spoiled brat

Chapter 29 28. Spring Harmony (8)

He raised an eyebrow dismissively and said:
"Let's go, don't get involved with those idiots."

Without hesitation, the orderly and solemn group of people continued forward.

Several bandits and Zhao Zhao were bound hand and foot and left on the ground to await the soldiers' treatment. Zhao Zhao sat on the ground in a sorry state, coldly watching the group gradually disappear into the distance.

As the carriage passed by, the curtain was lifted slightly, revealing an extremely beautiful face.

He was a young man, wearing a crystal-inlaid gold crown, with a gold hairpin tied horizontally, and long vermilion tassels hanging down on both sides of his hair bun. He was dressed in a bright red brocade robe with gold embroidery.

Such a flamboyant and extravagant outfit does not suit his appearance.

His face, as white as jade, was almost transparent. His phoenix eyes were slightly upturned, and there was a small red mole between his brows. His eyes were very pale, like light-colored glass, radiating a faint light, coldly and clearly reflecting Zhao Zhao's face.

That condescending gaze carried an almost pitying mockery, mixed with a touch of detached inquiry, and finally turned into disgust.

He withdrew his hand, and the curtain fell.

Zhao Zhao had met him about two weeks ago.

He sat beside Xiu Ning, who was presenting Zhao Zhao with the hairpin, dressed in flowing white robes.

So this was the Prince Ning she had been listening to all along.

Zhao Zhao had imagined what he looked like—a crane in the clouds? A fairy in a painting? But none of them were what she imagined. This person looked like the moon, which was unattainable in the sky, and anyone who saw him would feel dirty.

Recalling the last look he gave her, Zhao Zhao felt disgusted. They were clearly siblings, so why was one like a clear frost under the moon, while the other was like a cold glint of a knife?
The sound of wheels gradually faded into the distance, and Xiao Duo led a group of soldiers to find them: "Zhao Zhao'er!"

He had a new wound on his arm, one he'd inflicted with a stone to make himself feel the pain and wake up. He untied Zhao Zhao's ropes, hugged her tightly, and said through tears:

"...I thought you were dead, I thought you were dead!"

Fortunately, Zhao Zhao and Xiao Duo were lucky enough to encounter a reasonable official who, after listening to both sides' testimonies, immediately clarified the case and ordered the four bandits to be escorted back to their hometown.

The night was full of twists and turns, and when dawn broke, the two of them still felt like they were in a dream.

Even after receiving the medicine and boarding the carriage back to Qingyang County, Zhao Zhao remained lost in thought and silent.

Xiao Duo thought she was too fragile and overly frightened, so he comforted her, "We won't go out and run around at night anymore..."

Zhao Zhao was silent for a moment, then said, "Xiao Duo, we need to learn how to use a knife."

She hadn't forgotten the fear of running for her life amidst the flashing swords, nor the humiliation of having her wrist struck with a knife from above.

A vague resentment arose in her heart, hazy and indistinct like mist, its target unclear. When she finally dispelled that mist, she realized that she was actually hating her own powerlessness.

Xiao Duo smiled and said okay, adding that she would work hard to practice her sword skills in the future to protect Zhao Zhao.

He said a lot, but Zhao Zhao didn't listen to a word he said. She remained silent for a long time, and a sinister thought popped into her mind.

Zhao Zhao asked, "Those bandits who tried to kill us, were they imprisoned in the county jail after they were taken back?"

“Wandering around, injuring people…” Xiao Duo nodded. He knew a little about the law and estimated, “It’s either eighty strokes of the cane or forty strokes of the rod. If we spend money to pull some strings, we can get them to do hard labor for a few years.”

Zhao Zhao then asked, "So that means they'll come back someday?"

Xiao Duo sensed a hint of coldness in her voice, and after a moment's thought, she understood. She quickly lowered her voice and advised:

"Zhaozhao, leave yourself an out! Those people were just murderers after all, they were after money. If we bribe them, they might come in handy in the future..."

"Win him over? What use is this stupid and wicked piece of trash who can't even kill two children?" Zhao Zhao sneered. "Besides, what kind of person can you win over with money? If I give him money today and he listens to me, but I don't give him any tomorrow, won't he just come back with a knife to kill me?"

Xiao Duo is a person who is tactful both inside and out, but Zhao Zhao is not.

She was like an overly timid and cautious cat, unable to trust anyone who tried to harm her.

