Chapter 38 How Deep is the Courtyard? (3) Madam, she is missing again! ...
That night, a gentle breeze blew, dispelling the silent temptation of Luoshui Pavilion.
Lu Guanque was wearing a dark-colored robe, sitting on the couch under the window, playing with a jade pendant in his hand, his eyes casually falling on Meng Xuanli.
"Did you enjoy your trip to appreciate the lotus today?" He spoke lazily, without much emotion.
Meng Xuanli was having her maid take off her hairpins and rings when she saw his gaze in the mirror and signaled the maid to stop.
She turned around, a look of joy on her face, and replied softly, "I'm quite happy. The flowers at Luoshui Pavilion are in full bloom, and Madam Xie is quite humorous and talkative."
She paused, then suddenly remembered something. She stood up and slowly walked over to Lu Guanque. Under his unpredictable gaze, she leaned forward slightly, reached out, and hugged him.
It was an extremely short hug, but it was enough to make Lu Guanque's body freeze instantly.
Shock flashed in his eyes, and the jade pendant in his hand also stopped.
She took the initiative to get close to him?
Meng Xuanli sat down next to him, a look of uneasiness on his face and a tone of grievance: "It's just...it's just that the people who followed me today were really not dedicated..."
Lu Guanque's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression expressionless: "Oh? Why not?"
"I was standing by the water watching the fish when the moss beneath my feet became slippery. If I hadn't reacted quickly, I would have fallen into the lotus pond."
As she spoke, she seemed to be still in shock and subconsciously touched her chest.
"I don't know what the maids who were with me at the time were thinking. They were incredibly slow to react, and no one came to help me. And the guards, they just stood far away, busy talking."
The more she spoke, the lower her tone became, and she seemed a little dissatisfied.
Meng Xuanli looked up at him and whispered, "Duke, do these people you assigned to me think I'm easygoing and are so perfunctory about it?"
"Can you...can you replace them with a more reliable and responsible group? I'm a little scared. If something like this happens again in the future, won't I be dead?"
Lu Guanque's expression shifted, and he stared at her for a long moment. He didn't reply immediately, but instead called in the maid who had accompanied him today.
The maid knelt down tremblingly.
Lu Guanque's voice was indistinguishable from emotion. "Madam, you were at Luoshui Pavilion today and nearly fell into the water. How did you manage your duties?"
The maid shuddered with fear and fell to the ground, saying, "My Lord, Madam... Today, we have failed in our duty. Please forgive us, Lord."
She hesitated for a moment, but had to tell the truth: "It's just... before we set out today, Uncle De specifically conveyed the Duke's words... saying that the servants don't need to follow too closely, just watch from a distance."
"Everything, everything is up to Madam's will. We dare not disobey..."
The inner room fell into deathly silence.
Lu Guanque's face was as calm as water. He placed the jade pendant on the table on the kang and waved his hand, asking the pale-faced maids to leave.
He was silent for a moment, and his gaze fell on Meng Xuanli again. There was a hint of embarrassment in his eyes as if he had been exposed, but more of it was a sense of relief.
It turned out that her happiness today was not because she had a moment of freedom, but because she was truly immersed in appreciating the flowers.
Her complaints and fears were not because she sensed his temptation, but because she truly felt that the servants were neglecting her.
Suddenly, Lu Guanque stretched out his hand and took Meng Xuanli into his arms.
He sighed, his tone resigned yet gentle, "Never mind. Since they're useless and frightened you, I'll replace them tomorrow."
"But if we replace everyone, we won't be able to find enough suitable people at once. It's better to withdraw half of them first. If the remaining people dare to neglect us again, we will not let them off lightly."
"Okay?"
Meng Xuanli leaned in his arms, listening to his steady heartbeat, her nose filled with the fresh pine scent of his body.
His words were exactly what she wanted. If she removed half of them, she would have more room to maneuver in the future.
She took the opportunity to look up, her eyes bright and her tone much more relaxed: "Thank you. And... I spoke with Madam Xie today and felt that we got along particularly well. She is knowledgeable and interesting to talk to. I don't have many friends in Dongdu..."
"In the future, can you invite her to your house to talk more often?"
Lu Guanque lowered his eyes to look at the person in his arms and found that she was talking a lot today and even took the initiative to make requests.
Although it was just a small matter of replacing or hiring someone, it was a world of difference compared to the previous tit-for-tat confrontation.
