Chapter 205: Reporting the Good News to the Queen Mother
Liu Qilan was silent for a moment before she said, "So the Duke still remembers this matter."
Meng Changyuan touched his nose and said a little embarrassedly, "Thank you for taking care of me, young lady. I have always wanted to thank you...but when I woke up, I was already in the Beijing Guard Camp. I asked the people around me, but no one had seen the young lady."
Liu Qilan's rosy lips curved slightly, and she lowered her eyes and said, "My Lord, there's no need to be so polite. I was saved by you back then, otherwise I would have been doomed."
It turned out that when Liu Qilan was young, she lived with her grandmother in an old house in Suzhou. Later, when she grew older and her grandmother passed away, her brother sent someone to take her to the capital.
At that time, there was a bandit problem in the mountainous areas around the capital, disturbing the villagers and making them live in unrest.
The imperial court dispatched troops several times to eradicate them, but these bandits were incredibly cunning, setting up camp deep in the mountains, making their lair difficult to find. They also had scouts patrolling the area. Whenever the imperial troops arrived, they had already fled. As soon as the troops left, they would return to plunder, engaging in guerrilla warfare against the imperial troops.
Gradually, this group of bandits became more and more daring and even dared to rob on the official road in broad daylight.
The Liu family's carriage miscalculated the distance that day, and it was already dusk when they still hadn't entered the city. There was no village in front and no shop behind, and there was not even a place to stay.
Just when everyone was in panic, a sharp whistle suddenly came from the side of the road, and a dozen strong bandits rushed out from the forest beside the road on horseback.
The Liu family also arranged several strong servants for their trip to the capital this time. However, those bandits were well-trained, skilled, and accustomed to robbing people. They quickly broke up the Liu family's carriages, robbed their property and women, and escorted them into the mountains.
After walking in the dark on the forest road for a while, just when Liu Qilan was filled with fear, more than ten soldiers suddenly rushed out of the forest and fought with the group of bandits. The leader of the soldiers was Meng Changyuan.
In the dark forest at night, when Liu Qilan was completely desperate, she saw a tall figure fighting with the bandit who had kidnapped her, with agility and bravery.
The bandits were very cunning and vicious. When they saw they were no match for their opponent, they pushed her out and used her as a human shield.
Meng Changyuan was so cautious that he tried his best to snatch her away from the thief. However, the two of them retreated to the edge of the cliff, stepped on empty air, and fell down together.
Fortunately, the cliff was not very high and there was a river below. The two men fell into the water but were not seriously injured.
Liu Qilan did not know how to swim and was floating up and down in the river. Meng Changyuan carried her on his back and swam hard to the river bank.
That night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Her clothes were soaked and she clung to the back of the man who rescued her. Fear, shame and gratitude filled her heart, and all kinds of emotions were mixed together.
His back was very broad and reassuring.
"Miss, don't worry. I will never look back at you and will never tarnish your reputation. From today on, I will never remember this matter again."
This was the only thing he said to her in the dark night.
As he said, he never looked back at her from beginning to end.
When he swam to the shore, he suddenly fainted.
There was no one around and the forest was silent. Liu Qilan didn't know where she got the courage and strength from, but she found a rock cave nearby and dragged Meng Changyuan into the cave.
It was March, the river water was icy cold, the cave was pitch black, and the roars of wild beasts could be heard from the riverbank and forest from time to time.
Liu Qilan was a single woman, guarding a fainted man. She was just saved from thieves and then wandered in the mountains and rivers. Her feelings of cold, hunger, loneliness and anxiety were beyond words.
An ordinary woman in the harem would have been at a loss and panicked like a crab without legs if she were caught in such a situation.
Liu Qilan did not panic. She found the flint from Meng Changyuan and ventured into the forest to find many dead branches to start a bonfire.
The warm and bright flames dispelled the darkness and coldness, and gradually dried the clothes of the two people.
By the light of the fire, Liu Qilan was shocked to realize that the man in front of her was covered with wounds, and there was even an arrow buried in his arm.
There was an unnatural blush on Yingwu's face, and he kept mumbling.
