Chapter 31 "Ah Zheng! Save me!"

The drizzling rain continued to fall, and Qian Yingyi tossed and turned, wrapped in a thin quilt. Strangely, this four-cornered soft pillow, which she was used to, felt so warm on her face. Her heart pounded with anxiety as she pondered the situation, and then she realized that it wasn't the pillow that was hot, but her face.

She's really bold today. How dare she hug him around the waist and kiss him so passionately?

Bah! What do you mean by being reluctant to part? She just didn't want to lose. The girl turned over, smelling the usual scent of tonka bean in the room, feeling that her body, arms, and lips were always covered in that minty fragrance.

Because of the rain, the weather at the end of May was even more refreshing and cool. Qian Yingyi hid under the covers and secretly reached out to touch her lips. Her lips gradually curved slightly, and she suddenly felt that the minty smell was not so unpleasant.

As the night wore on, the girl's restless thoughts finally found a moment of respite. With an unconscious smile on her face, Qian Yingyi gently closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

The next day, after the rain stopped and the sky cleared, Qian Yingyi finished her breakfast, feeling refreshed. She took a stroll around the garden twice, and when she returned, she looked around the Yunteng Pavilion and called out, "Little Tortoiseshell!"

The boy suddenly arrived, as if he had been waiting for her.

Qian Yingyi grabbed him and scrutinized him closely, then suddenly asked, "Do you really want to marry Chuntang?"

The little hawksbill turtle nodded its head like it was pecking at rice.

"Then let me ask you, do your parents agree? How many courtyards does your house have? If Chuntang marries you, she can't hear and can't speak to your parents. In this world, filial piety is highly valued. If your parents dislike her, how will you mediate between them?"

Little Tortoiseshell stole a glance at Chuntang standing behind Qian Yingyi, her face beaming with undisguised joy, and answered one by one: "Miss, my parents have known for a long time that I like Chuntang, and they couldn't be more agreeable to this matter! As you know, I'm not from Jinling. My parents run a spice business, and our house isn't very big, but I've already hired a broker to look at houses!"

"Cheng, after the marriage, Chuntang and I will find another house to live in! As for the issue of my parents speaking to her..."

Little Tortoiseshell's smile widened. "I've taught my parents quite a bit, and they have no problem speaking normally with Chuntang."

Qian Yingyi was silent for a moment, then her eyes suddenly welled up with tears. "If you want to marry her, you have to do it like everyone else, with proper betrothal and a grand ceremony to welcome her into your home."

Xia Ling and Chun Tang were very close, and Xia Ling knew that if she got married, she would leave Miss's side and no longer accompany them. Therefore, she quietly turned her face away and wiped the wet corners of her eyes.

Little Tortoiseshell nodded repeatedly, assuring Qian Yingyi that he would cherish and protect Chuntang. Qian Yingyi reluctantly agreed, "Chuntang has no relatives. My grandfather and I picked her up from outside back then, so we are considered her maternal family. Please invite your parents over this afternoon, and I will meet them first."

"Yes!" Little Tortoiseshell was so happy that he straightened his back and rushed out, leaving only the words, "Chuntang, wait for me, Jiang Yu, to bring your parents to see you!"

Even though she couldn't hear him, seeing how happy he was, Chuntang also gave a shy smile. Qian Yingyi and Xia Ling exchanged glances, both feeling unhappy and reluctant to part.

The young man was efficient and arrived in the late afternoon, leading his parents into the Qian residence.

When Jiang's parents knew he was a bodyguard in the household, he only said that he came from an official family. Only now did they realize that he was such a high-ranking official as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works in Southern Zhili!

They were just ordinary people; how could they have ever seen such wealth? As soon as they stepped into the Qian residence, they dared not look around, for fear of causing trouble by not knowing the rules of this household.

The couple couldn't help but think that someone like Miss Qian, who came from a noble family, and Chuntang, who was a first-class maid in her household, probably lived a more comfortable life than the average young lady from a humble family.

Therefore, she became even more cautious and followed her son's steps with her eyes lowered to the small flower hall where guests were to be received.

"Miss, this is my father, and this is my mother."

