Jiang Xirong was startled and turned to look at Jiang Yuanyi. Seeing her eyebrows raised and her face in panic, she hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"

Jiang Yuanyi opened the curtain and ran out of the carriage, calling the four servants and the coachman beside her: "Quick! Follow me!"

Jiang Xirong looked out in confusion and saw Jiang Yuanyi and several servants running up the muddy path by the lake.

Her mother's carriage stopped in front and sent a maid to ask: "Miss, why did the carriage stop suddenly?"

Jiang Xirong shook her head and got off the carriage with Xiaoyue's help, pointing to the dim lake in front: "Yuanyi didn't know what she saw, and suddenly shouted and ran down."

The maid ran to report to Jiang.

Mrs. Jiang also got off the carriage quickly. Jiang Xirong walked to her mother's side and saw Jiang Xirong frowning: "What are you doing running around so late at night?"

Jiang Xirong left two people to watch the carriage and hurried over there with Jiang Xirong.

There was a conspicuous big rock where they had just left the person. They probably wanted to use it as a cover. Jiang Yuanyi ran to the big rock and pointed at the bubbling water, saying, "Go down and get the person!"

Several servants quickly took off their coats and jumped into the river, splashing a few times. The black river surface was covered with ripples.

Jiang came with Jiang Xirong and slapped Jiang Yuanyi on the shoulder: "Yier, what are you doing?"

The slap was not light. Jiang Yuanyi rubbed her shoulder and pointed down and said: "Mother, I accidentally opened the curtain just now and saw a person being carried and thrown down. Thinking that the life was at stake, I ran here quickly." Jiang's

eyebrows relaxed, and the three of them stood on the shore waiting anxiously.

Suddenly, a figure jumped out of the lake, holding a girl who had already fainted. Jiang Yuanyi hurriedly said: "Hold her up! Hold her up!"

The other servants quickly got up from the water and helped the man to lift the girl to the shore.

Jiang Yuanyi went over to lend a hand. After lifting the girl to the shore and laying her flat, Jiang Xirong pointed at her clothes and said, "Isn't this a maid from the palace?"

Jiang Yuanyi was shocked. Could it be that someone from the palace was treating a servant?

But the Princess Hui was so kind, how could she treat a servant like this?

She then looked at the girl's face carefully. The girl had willow eyebrows and almond eyes, and a pretty face. She was the one who served Chu Huan today...

A servant quickly pressed the water out of the girl's stomach. After a while, the girl woke up slowly. When she saw several tall men standing next to her, she was so scared that she screamed: "Ahhhhhhhhh!"

Jiang Yuanyi squatted down and held down the girl's waving hands: "Don't be afraid, girl, we will save you."

The girl who fell into the water finally came to her senses and couldn't help crying.

Jiang Yuanyi asked, "What's your name?"

The girl sobbed and said, "Xiuyuan."

Jiang Yuanyi helped her up, took the cloak that Xiaoyue handed over and put it on her wet body, saying, "Miss Xiuyuan, it's getting late, go back to the palace first."

Xiuyuan shook her head in panic, "No...no...if they come to harm me again, I will have no way to live..."

Jiang Yuanyi explained softly, "Miss, your indenture is still in the palace. If you run away without permission, you will be punished as a fugitive slave. Do you know the consequences?" Xiuyuan

knew that once a fugitive slave was caught, he would be sentenced to death. She was in a dilemma for a while, not knowing what to do.

Jiang Yuanyi had already guessed who it was, but it was just a guess, without any evidence, so she didn't say it out loud. She leaned over to the girl's ear and whispered, "The person who hurt you may not have the chance to do it again."

Xiuyuan suddenly raised her head and looked at Jiang Yuanyi: "Miss, do you know who hurt me?"

Jiang Yuanyi didn't answer, but whispered, "Did you offend anyone in your mansion?"