The doubts in Lu Guanque's heart seemed to dissipate due to her honesty and dependence.
"good."
He seemed to be in a better mood. He twirled her hair with his fingertips and said in a rare gentle tone, "Since you get along well with her, there's nothing wrong with interacting with her more."
"It's just that... the people around me still have to follow."
"I understand." Meng Xuanli buried her face in his arms again, hiding the plan in her mind.
Lu Guanque hugged her, feeling the rare comfort in his arms.
A smile played on his lips, and he thought he had woven an impenetrable net, and the birds in the net had been tamed and would never escape again.
But he didn't know that the compass in the heart of the person in his arms had already pointed to a place he could not imagine.
#
In September, the drizzle of autumn rain beats on the banana trees and bluestones, bringing bursts of coolness.
Meng Xuanli and Xie Mingtan sat opposite each other on the couch by the window. A set of white porcelain tea sets was placed on the small table in the middle, and the aroma of tea wafted in the air.
The sound of rain gradually increased. Xie Mingtan listened carefully and said with a smile, "This rain came suddenly, which is quite interesting."
"Why don't we go sit in the porch? Making tea and listening to the rain is also a very elegant thing to do."
Meng Xuanli nodded with a smile: "Of course it's good." She came to He's house today with a purpose.
The two of them moved to the corridor. The maids had already brought in a low couch, a small table, and a small red clay stove. They had brewed hot tea again and prepared some snacks.
Xie Mingtan held the warm teacup and looked at the rain, missing his hometown. "The osmanthus flowers in Jinling should be blooming at this time of year."
Meng Xuanli's heart moved, and he continued, "Yes."
"Yesterday I heard from the Duke that the third master of the Xie family seemed to be getting married?" She asked very naturally, as if it was just a casual mention.
"Yes, Third Brother and Miss Wang's marriage was already arranged." Xie Mingtan sighed and said helplessly, "He Ruheng and I were supposed to go back together, but..."
She lowered her voice, "There's an epidemic outside the capital, and it was also reported in the palace last night. He Ruheng, your Duke, and many other ministers have been detained in the palace today to urgently discuss countermeasures. I'm afraid they won't be able to leave for the next few days."
Epidemic? In the palace? No wonder Lu Guanque left before dawn this morning...
Meng Xuanli's hand, holding the teacup, trembled slightly, nearly spilling the tea. She asked with a hint of worry, "They're in the palace. Shouldn't anything be wrong?"
"Deal with it carefully, and it should be fine."
Xie Mingtan tried to comfort her, but then he looked distressed again: "Given the current situation, I have no choice but to go back by myself."
Meng Xuanli echoed and comforted Xie Mingtan, but his mind had already flown away.
The epidemic and the palace confinement trapped Lu Guanque, and Xie Mingtan went south alone. This was truly a godsend opportunity...
Although it was a bit hasty, the timing was rare.
Now, as long as Lu Guanque has no time to take care of her, she can leave this place.
She had to seize this opportunity.
After sitting for a while, the rain stopped a little, and Meng Xuanli got up and said goodbye, taking the excuse that the rain had stopped.
Xie Mingtan was still immersed in the regret of not being able to return home with He Ruheng, so he did not stay long and personally saw her out.
#
When they returned to the Duke's Mansion, Lu Guanque was nowhere to be found. Meng Xuanli feigned concern and asked about him, and Uncle De replied respectfully, confirming Xie Mingtan's words.
Meng Xuanli walked into the inner room, dismissed his attendants, sat alone by the window, spread out the letter paper, and ground and moistened his brush.
She couldn't appear too eager, nor could she show no concern at all. She wrote a few words of concern, asking about the situation in the palace and asking him to rest and take care of himself.
Her handwriting was beautiful and her tone was gentle, just like a wife who cared about her husband.
Then she instructed Uncle De to hand the letter to Lu Guanque immediately.
#
In the palace, in the makeshift duty room, candles were brightly lit and the air was filled with the strong smell of herbs.
Lu Guanque, He Ruheng and others all looked tired and were discussing in low voices over the map of the capital and the epidemic documents.
A young eunuch quietly walked in and respectfully handed a letter to Lu Guanque, whispering, "Duke, this is from the lady of the mansion."
Lu Guanque frowned. A letter from home was delivered at this time?
