Chapter 75 Reunion From inside the carriage came Zhao's sharp and aggressive voice...
A sharp and aggressive voice came from inside the carriage: "Your master is not here, so get out of here at once!"
"Madam is too kind. As the future wife of the heir apparent, Miss Jiang is naturally our master."
The man on horseback spoke firmly, gripping the reins tightly, showing no intention of backing down.
The carriage curtain moved slightly as Zhao stepped out, standing at the entrance of the carriage with a disdainful tone.
"Fu Ce's lackey dares to oppose the current Imperial Concubine?"
The two men blocking the carriage sharpened their eyes and suddenly unleashed a highly aggressive aura.
"Madam, please be careful with your words." The servant's face had already turned stern, and his tone was full of displeasure.
These two had always followed Fu Ce, accompanying him into the army for training. Once they put on a stern face, their aura was fierce.
Zhao pursed her lips, not daring to say anything more about it.
"Please, Madam, escort Miss Jiang back to the Duke's Mansion."
Zhao gave him a disdainful look: "What a joke, I'm the only one in this carriage, and Aying is naturally resting peacefully in the mansion."
"You two have ulterior motives, daring to stop the carriage of a noblewoman at night. If the Emperor finds out, not only you, but even Prince Fu will be in trouble!"
"Since you've met here, you two should hurry back and tell Fu Ce that this forced marriage won't work. He's taking advantage of our Ah Ying's kind heart. She only went to see him because of childhood friendship. How can she be forced into a marriage because of that?"
"Since you are already injured, the best course of action is to rest properly in the manor, so as not to aggravate your injury!"
Seeing that there was no way to communicate, Fu Ce's two trusted confidants exchanged a glance, followed by the sound of sharp blades being drawn.
"Oh dear! You... dare to plot against a noblewoman of the imperial court?"
"Please, Madam, immediately send Miss Jiang back to the Duke's mansion!"
The two men, each wielding a sword, faced off against the carriage stopped in the middle of the road.
Jiang Zhuoying observed the situation from the shadows. Zhao Shi must also know that this trip is absurd, as she didn't bring any servants except for the coachman.
Facing these two, Zhao had no chance of winning.
She breathed a sigh of relief, but before her heart rate could return to normal, she heard a series of hoofbeats.
"Look at you two. I kindly asked you to leave earlier, not because you were unwilling. Now go and talk to His Highness the Third Prince properly!"
Zhao pursed her lips, gave a cold laugh, and turned to crawl back into the carriage.
The sound of horses' hooves approached rapidly, and in no time they had surrounded the carriage and the two people in front of it.
Jiang Zhuoying immediately turned her head and ordered someone to fetch reinforcements.
"What's gotten into Fu Ce? How dare he steal my woman?" His tone was flippant and arrogant.
It was the Third Prince; he actually came in person.
Jiang Zhuoying stiffened slightly. Even though he was hidden in the shadows, she could still see that nonchalant and frivolous face.
Although she appeared frivolous on the surface, her eyes revealed a sinister and evil look. It was this look that gave her nightmares for several nights in a row.
"Since His Highness has asked you, why don't you answer?"
Qi Yan's men drew their swords and surrounded the two men on horseback, their blades drawn.
"Is this how Fu Ce teaches his servants?" He spoke with a playful tone, slowly and deliberately, but his face inappropriately revealed a ferocious expression.
Jiang Zhuoying frowned, turned her head and asked Wujiu softly, "If our people were to face these dozen or so people, what are their chances of winning?"
She brought fewer than ten servants with her this time, and if she were to face the Third Prince's men, she might not be able to win.
If they lose, not only Jiang Ying, but she herself will also be ruined here.
As expected, Wu Jiu frowned slightly and replied, "Let Xiang Xing protect the young lady and leave first. I will do my best to rescue the young lady."
Jiang Zhuoying immediately understood; it was probably less than 50%.
In the blink of an eye, the sound of clashing swords rang in my ears.
Jiang Zhuoying immediately looked up and saw that the two people who were surrounded were almost invisible.
The girl's face turned pale instantly. She glanced at Wu Jiu, who nodded slightly and immediately spurred his horse forward with his servants and guards.
In the blink of an eye, only Xiangxing and Jiang Zhuoying remained, neither of them knowing martial arts.
"Don't be in a hurry, young lady."
Xiangxing stood beside her, his gaze naturally fixed on the fighting.
Jiang Zhuoying nodded, then patted Xiangxing's hand in return: "They've sent someone to call for reinforcements, so don't worry."
No sooner had they finished speaking than the rapid, thunderous sound of hooves came from behind them, and the two of them turned around at the same time to look back...
Thinking that their reinforcements had arrived, the leader rode a large, strong, chestnut horse, his posture upright and composed.
Jiang Zhuoying's gaze involuntarily shifted upwards, and when she saw the person's face clearly, she froze on the spot, her heart pounding like thunder.
The man's cold face appeared somewhat gloomy under the dim light of the torch; his thin lips were tightly pursed, and the lines of his jaw were even more sharp and prominent than he remembered.
She instinctively grabbed Xiangxing's hand beside her: "Quick, hide, hide..."
She frantically looked around, her movements faster than her thoughts. Without a second thought, she grabbed Xiangxing's hand and plunged headfirst into the haystacks piled up on the side of the alley.
In an instant, grass fluff and dust floated around her, trying to get into her mouth and nose. She tightly covered her nostrils, fighting back the urge to sneeze...
Qi Fan had already ridden his horse past the haystack. Jiang Zhuoying couldn't see what was happening outside, but she could hear Chu Yixin's faint voice.
"How strange! I glanced over just now and saw two figures standing here."
