Chapter Nineteen: Faxi Temple is besieged, Xu Chumian is injured.
As November approaches and early winter begins, the mountains on the outskirts of Beijing are cooler than the city.
Xiao Tao carried Mu Mu out of the car first, and then Xu Chu Mian slowly lifted the curtain.
Even though he had just seen her once in the Xu family's courtyard, Xiao Qingyan was still captivated by the woman's appearance and demeanor.
Today, Xu Chumian wore a long, smoky purple dress with a crescent-shaped brocade cloak over it. Her eyes were clear and lovely, and her face was delicate and fragrant, making people feel close to her, yet also worried that they might be too forward.
Seeing Xiao Qingyan's dazed and confused expression, Xu Chumian's eyes curved into crescent shapes as she called out to him, "Qingyan."
The young man stood tall and straight in the mountains, like a sword yet to be drawn, cold and sharp.
Many believers came to the temple fair today.
Many horse-drawn carriages were also parked at the foot of the mountain.
Just then, a woman stepped down from a carriage and came to Xu Chumian's side.
Xu Chumian glanced to her side, her gaze lingering. The other person was also looking at her and smiled at her.
Xu Chumian lowered her eyes.
She recognized the man.
Mo Zhen is the daughter of the Imperial Censor of the current dynasty.
At the banquet in the Eastern Palace, Shen Lingyin and Princess Xingyang made things difficult for Xu Chumian, and it was Mo Zhen who came to her rescue. Later, the next news Xu Chumian heard about Mo Zhen was news of his death.
Mo Zhen married a scholar sponsored by her father. The man was a heartless man who, after being sent to serve as an official in another region, allowed his concubine to poison Mo Zhen to death.
When news of the death reached Beijing, Mo's father held a funeral for his daughter. Xu Chumian went to pay her respects and only then did she learn about Mo Zhen's story with that unfaithful man.
The unfaithful man lived in the front courtyard of the Mo residence for many years and had little contact with Mo Zhen. However, he wanted to climb the social ladder, so he planned a robbery and pretended to participate. He was injured while saving Mo Zhen, and only after Mo Zhen got to know him did she marry the man.
Xu Chumian frowned, but she couldn't recall the location or time of the robbery at all.
Mo Zhen walked ahead.
Xu Chumian and the others followed behind.
Xiao Qingyan: "First Sleep? What are you thinking about, so seriously?"
Xu Chumian snapped out of her thoughts and smiled, "Let's follow them."
Coming to Faxi Temple today was definitely the right decision.
Just as they were about to reach the top of the mountain, Mo Zhen inadvertently stepped off the stone steps and almost fell down.
Xu Chumian stepped forward to steady her.
Mo Zhen quickly calmed down: "Thank you very much, young lady."
Mo Zhen's maid was startled, but looked relieved.
Xu Chumian's eyes were gentle: "No need to be so polite. Are you also here for the temple fair? Why don't you come with us?"
Xiao Qingyan glanced at Xu Chumian; Chumian seemed a little strange today.
Mo Zhen looked around at the group, then hummed in agreement, her smile gentle: "That's for your own good."
Faxi Temple is located halfway up the mountain.
With Mo Zhen around, it was inconvenient for Xiao Qingyan to always be by Xu Chumian's side.
I had no choice but to carry Mu Mu and walk behind with Xiao Tao.
Xu Chumian turned around by chance and saw Xiao Qingyan's resentful eyes.
Mo Zhen joked, "Chu Mian, how about I just wander around by myself?"
The two chatted all the way and got along very well.
Xu Chumian suppressed the smile on her lips, but her eyes couldn't hide the joy in them.
"I can come with him again next time, but I may not have such a suitable time with Sister Mo Zhen."
Mo Zhen pretended to frown: "We both live in the capital, so you can come whenever you want."
Xu Chumian lowered her eyes. Even though she had reminded Mo Zhen to be careful, as long as that unfaithful man lived in the mansion, there would always be times when she couldn't guard against him.
After visiting Faxi Temple and offering incense, I found the peach blossoms in the temple's backyard in full bloom.
"Chu Mian, let's go inside and see the peach blossoms."
Xu Chumian said softly, "Okay."
The two headed into the peach grove, with Xiao Qingyan holding Mumu by the edge of the grove.
Xu Chumian had a bad feeling.
She glanced around out of the corner of her eye and saw a glimpse of a piece of clothing peeking through the dense grass...
More than one place.
Could it be today?
Xu Chumian's palms were sweaty, and she pulled Mo Zhen and hurried back.
"Sister Mo, I think I dropped my handkerchief. Will you come back with me to look for it?"
She used her alluring colors on Mo Zhen.
Mo Zhen quickly realized what was happening, and although she didn't know what had happened, she followed Xu Chumian.
"good."
But just then, several robbers who had been lying in ambush in the bushes suddenly rushed out.
