Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

As if all his strength had been drained from him, Zhao Si dragged his injured arm and moved slowly to the yamen at the pace of a snail. When he arrived at the yamen gate, he saw the gatekeeper. Seeing Zhao Si walking so slowly towards him, the gatekeeper couldn't help but wonder, "What's wrong with you, Captain Zhao? You're walking slower than a tortoise." When he reached the dentist, the dentist hurried forward and asked, "Captain Zhao, what's wrong with you? Why are you walking so slowly today, like an old lady?"

"Zhao Si was filled with resentment and did not hide anything. He told the gatekeeper everything about how he encountered the bad guys and how he was injured yesterday. When the gatekeeper heard this, his mouth opened so wide that an egg could fit in it. He said in disbelief, "How could this happen?" Zhao Si shook his head helplessly, smiled bitterly and said, "I don't know what happened. I actually encountered such a thing." After that, he no longer lingered at the door. He just left a sigh and turned to walk inside, as if looking for a shelter that could allow him to escape from all this.

Zhao Si hurried to the yamen, walked through the courtyard and corridors, and finally arrived at the room where the legal advisor was. At this time, the legal advisor was concentrating on writing official documents, and the desk was piled with various documents and pens, inkstones, and paper.

The master seemed so absorbed in his work that he didn't even notice Zhao Si approaching him. It wasn't until Zhao Si coughed that the master looked up, as if awakened from a dream. He glanced at him from the corner of his eye, then lowered his head again, the brush in his hand still dancing, and he said, "Zhao Si, what brings you here?"

Zhao Si hurried forward, a flattering smile on his face, and after bowing, he said, "Master, I have something to ask of you."

The master replied while writing furiously, "It's a busy time right now. What can you do? Tell me now!"

Zhao Si looked embarrassed. After hesitating for a moment, he mustered up the courage to say, "Master, I would like to ask you for a day off."

Upon hearing this, the master paused for a moment, but quickly resumed writing, saying unhappily, "How come you're thinking of asking for leave when you're so busy right now?"

Seeing that the master was somewhat displeased, Zhao Si's heart tightened, and he hurriedly recounted everything that had happened to him yesterday. As Zhao Si narrated, the master's hand gradually stopped writing, he put down the brush, frowned slightly, and his expression became serious, listening carefully to Zhao Si's words.

After Zhao Si finished speaking, the lawyer could not help but ask, "Zhao Si, according to what you said, this encounter was extremely dangerous. Who on earth was so audacious as to want to take your life?"

Zhao Si shook his head helplessly and sighed, "Oh, I really have no idea! I arrest so many criminals all day long, but I don't know which god I have offended." After that, he frowned and fell into deep thought. After a while, he comforted himself and said, "Maybe it's just because the families of the criminals I arrested are resentful, so they come to trouble me. After all, these people have committed real crimes!" Zhao Si nodded as he spoke, indicating that he agreed with his guess.

At this time, the master walked to Zhao Si's side, looked at the wound on his body with concern, and asked softly: "Are you okay every day?" Zhao Si hurriedly responded: "Master, don't worry! This little injury is nothing, it won't cause any trouble." However, despite saying so, his slightly pale face and slightly trembling lips still betrayed his true physical condition at the moment.

Seeing this, the master waved his hand and said generously, "Look at you, you're already so injured. You should go home and recuperate! I'll give you three days off. You can go back and recuperate first. If you're not fully recovered by then, send someone to tell me, and I'll give you a few more days off."

Zhao Si was overwhelmed with gratitude upon hearing this. He quickly bowed and said, "Thank you for your understanding, Master!" The Master smiled and waved his hand, signaling Zhao Si to leave without saying anything. He then urged, "Go home and get some rest!" Zhao Si then said goodbye to the Master, turned around, and slowly walked out of the yamen, heading towards his home. He walked unsteadily along the way, his figure looking particularly lonely in the sunlight.

Zhao Si walked alone down the street, his gaze sparsely populated. The empty streets resembled a sleeping dragon, the scattered shops like blemishes on its scales. The freezing cold seemed to have trapped both adults and children within their homes. Then, just then, a group of soldiers, like ghosts, roamed the streets and alleys. Zhao Si's nerves tensed, and he wondered: What earth-shattering event had occurred? Even the military was being mobilized! Could it be that the government was short-staffed, so they had to call in the troops stationed there?

