Chapter 37 He sprained his ankle, really. Mo An nodded solemnly, making up his mind…

Mo An nodded solemnly, determined to report her words word by word.

Jiang Zhuoying's scene of selecting jewelry has come to a temporary end. She glanced at the corridor, but there was no movement at all. It seemed that the secret conversation was not over yet.

After a moment's thought, she smiled shyly at Mo An: "Shopkeeper, you don't need to follow me. I'd like to wander around by myself."

Mo An knew that following behind such a timid and naive girl would only make her uncomfortable.

So he nodded: "I've been in this room on the second floor. If Miss Jiang needs anything, she can come and find me anytime."

Jiang Zhuoying nodded and politely thanked her.

She went down the wooden steps and then down another floor.

This is the first floor. There are quite a few customers on the first floor, and the staff are extremely busy.

She glanced around briefly, then walked out of the Yuanbao Tower against the flow of people.

Standing on the street, there were many people coming and going, but they were all walking in groups. It was rare to see a girl like her, all alone.

"Hey, make way! The carriage of an important person is coming!"

"A nobleman's carriage? Which nobleman?"

"How would I know that? I just caught a glimpse of it, and the emblem on the car was that of royalty!"

A noisy, chaotic conversation could be heard nearby.

Jiang Zhuoying was standing on the side of the street when her arm was suddenly pulled back, and she stumbled and took a step back.

Having barely steadied himself, he frowned and looked at the person, only to see that it was a round-faced little girl.

"Sister, why are you still standing there? If I hadn't pulled you back, you would have been stepped on!"

Jiang Zhuoying's heart stirred slightly. The little girl must not have reached marriageable age yet, and the two people standing on either side of her should be her parents.

"Ah! Look, look! The carriage is here!"

The little girl excitedly pointed at the large, magnificent carriage that was slowly approaching, but the woman beside her pressed down on the little hand: "Little girl, you mustn't be so rude..."

Jiang Zhuoying also looked in the direction the finger was pointing—

A four-horse carriage, with four tall and handsome chestnut horses side by side, and the carriage behind it is even more magnificent and spacious, made entirely of mahogany, with gold and silver carvings on its body.

It was several times more spacious than the carriage her fake brother had ridden in.

Jiang Zhuoying narrowed her eyes. The decorations on the car body were indeed python patterns, which were the royal symbol in Da Rong.

The carriage window was already half-open. Just as she looked up, a gust of wind swept by, causing the curtain to flutter open, and she met those dark, phoenix-like eyes.

His gloomy expression was laced with ruthlessness, like a venomous snake, and in an instant, it sent chills down Jiang Zhuoying's spine.

My heart started beating faster.

"Oh, I didn't see it clearly. The carriage curtain was obviously blown open just now. What a pity."

The regretful tone of the little girl from before echoed in my ears again.

The carriage had already rolled out of Jiang Zhuoying's sight, and the little girl beside her had been distracted.

Jiang Zhuoying took a deep breath and slowly came back to her senses. If she was not mistaken, that was the Third Prince, born to the Imperial Concubine.

Uncle actually arranged such a marriage for Jiang Ying?

The gentle, quiet, and truly obedient girl in my memory probably had no right to refuse.

"Little girl, you already have eight cloth tigers."

"But...but this tiger is different..."

Jiang Zhuoying's thoughts were interrupted again. She turned around and saw that the family from before was now standing in front of a small stall.

Based on those two sentences just now, it's not hard to deduce the current situation.

Jiang Zhuoying smiled and stepped forward to buy the cloth tiger for the little girl, but when she actually reached for her money, she realized that she had forgotten to bring her purse.

I was in such a rush today that I don't even know where I left my purse that I usually carry with me.

Just when things were getting awkward, a man suddenly appeared and bought the entire stall.

He even gave the cloth tiger to the little girl from earlier, who happily thanked him repeatedly.

The little girl's father was somewhat embarrassed and wanted to return the silver to the man, but was gently but firmly refused.

The two had no choice but to thank Jiang Zhuoying and the man.

After saying goodbye to the family, Jiang Zhuoying finally looked at the man who looked like a guard with a sword.

This person is not dressed as someone close to the Second Prince.

She cautiously took a step back: "Who are you?"

"There is a path to heaven right before you, young lady. Would you be interested?"

Jiang Zhuoying: "?"

Without hesitation, she turned around, but the man still blocked her way: "If you are willing to move, you can have a bright future."

Jiang Zhuoying took a step to the side, but the man remained close to her: "If you nod, you will surely enjoy boundless glory in the future."

"Whose person are you?" Jiang Zhuoying suddenly looked up.

The man was slightly taken aback, then smiled smugly: "If you leave with me, you will naturally find out."

Jiang Zhuoying scoffed and crossed her arms: "How can I know if he really has the ability to give me a bright future if you don't clearly state whose person he is?"

She emphasized the phrase "a bright future".

The man raised an eyebrow and lowered his voice: "This person, young lady, you have just seen."

Jiang Zhuoying immediately understood, and her heart sank.

She gave a cold laugh, raised her eyes and met his gaze: "I understand."