Xiao Duo gazed into Zhao Zhao's deep, dark eyes, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't see into her heart.

He cried out in alarm and gripped Zhao Zhao's hand tightly, disregarding everything else:

“We’re friends, and I will never stand idly by when it comes to your affairs… If you have any ideas in mind, remember to discuss them with me.”

Zhao Zhao tried to pull her hand away, but Xiao Duo gripped it tighter, uttering a single sentence firmly:

"I'll wade through any muddy water with you!"

He was willing, but Zhao Zhao was too lazy to drag him down with her sins. Back at the brothel, Zhao Zhao called Manager Zhang over and gave him the medicine. After examining it closely, Manager Zhang smiled bitterly:

"The quality is correct, but you overcharged by almost double."

This medicine was difficult to prepare, and out of gratitude for Zhao Zhao's kindness, he turned down business at the shop and personally oversaw the preparation in the backyard.

Just as the smoke and fire were rising, Zhao Zhao's voice rang in his ears:

"Uncle Zhang."

Manager Zhang raised his head, meeting Zhao Zhao's unfathomable eyes. He looked away, glanced around, and asked curiously:

"It's rare to see Xiaoduo not by your side."

Zhao Zhao sat down on a small wooden stool next to him, her face bearing her usual smile—the smile of a thirteen-year-old girl.
"He's busy in the front building."

She paused, then took out some silver from her sleeve and handed it over:
"There's something I'd like to ask you."

Zhao Zhao had helped Manager Zhang a lot and covered up many things, so Manager Zhang naturally always granted her requests and readily agreed:
"Zhao Zhao'er, just say the word if you need anything."

"It's nothing big, just a small favor for Uncle Zhang."

Zhao Zhao lowered her eyes and dusted off the hem of her clothes: "I was bitten by a rat a few days ago and I wanted to ask Uncle Zhang for some rat poison."

"Bited by a rat? This is no small matter!" Manager Zhang's face showed worry, and he quickly asked with concern, "Zhao Zhao'er, where was she bitten? Uncle Zhang will treat her. It would be terrible if she caught the plague!"

He genuinely cared, but Zhao Zhao was lying.

She looked embarrassed and whispered, "I've already applied wood ash..."

Manager Zhang guessed that she was embarrassed to show her wound because of its location, and was about to give her some advice when Zhao Zhao spoke up calmly:

"Uncle Zhang, I need arsenic."

Arsenic?

This stuff is difficult to make and is highly poisonous. Its production and sale are strictly controlled, and pharmacies of all sizes must report the sale of arsenic.

"This..." Manager Zhang's expression gradually darkened, "This is not something that can be sold indiscriminately."

If one is not careful, the trouble caused by arsenic will also affect the seller.

Zhao Zhao looked at him with disappointment, not saying a word more. Her silence spoke volumes, and all sorts of feelings of guilt were hidden in her eyes.

Manager Zhang turned his head away and sighed:

"...Fine, I guess I owe you something."

Despite agreeing, Manager Zhang remained cautious. Fearing investigation by the authorities, he only allowed a few milliliters of arsenic to leak out each day, and after several days, he finally accumulated a palm-sized packet of arsenic.

He secretly slipped it to Zhaozhao, pointing with his fingers to show a fingernail-sized amount, indicating that this was enough, and carefully instructed her:
"After poisoning the rats, bury the rest in a hole... This is a harmful substance!"

Zhao Zhao nodded repeatedly and said with a smile, "Okay."

At night, a torrential downpour began, with occasional claps of thunder. A stark white light pierced through the window, falling into Zhao Zhao's indifferent eyes.

Zhao Zhao lay on her side on the bed, her eyes fixed on the unassuming wooden box on the table. She hoped that God would give her a reason to leave the room with a clear conscience.

Then go and kill people.

This is not easy; she needs some encouragement.

Zhao Zhao tapped the edge of the bed gently with her fingers, counting in her mind, thud, thud, thud... She counted up to ten, but still didn't hear a clap of thunder as she wished.

It's okay, count it again.

Zhao Zhao tapped the edge of the bed with her knuckles. Her heart was racing, but she deliberately slowed down her movements. She did this several times, and all she could hear outside the window was the rustling of rain through the trees.

It seems that I can't wait any longer.

Zhao Zhao sat up, lit the candle on the table, and sat quietly.

The paper window couldn't withstand the wind and tore at one corner, causing the candlelight to flicker in the wind and even the bright shadow cast on the wall to ripple.