It was the man I had met at Cao's villa in Xuzhou.
Wei Hanzhang's eyes flickered slightly, and he slowly walked towards the corner and bowed: "Thank you, sir."
The man looked at her with his eyelashes lowered, and handed her something: "There is blood on your face."
His hands were very beautiful, with distinct joints and smooth and beautiful lines, just like him, with a clean and beautiful look.
But Wei Hanzhang did not take his handkerchief, and said indifferently: "It doesn't matter, my clothes are dirty anyway."
She had held Cao Xinrou in her arms for so long that her body was already stained with blood, which could not be wiped clean no matter how hard she tried.
After thanking him, he was about to say goodbye and leave, but he heard the man in front of him ask, "Do you regret being so impulsive just now?"
Wei Hanzhang knew that he was asking about the matter of rushing out to save Cao Xinrou regardless of her identity.
Although his question was a bit too polite considering that they had only met twice, Wei Hanzhang was in a bad mood today and did not feel that he was being impolite.
Instead, he said frankly: "I have never regretted it. If I had seen my childhood playmate fall from a building today and pretended not to see it, I would not be myself."
So what if it affects the marriage? If Gu Yunran regrets the marriage because she wants to save Rou Niang, then the marriage will be cancelled.
Wei Hanzhang glanced at the man in front of him and said, "Do you know who the girl who just jumped off the building is?"
Xiao Junzhan looked at her for a moment, and his eyes were disturbed again. He asked, "Who is it?"
Wei Hanzhang pinched the hem of her skirt and sniffed lightly: "She is the daughter of the previous owner of the courtyard when I first met you, the eldest daughter of the Cao family in Xuzhou."
"Her father committed a crime and was sentenced to beheaded half a year ago. She and her sisters were all imprisoned in the Jiaofangsi, but the last time I saw her, she was still fine."
Thinking of Gu Yundan who just appeared here, Rou Niang’s death must be related to him.
Wei Hanzhang secretly gritted his teeth. He married a new wife, but he still abused his childhood sweetheart who had fallen into the slave class. How inhumane! Xiao Junzhan was silent for a few breaths, and said lightly: "Last spring, there was a sudden flood in Yunzhou and Ningzhou in the south of the Yangtze River. The court allocated 300,000 taels of silver for disaster relief. Local officials embezzled it. Cao Shiren was the governor of Yunzhou, and it was not unjust to sentence him to death."
Wei Hanzhang did not expect that she would be briefed on court affairs by a man she had just met twice. She knew that the Cao family was guilty of serious corruption, but no one had actually told her specifically what the specific situation was.
She didn't even know what Cao Xinrou's father's name was, but this man called her by name as if he knew her by heart.
She was filled with doubt and uncertainty, and felt that the man in front of her was really unfathomable, with a cold and aloof temperament, and seemed as if he was in the clouds and out of touch with human nature.
Wei Hanzhang looked him up and down for a while and said, "I don't mean to feel sorry for the Cao family, but I knew the girl from the Cao family when I was a child, and I couldn't bear it..."
Xiao Junzhan said gently: "You don't need to explain, I know."
“……”Wei Hanzhang was silent. Was she explaining?
She was afraid that others would hear her and think that she was dissatisfied with the court and the prince...
Xiao Junzhan asked again: "Did you lose something last time?"
Wei Hanzhang blinked and thought for a moment: "I lost a jade pendant."
She raised her eyes: "Did you pick it up?"
"Yes." The wind blew, blowing up Xiao Junzhan's dark-colored belt. He nodded slightly and said, "But I don't have it with me now. Can I bring it to you next time?"
"Next time?" Wei Hanzhang frowned slightly, feeling that this person had bad intentions.
But the jade pendant was a birthday gift from Jiang. Not only her personal characters were engraved on it, but also the family emblem of the Wei family. Although it was small, it could be seen if you looked carefully.
It is indeed inappropriate to leave it outside.
Just when she was in a dilemma, she heard the man in front of her say, "Next time."
Wei Hanzhang paused for a moment, then asked directly, "Which family are you from?"
"My last name is Xiao, and my courtesy name is Boqian." Xiao Junzhan lowered his eyes to look at her and said softly, "It's time for you to tell me your name, young lady."
Xiao is the surname of the royal family of the time.
Xiao Junzhan asked, "What would you do if they are from the royal family?"
Although his eyes were still gentle, they always made people feel a slight pressure.
Wei Hanzhang unconsciously took half a step back.
Xiao Junzhan retracted his gaze, "The girl asked my name but didn't answer my question."
The current social atmosphere is open and there is no taboo on girls' maiden names.
Wei Hanzhang looked at him deeply and said, "The jade pendant is in your hands now. How could you not know my name?"
The man smiled when he heard it, and looked into her eyes again, and said softly, "Is your name really 'Ran Ran'?"
“…”
Lecher! Wei Hanzhang felt frightened by his calling him "Ran Ran" and said, "I should go back now. Please do as you please, young master."
"If today's incident is reported to the mansion, I'm afraid the young lady will be blamed." Seeing her back, Xiao Junzhan felt a little confused: "Are you afraid?"
Wei Hanzhang said: "If you dare to do it, you can take responsibility for it. There is nothing to be afraid of."
"etc…"
Wei Hanzhang stopped and turned to look at him.
"No need to be afraid." Xiao Junzhan paused and said in a gentle voice: "You are not wrong in this matter. You are a good girl who values friendship."
“……”Wei Hanzhang found that this was a really wonderful person.
She smiled, said nothing, and turned and left.
…………
In the carriage, Luzhu took out the spare dresses prepared for the banquet and said, "Miss, please change your clothes."
Her body was covered in blood. If she really returned home like this, Jiang might faint from fright.
When changing clothes, Wei Hanzhang saw the maid's frightened expression, and apologized: "It's okay, if there is a punishment at home, I will take it all and will definitely protect you."
Luzhu and Lulan have been her personal maids since childhood. They followed her to Beijing from Xuzhou. Today, Lulan stayed in the mansion while Luzhu went out with her to attend the banquet. Wei Hanzhang would feel uneasy if Luzhu was really blamed because of what happened today.
"I'm not afraid," Lu Zhu said as she fastened her belt deftly, "I'm just worried about you. There were so many people at the entrance of the Music Bureau just now, and I'm afraid the news has spread back to the mansion."
"It's not a big deal," Wei Hanzhang said, pretending to be unconcerned. He smiled and comforted her, "You also heard what that person said just now. I am a good girl who values friendship."
…………
After Wei Hanzhang left, Xiao Junzhan stood there quietly for a while.
The spring sunset was not very bright, and it shone silently on his face. The yellowish color made his aloof features softer, like a god tainted with worldly air, and no one dared to disturb him.
When the sky darkened and night was about to fall, the servant behind him who had never spoken said, "Your Highness, it's time to return to the palace."
Xiao Junzhan nodded, returned to the carriage, took the memorial and read it.
The pale-faced, beardless servant whispered, "The jade pendant of the Wei family girl is right here..."
The voice was lost in the eyes of his Highness.
(End of this chapter)
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