Chapter 17 017 He underestimated her!
Suddenly a roar erupted, and a gust of wind rose before her. Qingli abruptly opened her eyes, and a long spear made of fine steel and silver flew past her. With a loud crash, the back door shattered into pieces.
Those inside and outside were stunned by the terrifying scene. Meng Qingshan appeared in front of her in an instant, his whole body resolute and murderous. His brown pupils stared straight at her with a complex look. Before she could see clearly, he took her hand and rushed towards the back door.
The guards at the back door were already lying on the ground. When Qingli came out of the back door, she was somewhat dazed and confused. Seeing the two people being held hostage in the alley, she quickly came to her senses and said, "They are my people."
With a wave of his hand, Meng Qingshan freed the two men. As martial artists, they could clearly see that the dozens of people in front of them were filled with murderous intent. They quickly retreated to the carriage and opened the door.
*
The carriage sped along without stopping until the sun was high in the sky, when a voice called out, "Miss, we've left Xizhou territory."
Qingli lifted the carriage curtain and saw that everyone looked exhausted. At this moment, she was slightly relaxed and also felt weary. Looking at the guards protecting her on both sides, she asked in a consultative tone, "How far is the nearest town?"
"There are still thirty li to go."
"It will take another two hours," Qingli thought, glancing at Jiang Yue and Jiang Zhao behind her, whose faces were already ashen. After a moment's thought, she realized that since Meng Qingshan's guards had stopped here, they must feel safe. Although she was anxious and wanted to see her grandfather immediately, she couldn't ignore everyone else. She said, "Then let's rest here for a while and get to the town inn before dark. Is that alright?"
This time, Meng Qingshan sent five trusted men, led by Yun Li himself. The young lady on the other side was understanding and reasonable, so they carried out their mission more smoothly. They immediately dismounted and said, "We will obey your orders, young lady."
Granny Cheng did the heavy work and was strong, so she busied herself back and forth. Jiang Yue sat on the ground, feeling like her body was falling apart, breathing in the fresh air. Jiang Zhao wasn't much better off, but her eyes were shining.
They escaped!
Granny Cheng brought water in a rough earthenware bowl and looked at the young lady in the dappled light and shadow under the swaying green branches. There was thick blood on her slender neck and bloodstains on her clothes. She was dressed in a loose black men's suit, which looked very pitiful.
Qingli was still caught up in the tension of last night and the excitement of her successful escape. Her nerves were taut, and her fatigue was insignificant. Beneath her sat the box that Meng Qingshan had handed her as he lifted her into the carriage. She peeked at it from inside the carriage and saw that it was full of silver notes and jade. Surprised, she quickly closed the box.
What does he mean?
It seemed as if the two of them hadn't exchanged a single word last night, and apart from that initial glance, he hadn't looked at her again.
That one glance lingered in her mind, a mixture of coldness, gloom, regret, and forbearance, leaving her heart unable to find peace for a long time.
She thought that with his help this time, all past grudges could be wiped clean.
From this point on, the mountains will be mountains, the roads will be roads, and the two will part ways amicably.
She looked down at the steaming bowl of water, letting Granny Cheng shield her from observing Meng Qingshan's five guards as they headed east, with Meng Qingshan instructing them to wait for him in Qizhou.
But she didn't have time to wait, and when she arrived in Qizhou, she took the opportunity to shake them off.
After thinking it over, she instructed, "Give some silver to Wang Da and Wang Er later."
Granny Cheng responded softly.
All four of them were women, and in case of emergency, they each took a portion of the money they had saved up.
With the sky high and birds free to fly, they arrived in Qizhou in the early summer heat. Qizhou was a hub connecting the east and west, and its commerce was thriving. They arrived at the inn without attracting any attention.
Jiang Yue looked radiant as she neatly arranged the clothes she had bought along the way into the wardrobe, humming a cheerful tune.
Qingli stopped her, saying, "Put it in the box first."
Jiang Yue paused, then said hesitantly, "We're going to stay here for who knows how long, and I'll tidy up the place."
Jiang Zhao put the dress back in Jiang Yue's hands, saying, "Whatever Miss says goes."
Jiang Yue remained unmoved, and Qing Li offered no explanation. She guessed that life outside was easy, and Jiang Yue was carefree and impulsive, even less so than Granny Cheng. Therefore, there were some things she couldn't tell her too soon.
They arrived late, and the best rooms were all booked. They had to stay in a guest room near the lobby. She wanted to hear news about the outside world, so she asked Jiang Zhao to open a small crack in the door.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, news of the vassal king soon spread in a low, swirling voice.
"In this great victory at the border, the Longxiang Army decisively defeated the Beigu and Dadi, expanding northward by over a hundred li. We also recaptured Liangcheng, which had been occupied for ten years. It is truly gratifying!"
"Pshaw! I thought it was some new news, but it's old news."
"So what new information do you know?"
"Do you know about the matter of the vassal king?" The man's tone was smug yet subtly excited. "He's in big trouble. The vassal king, who commanded a private army, betrayed his country and was caught red-handed by the Yan Yun Iron Guards. Tsk tsk..."
Some people didn't believe it, saying, "No way."
"How could it not be! Meng Qingshan, a renowned figure of the Yan Yun Iron Guard, rode tirelessly for three days and nights to capture the thief and bring him back to the camp."
"What do you know? You're not worthy to say that!"
The series of rebukes brought the topic to a halt. Qingli unexpectedly heard Meng Qingshan's name, and a sense of guilt welled up inside her.
The matter of the feudal lords was already settled, and they would disappear with the fall of the feudal lords. Since the affairs of the feudal lords were already ambiguous, they would not care about the concubines in the harem.
