Chapter 318 Temporarily Seeking Refuge in Wind City
Huo Lin hugged Jiang Huan tighter, gently resting his chin on the top of her head, and whispered comforting words.
"With me here, no one can hurt you anymore."
[I was truly an idiot; how could I leave her alone in the tent?]
Thankfully, she was quick-witted; thankfully, she escaped. What a relief!
I've noted this debt to the Northern Barbarians. We'll settle it slowly in the future!
He was seething with rage, but what came out of his mouth was still gentle reassurance.
However, although the sounds of fighting around them were gradually weakening, they had not completely subsided, and a dangerous atmosphere still lingered in the air.
The battlefield is not a place to linger; we need to get her to safety first.
He took a deep breath, suppressed all his emotions, released Jiang Huan, and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"This place is not safe to stay for long. Swords have no eyes, and stray arrows are hard to defend against. I will have someone send you back to Fengcheng for temporary refuge. The city is heavily guarded and a hundred times safer than here."
With her here, I'm always on edge and unable to fully focus on dealing with her.
[Windy City is fortified, and its garrison is reliable; it's a hundred times safer than this desolate wilderness.]
She needs to rest well and calm down.
Listening to his inner thoughts, Jiang Huan knew he had a point.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her reluctance, her eyes clear and resolute.
"Okay, I'll listen to you, but you better remember this..."
She tilted her head slightly, looked directly into Huo Lin's eyes, and spoke in a serious tone.
"You better behave yourself, not a single hair on your head is allowed to be missing. You absolutely, absolutely cannot risk your life like last time, lying to me and scaring me! If you dare to break your promise, I... I will..."
She seemed to want to say something harsh, but ultimately couldn't bring herself to say it; her eyes only reddened slightly.
Huo Lin felt a surge of warmth, a bittersweet tenderness, at her words of advice.
He nodded solemnly and promised, "Alright, I won't keep you waiting long."
Once the matter was settled, he turned and instructed, "Sun Zheng."
"Your subordinate is here." Sun Zheng immediately stepped forward.
"I am assigning you a team of elite guards. You will personally escort the Empress to Fengcheng. You must ensure that the Empress arrives at the City Lord's Mansion safely without any mishaps. If anything goes wrong, you will be held accountable."
"Your subordinate obeys and will protect Her Majesty!" Sun Zheng clasped his hands in acceptance of the order, his expression solemn.
Huo Lin gave Jiang Huan a few more careful instructions before watching Sun Zheng escort her onto the carriage, which sped off towards Fengcheng.
Only after the carriage disappeared into the night did Huo Lin withdraw his gaze, and his aura subsided once more.
"Take inventory of the battlefield, interrogate the prisoners. I need to know how many rats are still hiding in my army!"
On the other side.
The carriage traveled at breakneck speed towards Wind City, escorted by elite cavalry.
Jiang Huan sat alone in the bumpy carriage, wrapped in a thick cloak, her body still trembling slightly uncontrollably.
Outside the window, the blurry night view rushed past; inside the car, there was only cold loneliness.
The terrifying scenes from just now replayed in her mind, leaving her with lingering fear.
She gripped the edge of her cloak tightly, her knuckles turning white.
Huo Lin, you have to come quickly! This place is awful.
When we get back, I'll make him compensate her ten times, no, a hundred times, for her emotional distress.
Just as she was lost in thought, trying to dispel her fear, the carriage slowly slowed down.
The sounds of Sun Zheng negotiating with the city's garrison commander could be heard outside the carriage, along with the creaking sound of the city gates opening.
We've arrived in Windy City.
Upon learning that it was the Emperor's personal guards escorting an important female relative, the city gate guards, after verifying the token presented by Sun Zheng, dared not delay and immediately allowed passage, while also sending someone on horseback to notify the city lord's mansion ahead of time.
The city lord's mansion had already received the news that the city lord himself was on military duty and would not be able to return until later. The city lord's wife, Madam Zhou, was waiting outside the mansion gate with a group of female relatives and servants.
