Song Zhiyi was in a state of extreme vexation.
Strange things had been happening frequently in the past two months.
The matter of those missing men being inexplicably drowned and their bodies successively appearing near Zhou Pass remained unresolved. And then Chu Wen came to cause trouble.
Song Zhiyi was holding a pen in his hand, carefully noting down the characteristics of those corpses one by one.
He had been intelligent since childhood.
And he always believed in common sense.
So Song Zhiyi simply didn't believe that it was the vengeful spirit of Sister Ling coming back for revenge.
However, he actually hoped to see Sister Ling's soul. Maybe then he wouldn't be so tortured by self - blame.
"Your Excellency, a young woman has come outside the mansion and says she wants to see you."
"Don't admit her."
That young woman should be Chu Wen's younger sister.
Chu Wen's younger sister was named Chu Nuan. She was also a martial arts enthusiast, but she was much gentler than her elder brother. Nevertheless, because of what had happened back then, Song Zhiyi didn't have a good impression of her.
After Song Zhiyi said this, he continued what he was doing.
When he looked up, he saw that the guard was still there, looking like he had something to say.
"Is there something else?"
Song Zhiyi was a humble and polite city lord. He had never been harsh on his subordinates.
"Your Excellency, that young lady asked me to ask you a few questions."
"I don't want to hear them. Go out and tell her that I already know what her elder brother said, but I won't meet their demands. It's useless even if she comes."
"That young lady doesn't seem to be the younger sister of the Chu family. And she also said that she wants to talk to you about matters regarding Haiyou City for the well - being of our people."
Song Zhiyi put down his pen.
He said, "There are countless charlatans like this in the Jianghu. Did she also say that if I don't go out, she'll kneel outside the city lord's mansion and never get up, and if I don't listen to her, it will arouse the wrath of the heavens and bring down disasters?"
Song Zhiyi knew very well. He was well - versed in the tricks of these Jianghu charlatans. They would first come to a big city, then pretend to be concerned about the people's livelihood, and use some superstitious remarks to cheat food and drinks in the city. On the surface, they seemed kind - hearted, but in private, they didn't know how many immoral things they had done.
"Your Excellency, no, it's not like that."
"What's not like that?"
"She said that if you don't go out to see her, she'll break your legs."
"What?"
Song Zhiyi stood up abruptly.
Then he looked at the guard in front of him and asked, "You just said she wanted to ask me a few questions. What are they?"
The guard was completely confused. That young lady's words really worked. After she said that, the city lord not only didn't drive him out but was also willing to listen to those questions.
"That young lady asked how the injury on your right hand has been in recent years. Does it still ache faintly in winter?"
Song Zhiyi staggered slightly.
"It doesn't hurt anymore. Five years ago, when Ji Qinglin was still alive, he cured it for me."
"The second question. That young lady asked if you still like pear pastries, which is why you planted so many pear trees on the streets of Haiyou City?"
"Yes, of course I like them. It's just that the pear pastries don't taste the same as before."
There was a hint of moisture in Song Zhiyi's eyes.
"Your Excellency, there's one last question."
Song Zhiyi looked a bit dazed. He sat back on his chair and looked at the guard. "Tell me."
"Your subordinate... Your subordinate doesn't dare."
"It's okay. I pardon you. Just say it directly."
The young woman outside should be one of the five children Sister Ling had raised before her death. It should be Xia Wanning. The five of them lived together, so they knew each other's living habits well.
"That young lady said, cough cough cough..."
"Hmm?"
"If that brat Song Zhiyi doesn't come out to pick her up soon, then he doesn't have to bother about Haiyou City anymore. He might as well go back to his Zuiyi Villa and continue being a care - free young master."
After the guard finished speaking, he quickly knelt on the ground. Such audacious words, if he hadn't received the city lord's verbal pardon, he wouldn't have dared to say them.
But to the guard's surprise, instead of blaming him, the city lord actually smiled.
Then, Song Zhiyi quickly got up.
He tidied up his slightly disheveled clothes.
He asked, "How long has that person been outside?"
"For about an hour, Your Excellency. Do you want to see her?"
Song Zhiyi said, "I'll go and pick her up."
No one would call him a brat.
Only she would.
Even if this was just his wild hope, Song Zhiyi would hold on to it tightly.
During this hour, Zhao Shuning's patience had been completely worn out.
At first, she could wait patiently. But later, as the sun got hotter and hotter, Song Zhiyi still showed no sign of coming out.
She, a young and beautiful woman, was just standing there at the gate of the city lord's mansion.
As more and more people passed by, they all pointed and whispered about her.
Even more, a kind - hearted old woman came up and said, "Young lady, how dare you come to the gate of the city lord's mansion?"
Zhao Shuning was puzzled. "Is it not allowed?"
Since she was wearing a veil, people naturally didn't know what she looked like.
"Dear girl, do you also have a crush on our Lord Song? I advise you to give up as soon as possible. You don't know, the little girl from the Carp Inn also has a crush on Lord Song. She pestered him so much, but in the end, it was all in vain. Now, as soon as the people in the city lord's mansion see her, they close the gates tightly. Lord Song used to go to the Carp Inn to drink tea and have meals often, but since that incident, he's never been there again."
Zhao Shuning still looked confused.
What did what this old woman said have to do with her?
Another old woman quickly said, "Dear girl, listen to this old woman's advice. There are plenty of men in Haiyou City. Tell me what kind of man you like, and I can introduce someone to you. Our Lord Song doesn't show interest in women. Just forget about him."
Zhao Shuning pushed away the kind hands of those old women.
Then she said, "Forget it. I have something to talk to Song Zhiyi about. He'll come out soon."
"No, dear girl. There are so many girls in our city who admire Lord Song, but he's never even given them a second look. Don't waste your time. Trust us. We're right."
"Who has a crush on that brat Song Zhiyi? I just regard him as my younger brother, okay?"
Since Zhao Shuning was a bit emotional, she immediately attracted a lot of people's attention.
Are you kidding? She, Zhao Shuning, already had a lover. She didn't want to be a fickle woman.
"Dear girl, we're talking to you nicely. Why don't you listen?"
"Yes. You'll end up crying."
Even a clingy girl like Li Shuang'er couldn't win over Lord Song, let alone this young girl in front of them. She looked much younger than Li Shuang'er.
"Dear girl, go back."
Everyone gathered around.
They all tried to persuade Zhao Shuning.
You know, the last girl who was rejected by the city lord went home and hanged herself. They didn't want to see another fresh life disappear in Haiyou City.
"Creak—"
At this moment, the city gates opened.