Chapter 89: A Series of Nightmares
Yun Fanjing was surprised that she had guessed so quickly. She looked embarrassed and stammered, unable to say anything.
Jingwu frowned, his face turned cold, and he was about to go next door to ask for clarification when his arm was grabbed by the person in front of him.
“Cousin Huai has gone to the capital, so there’s no one for you to go with.” Yun Fanjing pursed her lips and then said, “Actually, Cousin Huai wanted my bodyguards to protect you and me.”
"Huh? Why?"
“You’ve been targeted by Consort Jin and Prince Hui’s men. He was worried about you, so he had me stay by your side.” Yun Fanjing said truthfully, “The guards around me were personally sent by my father. Those people aren’t bold enough to dare to make a move under the guards’ noses.”
Jing Wu then remembered that there were indeed a few people following him a few days ago, but those people were ordinary people who used an invisibility talisman to shake them off.
However, it's not surprising that he was targeted because he ruined the King of Hui's plans.
However, she really hadn't expected Yue Huai's arrangement.
Jingwu felt a surge of warmth in his heart and was somewhat moved.
This arrangement, however, is somewhat astonishing.
If something really happens, it's hard to say who will protect whom.
The princess only has one bodyguard. If something really happens, the princess's safety will naturally be ensured first, and he might even have to protect her himself.
Jingwu chuckled and shook his head, then reached out to continue fiddling with the spirit jade.
But since it was someone's kind offer, how could she refuse?
“Awu…” Yun Fanjing blinked, and seeing that she didn’t say anything more, she sat down with a clear conscience.
In the evening, she followed them into the cafeteria without hesitation.
At the dinner table, Ruan Chongyue looked at the new girl, who had an extraordinary demeanor, and hesitated for a while before speaking.
“Awu, the provincial examination is in a few days. Your uncle and I have discussed it, and our family plans to go to Pingjiang Prefecture to bring Chengrui home.”
Jingwu then realized that it was already August: "Okay, then I'll pack a few clothes, and we'll go together."
Ruan Chongyue smiled and nodded upon hearing this: "Okay."
As she finished speaking, she seemed to remember something and added, "Perfect timing. We've just hired three new assistants at the shop. With Wen Hui in charge, there won't be any trouble."
Jingwu nodded, understanding that her aunt was reporting to her, and said, "Aunt can make the decisions about the shop."
Hearing this, Ruan Chongyue felt warm inside and kept piling food on her plate, until it was a small mountain.
Jingwu ate too much at this meal and immediately went for a walk in the garden afterward.
Yun Fanjing followed beside her and asked, "Awu, are you going to Pingjiang Prefecture? I'm going there too. Why don't you and your family stay with me in the villa?"
Jingwu's eyes darted around: "Your aunt will arrange all the food, drinks, and lodging. But what is the princess going to Pingjiang Prefecture for?"
"Go play! I finally managed to sneak out while Mother was in a good mood, so of course I have to play to my heart's content before going back."
Jingwu smiled slightly but didn't reply.
For several days in a row, Jingwu did not go out. He either gave Qiao Xueyi acupuncture or cultivated in the courtyard.
On the day she was to depart for Pingjiang Prefecture, she made sure to finish Qiao Xueyi's acupuncture treatment before leaving. She also specifically instructed her not to stop taking her medicine. Acupuncture should be done every three days, and she would return on her own.
Hearing this, Qiao Xueyi was puzzled, but she knew she couldn't ask too many questions, so she nodded in agreement.
After giving his instructions, Jingwu prepared to get into the carriage.
The next second, Yun Fanjing pulled him into her luxurious carriage.
Jingwu looked around the spacious room, where a table was set out with several plates of pastries. She raised an eyebrow and sat down next to the princess.
Yun Fanjing enthusiastically had the maid pour tea, chattering incessantly as she did so.
Jingwu was in a good mood, so he occasionally chimed in with a few words.
The two or three-day journey was quite enjoyable as they chatted along the way.
Upon arriving in Pingjiang Prefecture, Ruan Chongyue had already found an inn and booked three rooms.
Jingwu has one room, Shaoche and his wife have one room, and the twin brothers have one room.
The princess, on the other hand, was taken away by the steward of the villa as soon as she entered the city, after hearing the news.
Jingwu didn't mind. After entering the house and settling his things, he planned to go out for a walk.
As soon as she stepped downstairs, she sensed a strong aura of yin energy.
She frowned and looked in that direction, and saw a woman wearing a lotus-colored embroidered long dress coming down from the private room upstairs.
Her face was covered with a thick layer of rouge, barely enough to conceal her deathly pale complexion.
Upon seeing her face, Jingwu immediately pictured the figure in the red cloak in his mind.
She was a girl who accidentally bumped into something during the lantern festival and suffered an undeserved misfortune.
Jingwu was about to go downstairs when, unintentionally, his eyes met those of the girl.
Shi Ruixing stopped in his tracks as he looked at the person not far away. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things, and then, with a glint in his eyes, he quickly walked over.
She wore an excited smile, her lips slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something, but she was afraid of offending the person in front of her and dared not speak.
Seeing that she hesitated to speak, Jingwu said, "We meet again."
Shi Ruixing's eyes reddened with excitement as he nodded repeatedly, "Miss, thank you so much for letting me go home earlier last time. Otherwise, I would have perished in the fire."
“We are destined to meet, and you also listened to my advice.” Jingwu smiled and lingered on the hairpin in her hair. “However, I see that you have encountered some strange things recently.”
Upon hearing this, Shi Ruixing's face darkened, and he nodded: "Yes, I don't know what's wrong with me lately, I keep having nightmares at night, dreaming about..."
At this point, she paused immediately, looked around, and then asked, "Would you do me the honor of speaking with me in a private room?"
Jingwu nodded and followed her into the private room.
After the waiter served the tea and pastries and left, she gestured for the person in front of her to continue.
Shi Ruixing frowned and sighed, "Since last month, I've been having nightmares. I dream that I'm locked in a room and two men come in every day to assault me. Gradually, it's not just two men, but other men... The second time they come in, it's never the same face as the first day."
"I can't remember what those people looked like. I just felt incredibly scared, disgusted, and panicked, but I couldn't escape. Every time I was most scared, I would be startled awake."
As Shi Ruixing spoke, tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up at the person in front of her: "I have this dream every day. In the dream, I fight back desperately, but I am beaten beyond recognition. After beating me, those men with different faces start to violate me. One after another, until I am awakened from the dream."
Jingwu looked at the person in front of him, his eyes filled with despair, tears streaming down his face, and he sighed deeply in his heart.
"I haven't dared to sleep these past few days, for fear of having this dream again. I don't know why I would have this kind of dream."
"Because of it."
Jingwu pointed to the exquisitely crafted Qiyun hairpin in her hair.
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