Chapter Twenty-Four: The Manifestation of Spirits

  The white flag was fine, why did it suddenly break?

  The people present felt a chill run down their spines, and they couldn't help but shiver as they shifted their gaze to the coffin of Old County Master. In their hearts, they already believed Zhang's claim that "County Master has shown his spirit" by about 70 or 80 percent.

  Zhao Kuang suddenly started shaking, his voice trembling as he muttered: "I didn't... I didn't kill my brother, I didn't! You can't wrong me, Father, you can't wrong me!!" He became more and more agitated, rushing straight to the coffin.

  "Are you still shameless enough to say it's unjust?! Your brother and sister-in-law's coffin is right behind you, watching you! If not for you, how would they have died in a foreign land?! She wailed towards the sky: "Duke, can you see?! Your most beloved son, your most promising son, your only legitimate son, was killed by this unfilial son!" After finishing speaking, her vision turned black and she almost fainted to the ground, Autumn Leaf hastily held her up tightly, tears streaming down.

  At this time, another white banner broke off and landed right on Zhao Jiong's head, making a soft "thud" sound as it fell to the ground.

  An eerie silence surrounds everything.

  If the broken white flag just made seven or eight out of ten people present believe that Old Governor Zhao had really shown his spirit, now it has become ten out of ten. Everyone is afraid, but more attention is focused on Zhao Jiong's reaction. Being publicly accused by his deceased father, does he still have the face to say anything?

  Zhao Kuang was indeed speechless, his whole body trembling with fear. He felt that he had not ordered the murder of his half-brother, but the fact remained that he had stood by and done nothing to save him, and had even ordered the surviving servants to be silenced. This crime he could not escape, no matter what. And now, with his father's spirit appearing after death, he was truly enraged. How would his father punish him? In that instant, it seemed as though he saw his father's dying appearance before him, and the shock was even greater, his trembling growing more intense. To outsiders, his face was pale, sweat pouring down like rain, looking as though he might faint at any moment.

  Gao Cheng carefully crawled over: "Hou Ye?" Zhao Jiong didn't respond, he tried to stretch out his hand and gently patted Zhao Jiong's arm: "Hou..." Before he could finish speaking, he heard Zhao Jiong let out a sharp cry, turned around and pushed Gao Cheng aside, snatched the reins from the servant's hands, mounted the horse and rushed through the crowd towards the city gate.

  。

  Everyone was stunned and slowly came back to their senses. Zhao Jiong... had he run away in fear?

  Madam Zhang slowly regained her composure, sneered at the scene before her, and gazed at the coffin of Old Master Zhao. She silently shed tears. Now she truly believed that Master Zhao was protecting their family, and if not for his unworthy descendants being too cruel and ruthless, her son and daughter-in-law would not have died such a miserable death. With thoughts of her late husband's love and loyalty in mind, she made up her mind to raise her grandchildren well and revive the Zhao family's fortunes.

  Zhao Kuai ran away, Gao Cheng lost his backing, and he shrank his head and body, not knowing what to do. Zhao Yun's face was awkward, just now he was beaten by his uncle, his body still hurt, wanting to come out and say something, but feeling that everyone was despising him, he felt ashamed and hesitant, not daring to stand up.

  Finally, the old man stood up: "Don't all block the city gate, it's not enough to make people laugh. Today is also unknown who calculated the auspicious day, where is the auspicious? Hurry up and take the coffin back home, re-embalm, and choose a good day for burial. The couple just returned home, no need to rush into the ground, those who should hold funeral rites will hold funeral rites, don't learn from small families not calculating, at home only stop spirit for three days then bury, whose family rule is this?!"

  He is the highest-ranking elder of the Zhao family at present, and with his words, Zhang Shi had no choice but to comply. As a result, the burial ceremony for Old Master Zhao started off with great fanfare, but ended in a whimper, leaving behind endless gossip among the people of Fengxian.

  Mrs. Zhang was supported back to the Zhao family's old mansion, and as soon as she sat down in the main hall of the front courtyard, Wang Si Ping led a group of servants to come and pay their respects. Mrs. Zhang didn't have the energy, so she let them go back first. Wang Si Ping stayed behind, quietly asking her: "Earlier, I was scolded by Master Hou for being incompetent in handling affairs, and my position as housekeeper was removed. Many things were not taken care of. The coffins of Second Master and Second Madam were hastily prepared, very simple and thin. Now that the old madam has returned, should... all these be re-prepared? The mourning hall should also be set up, and formal notifications should be sent to each household. Earlier, all these matters were hastily handled, and Master Hou did not publicly inform relatives and friends. Only a few households that frequently came and went heard about the passing of Second Master and Second Madam, and they simply came to pay their respects..."

  Zhang's spirits lifted slightly: "You're indeed a meticulous person, these things can't be delayed, let's get them all done. You've been the chief steward at the Hou estate for decades, in terms of ability and experience, no one can surpass you. Such important matters should still be entrusted to you to put my mind at ease."

  Wang Siping was overjoyed in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face. He bowed respectfully and retreated.

  Gao Cheng was furious upon hearing the news, but he didn't dare say anything in front of Zhang. He could only constantly send his subordinates to look for Jian Nan Hou Zhao Jiong.

