Chapter 2906 - 2907: Strange Smile

Chapter 2906: Chapter 2907: Strange Smile

"You don’t need to worry about catching the Demon, I’ll report it to His Majesty." Bai Ruozhu saw his concern and gave him a dose of reassurance.

"Very well, then I’m relieved." The magistrate said, "Kong Er gave false testimony and showed contempt for the Public Hall. By rights he should be given thirty strokes of the cane, but I see you still have some conscience, and this is your first offense, so I’ll spare you this once. Leave, quickly."

Then he looked at Madam Sun. "You hired a killer to commit murder, and the one you tried to murder is an officer of the Imperial Court. That makes your crime even more serious. On top of that, you indirectly caused the death of innocent civilians. I absolutely cannot sentence you lightly."

When Madam Sun saw that nothing happened to Kong Er, she finally let out a breath. Prostrating on the ground, she said, "My lord, this common woman was foolish and committed a grave mistake. I am willing to accept punishment."

Kong Er wanted to speak but was cut off by one glare from Madam Sun.

Bai Ruozhu sighed silently and said, "Kong Er, step down. Don’t cause any more trouble."

Kong Er could hear the deeper meaning in her words, and remembering Ding Xiang’s impulsiveness, he rose, saluted, and left.

Ding Xiang saw him leave and hurriedly chased after him.

The magistrate turned out to be merciful and did not punish her for barging into the Public Hall.

Bai Ruozhu also rose. "Magistrate, I’ll take my leave as well and not delay your trial."

As for how the magistrate would sentence Madam Sun, she wasn’t going to interfere. If the sentence was heavy, she might feel a little pity, but she wasn’t some saintly Bai Lianhe; she wouldn’t plead for Madam Sun.

If the sentence was light, then that would just be Madam Sun’s good luck, and even less any of her business.

"Very well, very well, Lord Bai, take care on your way." The magistrate bowed respectfully.

Bai Ruozhu left with Ao Song. Ao Song was extremely curious and tugged on Bai Ruozhu. "Sister Ruozhu, let’s go see what’s happening with that Ding Xiang and Kong Er."

"See what? It’s too dog-blood." Bai Ruozhu curled her lip. "Kong Er used a woman’s feelings just to get revenge, he’s obviously a scumbag. If it weren’t for the fact that he still has some conscience and wanted to take the blame for Madam Sun, I’d have made sure he left here carried out sideways."

"That’s exactly why I want to see just how much more of a scumbag he can be. Come on, come on." Ao Song dragged her along, caught up, and leapt onto the Roof Eave to spy.

Bai Ruozhu hadn’t expected Ao Song to be this gossipy and couldn’t help laughing. She’d been like that when she was young too, and now that she thought about it, it felt like something from many years ago.

"Kong Er, you explain yourself to me clearly!" Ding Xiang grabbed the hem of Kong Er’s clothes and demanded.

"Didn’t I just explain it clearly?" Kong Er asked.

"You call that clear? So everything you used to say to me doesn’t count anymore?" Ding Xiang asked.

Kong Er frowned. "Ding Xiang, I’ve wronged you, but I can’t go back. I’m not the young master of the Sun Residence, I can’t give you anything. You’re still young, find an honest man to marry, don’t run into someone as bad as me again."

Bai Ruozhu sneered inwardly. So he did know he was a bad person. It was a pity he didn’t know the word "scumbag," or calling himself that would be even more fitting.

"I don’t care!" Ding Xiang suddenly shouted and hugged him from behind. Ao Song and Bai Ruozhu traded looks—wow, pretty intense.

"I don’t care who you are anymore, I already like you, I don’t want to marry anyone else." Ding Xiang sounded a bit anxious. "Let’s go. We’ll find a place where no one knows us, just live on plain tea and simple meals for a lifetime, that’d still be good."