He held on with all his strength and sent her to the shore...
Liu Qilan had some knowledge of medicine and knew that he must have a high fever due to his injury. If the arrow in his shoulder was not treated immediately, it might become infected.
There was no doctor or medicine, and no one to help. Liu Qilan, a woman, pulled the dagger from his leg bandage, burned it over a fire, cut open the wound, removed the arrowhead, and then covered it with a thick layer of ash. She tore off the hem of her skirt and bandaged it. Turning back, she saw his lips were parched and knew he must be thirsty. Since he had no water, she wet her handkerchief at the riverbank, squeezed the water onto his lips, and let him drink.
After all this was over, her hands and feet were already sore and she was extremely tired, but she did not dare to fall asleep in the middle of the night in the desolate mountains. She struggled hard and watched over him all night.
It was not until the next day at dawn that the servants who had been scattered from the Liu Mansion came back one after another.
After asking, she found out that the imperial court had set an ambush on the way to suppress the bandits last night, and the Liu family was rescued.
Liu Qilan sent someone to inform the officers and soldiers, but she was afraid that the man would be disturbed by wild beasts if no one was watching him. She was also worried that outsiders would see him and spread some unpleasant words. So she and her servants hid behind a nearby rock. She watched until the officers and soldiers came and carried the man away on a stretcher before she left with peace of mind.
The waist badge was dropped by the soldiers when they were moving the man's body. No one noticed, so she picked it up.
After returning home, she secretly sent someone to inquire who owned the badge, and only then did she know that the person who saved her that night was the eldest son of Yiyang Marquis's Mansion.
On the way, she had imagined that the person who saved her might be her fiancé whom she had never met, but in the end it turned out to be just her fantasy.
Now, he saved her again...
Meng Changyuan continued, "That day I woke up in the Jingwei camp. The military doctor told me that the arrow wound in my arm was fortunately treated in time. If it had been delayed longer, and I had been soaked in the river, my arm would have been in danger. I asked... I asked the people who brought me back, but everyone said that when they found me that day, I was the only one in the cave."
At this point, he quickly added, "It's true, young lady, you took care of me all night, which is already a kind act. I just, just...young lady saved my arm, and I really want to thank you."
He was a military general, and if he lost an arm, his future would be over.
Liu Qilanling's lips moved slightly, but she ultimately suppressed the thought that she hadn't left earlier that day. She smiled faintly, "Thinking about it this way, the Duke was actually injured because he was trying to save me. I should be the one to thank him."
After being blown by the cold wind for half a day, the heat in her body had dissipated. She adjusted the hairpin on her head, stood up from the chair, and bowed to Meng Changyuan in a proper manner.
"Mi Lan thanks the Duke of Huguo for saving her life."
When Meng Changyuan heard her steady and gentle voice, he knew that the effect of the incense should have worn off, but he still stood facing the wall, not daring to look back at her.
He scratched the back of his head and stammered, "Miss Liu... please stand up quickly. Suppressing the bandits is an assignment from the imperial court, and it's also my responsibility. But Miss... since you knew it was Meng that day, why didn't you tell Zhang Huai about it, so he wouldn't embarrass you?"
In Meng Changyuan's opinion, if Zhang Huai really had any misunderstanding, he should have come to confront him. It was not a manly act to embarrass a girl, especially a wife who had not yet married, in this way.
Come to think of it, Zhang Huai is certainly not a real man.
Liu Qilan got up from the ground and stood there, looking at Meng Changyuan's back with a smile, "Zhang Huai is a scoundrel. If he really knew that this matter was related to the Protector of the Country, I'm afraid he would blackmail and entangle him. Besides, I heard that the Protector of the Country is engaged. If this matter gets to the girl's family, it will probably cause trouble for the Protector of the Country. It's better not to say anything."
At this point, she paused for a moment before continuing, "Zhang Huai is going to make things difficult for me anyway. He's just trying to make this matter a pretext, so why bother involving the Duke? After I returned home that day, I sent the servants who followed me far away to the farm. My brother also gave them a lot of silver, asking them to keep their mouths shut. But... I think Zhang Huai bribed someone to find out what happened that day. Fortunately, no one knows that the person that night was the Duke, so please rest assured, Duke."
