"My Lord is a Stone"《我家君王是石头》Chapter 56

At that moment inside the Zhao residence, Zhao Xing Kun was called outside by someone, with a severe expression he looked at the distant soaring flames asking, “Where is that fire?”

A young servant at the side with a deathly pale face, shuddered saying, “It’s from the prefectural magistrate’s office.”

“Why would the prefectural magistrate’s office be on fire?” Zhao Xing Kun increasingly felt the situation was serious.

It was now that the main housekeeper of the Zhao residence Xu Chong hurriedly ran over, saying, “Eldest old master, outside people are saying the Tiangui sect is revolting, those people set the prefectural magistrate’s office on fire, they’ve surrounded the entire Hangzhou.”

Even if Zhao Xing Kun has experienced a lot, hearing such a thing he couldn’t help stagger backwards two steps, Xu Chong stepped forward to lend an arm, his tone both pressing and quick, “Eldest old master, are you okay?”

Only a while later did Zhao Xing Kun steady his dizzy body, when he once again opening his eyes he had regained his calm, he methodically said, “Tiangui sect is revolting against the Hangzhou government, they won’t be eradicate everyone, so long as we remain calm and not make a move, nothing will happen, go secure the main gates now make everyone stay where they are.” Following which his eyes moved to the madam’s house, he said, “Get a reliable person to bring a letter from me to Kurong temple for the madam, if they can leave then…”, Zhao Xing Kun said, “If they can’t leave then hurry back, I have other plans.”

Xu Chong nodded, saying, “I’ll call Er Zheng over.” Xu Er was Xu Chong’s grandson, he had learned some fighting and kungfu before, very quick-witted, the best person to deliver the letter.

At that time, someone cried, “Murder!”

Some people were already anxious, now with someone’s shouting, immediately it caused dread in everyone, someone ran towards the gate, then immediately a lot of unknown people also followed.

Xu Chong was stunned, looking at Zhao Xing Kun, “Eldest old master”

Zhao Xing Kun was not moved, he said, “Let them go, if they want to leave they can, only if they leave it won’t be so easy to come back in.”

Xu Chong heart sank, he hurriedly nodded, understanding Zhao Xing Kun’s meaning, at once he followed bringing people with him.

Kurong temple  was a Buddhist nunnery, all were nuns, no men…, once in a while when there’s a man it would be a Buddhist worshipper, for instance like those house guards the madam brought with her, that’s why coming across such a situation as the temple being surrounded she was extremely alarmed, the head nun was forty years old, being helped to stand she was still unstable, to the madam she beseeched, “Madam, you must save us, our nunnery has always carried out our duties and observed the law, we have never done anything out of bounds, and don’t know why we’ve attracted these evildoers’ attention.”

The madam now was also distracted, but after all she was used to being in charge of her house, very soon she recovered her nonchalance, saying to the house guard at the side, “Go see first who is outside?” Then she turned to ask the head nun, “Do you have any secret tunnels here?”

The head nun said, “How could there be a thing in such a small temple?”

The madam’s expression suddenly became stern she said, “Master Miao Zhen! Right now we are locusts on one boat, if the most unfortunate happens, you also won’t live.”

Miao Zhen jumped in fear, shocked by the madam’s imposing manner, stuttering she said, “There really isn’t one…”

The madam sneered, saying to a maid to the side, “Call Ding Ying to come back, pack our stuff and go.” She immediately saw Miao Zhen’s face become deadly pale, again she continued saying, 

“Regardless of what evildoers are outside, hearing our Zhao family’s name, they will nevertheless give some respect, so long as this old woman is here, have money and have people, it’s just a simple matter, but it’s not certain for those left behind.”

Only then did Miao Zhen regret, hurriedly she kneeled saying, “Madam, I, I, the secret tunnel is in my room, but because our temple lacks financial resources, it was dug very narrowly back then, only one person can crawl through.” Following which she looked at the large group of maids and old women to the side, she said, “To send every person off, I’m afraid it would take more than the entire night.”

The Zhao family was the great Zhou’s number one prestigious family, even though right now they were somewhat is decline, not as greatly influential as before, but how could the madam have been negligent when travelling? More than twenty young and old maids came with her, thirty house guards, Zhao Jin Yu and Zhao Rui Zhi also had more than twenty maids, as well as the nuns in the temple there were more than a hundred people, and if what Miao Zhen said was true, using such a narrow tunnel to escape, it was practically impossible.

The madam always believed in what she saw, she mad Miao Zhen take her to the secret tunnel then did she finally confirm her words were true, that secret tunnel entrance was under Miao Zhen’s bed, it looked around only half a chi wide, only one person could go in.

When Zhao Jin Yu was brought here by nanny Li she saw the head of the house guards Ding Ying return with a calm expression to tell the madam what was happening outside, “Madam, the people outside are from the Tiangui sect, about two three hundred people, we simply cannot deal with them.” On one hand there were ordinary house guards, on the other hand were desperate criminals from the Tiangui sect, they simply were not a worthy match, let alone the large disparity of the number of people.

“Tiangui sect?”

Ding Ying said, “That’s right.” He said almost inaudibly, “They’re revolting.”

All of a sudden Zhao Jin Yu recalled older brother Zhuang Qing and adoptive mother…, they also belonged to the Tiangui sect, did this situation have anything to do with them?

