After all the trouble, Lai Weiqi was already very angry. He didn't know where to vent his anger. But now Chen Dong was following him closely, and he didn't even have the chance to ask someone to go back to the city to report the news.
Besides, this matter was too special. Since Song Heng had already planned it, if he reported the news at this time, he might fall into Song Heng's trap.
Therefore, he returned to the residence in a state of anxiety. Seeing the remaining members of the Xu family still arguing, he immediately became furious and shouted coldly: "What are you arguing about?!"
The common people in the houses had already fled to other places. At this moment, there were only the Xu and Song families and the Jinyiwei people here. The Song family members were busy taking care of Uncle Jiang, and the group of people who followed Chen Dong back were also anxiously asking about the medicine. No one paid any attention to this side.
When the Xu family saw Uncle Long, the former scout guard who had just returned, some of them immediately had red eyes and told Uncle Long that things were not going well: "The doctor is useless. This is a barefoot doctor from the neighborhood who doesn't know how to treat arrow wounds. He said he didn't dare to pull out the arrow..."
They were all old members of the Xu family, and they had a natural affinity and respect for the master of the Duke's Mansion. Xu Ying was injured like this, and they didn't need to go back and wait for punishment, as they themselves couldn't bear it first.
Uncle Long's expression changed, and he didn't care about much at the moment. He suppressed the rage in his heart and said to Lai Weiqi: "Master Lai, please do me a favor and let me go see my young master..."
Chen Dong looked over, Lai Weiqi coughed, smiled awkwardly, and said, "Now the matter has not been clarified yet, and the case has not been tried yet. Where did the prisoner come from? We must cure the person first. You go."
Uncle Long agreed, lifted his robe and quickly walked into Xu Ying's room.
Lai Weiqi thought about it, walked towards Chen Dong and the others, and asked about Uncle Jiang's injuries.
Uncle Jiang was seriously injured. The lethality of Xu Ying's crossbow arrow was obviously extraordinary. The arrow pierced Uncle Jiang's shoulder blade. It can be imagined that Xu Ying was indeed aiming to kill people at that time.
But the people of the Song family are experienced, and because Song Heng arrived in time, Uncle Jiang was able to save his life.
Lai Weiqi narrowed his eyes and felt his mind was in a mess. When he came out of Uncle Jiang's room, the sky was already turning pale.
I don't know how much trouble I'll cause on this trip back to Beijing...
He stood on the steps, and before he could sigh, there was a commotion in Xu Ying's room. Then a guard from the Xu family who had been guarding Xu Ying ran out in panic: "Oh no! Something's wrong with our second young master. Doctor, come here quickly!"
Lai Weiqi was startled, walked towards him quickly and asked, "What's going on?!"
The guard was so anxious that he started to cry: "Second Young Master's arrow...Uncle Long said that the arrow has a barb..."
Song Heng's arrows were specially made by him, with barbs, so if you tried to pull out the arrows, you would usually die faster.
Lai Weiqi cursed, walked past him and entered the house, only to see Xu Ying lying on the shabby bed, looking like she was about to die.
Uncle Long, who had been very calm before, was now very angry and urged the doctor to stop the bleeding.
But the bleeding would not stop. The doctor was so anxious that he cried, "I... I have never treated such a case before! The arrow is right in the heart. If it can be pulled out, the bleeding can stop, and there may be hope. But now the arrow has a barb. If it is pulled out forcefully, the barb may pierce somewhere else. I am afraid this young master will die even faster..."
If Xu Ying died, it would be a big deal.
Lai Weiqi didn't have time to think about anything else. He hurriedly asked someone to see if there were other doctors. He then tried to remove the arrow himself. Then he looked at his confidant Lai Yuquan and said, "Go to the Chengguo Mansion in the city to report the news!"
The Duke Cheng's Mansion was busy early in the morning. Zhang Linghui handed the cards to the housekeepers in the meeting room and looked at everyone coldly: "The Duke Cheng's Mansion's Spring Banquet has always been famous in the capital. This year is the first time I take over to host it. I hope all the mothers will do their best and don't embarrass me. It will also make life difficult for everyone."
She is always gentle on the outside but strong on the inside; her words may sound nice, but her methods are not weak at all.
When she first got married, the mansion was still headed by the wife of the Duke, and the rules were strict. The housekeepers were all the wife's dowry or the house-born children with long seniority in the mansion. They all looked down on others. But in just a decade or so, those housekeepers were either squeezed into unimportant positions, or lost their jobs, or some went to farms outside. From top to bottom, it seemed that they were either Zhang Linghui's dowry or people who pleased her.
As soon as she spoke, everyone agreed without hesitation and went to work in an orderly manner.
Zhang Linghui went back to change her clothes, and then a message came in from the outside office saying that Mrs. Zhang and her uncle had arrived.
The Zhang family is a relative by marriage, and has always been very close to the Duke's Mansion over the years. When Zhang Linghui heard that her mother and brother from her natal family had come, she smiled, and hurriedly asked someone to invite them in, and she went to the second gate to greet them in person.
Mrs. Zhang saw her daughter at a glance, and couldn't help but smile and pull her hand: "I'll ask your third sister-in-law to come over and see if there is anything I can help with."
The eldest master of the Zhang family died early, and as a widow, Grandmother Zhang would never come out to visit. The second grandma also followed the second master to take up a post outside, so only the third grandma who was in Beijing came with the third master.
The third grandmother of the Zhang family smiled tactfully: "Our aunt is good at everything. Everyone knows that she is a well-known virtuous person. How can you need my help? I am afraid that I will only cause more trouble."
Everyone laughed. Zhang Linghui let them in. Madam Zhang pulled her daughter's hand and said, "Who did you invite as your host? Today I heard you said you also invited Princess Mingchang and the others. We must not neglect them."
She also asked what opera troupe was invited today and which restaurant was used for the banquet, fearing that her daughter had not considered something.
"We have invited the princess to accompany us. With the princess here, we don't have to worry about neglecting the nobles." Zhang Linghui smiled and explained to her mother: "Princess Zhuang is pregnant, so we dare not disturb her. Princess Mingchang and Princess Yunzhang have replied to the invitation and will come. In addition, Madam Qin, Madam Tian, and Madam Wang will also come..."
With so many distinguished guests coming, her daughter was able to arrange everything so well. Madam Zhang looked at Zhang Linghui lovingly and nodded slightly: "I knew you would never make anyone worry."
Grandma Zhang San also smiled and agreed, with a warm and subtle smile on her face.
Zhang Linghui smiled and helped her mother into the flower hall.