Mr. and Mrs. Jiang cautiously raised their eyes, and upon peeking, they saw a pretty and delicate woman staring at them with her face tilted to the side, without saying a word, her expression blank.

Only then did the two realize they should bow, but since they had never walked around the gate before, they were in a flurry of activity as they tried to move.

Fortunately, Qian Yingyi had already observed the situation carefully and then put aside her pride, smiling at the two elders. "You two don't need to bow to me. Little Tortoiseshell signed a contract with my family, and she didn't sell herself into our family. You two are elders, so it is my turn to greet you."

Jiang's mother thought to herself that the young ladies from wealthy families were indeed extraordinary. She ran a spice shop and had seen many young ladies before. The woman in front of her was so easy to talk to that she felt a little relieved. Unable to resist her curiosity, she mustered up her courage to look at her future daughter-in-law.

Upon looking at it, he paused again.

Both maids are incredibly beautiful; which one is the son's true love?

A blush rose on Chuntang's cheeks. She took two steps forward slowly and gracefully curtsied to the two of them. Her obedient appearance was endearing. Jiang's mother's eyes lit up, and she secretly praised her son for his good fortune!

After exchanging a few words, Qian Yingyi had to ask more questions, so as dusk approached, the little hawksbill turtle's parents happily left.

The wedding between Chuntang and Xiao Daimao was thus arranged.

However, the auspicious day needed to be carefully considered, so when the family sat down for dinner that night, Qian Yingyi first told everyone about it.

It's not unusual for a maid in the household to get married. But Chuntang was different. Without her, Qian Yingyi would have had less company in the first few years after arriving in Jinling. So the whole family was very happy to hear the news.

In particular, Qian Lanting secretly summoned Qian Yingyi to his side after dinner.

He said in a low voice, "You and Grandpa met Chuntang on the street back then. She has suffered a lot. She has been obedient and dutiful to you all these years. When it's time to prepare her dowry, come and find Grandpa. Grandpa will secretly add some for her. This is a one-time thing. No other maids will receive this. You are not allowed to spread rumors!"

Qian Yingyi hugged her grandfather tightly and wouldn't let go, which made her very happy. She felt even closer to her grandfather and nodded with a smile.

With the important matter settled, Xiao Daimao became even more anxious. That very night, he went to Qian Yingyi and suggested several auspicious dates, which made Qian Yingyi laugh at him repeatedly. In the end, they set the wedding date for the tenth day of the eleventh month.

When Chuntang got married, the entire Yunteng Pavilion was bustling with activity, and maids kept coming up to congratulate her.

One of the maids asked Qian Yingyi with a smile, "Miss, Sister Chuntang is getting married from our place. Can we, the younger sisters, embroider a wedding dress for Sister Chuntang?"

Xia Ling laughed and scolded, shaking her shoulders, "Go away, go away! It takes me half a day to teach you how to make a knot. Who would dare to entrust you with such a task? I'm afraid that by the time Chuntang gets married, you won't even have started embroidery yet!"

Everyone burst into laughter, having a wonderful time.

The maid who had previously mentioned the death of a distant relative hung her head and pondered for a long time before suddenly raising her wrist and saying, "Miss! The other day, I asked Madam for leave to visit a relative outside the city to offer condolences. I learned that there is an aunt in the same village who embroiders clothes extremely well! I heard that she used to work as an embroiderer at the Jiangning Textile Bureau!"

After a moment, she chuckled twice, "It's just that I'm getting old. After resigning from the Weaving Bureau, I stopped touching these things. It's like I didn't say anything at all, hehe."

Qian Yingyi listened intently for a long time, pondering the maid's words carefully. The next morning, she searched everywhere for the guards.

Qin Lizheng was polishing his sword in the garden when he heard the sound. He looked up at her, his lips slightly curved behind the blade. "Are you going to find that embroiderer?"

"Oh, why are you asking this?" Qian Yingyi waved her fan lightly. Seeing that he was wearing a black arrow-sleeved robe, half of his body was in the sunlight, casting a long shadow on the stone brick ground. She stepped on his shadow, crushing the fine dust under her feet as well.

