After the two finished shopping, they boarded the carriage. At that moment, Shen Jintang was looking out the window, deep in thought, as if she was contemplating something.
Before he could answer Gu Zhixing's question, Chongyang had already rushed back.
He boarded the carriage, knelt on one knee, and whispered, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I was unable to bring back any survivors."
He raised his head, a hint of helplessness in his eyes, "The assassin knew he had nowhere to escape, so he committed suicide by poisoning himself."
Gu Zhixing frowned slightly, his gaze somewhat deep.
That arrow was clearly aimed at Shen Jintang. If they fail to catch the assassin this time, it's hard to say that this scene might repeat itself someday.
He was silent for a moment, then beckoned Chongyang to come closer and whispered a few words to him. Chongyang accepted the order and quickly left.
"What are you looking at?" Gu Zhixing noticed that Shen Jintang was staring blankly in the direction of the car door, so he stood next to her and looked in the direction of the car door in the same direction as her.
However, apart from the passersby, he did not notice anything unusual.
Shen Jintang withdrew her gaze, smiled slightly, and said in a relaxed tone, "I'm thinking about how much money I need to save to buy an all-around bodyguard like Chongyang."
Gu Zhixing couldn't help but laugh at her words and shook his head, saying, "You'd better not think about it. A handy guard like Chongyang can't be bought with money. They are trained from a young age, and it takes at least ten years before you can use them comfortably."
Shen Jintang lowered her eyes, a hint of disappointment in them: "I see."
Gu Zhixing's gaze fell on Shen Jintang's slightly lowered eyes. Noticing her low spirits, he smiled slightly and softened his tone: "However, it's not entirely impossible to find a few reliable guards."
Shen Jintang's previously dim eyes instantly lit up, like stars that had been illuminated. She looked up at Gu Zhixing expectantly, her voice tinged with urgency: "Really?"
Gu Zhixing was amused by her appearance, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. He leaned against the car window, his tone carrying a hint of nonchalant arrogance: "If it were before, I really wouldn't say. But recently the Xie family was raided, and their servants were all sold to the slave market. Those people grew up in the Xie family and know the rules very well. With some training, they might be able to make something of themselves."
Shen Jintang frowned slightly, a hint of doubt in her eyes: "Is it the slave market I was in before?"
Gu Zhixing shook his head and explained patiently, "The place you stayed before was run by the common people, and those people were a mixed bag. The Xie family's servants are criminal slaves and are still locked up in the government office, waiting to be dealt with. However, since the matter of King You's rebellion has not yet been settled, those servants cannot be touched for the time being."
Shen Jintang remained silent for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
If they can't move, there's no way to get them out.
"So where are we going?"
Gu Zhixing smiled slightly, but did not answer directly. He simply instructed the driver, "Go to the government office."
The carriage started slowly, its wheels making a soft "creaking" sound on the bluestone road.
Gu Zhixing leaned against the car window, closing his eyes to rest, while Shen Jintang couldn't help but curiously look outside.
Government office?
Is it a government office where convicts and slaves are imprisoned?
She tried to ask something several times, but then hesitated and stopped herself.
In the end, Gu Zhixing noticed her gaze and said, "Speak up if you have something to say. What are you stammering about? Do you think I'm going to eat you?"
"Your Highness, are we going to the government office where criminal slaves are imprisoned?"
Gu Zhixing slightly opened his eyes, his gaze falling on Shen Jintang, his tone carrying a hint of teasing: "What, scared?"
Shen Jintang was slightly taken aback, then gently shook her head, her voice carrying a hint of stubbornness: "It's not that I'm afraid, it's just that since those people are criminal slaves, Your Highness is bringing them out. Won't that cause you trouble?"
Shen Jintang's fingers were tightly clasped together, her fingertips turning slightly white, as if she was worried about Gu Zhixing.
Gu Zhixing was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Even people like Ye Qingzhou and Gu Yanqing, who were familiar with his temperament, felt that even if he caused a huge disaster, he would be protected by his elders because he was favored. They never really worried about whether he would encounter problems that he couldn't handle.
His mother, the eldest princess, treated him like a child, making all the decisions for him without ever asking his wishes. She only cared that he was well-fed, clothed, and had money to spend, and never considered things from his perspective.
Shen Jintang was the first person to stand by him and worry about whether something might happen to him.
He had grown accustomed to others' indifference towards him, or even their avoidance of him, but he never expected that Shen Jintang would be so considerate of him, afraid that he would get into unnecessary trouble.
A faint smile unconsciously appeared on his lips, and his eyes softened considerably, a warm feeling quietly spreading through his heart.
"Your Highness?" Shen Jintang felt a slight unease when she saw Gu Zhixing remain silent for a long time without responding, thinking that this matter was deeply involved.
She did have the idea of going to the government office to bail them out, but if getting them out would cause even bigger trouble, it would be better to let them stay inside, at least their lives weren't in danger.
We'll figure out a solution once she's established herself.
"Hmm?" Gu Zhixing finally came to his senses, his gaze falling on Shen Jintang's slightly furrowed brows. He said in a relaxed tone, "Don't worry, it's nothing. The Xie family's crime is the Xie family master's fault, and has nothing to do with those servants. The matter of reselling servants is handled by the government... Let me think, oh right, it's Lu Huaijin's responsibility."
“That Lu Huaijin is only interested in profit and is extremely greedy. If I give him more silver, I can shut him up.”
"Just a few servants. Besides, you do need a guard who knows martial arts."
If Shen Jintang had reliable guards to protect her, she would not be in mortal danger if she encountered something like today again.
Shen Jintang nodded slightly, a hint of gratitude in her eyes: "Then, I'll trouble Your Highness."
Her eyes were very bright as she looked at Gu Zhixing.
Gu Zhixing felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, so he turned his head slightly to avoid her eyes.
Soon, the carriage stopped at the back gate of the government office.
Gu Zhixing and Shen Jintang put on cloaks to cover their faces and went inside silently.
Lu Huaijin had known for a long time that Gu Zhixing was coming and had already prepared tea in the reception room, waiting for him.
Before Gu Zhixing could even step into the reception room, Lu Huaijin's somewhat obsequious voice rang out: "Your Highness, it is an honor to have you grace my humble abode with your presence!"
Shen Jintang looked up and saw a burly man, over eight feet tall, standing in the hall. He had a full beard, thick eyebrows, and big eyes, and looked exceptionally heroic.
He wore a loose-fitting blue robe with a black belt around his waist and thick-soled cloth shoes, exuding a rugged and unrefined air.
Shen Jintang was slightly taken aback, thinking that this image was completely at odds with his refined and scholarly name.
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