Chapter 32 Scheme "You remind me of my little dog."...
With the carriage destroyed and dusk approaching, for safety reasons, Ning Xian, holding the unconscious Ruan Yang, rode out of the woods with the remaining attendants.
After a long day of travel and suffering numerous injuries, Ning Xian couldn't bear to see his men, who had risked their lives for him, overworked, so he told them to set up camp and rest where they were.
Although Ning Xian dismounted, he clung to Ruan Yang and refused to let go, even though the little girl in his arms was pressing on his wounds and causing them to bleed again. He still refused to put the little girl on Lan Rong's back.
Lan Rong lit the fire: "Your Highness, today's matter is probably a bit tricky. Our spies have already investigated and found that the Third Prince's trip was a private outing with few attendants. News of his death will not reach His Majesty quickly."
"But eventually the truth will come out, we should make plans as soon as possible."
Ning Xian snorted coldly: "What can you plan? Do you think I'm going to rebel? Just because my third brother is missing doesn't mean it has to be me, Ning Xian, who killed him. Can't it be someone else or someone who just disappeared? Lan Rong, everything as usual. We'll continue our journey tomorrow morning."
After Ning Xian finished speaking, he called out to Lan Rong: "Your Majesty's body must be disposed of cleanly. Remember not to leave any traces."
"Yes, this servant will go and burn the Third Prince's body immediately."
"Burning?"
Ning Xian frowned: "It's so late, and you've set up such a big fire in the woods. Are you afraid others won't know where we are? Go chop us up and feed us to the dogs."
Lan Rong understood Ning Xian's meaning, and her heart skipped a beat: "Yes, this servant understands, I will do it right away."
The Milky Way hung low, the water was calm, and the campfire crackled. Ning Xian lowered his head and touched the girl who had fainted in his arms.
My hands and neck were eerily cold everywhere.
He subconsciously placed his hand in front of Ruan Yang's nose, but couldn't detect her breathing. Ning Xian's throat tightened, and he shook the girl forcefully: "Ruan Yang?"
"Wake up, wake up!"
What's wrong with her?
Ah Fei put down the firewood he was holding and walked to the campfire. When he saw Ruan Yang's pale face, he exclaimed, "Have you been scared out of your wits? How can you be so timid?"
Ning Xian glared at A Chou: "Is this how you treat your own sister?"
Ah Chou gritted his teeth, even though he had a thousand words to say back, he held back for a moment. Someone kept saying he loved Ruan Yang, but wasn't all of Ruan Yang's suffering caused by him?
Why did you get so moved by yourself first?
She sighed, “Your Highness, you know that we should not wander around now, let alone go to a crowded clinic. Besides, we have just shaken off the emperor’s spies. If you do this, you will be digging your own grave.”
Ning Xian gave the person some water, but seeing that the person couldn't drink any more, he picked them up again and said, "What can we do? The person is about to die!"
"She's dead, leaving me all alone. What's the point of that?"
Ah Chou lowered his eyes and remained silent, listening as the sound of horses' hooves grew fainter and fainter.
Ning Xian held Ruan Yang with one arm and gripped the reins with the other to control the direction. Unbeknownst to her, the wound on her shoulder tore open, and blood beads gathered, dripping down her sleeve.
Ruan Yang buried her head in Ning Xian's chest. The evening breeze, carrying the scent of dew, wafted towards her. The shadows of the trees danced and shifted on the girl's face. In the darkness, she slowly opened her eyes.
Ah Chou is right. Ning Xian has committed a capital offense. Before reaching the Northern Frontier, he should keep a low profile. If he goes to crowded markets, he will surely expose his whereabouts.
But Ruan Yang thought that since the incident was sudden and Ning Xian had acted rashly on his own, the people who were secretly escorting him would definitely follow him quietly.
Although Lu Wenjin had spies nearby, they lost track of them after crossing the valley.
The most important thing now is to expose Ning Xian to the public so that Lu Wenjin's men can continue to follow him all the way to the Northern Frontier.
Otherwise, if she really got to a vast and sparsely populated wilderness like the Northern Frontier, it would be difficult to find anyone. Even if she did find out something about Ning Xian, the news wouldn't get out.
"Ruan Yang, just hang in there a little longer, I'll be able to find a doctor for you soon."
The shout brought Ruan Yang back to her senses. She closed her eyes wearily and her slender white fingers, which were resting on Ning Xian's waistband, involuntarily pulled closer.
...
Before the curfew, many vendors were hawking their wares along the street, and customers were flocking to the shops. The whole street was as bright as day.
