her. Besides, she could take this opportunity to look around Daliang County.
Recalling how formidable Yun Zhu had been during the family division yesterday, Lu Jinghai agreed: “Alright, but once we reach the county, you must stay close to us and not wander off.”
Lu Jinghai borrowed an ox cart from the village chief. Just as they drove up to the village entrance, the panting voice of Lu Ping called out from behind.
“Jinghai, wait for your father!” Lu Ping shouted as he ran, with Lady Zhao trailing behind him.
Yun Zhu’s eyes turned cold, though she said nothing.
Lady Yang scoffed in displeasure, “We’ve already severed family ties, and you still have the nerve to call yourself his father! Hurry up, it takes a full day’s travel to reach the county town!”
Lu Jinghai hesitated for a moment, then snapped his whip, driving the ox cart away at full speed.
Old Man Lu and Lady Zhao, who were giving chase behind them, were left with mouths full of dust.
“Lu Jinghai, you unfilial creature!” Lu Ping cursed in a fit of rage.
It was dusk by the time Yun Zhu and the others arrived at the county town. After such a jolting journey, Yun Zhu felt as if every bone in her body was falling apart.
Her daughter had been held in her arms and was still asleep.
Once inside the town, Lu Jinghai drove the ox cart while inquiring about a place to stay, eventually stopping in front of the Beicheng Inn.
“It’s getting late. You two go into the inn first while I head to Yingchun Brothel to ask about Zimo and the boys,” Lu Jinghai said. “I asked around earlier—the curfew isn’t until the Hour of the Pig. I’ll be back before then.”
Having only chewed on a flatbread at noon, Lady Yang wanted him to eat something before leaving, but thinking of her three sons without a word of news, she swallowed back her words.
To save money, Lady Yang had intended to ask the innkeeper for a common bunkroom, but Yun Zhu stepped ahead and booked two private rooms—for two nights, no less.
“Second Brother’s Wife, you need to save the money in your hands,” Lady Yang could not help but nag. “Second Brother is gone, your health is weak, and Yiyi is still small. Every copper spent is a copper less.”
Yun Zhu gave a perfunctory response, then asked the innkeeper for three bowls of noodle soup, each served with meat and an egg.
While eating, Lady Yang quietly asked about the price of the noodles, but Yun Zhu merely smiled without answering.
In less than half an hour, Lu Jinghai returned, bringing back a powerfully built youth with him.
“Second Brother~~” Seeing the youth, Lu Yiyi’s eyes lit up, and she ran toward him.
The youth patted Lu Yiyi’s head and kept her at a distance: “Second Brother is covered in dirt, so I can’t hold you.”
Looking at Yun Zhu, the youth called out, “Second Aunt.”
Seeing the natural closeness between her daughter and Lu Zibin, a warm smile drifted onto Yun Zhu’s face.
This youth was the second son of the eldest branch, Lu Zibin—fourteen years old, immensely strong, but quite straightforward and honest.
Seeing her son, Lady Yang rejoiced. She looked behind them, but her smile froze when she met the grave expressions on the faces of father and son: “Where are Zimo and Zifeng?”
“Mother, I’m sorry.” Lu Zibin lowered his head, full of guilt.
Lady Yang’s heart tightened.
“They went to Yingchun Brothel to demand her release, and a fight broke out. Zifeng… he was thrown into prison,” Lu Jinghai spoke with difficulty.
Lady Yang’s legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed onto the floor, but Yun Zhu was quick to support her: “Sister-in-Law—”
“Mother, don’t worry too much. Eldest Brother has already gone to the academy to beg the Headmaster to step in and secure Third Brother’s release,” Lu Zibin hurriedly helped his mother onto a stool, attempting to comfort her despite his own uncertainty. “Third Brother will definitely get out.”
Lu Yiyi was also frightened upon hearing that Lu Zifeng was in prison.
“Mother…” Teardrops of worry hovered on the verge of falling from the little girl’s eyes as she looked at Yun Zhu.
Heartbroken, Yun Zhu squatted down to soothe her: “Don’t be scared, Yiyi. Your Third Brother will be fine.”
“Mother,” the little girl leaned in and pleaded softly into Yun Zhu’s ear, “Can we ask the immortal to rescue Third Brother? I don’t want anything bad to happen to him.”
Yun Zhu couldn’t bear to see her daughter sad: “Don’t cry, Yiyi. Mother will find a way to save your Third Brother, alright?”
“Really, Mother?”
“Really!” Yun Zhu promised her.
The little girl instantly turned her tears into a smile: “Thank you, Mother!”
On the other side, Lady Yang wept, “Commoners cannot fight officials! Once inside a jail, you’ll lose a layer of skin even if you don’t die. How could it be so easy to get out?”
Saying this, Lady Yang began slapping Lu Zibin: “Why on earth did you provoke the people of Yingchun Brothel?”
“Young Aunt was taken away by Yingchun Brothel’s men!” Lu Zibin felt as if his mother’s hits were merely tickling him, and he stiffened his neck, saying, “Could we just stand by and watch?”
“Lu Jinglan has her own father and mother! Is it any of your business?” Lady Yang hit, scolded, and cried all at once: “Lu Jinglan’s birth mother took the silver from Yingchun Brothel! A mother selling her own daughter—is that any of your business? Aren’t you being wronged for nothing?”
Lu Zibin was stunned on the spot.
*Was Young Aunt truly sold by Grandmother herself?*
*The people from Yingchun Brothel weren’t lying to them?*
Lu Zibin and his brothers had no knowledge of what had transpired back at the Lu family home.
Yun Zhu was also uncertain whether those two thugs from yesterday held any sway at Yingchun Brothel: “Elder Brother, Zibin and I will go to Yingchun Brothel…”
Before she could finish, Lu Jinghai voiced a stern objection: “No! How can a woman go to a place like that? What about your reputation?”
“Elder Brother, no one knows me in this county town anyway. Besides, I have a passing acquaintance with those two from Yingchun Brothel, so nothing will happen.” Yun Zhu refrained from mentioning that the fat thug still needed her medicine to “cure his illness.”
Lady Yang wiped her tears: “I’ll go with Second Brother’s Wife!”
If gossip ever spread later, she could take the blame onto herself.
“No need!” Yun Zhu pushed her daughter gently toward Lady Yang. “Sister-in-Law, just help me look after Yiyi.”
“Then be careful.” Lady Yang remained uneasy, giving her tearful instructions before turning to Lu Zibin: “If your Second Aunt loses even a single strand of hair, don’t bother coming back!”
Stepping out of the inn, Yun Zhu found that Daliang County was not as prosperous as she had imagined. Only a few scattered lanterns hung along the street, barely illuminating the ground.
They did not notice a sneaky figure hiding outside the inn, watching with a icy gaze as their ox cart drove further and further away.