The next day, Shi Ning'an and Zeng Haomiao still went to the riverbank to wash the fruits. The large orchard couldn't withstand the picking of so many soldiers. Most of the orchard was already empty. Shi Ning'an and the others were not allowed to go deep into the orchard. Now they didn't need to pick the fruits either. They just had to stay by the riverbank and wash them.
However, it seemed that there was something new to the east of the earthen houses where they were staying.
A soldier explained, "There are people living there."
The soldiers lived on the outer perimeter. Among the earthen houses inside, the ones on the west were for the ladies and other women, the middle ones were for the siblings, and the ones on the east were originally empty.
Zeng Haomiao asked, "Are they also people who were accidentally brought here like us?"
The soldier shook his head. Afraid of being seen by the lady, he looked around before explaining, "No, they're from the capital."
Shi Ning'an and Zeng Haomiao exchanged a look, showed no emotion, and continued washing the fruits.
The soldier said regretfully, "I don't know when we'll be able to leave. Fortunately, the weather is gradually getting cooler. Otherwise, we really couldn't bear it. The fruits are all eaten up, and there are no more creeping fig fruits for making jelly over there."
Shi Ning'an didn't respond. It was already late August. After the Mid - Autumn Festival, the weather would no longer be hot.
Rong Sui's wedding with her was set at the end of October, just over two months away. When Rong Sui sent her away, did he calculate this date? He should set out to welcome the bride by the end of September at the latest. Could everything really be settled by then?
A look of confusion flashed in Shi Ning'an's eyes. But no matter what, she had to cheer up. She and the Rong family, and Rong Sui were a whole.
When night fell, Zeng Haomiao gently tapped on Shi Ning'an's window. Shi Ning'an followed him out.
After getting along for a few days, and considering the strict guard around the farm, at night no one cared about what happened in the middle of the village. They just needed to avoid the women on the west side.
The two of them quietly walked to a fence on the east side and hid well. A bright full moon hung in the sky, illuminating the ground as brightly as day, making everything clearly visible.
The people in the house didn't go to rest. It seemed they were talking about something. Soon, someone came out, not one person but a group. The leader was an elderly man who walked with vigor. Behind him was a group of soldiers. Although they were also dressed in military uniforms, upon closer inspection, they seemed to be of a higher rank, different from the people they usually came into contact with.
A man rushed out of the house and shouted, "General Zhou, what on earth do you mean!"
Shi Ning'an's eyes widened. She would never forget this voice for the rest of her life. It was Wei Hongmiao.
Wei Hongmiao had always been elegant all his life, whether in public or private. This was the first time Shi Ning'an heard him so angry.
The old man turned back and glanced at him, then said indifferently, "Without receiving the prince's letter, I will never send out troops."
Wei Hongmiao had his back to Shi Ning'an. There was a fence blocking them, and they weren't close. But Shi Ning'an still tensed up.
This was one of her greatest enemies from her past life. Shi Ning'an just wanted to rush up and stab him hundreds of times with a knife.
Wei Hongmiao looked very irritable. He grabbed his hair, not caring at all that this appearance was impolite, and said fiercely, "The prince ordered you to obey me. Have you forgotten!"
General Zhou stared at him sharply and said, "That was in the past. It was just a measure to build up your momentum. Wei Hongmiao, now you're just a stray dog. I've given you a place to stay, which is already giving you face. Do you really want to push your luck?"
Wei Hongmiao was so angry that he was about to rush up, but the attendant beside General Zhou immediately stopped him.
General Zhou said coldly, "Wei Hongmiao, the prince ordered you to come out and hide, not to bark like a mad dog."
Wei Hongmiao shouted, "The prince is being foolish. Does he think the Rong family is that easy to deal with?"
General Zhou waved his sleeve and led his men away.
Wei Hongmiao still chased after them and shouted, "The Rong family must have a backup plan! They pulled me down today, and soon it will affect the prince. The prince's pawns may not be useful!"
No one listened to him. He couldn't get out. Angrily, he knelt on the ground and pounded it hard.
A woman came out of the house. She was extremely thin, as if a gust of wind could blow her away. It was Shi Qingmei.
She was holding a bowl of medicine and walked over slowly. She knelt on the ground and held the medicine bowl high. "Master, please... drink the medicine."
Shi Ning'an's eyes widened in surprise. What was going on with Shi Qingmei? Master? Wasn't she supposed to marry Wei Hongmiao three months ago and become the wife of General Weibeng?
Master? Did Wei Hongmiao not marry her? Or was there some other change?
Wei Hongmiao turned around and knocked over the bowl of medicine. He got up and stepped on Shi Qingmei's head. "Slut! Who allowed you to speak!"
But the next moment, he fell to the ground, rolling while covering his chest. He pointed at Shi Qingmei. "The medicine. Hurry... get the medicine."
Shi Qingmei got up and gently stroked her hair. Seeing that Wei Hongmiao was about to grab her, she quickly took a step back. "Master, I'll go get the medicine for you right away."
She pretended to turn around. Suddenly, she pulled out her hairpin and pounced on Wei Hongmiao, stabbing the hairpin into his eye.
Shi Ning'an gasped. Immediately, a pair of hands appeared in front of her eyes. She was pulled by someone, and she couldn't see anything.
It wasn't Zeng Haomiao. It was the Prime Minister.