  Zhao Kuang indeed suffered retribution. He rode his horse at full gallop into the wilderness, originally just wanting to escape and vent his emotions, but he was too excited, had already lost his rationality and calmness, continuously whipping the horse beneath him, the horse couldn't bear the pain, ran faster and faster, finally unable to endure it, let out a miserable cry and also went mad, throwing him to the ground and running away on its own.

  Zhao Jiong was thrown into a state of dizziness and confusion, feeling intense pain all over his body. Although he was still conscious, he couldn't speak or move, and lay there in the wilderness, exposed to the cold wind. He lay there for nearly an hour before being found by a servant sent by Gao Cheng, who wailed and cried as they carried him back to the Zhao residence.

  Everyone on the way saw that Zhao Kuang had fallen off his horse and was secretly discussing it, saying that he had done evil and suffered retribution. The Duke of Zhao was furious with this unfilial son and heavily punished him.

  When Gao Cheng returned to the Zhao family home, he saw him like this and was secretly worried, but did not dare inform Zhang's side, so he went to beg Zhao Yun.

  Zhao Yu was still fuming about Zhao Hong's behavior, he really felt that he had been wronged, and had never had any ill intentions. He had only stepped forward to persuade Zhang Shi's mother and son to send the spirit back to their hometown because his cousin and cousin-in-law had asked for his help. How could he have known that they were harboring such malicious intentions in their hearts? Not only did they scare him half to death, but also made it uncertain whether he would be able to keep his position as head of the clan in the future.

  What made him even more distressed was that his father had been removed from the position of clan leader because of his mistakes, and at that time, the old man was already advanced in age. After not being the clan leader for a few years, he passed away, suffering a lot before his death. But now, he is still not very old, if he really doesn't become the clan leader, how will he spend the rest of his life?

  When Gao Cheng arrived in front of him, he had a somewhat defeated tone: "Does Master Hou still have any use for me? Doesn't he care that I've been ruined by him?! Does he even have the face to call you here?"

  Gao Cheng could only bitterly implore: "You and our young master are closely related as uncle and nephew, now that he's fallen ill, who else can we turn to? I also don't dare trouble you to speak with the elderly madam, just please help us invite one or two skilled doctors to take a look at our young master's injury, I'll be eternally grateful."

  Zhao Yu's face slightly eased, and he snorted: "What does this humble servant have to be grateful for?!" But still ordered someone to take his own note and invite a famous doctor who was familiar with him.

  Who would have thought that today's turmoil at the Zhao family would be so big, everyone in Fengxian County has heard about it, and they all despise and disdain Zhaoyong, the Duke of Jiannan. The famous doctor is also a man with great integrity, and he doesn't deign to treat him. Moreover, since Zhao Yu's body has suspicions of being an accomplice to evil, even Zhao Yu is not welcomed. He pushes it off, saying that he will be leaving soon to visit friends and won't be back for a while, asking him not to come looking for him again.

  Zhao Yu was dumbfounded, while Gao Cheng scolded loudly: "This doctor has a big nerve, daring to refuse the invitation card of our Duke Nan's mansion?! What kind of person is he? He also dares to put on airs in front of us, the Duke Nan's mansion?!" He shouted and wanted to send someone to teach that doctor a lesson, mentioning beating him up, reporting to the authorities, ruining his family, and imprisoning him.

  Zhao Yu's eldest son, Zhao, was a sensible person. Seeing the situation, he didn't bother to argue with his father and only advised him: "Nowadays, are there still people in the county who don't know what happened to our Zhao family? Reasonably speaking, Lord Hou has gone too far this time. If this matter gets out of hand, whether he can keep his title or not is still uncertain. Why bother making more enemies for him? I think Father doesn't need to be so particular about it either. If there's a doctor who knows us and has decent medical skills, let's invite him over to take a look at Lord Hou's injuries first, and then we can send someone to a farther town tomorrow to invite another famous doctor."

  Gao Cheng became anxious, wanting to say something more. Zhao coldly glanced at him: "What time is it now? Is the young master's injury urgent or do you want to vent your anger urgently?! This doctor has a great reputation in the entire Shanghai prefecture, you scolded him, other doctors will be intimidated, who would dare to treat the young master? Even if they were forced to come, could they still put their heart into it?" Gao Cheng was speechless, and resentfully shut his mouth.

  Zhao Yu sighed: "Forget it, let's do it your way."

  Zhao personally invited a mediocre but experienced old doctor to treat Zhao Jiong's injuries. It had been three hours since Zhao Jiong fell off his horse. He lay stiffly in bed, and when the maid changed his clothes and slightly touched his body, he felt unbearable pain and cursed loudly, making all the maids in the room cry within three hours. The old doctor was displeased upon seeing this scene, and having heard rumors about Zhao Jiong beforehand, he had no good impression of him.

  After feeling the pulse, the old doctor came to a not-so-good conclusion: Zhao Kuang had broken his bones. Not only were the bones of his limbs and feet injured, but also the bones on his back. Such injuries should not be moved easily, but the servants of the Zhao family did not know this and carried him all the way home. During this time, they had to move him again, change his clothes, give him water to drink, and other trivial matters, which made Zhao Kuang's injuries even more severe. If he was not treated properly, he might not be able to stand up for the rest of his life.

  Zhao Kuangyu was struck by lightning, and what the doctor meant is... he's paralyzed?!