Provincial Graduate Wang stared intently into Song Jinzhao's eyes. "Forty taels of compensation? You dare to even speak that amount."
Song Jinzhao replied, "It's clearly written on the agreement. If the seller breaches the contract, they must return double the deposit. Of course I dare to collect it."
Provincial Graduate Wang threw down the bamboo tube in his hand and turned to leave.
Song Jinzhao shouted sharply, "Stop right there."
He turned back, a mocking smile curling his lips. "Having regrets?"
Song Jinzhao pointed coldly at the spilled herbal tea on the ground. "You haven't paid yet. Twenty coppers per cup."
The smile instantly froze on Provincial Graduate Wang's face. With a livid expression, he threw a silver piece onto the table.
Old Lady Song watched his retreating back, the corners of her eyes crinkling into three deep folds. "That shop is his? How much did he raise the price?"
To think he was a Provincial Graduate, no less.
Song Jinzhao said, "We agreed on one hundred sixty taels yesterday. Today he demanded two hundred sixty."
Old Lady Song's cloudy pupils dilated instantly, her words tumbling out. "Raising it by a hundred taels just like that? That's outright robbery!"
A faint, sardonic smile touched Song Jinzhao's lips. "It's practically an open demand."
On the way home that evening, Old Lady Song recounted the day's events to the three children.
She took the opportunity to instruct them that they must never attend Provincial Graduate Wang's private school, and to steer clear of him if they saw him—he was not a good man.
Song Yongnian and Song Yaozu had never heard of Provincial Graduate Wang and didn't know who he was. After listening, they simply nodded and committed it to memory.
Only Song Qiming clenched his jaw, his hands on his thighs secretly balling into fists.
Some classmates at the academy had mentioned that if they failed the exams again next year, they would go study at the Wang family's private school.
That Provincial Graduate Wang, relying on his scholarly reputation, essentially threatened that passing the imperial examinations required entering his school. He was using this to pressure Elder Sister.
He absolutely had to pass next year, to throw that man's arrogance right back in his face.
While driving the carriage, Song Jinzhao's sharp eyes swept toward the side and rear. She released the reins with her right hand and rested it on the dagger at her waist.
As the noise behind them grew louder, six men wielding knives suddenly burst from the woods.
Noticing the carriage had stopped, Old Lady Song lifted the curtain to ask what was happening.
She saw six men with knives blocking the road ahead.
Her heart instinctively seized with panic. "Jinzhao—"
Song Jinzhao handed the reins to Old Lady Song. "Stay in the carriage. Don't come down."
Song Qiming tried to peek out, but Old Lady Song pushed him back inside.
The setting sun filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting the six men's shadows long and distorted.
Zhao Sandao grinned crookedly, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.
"Quite the brave little girl, aren't you? Seeing us and not even kneeling to beg for mercy."
Song Jinzhao asked coldly, "Who sent you?"
Zhao Sandao scoffed. "Who have you offended? You should know."
"After we rough you up a bit to vent some frustration, you go apologize properly tomorrow, and this matter will be settled."
A flash of icy light flickered in Song Jinzhao's eyes as she suddenly sprang into action.
Zhao Sandao hadn't expected her to attack first. He immediately yelled, "Get her, brothers!"
All six men charged at Song Jinzhao.
The glint of the dagger sliced across their faces, tinted yellow by the sunset.
Zhao Sandao was shocked by Song Jinzhao's speed and ferocity—her first move aimed to kill.
This was no ordinary young woman.
He dropped to his knees, narrowly avoiding the dagger as his long sword swung out.
Song Jinzhao stepped on the blade, using it to propel herself into the air. Spinning around, she kicked all six men to the ground.
The nearest bandit tried to get up, but a powerful force slammed into the back of his knees, forcing them to crash onto the ground with a sickening crack.
The other five immediately rushed to his aid.
A sleeve arrow slid from her sleeve, and short bolts shot toward the five.
The distance was too close for them to dodge.
They fell, arrows embedded in their shoulders, chests, or thighs.