"Chuntang has been with me for so many years, I want to give her a surprise! She's an embroiderer who used to work in the Imperial Textile Bureau, specializing in embroidering things for nobles in the palace. I'll secretly go to see her, maybe she'll agree to my request!"

Seeing that he remained silent, she stomped her foot, the force striking his shadow, and couldn't help but urge him, "Say something! Are you going or not? If you're not going, I'll have to send Little Tortoiseshell."

Qin Lizheng glanced at her mysterious expression and asked, "Where is the embroiderer?"

Qian Yingyi immediately smiled and excitedly moved closer to him, saying, "Cuicui said that we should first go out of Yifeng Gate, then drive south for ten miles, and when we see the road sign for Jingning Village, we should go to the fifth house and find the embroiderer."

Qin Lizheng's thick eyebrows furrowed. "Yifeng Gate? Too far."

"What's wrong with you!" Qian Yingyi's face hardened, and she instantly distanced herself from him. "I used to send you running around the east and west of the city, and you never complained about how far it was. I don't care, I'm going!"

Qin Lizheng raised an eyebrow and stared at her without saying a word.

Qian Yingyi was secretly rolling her eyes at him, but before she knew it, she realized what he was up to. She suddenly turned to look at him, her eyes slightly suspicious. "You can go, right? What kind of bad idea are you up to now?"

Qin Lizheng laughed, "You're too smart, you even guessed it right."

It was still early, and the maids and servants in the garden were taking a nap. No one was watching the two of them. He got up, gazed at her face, and gently pinched her cheek. "I forgot to tell you, I also have two requests during these three months."

Qian Yingyi stepped back defensively, "...Oh, so this is where you were waiting for me! Tell me!"

She knew he wasn't honest!

Qian Yingyi's heart jumped up. She had thought he would make some unreasonable demands, but he only uttered two sentences.

"Firstly, from now on, when we go out, you can only go with me alone."

Secondly, call me A-Zheng.

She couldn't help but glance at him sideways, disbelieving, "Gone?"

Qin Lizheng nodded.

Qian Yingyi scoffed, then twirled her skirt and prepared to leave. "Fine, I promise you. Hurry up and follow me; I'm going out now."

Qin Lizheng stood still, staring at her silently.

"..." Qian Yingyi didn't hear the familiar footsteps. She turned her head and looked at him blankly. When she saw the faint smile on his lips, she realized what was happening. Her cheeks flushed, and her voice was still low and uneasy, "Follow me, A-Zheng."

After greeting Xia Ling, saying that he was going out on business, he asked the gatekeeper to bring a carriage, and the two of them drove away from Pipa Lane under the bright yellow sun.

Previously, with two maids accompanying her, Qian Yingyi never felt bored sitting in the carriage. This time, with no one to talk to, she could only shift her position slightly forward, lifting the curtain a crack with her fingertips to try and make conversation with Qin Lizheng.

They talked about everything from following their older siblings around as children to their school days, and then about how they were sick for several days when they first came to Nanjing because they couldn't adapt to the new environment.

Unbeknownst to her, the gap was widening, and she was getting closer and closer to him.

After nearly two hours of travel, they finally spotted the road sign in the distance. Qian Yingyi was overjoyed and reached out from behind the carriage curtain to pat his shoulder repeatedly. "Faster! I see it!"

Before long, we arrived at the road sign. But then an obstacle appeared. Because of yesterday's torrential rain, several trees had been blown down, and the wooden bridge leading into the village was also bent askew from the rain. Below it was a wide stream, which looked rather dangerous.

Fortunately, a woodcutter happened to pass by, and out of curiosity, he glanced at the two of them and went up to them, asking, "Are you two here looking for someone?"

Qin Lizheng nodded slightly, his expression as indifferent as ever when speaking to strangers. "Excuse me, is there any other way to get into the village?"

The man was a rough fellow, how could he care about such trivial matters? He quickly pointed behind him and said, "There's a grove of trees over there, and a path that leads into the village. Hey, you've never been here before, have you? It's no wonder you don't know. The bridge at the entrance of the village isn't very sturdy. We people who are used to living here usually don't use this route; we're used to taking a detour into the village."

