Chapter 33 The Crown Prince Arrives

Yan Wenkang covered his eyes, and bright red blood flowed from between his fingers, smearing his face.

"You bitch, ah—what is this thing? My eyes, I can't see anything! You bitch, you bitch, you bitch!!!"

He rolled on the ground, the sharp, dense pain like ants gnawing at him, or like countless silver needles piercing his brain, causing his whole body to spasm and convulse.

Jiang Zhi put her hand down.

The ring Xie Qi gave her was indeed very useful. She even coated the silver needles with chili powder to ensure Yan Wenkang would experience a truly tangy and spicy sensation.

She stepped on Yan Wenkang's face and exhaled the pent-up breath from her chest.

The pain and humiliation of so many years have finally begun to dissipate somewhat today.

But how can that be enough?

"I advise you to save your energy from screaming, there's more pain to come." She laughed, but her eyes were cold and devoid of warmth, her calmness frightening.

Seeing that Yan Wenkang had already fainted from the pain, Jiang Zhi snorted coldly and turned to head towards Zhizhixuan without lingering any longer.

Shen Ci'an is too rigid and conservative; he needs some stimulation to be forced to recognize his own heart.

Today, fueled by alcohol, presents an excellent opportunity.

Wang Yuru and the others should be here to "catch the adulterers" in a while, and they'll be putting on a show for a bit longer, so she has plenty of time.

Meanwhile, in the front courtyard of the Jiang residence.

"The Crown Prince has arrived!"

With a loud greeting, Xiao Xuanyou, dressed in a black robe with gold embroidery, strode in, surrounded by people. His face was as handsome as jade, his phoenix eyes held a commanding presence, and although his complexion was still somewhat pale, it could not conceal his inherent nobility.

No one present expected that the Crown Prince, who was still recovering from his injuries, would come here today. Jiang Zhengting hurriedly led everyone forward to greet and kneel in worship.

"Please rise, everyone. I've just come out for a stroll today, so there's no need for formalities."

"Your Highness's presence is truly an honor for us," Jiang Zhengting said respectfully. "We have yet to thank Your Highness for sending someone to treat my mother."

Xiao Xuanyou asked him, "How is Grandma Jiang's health?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My mother is now out of danger."

"Then I am relieved."

The incident involving Chanyi in his dream occurred at the flower-viewing banquet at the Jiang residence today. He will not let her repeat the same mistake this time.

Thinking of this, Xiao Xuanyou scanned the room but did not see the person who should be there. He asked in a deep voice, "I heard that the second young master of the Yan family also came to the Jiang residence for a banquet. Where is he now?"

People around looked around, but they couldn't find him anywhere.

Xiao Xuanyou's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and he whispered to the man standing beside him with a knife, "Go and check on how Miss Jiang is. Remember to keep a low profile and protect her."

"yes."

The man, supporting himself with his embroidered spring knife, left the front yard and slipped into the backyard of the Jiang residence without attracting anyone's attention.

*

As Jiang Zhi's alcohol took effect, she felt dizzy and her heart pounded as she walked towards Zhizhixuan.

Seeing Zhizhixuan so close at hand, she was caught off guard and suddenly lost her footing, causing her body to fall forward uncontrollably.

Jiang Zhi thought to herself that this was bad and could only close her eyes helplessly.

However, the expected pain did not come. Her waist was quickly embraced by a pair of strong hands, and her body was pulled into a firm and solid embrace.

She looked up and saw an unexpected, cold, and stern face appear before her.

"Lord Lu? What are you doing here?"

Qingxing shouldn't have been able to invite people so quickly, and even if Lu Yuan came to the Jiang residence, he should have been in the front courtyard. Why would he have come to such a remote place as Zhizhixuan?

Lu Yuan frowned slightly, looking at her unusually red face, and asked her, "Why are you in such a panic? What happened?"

Jiang Zhi dared not tell him her purpose. She suppressed her increasingly rapid heartbeat and whispered, "It's nothing. I just left in a hurry. Thank you for your help, Lord Lu. I can walk by myself."

Lu Yuan was ordered by the Emperor to accompany the Crown Prince out of the palace to protect his safety. He also learned from the Crown Prince that Jiang Zhi might be harassed by Yan Wenkang today. Since the Crown Prince's status was too special to come in person, he sent Lu Yuan to investigate.

He saw Yan Wenkang lying unconscious on the road and was worried. Finally, he found Jiang Zhi here, who had almost fallen.

"Where are you going? I'll take you there."

"I wouldn't dare trouble Lord Lu. I can stay at my own residence and don't need anyone to escort me," Jiang Zhi refused.

Lu Yuan, however, curled his lips into a sneer, placed the back of his hand on her burning forehead, his brows furrowing. He then checked her pulse for a moment before uttering a mocking remark:

"In one's own residence? In the entire capital, which young lady would be drugged in her own home?"

Although she seemed to have taken the antidote, the residual effects of the drug had not completely dissipated.

He had seen this medicine countless times in the imperial prison, and he knew its pulse like the back of his hand, able to diagnose it at a glance.

Jiang Zhi secretly groaned; Lu Yuan had actually been able to know her physical condition just by taking her pulse!

"Since Lord Lu knows that I have been drugged, he should know that I might do something disrespectful to you. It would be best for Lord Lu to stay away from me."

Lu Yuan couldn't help but chuckle, "I'm quite curious to see what you're going to do to me."

After saying that, he ignored Jiang Zhi's attempts to refuse and directly picked her up and carried her in his arms.

"How could Lord Lu be so rude?" she exclaimed, the feeling of weightlessness making her instinctively grab his collar.

"I'll escort you back to your courtyard and then leave. No one will see you, and it won't affect your reputation." Lu Yuan didn't take her words to heart and walked away.

Jiang Zhi was really anxious now.

It seems Lu Yuan really has a grudge against her.

"Put me down, I can walk by myself!"

She struggled to push him away, but Lu Yuan, who had practiced martial arts for many years, had broad shoulders and back, and the strength of his arms held her firmly up, like a big tree that could not be shaken at all.

Because of the effects of the medication, she couldn't help but gasp for breath after pushing his chest a few times.

A deep voice came from above, "Don't move around, I won't be responsible if you fall."

If it weren't for the Crown Prince's order, would she think she was just being nosy and meddling in such sordid matters of the inner quarters?

Jiang Zhi cursed Lu Yuan a thousand times in her heart, and really didn't know what to do.

Are we really going to waste such a good opportunity today?

Oh well, this Lu Yuan is really troublesome and suspicious by nature. I can't let him know my true purpose.

Just as she was about to give up struggling, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind her, "Put her down!"

Lu Yuan stopped in his tracks, pressed Jiang Zhi's head against his chest with his large hand to hide her face from everyone, and then turned around.

The person who spoke was dressed in a blue robe, with a thin face and a scholarly air. He was frowning and looking at him with indignation.

Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "What's it to you? Get out of my way."

Jiang Zhi recognized the voice as Shen Ci'an and, fearing he might get into a fight with Lu Yuan and suffer the consequences, quickly peeked out from Lu Yuan's embrace, "Master!"

Upon seeing Jiang Zhi being held tightly in Lu Yuan's arms, Shen Ci'an ignored the anger and bitterness surging in his heart and said with a tense jawline, "I said let her go, otherwise I will have to ask the guards in the manor to come over."

This only drew a mocking laugh from Lu Yuan, "Fine, I'd like to see how fast your guards can get here and whether they can stop me."