After being reborn, I became the apple of my enemy's eye.

Those who witnessed the scene screamed in terror.

“Someone’s dead!!”

"Go quickly and report to the authorities! Someone has died."

In contrast to the panicked crowd below the city walls, Zheng Jihua and the city lord stood on the walls, looking down at the people below. The city lord joked, "Lord Zheng, you've gone too far. Too many people have died."

Zheng Jihua remained unmoved by the probing in his words. Thinking of Ning'er's suffering, he wished he could tear that guy to pieces with his own hands, but he maintained a calm demeanor and said, "If someone were to target the city lord's family, they would probably be even more ruthless than I am."

The city lord could not deny it.

Zheng Jihua looked down at the people below, none of whom dared to look up. He had killed so many people, and even if the thief who had attacked his daughter hadn't died inside, he wanted to tell them that anyone who wanted to mess with him, Zheng Jihua, should think carefully about their escape route.

Thinking of this, Zheng Jihua's resentment finally dissipated somewhat. He was anxious to return to the Zheng residence to see his daughter and bid farewell to the city lord: "The things I promised the city lord will be delivered tonight. Please accept them."

The city lord smiled and waved his hand.

"You're welcome."

"Then I'll take my leave first."

After Zheng Jihua descended the city wall, the people around the city lord recounted Zheng Jihua's actions, saying, "City lord, isn't Zheng Jihua being far too presumptuous?"

The city lord interrupted him as he was about to continue.

"Who told him to rise to such heights, soaring to new heights?" Who could have imagined that a cripple could reach his current position? The city lord still smiled and said, "All I have to do is obey."

There's no need to go against those who are striving for advancement; doing so will only cause you unnecessary trouble.

The city lord was in high spirits at the thought of the treasure that night. "Three days later, take these people down and throw them into the mass grave."

"Yes."

Overnight, the joy of the New Year could not dispel the fear brought by those corpses.

The people in the city looked at each other in bewilderment, wondering why the dead were hanging on the city walls. Were they bandits from the mountains? Their ignorance only amplified their fear.

The presence of blood on this Lunar New Year naturally makes people feel uneasy, as if the Spring Festival has lost its original joy.

In the Zheng residence, Yan Yun fell ill again due to the accident and spent almost half a month in bed. It was a month later before he fully recovered.

It wasn't that she didn't want to get better, but unfortunately, the people around her didn't do their best. They were worried about Zheng Jihua's punishment, so they did whatever the doctor said, and that's why Yan Yun's illness dragged on for so long.

Lu Yan came over several times, but unfortunately he didn't see anyone because he was ill and therefore wouldn't receive guests.

However, he and Lu Yuan would come to see it every day, even if they didn't go inside, they would come from a distance.

Zheng Jihua saw this and knew that his departure time was drawing ever closer. It had been postponed for too long, and he had to set off.

Although Lu Yan didn't reassure him, how many people in the Zheng family could he trust now?

After the incident, Granny Zhu came to deliver a message.

Zheng Jihua took Lu Yan to many places more often, most of which were money shops. Zheng Jihua told Lu Yan about the current operations of the Zheng family's money shop without any concealment.

Lu Yan then realized that the Zheng family controlled almost two-thirds of the money shops in Changgu City, so buying grain and supplies to save their general's mansion was a piece of cake.

Zheng Jihua told Lu Yan.

He will save the General's Mansion that Lu Yan is worried about; on the contrary, Lu Yan will stay in the Zheng Mansion to take care of Zheng Ning'er.

Lu Yan's willingness to accept the increased burden caused by the life and death of the General's Mansion was a decision he had already made long ago.

"I will become a member of the Zheng family and take good care of my cousin Ning'er."

Zheng Jihua was not reassured and patted his shoulder with a serious expression.

"Let's not make any more mistakes."

It took a month and a half in total.

Zheng Jihua set off for Yuanjing again with his concubine.

before leaving.

Zheng Jihua and the old lady discussed Yan Yun's matter again. Zheng Jihua wanted to take Yan Yun with him, but the old lady disagreed. Zheng Jihua was leaving because he was a man of the Zheng family. If he took Zheng Ning'er with him, would he leave the foundation of the Zheng family to an old woman who was powerless to even kill a chicken?

Zheng Jihua explained that this was not the case, but the old lady had only made this one decision.

"Either you stay, or Ning'er stays." Without waiting for Zheng Jihua to speak, she said that she was an old woman and couldn't take it anymore, so she had to go and rest first.

Granny Zhu saw Zheng Jihua off on behalf of the old lady. She knew best that the one who was most worried and distressed about the master going to the capital was none other than the old lady.

Although this is not something a servant should say, the adults are people I've watched grow up.

"My lord, the old lady is also suffering greatly."

Who isn't suffering?

Zheng Jihua did not take her words to heart.

Did I really have a smooth journey all this time? The people in Yuanjing can't do without me, so I definitely have to leave.

before leaving.

Zheng Jihua suggested that the concubine stay in the mansion. Although Ning'er's condition was better than he had thought, and Mr. Shu was an excellent gentleman, Ning'er might be more comfortable if the concubine stayed by her side.

The concubine panicked upon hearing this. She and the child didn't get along at all, and the child was doing much better in the capital than here. How could she possibly stay here?

"Ning'er has the old lady to take care of her, but I'm more worried about your health, my husband."

The concubine had also become much smarter. She knew that her husband was the most important person in the world. She said softly that she wanted to take care of him and that he would feel uncomfortable if she wasn't around.

Although Zheng Jihua hoped that his concubine could focus more on his daughter, the concubine was unable to do so, and he was also worried about leaving her here.

My legs are only now gradually recovering, and I need someone I know well by my side. "Then you should come with me."

On the day they left, Lu Yan and the old lady saw them off as they left the city. Lu Yan looked around several times but didn't see his cousin Ning'er. He remembered that she had recovered, and his father's departure should have been a very important event, so why didn't she come to see them off?

The old lady saw him looking around.

Are you looking for something?

When Lu Yan was called out, he immediately explained, "I was just wondering why my cousin Ning'er wasn't here?"

The old lady wasn't surprised at all. "She won't come."

This isn't the first time, so there's no need to worry about whether she'll show up.

Lu Yan, puzzled, saw Zheng Jihua off with the old lady.

The carriage gradually disappeared from sight.

Lu Yan noticed out of the corner of his eye that the old lady's shoulders were trembling. Although her expression remained normal, she must have felt reluctant to see her only son go.

Lu Yan thought of his nanny. When he left, she cried loudly for a long time. How cruel it would be if she didn't even dare to cry out loud.

Lu Yan felt a pang of pity for the old lady.

Before I could even feel sad, I heard the old lady say, "Let's go, let's go back."

The old lady had completely shaken off her earlier lingering and returned to the Zheng residence with a determined look in her eyes, asking Lu Yan about his business along the way.

"Have you made any progress?"

Lu Yan stopped dwelling on the past and started talking about serious matters. Before Zheng Jihua left, he left someone to assist him, and that person would guide him if he didn't understand anything.

The old lady also guessed who the person was.

“Study hard; you can learn a lot from him.”

The old lady's attitude towards Lu Yan was much gentler than towards others, so Lu Yan naturally treated the old lady more kindly.

After sending the old lady back to the Zheng residence, Lu Yan went to the money exchange.

When the old lady inquired about Yan Yun, the steward said that he had already left the manor.

"She sent her father away, but he disappeared. He got out pretty quickly."