Madam Zhou was about forty years old. She was well-dressed, had a dignified appearance, and exuded a calm and composed air.
She already knew that the woman in the carriage was none other than Consort Zhuang, the emperor's favorite concubine. She was extremely respectful and cautious, but she could not make a fuss because she needed to keep her identity a secret.
"This humble servant, Zhou, respectfully welcomes Your Excellency."
Madam Zhou stepped forward and gave a proper bow to Jiang Huan, who had just been helped down from the carriage by Sun Zheng.
After a night of fright and the long journey, Jiang Huan looked pale and listless, but she still mustered her strength and nodded slightly in return.
"Thank you for your trouble, Madam."
Sun Zheng stepped forward and whispered to Madam Zhou, "Madam, I entrust this important person to you. You must ensure her safety and prevent any mishaps."
Madam Zhou understood immediately and replied, "General, rest assured, I understand and will make proper arrangements."
Sun Zheng bowed to Jiang Huan again to say goodbye, and then hurriedly left with his personal guards to report back.
Madam Zhou personally led Jiang Huan into the mansion, offering only simple and polite greetings along the way, not daring to let her get too tired.
However, as soon as they entered the inner courtyard, a woman dressed in bright colors and adorned with jewels came to greet them with a fragrant breeze.
The woman's voice was high-pitched and bright, and she seemed quite enthusiastic: "Oh my, sister-in-law, is this your new guest? She's absolutely gorgeous!"
This woman was none other than Liu, the younger sister of the Lord of Fengcheng.
As she spoke, she reached out to take Jiang Huan's hand, her eyes filled with an eager gaze as if she were looking at a moving mountain of gold.
Look at the grandeur of this outfit! Although the fabric is dirty and tattered, it must be something of great importance!
Jiang Huan felt a little uncomfortable with her enthusiasm and subconsciously turned slightly to avoid her hand.
Goodness, that look in his eyes is like a stray dog that hasn't eaten for three days seeing a meat bun.
Who is this auntie? She came up to me and started touching me inappropriately. Do I even know her?
"A fairy-like person? She looks disheveled and has just returned from the brink of death. Her compliments are so insincere."
Madam Zhou frowned slightly and stepped aside to block Jiang Huan.
"Sister, our distinguished guest has come from afar and must be tired from his journey. He needs to rest and should not be disturbed."
"Yes, yes, yes, sister-in-law is right to reprimand me. I was not considerate enough and offended our distinguished guest. I deserve to be punished."
As she spoke, she pretended to lightly pat the back of her hand, but her eyes remained fixed on Jiang Huan, as if afraid of missing the slightest reaction from her.
"Honored guest, you must be tired from your journey. I am Liu, and the city lord is my elder brother. Please do not stand on ceremony. Make yourself at home here. If you need anything, just ask. As long as it is available in Fengcheng, I will do my best to get it for you."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but lean forward, almost touching Jiang Huan, her face full of fawning smiles.
Madam Zhou ignored her and turned to Jiang Huan, saying gently, "The accommodations have been arranged. They are quiet and pleasant. Please come with me."
Jiang Huan nodded and followed Madam Zhou to the backyard, secretly complaining to herself.
This Madam Liu is truly passionate, but every spark of her enthusiasm is tinged with calculation.
In contrast, the city lord's wife is very pleasant to be around; she is composed, dignified, and knows what is important.
While maintaining a polite smile, Jiang Huan prayed that the overly attentive city lord's sister would stop soon.
But Liu refused to give up and kept nagging beside her.
"Where do our distinguished guests come from? Although our Fengcheng is a small place, it has its own unique charm~"
"Oh, by the way, have you had breakfast yet? I'll have the kitchen prepare some local specialty snacks..."
Jiang Huan felt overwhelmed and could only give a vague reply, quickening her pace as if she wanted to fly into the courtyard immediately.
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