Ning Xian pushed through the crowd and rushed to the clinic. He lifted the curtain, placed Ruan Yang in front of the old doctor who was preparing medicine, and said breathlessly, "Sir, please take a look at me..."
The man dressed as a servant shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, Mingchuntang does not see patients at night. My master is old and has already gone home to rest. Young master, you may find another place, or come and queue up tomorrow morning."
Human life is at stake; where else could we find one in such a short time?
Ning Xian slammed a purse full of silver coins onto the counter: "Are you going to treat me or not?!"
The waiter glanced at the sign at the door that said it was closed for the day and said helplessly, "Sir, it's not about the money. We're really closed. He's asleep, and it's not good to wake him up in the middle of the night. Please bear with us."
Ning Xian was used to throwing tantrums. He grabbed the servant by the collar and said, "Will you talk back again?"
Ruan Yang: "..."
She groggily opened her eyes, grabbed Ning Xian's hand, and asked in a daze, "What's wrong? Don't be so mean to people..."
Ning Xian calmed down and removed Ruan Yang's hand, who was still rubbing his eyes: "Tell him where you feel unwell."
Upon hearing this, Ruan Yang stared at him with her clear, large eyes and said, "I was just too tired and slept like a log. Why did you bring me to the clinic?"
Ning Xian: "?"
He pinched Ruan Yang's face and said, "Then why are you so cold all over and your face so pale?"
Ruan Yang sniffed and said aggrievedly, "Because I'm cold. Do you know my hands are all red from the wind? My face is pale because I'm hungry. You haven't given me anything to eat for almost a day."
Are you hungry?
Ning Xian suddenly remembered that he hadn't eaten for almost a day and had forgotten that Ruan Yang had traveled for half a day and that a little girl like her wouldn't be able to handle it.
Seeing Ruan Yang sitting on the counter swinging her legs, he breathed a sigh of relief, leaned down and buried his head in Ruan Yang's chest, but his tone was very cold: "Ruan Yang, you acted very well."
Ruan Yang's fingers tightened under the table.
"You're deliberately testing me for no reason? Let me tell you, if you dare to end your own life so easily, don't blame me for being ruthless to the people you care about."
Ruan Yang's heart, which had been in her throat, finally relaxed. She shook her head and said, "I didn't mean to scare you. I really am starving."
"And you're one of the people I care about, so are you going to hurt yourself again?"
Ning Xian snorted after hearing this: "It was only that one time, but I also quite liked the way you went to great lengths to please me, fawning over me. It was much cuter than when you argued with me."
"You look a lot like the little white dog I had when I was a child."
"?"
Ruan Yang's face stiffened. She immediately pushed Ning Xian away, and after enduring the pain for a while, she couldn't hold back her anger any longer. So she pinched Ning Xian's waist hard and said angrily, "You're the beast! You're not even as good as a puppy!"
Ning Xian wouldn't tolerate Ruan Yang's antics. He pointed at Ruan Yang's face, his expression darkening, and said, "Dare to curse me again?"
Ruan Yang, panting, glared angrily at Ning Xian for a long time before finally turning her back and remaining silent.
The thought of living a life of wandering and dependence with people she disliked, constantly having to watch their faces, made Ruan Yang feel incredibly stifled. She stared at the increasingly blurry lamplight for a long time before finally swallowing back her helpless tears.
What else can she do now besides endure it and try to create opportunities for Lu Wenjin?
Ruan Yang turned around nonchalantly, blinking her wet eyes, and said, "I'm not going to scold you anymore. Your wound has reopened. I'll go back with you and help you re-bandage it."
Ning Xian smiled with satisfaction after hearing this. He turned his back, bent down and said, "Alright, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll allow you to lie on top of me. Get on top of me."
Ruan Yang obediently lay on Ning Xian: "Then you're not allowed to do it anymore?"
Ning Xian said, "No, except in the quilt and pillow."
"......"
Ruan Yang pleaded, "Don't be so indecent when we get back. I don't want anyone to hear me, okay?"
Ning Xian laughed and said, "Alright, I'll spare you today."
Ruan Yang rested her head on Ning Xian's shoulder and didn't say a word the whole way. She just kept her eyes slightly open, watching the street lights flicker and the shimmering light of glass pass before her eyes.
She slowly recalled the time she spent in the small bamboo house a few years ago when she first met Ning Xian.
During the day, she would add tea and grind ink for Ning Xian, and arrange his food, clothing, and lodging. Ning Xian would teach her riding and archery, and try his best to make her happy. At night, she would always stand in front of the fence with a lantern, waiting for Ning Xian to return home, and then they would trim the candles by the west window together and spend a very enjoyable night together.