The madam’s expression darkened, she said, “Then did you tell them, there are women from the Zhao family here?” Tiangui sect revolting is revolting, why did they need to surround such an outskirt nunnery? This didn’t make sense…, the worse outcome would actually be this Tiangui sect has an intention.

Ding Ying cautiously and solemnly glanced at Zhao Jin Yu, lowering his head not speaking.

“Why won’t you speak!”

“They said they’re here to capture people from the Zhao family.” Ding Ying recalled these words and felt furious, “They also said…”

The madam also followed his gaze to Zhao Jin Yu, she lowly asked, “And what did they say?”

“They told us to hand eldest young lady over, last time outside eldest young lady ruined their sacrificial ceremony, they must use her blood to offer an apology, only then can they appease the god.” Ding Ying finished speaking feeling the beads of sweat on his forehead, normally he would not dare to say such words, but now it was an exceptional circumstance, and was rather powerless.

“A bunch of nonsense!” The madam was red in the face with anger, immediately she held Zhao Jin Yu in her arms, seeming to have forgotten that she was angry with her, she said, “They only want money nothing more, bring the goldfishes over.” Those latter words were said to nanny Li.

Nanny Li went to bring the goldfishes, the so-called gold fishes were actually gold bars, the madam wanted to use money as a bribe.

The madam was somewhat shaking holding Zhao Jin Yu’s hand, lifting her head lovingly to glance at her, saying, “This girl, causing trouble for me everywhere.”

Zhao Jin Yu also did not know what was going on, all of a sudden there was a lump in her throat, she said, “Grandmother…”

“Don’t be scared.” The madam took a deep breath saying, “Grandmother with deal with these people here, you escape through the secret tunnel.”

“Grandmother!” Although she had already guessed the madam would do such a thing, but hearing it from her mouth she still felt very shocked, “I can’t leave you and other people here.” If other innocent people got dragged into this because of her, she certainly would feel guilty for her entire life, she couldn’t do it.

The madam lovingly stroked Zhao Jin Yu’s cheeks flushed from emotion, she said, “Foolish child, they want you, as long as you’re not here, why would they make things difficult for us? After all I’m not from an ordinary family, I belong to the Zhao family, since the Tiangui sect is revolting, then they want to rule the world, since they want the world they cannot have lack reputation, our Zhao family within Hangzhou cannot be compared to other families.”

Zhao Jin Yu was very hesitant, it was just at this moment that the composed and calm Zhao Rui Zhi suddenly couldn’t help but screech, saying, “Grandmother, why don’t you allow me and older sister to leave together.”

The madam was rather astonished looking at Zhao Rui Zhi, she said, “It’s not you that they want anyway.”

Zhao Rui Zhi yelled, “Those people revolting are desperate criminals, who knows what they will do!” Immediately she kneeled shuddering saying, “Grandmother, I have never asked you for anything in my life, I’m begging you this once, let me leave with older sister.”

The madam saw outside the door there were old women listening in, giving a meaningful glance to nanny Li she prompted her to send those people away, then resolutely and decisively she said to Zhao Rui Zhi, “Rui Zhi, stay behind to accompany grandmother.”

Zhao Rui Zhi’s chest moved violently up and down, wanted to push down the fear that had rushed up, but she still felt there was a noise in her ears, why did the madam want to stay behind? She’s prepared to give you over to them as Zhao Jin Yu, right, it must be so, there’s only Zhao Jin Yu in her eyes, where is there a granddaughter like yourself? You’re merely an adopted child, if you don’t repay the madam for her kindness now, when can you?

These words constantly droned in her ears, making her unable to recover her composure, at this time another house guard brow beading with sweat ran over, saying, “Madam, they said if we don’t hand over the eldest young lady they will raze this place to the ground with us in it, staining the temple in blood.”

Once Zhao Rui Zhi heard this, she trembled head to toe from increasing fear.

The madam was not concerned with Zhao Rui Zhi, reluctantly she let go of Zhao Jin Yu’s hand she was holding, saying, “Quickly go.”

Zhao Jin Yu shook her head, tears unconsciously flowing, she said, “I won’t go.”

The madam nevertheless callously shook off Zhao Jin Yu’s hand saying, “Are you going to be disobedient to your grandmother?”

“Grandmother, I can’t…”

“Shut your mouth!” The madam shouted loudly, to nanny Li she said, “Take this troublesome girl out.”

Zhao Jin Yu was restrained by nanny Li, then she forced her to the entrance of the secret tunnel saying, “Eldest young lady, why can’t you appreciate the madam’s intention? If something else happens to you, I’m afraid the madam won’t keep on living, you need to be good, then the madam will be well.”

Zhao Jin Yu wasn’t willing, she wanted to throw off nanny Li’s hands, but nanny Li called several maids to hold her hands and feet, directly carrying her towards the entrance.

No one could have imagined, this would happen at that moment.

All of a sudden Zhao Rui Zhi who had been stunned to one side jumped out like a rabbit, then jumped into the secret tunnel a maid had opened up, afterwards locking the door from the inside, she said lowly, “Grandmother, I did my best to serve you, treating you like my actual grandmother, you however only thought of your own flesh and blood granddaughter, I’m not worried you’re bias, but you actually want to use me as a shield!”

The madam was shocked, yelling, “Rui Zhi, what exactly are you saying? Quickly come out!”

Zhao Rui Zhi however unexpectedly laughed, very mournful and arrogant, she said, “Grandmother, you and older sister can die here.”