After saying this, the kind-hearted man waved his hand, picked up a basket of firewood, and left.

Qian Yingyi understood and knew it was a narrow path, so she simply lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage, walking in with Qin Lizheng.

As she approached the entrance to the woods, she saw that the ground was wet and muddy everywhere, so she stopped and stopped walking. She glanced at Qin Lizheng, her lips twitching as if she wanted to say something but didn't.

Qin Lizheng also pretended not to understand and stood still without saying a word.

Qian Yingyi felt he was going too far, deliberately teasing her like a cat or dog. But gazing at his smile, she felt more embarrassed and annoyed, wanting nothing more than to bite his lips hard to vent her anger.

She stood there, refusing to move, and after dragging her feet for a while, she finally couldn't help but speak up: "Hey, are you out of your mind? This place is dirty, I don't want to go up there!"

Qin Lizheng suddenly realized, "Then you'll wait for me here?"

Qian Yingyi glared at him, too embarrassed to speak further.

Seeing her evasive expression, Qin Lizheng couldn't help but chuckle. He leaned closer to her, his breath brushing against her forehead. "What do you want? Tell me."

He's such a treacherous and cunning person! Qian Yingyi couldn't help but curse him inwardly.

Standing there wasn't a solution. She hadn't come all this way just to wait for him outside. She fidgeted with her fingers, then finally whispered, "Could you... carry me on your back?"

Qin Lizheng suddenly laughed a few times, and in the brief moment when she opened her eyes slightly, he turned his back and bent down, lifting her legs off the ground.

Qian Yingyi leaned forward onto his back and heard him say, "Some things aren't so hard to say, are they?"

"You did it on purpose," Qian Yingyi gritted her teeth, reaching out to pinch his arm under her. Hearing him groan, she felt a surge of satisfaction. She draped her arms over his shoulders, letting them hang loosely, enjoying his service with a clear conscience. "Hurry up, there's no sun in this woods, it's terribly cold."

At noon, they finally entered the village. Qin Lizheng put Qian Yingyi down, and the two of them went one after the other to the fifth courtyard. Qian Yingyi stood outside the fence and peered inside, calling softly, "May I ask if this is the home of Hua Xiu Niang?"

A moment later, a head popped out of the window; it was the woodcutter they had seen before.

He was slightly taken aback, then his figure disappeared behind the window in an instant, and he rushed out to open the door in the blink of an eye. "You two?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he came to his senses and laughed, "Are you looking for my wife? What a coincidence! She was supposed to go on a long trip to visit someone, but the heavy rain yesterday delayed her. She's at home today with nothing to do, so please come in!"

Qian Yingyi followed Qin Lizheng inside. The man led her into the west room, and after a short while, the bamboo curtain under the door was lifted, and a woman in her forties walked in.

She quickly stood up and gave a proper bow.

Having worked at the Jiangning Textile Bureau for so many years, Hua Xiuniang could tell at a glance that she was a young lady from a wealthy and noble family, so she returned the greeting. However, her words were those of someone trying to shoo her away:

“Miss, if you need me to sew clothes for you, please go back.”

Qian Yingyi was slightly taken aback. After thinking about it carefully, she realized that perhaps it was because she had become famous in the surrounding villages after leaving the Jiangning Textile Bureau that too many people wanted her to make clothes. So she quickly waved her hand and said, "You misunderstand. I didn't come for myself."

She gave a kind smile. "I'm just here to try my luck. A family member is getting married, and I'm heartbroken. I've heard that you're an excellent embroiderer, so I'd like to ask you to make a wedding dress for me."

"Not for myself?" Hua Xiuniang glanced at her secretly, about to politely refuse.

The man listened intently outside for a while, then suddenly said, "Oh dear, are you bored at home? Don't you always want to find some work to do? Wedding dresses, aren't they your specialty? I just saw them arrive in a carriage. They've come all this way, so you should agree to do it."

Hua Xiuniang turned around and lifted the curtain, secretly spitting at the man and shooing him outside. After a while, she went back into the west room and unexpectedly met a pair of hesitant eyes.