Xu Chumian grabbed Mo Zhen and started running.
He shouted, "Qingyan, there's a thief!"
As the robbers rushed out, Xiao Qingyan noticed the commotion. He drew his soft sword from his waist to meet them, and had Xiao Tao carry Mu Mu to a safe place.
The robbers moved extremely fast, and one of them was about to catch up with Mo Zhen.
Xu Chumian pulled Mo Zhen forward with her strength, and Mo Zhen stumbled and stood firm, while Xu Chumian was a step slower and had her cloak grabbed by the robber.
"Mo Zhen, run!"
"First sleep!"
Xiao Qingyan's eyes trembled with shock, and he showed no mercy to the robbers.
Xu Chumian pulled out the hairpin and stabbed it backward. She dodged to the side, and in the process, she untied the collar of her cloak. The cloak fell to the ground, and the restraints behind Xu Chumian loosened. She bent down and jumped to the side, hiding behind a large rock, and continued running forward along the rock.
Mo Zhen ran to an open space. Worried about Xu Chumian, she went in a different direction and headed towards the boulder.
The robbers were merely following orders and dared not actually harm the two men, and were forced to retreat in defeat by Xiao Qingyan.
The monks from the temple rushed over upon hearing the commotion and tied up all the robbers.
The robbers hurriedly begged for mercy.
"Young master, spare our lives! We just wanted to make a little money to spend, we wouldn't dare do anything else."
"Spare me!"
Xiao Qingyan ignored them and turned to find Xu Chumian.
Hearing the commotion from Xiao Qingyan's direction, Xu Chumian stopped and turned back, intending to go find Mu Mu.
However, she had just twisted her ankle and was walking very slowly.
Not long after they left, they saw Mo Zhen and Xiao Qingyan arrive.
Xiao Qingyan was startled upon seeing this, and his handsome face was filled with anxiety.
"Did you hurt your foot?"
Seeing that Mo Zhen was alright, Xu Chumian breathed a sigh of relief. "He just twisted his ankle, it's not serious."
Mo Zhen's eyes reddened with anxiety: "Chumian, you were in such danger just now, you were so anxious."
Xu Chumian shook her head: "It's alright, we all escaped successfully."
Xiao Qingyan frowned, bent down and picked up Xu Chumian to carry her back.
Mo Zhen followed closely behind.
The monks from the temple found a nearby side room and brought over the medicine.
Mo Zhen didn't know anything about medicine, and the temple couldn't find a doctor for the time being.
With red eyes, Mu Mu grabbed her sister's clothes and refused to leave her side.
Xiao Qingyan stood by the bed, his gaze focused. "Chumian, the Embroidered Uniform Guards often suffer from these kinds of minor injuries. I know how to treat them. Let me do it."
In this urgent situation, Xu Chumian's left foot was in pain at the slightest touch, and she couldn't worry about the proper conduct between men and women for the time being.
Xu Chumian gave a soft "hmm".
Her shoes and socks were half-pulled off, revealing her reddened ankles and a section of her fair instep.
Xiao Qingyan immediately looked away, pulled up the white socks to expose only the ankles, applied medicated oil to his large hands, and skillfully massaged the woman's ankles.
Xu Chumian's discomfort faded, and she lowered her gaze, looking at the man's curled eyelashes and straight nose.
Xiao Qingyan looked up and met the girl's bright, smiling eyes.
He felt as if something had struck him, leaving him speechless, and the air fell silent.
When it was almost time, Xiao Qingyan got up, practically fleeing, "I'm going out to check outside. Once the ointment on my feet dries, I can put on my shoes and socks."
Inside the room, Mo Zhen blinked and teased Xu Chumian with a smile.
Xu Chumian covered her face with her hands, her ears almost turning completely red.
...
The robbers outside initially refused to tell the truth, only saying that they had come to ask for some money to get on their way.
Xiao Qingyan: "Since you are unwilling to talk, then send them to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. There are plenty of ways to make you tell the truth."
The men were immediately terrified and changed their story, saying, "Sir, someone paid us to come here, specifically to scare Miss Mo Zhen, so that the young master can come and rescue her."
For the safety of everyone in the temple, several monks immediately set out to arrest the person.
However, the young master must have panicked and fled when he saw the others being captured.
Xiao Qingyan had someone call Mo Zhen out separately.
Upon hearing this, Mo Zhen immediately had someone in mind.
“I never expected that Lord Xiao was a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I will report this to my father and explain the situation so that we can come together to thank Lord Xiao.”
Xiao Qingyan shook his head: "No need, it's just a matter of convenience. I'll have someone escort these robbers to the Jingzhao Yin."
Seeing that Xiao Qingyan's mind was not on this, Mo Zhen tactfully said, "I have nothing else to say, please go ahead, Young Master Xiao."
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