He nodded slightly, walked into the inner room, opened the letter, and quickly scanned it. The letter was just a casual greeting, but between the lines, there was a hint of worry.
On normal days, he might have thought too much, but at the moment he was in a state of panic, and coupled with her recent good behavior, he felt a warm feeling in his heart.
He Ruheng noticed his hurried steps and caught up with him, teasing, "Hey? A letter?"
"A few days ago, I heard Ming Tan say that my sister-in-law looked much better and more cheerful."
He glanced at Lu Guanque and said with a smile, "If you ask me, you should stop keeping people confined in the mansion and go out more often. It will be good for your sister-in-law and you too. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"
When Lu Guanque heard this, a smile appeared on his lips.
Yes, she has become much more lively recently. She is willing to talk to him and care about him.
It seems that she has recognized the reality, gotten used to him, and started to rely on him.
Thinking of this, the remaining doubts in Lu Guanque's heart completely disappeared.
He wrote a short reply, stating that the epidemic might spread and that he would need to stay in the palace for a few more days, so she didn't have to worry and could stay in the mansion with peace of mind.
Lu Guanque felt a little relieved when he handed the reply letter to the eunuch.
But he didn't know that this letter would be his last bit of comfort for a long time to come.
#
The news of the epidemic hung over the Eastern Capital like a dark cloud. The streets were deserted, but long queues formed in front of the drugstores.
Because Lu Guanque had not returned for many days, the atmosphere in the Duke's Mansion was quieter than usual.
Meng Xuanli called the maid in charge and instructed her, "There's an epidemic going on outside right now. Although the gates are closed, we must be on guard."
"Send more people to the pharmacy to buy some epidemic prevention herbs, such as Atractylodes lancea, Artemisia annua, Honeysuckle, Phellodendron amurense, castor oil... In short, make sure that everyone in the mansion has enough money." She specifically mentioned some special herbs.
The housekeeper naturally agreed, and within a day or two, the medicinal materials were delivered to the warehouse in the mansion.
Late at night, Meng Xuanli took out the cork and castor oil and hid them in a secret compartment without anyone noticing.
She also asked the maids to go to the shop and buy a few sets of coarse cloth clothes for ordinary maids in the name of reward, and hid them at the bottom of the box.
Everything was going on in an orderly manner. She even often asked the guards about news in the palace, showing her concern for Lu Guanque.
Finally, the day before Xie Mingtan went to Jinling, Meng Xuanli handed her a letter, saying that he had obtained a few pieces of brocade and invited her to view them together, as a farewell for her the next day.
In the evening, Xie Mingtan arrived as promised. The two of them looked at the materials in the flower hall and chatted for a while.
Seeing that the time was almost right, Meng Xuanli led Xie Mingtan into the inner room on the pretext that "there is a better horse in the inner room."
Once the door is closed, all sight and sound from outside are blocked out.
The smile on Meng Xuanli's face suddenly disappeared, replaced by a desperate determination. She turned abruptly and knelt down in front of Xie Mingtan's astonished gaze.
Xie Mingtan was startled and hurried to help her: "You...what are you doing? Get up quickly!"
"Thank you, Madam. I lied to you." Meng Xuanli raised his head and spoke word by word, "That day at the funeral hall, and even when we met later, I had you come intentionally."
"I really have no other choice, so I have to resort to this last resort." Her voice was low and hoarse, her eyes were filled with tears, but she tried hard not to let them fall.
Xie Mingtan's eyes widened, stunned by her despair. His hand holding her froze in mid-air. "Madam... please... please tell me slowly, what happened?"
"The fire at Puyuan wasn't an accident. It was set by Lu Guanque. His purpose was to force me out."
Meng Xuanli spoke very quickly: "Lu Guanque went to Lingnan. Your Majesty didn't send him there. He went there on his own. His purpose was to capture me."
"He eliminated everyone around me and trapped me in this courtyard, saying and doing things according to his will every day. I thought about leaving every day and every night..."
She spoke clearly and briefly described her situation of being under surveillance and having no freedom. The pain in her tone was very sincere.
Xie Mingtan was horrified. All his previous doubts seemed to have answers at this moment.
It turns out that her "humbleness", her attitude towards the Duke, and even her yearning for Jinling were all due to these...
"I know you're going back to Jinling tomorrow. This is my only chance."