Hua Xiuniang sighed softly, gently pulled up a round stool and sat down. "Miss, to be honest, since you know I came from the Jiangning Textile Bureau, you should also know that those of us in this line of work never show our skills to outsiders. I resigned and went home, and my relationship with my neighbors is still good. Out of courtesy, I've helped mend the clothes of some people when they have holes or tears. I don't know where you heard about me. Please go back."

Qian Yingyi had only come to try her luck, and she had expected Hua Xiuniang to refuse. Therefore, she could not force the issue and could only purse her lips, get up and take her leave.

Although she was a young lady, she had no intention of being arrogant, domineering, or bullying others.

It was probably this gentle and subtle kindness that touched Hua Xiuniang, who asked as she was leaving, "I see that you are dressed quite well and have guards with you, so you must come from a high-class family. There are plenty of good embroiderers in Jinling City, and there are plenty of wedding dresses worth a thousand gold pieces. Why did you have to come all the way to my house?"

Qian Yingyi couldn't hide the slight disappointment in her heart, so she told him the truth.

Hua Xiuniang was surprised, not expecting that it was for the sake of the maidservant beside her.

After thinking it over for a moment, Hua Xiuniang finally relented, "Wait, I promise you."

Qian Yingyi immediately perked up, wishing she could rush to her side, "Really?"

Hua Xiuniang smiled and nodded, "I've seen many maids pleading for their masters, but this is the first time I've seen a master pleading for his maid. I'll take on this wedding dress job because of your kindness."

"There's just one thing you mustn't tell anyone."

Qian Yingyi nodded repeatedly, assuring everyone that she would not utter a single extra word.

The joy that followed the initial shock lingered long afterward, and even when the two retraced their steps, Qian Yingyi was still clinging to Qin Lizheng's back, giggling softly.

Qin Lizheng steadily supported her legs and laughed, "Yesterday you were reluctant to let Chuntang get married, but today you're eagerly coming to beg for someone on her behalf. No other young lady is as good as you."

Qian Yingyi misunderstood his tone, her smile vanished, and she asked, "Before I took you in, which other young ladies did you serve?"

What are you thinking about?

Qian Yingyi scoffed, "Isn't that what you just said? You've served quite a few young ladies."

Qin Lizheng was somewhat speechless. He had only been working for the emperor and had to keep an eye on the homes of those ministers due to official duties. He had inevitably seen some of their daughters, but he couldn't even remember what they looked like.

He realized he had let something slip, and after a moment he said, "No, from the past to the present, it's only you."

Qian Yingyi curled her lip in disdain, "Sweet talk."

Although she said that, she secretly tightened her grip on his neck. It was a bit cold in the woods, so she quietly pressed her face against his back to warm it up.

She moved stealthily and very quietly, afraid of being discovered.

Actually, being carried by him feels... kind of nice.

Gradually, she was carried out of the cold, dark forest. When they reached the carriage, she tilted her head back and let the warm sun shine on her. She felt so comfortable that she gently closed her eyes.

Qin Lizheng couldn't help but gently stroke a stray lock of hair on her forehead, his smile softened by the warm sunlight. "Are you hungry?"

When they came out, Hua Xiuniang had invited them to stay for lunch, but Qian Yingyi couldn't possibly trouble her again. She quickly said it wasn't necessary. Now that he had asked, she realized she was indeed a little hungry, so she gently nodded her chin.

No one here recognized them, so Qin Lizheng simply took her hand and placed it in his palm, leading her towards the stream. "It will take two hours to get back. We only brought a little bit of snacks, and I'm afraid you won't have enough to eat. Let's see if there are any fish, and I'll make a fire and grill them for you."

Qian Yingyi was startled and pulled her hand away forcefully. Strangely, he was weak and listless, probably because he hadn't eaten.

If you can't pull it out, just let it be.

He led her to the stream, and she happened to spot two fish. She excitedly nudged them, exclaiming, "There!"

Qin Lizheng bent down to pick up a twig, and just as he was about to get up, his expression suddenly changed!

The next moment, before Qian Yingyi could even react, he scooped her up, secretly using his inner strength to leap swiftly onto a tree trunk and gently set her down. "Sit tight!"

