"Run!" Mo Chen seized the opportunity, grabbed Jiang Xiaohuang's wrist, and rushed towards the back door. The shop assistants were already pale with fear, and they all hid under the table, trembling. Only Master Liu, who was baking buns, picked up a rolling pin and hit the pursuer's calf hard, shouting, "Miss Xiaohuang, run!"
The two rushed into the backyard like wild horses, the rain curtain enveloping them like a huge, heavy curtain. Their clothes were instantly soaked, clinging to their bodies, and a chill gradually set in. Mo Chen dragged Jiang Xiaohuang along, diving into the narrow rain alley. The bluestone pavement was slippery from the rain, as if coated with a thick layer of oil, and every step required caution. Behind them, Bao Banxian's curses followed them like a shadow, drawing closer and closer, like a demon's curse.
The alleys of Jiangnan were like a maze, winding and twisting. The gables on either side were damp from the rain, and moss grew in the corners, shimmering with a faint green light, as if hiding countless unknown dangers. They dodged left and right in the alley, the water splashing from their boots flying high and soaking their trouser legs.
"This way!" Jiang Xiaohuang's eyes suddenly lit up, and she recognized the alley ahead of her where the oil-paper umbrellas were sold. A glimmer of hope ignited in her heart. Just as she was about to turn the corner, she saw Bao Banxian and a group of people appear in front of her like ghosts, blocking their way. The long sword in Bao Banxian's hand was still dripping with blood, obviously he had injured someone during the chase. He had a ferocious smile on his face, as if he had already won: "Haha, little bastards, let's see where you can run to now!"
Without hesitation, Mo Chen shoved Jiang Xiaohuang behind him. His eyes suddenly became as fierce as an eagle's, as if he was about to engage in a life-or-death battle with the enemy. "Xiaohuang, you go first. I'll hold them off!" He quickly picked up the broken umbrella handle at his feet and gripped it tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. It was his only weapon at the moment.
"I'm not leaving first!" Jiang Xiaohuang stubbornly wiped the rain from her face, which slid down her cheeks and dripped onto the ground. She pulled out a roasted chestnut from her sleeve, a leftover from breakfast that she hadn't finished yet. "If you want to leave, let's go together, or I'll get angry with you!" Her eyes were firm, and she showed no sign of backing down.
At this critical moment, a loud shout suddenly came from the alley entrance: "Stop! How dare you commit murder in the street in broad daylight!"
Everyone turned to see a middle-aged man in crimson official uniform, hurriedly approaching with a group of yamen runners. The brim of his black gauze hat was dripping with water, clearly a sign of his haste. He was the local county magistrate, who had heard the sounds of a fierce fight while passing through the streets and rushed to investigate. Bao Banxian's gaze froze upon the official uniform, and he pondered. Though he ran rampant in the martial arts world, he dared not openly antagonize the government, lest he bring endless trouble upon himself.
"You're lucky!" Bao Banxian glared at Mo Chen fiercely, the hatred in his eyes threatening to devour him. He swung his sword fiercely, severing the clothesline nearby. Then, he and his men quickly disappeared into the rain. The mud splashed from the soles of his boots landed on the hem of Jiang Xiaohuang's skirt, like a mark left by the crisis.
The county magistrate quickly approached the two and immediately recognized Jiang Xiaohuang. Last year, when she opened her Jiangnan steamed bun shop, she had become a household name for her improved "Death Barbie Pink" rouge. It was hard not to recognize her. He quickly bowed and said respectfully, "Your humble servant greets Miss Jiang, Master Mo. We cannot remain here for long. Please follow me back to the county office for a while."
Jiang Xiaohuang panted slightly and hurriedly thanked the county magistrate. She turned to look at Mo Chen, only to see him staring in the direction Bao Banxian had disappeared, his brows knitted into a knot, like a heavy mountain. "Xiaohuang, we must leave Jiangnan immediately. Bao Banxian is a vindictive man. If he failed this time, he will surely bring more people to seek revenge next time. We can't just sit there and wait for death."
The rain continued to fall, and the raindrops hit the oil-paper umbrella, making a dull and monotonous sound, as if it was the heavy sigh of fate. Jiang Xiaohuang looked at the bruise on Mo Chen's shoulder, and her heart ached. She couldn't help but think of what her grandmother once said: "When you encounter trouble, don't force yourself to deal with it, go home and find someone to support you." She nodded vigorously, and the rain continued to drip down the ends of her hair, like beads that had broken off the string. "Okay, let's go back to the capital."
The two hurried back to the bun shop and packed some luggage. When they said goodbye to Master Liu, his eyes were filled with worry and reluctance. He stuffed a basket of freshly baked buns into Jiang Xiaohuang's hand and said, "Eat on the way; don't go hungry." Mo Chen silently tied the baggage on the saddle, his movements steady and practiced. He inadvertently caught Jiang Xiaohuang secretly wiping away tears, then pretended not to notice and mounted his horse with a smooth, efficient movement.
The crisp sound of horse hooves shattered the rainy alleys of Jiangnan. Jiang Xiaohuang couldn't help but look back, only to see the sign of the "Bao Tianxia" steamed bun shop swaying alone in the wind and rain, as if telling of their thrilling experience. What she didn't know was that at that moment, in the pigeon cage of the Prime Minister's Mansion in Beijing, a carrier pigeon was flapping its wings, carrying the storms and dangers of Jiangnan to the capital thousands of miles away. When Nianli received the letter, she was reading a new storybook to Su Jinli when her jade hairpin fell to the ground with a clang. The crisp sound startled the sparrows foraging on the windowsill and shattered the tranquility of the Prime Minister's Mansion.
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