Chapter 111 It's over! How could it be him?

Xiao Lingxi broke out in a cold sweat instantly.

Although she was spoiled, she was not truly ignorant. The carriage and the guards' demeanor indicated that the owner was no ordinary person.

She took a deep breath, suppressing her panic, and stepped forward to the carriage.

"I have been careless and have disturbed Your Majesty's carriage. I am truly sorry! Please forgive my unintentional mistake."

She lowered her head, her heart pounding with anxiety, hoping only that the other person would be easy to talk to.

The car was silent; no one answered.

Time passed slowly, and Xiao Lingxi maintained her bowing posture, feeling sweat beading on her back and growing increasingly uneasy.

Su Xiaoyu stood behind her, also complaining bitterly.

This time, we've probably messed with some really big shots!

Just as Xiao Lingxi was about to give up, a slender, fair hand with distinct knuckles slowly lifted the carriage curtain from the inside.

Immediately afterwards, a handsome and gentle face with clear and bright eyes appeared.

It was none other than Crown Prince Chu Yu.

His eyes were deep and peaceful. Although he was not wearing a dragon robe or imperial crown, his composed demeanor, which came from long holding a high position, was impossible to ignore.

When Xiao Lingxi saw Chu Yu's face, her heart skipped a beat, and her mind went blank, leaving only two words—

We're doomed!

How could it be him?! Your Highness the Crown Prince?

Did she kick a pebble and startle the Crown Prince's horse?

Su Xiaoyu didn't recognize Chu Yu, but seeing Xiao Lingxi's stunned expression, she immediately understood that they had probably stirred up a huge hornet's nest this time.

Su Xiaoyu's calves felt a little weak.

She quietly tugged at Xiao Lingxi's sleeve, signaling her to apologize again quickly.

Xiao Lingxi snapped back to her senses and curtsied, saying, "Your subject, your subject Xiao Lingxi, greets Your Highness! Just now... just now, your subject unintentionally disturbed Your Highness's imperial procession, and deserves to die! Please punish me, Your Highness!"

She lowered her head, her heart pounding, awaiting Chu Yu's thunderous wrath.

However, the expected reprimand did not come.

Chu Yu's gaze lingered for a moment on her resolute face, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Miss Xiao, I noticed that you seemed rather agitated just now?"

Upon learning Chu Yu's identity, Su Xiaoyu was completely petrified!

[Good heavens! So this is the Crown Prince from the original book? He truly is handsome and dashing, with the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix.]

[It's truly a pity that such an ethereal person was tricked by that wicked Third Prince into falling from his horse, suffering a lifelong disability, and ultimately dying in depression! If not for that, the throne of the Great Chu would never have fallen to that schemer, the Third Prince.]

Xiao Lingxi was clearly taken aback, seemingly not expecting the Crown Prince to ask such an unrelated question.

She waved her hands frantically, completely losing her previous arrogance, and stammered, "No, no... I was just bored and kicking pebbles for fun. Who knew those pebbles would have eyes and keep hitting Your Highness's horse's rump... I really didn't mean to!"

She became increasingly anxious as she spoke, and quickly glanced at Chu Yu's face. Seeing that he showed no anger, she mustered her courage and asked again:

"Your Highness...are you...alright?"

A faint smile flickered in Chu Yu's eyes as he asked her, "What does Miss Xiao think?"

"I……"

Xiao Lingxi's heart skipped a beat.

Normally, if someone asks this, it means there's something wrong.

But looking at his appearance, it seems... not quite right.

In short, Xiao Lingxi was completely unsure of what this man meant. Was he angry? Or not?

She felt that this ambiguous smile, just like her older brother's, made her even more afraid.

After hesitating for a long time, I finally steeled myself, raised my head, and with a resolute expression, said in a determined tone:

"Your Highness, all the blame lies with me! I have acted improperly and offended Your Majesty. I accept any punishment, but I beg Your Highness to have mercy on my maid. Xiaoyu is innocent. Please allow her to leave first!"

Su Xiaoyu was stunned and instinctively called out, "Second Miss?!"