Qian Yingyi was somewhat dazed, her heart pounding in her throat, not understanding what was happening. Seeing him leap down, she was about to curse him when she suddenly covered her mouth after seeing her surroundings.

A dozen or so masked men appeared from all directions, each wielding a long knife. Their exposed eyes were fierce and menacing. In the blink of an eye, they had completely surrounded Qin Lizheng.

Qin Lizheng drew his sword with a backhand motion, then suddenly sneered, "What, how much silver did they offer you to buy my life?"

Pei Ji offered a large sum of money to save his life, a fact he already knew, and he had recently dealt with a group of so-called experts from the martial arts world.

Unexpectedly, Pei Ji's murderous intent remained unchanged.

The leader of the martial arts practitioners didn't waste words with him; he simply swung his sword and threw it at Qin Lizheng!

"I only care about money!"

With Qian Yingyi on his mind, Qin Lizheng lightly touched the ground with his toes, instantly dodging the long knife, and then led the group of people to the other side.

These dozen or so men were determined to take Qin Lizheng's life today, and they were extremely ruthless in their attack. Qin Lizheng was agile with his swordsmanship, and he quickly turned around to dodge the blade that was coming at him. Then he turned around and fiercely severed the arm of the man holding the knife.

In an instant, blood was swept into the swirling dust.

The man cried out in pain, but seeing how swiftly he moved, his eyes darted around, and suddenly he pointed to a tree with his remaining hand, shouting angrily, "Brothers! That woman is his weakness! Take her down first!"

This group of people live a life of crime and often risk their lives, but they are also quite loyal.

Seeing their companion's arm severed, two of them quickly retreated to surround Qian Yingyi, while the rest formed a formation to entangle Qin Lizheng!

Qian Yingyi's heart tightened, and she recovered from her shock. Seeing the two menacing-looking people running towards her without any mercy, she bit her lip and forced herself to calm down, no matter how panicked she was.

Suddenly trouble arose, the situation became dangerous, and she was being watched.

Fortunately, it was a fruit tree. Ignoring her fear, she quickly picked the hard fruit and held it in her hand. Using the archery skills her brother had taught her, she steadied herself on the tree trunk with one hand to prevent herself from falling, and raised the other hand high, hurling it hard at one of the people's eyes!

The man cried out in pain and covered his eyes. Seeing this, the other man immediately sped up and soon approached the tree trunk.

Qian Yingyi took a deep breath and used the same move to strike the man's temple, causing him to feel pain and become dazed for a moment.

Driven by an overwhelming will to survive, Qian Yingyi had no choice but to abandon all sense of propriety and shame. Wearing her exquisite hairpin today, she stared at the two people gradually recovering under the tree. A fierce glint flashed in her eyes as she grabbed the hem of her skirt, gripped the hairpin, and slashed it sharply across the hem—

She wrapped a piece of fabric in her hand, and then, taking advantage of the moment before the two of them could react, she quickly broke off a tree branch and made herself a makeshift slingshot.

Next, as soon as the two got closer, she would hit them with unerring accuracy, finding their most vulnerable spots!

Although the hairpin had a hidden mechanism, it was small, and she had never used it before. It also required her to be close to the object to use it, making it less convenient than the slingshot she had made.

She was on high ground, and they were below.

She needed to stay calm and hold out until he dealt with those people over there.

No matter how clever Qian Yingyi was, she couldn't compare to a vicious and ruthless person who lived on the edge of a knife.

The two men, struck in quick succession by her, felt utterly toyed with. The buyer had only instructed that Qin Lizheng's life be taken, leaving no further instructions. One of them simply pulled a short crossbow from his robes, his face contorted with rage, and shouted, "Want to play around? I'll send you to the underworld now, so you can play with the underworld lords!"

"call out--"

The crossbow bolt shot rapidly toward Qian Yingyi. Qian Yingyi's heart tightened, her breath caught in her throat, and her survival instinct made her body dodge the danger.

With his eyes closed, he dodged the cold glint and jumped down from the tree!

The crossbow bolt grazed the top of her head, and her hair immediately fell in all directions.

