family
Of course, it was a trap set by Xie Qi.
Xiao Xian smiled wryly, "It seems that since Jiang Feiwan openly visited the Ningyuan Marquis's residence, we spread the rumors about her and Xie Qi too quickly, arousing Xie Qi's suspicion."
"Xie Qi knew that Jiang Feiwan was backed by more than just the Fourth Prince. In order to lure us out, he used Princess Qiongying's desire to kill Jiang Feiwan to get you to save her. Meanwhile, his men followed you and discovered your identities."
Thinking that the archers had returned to the Earl of Chengen's mansion after completing their mission, Liang Huan's forehead broke out in a cold sweat. "Your Highness, then... Xie Qi already knows that Miss Jiang is your person, will he...?"
"Won't."
Xiao Xian raised her hand to interrupt him, "Xie Qi won't turn against me, at least not outwardly. As for his feelings towards Jiang Feiwan..."
Xiao Xian recalled the way Xie Qi looked at Jiang Feiwan in the snow that day, and for a moment she couldn't guess how he would treat her.
Meanwhile, a somber atmosphere prevailed within the Jiang residence.
Inside the flower hall, Jiangnan Yue smashed a teacup with a loud bang.
Startled, Zou Shi abruptly stopped sobbing, and Xiuhe, kneeling in the corner of the hall, also trembled with fright.
Jiang Feiche, sitting to the left, frowned and glanced at the servant beside him. The servant quickly cleaned up the broken teacup.
Jiang Feiche looked at Jiang Nanyue and said in a steady voice, "Father, please calm down. The doctor just said that my sister fell into a coma because of a cold and physical and mental exhaustion. She will be fine after taking the medicine and resting for a few days."
Zou glanced guiltily at Jiang Nanyue. She was the one who took Wan Jie'er out this time, and when the villains knocked Wan Jie'er unconscious and took her away, she was the only one who was awake.
However, she was terrified at the time and dared not stop those fierce-looking masked men.
After Wan Jie'er was taken away, the coachman died, Xiu He fainted, and she was the only one left in the carriage. She wanted to get out of the carriage to call for help, but when she saw the snow-covered, desolate mountain forest, she hesitated and could only huddle in the carriage trembling.
After waiting for a long time, Che'er finally arrived with her people.
She dared not tell everyone that she had watched Wan Jie'er being carried away, and only said that the masked men had forcibly taken Wan Jie'er away.
A delicate young lady was taken away by a group of men; her fate was predictable.
She wanted Che'er to go back with her, and told everyone that Wan'er had accidentally fallen off a cliff and her body was hard to find, but Che'er insisted on going to find Wan'er.
Unexpectedly, Che'er actually found Wan Jie'er.
Although the doctor said tactfully that Wan Jie'er had not been bullied, if it were known that a young woman had encountered such a thing, her reputation would surely be ruined.
What Zou could think of, Jiangnan Yueding could also understand. On the one hand, he felt sorry for his daughter's health, and on the other hand, he hated the person who harmed his daughter even more.
He looked at Jiang Feiche and asked in a deep voice, "How did you realize something was wrong, and that's why you went up the mountain to look for your mother and sister?"
Jiang Feiche's eyes flickered slightly, and he truthfully replied, "Before entering the palace today, I knew that my residence had received an invitation from the Xie family. At the time, I didn't think much of it. However, at noon in the palace, I saw Lord Xie meeting the Emperor from afar. Sensing something was amiss, I immediately asked for leave and returned home."
Zou's heart tightened, and she asked urgently, "Have you mentioned the invitation to Lord Xie?"
Seeing Jiang Feiche shake his head, Zou Shi was slightly relieved and glad that Xie Qi didn't know they had been tricked into going up the mountain.
"Who exactly wants to harm Wan'er?" Jiang Nanyue asked, clenching his fist.
Jiang Feiche raised his hand, and the servant behind him handed him a portrait. He unfolded the portrait and said, "I had the gatekeeper draw a picture of the person who impersonated the messenger from the Xie family, based on his memory. I have sent people to investigate in secret, but I have not been able to find out who this person is."