Xiuyuan lowered her head and thought for a while, then said, "No. Our mansion The officials in the palace treat their servants very well, never whipping or scolding them, and the masters are also very friendly to their servants, so..." Xiuyuan suddenly raised her head and looked at Jiang Yuanyi, "The people who want to harm me are not from the palace."

Jiang Yuanyi nodded: "So you are safest in the palace."

Xiuyuan then stood up and walked into the palace under the protection of several servants. She turned around and looked at the young men whose clothes were soaked, and bowed solemnly to thank them.

Xiuyuan raised her eyes, which were still bright and dazzling even in the dark night, and bowed deeply to the carriage in the distance: "Thank you, Miss Jiang."

Inside the carriage.

Jiang Xirong leaned aside with a frown, thinking about what had just happened. She still felt cold and numb on her back. She sat up and took Jiang Yuanyi's hand: "Sister, who do you think was so bold as to push the maid of the palace into the lake when there were so many people around after the tea party?"

Is that Jiang Yuanyi's shrewd and mean face really her? Just because that maid served Chu Huan, he decided to kill her...

Jiang Yuanyi shook her head and clenched her handkerchief: "I don't know."

Too many things happened in such a short day. When Jiang Yuanyi returned home exhausted, she saw Xiaoqing already standing at the door waiting for her. She hurried over and held her hand: "Are you okay?"

Xiaoqing smiled and said, "I'm fine."

The two walked into the room. Xiaoqing gently took off the veil on Jiang Yuanyi's face, looked at her still red and swollen face, her eyes were sore, and she knelt down suddenly: "Thank you, Miss, for saving my life."

Jiang Yuanyi was startled . , and quickly helped the person up: "Xiaoqing, what are you doing? It's me who caused you to be beaten by Liu Ruyan, and I should say sorry to you."

When Xiaoqing heard Jiang Yuanyi say this, tears instantly filled her eyes. She choked and said: "... Thank you, Miss, for not treating me as a servant."

Jiang Yuanyi looked at Xiaoqing's face full of tears and her nose was red. When she heard that, her eyes were also wet. She raised her hand to touch Xiaoqing's bangs and smiled: "You just know it..."

Xiaoqing burst into laughter, wiped her face, and made a pot of tea for Jiang Yuanyi.

Jiang Yuanyi opened the note in her hand and saw a few simple words:

Servant: There is a spear-shaped mark on the inside of the arm.

A line of small words was written at the back in a wronged tone: I didn't even get to drink the tea you brewed yourself...

Jiang Yuanyi smiled as soon as she saw it, folded the note, and put it in the black jade box.

——After

attending the birthday banquet of Princess Hui, the Jiang family had nothing important to do, except for Jiang Ruchao's imperial examination.

Jiang Ruchao suddenly became the treasure of the whole family. Even his two younger sisters gave in to him and gave him the first choice when picking up food. He even drank crucian carp soup every day.

Jiang Ruchao was not having a good time. He was under great pressure and just hoped that the day of the imperial examination would come soon.

March 15th was the palace examination.

Jiang Ruchao walked into the examination room amid dozens of expectant eyes and felt relieved.

The emperor sat above the hall and supervised the examination in person. Several examiners patrolled everywhere to monitor the discipline of the examination room. Jiang Ruchao prepared his pen and ink and waited quietly for the examiner to hand out the papers. The paper was made of top-quality rice paper. He took the questions and looked at them, and he had some idea in his mind.

Yao Kang sat in the last row, glanced at the questions, picked up the pen and started writing.

The candidates were answering the questions inside, and their families were not idle outside.

Jiang Nansheng and Jiang went to the temple on the outskirts of the city to pray for blessings. They heard that the price of incense in the temples on the outskirts of the city had increased today. Jiang was not tired and visited dozens of temples, big and small, in the suburbs of the city.

