TRBDM -Chapter 26 Hit Back

Wei Zhaorong’s voice rang out loudly. The students who had been inside the classroom doing their assignments followed the sound and came over.

“Teacher Shen had an urgent matter at home and went back temporarily. He’s not here,” one of the students replied.

Wei Zhaorong immediately understood. Taking advantage of Shen Xiansheng’s absence, Zhang Lin had bullied Xie Lan.

Not seeing Xie Lan anywhere made her heart tighten. “Where is Lan’er?”

“Old Madam, Third Young Master is behind the rockery. Second Young Master Zhang is choking him!” Shi Yi clutched his ribs and hurriedly cried out for help.

His lips had already turned pale from the pain.

Wei Zhaorong’s mind was filled only with Xie Lan. She paid no attention to Shi Yi and strode quickly toward the rockery.

The moment she stepped inside, the scene before her made fury surge from her feet to her head.

Xie Lan’s face was flushed deep red, his eyes nearly bulging out. Frail as he was, he clutched his money pouch with all his strength while Zhang Lin sat astride him, repeatedly punching his chest.

Before Wei Zhaorong could speak, Nanny Qi stepped forward and shoved Zhang Lin aside.

Though Nanny Qi was already in her forties, she was incredibly strong.

She had practiced martial arts in her youth; dealing with a spoiled young master like Zhang Lin was effortless.

“Ow! Ow! Which blind dog dares to touch this young master?!”

Cursing loudly, Zhang Lin scrambled to his feet and was about to grab the insolent offender when he realized something was wrong.

He had assumed it was another student from the private school, but the elderly woman before him was clearly a senior maid from some noble household.

“Y-you… who are you?” Zhang Lin’s eyes flickered with unease.

“I am the personal maid of the Old Madam of the Mingde Marquis Manor. Second Young Master Zhang, you bullied our Third Young Master while Teacher Shen was away, and we caught you in the act. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Only then did Zhang Lin notice Wei Zhaorong standing at the entrance of the rockery.

His face changed instantly. “A misunderstanding—just a misunderstanding! Xie Lan and I were only fooling around. We’re good friends. We always joke like this, without restraint. Don’t take it seriously, Nanny.”

Wei Zhaorong’s face was so dark it seemed water could drip from it. “Lan’er, tell me. Were you joking?”

Xie Lan’s throat was red and raw. He coughed violently, and only after a long while could he speak.

“Mother, we were not joking. Zhang Lin tried to steal my silver. When I refused, he tried to choke me to death. He even wanted to drown Shi Yi in the pond. Everything he just said was a lie.”

Fearless, Xie Lan directly exposed Zhang Lin’s true nature.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Zhang Lin gritted his teeth. “We always play like this. You can’t slander me just because the Old Madam is here.”

Wei Zhaorong’s gaze was as cold as ice. “If it’s just play, then it shouldn’t be one-sided bullying.”

“I can overlook what happened before. But just now—however you ‘played’ with Lan’er—I will let him play back in the same way. Zhang Lin, do you have any objections?”

Zhang Lin was stuck between a rock and a hard place. If he refused, he would be admitting to bullying. If he agreed, then in front of everyone at the private school, where would he put his pride?

But Wei Zhaorong gave him no chance to refuse.

“Lan’er. Start ‘playing.’”

Worthy of Wei Zhaorong’s high regard, Xie Lan might not yet have fully recovered from Zhang Lin’s assault, but her words were like a powerful tonic.

He sprang to his feet, grabbed Zhang Lin by the throat, and began to squeeze.

Though Xie Lan was neither as tall nor as strong as Zhang Lin, he showed not a trace of hesitation.

Zhang Lin resisted fiercely. Xie Lan did not gain much advantage at first, but the thrill of striking back made him like a newly unsheathed blade—sharp and fearless.

Seeing that her Third Young Master was struggling to subdue Zhang Lin, Nanny Qi stepped in. Taking advantage of a moment of inattention, she delivered a vicious kick to the back of Zhang Lin’s knee, knocking him straight to the ground.