Everything was ready; she needed to leave.
The night was quiet, the moonlight was bright and clear, and the ground was covered with a layer of silver frost. Suddenly, a bird called from the backyard, and the four of them slowly went down the stairs.
The night watchman looked up and blushed instantly. The young lady was the most beautiful person he had ever seen, especially her clear, bright eyes, which were like stars. When she smiled, her cheeks were as pink as the glow of the sunset. She was also generous. Seeing that the four of them had come down, he hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "Miss, is there anything you need?"
Jiang Zhao took out a small silver ingot from his sleeve and placed it in the waiter's palm, smiling as he instructed, "My elders at home are concerned and have sent them to greet you at the city gate. We are now setting off. Please leave the servants in the manor to watch over the luggage and keep an eye on things, and make sure no unauthorized people approach the guest rooms."
The waiter, who rarely received such a large reward, sincerely said, "Miss, don't worry, I guarantee that no thieves will come near."
A fragrant breeze wafted by, and the waiter, who had just stood up, noticed the maidservant sandwiched between him looking flustered, as if she had something on her mind. He shook his head and smiled it off.
Having spent these past few days together, Wang Da and Wang Er had learned the guards' true colors. They were extremely apprehensive when they made their move, but once they had done it, they fled Qizhou in one fell swoop. Their whips cracked loudly in their hands, and after a day and a night of galloping, they reached a fork in the road and asked, "Miss, where are we going?"
Their tone was exceptionally respectful, after all, the two brothers had witnessed her setting fire to the house and drugging it to escape. They doubted that the guards would suspect her when they woke up, since the young lady had been living like a woman confined to the inner courtyard these days, consulting with the guards on everything. When their opinions differed, she would simply lower her head in thought and then obey the guards' orders.
Once they strike, they are swift and ruthless, making them a force to be reckoned with.
The curtain was lifted, and the early morning sunlight shone gently on Qingli's face. Her usual womanly hairstyle had been changed to a young girl's, and with her delicate features, she looked like a young lady who had not yet married, full of youthful vigor.
"Let's go to Hezhong Prefecture." Qingli remembered that Hezhong Prefecture was where Song Zhang and his group had stayed, and she wanted to find some traces there.
Wang Da pulled the reins, and the carriage veered to the right. Qing Li lowered the curtain and sat back inside. She had specially modified the carriage to be more than ten inches wider and laid thick carpets inside. They were divided into two groups: one to rest and the other to be on guard. After all, all four of them were women, and there were some things they had to be careful about.
Jiang Yue has realized these days that she has become a burden, and she usually keeps her head down. Qing Li felt relieved. She is not afraid of people making mistakes, but she is afraid of people being confused. She is not ready to be content with enjoying life. If Jiang Yue cannot figure it out, it would be better to find her a well-off family to marry into.
When they saw the city gate of Hezhong Prefecture, the imperial edict from the capital also arrived at the border, conferring upon Feng Wushou, the Grand General of the Longxiang Army, the title of Protector of the Nation General and granting him the title of Duke, with hereditary succession. Meng Qingshan, who had vanquished the barbarians, was granted the title of Third-Rank General Dingyuan and ordered to return to the capital soon.
The eunuch who was delivering the imperial decree waved his hand, and a junior eunuch carried the box to Meng Qingshan. When the box was opened, the tent was immediately filled with golden light. The sword on the box featured a soaring dragon and a phoenix spreading its wings, making it undoubtedly the Emperor's sword.
Inside the tent, everyone shouted "May Your Majesty be well!" Feng Wushou, on the far left, had a slight change in expression. Meng Qingshan glanced at him, who was kneeling silently, seemingly unaware of the meaning behind it. Seeing this, Feng Wushou calmed down, thinking that he must have done a good job in pacifying the feudal lords, and since he couldn't be publicly rewarded, bestowing upon him the rank of third grade was already the maximum he could receive, and this was just a way to appease him.
The eunuch chuckled and, on behalf of the Emperor, asked everyone to rise and congratulated them, saying, "General Meng, His Majesty has bestowed upon you this precious sword. Seeing it is as if you were seeing the Emperor himself. Please accept it with both hands."
Meng Qingshan slowly stood up, his burly body immediately exuding a coercive aura, which made the eunuch's sinister smile almost unable to be maintained. He quickly said, "After the Second Prince returned to the capital, he specifically reported to His Majesty that General Meng was brave and fearless, and his reputation was awe-inspiring. His Majesty was very pleased."
Meng Qingshan remained unmoved, neither arrogant nor impatient, and bowed slightly, saying, "General, your military strategy is divine. My brothers risked their lives for you, and I dare not take credit for it."
Feng Wushou knew that the position of Crown Prince had been vacant for a long time and that the court was already secretly fighting among factions. However, he did not expect that the eunuch would openly snatch the Crown Prince for the Second Prince. He disliked the Second Prince's behavior even more. According to the laws of the court, the eldest son should be the heir, and the position should not fall to the Second Prince!
The eunuch tried to reason with him, but the man seemed like a wild beast, uncivilized and untamed. Having made his point clear, and not wanting to go too far, he put on a smiling face and said, "This is just a preliminary decree. The rewards for the generals will follow soon. Your rewards and residences are ready. I congratulate you all in advance."
Inside the camp, all the young generals were eager to make a name for themselves, and they all smiled with delight.
Meng Qingshan, however, was shrouded in frost. The festive atmosphere in the tent vanished instantly upon him. His teeth were clenched so tightly that veins bulged, and he sighed inwardly, "He underestimated her!"
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