At that time, Ruan Yang felt that he would rather die than be a pair of mandarin ducks, and would rather be a pair of immortals than be immortals.
But that's all in the past now.
......
When Ning Xian brought Ruan Yang back to the camp, it was already very late. He wanted to keep Ruan Yang with him for a while, but seeing that the little girl was walking with her eyes half open, he couldn't bear to let her go and rest first.
After Ruan Yang left, he waved to the passing guards.
"What are your orders, Your Highness?"
Where was the person buried?
The guard hesitated before saying, "They're still in the back mountain. Lan Rong and the others are there too. If Your Highness is worried, you can go and check on them yourself."
After hearing this, Ning Xian was led by his servants to the back of the mountain. He was somewhat displeased to see people still gathered in front of the pit.
He frowned and said, "Haven't you done it yet? It's just a matter of destroying the evidence, what are you dawdling about?"
After he finished speaking, everyone in front of him lowered their heads, afraid of making eye contact with Ning Xian.
"Is it because you can't bear to do it? Or are you afraid the emperor will investigate?"
Ning Xian didn't have the patience to wait for a reply, nor did he want to blame them for this. He sighed and said, "Alright, leave the knife behind and go down."
"yes....."
The deep forest was pitch black at night, and the only moonlight was completely blocked by the dense canopy. At this moment, the owls cried mournfully, and only the torch in Ning Xian's hand emitted a faint light to illuminate the Third Prince's body.
Ning Xian picked up the knife and skillfully separated the body.
Unbeknownst to him, blood splattered all over his sleeves and face, and the strong stench attracted many mosquitoes. The scene was so quiet that only the sound of a sharp weapon touching human bones could be heard.
After a while, the firelight flickered a few times, then shone again on the boy's fair face and the patch of flesh beside him...
...
Ruan Yang had just returned to the camp when, still half asleep, she heard someone crying and calling her name. She ran over and saw that it was Jinlian being held down on the ground.
She was in a terrible state, her face covered in tears and mud, and her clothes were torn to shreds by tree branches.
When Jinlian saw Ruan Yang, it was as if she had seen a savior. She knelt down and hugged Ruan Yang's legs, pleading, "Your Highness, save me, please save me..."
Ruan Yang thought that his initial plan to use Jinlian was going to fail, and he was just preparing to make other plans when he unexpectedly met her again tonight.
How did you get here?
The guard put the reins around Jinlian's neck and answered for her, "Your Highness, it was His Highness who was worried that she would go back and inform on us, so he ordered us to execute her as soon as we had a chance."
Jinlian shook her head desperately.
Ruan Yang glanced at Jinlian and said, "She is someone I brought, and I can decide how to deal with her. You can release her for now. As for His Highness, I will explain it to him personally, so you don't need to worry about his blaming you."
Jinlian gasped for breath, "Thank you, Crown Princess, for saving me."
Ruan Yang, unwilling to say anything more to Jinlian, interrupted her flattery and bent down to carefully examine Jinlian's appearance.
Indeed, they do resemble me in some ways.
She asked, "Do you want to spend your whole life with Ning Xian and have children for him?"
Jinlian was taken aback and shook her head, saying, "This servant dares not presume to think of Your Highness anymore. Now I only hope to serve you well."
Ruan Yang chuckled and said, "Is that so? Then why did you go to all this trouble to follow me? Could it be that you really can't bear to part with your savior?"
Jinlian lowered her eyes, seemingly unconvinced, and said, "So what if I wanted to? I said I also want to be the Empress and pluck stars from the sky, so do you think I can do that?"
She sobbed, "I'm not you. The Crown Prince despises me so much. Even if I were to die for him, it would never move him..."
Ruan Yang said, "I can try to help you get him."
Jinlian frowned: "What do you mean? You want me to... share a husband with you?"
Ruan Yang shook her head: "What I mean is, try to make him unable to live without you, how about that?"
Jinlian said warily, "Aren't you afraid I'll tell Ningxian that you want to dump him?"
Ruan Yang said, "Do you think you can even have a proper conversation with Ning Xian? If you think you're too old to live, you can go and fawn over him right now."
Jinlian shut her mouth.
"Until then, you'd better listen to me obediently, otherwise, if you offend someone and get into trouble, I won't care anymore."
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Author's Note: I really want lots of comments and lots of nutrient solution! [crying emoji] (Author is throwing a tantrum)
"To be a pair of mandarin ducks, I would gladly die; to be a pair of mandarin ducks, I envy not even the immortals." — Lu Zhaolin, "Ancient Thoughts of Chang'an"
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