Chapter 181 Escort
After Qiu Lan and Meng Lingge sat down, Lu Shui explained.
“I have met Miss Meng. Young Master Du said that Miss Meng is returning to the capital, and the journey has been arduous. It would be more appropriate for her to have a female doctor accompany her. It just so happens that I have an elder brother that I haven't seen for many years who is also in the capital, and I have been wanting to go and find him. So Young Master Du asked me to accompany him, so that I can take care of Miss Meng and also visit my relatives in the capital.”
Meng Lingge nodded slightly, knowing that Du Yuanhua had sent Lushui to accompany her because he was worried about her pregnancy and potential mishaps on the road.
However, she was not going to the capital. After saying goodbye to her grandmother, she still needed to explain things to her eldest cousin as soon as possible.
The carriage moved slowly, and Meng Lingge opened the window to wave goodbye to the Du family members who were seeing her off.
My grandmother stood in the middle of the crowd, her back slightly bent, waving her hands with difficulty. The wind blew through her silver hair. Although she was standing in the center of the crowd, she had a desolate air about her.
Then I recalled what my grandmother had said: "After today's parting, I don't know if we will ever meet again."
Meng Lingge felt a pang of unease.
The carriage gradually picked up speed, and as it drove out of the intersection, the surrounding crowds and scenery began to blur, but the grandmother's pale blue figure remained clear, like an old stone statue that stood firm.
As the carriage drove through the alley on the left, it was sure to see another carriage near the intersection. Meng Lingge knew that Jiang Lin and the others were waiting there, and was about to stop to greet them and let them follow behind.
But then they saw several fast horses emerge from around the corner, each carried by a guard with a long sword. They rode past their carriage and galloped straight ahead.
The Du residence is located at the end of this road.
Du Yuanhua also noticed something was wrong and stopped the carriage.
The Du family had some private dealings with officials in Jiangnan, but he remembered that no officials had been invited to the mansion today, and officials usually arrived by carriage or sedan chair, not on horseback. Moreover, the guards' attire didn't seem to belong to Jiangnan; they looked more like they were from the capital.
"Lingge, wait here for a moment, I'll go back to the manor to check on the situation."
Du Yuanhua dismounted and spoke gently to Meng Lingge. These people look menacing; I fear they may bring harm to the Du family.
"Big cousin, wait a minute."
Meng Lingge peeked out of the carriage and saw that several guards had gotten off in another carriage. Perhaps because Du Yuanhua was there, none of them came over to greet her; they just stood aside and watched what was happening on her side.
Meng Lingge said, "Jiang Lin, you have good lightness skills, go and scout out the situation. We'll wait for you in Dongfu Alley ahead."
The Du family only has one relative in the capital, the Meng family, and these people are very likely after her. Du Yuanhua was on horseback and had just exchanged glances with those guards. If she were to return now, it would easily remind the guards of the carriage that had traveled with her, and they would be able to find her.
Dongfu Hutong is a small alley in the vicinity, located in a remote area, and it is difficult for newcomers to find it.
Jiang Lin agreed and quickly left.
He used his lightness skill to leap onto the wall as if walking on flat ground, without making a sound, and quickly disappeared from everyone's sight.
Du Yuanhua was quite surprised. The Du family also had several skilled guards, but they were clearly far inferior to this man. With such skilled guards around her, it was indeed a bit redundant for her grandmother to send him to escort her.
However, he had promised his grandmother that he would definitely send his cousin to the capital, and this might be his only chance to spend a long time with her.
So even though it was superfluous, he still wanted to continue escorting them.
The carriage changed direction and headed towards Dongfu Hutong. Several guards who came to pick up Meng Lingge drove another carriage and followed closely behind.
Inside the Du residence, just as the group who had seen Meng Lingge off sat down in the front courtyard, several guards burst in.
"Where is the eldest daughter of the Meng family from the capital?"
The servant at the entrance of the Du residence had never encountered such a situation before, and he was so frightened that he hurriedly reported it to the residence.
The lead guard, fearing he might inform the others, quickly held a knife to his neck: "Where is the eldest daughter of the Meng family? Why are you running?"
The servant was so frightened that his legs trembled. He had just uttered the word "leave" but he held it in and didn't let it out.
Miss Meng is kind and polite to all the servants. She is also the old lady's most beloved granddaughter. If he says something wrong and harms Miss Meng, his conscience will not be able to let him off the hook, and the old lady will not let him off the hook.
Hearing the commotion, Old Madam Du and the others in the front yard quickly came over.
Today, most of those seeing them off were the women of the household. The young girls hid behind the adults, and the two ladies dared not speak rashly when they saw the guards brandishing their long swords. Only Old Madam Du walked at the front with a few maids.
"In broad daylight, you trespass on a private residence. You even brandished a knife to intimidate the servants. I wonder what crime my granddaughter has committed, and whose orders are you acting on?"
Madam Du spoke in a loud voice, her face showing no sign of distress.
The granddaughter had barely left when this group of people stormed into the mansion. It was unclear whether they were henchmen hired by that man surnamed Zheng seeking revenge, or enemies he had offended in the capital.
But her granddaughter is kind and dignified, what serious crime could she possibly commit?
Therefore, these people are definitely not good people, and we must not let them know Meng Lingge's whereabouts.
The guard with the knife sheathed it, his expression softening slightly.
"This must be Madam Du. We are here on the Emperor's orders. There has been a rebellion in the capital. Miss Meng is the Prime Minister's daughter, and the Emperor is worried about her safety while she is away. He has specially sent us to escort her back to the capital. Please hand her over, Madam Du, so that we can complete our mission smoothly."
The Emperor only ordered them to take Meng Lingge back. As long as the Du family did not obstruct the matter, they had no reason to harm anyone without cause.
Everyone in the Du family was shocked, never expecting that these guards were acting on the Emperor's orders.
But what does the rebellion in the capital have to do with Meng Lingge?
She was merely the legitimate daughter of a high-ranking official, yet the Emperor, at such a critical moment, specifically sent people from afar to find her and bring her back. Was it truly only for her safety?
No one will believe that.
The current emperor is not so benevolent, and there has been a rebellion in the capital. Wouldn't it be safer for someone in Jiangnan than in the capital?
The reason for such a large-scale mobilization must be because Meng Lingge plays a very important role in this rebellion.
Has the Meng family rebelled?
No, Meng Xingyuan doesn't have that kind of courage, nor does he have that kind of ambition.
In the capital, Meng Lingge was not only the legitimate daughter of the Meng family, but also had another identity: she was once the heir apparent's wife.
The astute Old Madam Du instantly grasped the situation. Although she wasn't sure if her guess was correct, she was even more certain that Meng Lingge must not fall into the hands of these guards.
Madam Du said, "Since you have come by imperial decree, the Du family will naturally cooperate. It is a pity that you are late. Lingge went to visit a friend and has already left the Du family. She should be out of Jiangnan by now."
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