Before Zhao Sandao could react, the cold edge of the dagger was already against his throat. The icy touch sent a chill of terror through his body, and he blurted out a plea.
"Spare me, miss! I beg you, spare my life!"
Song Jinzhao pressed the dagger deeper, drawing blood that trickled down his neck.
"How much did Provincial Graduate Wang pay you? What exactly did he want done to me?"
Zhao Sandao didn't dare move, terrified his next breath might be his last.
His voice trembled, on the verge of tears. "Wang Shizhang said you offended his father. He gave us thirty taels to scare you into submission, so you'd obediently buy his shop."
"We were just hired hands! Please, great lady, don't hold it against us lowly scum. Spare our worthless lives!"
Song Jinzhao grabbed his hair and yanked his head back. "Wang Shizhang is Provincial Graduate Wang's son? He sent you?"
Zhao Sandao felt his scalp was about to tear. "Yes! He lost a fortune gambling. The Wang family is selling assets to pay his debts."
"He said you got him beaten by his father, so he paid us to teach you a lesson."
Song Jinzhao looked up, her gaze meeting the one old and three young faces peering from the carriage in the distance. A dark glint passed through her eyes.
She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Where is Wang Shizhang now?"
Zhao Sandao gulped, fearfully replying, "At Wanchun Lou. He told us to report to him there when we were done."
The dagger's tip slid down the vulnerable skin of his neck, then hooked under the short bolt embedded in his chest and pulled it out. Song Jinzhao's voice was like a vengeful ghost from the underworld.
"Does it feel numb?"
After using it last time on Helan Xiao, she had coated the sleeve arrows' tips with aconitine.
Zhao Sandao gritted his teeth. "Numb."
It was both numb and painful, like being scorched by fire and cut by knives.
"Good. That's because I poisoned the arrows."
Zhao Sandao's pupils contracted violently. No wonder his entire chest felt like it was on fire—he was poisoned!
Song Jinzhao tapped the flat of the blade against his cheek. "Do you know how you should report back to Wang Shizhang?"
Zhao Sandao dared not nod or shake his head. In this state, and he still had to report?
"Please, miss, show us the way."
Song Jinzhao said, "Keep him occupied at Wanchun Lou all night. Otherwise, once the poison reaches your hearts, you can wait for death."
Zhao Sandao glanced down in horror at the bleeding wound in his chest.
Song Jinzhao slammed his head heavily onto the ground. She stood up, pulled the short bolts from the other five, and stabbed an arrowhead into the shoulder of the man with shattered knees.
Zhao Sandao scrambled to his knees, kowtowing frantically. "Please spare us, miss! Have mercy!"
"Do what I told you, and the antidote will come tonight."
Watching the carriage depart without a shred of pity, Zhao Sandao collapsed onto the ground.
The others clutched their wounds, moaning. "Brother Dao, what do we do now? We don't want to die!"
Losing their lives for thirty taels of silver—a mere five taels each.
If they had known this woman was so ruthless, not only highly skilled in martial arts but also carrying poison, they would never have come.
On the road back to the village, Song Qiming climbed out of the carriage and sat next to Song Jinzhao.
He looked up at her, his eyes shining. "Elder Sister, you were amazing back there. Can you teach me?"
Being a scholar and official wasn't enough.
Just like earlier, you never knew when you might encounter villains.
If he learned, he could not only help Elder Sister in the future but also protect himself.
Inside the carriage, Song Yongnian and Song Yaozu, huddled together with their arms crossed, stared wide-eyed in lingering fear.
Wasn't Brother Qiming scared at all?
Song Jinzhao turned her head and smiled at him. "You want to learn?"
Song Qiming nodded vigorously.
Song Jinzhao thought it over and decided it was right to teach them. She didn't expect them to become masters, but it should help them stay alive in the future.
"Every morning, run thirty laps around the courtyard wall. If you can keep that up for a month, I'll teach you."
Song Qiming grinned, grabbing hold of Song Jinzhao's sleeve.
"Then I'll start tomorrow. I'll get up half an hour earlier."