Meng Xuanli grabbed Xie Mingtan's hand, her fingertips icy cold. "Please help me, Madam Xie. Let me pretend to be your maid and take me out of the house. As long as I leave the capital, the sky is high and the sea is wide. I will have my own place to go. I will never bring trouble to Madam Xie."
Xie Mingtan looked at Meng Xuanli kneeling in front of her, and her heart was filled with turmoil.
She thought of Meng Xuanli's usual cautiousness and the secret of Lu Guanque's injury because of her. Only now did she understand that behind it all was robbery and resistance.
A sense of chivalry and compassion arose spontaneously.
Xie Mingtan gritted her teeth and nodded heavily: "Okay, I'll help you, get up quickly." She helped Meng Xuanli up: "Time is running out, we need to prepare as soon as possible."
Meng Xuanli quickly wiped away her tears, took out the herbs and clothes that had been prepared long ago, and acted quickly.
After a long time, a little maid with a yellowish complexion, unremarkable appearance, lowered brows and a pleasant appearance appeared in the mirror. She was completely different from her usual self.
Meng Xuanli hid the banknotes and valuables he had prepared close to his body, took one last look at this gorgeous yet cold cage, looked determined in his eyes, and turned his back.
Xie Mingtan took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and opened the door first.
She walked into the corridor, her expression normal, and smiled at the maid who came to greet her, saying, "Your wife is a little tired now. She asked not to be disturbed tonight, so we will take our leave now."
The two maids hurried to the door, glanced into the inner room, and found that there was indeed someone on the bed, so they nodded and responded respectfully.
Xie Mingtan walked out calmly with Meng Xuanli, who was dressed as a maid, and the remaining two maids.
Every time she passed a door, Meng Xuanli's heart would rise and fall a little. She kept her head down and walked behind Xie Mingtan.
Finally, they arrived at the west corner gate of the Duke's Mansion. The rain wet the bluestone steps, and the He family's carriage was parked outside the gate.
The guard at the gate recognized Xie Mingtan and stepped forward to greet him. "Second Madam, are you leaving now?"
"Yes." Xie Mingtan smiled naturally, "I talked with your wife for a while, and she went to bed, so I didn't want to disturb her. It rained heavily today, thank you all for your hard work."
The guard glanced at the three maids behind her, feeling slightly puzzled. However, remembering that his wife had been often sleepy and went to bed early recently, and that these three maids were all Madam He's people, he did not investigate further.
He stepped aside and said, "Second Madam, take care."
The driver put down the footstool, and Xie Mingtan was the first to board the carriage. Meng Xuanli took a deep breath and followed closely behind, stepping over the threshold that had held her back for so long.
The carriage curtain fell, and the wheels rolled, rolling over the wet bluestone road, making a gurgling sound, and gradually moved away.
Meng Xuanli sat in the dim carriage, listening to the sound of rain outside, and his whole body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
She finally... came out.
#
The next day, the rain outside the window was like tiny pearls that had broken off the string, falling on the little eunuch's shoulders.
The lights in the duty room had been on all night and were still on. The young eunuch came in quietly and served some porridge and a few side dishes.
Lu Guanque and He Ruheng sat across from each other at dinner, both looking tired, their food unappetizing. The long hours of reviewing had worn the mind, and silence reigned.
Lu Guanque suddenly put down his chopsticks, his eyes fell on the window, and he said abruptly: "He Ruheng."
He Ruheng raised his eyes, very confused: "Is there something wrong?"
"How do you get along with Xie on a daily basis?" Lu Guanque asked a little stiffly, as if he was extremely uncomfortable.
He Ruheng was stunned for a moment, obviously not expecting him to ask this. He then laughed and rubbed his eyebrows: "Why do you ask this suddenly?"
He scooped a spoonful of porridge and said in a gentle tone: "There is nothing special between Ming Tan and me. It's nothing more than being good to her, her family, and her friends."
He Ruheng swallowed the porridge, and smiled as if he had thought of something, his tone very relaxed: "To be honest, my mother and her mother are close friends, and they have a very good relationship."
"She and I used to meet each other often when we were little. Later, when our two families brought it up, we both thought it was a good idea, so the marriage naturally came together."
He paused, his tone full of cherishment, and whispered, "She's a girl who came all the way to Dongdu to marry, and she doesn't have any old relatives or friends around her. If I don't treat her well, who will treat her well?"