Kong Er pried her hands off. "Ding Xiang, wake up. My father is dead, there’s no one to prove my identity. All I can do is redeem my Indenture Contract and leave. And you still have an Indenture Contract at the Sun Residence. Do you really want to be a runaway slave?"

He paused. "I don’t have that kind of feeling for you. A twisted melon isn’t sweet. I don’t want to hurt you again."

Ding Xiang’s face flushed bright red with anger. "Is it because we’ve never done anything, but you did that kind of thing with her, so you can’t let her go and refuse to be with me?"

She suddenly yanked open her own collar. "Anything she can do, I can do. She’s already that old, I’m way younger than her!"

Kong Er suddenly turned around, not wanting to look at the white shoulder she exposed. "Put your clothes back on, don’t be stupid like me."

"What do you mean stupid? I won’t!" Ding Xiang roared, completely losing control. Fortunately, this was a secluded Alley, or she’d have drawn a crowd by now.

Kong Er still didn’t turn around. "Ding Xiang, I regret it—I regret it so much I want to die. I wanted to take the blame for her because I didn’t want to live anymore, I wanted to make my conscience feel a bit better. It’s a pity I didn’t succeed, but I don’t want any more entanglements with the Sun Family. And as for you..."

His gaze turned dark. "When I see you, I think of the filthy things I’ve done. I won’t have peace for the rest of my life. Take it as me begging you—let me go."

This time, when he finished speaking, he ran off quickly, leaving Ding Xiang standing there alone, stunned, covering her face and bursting into tears.

Bai Ruozhu tugged Ao Song and they left together. After they had walked some distance, Ao Song still curiously turned back for another look—only to happen to see that strange smile on Ding Xiang’s face.

It was a vicious smile like she’d gotten exactly what she wanted, with none of the earlier pain and sorrow.

Ao Song froze on the spot and said in a low voice, "Sister Ruozhu, why did that maid smile like that? Was she faking it just now?"

Bai Ruozhu turned back, but Ding Xiang had already straightened her clothes and walked off. Bai Ruozhu saw only her back.

"What kind of smile?" Bai Ruozhu had no choice but to ask Ao Song.

Ao Song tried to imitate it. "No, I can’t do it right. She definitely has something wrong with her. But she wasn’t possessed by a Dream Demon, we were so close—I couldn’t possibly have missed it."

"Sometimes the human heart is scarier than a Demon." Bai Ruozhu said. "Come on, let’s go see my aunt."

The two of them went to the Luo Family. Madam Luo had already packed up and even prepared some gifts. She had agreed to go to the Guest House with Diao Shengyan and the others.

They hadn’t expected that as they escorted Madam Luo to the edge of the neighborhood, something blocked her way.

"This is wrong, there’s a Barrier here specifically targeting her." Ao Song said in surprise. "We had no problem going in and out before, that’s why I didn’t notice it."

"Can you break it?" Bai Ruozhu had finally persuaded Madam Luo; how could she return empty-handed?

"Astrologer is better at this sort of thing. Call him over." Ao Song said as she released a Paper Crane, a Yin Yang Techniques tool Astrologer used for sending messages.

Bai Ruozhu’s lips curved up. "You and he are pretty close."

"We’ve been chasing a Dream Demon together, of course we need to be able to stay in touch." Ao Song hurried to explain.

Seeing her blush, Madam Luo suddenly laughed and said, "It’s nice to be young. The first time I saw your uncle, I blushed like that too."

"Who’s blushing!" Ao Song exclaimed in a panic.

Bai Ruozhu ignored her and asked Madam Luo, "Aunt, is my uncle that good-looking? So just one look made you blush?"

Madam Luo’s smile deepened. "Yes. I’d never seen anyone as handsome as he was, and he was a man, but he looked like an Immortal. I got a bit embarrassed and my face started burning. Back then I didn’t even know I was blushing—he’s the one who explained it to me later."

Bai Ruozhu burst out laughing. "The first time I saw Achun, I was stunned too. Their family has good genes; they’re all ridiculously good-looking."