Qian Yingyi fell to the ground, then quickly scrambled to her feet and led the two of them toward the slightly crooked wooden bridge by the stream!

She remembers!

She remembered that the wooden bridge was crooked. She was a woman and rather light, so the wooden bridge couldn't support the two of them!

She just kept running forward, not daring to look back, not daring to think about what would happen if she were caught. The footsteps behind her were getting closer and closer, so frightening that she dared not let the tears in her eyes fall. She could only shout, "Ah Zheng! Save me!"

Just as she was about to reach the wooden bridge, Qian Yingyi suddenly fell backward. Her hair was suddenly grabbed by a hand. Without thinking, she grabbed a handful of ash from the ground and threw it back!

One person covered their eyes, while another raised their long sword high.

She stared wide-eyed in horror for a moment, her pupils reflecting the man's ferocious expression, before abruptly closing her eyes the instant the blade struck down.

The expected pain did not come.

Qian Yingyi waited for a long time before trembling as she raised her face. The two men stared at her in shock.

The next moment, the two bodies went limp and fell to the ground, revealing Qin Lizheng's blood-stained face.

Qian Yingyi stood there, stunned, unable to utter a single word despite her miraculous survival.

Qin Lizheng has already gone on a killing spree. When those two men went to capture Qian Yingyi without any mercy, he had no intention of letting these people live.

She dealt with the group of people in less than a quarter of an hour, but what shocked him was that she was able to hold off the two of them with her own abilities.

After killing everyone, Qin Lizheng's hands trembled slightly. It was hard to say whether it was from using too much force when killing, or from almost witnessing her die in front of him.

Qin Lizheng's expression changed. He threw the sword on the ground, knelt down, and reached out to help her up. "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid."

Qian Yingyi couldn't help but look ahead through his shoulder. Those people lay sprawled on the ground, motionless and silent, not a single one alive.

She asked in a trembling voice, "Are these people... your enemies?"

Qin Lizheng closed his eyes, speechless. He couldn't tell her that these people were Pei Ji's methods of hiring assassins to kill him so he could get close to her.

If she knew she was being coveted by various parties, how could she sleep peacefully? How could she live a happy and carefree life? It shouldn't be like this.

After a long silence, Qin Lizheng's dry voice finally rang out, "Yes, they are enemies."

Qian Yingyi pushed him away forcefully, and seeing that his face was covered in blood, she hurriedly rolled up his sleeves, "Are you injured?"

He tried to pull the sleeves up, but he couldn't. His dark clothes gradually blurred, and Qian Yingyi fell to the ground, stunned for a moment, then suddenly clenched her fists and punched him hard.

The tears she had held back for half a day were finally spilled onto the dust. Perhaps she was crying for herself, or perhaps for him; she didn't know whether to distinguish or not. She simply went from sobbing to wailing, "I've never encountered anything like this in my entire life! Are you trying to scare me to death?! I... I almost thought I was going to die here!"

Her heart-wrenching words made Qin Lizheng feel a dull ache in his bones. He pulled her close, and all the words he wanted to say at that moment were condensed into one sentence he kept repeating: "It's my fault, I deserve to die, it will never happen again."

Qian Yingyi buried her face in his shoulder and cried, “If you had enemies, you should have said so earlier! You should have told me! Is it that my Qian family is incapable of solving your problems or what! Do you know that at first I thought you could beat them, but then you didn’t come to save me for so long, I even wondered... I even wondered if you were dead!”

"If you die, leaving me here, what am I supposed to do?!"

Qin Lizheng gently stroked her back repeatedly. After she finished crying and expressing her panic, he quickly lifted her skirt and asked, "Let me see your foot. Is it sprained?"

Strangely enough, after surviving the ordeal and having cried, Qian Yingyi still seemed to know what propriety and shame were. She tucked her feet into her skirt and said with a nasal tone, "I...I'm fine."

Qin Lizheng's attitude was unusually firm: "How could you be unharmed after falling from such a high tree?"

He grabbed her ankle, pulled off her shoes and socks, examined her foot carefully, and gently moved her instep back and forth in his palm, asking, "Does it hurt?"