He Ruheng sighed deeply and said half-jokingly and half-seriously, "What's more, if I treat her badly, not only my mother, but also her brothers in Jinling will immediately come to Dongdu with swords in hand to deal with me."
He spoke casually, even jokingly, but between the lines, there was a natural emotion.
As Lu Guanque listened, his fingers holding the chopsticks tightened slightly.
He Ruheng's words, like a mirror, unexpectedly exposed the twisted relationship between himself and Meng Xuanli.
Is he good to her? Threats, surveillance, and coercion have left her in fear.
Was he good to her family? He used her eldest sister's daughter to keep her in check and make her stay with him.
Was he good to her friends? He isolated her from all contact with the outside world, and even the newly established relationship with Xie Mingtan was mixed with his temptations.
An indescribable feeling of depression blocked Lu Guanque's heart. He suddenly thought of Meng Xuanli's eyes, which were sometimes filled with fear and sometimes with hatred.
He had been using such extreme means to keep her by his side, and thought that this way he completely owned her.
But He Ruheng's few simple words outlined a scenario he had never imagined...
Did he really do something wrong?
The person who was deliberately ignored suddenly appeared in Lu Guanque's mind.
Should he tell her the truth about Su He's death? And then tell her what he and Su He had said?
Would untangling the knot in her heart break the barrier between them? Would she fall in love with him?
He wanted her so badly.
It’s not just about people being around.
The heart too.
"Lu Guanque, what's wrong with you?" He Ruheng saw that he was silent for a long time and his expression kept changing.
Lu Guanque suddenly came back to his senses, suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart, picked up the chopsticks again, and said coldly: "Nothing, let's eat."
He lowered his eyes and stared at the bland porridge in the bowl.
He wanted to tell her the truth and use this truth to pry open her heart.
Just as he was lost in thought, Lu Guanque heard hurried and panicked footsteps coming from outside.
Uncle De stumbled into the duty room, not even bothering to greet him, and whispered, "Duke, the Madam is missing!"
There was a crisp "click" sound.
The chopsticks in Lu Guanque's hand snapped and fell to the table. He looked up suddenly and asked sharply, "What's going on?"
Uncle De approached and replied incoherently, "I'm not quite sure either. Just now, the maid from Madam's courtyard came to report that Madam He Er came here yesterday evening and talked with Madam in the inner room..."
"Later, Madam He Er came out and said that the Madam had gone to bed and that they were not allowed to disturb her. The maids thought that the Madam had gone to bed early these days, so they didn't think much of it. But when they went in this morning, the room was empty."
“…Everything is there except the people.”
Every word was like a thorn on a sharp blade, piercing his heart.
Madam He Er? Rest? Do not disturb?
What a good plan.
He was just thinking about how to treat her better, and was even hesitating whether to tell her the truth. But she gave him such a decisive blow.
Is it so good outside?
So good that she would give up everything and go out?
Lu Guanque chuckled softly, his voice filled with anger.
He suddenly stood up, walked in front of He Ruheng, grabbed his collar, and said coldly: "Is Xie Mingtan tired of living? How dare you help her leave?"
He Ruheng was caught off guard by this sudden change: "Lu Guanque, calm down! Let go! There must be a misunderstanding. How could Mingtan..."
"Misunderstand?"
Lu Guanque suddenly interrupted him, his eyes frantic and terrifying: "Everyone is gone, and you tell me this is a misunderstanding?"
His heart ached so much that it almost exploded. The feeling of being betrayed and fooled stimulated his reason.
Lu Guanque pushed He Ruheng away, ignoring the shouts of the people behind him, and not caring about the palace restrictions, the emperor's decree, or the emergency epidemic.
He now had only one thought.
Get her back! Now! Right now!
"Prepare the horses!" Lu Guanque rushed out of the duty room like a gust of wind, and his roar scared the eunuchs in the corridor to tremble.
He Ruheng was furious and anxious, and chased after him: "Lu Guanque, are you crazy? There are important matters in the palace, His Majesty..."
Lu Guanque simply refused to listen. He simply grabbed He Ruheng's arm and practically dragged him out: "Come with me. If she really runs away, He Ruheng, I tell you, I will never let Xie Mingtan off!"
"You are simply unreasonable!" He Ruheng was so angry that his face turned blue and he had to get on his horse.
