Chapter 282 We Can't Afford Even One Accident

“Of course it’s not because of that,” Jiang Zhi glanced at him helplessly. “I’m just afraid that if I hinder your happiness, you will blame me in the future.”

Shen Ci'an turned her shoulders around so she would face him. "Without Miss, I would be unhappy."

Jiang Zhi blushed at his serious and earnest attitude, and lowered her head, unable to suppress her curiosity, "What exactly is going on with Miss Zhao Wu?"

"I was just passing by the palace banquet when I overheard people talking about my wife, saying that she was beautiful but ill-fated and couldn't bear such a life of wealth. Miss Zhao Wu was surrounded and berated by those people for speaking up for you."

Shen Ci'an stared at her intently. "I couldn't bear to listen to that, so I spoke up to reprimand her."

Jiang Zhi looked somewhat embarrassed.

And all of this actually started because of her?

"So, does Miss still want a divorce?" Shen Ci'an asked, cupping her face in his hands.

"Then let's wait until Xiao Yunheng's matter is settled before getting a divorce," Jiang Zhi said guiltily.

Shen Ci'an pursed his lips, "Alright, when everything is over and you leave Kyoto, I'll give you a divorce agreement and set you free."

"Then what I suggested earlier, flower viewing and hot springs..."

At this moment, Shen Ci'an's clear and gentle eyes were like a pool of hot spring; looking into them, one was silently enveloped, feeling a slight itch in one's heart.

Jiang Zhi's breath hitched slightly. She dared not look at him again and simply nodded gently, "The teacher's arrangement is fine."

Shen Ci'an then smiled and placed a light kiss on her forehead.

"By the way, I wonder how Xiao Yunheng is doing?" Jiang Zhi asked curiously.

There has been no news of him for several days.

Shen Ci'an's lips curled into a cold smile. "The Prince of Xiang has been busy these days, dealing with my impeachment of him for privately raising soldiers. Lu Yuan also found the place where he was raising assassins, but the Crown Prince sent people to wipe them out."

“These things are not something that can be discussed openly, so he dared not tell anyone. He could only swallow his bitterness in silence and was extremely busy.”

Jiang Zhi smiled, her eyes crinkling, "That's wonderful, serves you right."

But this is far from enough.

As long as his status remains and as long as the emperor continues to favor him, he can still make a comeback.

Since such acts of collusion with the enemy and treason could be suppressed, it seems that only regicide and usurpation could truly enrage the emperor.

But how easy are these things?

Jiang Zhi couldn't help but think of Hong Xuan.

I wonder what secrets she might have.

I hope Lu Yuan can find her soon.

Late the next night, Jiang Zhi was half asleep in her room when she suddenly heard light footsteps.

Thinking it was Shen Ci'an returning, she rubbed her eyes groggily and shifted her body further into the bed, "Master..."

But she quickly opened her eyes, a look of panic flashing across her face.

Because her nose could keenly detect the smell of blood.

Shen Ci'an has always been a clean person, and even if he is injured, he would not come to her room covered in blood.

This person is definitely not Shen Ci'an.

But when Jiang Zhi saw who it was by the moonlight, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Lu Yuan, what are you doing at the Shen residence in the middle of the night...?"

Before she could finish speaking, Lu Yuan knelt on one knee on the bed and pulled Jiang Zhi into a tight embrace. Then, he kissed her passionately, his fervent lips and tongue crushing her voice into fragments, his heavy breaths falling on her face.

Jiang Zhi sensed something was wrong and pushed him.

But they discovered that Lu Yuan was trembling slightly.

"Lu Yuan, what's wrong with you?" Jiang Zhi finally found a moment to ask him, panting.

She had never seen Lu Yuan like this before.

He is usually calm and composed in the face of adversity, and even in the face of the most severe crisis, he would never lose his composure like he is now.

Lu Yuan didn't speak, but held her tightly in his arms, burying his high nose in her neck to calm his own frantic heartbeat.

"Yu Jun...something happened." His voice was low and hoarse, and his pupils were somewhat vacant.

"What happened?" Jiang Zhi reached out and touched him, her face full of concern. "Are you hurt?"

He was wearing that dark flying fish robe, which emitted a faint smell of blood.

Lu Yuan grabbed her hand to comfort her, "I'm fine, it's Yu Jun's wife who had an accident."

He took a few deep breaths, but still didn't let go of Jiang Zhi in his arms. Instead, he hugged her even tighter, as if he wanted to become one with her.

Jiang Zhi frowned. "I remember Madam Yu is already three months pregnant and is resting at home. What happened to her?"

That time, Lu Yuan asked Yu Jun to escort her back to the mansion. Along the way, Yu Jun told her a lot about his mistress.

She remembered that when Yu Jun mentioned it, although he said he was impatient with his wife's fussiness, his eyes were gentle and he was clearly enjoying it.

Lu Yuan's voice was cold and deep: "Do you remember the person who dined with me at Qifeng Tower? His name is Wan Cang. We are investigating a case of embezzlement in the Ministry of Works, and he is involved in the case. Yu Jun has been in charge of him."

“These past two days, Yu Jun has gathered evidence against him. With no other options, Wan Cang kidnapped Madam Yu to threaten him.”

Jiang Zhi was startled. "How are Madam Yu and the child?"

Lu Yuan shook his head. "The baby couldn't be saved. Madam Yu suffered a massive hemorrhage and is in critical condition. I don't know if she'll make it through the night..."

The image of Madam Yu being pushed down the steps by Wan Cang, clutching her abdomen and falling into a pool of blood, still lingers in his mind.

"Ayan!!!" Yu Jun let out a miserable roar and rushed forward, holding the person in her arms, her hands covered in blood.

Even though Wan Cang was ultimately stabbed through by Lu Yuan, he still couldn't help but feel a lingering fear.

He seemed to see Jiang Zhi.

He couldn't imagine if Jiang Zhi had been the one held hostage by Wan Cang back then; would he have gone mad?

Jiang Zhi was also shocked by the news and turned pale.

She had experienced the pain of losing a child and bleeding to death.

"Lu Yuan, Madam Yu will be alright, don't be afraid." She held his hand in return, trying to transfer some warmth to her through herself.

Lu Yuan was unusually cold, as if he had crawled up from the underworld.

"Ah Zhi, I will definitely protect you." He didn't know if he was saying it to Jiang Zhi or to comfort himself.

It wasn't until tonight's events that he realized how ridiculous he had been back in Xuzhou.

He actually naively wanted Jiang Zhi to return to the capital with him and marry him under the identity of Ji Zhiya.

He has countless enemies around him, and people waiting for him to fall from his height.

Once married and vulnerable, Jiang Zhi, who has no status, will become everyone's target.

He can't afford even one accident.

Jiang Zhi hugged him back, gently patting his broad back, and noticed that his trembling body was calming down.

"Promise me you'll protect yourself. Your life is more important than anyone else's." Lu Yuan pulled her out of his arms and stared at her intently.

He recalled that on the way back to the capital, the assassin threatened him with green apricots, and Jiang Zhi actually offered to take his place without hesitation.

"I will."

Although she didn't know why Lu Yuan was so afraid, Jiang Zhi still wrapped her arms around his neck, made him lower his head, and offered her lips to him.