She was already in such a situation, yet she was still thinking about him...
In the two years that he didn't know, Miss Liu had been silently making careful arrangements.
Liu Milan seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled faintly, "Don't take it to heart, Duke. I am doing this to preserve my reputation."
She didn't even want him to feel bad...
After a long while, Meng Changyuan finally spoke, his voice hoarse, "I'm going to cancel my marriage, so you don't have to worry about anything."
Liu Zhilan was stunned for a moment, but then she heard Meng Changyuan say, "Who should I inform right now?"
Liu Qilan returned to her normal self and said calmly, "Your Majesty, please leave and don't worry about me. I know the way back. I'm sure Lady Ding'an is looking for me, and it would be disastrous if we ran into each other." She smiled slightly and said, "As Your Majesty said, that fellow Zhang Huai has been dealt with. He won't dare return to embarrass me again. There's nothing else to worry about."
As she spoke, she clenched the jade pendant in her hand.
This was just pulled off Zhang Huai's waist when we were fighting. With this as evidence, and by arresting those traitors in the mansion, with both human and material evidence, I ask my brother to come forward. I believe the Zhang family will not dare to refuse to cancel the engagement.
Meng Changyuan thought what she said made sense, so he walked out.
Liu Qilan stayed in the room for a while, and only left after thinking that Meng Changyuan had probably gone far away.
When Meng Changyuan returned to the banquet, he saw that the hall was still bustling with activity and many young men were drunk, so he returned to his seat and sat down.
Zhuo Shiquan was also a little drunk. When he saw him come back, he said loudly, "Brother Meng, why are you here? Sit down quickly and let me toast you with three more cups of wine." After saying that, he actually filled two large cups of wine.
Meng Changyuan did not refuse. He took the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. He drank three cups in a row and felt lost.
In the palace, Lu Haozhi finally finished his emperor's homework on the first day of the Lunar New Year and rushed to Shoukang Palace.
Empress Dowager Jiang got up early in the morning, washed and dressed, and sat on the kang in the main room.
Princess He'an was wearing a brand new red satin cotton coat and skirt with gold sprinkled on them, with two small buns on her head. Her skin was as white as jade, her lips were red, and her teeth were white. She came forward unsteadily, knelt down and kowtowed to her, saying,
"Happy New Year to the Imperial Grandmother! May she live a long and healthy life!"
The sweet and coquettish childish voice really delighted Empress Dowager Jiang. She quickly asked the palace maid to pick her up, and took out the prepared Ruyi gold barley and a pair of small gold bracelets, and put them on her personally.
Doukou raised her little face, grabbed the golden barley from the plate and put it into the Queen Mother's hands.
Everyone in the room was startled, and Zang Xiu couldn't help but whisper, "Princess, this is the New Year's money given to you by the Queen Mother. You must keep it."
Doukou shook her head and said, "I will give all these to the Imperial Grandmother. I only ask her to promise me one thing."
Empress Dowager Jiang was a little surprised. She held her on her lap and said with a smile, "What's the matter? Sweetheart, tell me first."
Doukou said, "Please, Grandmother, let me see my mother." Then, afraid that her Grandmother would not agree, she hurriedly said, "Just one meeting. Doukou promises not to tell anyone. Even if Chenchen asks, I won't tell anyone."
At this point, her mouth pursed and she said in a tearful voice, "I miss my mother so much."
Empress Dowager Jiang's heart ached. She patted her head and sighed, "It's hard for you."
As he was speaking, a palace maid outside announced, "The Emperor has arrived—"
Before the voice fell, Lu Haozhi rushed into the room with big strides.
Empress Dowager Jiang was startled and scolded, "Why are you so rough? Aren't you afraid of scaring the child?"
Lu Haozhi bowed hastily, wishing the Queen Mother a happy new year, and then said with a beaming face, "Mother, Yan'er, Yan'er is pregnant!"
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