The two riders rode their horses as fast as swords, heading straight for He's residence. The cold rain hit his face, but it couldn't extinguish the sharp pain in Lu Guanque's heart.
When he arrived at He's house, the news he received made Lu Guanque fall into an ice cave - Xie Mingtan had left the city and returned to Jinling early in the morning.
"How long have you been walking?" Lu Guanque grabbed the collar of the housekeeper of the He Mansion with a terrifying look in his eyes.
"Almost...almost two hours..."
Two hours is enough to run quite far...
Lu Guanque suddenly looked at He Ruheng, his eyes dark enough to bleed: "Look, your wife has done a good thing."
He Ruheng realized the seriousness of the situation at this moment. His face turned blue and purple, as if he had been beaten. "Even if Ming Tan... really helped, they have already gone far away now. You..."
"Shut up!" Lu Guanque interrupted him harshly, jumping on his horse and saying, "Let's go to Jinling. If you can't find her, He Ruheng, you can just wait to collect Xie Mingtan's body."
"Okay, okay!" He Ruheng was angered by his words and hurried to catch up with him, "If you dare to kill her, I will kill you!"
The two men spurred their horses again and rushed towards the city gate desperately. The rain blurred their vision, but it could not blur the despair in Lu Guanque's eyes.
#
In order not to implicate Xie Mingtan, Meng Xuanli did not go to Jinling. Besides, Lu Guanque was no fool. Once he got the news, the first place he would investigate would be Jinling.
She had to do the opposite.
In a secluded alley, she quickly dismounted, walked into the pavilion, and changed her appearance again.
This time, she changed into a green men's suit, tied up all her hair and hid it under a square scarf. She still had a slightly yellowish makeup on her face, but her eyebrows were outlined in a more heroic way. At first glance, she looked like a delicate and weak young scholar.
After she changed, she led her horse and wandered the streets, head bowed, trying not to attract attention. The rain soaked her shoulders, bringing with it the chill of autumn.
She was wondering which direction to go when she suddenly heard people talking in a tea stall on the street.
"That was Duke Lu who just passed by, right? He was quite impressive, bringing Lord He with him. The sound of his horse's hooves was practically sending up sparks as he headed south on the official road."
"Isn't it? His face is ashen, I'm afraid something serious has happened..."
"Driving fast in this rainy day must be urgent."
The official road in the south?
As expected, they went after Xie Mingtan's convoy.
Meng Xuanli felt calm at first, but then became nervous again.
She had originally planned to head north, but now autumn was deepening and the north was cold. The thin men's clothes and money she had on her might not last until she found a place to stay... She had to buy some warm clothes and some dry food.
Fortunately, the epidemic in the city wasn't serious, and all shops were open as usual. She remembered that there was a clothing store near Shunhe Building, and with the high turnover of people, it was difficult to be noticed.
She led the horse and walked quickly towards there.
The place was a little deserted due to the rain and the epidemic. The stalls were scattered and the air was filled with the smell of dampness and cheap cosmetics.
She lowered her head and walked quickly towards the clothing store, but she didn't notice that since she entered this place, several eyes were fixed on her from the corners.
"Look at that kid, he has delicate skin and tender flesh. Although he is dressed poorly, his frame is that of a good guy." A voice sounded.
"Brother, you have a good eye. If you catch it and clean it up, you can definitely get a good price. Those young masters in Yizhou will definitely like it."
Meng Xuanli knew nothing about this.
She quickly found a clothing store and hurriedly bought two sets of thick men's clothes, a half-old sheepskin coat, and some durable dry food.
She tied up her things and hung them on the horse's back. Feeling relieved, she quickly left this mixed place.
Meng Xuanli was leading the horse and had just walked out of the alley. Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, suddenly, a huge, moldy sack fell from the sky.
"Hmm." She was horrified and thought it was Lu Guanque. Just as she was about to hit him, she was hit hard on the back of her neck.
She groaned, lost all her strength in an instant, and fell down.
While she was still conscious, she seemed to hear someone picking her up and putting her into a carriage, followed by the sound of wheels jolting.
"Be gentle, it won't be worth anything if you get hurt."
"Don't worry, I know what to do and will serve this young man well."
"Hurry up, hurry up, get out of the city."
The carriage sped through the rain, shaking and swaying. Meng Xuanli seemed to hear someone being stuffed in again.
"Hey! Hey! Young man, don't fall asleep." The man's voice was sharp and powerful.
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