Chapter 11. Snowflakes fall from the sky.
"Does this mean I should stay indoors all day?"
Jiang Fushi's eyes turned slightly cold, and her tone was tinged with sarcasm: "Besides, if someone wants me dead, even if I stay in this princess's mansion every day, they still have plenty of ways to get their way."
For example, Yu Yao.
To be able to push her into the icy pool at the Autumn Gathering, in front of the royal family, and then have it all covered up as an accidental fall.
If I hadn't received timely acupuncture to save my life, I would have died long ago. If it were now, I might have turned into ashes.
Lou Bingling took a deep breath and held Jiang Fushi's hand: "Your Highness has a noble character, which is truly remarkable."
"Having learned that Your Highness is going out today, my father has already increased the number of guards to protect you in secret, and will definitely ensure your safety."
Although the journey was low-key, the carriage's design and materials were deliberately simplified, without explicitly displaying the princess's regalia. However, the grandeur and decorum immediately revealed that this was not an ordinary family's journey, but rather that of a noble person.
Jiang Fushi and Lou Bingling rode in the same carriage. As the carriage slowly moved along South Imperial Street, Jiang Fushi gently lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked out.
"It seems we've arrived at the area where medicinal herbs are sold. I've been thinking of making some calming incense lately."
Lou Bingling also lifted the curtain on her side of the carriage, confirmed it, and said, "Yes, this is Baicaotang, the largest pharmacy in the capital. Would Your Highness like to take a look?"
Jiang Fushi nodded slightly.
The two got out of the car, and the shop assistant at the door, seeing that the two were dressed in extraordinary clothes and had guards with them, immediately ran back into the shop. A moment later, a man who called himself the shopkeeper came out quickly, smiling and bowing, saying, "It is an honor for the two ladies to visit our humble shop. What kind of medicinal herbs would you like to see? Our shop has everything and will surely satisfy you."
"I'd like to pick out some high-quality spices. Could you please bring out the shop's rarest items for me to see?" Jiang Fushi glanced casually at the medicine cabinet beside her, silently memorizing the names of the medicines listed above.
Thinking that if I need it next time, I can just send someone here to buy it.
The shopkeeper immediately smiled and said, "Please come this way. All the good stuff is kept in the elegant room inside."
Upon entering the elegant shop, the shopkeeper enthusiastically introduced various precious spices. Jiang Fushi picked through the spices in her hands and casually asked, "I've heard that dove feathers have a unique fragrance and a calming effect. Does your shop have such a product?"
The shopkeeper fell into a brief silence, looking troubled. He never expected that the noble lady in front of him would know about such an obscure medicinal herb: "Miss is truly knowledgeable. Dove Feather does exist, but it is extremely rare and only produced in the miasma-ridden areas of the southwest. This year, the supply has been delayed, and I'm afraid it will disappoint you."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Fushi felt disappointed, but she didn't show it on her face. She just smiled faintly and instructed Zisu and Qingdai to wrap up the spices she had just chosen.
Lou Bingling knew nothing about medicinal herbs, but seeing that she specifically asked about something she had never heard of before, she asked curiously, "Your Highness, what is this rare thing called 'dove feather'? Even Baicaotang doesn't have it?"
Jiang Fushi's eyes flickered slightly, her mind racing.
The herbs she buys now are mostly common materials for making sachets, and a small portion are used in medicine preparation. She vaguely replied, "It's just a folk remedy I saw in an old fragrance manual. It says that its fragrance has a calming effect. I suppose the record is wrong, or it has been lost for a long time."
Lou Bingling seemed to understand, but didn't delve deeper, assuming it was because the princess was well-read and knowledgeable.
Emerging from Baicaotang, one finds a bustling street lined with various vendors selling fruits, silk flowers, snacks, and other trinkets.
Having not experienced such vibrant local life for a long time, Jiang Fushi slowed her pace and did not rush to get into the car. Instead, she lingered with a sense of novelty at the stalls on both sides.
A sudden, harsh shout and a woman's cries for help were heard from ahead, causing a stir among the crowd as they quickly made way.
"No, no, please, spare my daughter! She is only fourteen and not yet of marriageable age!" An old man knelt on the ground, his forehead bruised from kowtowing, desperately kowtowing to a young man in fine clothes with an arrogant expression.
"Young Master Cao, please! Please!"
A pretty, somewhat childlike girl was being dragged towards a carriage by several guards, her arms held tightly. Tears streamed down her face as she cried out to the old man, "Father, Father, save Rongrong! Rongrong doesn't want to be... ugh..."
Cao Zhang sneered, his face full of impatience and contempt. He walked up to the old man, kicked him to the ground, and said sternly, "Old man, don't push your luck! It's a blessing your family has accumulated over several lifetimes that your daughter has caught my eye! If you dare to wail again, believe me, I'll make sure your lousy shop closes down and gets out of here today!"
Jiang Fushi frowned and looked over, feeling that the playboy looked somewhat familiar. Lou Bingling's expression changed slightly, and she hurriedly grabbed her sleeve, saying in a low and urgent voice, "Your Highness... is Cao Zhang, the second son of the Empress's elder brother."
The Empress came from the powerful Cao family. Her father was the Duke of Jingguo, and her elder brother was the current military governor of the capital, wielding considerable power and influence.
The old man looked up in despair, knelt on the ground, and slowly crawled toward Cao Zhang, prostrating himself at his feet, tears streaming down his face: "Young Master Cao, I beg you, I beg you to be lenient again, give us three more days, and we will definitely return the fifty taels we owe you, with interest!"
"Please don't take my daughter away!"
Cao Zhang kicked him away again, his face full of disgust: "Make an exception? My patience has its limits. Now it's either money or people, there's no third way!"
