Chapter 369 Just in Time Your Sweetheart's Boss Arrives
The next day, after breakfast, Jiang Yu didn't go to the government office but went directly out of the city. Today she was to participate in the Marquis of Chengen's firearms training for the soldiers. This wasn't out of bravado, but because there was danger surrounding her.
She believed that whether it was Prime Minister Pei Chengkun, the Earl of Qingshan, the Crown Prince, or Consort Su, they would all want her dead if given the chance. The reason they hadn't acted yet was twofold: firstly, because she was well-protected, and secondly, because they couldn't bear the consequences if she were harmed now.
What if they get pushed to the limit? Or what if one of them has a mental breakdown and decides to kill her without considering the consequences? He has to be wary of all of these things.
The production and training of firearms were carried out in secrecy. She had already asked for leave yesterday to avoid missing her shifts without a reason and arousing suspicion from some people.
She was dressed in a narrow-sleeved robe today, and she rode a horse when she went out. Xia He, who had also practiced riding, rode with her out of the city. When they arrived at the city gate, they saw Ning Yunchuan waiting not far away.
Upon seeing him, Jiang Yu didn't dismount, but slowed down, waiting for Ning Yunchuan to mount before the two rode side by side. After galloping for a while, they arrived at the pavilion where they had waited for others with Prince Rui last time, and found Prince Rui waiting there again.
Jiang Yu and Ning Yunchuan dismounted and bowed to him. Prince Rui's gaze swept over Ning Yunchuan, then looked at Jiang Yu and said, "Quickly, you may rise."
Jiang Yu straightened up, and their eyes met before quickly looking away, but for a fleeting moment, their gazes seemed to burn. Jiang Yu's cheeks felt hot, and she silently exhaled, saying, "Shall we wait for His Highness Prince An?"
"No need, he wants to train with the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
Jiang Yu nodded. "Then let's go."
“Alright.” Prince Rui gave her a deep look, walked to the horse and mounted it nimbly. Then the three of them rode forward together.
The training ground for the Marquis of Chengen was also very secluded and spacious, with no one around for about ten miles, so it was quite far away. The three of them rode for two hours to reach it.
After dismounting, the heir apparent of the Marquis of Chengen came to greet them. After exchanging greetings, the group walked together. Ning Yunchuan was going to Lingnan with the Marquis of Chengen and his son, so he needed to establish contact with the heir apparent at this time. The two walked ahead, talking as they went, while Jiang Yu and Prince Rui walked behind.
Jiang Yu glanced at the two people in front of her, then took out an exquisite sandalwood box and handed it to Prince Rui, who was walking beside her. Seeing that he was taken aback, she smiled and said, "Your Highness, don't you want it?"
The words had barely left his lips when the sandalwood box was already in Prince Rui's hands. His slender, pale hand gripped the box tightly, his eyes bright and intense. "I...I like it very much."
Jiang Yu wanted to ask, "You like it without even looking at what's inside?" But this wasn't the right time to tease him, so she said, "It's good that Your Highness likes it. Let's go."
Prince Rui was eager to open the box and see what was inside, but the two people in front of him had already stopped. He quickly put the box down and followed Jiang Yu. The spot where he had placed the box felt rather hot to the touch.
Because the heir of the Marquis of Chengen and Ning Yunchuan were so focused on the trip to the King of Lingnan, they were so engrossed in discussing the details of what would happen afterward that they didn't notice the conversation between Jiang Yu and Ning Yunchuan.
After walking for about half an hour, they saw a camp in the distance. The group walked quickly over and saw that Marquis Chengen was directing soldiers to move boxes out. They knew without a doubt that the boxes contained firearms.
The Marquis of Chengen's family was a family of military generals, and the Marquis of Chengen was also a famous military general in the Great Qian Dynasty, so he naturally had his own unique way of training soldiers. In just three days, he figured out how to make better use of firearms.
Jiang Yu and his two companions were immediately assigned to the ranks of soldiers and trained in various disciplines. Except for mealtimes, they trained until nightfall. Fortunately, Jiang Yu had a background in martial arts; otherwise, they wouldn't have lasted until the end.
Ning Yunchuan, being the older cousin, naturally cared about his younger cousin. As soon as training ended, he took his water bottle and walked over to Jiang Yu, handing it to her: "Are you very tired?"
Jiang Yu breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness, I made it through."
After saying that, she uncorked the kettle, tilted her head back, and took a hearty gulp of water. Then she heard Ning Yunchuan say in a somewhat hesitant tone, "I heard you are acquainted with Yan Fengju?"
Jiang Yu was taken aback, then chuckled at his forced composure. "You've taken a liking to someone?"
"No, don't talk nonsense." Ning Yunchuan quickly denied it, but seeing Jiang Yu's suppressed laughter, he knew that his denial was too quick and had given him away, so he simply stopped hiding it.
“My grandfather thinks we’re a good match. I saw her outside the Heavenly Crafts Bureau yesterday and thought she… was quite nice.” Ning Yunchuan’s ears burned as he thought of yesterday’s events.
He heard from the Duke of Wei that he wanted to ask the Yan family for Yan Fengju's hand in marriage on his behalf. He didn't really care about this, since given his status, he was bound to have a marriage alliance anyway, as long as the status was suitable and the person's character was decent.
But remembering that Yan Fengju had once stopped Jiang Yu's sedan chair and asked Jiang Yu to recommend her to the Heavenly Crafts Bureau, he felt that this woman was extraordinary. So he went to a restaurant not far from the Heavenly Crafts Bureau early in the morning to wait and see the young lady.
However, he forgot that Yan Fengju always went to work in a sedan chair, which went directly into the Tiangong Division, so he couldn't see her at all while waiting outside. Just as his attendant reminded him, Yan Fengju's sedan chair passed by the restaurant where he was. On a whim, he threw down the cup he was holding, which hit Yan Fengju's sedan chair.
Then he met the man and took a liking to him, but he was seen as a lecher, and Yan Fengju had a very bad impression of him. Considering that Yan Fengju dared to stop Jiang Yu's sedan chair to secure her future, he figured that if he didn't clarify things, no matter how much pressure she was under, she would probably refuse the marriage. So he had no choice but to seek help from Jiang Yu.
Ning Yunchuan reluctantly recounted what had happened, then waited for Jiang Yu to give him advice, but all he got in return was Jiang Yu's mocking laughter, "Your brain is really unreliable."
But what could Ning Yunchuan do? For the sake of his future, he had to smile even when he was being ridiculed. "I don't know why I threw the cup down. Cousin, dear cousin, please help me."
Jiang Yu smiled again, "Let me think about it."
...
While the two of them were chatting and laughing, Prince Rui's heart was pounding, and his eyes kept glancing in their direction. His attendant, seeing this, also felt his heart pounding and whispered to Prince Rui, "Your Highness, why don't you go over there too?"
Prince Rui pursed his lips and strode over. Upon reaching him, he saw Ning Yunchuan fawn over Jiang Yu, taking the water jug from her hands and then, seemingly out of nowhere, producing a fan and smiling as he fanned Jiang Yu.
Prince Rui: "..."
Just then, the two saw him, and then Jiang Yu said with a smile, "It just so happens that your sweetheart's boss has arrived."
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