Chapter 86 - Jia Zhong’s Anger (1/2)

Chapter 86: Jia Zhong’s Anger

When Ling Zhang returned to the Green Bamboo Mansion, he found that Zhang Liu was no longer there, so he asked Yuwen Tong, “You’ve finished talking already? Where’s Guard Zhang?”

“I had Yao Yi take him to his room to have a rest. How was your talk with your uncle?”

“My uncle said that he would make arrangements for Guard Zhang to enter the Pear Blossom Garden.”

Yuwen Tong nodded. “That’s good.”

Ling Zhaowen took quick action. The next noon, he returned from the Pear Blossom Garden and came to Yuwen Tong’s place, informing him that necessary arrangements had been made, that Zhang Liu could enter the Pear Blossom Garden in the afternoon.

After putting some efforts into it, Zhang Liu disguised himself as a blind physician who specialized in gynecology. He had changed into scholar’s clothes and undergone simple countenance transformation. His eyes closed, a medicine chest on his back, a bamboo cane in his hand, his gait slightly unsteady, he was now someone furthest removed from the bright-eyed, sure-footed and brisk guard he was the night before.

Ling Zhang was amazed. “You are such a master of disguise.”

“Thank you for your compliment, childe.” Yao Yi accepted Ling Zhang’s praise without any pretence at politeness, a smug smile on his face.

Ling Zhang also smiled, “Previously, you helped Uncle Lu disguise himself, and today you helped Guard Zhang in the same way. Have you been learning disguise for a long time?”

“I’ve been doing this for twelve years,” answered Yao Yi.

‘That was quite a long time,’ Ling Zhang secretly sighed in the knowledge that as he had expected, this amazing skill could not be mastered without years of practice.

“My uncle and I have to pay a visit to Lu family later today. I arranged for those guards to begin learning the first formation in the morning,” Ling Zhang told Yuwen Tong.

“I saw it. They were pretty good. In a way, they have made a considerable improvement after the foundation was laid,” Yuwen Tong commented.

Since Ling Zhang had put quite some effort into teaching those guards, he felt proud to hear Yuwen Tong praise them.

“After all things here are handled, I’ll recall the twelve men in the herb farm.”

“Are there any unresolved issues in the herb farm?”

“Since Supervisor Zhou and the twelve guards are there, and those herb farmers are also vigilant, the farm is fairly safe for the moment.”

Ling Zhang believed that Zhang Chong probably wouldn’t be able to find the time to send his men to the herb farm to make trouble.

As chance would have it, he chanced upon Zhang Chong again when he visited Lu family in the afternoon that day.

Naturally, Ling Zhang made no gesture of friendliness whatsoever at Zhang Chong. It was because of Ling Zhaowen’s presence that he blandly greeted Zhang Chong.

Zhang Chong briefly sized up Ling Zhang and then inexplicably observed, “Childe Ling also came here. It’s been a couple of days since our last meeting. You seem to be in even better health.”

“Thank you for your concern, Commander Zhang. I owe my good health to your kindness,” replied Ling Zhang.

“I don’t dare to claim the credit for it. I only hope that Childe Ling does not hold grudges against me,” said Zhang Chong.

“Never would I do that. Commander Zhang must be joking,” Ling Zhang said calmly.

Zhang Chong softly snorted and then walked into the mourning hall, followed by his attendants.

He lit three joss sticks and paid his respect to the deceased before saying to Lu Fengnian, “May I ask when Lu family will hold a funeral for Lord Lu? I’ll schedule some time and come here to see Lord Lu off.”

Lu Fengnian heaved a sigh and replied with a sorrowful and indignant look on his face, “The murderer is still at large. Yesterday, an eminent Buddhist monk who came here to help my son find his path to the Pure Land said that the spirit of my son was filled with resentment, that now was not the perfect time to bury him. It’s best if we hold the funeral after the murderer is brought to justice.”

Zhang Chong unnoticeably knitted his eyebrows and then said, “Are you saying that you’ll keep waiting leaving Lord Lu’s body in this hall? Isn’t that synonymous with stopping Lord Lu from resting in peace?”

“We won’t wait for long. In a few days, if they still can’t find the whereabouts of the murderer, we’ll invite the eminent monk around again to hold a dharma a.s.sembly.”

It was after hearing this that the look on Zhang Chong’s face grew faintly milder. “Prefecture Guards have been searching for the criminal all along these days, but that ruffian fled so quick that his whereabouts is still unknown. I failed Lu family.”

“You’ve done your best, Commander Zhang. I can understand.”

“Thank you for your understanding. In any case, I’ll do whatever I can to make sure Lu family gets the justice it seeks.”

“I’m very grateful to you, Commander Zhang.”

“There is no need for formalities, Old Master Lu. If you need any help, feel free to inform me.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Zhang Chong finished his talk with Lu Fengnian and left. He didn’t look at Ling Zhang or Ling Zhaowen before walking out of the mansion.

“It’s been only a couple of days, yet Zhang Chong couldn’t wait to ask about the time for Uncle Lu’s funeral,” Ling Zhang said with a cold countenance.

“Hump! Jia Zhong has been proactively trying to bribe Lord Tao into helping him get the position of the Right Tongzhi which has just become available, but Lord Tao didn’t agree. He even said that it had only been a couple of days since Lord Lu’s death and the murderer was still at large, so this matter should be left aside for the moment. Jia Zhong probably has gone to ask Zhang Chong for help in his anxiety,” Ling Zhaowen explained.

“No wonder,” said Ling Zhang in a cold tone of voice.