Jiang Nanyue looked at Zou Shi and Xiuhe, "When the incident happened, did you hear anything from the thieves?"
Both Zou and Xiuhe shook their heads.
Xiuhe whispered, "They were all masked and carrying knives. I have already identified myself as being from the Ministry of Revenue, but they showed no fear whatsoever."
Ms. Zou nodded, "They didn't ask us for any jewelry or money."
Jiang Nanyue frowned. "Anyone who dares to come to the Minister's residence to deliver a false letter must not be a bandit or robber."
Jiang Feiche stared at the portrait in his hand, pondered for a moment, and then his gaze suddenly darkened. The fact that this person could come to deliver the message meant that the person who planned this must know that Xie Qi wanted to see his sister.
He looked at the secret conversation between his father-in-law in Jiangnan and Xie Qi. Who could know about it so quickly?
"What is Che'er thinking about?" Jiang Nanyue asked.
Jiang Feiche lowered his eyes, concealing his suspicions, and said only, "Sister was able to escape because she must have had some contact with the thieves. Let's put this matter aside for now and ask her in detail before making any plans."
"Yes, yes," Madam Zou replied. "We must keep this matter quiet. No one outside our household should know, especially not the Xie family, otherwise..."
She looked at Jiang Nanyue's increasingly ashen face and didn't say anything more.
...
When Li Wan woke up, it was already evening of the next day.
"Girl, drink your medicine first." Xiuzhu handed over a bowl of strong medicine for colds with red eyes.
Li Wan took the medicine and swallowed it in large gulps.
After taking the medicine and having a bowl of hot bamboo shoot and rice porridge, she finally woke up completely.
"Mother, how is Xiuhe?" she asked.
Xiuzhu's tears fell. "They are all well. Miss, you have suffered such a misfortune. You must take good care of yourself first."
Li Wan glanced at the dim sky outside the window and asked worriedly, "Is Father back?"
"Yes, ever since we brought you back to the manor last night, the master and young master have been waiting for you to wake up."
Thinking of her younger brother braving the freezing cold to find her on the mountain, Li Wan felt a warmth in her heart and immediately said, "Help me wash up, they must have something to ask me."
Xiuzhu brought over some clothes and helped Li Wan change into them. She then draped a fox fur cloak over Li Wan's shoulders. "Luckily, Miss is in good health. If it were before, she would have developed a fever after being in the cold for so long on the mountain."
Li Wan smiled bitterly. Yes, it was fortunate that she was not the delicate Jiang Feiwan of the past, otherwise she would have frozen to death in that desolate mountain if she couldn't find her way down.
When we arrived at Jiangnan Yue's study after passing through the covered corridor, Jiangnan Yue and Jiang Feiche were already waiting there.
"Father, younger brother."
Jiangnan Yue saw that his daughter looked well and her brows and eyes were slightly relaxed.
Li Wan sat down in the armchair opposite Jiang Feiche and smiled at him, "Thank you for coming up the mountain to find me and saving my life."
Jiang Feiche thought she would be at a loss because of yesterday's events, so when he met her smile, he was suddenly stunned and speechless.
Jiang Nanyue spoke first: "He is your younger brother and will be the head of the Jiang family in the future, so it should be so."
Jiang Feiche looked at her, his gaze gentle, "How are you feeling, sister?"
Li Wan waved her hand: "It's alright."
She turned to Jiang Nanyue and got straight to the point: "Father wants to ask me about what happened after I was taken away by the masked men, and how I escaped?"
Jiang Nanyue's face darkened. "This matter is suspicious. There must be someone with ulterior motives manipulating things behind the scenes."
Li Wan nodded. She did not intend to hide this matter from the Jiang family. The county magistrate of Qiongying was defeated and would surely be unwilling to accept it and would come up with a follow-up plan. If the Jiang family did not know, they would not even have any defenses.
"Does your sister know who orchestrated this and wanted to harm you?" Jiang Feiche asked, staring at Li Wan.
Li Wan began, "Those masked men took me to the edge of the cliff. I overheard their conversation and learned that a girl wanted to kill me."