As Xiao Lingxi turned her head, she quickly gave her a look, silently urging her with her mouth:

"Hurry! Find my older brother!"

Su Xiaoyu understood immediately. She also knew this wasn't the time to be sentimental. She immediately bowed in Chu Yu's direction and said, "This servant takes her leave!"

Then, he turned around and ran away.

That speed was like a rabbit was chasing you.

The guards turned their gaze to Chu Yu, and seeing Chu Yu nod almost imperceptibly, no one stopped Su Xiaoyu, allowing her to quickly disappear from sight.

After Su Xiaoyu ran far away, Chu Yu turned his gaze back to Xiao Lingxi.

"In times of crisis, she still thinks of protecting her maid. Miss Xiao is quite responsible and loyal."

Xiao Lingxi lowered her head: "Your Highness is too kind. I dare not accept such praise. My brother often teaches me that I should act with discretion. A mistake is a mistake, and I should not involve the innocent. Xiaoyu... she really has nothing to do with this matter."

After saying that, she held her breath, waiting for Chu Yu's final verdict.

However, Chu Yu only looked at her for a moment before speaking: "Since you know you are wrong and also know how to take responsibility, you are still teachable."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Lingxi's trembling eyelashes, which were slightly fluttering with nervousness: "You disturbed the carriage, which is punishable by law. However, considering that you did not do it intentionally and that you have shown remorse..."

"I will give you a chance to make amends."

Xiao Lingxi looked up in surprise, and then heard Chu Yu's thin lips part slightly: "Come with me to a place, and we'll let today's matter drop, how about it?"

Xiao Lingxi: ?

What kind of punishment is this? She said she couldn't keep up with the Crown Prince's train of thought at all.

Seeing her stunned silence, Chu Yu raised an eyebrow: "What? You don't want to?"

"No! This humble woman is willing!" Xiao Lingxi replied almost subconsciously.

It's better to go wherever he goes than to be convicted immediately.

Immediately afterwards, Xiao Lingxi was invited into a carriage, which then headed out of the city.

...

Meanwhile, Su Xiaoyu was on the go, almost losing half her life running.

When I finally arrived at the entrance of Dali Temple, my legs went weak and I almost collapsed to the ground when I saw the solemn and awe-inspiring plaque.

She forced herself to rush to the door and said to the guard, "Brother guard, I... I have something extremely urgent that I need to see Lord Xiao. Please inform him."

The gatekeeper, seeing a maidservant running breathlessly, her face flushed, couldn't help but ask:

"Who are you? And what business do you have with the adults?"

Xiaoyu was still panting when she said urgently, "I... I am a maid in Lord Xiao's mansion. I came because... there is an urgent matter in the mansion that I need to tell Lord Xiao immediately."

Seeing that her expression seemed genuine and that she was from the Marquis's residence, the guards softened their tone.

"So you're a young lady from the Marquis's household. Unfortunately, Lord Xiao went out on official business early this morning and isn't in the yamen right now."

"What?!"

No, not here?

So she made a wasted trip?

Su Xiaoyu was completely flustered, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

"Then, when will the master return?"

The guard shook his head: "How could we possibly know the whereabouts of our lord? Miss, you should go back first. If it is urgent, you can leave a message, and we will definitely pass it on when our lord returns."

Leave a message?

How could the second young lady wait that long?

Su Xiaoyu sighed helplessly, her mind racing.

After much thought, I realized that the only thing I could do now was to return to the manor and ask my wife for a solution.

So, Su Xiaoyu walked back in a state of confusion. Not far from the yamen, a series of rapid and orderly hoofbeats suddenly came from the street corner, coming from afar and getting closer, like muffled thunder rolling across the ground.

Pedestrians on the street gasped and made way, and Su Xiaoyu subconsciously stepped back to the side of the road.

Soon, a troop of men galloped in like lightning. The leader, dressed in a dark-patterned official robe and covered with matching light armor, stood tall and straight as a pine tree, seated on a magnificent steed. His face was stern, with a sharp, clean jawline. Beneath his sword-like eyebrows, a pair of phoenix eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

It was Xiao Jingheng! He's back!