Chapter 322 Don't Get Angry This Time

Jiang Zhi didn't care about anything else and sent someone to invite Xiao Xuanyou over.

Xiao Xuanyou rushed over thinking something had happened to her, but when he learned it was for Shen Ci'an, his expression turned somber.

"That's right, it really happened."

"Why?" Jiang Zhi couldn't understand why Lu Yuan would arrest and imprison Shen Ci'an.

"Lord Shen and the Prince of Xiang conspired to rescue Yan Wenhong from the imperial prison. Lu Yuan will naturally not let this go," Xiao Xuanyou said calmly.

"What?" Jiang Zhi was startled for a moment, but quickly realized that Xiao Yunheng must have forced Shen Ci'an to do it, and she immediately became extremely anxious.

"I request that Your Highness send someone to the imperial prison to inquire whether Lord Shen is safe and sound, and whether he has been tortured."

How could a frail scholar like Confucius withstand the severe torture in the imperial prison?

Xiao Xuanyou sighed, "I know you'll be anxious. I've also inquired about this matter, but Lu Yuan has kept the imperial prison as secure as an iron barrel these past two days, and no news has been able to get out."

The Northern Garrison Command was originally Lu Yuan's territory, and the Imperial Prison was a no-go zone; unless the Emperor himself issued an edict, even Xiao Xuanyou was powerless to do anything about it.

"But isn't the Master deeply favored by the Emperor? Isn't Lu Yuan afraid of doing this..."

Xiao Xuanyou chuckled helplessly, "Since he dared to do this, he must have received the Emperor's approval."

Jiang Zhi was startled.

This matter is far more serious than Shen Ci'an being imprisoned in the imperial prison.

Shen Ci'an was a loyal subject, and he absolutely could not openly form cliques or engage in private affairs in order to gain the Emperor's greatest trust.

But now that even the Emperor has become suspicious of him, Shen Ci'an's situation is extremely dangerous.

“No, I need to go to the Imperial Prison,” Jiang Zhi said, looking at Xiao Xuanyou. “Please give me a day to leave the Eastern Palace.”

Without a second thought, Xiao Xuanyou refused, “No, if Xiao Yunheng finds out that you left the East Palace, then all our arrangements these past few days will have been in vain.”

"I can disguise myself, I promise I will absolutely not be discovered," Jiang Zhi said anxiously, clutching Xiao Xuanyou's sleeve tightly. "Please, Your Highness, help me."

Looking at her anxious eyes and her clenched fingers, Xiao Xuanyou felt a surge of jealousy and resentment that almost overflowed from his chest.

In both her past and present lives, she had never worried about herself like this.

What merit or ability does Shen Ci'an possess to make her care so much?

He pursed his lips and struggled for a long time, but finally just sighed deeply, "Fine, but you must promise me that you must return to the East Palace before dark tomorrow."

Jiang Zhi was immediately overjoyed. "Thank you, Your Highness!"

The next morning, under Xiao Xuanyou's arrangement, Jiang Zhi had a palace maid impersonate her and recuperate in Qingfang Palace, while she herself disguised herself as a palace maid, took a token, and left the East Palace under the pretext of going out to buy things.

After leaving the palace, fearing that someone would follow her, she deliberately lingered on the streets for a long time, and even went to a clothing store to change her clothes and appearance before arriving at the gate of the Northern Garrison Command.

The gates of the Northern Garrison Command were tightly closed, and the guards were more than twice as tight as usual.

She disguised herself so the guards at the gate didn't recognize her, and she had to beg and plead with them for a long time to help her pass on a message to Lu Yuan.

Finally, the guard, annoyed and fearing that she might actually need to speak with the commander, reluctantly agreed to relay a message for her.

Upon hearing the announcement, Lu Yuan did not have the guards invite her in. Instead, he put down what he was doing and got up to go to the door to greet her.

