Meng Zhao smiled and then turned to Huang Cui, who was standing to the side, and asked, "You didn't mention what happened here to my parents, did you?"
Huang Cui quickly shook her head, "After I returned to the capital, I went straight to see Lord Wang. I didn't go home at all. My husband and wife don't even know what happened here."
"That's good." If her parents knew, they would inevitably worry about her again.
Just as everyone finished exchanging pleasantries and was about to enter the house, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the courtyard gate. A group of people and horses galloped in, with strong and healthy horses in front and behind, surrounding a richly decorated carriage.
As soon as the carriage came to a stop, the curtain was lifted and a person jumped down. The person was tall and slender, and his moon-white brocade robe was spotless, making him stand out in the simple farmhouse courtyard.
Meng Zhao turned slightly to Huang Cui beside her and asked, "Why is he here?"
Huang Cui also looked helpless and said in a low voice, "We just arrived in Zhangning territory when we ran into Young Master Xiao, and he followed us all the way here."
Xiao Youzhi looked at Meng Zhao in the courtyard, his heart filled with mixed feelings. He thought that he had been guarding the Meng residence almost every day, but he had missed those two days because of other matters. Meng Zhao had left the capital without a word. Later, when he heard that something had happened in Huainan, he was extremely anxious and immediately rushed over on horseback, but he could not find him anywhere. It was not until he learned that Huang Cui had returned to the capital that he waited for her on the road she was sure to take, and that he was able to follow her.
Finally seeing the person he had been longing for, Xiao Youzhi carefully examined Meng Zhao from head to toe, and only after confirming that she was safe and sound did he feel relieved.
Meng Zhao raised an eyebrow: "Why are you here too?"
Xiao Youzhi was still holding a grudge because of her abrupt departure from the capital. Upon hearing this, he snorted lightly: "What? You can come to Huainan, but I can't?"
Meng Zhao clicked her tongue and was about to retort when she suddenly saw a person emerge from behind Xiao Youzhi. The person was waving a folding fan and said with a smile, "Youzhi, Youzhi, I'm not trying to be mean, but how can you talk to a young lady like that?"
"So it's Young Master Lu." Meng Zhao nodded slightly after recognizing the person. "It's been a long time." Lu Yusheng runs a tea business in Huainan, so meeting him here wasn't unexpected.
Lu Yusheng returned the greeting with a cupped hand, and complained half-jokingly, "Madam Meng, you've come to Huainan, why didn't you inform me?" He pointed to the dark circles under his eyes, "You don't know, these days I've been kept on my toes by my brother, I haven't had a good night's sleep for almost half a month, he's practically turned Huainan upside down."
Meng Zhao was startled upon hearing this, and turned to look at Xiao Youzhi. Xiao Youzhi naturally wouldn't mention the hardships of searching for people these past few days, but his tone carried a hint of concern: "How have you been these days? Have you been injured?"
"I'm fine." Meng Zhao shook her head. "Thank you for thinking of me."
Just as Xiao Youzhi was about to speak, Shen Qinghe, who had been observing quietly from the side, suddenly stepped forward and naturally took Meng Zhao's elbow. "Sister, it's dusty outside, let's go inside and talk."
"Lord Shen is here too." Xiao Youzhi's gaze swept over the two men's intertwined arms, a hint of suspicion in his heart, but he remained outwardly calm. "I heard that Lord Shen was injured. I wonder how he is recovering?"
Shen Qing glanced at him sideways, her tone unfriendly: "The doctor said I'm young and recovering quickly, and I'm fine now." As she spoke, she deliberately looked Xiao Youzhi up and down, "But Young Master Xiao, at your age, you're still traveling so far. Don't overwork yourself. Why don't you hurry to the county town and find an inn to rest?"
These words, tinged with obvious hostility, not only made Meng Zhao frown slightly, but even Lu Yusheng, who was standing to the side, keenly sensed that something was wrong and his eyes darted back and forth between the three people in the courtyard.
Xiao Youzhi was not annoyed. Instead, he smiled meaningfully and said, "Lord Shen is indeed young and impetuous. However, since I am a few years older than you, I must advise you to think twice before you act. Being too reckless will not only hurt yourself but also implicate others."
This bystander naturally refers to Meng Zhao. Shen Qinghe was about to refute, but then fell silent. What Xiao Youzhi said was indeed true. If he hadn't been careless, he wouldn't have dragged Meng Zhao into danger.
Seeing the tension between the two escalating, Meng Zhao felt a headache coming on. In the past, she probably wouldn't have bothered with it, but the relationship was different now. So she said to Shen Qinghe, "What are you saying? Young Master Xiao is only asking because he cares about you." She then glared at Shen Qinghe, signaling him not to go too far.
Shen Qing glanced at her with a wronged expression. Seeing that Meng Zhao did not react, she had no choice but to suppress her displeasure and reluctantly cupped her hands to Xiao Youzhi: "Thank you for your concern, Young Master Xiao. I was rude just now."
Xiao Youzhi's gaze never left Meng Zhao, naturally taking in the subtle exchange of glances between the two. Just now, when Shen Qing mocked him for being old, he was still able to remain calm, but now he felt a sudden sinking feeling in his heart, as if something was dissipating from his hands.
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