Zhao Si's mind was a tangled mess, and as he struggled to grasp the cause of his situation, a troop of soldiers passed him like a gust of wind. The leading soldier approached him, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, fixed on his clothes. He stepped forward and asked, "Who are you? What are you doing wandering around here?" Zhao Si quickly smiled and said, "I'm the head constable of the yamen. I've been injured, so I've come to report to the yamen. I'd like to rest at home for a few days." The leading soldier looked him up and down, taking in his tattered clothes. He said disapprovingly, "If you're alright, go home! If it weren't for your clothes, I'd have arrested you and tortured you long ago! Don't hang around on this street!" Zhao Si was filled with confusion, but he didn't dare interrupt the patrol. He obediently stepped aside, clearing the way, and watched the troop of soldiers stride past him.

Zhao Si stood there with a look of suspicion in his heart, wondering, "Who are they looking for?" Completely confused, he had no choice but to turn around and head home.

When Zhao Si opened the door, he saw his wife sitting quietly at the dinner table, eagerly waiting for his return. Seeing Zhao Si enter the house safely, his wife's heart finally settled down. She quickly stood up and went to meet him, wanting to support him. However, Zhao Si gently waved his hand, smiled and comforted him, "Oh, wife, don't make such a fuss. I'm not that delicate! It's just a little injury, it's no big deal." After that, he walked to the table as if nothing had happened, picked up the bowl and chopsticks, and started eating his meal.

Seeing this, Zhao Si's wife quickly sat down and began to clean up the dishes. The family sat around the dining table, a warm atmosphere in the air. At this moment, Zhao Si suddenly seemed to have thought of something important. He looked up at his wife and asked, "By the way, where's our son? Why didn't he show up at noon today? Isn't he home for dinner?"

Hearing her husband mention their son, Zhao Si's wife couldn't help but smile helplessly as she explained, "That naughty little fellow ran off to my parents' house early this morning! He said it was so warm at his grandparents' house, much more comfortable than here. They have fire dragons and heated kangs over there, which makes ours look even better! And now he's saying he's staying there and won't be coming back."

Zhao Si frowned slightly, and with an anxious look on his face, he told his wife the news he had heard about Jianwei on the street. Zhao Si's wife was stunned for a moment, then suddenly slapped her forehead and exclaimed in sudden realization, "Oh! I actually forgot such an important thing! The whole city is mobilized today to capture the Xiongnu hiding here!" As she spoke, her hands unconsciously clenched the corners of her clothes tightly, her face full of regret.

"Oh my God! How could I forget about such a crucial matter? No, I must go and see our son immediately. He is alone at his grandparents' house. What if something happens to him? I am so careless that I let him go to his grandparents' house at this time. Alas..." The more Zhao Si's wife thought about it, the more frightened she became. She was so anxious that tears were about to fall.

Before she could finish her words, Zhao Si's wife turned around and tried to rush out the door. At that moment, Zhao Si, who was standing by, was quick to reach out and grab her arm, comforting her: "Don't worry too much, dear. The streets are full of patrols, and it's broad daylight now, so nothing will happen. If you're really worried, I'll go to your father-in-law's house and check on the situation for you."

However, before Zhao Si could finish his words, his wife interrupted him and said with concern: "You are still injured. How can I let you run around and work hard? It's just two blocks away. I can go there myself and come back soon. Just rest well at home and wait for my news." After that, Zhao Si's wife broke free from her husband's hand and hurried out the door.

Zhao Si was so obsessed with his wife that he couldn't let her go. He hurried after her. His wife was trotting lightly ahead, her figure like a nimble deer. Zhao Si followed at a leisurely pace, never daring to take his eyes off her as he stared at her as they ran forward.

Just as his wife was about to reach the corner in front of her father-in-law's house, Zhao Si suddenly saw a dark shadow stealthily approaching from behind her. Like a ghost in the dark night, it moved silently but exuded a dangerous aura.

Zhao Si was shocked when he saw this, and a chill instantly rushed from his spine to his forehead. Without thinking too much, he shouted at the top of his voice: "Get out of the way!"

This sudden roar resounded through the streets like a thunderbolt from the blue sky. Zhao Si's wife, who was running, was startled and instinctively looked back. When she saw her husband pointing behind him with a look of horror, she immediately realized that something was wrong. Without hesitation, she turned her body and quickly dodged to the side.