Shi Ning'an half - leaned against the Prime Minister's chest. Her mind was completely focused on Wei Hongmiao and Shi Qingmei.
Wei Hongmiao's scream pierced the sky. Soon, the surrounding soldiers came over with torches.
Shi Ning'an pursed her lips and said, "I want to see..."
The Prime Minister's hand only paused for a moment, then moved down half an inch, allowing her to see the scene in front while still being able to hide behind his arm at any time.
The soldiers came forward to pull them apart, but Shi Ning'an still saw that Wei Hongmiao grabbed Shi Qingmei's hair and pulled it hard. The hair was pulled out, with bloody scalp attached. But Shi Qingmei seemed not to feel the pain. She bit Wei Hongmiao hard and bit off his entire right ear.
The smell of blood filled Shi Ning'an's nose and mouth.
She should be happy, shouldn't she? In her past life, this heartless man and woman had treated the Rong family, her, and the young Zhier so terribly.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She gritted her teeth tightly until she tasted the blood in her mouth.
Shi Qingmei screamed shrilly, "Wei Hongmiao, you'll never come to a good end! Wei Hongmiao, I'm going to kill you today!"
Wei Hongmiao also screamed, "Pull her away. Kill this bitch! Kill her!"
The soldiers separated the two. Shi Qingmei was covered in blood from head to face. There was still a hairpin stuck in Wei Hongmiao's eye. He covered his eye and ear with his hands and rolled on the ground in pain.
General Zhou soon came back. He frowned at the scene on the ground and asked, "What happened?"
A soldier lowered his head and replied, "General, General Weibeng and his wife suddenly started fighting."
Shi Qingmei laughed maniacally. "Wei Hongmiao, you've bullied and humiliated me like this. Wei Hongmiao, do you think I have no way to deal with you? Do you know what caused your heart disease? Hahaha, it was me. It was all me. Wei Hongmiao, today is your death day!"
"Gag her mouth."
General Zhou gave the order and asked the military doctor to treat Wei Hongmiao's wounds. However, Wei Hongmiao was rolling on the ground in pain and only knew how to scream madly.
"Yinlang."
Shi Ning'an and the Prime Minister both turned around at the same time. They saw the lady standing behind them, looking at Shi Ning'an.
The Prime Minister let go of his hand and stood up. He casually pulled Shi Ning'an up.
Only then did General Zhou notice them. He waved and said, "Ayin is here? Come here."
Shi Ning'an got up and walked forward with the Prime Minister. Zeng Haomiao was extremely anxious and quickly reached out to hold her.
"Cousin."
Shi Ning'an comfortingly squeezed Zeng Haomiao's hand, indicating that he should follow them out.
Although Shi Qingmei's mouth was gagged, she still couldn't stop laughing maniacally. But the moment she saw Shi Ning'an, she desperately broke free from the soldiers' hands. For a moment, she managed to break free. She pulled out the rag in her mouth and pointed at Shi Ning'an.
"Shi Ning'an, why are you here?"
Shi Ning'an didn't answer.
Shi Qingmei went even more crazy and roared, "Shi Ning'an, you..."
The soldiers grabbed her again and stuffed the rag back into her mouth to keep her quiet.
Wei Hongmiao, who had been in extreme pain, seemed to regain a bit of consciousness when he heard Shi Qingmei's voice. He turned around and indeed saw Shi Ning'an standing beside the Prime Minister.
He couldn't speak anymore. The pain in his eye and ear was not as painful as the pain in his heart, which felt like being stabbed by a knife.
He was going to die. That bitch Shi Qingmei had already poisoned him. His days were numbered.
Wei Hongmiao curled up on the ground like a stray dog. His consciousness was gradually fading. He looked up at Shi Ning'an with his only remaining eye.
Shi Ning'an. He remembered the first time he saw her. It was at Rong Jian's birthday banquet. He had watched that young lady from afar, bright and innocent. At that time, he was so happy and confident, thinking that she would be his wife.
He had thought at that time that even if she had the blood of the Rong family in her, he didn't care. After getting rid of the Rong family, he would treat her well for the rest of his life.
But why had everything changed?
He had failed.
Wei Hongmiao tried his best to crawl in Shi Ning'an's direction. He stretched out his hand and tried to reach forward. It was hard to tell whether he wanted to grab Shi Ning'an or the little dream in his heart.
Unfortunately, it was too late for him. He stared at her with one eye and then lost his breath.
Shi Ning'an felt nauseous, but she forced it down. She had thought before that if she could see Wei Hongmiao die with her own eyes, she would surely laugh out of joy.
But when this day really came, she only felt a bit sad.
Wei Hongmiao had actually been killed by Shi Qingmei, who he had cherished like a treasure in his past life. Moreover, Wei Hongmiao and Shi Qingmei, who had been so in love in their past life, had ended up turning against each other in this life.
General Zhou showed no expression on his face. He waved his hand and said, "Carry General Weibeng out."
The attendant asked, "What about the general's wife?"
General Zhou didn't even look at Shi Qingmei. "The general's wife brutally killed her husband. Dispose of her according to military law."
"Wait a moment." Shi Ning'an spoke up. She walked over slowly and asked, "General, Shi Qingmei and I have a feud that can't be reconciled. I'd like to settle the score with her myself."