Chapter 21 Chapter 21 “I will personally...check...
Outside the door, footsteps are approaching.
Sheng Puzhu put his hands against the gate, his heart beating like a drum, making his eardrums buzz.
"lady."
Xie Zhiyan knocked on the courtyard door with his slender knuckles, his voice cold and clear without a trace of ripples.
Sheng Puzhu stared at Liu Jiao'e, who was tied up and sitting on the ground in a mess, then turned to look at his three younger sisters.
Last night, she confidently said that her waist and legs were so sore that she couldn't even get out of bed, and that she would need to rest for many days to recover. But the next moment, she was full of energy and was fighting in Chang'an City with her younger sister.
Goddess! This is really fatal!
Sheng Puzhu bit her lip, thinking rapidly in her mind what kind of excuse would be more appropriate.
"Big sister, why are you blocking the door?" Sheng Puyao and others looked at her and each other.
Sheng Puzhu tried her best to look less guilty. She probably wanted to smile, but the corners of her lips twitched, revealing a tearful expression. "Xie's third son is outside the door."
"what to do?"
Sheng Puyao's eyes curved as she said innocently, "That's even better. Liu Jiao'e is quite strong, so it would be a bit troublesome for us to bring her back."
"Fourth sister is right." Sheng Mingya nodded.
Only Sheng Mingshu asked thoughtfully: "Did you do anything wrong last night?"
"Why do you look so guilty?"
Sheng Mingshu never intended to spare anyone.
"My dear~"
"What a coincidence, haha..." Sheng Puzhu cleared his throat and tried his best to make his voice sound weaker through the door.
"It's a coincidence."
"Madam, are you really not going to open the door?" Xie Zhiyan's voice was gentle and smiling, but it inexplicably made her calves tremble. The touch left by his hands on her body last night quietly came up and could not be shaken off.
Sheng Puzhu's shoulders trembled, and she struggled internally. After a long time, she took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to open the gate.
"Madam, what are you doing?" The subordinates behind Xie Zhiyan had already retreated far away. He leaned down slightly and slowly stared at her.
It was not yet noon, and the sunlight from the long alley outside the courtyard poured down, falling on his broad shoulders. He was wearing solemn and dignified black armor. He stood at the bottom of the steps with his hands behind his back, a long sword hanging at his waist, and his angular facial features showed a sharp look that she had never seen before.
After a brief look, Sheng Puzhu's back stiffened slightly, and he said with a guilty conscience, "I didn't do anything."
"It was just that a few days ago, during Princess Changning's flower viewing banquet, my second sister was bullied and pushed into the water."
"As the eldest sister in the family, today I am seeking justice for my younger sister."
Xie Zhiyan glanced back casually: "What does Madam intend to do?"
"Brother-in-law." Sheng Puyao was young and thought she had called for help. She blinked her bright eyes and was about to tell everything. Fortunately, Sheng Mingya was quick to cover her mouth.
Sheng Puyao looked over in confusion?
Sheng Mingya made a silencing gesture to her and signaled her with her eyes to hold back her words.
The Marquis of Changxing's mansion had the audacity to act like this, naturally anticipating that the Marquis of Mingde's mansion would not dare to speak out. While the customs of Dayan were no longer as restrictive as they had been in previous dynasties, this was still a matter of reputation, and until the truth was fully revealed, silence was the natural course of action.
Sheng Puzhu swallowed, his throat tightened, and glanced at Liu Jiao'e, who was lying on the ground with her cheeks swollen and tied up.
She wasn't sure how Xie Zhiyan, a gentleman as kind as jade, would view this matter.
So she pursed her lips tightly and didn't intend to speak.
The brief silence between the two seemed to give Liu Jiao'e hope.
She twisted her body and raised her head. Before she could speak, she was already crying like a pear blossom in the rain: "My dear, help me. I have no grudge against this girl, but she is trying to bring people to kill me."
"My dear?" Seeing Xie Zhiyan's lack of reaction, she gritted her teeth and said, "My aunt is the wife of the Marquis of Changxing. I am a daughter of a noble family. I beg you to save me for the sake of the Marquis of Changxing's mansion."
Xie Zhiyan remained silent, his gaze fixed on Sheng Puju.
After a long while, he gestured behind him: "Untie the ropes on the man..."