Jiang Yuanyi's gatekeepers were now replaced by guards sent by Xiao Tuo. Xiao Tuo sent four, and Jiang Yuanyi sent two to Xuesha, and kept two by her side, named Tongyuan and Tongkui. Since returning from the palace that day, she put down the music scores and read military books and medical books all day long.

If the Duke's wife hadn't reminded her, she would never have thought that if she could only play the piano, paint, and embroider, she would not be able to help Xiao Tuo in the future.

Jiang Yuanyi also planned to go to the suburbs of Beijing to practice horse riding and archery after her brother finished the imperial examination.

When Jiang Yuanyi walked out of the room, she saw an archery target hanging on the wall. Tongyuan stood beside it and handed her a bow and an arrow.

Jiang Yuanyi took it, bent the bow and pulled the arrow, the arrow went off target, Jiang Yuanyi sighed, she was always quick to learn things until she came into contact with archery...

Tongyuan had dark skin and a simple look, he ran to pick up the arrow, handed it to her with both hands, and said respectfully: "Miss, you don't have to rush, the basic skills of archery are very important, it's already very good that you have this accuracy and distance in just one or two days..."

As he was speaking, he suddenly turned around, jumped to the top of the wall, looked around, then jumped down and walked to Jiang Yuanyi's side.

Jiang Yuanyi frowned: "What's wrong?"

Tong Yuan said: "It seems someone is watching here."

Tong Yuan is a martial arts expert, especially with a keen hearing. If he said so, there must be someone watching here. Jiang Yuanyi said: "Pay attention and try to find out who it is."

Tong Yuan immediately bowed and said: "Yes!"

Watching?

Who would come to watch her... Could it be that Xue Sha's affairs have been exposed?

But the matter over there has just been laid out, and there is no clue at all to make people suspicious...

Jiang Yuanyi put down the bow and walked into the room. It was as if a stone was pressed down on his heart, and it was difficult to calm down.

Now with the two martial arts experts sent by Xiao Tuo, Xue Sha's progress is also very smooth, and the transmission of information is more concealed, but if she is monitored, the possibility of exposure will be greatly increased.

I just hope Tong Yuan and Tong Kui can find out who it is as soon as possible.

Two days later, the gate of the palace was crowded with people. Jiang Yuanyi and Jiang Xirong were also waiting outside with their father and mother wearing veils.

The magnificent palace gate painted vermilion was guarded by soldiers wearing black helmets and armor, wearing headgear, and holding sharp spears. A crisp sound of gongs rang through the sky, and the red gate was slowly pushed open, making a dull thud.

The crowd outside suddenly became noisy, and Jiang stretched her neck to look inside.

The palace gate opened, and countless scholars in plain robes, carrying boxes on their backs, some depressed and some full of energy, walked out of the door. It was a grand and magnificent scene.

Jiang Ruchao was wearing a white brocade robe, with no trace of decadence between his eyebrows, bright eyes and a smile on his face.

Jiang Shi spotted her son in the crowd at a glance, and greeted him with a smile: "Chao'er!"

Jiang Ruchao walked over with a big step, and Jiang Shi hurried forward and touched his shoulders and back with heartache: "Oh, you've worked hard."

After that, she turned to Li Ma Ma and said: "Quick, bring out the snacks and tea."

The group walked to a place with fewer people, and Jiang Shi handed the tea to Jiang Ruchao's ear: "It's still hot."

Jiang Ruchao quickly took it and drank it in big gulps.

Jiang Xirong looked at the palace gate restlessly. Jiang Yuanyi approached and asked, "Have you found it?"

Jiang Xirong shook his head and said, "Not yet."

As he was talking, a clear and thin figure appeared at the door, with a solemn brow and a dull look in his eyes. He did not notice Jiang Xirong in the distance, and walked with the woman in coarse cloth who was walking not far away.

Jiang Xirong grabbed Jiang Yuanyi's hand and said, "Jiaqi..."

The author has something to say: Tomorrow's candy is guaranteed to make you sweet to death, confident.