Qian Yingyi blinked her teary eyes twice and answered truthfully, "It doesn't hurt. I was lucky I didn't twist my ankle or hurt myself. But you, are you hurt anywhere?"

Hearing that she was alright, Qin Lizheng was temporarily relieved. He helped her put on her shoes and socks, then scooped her up and walked towards the carriage. Perhaps to put her at ease, he deliberately imitated her, saying, "I was lucky too. I didn't get my hand or foot cut."

After calming down a bit, Qian Yingyi returned to the carriage and couldn't help but ask, "What about those corpses?"

Finally, she felt a little scared again, "We made such a commotion just now, did anyone see us?"

Qin Lizheng patted her head and said in a deep voice, "Stay in the carriage and don't come out. I'll handle it."

Qian Yingyi had no choice but to suppress her anxiety. As the carriage curtain fell, all her strength drained away, and she slumped against the carriage wall.

...It was truly breathtaking.

Qian Yingyi gently closed her eyes, unable to help but recall the thrill of what had just happened, and also unable to help but wonder what kind of deep hatred could lead a dozen people to risk their lives to kill him.

About an hour later, Qin Lizheng returned, the bloodstains on his face washed away. He simply climbed into the carriage, handed her a damp handkerchief to wipe her face, and seeing that her hair was loose, he casually braided it into a diagonal braid for her.

Qian Yingyi lifted the curtain to look, but there was no body on the ground. She remained silent for a moment, then held the braid and stroked it back and forth. She couldn't help but ask, "How did you handle it?"

Qin Lizheng lowered his eyelids and said in a low voice, "Bury it."

He felt embarrassed for having told yet another "white lie." The prison of the Northern Garrison Command had everything; there was no need to bother digging a pit to bury the dozen or so corpses.

To comfort her, he pulled her closer and patted her shoulders and back, saying, "Don't worry, the village is far away. The commotion just now only lasted a moment, and no one noticed what happened here. It's gloomy outside, and it's going to rain soon. Those bloodstains... will be washed away quickly."

Qian Yingyi felt increasingly uneasy as she listened, but couldn't quite put her finger on it. Seeing herself nestled in his arms again, she quickly pushed him away. "Those people all look like江湖人士 (jianghu figures, meaning people from the martial arts world). What enemies do you have? Go outside and settle them! Don't let this happen again! I... I want to go home, so get out of here!"

Despite their hurried efforts, the two managed to return to Pipa Lane before the downpour began, only to find it was already dark.

Qian Yingyi was especially terrified today. After such a thing happened, she didn't want to talk about it at home. As soon as she entered the house, she rushed to Yunteng Pavilion to wash away all the filth on her body.

Xia Ling was startled and kept asking her where she had gone.

She just made up an excuse to brush it off.

Meanwhile, Qin Lizheng watched her enter Yunteng Pavilion, his expression suddenly turned cold, and he climbed over the wall and entered the house next door.

Pei Ji had just finished watching a play and was in a good mood. Hearing the servant say that water was ready, he turned and headed towards the bathhouse.

As soon as I closed the door, a sharp pain shot through my knees!

He knelt on the ground, his face pale, and looked down, only to find that two iron nails were embedded in his knees!

He turned his head in shock and looked around. A tall figure emerged from behind the expensive landscape screen, staring coldly at him, and then walked towards him step by step.

Pei Ji was greatly alarmed, realizing that the second wave of martial arts experts must have failed! He hurriedly turned around to call for help.

Unfortunately, he wasn't as fast as Qin Lizheng.

Qin Lizheng covered his mouth, lifted him up, and suddenly kicked the iron nails in front of his knees in a fit of rage.

"Crack—"

The room was completely silent, yet the sound of bones cracking could still be heard.

Qin Lizheng's hand tightened around Pei Ji's neck, inch by inch, and he said calmly, "Didn't I send someone to tell you that if you dance in front of her again, I'll break both your legs?"

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A note from the author:

A potential danger unexpectedly appeared beside Yingyi, and the clever Yingyi faced the first major challenge of her life, which she successfully overcame. [shrug]