Liu Jiao'e saw the light.
"!?" The three younger sisters of the Sheng family couldn't believe what they heard and their eyes widened.
Sheng Puzhu looked up in a daze and saw Xie Zhiyan slowly approaching, his fingertips brushing across her slightly messy temples.
His rough palm clasped her wrist, his thumb pressing gently on her pulse: "Madam, how can you be so reckless?"
"Do you know who lives in the next yard?"
Sheng Puzhu couldn't answer and could only shake his head.
Xie Zhiyan held her wrist tightly and rubbed his nose against her cheek, seemingly unintentionally. Only Sheng Puju knew how dark his eyes were at that moment.
He whispered, "There's an enemy spy living next door. I'm sending people to arrest him today."
Sheng Puzhu's pupils suddenly shrank, and even his breath was choked in his throat. It was just a wall between them.
What we did today was indeed not perfect.
"What are you going to do?"
Liu Jiao'e thought that if she untied the ropes on her body, she would be saved.
She was about to tenderly salute the handsome man, but unexpectedly, two dark-faced subordinates came in behind him, took out thicker and stronger hemp ropes from their arms, and tied her hands and feet without saying a word.
"Let me go."
"My aunt is the Marquis of Changxing..." Liu Jiao'e screamed in disbelief.
"Wuwu, let me go." Before she could finish her words, a dark-faced subordinate blocked her mouth with a cloth, showing no intention of showing any mercy.
Xie Zhiyan placed his cold palm against Sheng Puzhu's lower back, his voice grave: "The ropes you brought are not suitable for tying people up, and the technique is wrong, so it's easy to break free."
"It seems that Madam has no experience, and it is obvious that she does not do this kind of thing often."
He didn't care about the shock in Sheng Puzhu's eyes at all. In a corner where no one could see, he suddenly nodded and bit the tip of her ear, using a sound that only they could hear clearly.
He said word for word, "If my lady wishes to learn, I will certainly tell her everything I know."
"but."
He suddenly exerted force on his palm. His expression remained gentle, but his movements were exceptionally firm. He looked at her with an ambiguous expression, "Madam, your recovery is remarkable."
"I'm quite puzzled. I'll definitely check it out myself tonight."
This moment.
Handsome and cold appeared on the surface, his eyes were dark, like a leopard patrolling its territory.
Sheng Puzhu felt a shudder. It was just a light, almost imperceptible glance, but it was like a scrutiny, scraping across every inch of her skin bit by bit, leaving nothing unseen.
At this moment, she had only one thought in her mind!
Tonight, she's finished!
"Big sister?" Sheng Puyao pushed her.
Sheng Puzhu blinked, her heart skipping a beat before she finally came to her senses: "Hmm?"
Sheng Puyao carefully lifted the carriage curtain and looked out at the bustling streets. "Where do you think my brother-in-law sent Liu Jiao'e?"
"He was sent to the Dali Temple." Sheng Puzhu said weakly.
Sheng Mingya frowned: "Our original plan was to find out the whole story, then tie him up and confront him at the Changxing Marquis' Mansion."
"So what should we do now?"
"Well, you're making me dizzy." Sheng Puzhu pulled a handkerchief from his bosom, covered his face with it, and said in a muffled voice, "You should ask Mingshu. Mingshu knows everything except her harsh words."
Sheng Mingshu covered her lips and coughed, then slowly said, "The Dali Temple directly investigates serious cases. Liu Jiao'e's tricks won't be enough to withstand the Dali Temple's interrogation."
"I think what I said is correct, big sister."
Sheng Puzhu hummed, half-closing her eyes. The mist-like silk rose and fell with her breathing, making her face look more vibrant and bright.
Seeing her lazy look, she didn't want to bother with anything, but she didn't get annoyed. She continued to explain, "You don't have to worry about the Changxing Marquisate not getting the news. If the guard hasn't been caught, she will definitely report the news immediately."
"It's definitely better for Liu Jiao'e to be detained at the Dali Temple than for us to tie her up in the palace. At least we don't have to dirty our hands. When the Changxing Marquisate gets the news and comes looking for her, it will be a matter of the Changxing Marquisate asking the Dali Temple to release her."
"Plus, my brother-in-law arrested the people on the pretext of collusion with spies. It has nothing to do with us."