Seeing the unfamiliar yet familiar face at the door, Lu Yuan couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't be angry this time. I recognized you at a glance."

He still remembered the time at Qifeng Tower when Jiang Zhi complained that he hadn't recognized him immediately.

As Lu Yuan spoke, he took her hand and led her inside.

His gaze was gentle, unlike the stern commander he usually was.

The guards at the door were almost speechless with surprise.

Jiang Zhi had to jog to keep up with Lu Yuan's pace. Seeing that she was having trouble walking, he slowed down to wait for her.

"Lu Yuan, I have important business to discuss with you today. My teacher..."

“He’s fine. It’s inconvenient to talk here. Let’s go inside the garrison.” Lu Yuan interrupted her.

Jiang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Lu Yuan said that if the Master is alright, then he will be alright.

He then took a jade pendant from his side with one hand and gave it to her, saying, "It was my oversight. You can wear this from now on, and the Northern Garrison can come and go as you please without needing to announce your arrival."

Lu Yuan wore this coin every day, and Jiang Zhi was extremely familiar with it.

So he accepted it without hesitation and put it into his own pocket.

This surprised Lu Yuan somewhat. "Accepting it so readily is unlike you."

“So Lord Lu was just putting on an act,” Jiang Zhi raised an eyebrow. “Then I’ll return it to you, lest I actually accept it and Lord Lu is reluctant to part with it.”

He then went to retrieve the jade pendant.

Lu Yuan helplessly pressed his hand down, saying, "Don't pretend to be innocent after getting the benefit."

Jiang Zhi retorted, "Is this how Lord Lu finds out?"

“You’re getting bolder and bolder,” Lu Yuan stopped in his tracks. The interior of the office was dark and gloomy, and his deep eyes were fixed on her. “But I naturally have a way to deal with you.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Zhi felt her wrist tighten and was pulled into a narrow, deserted passageway, her back pressed against the wall.

Before Jiang Zhi could even utter a cry of surprise, he pressed the back of her neck with his fingertips, tilting her head back, and forced her legs apart, his lips and teeth covering hers without giving her a chance to refuse.

"Lu Yuan, you!"

Jiang Zhi dared to provoke him because this place was still far from his garrison.

I never expected him to make a move halfway there.

The moment she opened her mouth, her soft, moist skin was enveloped by him, his breath hot and intense, as if he wanted to melt her right there.

His kiss was deep and urgent, and Jiang Zhi couldn't resist it at all. If it weren't for the wall behind her, her body would have slid down.

But it was precisely because of the wall that she had nowhere to escape, and could only be like a lamb to the slaughter, having all the breath in her chest devoured by him.

"Still dare to be arrogant?" His voice carried a playful control as he gently nuzzled her nose, intimate and ambiguous.

"Lu Yuan, are you a dog? My lips must be swollen!" she said indignantly, her lips burning from his sucking, almost numb.

Lu Yuan's eyes were a deep, unyielding darkness. "I'm sorry, I missed you so much."

Since Jiang Zhi went to the East Palace, she has never had any physical intimacy with her again.

He had gone too far and out of control that day, and after such a large meal, he had been starving for so long that he was completely at a loss.

Jiang Zhi took a few breaths and was about to say something when she suddenly heard footsteps coming from a distance.

"Have you seen the boss? I have something to report. The garrison was looking for him earlier but couldn't find him. Could he have gone out?"

"They shouldn't have left. The guard at the gate just said they were back."

"Then I'll go look again."

The footsteps grew closer, heading towards the passageway.

Her entire back tensed up immediately, and she repeatedly pushed Lu Yuan away, saying, "Someone's coming, let go of me right now."

Although the passageway was narrow, it was completely open, and the two people could see her and Lu Yuan as soon as they got close.

Her heart was pounding in her throat, but Lu Yuan seemed completely unconcerned, only curving his lips into a hoarse voice and saying, "What are you afraid of? You've disguised yourself, so even if you lose face, it's only me who will."