She looked at Jiang Nanyue's furrowed brows and continued, "My daughter has been ill for a long time and has not had any contact with any young ladies in the capital, except for a few days ago when she offended Princess Qiongying at the Marquis of Yongyi's residence."
"Princess Qiongying!"
Jiangnan Yue sounded slightly surprised. He knew that this county princess was the daughter of Grand Secretary Chen Dong, who had been born late in life and was extremely doted on.
Even though Fei Wan's words offended her, she couldn't possibly devise such a grand scheme to take Fei Wan's life.
Jiang Nanyue looked puzzled, but Jiang Feiche understood instantly. He walked around the palace all day, and the palace was never short of rumors and secrets about various families.
Princess Qiongying held a noble position and was greatly favored by His Majesty, which led her to develop an arrogant and domineering temperament.
The most shocking incident was two years ago when she went boating on a lake with the daughter of a supervisor from the Imperial Academy, but the supervisor's daughter inexplicably fell into the lake and died.
When the supervisors came to demand an explanation, Princess Qiongying only said that the woman had accidentally fallen, and by the time the servants rescued her, it was too late. After that, the matter was dropped.
Jiang Feiche looked at Li Wan and asked her, "Sister, did you have a disagreement with Princess Qiongying because of Xie Qi?"
Li Wan was startled, thinking to herself that this younger brother was quite extraordinary.
Upon hearing this, Jiangnan Yue was also taken aback. "You mean to say that Princess Qiongying harmed Fei Wan because of Xie Qi?"
Jiang Feiche did not answer at first, but summoned his personal servant and ordered him to take the portrait and secretly investigate the vicinity of the Chen residence.
After the servant left, Jiang Feiche asked, "Father, do you remember the incident of the daughter of the supervisor of the Imperial Academy falling into the lake?"
Jiangnan Yue nodded. This matter caused quite a stir at the time, and many people in the capital knew about it.
Jiang Feiche sighed softly, "According to the gossip among the concubines in the palace, the supervisor's daughter seems to have feelings for Xie Qi, and has privately given him a purse."
"So that's how it is." Jiang Nanyue slammed his hand on the table. "Princess Qiongying was jealous of Fei Wan's association with Xie Qi, so she plotted to harm her. It's utterly lawless."
Jiang Feiche turned to look at Li Wan, "That Princess Qiongying is ruthless. Now that she has captured you, she will not let you go easily. How did you escape, sister?"
Li Wan was still shocked that Princess Qiongying had killed people before. When Jiang Feiche asked him, he said directly, "When the masked men tried to kill me, they suddenly shot arrows from somewhere and killed them all."
Li Wan's words were simple, but Jiang Nanyue and Jiang Feiche were deeply shaken and immediately realized how dangerous it had been.
“Father, brother, don’t worry, I’m fine,” Li Wan comforted him.
Jiang Feiche was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Who was it that shot the arrow to save you?"
Li Wan shook her head.
Jiangnan Yue couldn't figure it out either, but he was grateful to whoever saved his daughter.
The three of them sat for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Then, a maid brought over several plates of fragrant and sticky pastries. Li Wan, who had only eaten a bowl of porridge for dinner, suddenly felt a great appetite. Forgetting that her father and younger brother were present, she ate one after another, quite a lot.
Just as she was stuffed, the servant Jiang Feiche had sent returned.
The servant reported that he had secretly taken the portrait to inquire near the Chen residence, and sure enough, someone claimed to have seen this person entering and leaving the Jiang residence.
Jiang Nanyue was furious: "Damn it! Lord Chen's good daughter is a murderer and robber, with a vicious mind. She actually dared to touch my daughter, Jiang Nanyue's daughter. I will definitely demand an explanation from Chairman Chen."
Knowing that the Grand Secretary's official rank was higher than Jiang Nanyue's, Li Wan quickly advised, "Father, please calm down. Your daughter is fine, so please don't upset yourself."
Jiang Feiche also said, "Father, we need to discuss this matter carefully and plan it out slowly."
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