The Prime Minister's wife's face immediately fell. "This won't work, that won't work, what do you suggest we do?"
The servant suggested, "Madam, perhaps we should try to send someone out to ask for help. Although the capital is far from here, a round trip by fast horse would take less than half a day."
"You make it sound so easy. The outside is completely surrounded by bandits. Even if I send men, where can they go?" The Prime Minister's wife was now completely flustered. She hadn't brought many people with her to Yuanjue Temple because the journey wasn't very far. She hadn't even brought many maids.
Especially Huang Ningmeng, who only brought one personal maidservant to serve her.
"This... Madam, don't panic. This servant will go and ask the abbot to see if there is any way out."
"Then hurry up and go!"
The servant turned and hurriedly left.
Huang Ningmeng emerged from another room, wearing a light blue dress that made her look like a lotus emerging from the water.
"Rongyin, go ask the monk how things are going now?"
Huang Ningmeng knew that she must be seen as a femme fatale by everyone at this moment. At least the monks in the temple had some compassion, and since monks don't lie, they might tell Rongyin the details.
"Yes, Miss." Rongyin ran out of the courtyard.
At that moment, a head poked out from the wall connecting to the west wing.
Huang Ningmeng noticed it immediately; it was Jiang Sheng.
The guards have all gone out, and there's hardly anyone here.
Huang Ningmeng walked over and asked, "Scholar, what are you doing here?"
Jiang Sheng struggled to climb the courtyard wall, the ribbon behind his head stuck to his face, but he didn't have time to put it back. "Miss Huang... it's very dangerous outside, please don't go out."
"Yes, I know." Huang Ningmeng said calmly, "Scholar, are you alright?"
Jiang Sheng said with difficulty, "No, it's nothing. I came here specifically to tell Miss Huang."
"Thanks, but the courtyard wall is dangerous. Please go down, scholar." Huang Ningmeng was a little worried as she watched him walk unsteadily.
Jiang Sheng blushed and said with a smile, "Thank you for your concern, Miss, but that's not what I meant."
"So what do you want to say?"
"I... Ahhh!" Jiang Sheng slipped and fell.
"Sigh..." Huang Ningmeng took a step forward worriedly, then couldn't help but laugh. What a frail scholar.
Qingluo, who was in the east wing of the courtyard, came out. Her gaze towards Huang Ningmeng was slightly unfriendly, but her expression was respectful. "What is Miss doing?"
Huang Ningmeng didn't even turn her head, and said, "Qingluo, if you're free, go back and serve your master properly. This young lady is not someone you should meddle in."
"Miss's words are somewhat biased. I am only concerned about you." Qingluo had been by the Prime Minister's wife's side for a long time and was well-informed. Naturally, she wouldn't get angry like some of the younger maids.
"Thanks, I didn't expect you to care about me so much. Your master will probably be unhappy if he finds out," Huang Ningmeng said.
"What do you mean by this, Miss? Madam has always cared about you. I care about you, so why would Madam be angry?" Qingluo was a little confused about what Huang Ningmeng was trying to say, but it was true that Madam and Miss were fighting fiercely.
"You're the one serving the lady. You take care of her, and you also have to spare some attention to take care of me. How can she be happy?"
"Miss is joking. Madam will not be upset."
"Hmph." Huang Ningmeng chuckled coldly, her eyes indifferent yet with a hint of mockery.
Seeing that she had no intention of continuing the conversation, and seeing that no one else was around, Qingluo wisely went back.
Outside the courtyard wall, Jiang Sheng was somewhat incredulous upon hearing Huang Ningmeng's arrogant words. In his mind, Huang Ningmeng possessed a certain nonchalance, but was definitely not such an aggressive girl.
This woman was not the Miss Huang he knew.
Huang Ningmeng walked over from the side and saw him sitting on the ground in a daze. She walked over to him and squatted down. "Did you hear everything?"
Jiang Sheng turned to look at her, her eyes filled with an indescribable complexity.
“Scholar, the grand mansions are far more complicated than you imagine. My father loves me, but if I had lost even a little bit of my spirit, you would never have seen me again,” Huang Ningmeng said calmly.
"Is everything you said true?" This news was a huge shock to Jiang Sheng.
"Absolutely no exaggeration."
Jiang Sheng leaned against the wall and stood up, gasping softly from the pain of his fall.
Huang Ningmeng handed him a bottle of medicine for treating injuries. "Thank you for reminding me. This is a very good medicine for bruises and sprains. Apply it to your wounds and you'll be fine by tomorrow."
Jiang Sheng reached out to take the medicine, grasped her hand, and called her affectionately, "Ningmeng."
The moment Huang Ningmeng's hand was grasped by him, she felt a slight aversion. She frowned slightly and pulled her hand back, saying, "Scholar, etiquette should not be transgressed."
Hearing her words, Jiang Sheng felt both happy and disappointed. "Excuse me."
"Go back and get some rest," Huang Ningmeng said, turning to leave.
"Miss, wait a moment."
Huang Ningmeng stopped and turned to ask him, "Is there anything else?"
Jiang Sheng limped toward her, put the medicine bottle inside his sleeve, and took something out of his pocket.
Huang Ningmeng recognized it as a hairpin at a glance.
Jiang Sheng handed her the hairpin, saying, "Miss, this is a gift I completed in three days. I hope you will not be angry with me anymore."
Huang Ningmeng reached out and took it, examining it closely. It was a plum blossom hairpin; the hairpin itself was fairly smooth, but the flower shape was somewhat rough.
"Your hairpin is quite nice, I'll accept it..."
"Miss!"
Before Huang Ning could finish her sleep-talking, Rong Yin's voice calling for someone came over.
“Scholar, I have never been angry with you.”
After saying that, Huang Ningmeng lifted her skirt and ran out of the west wing.
Jiang Sheng watched her retreating figure, his eyes filled with admiration.
Rongyin was afraid that she would be captured, but she was also afraid that if she wasn't captured, the bandits outside would hear her, so she didn't shout loudly.
Huang Ningmeng ran into her as she went out.
Rongyin saw her come out of the west wing, looked behind her, and then looked at her. "Miss, what's going on?"
"Shh!" Huang Ningmeng gestured for her to be quiet, then pulled her into the garden.
“Miss, the monks said…” Rongyin recounted the general course of events.
"Okay, I understand." Huang Ningmeng walked into the pavilion and sat down.
"Miss! How can you be so calm? The situation is about to become extremely dangerous!" Rong Yin was almost in tears; those outside were ruthless bandits who would kill without blinking an eye.
Huang Ningmeng shook her head and pulled her down to sit. "Rongyin, do you believe your young lady?"
Rongyin nodded.
“Since you trust me, then don’t be afraid. Fear won’t solve anything,” Huang Ningmeng said.
“But Miss, they’re all after you. What if, what if Madam hands you over to save her own life?” Rong Yin said the last part almost by biting her lip, as such words were extremely disrespectful.
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