Chapter 34: You Really Intend to Save Him!

"I was just teasing you—look at yourself! Hurry over to Nan’s house and deliver the pastries and pheasant. Most importantly, borrow their handcart."

Zhang Xiaolan had only been joking with Xiaolian; she would never actually marry her off to this mysterious man. She instructed Xiaolian to go to Nan’s house and borrow a cart so they could both carry the man back for treatment.

"Miss, you really mean to save him? And you want to stay here alone?"

Xiaolian’s face was full of worry and unease. She couldn’t understand what Zhang Xiaolan was thinking—insisting on picking up a man in black halfway through their outing, seemingly unconcerned for her own safety.

"Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Remember to hurry back!"

Zhang Xiaolan wasn’t the least bit worried; in fact, she found the situation rather amusing. She wanted to treat this man in black as a subject of study. Besides, his face didn’t look at all fierce, which was why she felt moved to compassion.

Unable to persuade Zhang Xiaolan, Xiaolian had no choice but to run off to Nan’s house by herself. She was quick on her feet; less than an hour later, she returned pushing the cart. Fortunately, she’d grown up in the countryside—otherwise, maneuvering the heavy farm cart would have been no easy task.

"Miss, I’m back," Xiaolian announced, panting from exhaustion. She’d rushed all the way, afraid that something might happen to Zhang Xiaolan while she was gone.

"You’re amazing, Xiaolian! You’re back so soon. I was just picking these—look, I’ve gathered so many already."

Zhang Xiaolan, cradling a bundle of fresh herbs in her arms, showed them off to Xiaolian as if presenting a treasure. Left here alone with the man in black, she’d been bored, so she’d wandered off to gather wild herbs nearby to pass the time.

"Miss, you’re in such high spirits. I was worried sick, and you’re still in the mood to pick herbs," Xiaolian said with a bitter smile. When borrowing the cart, Aunt Gu had pestered her with endless questions, and she’d barely managed to lie her way out of it.

"I told you not to worry. Look at him—he’s still lying there half-dead. If we don’t hurry and get him back, he might really die."

Zhang Xiaolan spoke with the same leisurely ease, pointing at the motionless man on the ground. Xiaolian glanced at him askance; he really did look to be on the brink of death.

The farm cart Xiaolian borrowed from Aunt Gu was quite large. Together, the two of them managed with great effort to lift the man onto it.

The injured man’s leg dangled awkwardly, but Zhang Xiaolan and Xiaolian had no time to worry about that. They pushed the cart with all their strength and made their way back to the manor.

"Xiaolian, where’s the back gate to the manor?" Zhang Xiaolan suddenly asked as they neared their destination. She wanted to bring the man in through the back, so no one inside would notice.

"It’s over by the little grove. Miss, do you want to use the back gate?" Xiaolian was puzzled by the question, unsure what Zhang Xiaolan had in mind.

"Haizi, that servant boy, is all chatter and whispers. I’m afraid he’ll make a fuss and stop us from helping him."

Zhang Xiaolan counted Xiaolian as her accomplice. Haizi was a notorious gossip and convincing him would be difficult. If he reported to Brother Li, the man in black would surely be taken prisoner—and then how could she study him?

"You’re right. If Master finds out, we’ll definitely be punished," Xiaolian realized, now clearly aware of the consequences. If Li Rui learned they’d secretly rescued and hidden a man in black, punishment was certain.

"If you don’t tell and I don’t tell, who else will know? Enough talk—let’s get him inside quickly. If Haizi sees us, we’ll be in real trouble," Zhang Xiaolan said, her words a clear warning. As long as neither of them spoke, no one would find out; but if they were discovered, it would surely mean one of them had betrayed the secret.