Then, he reached out and wiped Rongrong's face, saying with a wicked smile, "Get lost! If it weren't for the fact that your daughter is quite pretty, I wouldn't even give you this chance, I would just kick you out of the capital!"
"But Rongrong is not yet of marriageable age, she cannot enter the mansion to serve people!" The old man sobbed uncontrollably, almost fainting.
Upon hearing this, Cao Zhang burst into laughter, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world: "Coming of age? Hahaha, I just love this tender and fresh taste!"
The petite Rongrong trembled with fear, her cries piercingly, "Father, Father... Waaah..."
Jiang Fushi was furious and could no longer stand it. She shouted, "Stop!"
Liu Zi immediately led his guards forward to separate the Cao family servants.
Interrupted, Cao Zhang turned around with extreme displeasure and saw a woman of extraordinary bearing. He immediately cursed, "Which blind fool dares to meddle in my business? Are you tired of living?"
Jiang Fushi stood tall and imposing, her voice strong and clear: "In broad daylight, right under the emperor's nose, to forcibly abduct a woman from the common people—is there no law left?!"
"Heh..." Cao Zhang snorted coldly, looking Jiang Fushi up and down with interest. Seeing that she was dressed in a noble manner and was not from an ordinary family, his tone softened slightly, but still carried a lot of arrogance: "Who are you?"
Liu Zi, standing to the side, said in a deep voice, "Young Master Cao, Princess Yuhe is here. Do not be so insolent!"
His voice trailed off, as if he had just realized something but didn't care at all.
Qingdai turned pale with anger and couldn't help but take half a step forward, but was stopped by Jiang Fushi with a look and a cold laugh: "Young Master Cao has quite the big mouth."
Cao Zhang gave a forced smile: "Your Highness has lived in the deep palace for so long that you probably don't know the rules of our capital."
“This woman’s shop owes our Duke’s mansion a debt. Since she can’t pay it back, it’s only right that she takes someone to pay off the debt. You are in poor health, so it would be better for you to stop worrying about these mundane matters and go back to the palace to recuperate.”
"Besides," Cao Zhang said in a low but threatening voice, "it wouldn't be good to ruin the harmony between you and my Cao family for the sake of a lowly merchant's daughter. If my aunt and cousin Yuyao find out, wouldn't that be inappropriate?"
Cao Zhang's words, ostensibly admonition but actually a threat, made Jiang Fushi tremble with anger, her fingertips turning icy cold.
This thug not only bullied her by taking advantage of his power, but also invoked the Empress's name to intimidate her, which completely ignited her anger.
Hmph, she's just a country princess who really thinks she's risen to power and become a phoenix.
"Alright." Cao Zhang waved his hand dismissively and immediately ordered the guards to help Rongrong into the car.
"Take her with you and take her back to the manor."
"I am here, let's see who dares to touch her today!" Jiang Fushi stepped forward, directly blocking Rongrong's path. Her gaze was piercing as she stared at Cao Zhang: "Debts must be repaid, as clearly stated in the Sheng Law! Forcibly taking a woman is a capital offense!"
"Young Master Cao keeps mentioning the Cao family and the Empress. Does the law of the Great Sheng Dynasty mean nothing to your Cao family? Or does it mean that your Cao family is now above the law?"
"If that's the case, I really must ask my father to make a judgment and ask whether the Great Sheng's empire belongs to the Jiang or the Cao family."
"You!" Cao Zhang gritted his teeth, his face turning deathly pale. He was so shocked by these words that he took a half step back, and his arrogant demeanor instantly crumbled.
Jiang Fushi ordered Liu Zi: "Commander Liu, someone has broken the law in the street and forcibly abducted a woman. Seize him! If he dares to resist, execute him on the spot!"
Cao Zhang's lips twitched. He had no idea that this frail and sickly princess was so eloquent, leaving him speechless and humiliated in front of everyone.
A fierce glint appeared in his eyes, and he was about to disregard everything and order his guards to force their way through.
On the second floor facing the street, a man standing with his sword coldly watched this scene. Just as Cao Zhang was about to retaliate, he pointed his fingers like a sword, and two cold, invisible energies struck straight towards Cao Zhang's knees.
A sharp pain struck, and Cao Zhang, in front of everyone, suddenly collapsed to his knees in front of Jiang Fushi.
The other guards who wanted to help him up somehow felt weak in their limbs and staggered backward, only to feel a strong, cold wind hitting their faces, causing a sharp, bone-chilling pain.
Jiang Fushi was bewildered and stared in astonishment at the bizarre scene before her.
The entire sky suddenly changed, and snowflakes began to fall softly.
The onlookers were horrified and in uproar.
"Snow, it's snowing! It's snowing!"
"Heavens have seen the light! This is divine punishment!"
In an instant, everyone on the street stopped and looked up, staring at this strange sight with astonishment and uncertainty.
However, the snowflakes only fell for a short while and quickly melted on the ground.
Jiang Fushi frowned slightly, raised her hand to catch a cold snowflake, and looked up at the sky.
She had seen untimely snowflakes several times already.
It's strange, it's never snowed this early in previous years, what's going on this year?
"Let's go, let's go!" Cao Zhang was startled by the strange weather and, seeing the onlookers discussing it, felt embarrassed and ordered his men in a show of bravado but inwardly weak.
In his final moments, he gave Jiang Fushi a vicious glare.
Lou Bingling gently tugged at Jiang Fushi's sleeve, saying worriedly, "Your Highness, Cao Zhang is a thoroughly despicable villain. If you do this, he will definitely complain to the Empress, and your days will likely be even more uneasy from now on."
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