"Master..."
Then, it was all drowned out by the sound of horses' hooves that followed, and could not be heard.
Jiang Zhuoying held her breath, frozen in place, until the series of hoofbeats passed in front of her and quickly disappeared into the distance.
"Huff...cough cough cough...cough cough cough..."
She finally broke into a loud cough: "Achoo, achoo..."
Xiangxing patted her back: "Are you alright, young lady?"
"No... Achoo... It's nothing..."
Jiang Zhuoying rubbed the tip of her nose, which was originally fair and now red, but she didn't dare to delay. She immediately grabbed Xiangxing's arm and said, "Let's go, we might have to send someone back later."
Two slender figures, supporting each other, staggered away...
*
Three days later, at Yunqi Tea House.
Liu Li held the teacup, sniffed it, took a sip, squinted her eyes, shook her head, and slowly raised the corners of her lips, making the lines at the corners of her eyes even more obvious.
"This tea is excellent; it's sweet, mellow, and smooth—truly a wonderful tea!"
He shifted his gaze upwards: "Your Highness the Second Prince has lost a lot of weight. A person's health is of utmost importance. Only when you are healthy can you have the energy to do things, right?"
Qi Fan's expression was cold and stern, and he nodded slightly: "That's true."
Liu Li's smile deepened: "Does Your Highness have some important business to attend to?"
His Majesty only has these two sons. If it weren't for Consort Wan back then, this one would have already become the Crown Prince.
Chu Yixin, who had been keeping her head down, leaned closer to Liu Li and whispered something to her.
Liu Li slightly opened her eyes: "Your Highness, why...do you do this?"
Liu Li frowned again: "Your Highness, in His Majesty's heart, offspring are an extremely important matter."
He had almost offered earnest advice, and it was inconvenient to say anything more.
As an old man who had been immersed in the palace for decades, he did not believe that the second prince was really as dull and incompetent as he appeared.
To remain unscathed under the formidable presence of the Third Prince is no small feat.
Qi Fan's cold gaze softened slightly, his tone remaining unchanged: "I have remembered what Eunuch Liu said."
Chu Yixin stood to the side with a sullen face. Upon hearing this, she quickly raised her head, but hesitated to speak.
What's the point of just writing it down?
Oh, Jiang girl, why is your luck so bad?!
They told such a colossal lie and deceived their master for so long.
If it were half a month ago, when Jiang was still alive, he felt that even if she didn't lose her life, she would still be in deep trouble.
But only now did he belatedly realize that his master wasn't incapable of love; he was clearly already deeply in love...
But Jiang girl—
Why!
Chu Yixin shook her head obliviously.
If this Jiang girl were still alive, given what the master has done lately, wouldn't it be incredibly easy to wipe the slate clean?
Who knows... even that position isn't out of the question.
The two will live happily ever after and have a grandson soon...
For some unknown reason, Chu Yixin's lips curled into a strange smile...
"To be honest, Your Highness, His Majesty did indeed instruct me a few days ago to collect portraits of young ladies from noble families in Luoyang. Not only in terms of appearance, but also in terms of temperament, he preferred those who were well-behaved and innocent."
"This servant happened to meet a wonderful woman a few days ago, but I haven't had a chance to report it to His Majesty yet!"
"But now that Your Highness has said these words, it seems that this matter cannot be accomplished."
Liu Li sighed softly, her tone filled with regret.
"Oh? May I ask which household the young lady belongs to?"
Chu Yixin immediately became interested, her eyes lit up, and her tone rose slightly.
Before he could finish speaking, a chilling sensation suddenly came from behind him. He immediately realized what was happening and froze on the spot.
Liu Li, who was standing to the side, watched the subtle exchange between the master and servant.
He gently lifted the teacup, took a sip, and then slowly said, "Jiang Zhuoying, the legitimate daughter of the second branch of the Duke of Rui's mansion."
Upon hearing this, Chu Yixin subconsciously looked at her master and saw an unreadable coldness flashing in Qi Fan's eyes.
Liu Li, however, had already recalled the encounter with Jiang Zhuoying at the Duke's mansion three days ago.
"That Miss Jiang is truly stunningly beautiful. Though she is gentle and delicate, she is not one to be bullied. This servant immediately thought of Your Highness..."
After Liu Li's description, not only Qi Fan, but even Chu Yixin's expression became increasingly strange.
Stunning appearance?
She may appear gentle and obedient, but she is actually quite opinionated.
It's captivating and evokes pity.
...
Isn't that exactly what Jiang Yatou is talking about?
Chu Yixin's heart raced, and a bizarre idea suddenly arose in her mind.
But this conjecture was simply unbelievable, and he suppressed it the instant the thought crossed his mind.
"Oh my! What a coincidence! Look, there he is!"
Liu Li's voice suddenly rose, her gaze fixed on the window.
Someone else saw Jiang Zhuoying even faster than him—
Jiang Zhuoying stepped out of the carriage and stood on the step in front of it, with Xiangxing supporting her.
"Where's the veil? Quickly, bring the veil here!"
The girl touched her face, then suddenly turned her head, her tone somewhat urgent.
Xiangyue emerged from the carriage a step later, clutching a veiled hat in her hand: "I'm here, I'm here, Miss, don't be in such a hurry."
Two maids adjusted her veil and hat, and the carriage steps were already in place. Jiang Zhuoying lowered her head and was helped down the carriage slowly.
Xiangyue was still muttering behind her, "Miss, you're being too cautious. In my opinion, there's absolutely no need to wear that veil anymore."
Jiang Zhuoying tilted her head slightly: "What do you know?"
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Author's Note: Qi Gou: (Stares)
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