Chapter 190: The Bag Was Switched
She changed the subject, her eyes becoming penetrating. "Don't worry, the cooperation I promised you will always count. As long as the Yu family remains silent as they promised, I will never go back on my word. The lifeblood of the Yu family will only rot in my stomach. Heaven, earth, you, and I know this."
When Jiang Yuerou heard this, her eyes suddenly lit up brightly, and her heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally settled down.
She nodded vigorously, her tone firm: "I understand! Don't worry, big sister! I will complete what you asked as soon as possible!"
What she meant was secretly keeping an eye on the secrets of the Marquis' Mansion and the Third Prince's family that had not been told by Yu Lin. This was a deeper deal that Jiang Qingning had reached with her before Jiang Yuerou got engaged.
"Yeah." Jiang Qingning responded and said no more.
The two sisters chatted about some family matters, as if the confrontation in the hall had never happened.
During this period, the Marquis's wife also sent someone to deliver some exquisite snacks and seasonal fruits, and her attitude was even more attentive and thoughtful than before.
Before they knew it, it was lunchtime, and Jiang Yuerou naturally kept some food for them. The meal was not extremely luxurious, but everything was exquisite and delicious, and it was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into it.
The atmosphere became much more relaxed during the meal.
Jiang Yuerou prepared a dish of steamed sea bass for Jiang Qingning. She seemed to recall something and asked with genuine concern, "Big sister, why didn't you see Qingxi with you today? She always loves to be around people. Could it be that those rumors outside are..."
She showed worry on her face and lowered her voice, "They said she was kidnapped by criminals, is that true?"
Jiang Qingning paused for a moment, barely perceptible, as he picked up the food. Then, he regained his composure and spoke calmly, "She's fine. We've found her. It's just that the capital has been a bit uneasy lately, so I asked her to stay at a villa outside the city for a while to get some peace and quiet."
Jiang Yuerou patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. "So that's how it is! I was so scared. I was thinking that Sister Qingxi's coming-of-age ceremony would be in just over a month, and I even prepared a gift long ago. It's a red gold and ruby-studded butterfly-winged hairpin. The workmanship is exquisite. I'm sure she'll like it. It would be a shame if I missed it."
Jiang Qingning looked up at her, the corners of his lips raised slightly, revealing an ambiguous smile: "You are thoughtful. She will rush back before her coming of age. Just don't worry about preparing the gift."
"That's good, that's good." Jiang Yuerou was completely relieved, and the smile on her face became much more genuine.
After lunch, Jiang Qingning sat for a while, drank a cup of digestive tea, and then stood up to say goodbye.
Jiang Yuerou personally escorted her out of the third courtyard and all the way to the gate of the Marquis' Mansion. She watched her get on the carriage of the Anping Marquis' Mansion, and watched the carriage drive away before turning around and returning to the mansion, her steps becoming lighter.
The carriage moved smoothly along the wide streets of the capital.
Inside the car, Jiang Qingning leaned against the cushion with his eyes closed, while Zisu sat quietly beside him.
The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, making a regular rutting sound, and the noise on both sides of the street was gradually left behind.
Time passes by little by little.
Jiang Qingning slowly opened his eyes, lifted a corner of the car window curtain and looked out.
The sky seemed to be a little off, and the scenery on both sides of the street became unfamiliar. It was no longer the bustling market that one should pass through on the way back to Anping Marquis' Mansion. Instead, it became increasingly remote, with low houses and few pedestrians.
"Perilla." Jiang Qingning's voice was still calm, but with a hint of coldness.
"Miss?" Zi Su immediately became alert.
"Look outside, where we are."
Upon hearing this, Zi Su immediately went to the car window and looked out carefully.
When she saw this, her face suddenly changed.
"Miss! No! This... this isn't the way back home! This seems... seems to be heading towards the west city gate!" Zi Su's voice was filled with surprise. "And the speed is much faster than when we came here!"
Jiang Qingning's eyes flashed: "Stop the car!"
Zi Su immediately leaned forward, knocked hard on the front wall of the car, and shouted in a loud voice: "Stop! Stop now!"
However, the driver outside seemed to be deaf. Instead of slowing down, he cracked his whip violently.
"Snap!" The sound of the whip was crisp and sharp.
The horses pulling the carriage felt pain, neighed, and ran faster suddenly, causing the carriage to shake violently.
"Miss, be careful!" Zi Su exclaimed and hurriedly supported Jiang Qingning.
Jiang Qingning steadied herself, a cold light flashing in her eyes. She suddenly reached out and lifted the heavy curtain leading to the coachman's seat.
A cold wind suddenly rushed into the car, blowing her long hair into the air.
The driver was no longer the familiar old driver who came here, but a strange man wearing ordinary gray shorts, with most of his face covered with a cloth, leaving only a pair of cold eyes.
The man noticed the movement behind him and turned around suddenly. His emotionless eyes met Jiang Qingning's cold gaze. Instead of panicking, he suddenly whipped the horse's buttocks again.
The carriage rushed madly towards the open west gate that was already in sight ahead like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins.
The few pedestrians at the city gate screamed and dodged in a hurry.
Zi Su's face turned pale and she cried out in a lost voice, "Miss! The driver has been replaced. We are leaving the city!"
"Hold steady and don't panic. Let's find out first."
Jiang Qingning held Zhu Zisu's hand tightly, and looked around with cold eyes. Endless thoughts arose in her mind, wondering who had noticed her and finally couldn't help but frame her.
"Miss, could it be the Pingjiang Marquis' Mansion?" Zi Su gritted her teeth and said, "Pah, a bunch of ruthless people!"
Jiang Qingning shook his head: "No, no, it can't be them."
"Who are you? Where are you taking us?!" Zi Su clung to the car window frame tightly and shouted at the masked driver.
The driver seemed not to hear anything, and didn't even turn his head. He just turned around and whipped the horse's buttocks hard with the whip again.
The horses felt the pain and neighed as they increased their speed to the maximum. The carriage shook violently as if it was about to fall apart.
"Ah!" Zi Su screamed, pretending to lose her balance due to the violent shaking, and fell towards the inner wall of the car.
Jiang Qingning reached out his hand at the right time, seemingly in a panic, to support her. The two of them fell onto the soft cushions and exchanged an extremely brief but extremely calm glance.
"Help! Help!" Zi Su continued to shout out of the car, but her voice seemed weak and futile in the howling wind.
The masked man in front finally spoke up: "Save your energy. It's no use shouting in this wilderness. Just stay put!"
The shouting stopped abruptly, leaving only the roar of the galloping carriage and the sound of the wind.
Jiang Qingning and Zisu snuggled together, lowered their heads, and shook their shoulders slightly, as if they were sobbing because of extreme fear, but in fact they were silently calculating the time and distance in their hearts.
About half an hour later, just when the carriage was shaking so much that it made people want to vomit, the speed finally slowed down.
Finally, amidst the sounds of horses snorting and hooves paddling the ground, they came to a complete stop.
From outside the carriage came the sound of the driver jumping out of the carriage, and he reported in a low voice: "Sir, the person has been brought here."
Inside the car, Jiang Qingning and Zi Su's bodies immediately went limp, their heads tilted to one side, their eyes closed, their breathing became weak and long, and they looked completely unconscious.
A strand of Jiang Qingning's hair fell down, covering part of her cheek, making her look even more fragile and pitiful.
Heavy footsteps approached, and the carriage curtain was roughly pulled open.
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