A Time-Traveling Zombie Romance (GL) - Chapter 23

“Come in.” I called weakly toward the doorway.

The door opened, and the person who stepped in was someone I hadn’t expected — Menghui!

Menghui carried some dishes, set them on my table, then looked at me, who was sitting on the bed.

“Xiaoqi, why are you asleep so early?” she asked as she came to the bedside, but then saw my forehead beaded with sweat. “Why are you sweating so much?”

When I saw it was Menghui, I hurried to my feet and said, “I dozed off a moment and had a nightmare.”

Menghui frowned slightly and fell into thought… but I quickly said, a bit coldly, “Is there something you need from me?”

“I came to apologize,” Menghui replied calmly.

“Apologize? Ha — for what?” I walked to the bed, wiped my brow with a damp cloth, and smiled.

“I was wrong tonight. I shouldn’t have lost my temper with you,” Menghui said in a low voice.

She still cares about me, after all, doesn’t she? Warmth rose in my chest; on the outside I remained composed. “Oh. I’ve already forgotten it. You don’t have to bring it up.”

“Seeing you hardly ate dinner, I brought something for you. Eat and then rest early. I’ll go back to my room.” Seeing I didn’t want to discuss it, Menghui changed the subject and left.

I sat there staring at the food on the table, then slowly picked up my chopsticks and ate. The flavor was a little sweet; a faint smile tugged at my lips — it was the first time she’d shown concern for me.

The next morning I woke in high spirits and smiled at everyone I met, simply because she had cared for me last night.

All morning we discussed possible cures for the poison. “I heard that the Linglong Divine Pearl on Mount Ziling in the south can cure all poisons. Maybe it could remove this toxin?” Yunxi said, arms folded.

“No. I don’t think that’s feasible. Apart from Mount Ziling being remote and seldom encountered, the journey south would take three to four months from here — far too long,” Qiu Heyu objected.

“I brought a Xuling jade pendant. My father said it wards off poisons and evil — could it work?” Siqing took out a small black-and-white jade amulet.

“No. The toxin has already entered their meridians. A Xuling jade worn on the body can only ward off external toxins; it can’t remove poison already inside,” Qingyang replied quickly.

“What about herbal medicine? I’ve heard many local families keep secret formulas,” Lin Ji suggested.

“No. Some so-called ancestral remedies are fake, and this isn’t an ordinary poison. I’ve searched every formula I can find and haven’t seen anything that treats this toxin,” Menghui said coolly.

“What can we do then? Medicine won’t work — are we doomed to die here?” Qiyichen said softly, though without panic. He immediately turned to me, “Zhang-ge, you’ve been quiet. Do you have a plan?”

I shook my head and said, “I think you could use your inner strength to seal your heart meridian and then gradually force the toxin out. Even if that doesn’t remove it completely, it should at least slow the onset.”

Everyone agreed, nodding. “It’s not ideal, but it’ll do for now.”

After the meeting, Qiyichen, Qiu Heyu, and Lin Ji went back to their rooms to practice their internal techniques, and Menghui went along with Qiyichen — though a bit jealous, she couldn’t help it.

That afternoon Li Shaomin returned and reported to me: “Young master, Magistrate Jin has already taken action. I saw him leave the yamen a short while ago and enter a brothel called the Red Dust Pavilion; he hasn’t come out since.”

“Oh? It seems Madam Jin’s death is connected to Magistrate Jin and the Red Dust Pavilion. Let’s go take a look,” I said, smiling.

We arrived at the Red Dust Pavilion and met up with Xu Rui and Zhu Chao. Inside, the madam rushed over and gushed, “Oh my! These young masters are so unfamiliar and yet all so handsome — I’m nearly enchanted!”

“Is Magistrate Jin here?” I asked, frowning slightly.

“He is. The courtesan Liuli is attending to the magistrate right now,” the madam said, fanning herself.

“Tell Magistrate Jin I’ll take Liuli,” I said casually.

“Young master, that’s impossible. Everyone knows Magistrate Jin monopolizes Liuli; we can’t give her to you. There are plenty of girls in the house — choose someone else,” the madam protested.

“No — today I will take Liuli,” I insisted.

“Sir, we dare not offend Magistrate Jin,” she pleaded.

“Do you think we’re so weak?” I said, and as she finished speaking she felt a cold pressure at the back of her neck. When she looked down she saw a sword at her throat, and her face drained of color. She fell to her knees. “P-please spare me, young master!”

The girls gasped and stood watching.

“I’ll take Liuli,” I said.

“All right, all right — I’ll go tell them!” the madam cried, scrambling up and running upstairs. Zhu Chao sheathed his sword.

Inside the private room, Magistrate Jin had no idea his life was about to end.

“My lord — when will you take me home? You promised that once that other woman was dead, you would make me your lawful wife,” a soft, beautiful woman murmured in Jin’s arms.

“Liuli, I planned to take you today, but an heir showed up and discovered that the woman is dead. It won’t be possible just yet,” Jin said.

“I won’t let you delay — marry me soon,” Liuli cooed.

“All right, all right, I promise,” Jin hurried.

Just then the madam knocked and entered, shrinking before the bed. “My lord… a young master outside says… he wants to take Liuli for himself.”

“What?! Who dares to take my Liuli — does he want to die?” Jin roared.

“Heh — Magistrate Jin, we meet again,” I said with a smile as I and the others entered the room.

Jin was terrified, tumbled off the bed, crawled to my feet, and kowtowed, “Greetings, Your Highness! Your Highness, long live!”

Liuli, seeing so many men suddenly enter, shrieked and wrapped the blanket around herself. But when she heard Jin call me “Your Highness,” she froze.

“Heh. Magistrate Jin, what good timing — your wife died only a few days ago and you come to the brothel to enjoy yourself,” I said.

“Your Highness, I know I was wrong. I won’t do it again,” Jin begged, pounding his forehead.

“Again? I doubt there will be an ‘again.’ Do you know I overheard your conversation earlier?” I said, hands behind my back.

“Spare me, Your Highness, spare me! It was all Liuli’s doing — not my fault!” Jin cried.

Liuli panicked, glanced at Jin in shock, and without caring about her disheveled clothing she rushed off the bed and knelt, “Your Highness, please investigate — I didn’t do this; Magistrate Jin did it all. Please spare me!”

“Magistrate Jin — you are the county’s official, the highest authority here. Can a brothel girl command you?” I asked, lowering my voice. “Besides, the law is the same for all — if you killed your wife, you must pay with your life.”

“Your Highness, spare me! I know I was wrong — please spare me!” Jin sobbed, banging his head again.

“This won’t do. I said I’d give your wife justice. Take him away — arrest Magistrate Jin and execute him at noon tomorrow!” I declared.

“Yes, Your Highness!” Xu Rui and Li Shaomin stepped forward and dragged Jin away.

“Your Highness! I’m an imperial official — executing an official is a matter for the Emperor! You can’t do this!” Jin clung to a last hope and protested.

“Oh? Is that so?” I took out a gold dragon token and showed it to Jin. “The Emperor commissioned me as a third-rank inspector, tasked with executing corrupt officials. Consider this token as though it were the Emperor’s own decree. Do you still think I lack the authority?”

Seeing the token, Jin’s last hope shattered. He wailed and cried as they led him out.

I turned to the trembling Liuli on the floor and said, “Liuli, the Red Dust Pavilion’s head courtesan, for her role in inciting Magistrate Jin to murder, is sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. Take her to the jail.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Zhu Chao said, and Liuli was taken away, weeping.

After everyone had left, I glanced at the madam bowing on the floor, then returned to the inn myself.