Chapter 216
As soon as Xu Heming left the inn, he wanted to head to the nearest medical clinic.
After all, Li Zhiwei had gone out to buy medicine for Lady Yao.
Xu Heming couldn't think of any other place Li Zhiwei might have gone, as this was their first time in Heping County.
It was unlikely that Li Zhiwei would have any acquaintances here.
Just as Li Zhiwei was returning with the medicine, she saw Xu Heming rushing out the door.
"Master, where are you going?" Li Zhiwei asked, puzzled.
"Where have you been?" Seeing Li Zhiwei, Xu Heming felt relieved, but thinking of her being out alone for so long, his tone inadvertently turned harsh.
Li Zhiwei was taken aback, not understanding the source of Xu Heming's great anger.
She thought about Xu Heming's trip to Li'an County to investigate Tang Youquan. Could he have been slighted there?
Even if that were the case, he shouldn't take it out on her.
Thinking this, Li Zhiwei felt very upset.
"Master, why such anger? What has your servant done wrong?" After a moment's thought, Li Zhiwei retorted directly.
Xu Heming had just begun to feel his tone was too harsh and was feeling somewhat sorry, but seeing Li Zhiwei's unrepentant look, his anger flared again.
Suddenly, Xu Heming noticed a fair amount of mud on Li Zhiwei's embroidered shoes.
He grew even more anxious.
"Where did you go?" Xu Heming stepped forward and grabbed Li Zhiwei's hand, asking.
"What are you doing?" Li Zhiwei felt bewildered and tried to struggle free.
"Master, the old mistress is still waiting in the inn. Perhaps we should discuss any matters after returning?" Seeing both of them agitated, Qingsong quickly intervened.
"Hmph!" With a light snort, Li Zhiwei walked directly back towards the inn.
She was still inwardly complaining about Xu Heming for being unreasonable.
Xu Heming took a deep breath. This woman didn't appreciate his concern. He had been worried something might have happened to her, and instead, she was the one getting angry.
Still, seeing Li Zhiwei safe, Xu Heming felt a wave of relief.
He had truly been worried she might come to harm.
Right now, in Heping County, the extent of Tang Youquan's malicious influence was unclear, but their own manpower was limited.
"Wei'er, you're finally back." Seeing her daughter return, Lady Yao sighed in relief.
"Mother, I was starting to wonder if you'd seen a handsome man here and couldn't tear yourself away, taking so long to come back." Seeing Li Zhiwei finally return, Xu Qingshi, imitating words he had overheard from the auntie next door, said to her.
Li Zhiwei was stunned for a moment, unsure where this child picked up such twisted logic.
"Mother, I'm fine. Here are the medicinal pills I fetched for you." Li Zhiwei took a bottle of pills from her bosom.
Qinghua also promptly placed the medicine purchased from the clinic on the table.
"I'm alright." Lady Yao, noticing Xu Heming's grim expression behind them, had things to say but didn't know how to broach them with her daughter.
After all, she had seen how anxious Xu Heming was earlier when he learned Li Zhiwei hadn't returned.
Li Zhiwei initially didn't want to pay Xu Heming any mind. However, thinking of the events she encountered today and the information she heard from Luo'er, she felt she should still inform Xu Heming rather than act on impulse.
"Master, your servant has some words for you." Li Zhiwei said, looking at Xu Heming.
"Mm." Seeing Li Zhiwei was no longer angry, Xu Heming also felt relieved. He was not naturally good at expressing himself.
Now that Li Zhiwei had suddenly gotten angry, he didn't even know why.
This was clearly not good for their relationship.
Xu Heming took Li Zhiwei to another room.
He looked at her but didn't speak first.
"Today, while at the medical clinic, I helped an old lady and escorted her home. Coincidentally, her daughter is one of Tang Youquan's concubines." Seeing Xu Heming sit down, Li Zhiwei began narrating calmly.
"Tang Youquan's concubine, yet her mother fell ill and fainted?" Xu Heming asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Exactly. That Luo'er was originally betrothed to a man named Er Zhu from their village. But because Tang Youquan took a fancy to her, she had to break off the engagement with Er Zhu and enter the Tang household as his concubine. The old lady was so angry she refused to acknowledge this daughter or accept any silver from the Tang family. Moreover, the Zhou family's circumstances are poor. The old lady is in poor health and malnourished." Li Zhiwei explained in detail to Xu Heming.
Although Xu Heming felt this matter wasn't directly related to understanding Heping County, he didn't interrupt Li Zhiwei.
"Today, that Miss Luo'er happened to return home. It seems the Tang family is quite generous to its concubines, casually able to give a concubine over a thousand taels in silver notes." Li Zhiwei said, thinking of the banknotes Miss Luo'er had produced.
"Oh?" Xu Heming thought that this Miss Luo'er must be quite favored by Tang Youquan. Otherwise, how could he be so generous?
Casually giving her a thousand taels?
It wasn't that he thought a thousand taels was an enormous sum, but given Tang Youquan's official position, he shouldn't be able to produce so much just to placate a concubine.
"The Tang family seems to have quite a few such concubines. However, they might ultimately be given away by Tang Youquan to others." Li Zhiwei added.
"It seems this Tang Youquan likely has many affairs unknown to us." Xu Heming said with a frown.
"That Granny Zhou kept cursing him as a 'corrupt official' and was filled with indignation towards Tang Youquan. When I was helping the old lady, the clinic attendant said there are many people like her. It seems the common folk in Heping County likely don't have an easy life." Li Zhiwei sighed and said.
"What I've learned is that Tang Youquan is not only corrupt and bends the law, but he also seizes anyone he fancies and takes them into his residence. His reputation is quite poor." Xu Heming also shared the information he had gathered.
After speaking, Xu Heming gave a light cough and said, "I was worried when I saw you hadn't returned for so long today. I didn't mean to raise my voice at you."
Xu Heming had thought for a long time but couldn't understand why Li Zhiwei was angry. The only issue seemed to be his agitated tone.
Li Zhiwei sighed. On her way back, she had already realized this. Now, seeing Xu Heming apologize, she decided not to hold it against him.
"Does Master wish to stay?" Then, recalling Xu Heming's earlier words, Li Zhiwei guessed he might want to stay and investigate Tang Youquan.
"But Master must not forget the urgent situation in the capital." Li Zhiwei thought of The Old Princess, whose injury condition was unknown. They could not linger here for long.
Xu Heming frowned.
Thinking that his mother might be seriously ill, he knew he had to return to the capital as soon as possible to check on her.
"I'll leave Qingmu and Qingshui behind." After some thought, Xu Heming decided to leave two trusted aides to thoroughly investigate matters in Li'an County.
Li Zhiwei also told Xu Heming Granny Zhou's home address, saying, "I think we could start with the old lady, to see if there's any useful information to be found."
After giving his instructions, Xu Heming did not linger in Heping County. He needed to return to the capital quickly to check on The Old Princess's condition.
Xu Qingshi was unaware of The Old Princess's grave illness, still lost in the joy of his impending boat trip.
Moyu had just returned from the street, having bought him a small fishing rod. After all, Xu Qingshi had been clamoring to go fishing.