“Xie Lan, you’re fighting dirty!”

Zhang Lin had barely finished cursing when Xie Lan tightened his grip. Zhang Lin’s eyes bulged outward, his face swelling into a dark purplish red.

This time, Zhang Lin completely lost the upper hand and had no strength left to resist.

He frantically slapped at Xie Lan’s arm, signaling him to let go.

Xie Lan was terrifyingly calm, not reducing his strength in the slightest.

Only when Zhang Lin’s limbs stopped struggling and his body went limp did Xie Lan finally release his hold.

“Cough, cough… cough…”

Zhang Lin coughed so violently that the world seemed to spin. A metallic taste surged up his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Wei Zhaorong cast him a cold glance before stepping out from behind the rockery.

“Who just pressed Shi Yi into the pond?”

“Old Madam, we’ll do it ourselves. No need for you to act.”

The two servants who had laid hands on him were frightened out of their wits. After witnessing their master’s fate, they wisely dragged themselves into the pond without being told.

Without a word from Wei Zhaorong, they did not dare lift their heads.

Only when the two were down to their last breath did Wei Zhaorong give a slight look. Nanny Qi then ordered them to come out.

Like Zhang Lin, the two men collapsed by the pond, coughing so hard their lungs felt as though they would burst.

“Send for a doctor.”

“Yes.”

Before long, a physician arrived carrying his medicine box. Wei Zhaorong took the seat that had belonged to Mr. Shen and had the doctor examine Xie Lan.

After taking his pulse, the doctor said, “Third Young Master Xie is not seriously injured, but he has been badly frightened. There are bruising marks on his neck. I’ll prescribe something to calm the nerves and reduce the bruising. He must rest quietly for the next few days and must not be subjected to further stimulation.”

“Mm.”

The doctor waited for further instructions from Wei Zhaorong, but Xie Lan spoke first.

“Doctor, please also examine my bookboy.”

Shi Yi had been waiting outside. At the doctor’s call, he stepped in.

Wei Zhaorong’s heart had been entirely focused on Xie Lan; she had nearly forgotten the bookboy.

Only when Xie Lan mentioned him did she remember the frail child who had protected his master.

Shi Yi entered with his head lowered. He first knelt and kowtowed to Wei Zhaorong before carefully sitting opposite the doctor.

Xie Lan stood behind him and patted his shoulder, signaling him not to be nervous.

For the first time, Wei Zhaorong’s gaze truly settled on Shi Yi.

And the moment she looked, she was startled.

Those peach-blossom eyes—why did they look so familiar?

She was certain she had seen such eyes somewhere before.

Before she could think it through, the doctor had finished the examination. Shi Yi immediately stood and lowered his head again, hiding those eyes from view.

“Reporting to Old Madam Xie, the bookboy was kicked in the abdomen. There may be some internal injury. He should avoid moving about or carrying heavy loads for the next few days. After some time, he will recover.”

Nanny Qi stepped forward and discreetly slipped the doctor some silver.

“Thank you, Doctor. This way, please.”

She escorted him out of the private school.

Only after the doctor had left did Zhang Lin realize something was wrong—he hadn’t been examined at all.

His throat hurt unbearably. He had just walked back from the gates of death. Why hadn’t the doctor treated him?

“Don’t go—look at me,” Zhang Lin shouted.

His voice, injured as it was, came out barely above a whisper. The doctor didn’t hear him.

But the other students present did.

They exchanged glances and stole a look at the stern Old Madam Xie seated above. Not a single one dared to speak.

“Hey! Don’t go—examine me!”

Zhang Lin tried to chase after the doctor, but his legs were so weak he could barely stand.

He struggled for a moment. Seeing that no one paid him any attention, he was so furious he nearly flipped the table.

Just then, someone came hurrying in from outside.

Shen Yingke had arrived.