Sheng Puyao clapped her hands: "That fierce wife of the Marquis of Changxing, she is going to suffer in silence."
"You're still not very smart." Sheng Puzhu pulled off the handkerchief with a loud noise and tapped Sheng Puyao's forehead: "How can you call it a loss? It's called karma."
"For one thing, our family's decision to cancel the engagement is the only reason. As for the Changxing Marquisate, how can we let them take it so lightly?"
"Since you have ruined the reputation of our Sheng family girl, you should bear the consequences. Don't try to get away with it."
*
Mrs. Liu, the wife of Marquis Changxing, arrived faster than Sheng Puzhu and the others had expected.
When the carriage stopped at the Marquis of Mingde's residence, a maid came to announce, "Ladies, the old lady is looking for you."
Sheng Puzhu raised an eyebrow: "Are there guests coming to the mansion?"
The nanny nodded and said, "I just arrived a while ago and was having tea and chatting with the old lady. She said she wanted to bring the wedding forward."
Sheng Puzhu smiled and said, "Then let her wait."
Flower Hall of Shouchunju.
When Lady Liu, the wife of Marquis Changxing, rushed to the Marquis Mingde's residence, she was told by the old lady of the Sheng family, "The sisters went out to shop today and haven't returned yet."
Who would believe this nonsense when shopping?
As a result, I waited for almost an hour before I saw anyone.
"Mingshu, are you feeling better?" When Liu saw Sheng Mingshu, her expression immediately changed.
Sheng Mingshu hadn't recovered yet and walked slowly. She was supported by the nanny and followed slowly behind the sisters. When she saw Liu trying to hold her hand affectionately, disgust flashed in her eyes and she avoided him directly, saying coldly, "Thank you, Madam, for your concern."
Liu was obviously stunned for a moment. From Sheng Mingshu's reaction, she immediately guessed what she might ask Liu Jiao'e.
The smile on her face froze slightly, and she wiped her eyes with the handkerchief: "Good boy, don't listen to the nonsense of those unpresentable little girls outside. They are all jealous words among girls."
"I was confused before. I listened to some rumors and became overly concerned."
"Now I've figured it out. My son loves you deeply, and you two were engaged so long ago. I was foolish in canceling the engagement. I apologize to you."
"Good Mingshu, in my opinion, it would be better for you to move up the wedding date."
Although every word Liu said was testing, she never mentioned Liu Jiao'e, which showed that she was very patient.
Sheng Puzhu glanced at him indifferently, and the corners of his lips curled up mockingly: "If Madam hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten it."
"In my opinion, it is better to wait for a day and then do it today. Let's return the engagement letter and token of love and call it a day."
One word can cause a thousand waves.
Liu was immediately annoyed, her brows and eyes suddenly turned harsh: "What nonsense are you talking about, Madam?"
"Marriage is decided by parents and matchmakers, but your family's elders gave their approval."
"You are the junior, it is not your turn to interrupt."
Madam Sheng took a sip of tea and said, "Madam Liu, are you suffering from hysteria? Before, Madam Liu was making a fuss about breaking off the engagement, and now our Sheng family is taking the initiative to break off the engagement, but you are unwilling to do so again."
Liu couldn't sit still anymore and glanced around: "Then tell me clearly, where did you hide Liu Jiao'e?"
Sheng Puzhu raised his chin slightly, chuckled coldly, and said slowly, "Oh, since Madam has asked about Liu Jiao'e, I might as well tell you that she colluded with the spies and has been sent to the Dali Temple for interrogation."
"Instead of worrying about Liu Jiao'e, Madam Hou should also take a look at the situation of the Crown Prince."
"I've heard that the Dali Temple has always been harsh in its trials. I wonder if Prince Xue can withstand the punishment there."
Liu stood up with a bang, her eyes bloodshot.
"Impossible, don't scare me!"
"I'm telling you, since this marriage has already been decided, there's no reason to cancel it. If you do, I'll expose the story of your daughter from the Sheng family seducing others by the lake at the Changning Marquis's mansion."
“Pah.”
The old lady of the Sheng family frowned, raised her hand and slapped Liu hard in the face.
"Poisonous woman!"
"They are the younger generation and cannot hit you."
"But I can!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
