Zhao Lingxiang was still implicated; Master Wei, with unresolved anger, found her approach at just the right moment to vent his frustration on her. Zhao Lingxiang, frightened by Master Wei's outburst, shuddered and dared not say another word, yet she couldn't help but speculate what had happened. Could Zhao Erhu and his wife really have such influence that even the Magistrate couldn't touch them? This seemed impossible.
After a while, Master Wei's rage subsided somewhat, and seeing the pitiful Zhao Lingxiang kneeling on the ground, he reflected that her intentions were still aligned with his. His earlier remarks were only due to an inability to vent his anger, which had accidentally been redirected at Zhao Lingxiang. Now that his anger had mostly dissipated, he actually felt a sense of pity for her.