The man smiled and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Please, young lady, step forward."

Jiang Zhuoying's face fell. She glanced around. On the bustling street, what did it matter if it was the Third Prince?

You can't just abduct a woman in the street.

She raised the corners of her lips into a beautiful yet dangerous smile, and parted her pink lips slightly: "Get lost."

"If you follow me again, someone will beat you up."

After saying that, she lifted her skirt, walked around the man, and headed towards Yuanbaolou.

The man who remained in place, resembling a guard, touched his face, still basking in the bright and beautiful smile from just moments before.

Beat him up?

Why does my heart feel like it's beating faster?

*

As Jiang Zhuoying stepped into Yuanbaolou, steady and solid footsteps quickly followed behind her.

She turned her head slightly, and sure enough, it was still the same man who looked like a guard from before.

Seeing her stop, the other person took a few steps to stand in front of her: "Miss, please feel free to tell me what you like in Yuanbao Tower."

Jiang Zhuoying frowned slightly. Why was everyone rushing to pay her bill today?

She turned around expressionlessly, ignoring the person behind her, and went straight upstairs.

Judging from the footsteps, the person had followed.

Upon reaching the second floor, there wasn't a single customer. At the same time, steady footsteps echoed on the steps leading to the third floor.

Jiang Zhuoying's expression shifted slightly, realizing that if nothing unexpected happened, this must be her good brother.

So, the girl, who had been walking steadily just moments before, suddenly limped and staggered forward.

Xie Xiao, who had stopped in place, paused for a moment, then quickly moved forward to help the person.

"Waaah... Your Highness, there are villains following this servant."

Xie Xiao's outstretched arm froze in mid-air.

Jiang Zhuoying turned the corner on the wooden steps and looked up; it was indeed the person she had expected.

The man walked at the front, his indifferent handsome face slightly paused when he saw her.

Jiang Zhuoying cried out again, "Your Highness, save this servant!"

She simply bent her knees, trying to pretend that her legs were too weak and she fell directly onto the wooden steps.

But in the corner of her eye, a gray-blue figure flashed by and instantly wrapped his arm around her waist.

Jiang Zhuoying was so startled that her shoes suddenly slipped off the edge of the step.

"Hiss~"

The girl cried out in pain.

Oh no, no wonder things don't happen more than three times.

This third time, he finally really sprained his ankle.

"Ouch~ My feet hurt."

This time it's for real.

The man's expression remained cold and aloof, his brows furrowed slightly as he looked down at the pitiful-looking girl: "Stand still."

Jiang Zhuoying kept her head down, and from an angle he couldn't see, she slightly pursed her lips, but her voice was still soft: "Then can Your Highness make a decision for this servant?"

Qi Fan shifted his gaze slightly, looking at Xie Xiao, who was still standing stiffly at the entrance of the wooden steps.

The slender waist that he could barely grasp slowly slipped from his control, and he withdrew his hand accordingly.

Jiang Zhuoying also silently looked in Xie Xiao's direction.

Unexpectedly, the latter suddenly knelt on one knee, his posture respectful and his tone trembling with fear: "Your Highness, your subordinate..."

"Cough cough."

Suddenly, someone coughed twice behind her. Jiang Zhuoying turned around and saw Gu Yunci.

A sense of foreboding suddenly arose in her heart, and her brows furrowed. Wasn't she supposed to be the Third Prince's man?

Why would she refer to herself as a subordinate in front of Qi Fan?

Could it be... that this person is also one of the spy sent out by the Second Prince?

*

As it turned out, her fears were true...

Jiang Zhuoying was helped back to the room she had just been to by Eunuch Chu.

He stared blankly at the person kneeling in front of Qi Fan.

The latter sat upright, taking a sip of tea from his cup: "How did you come to be here?"

"Your Highness, it was the Third Prince who sent this subordinate..."

Xie Xiao mustered his courage and looked up, gesturing towards Jiang Zhuoying, whose body was stiff with fear.

Everyone present understood what he meant.

The man scraped the tea foam from his hands, glanced at you sideways, his gaze cool and deep: "Did he bully you?"

Jiang Zhuoying was startled.

In that short period of time, she had carefully reviewed everything she had said and done in front of the guard.

Is there a way to turn back time in this world?

She only relaxed for a moment, so why did she have to be exposed like that?!

"Your Highness! I did follow this young lady upstairs, but her foot is not injured at all. Please investigate further, Your Highness!"

He could see clearly that the woman had heard His Highness's footsteps and that's why she suddenly pretended to be lame!

Xie Xiao is upright and honest; he has done what he did, but he will not easily admit to things he didn't do.

The man looked at her again, his gaze cold and sharp, as if it were tangible: "You tell me."

Jiang Zhuoying swallowed hard; her back was already soaked.

It wasn't just her foot injury; every word she had just said to him was completely different from her usual personality.

If this is exposed, she will inevitably be suspected.

The girl suddenly stood up, lifted her skirt, and limped to the side of Xie Xiao, where she slowly knelt down.

In just those few short steps, Jiang Zhuoying's smooth forehead was already covered in cold sweat from the pain.