Arrival at Taoyuan Village
Qin Yuyao carefully brought people to the thatched hut. Seeing that the house was still intact at the foot of the mountain, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
He used up his last bit of strength to carry Sheng Yue into the thatched hut, and only then did he have time to check on Sheng Yue's current condition. He stretched out his hand and placed it on her forehead, and was surprised to find that the fever on her forehead had actually subsided.
Qin Yuyao's originally high-spirited heart finally settled down, and she had the time to change the muddy clothes on the two of them.
It was just a little embarrassing to change Shengyue's clothes, but if she continued to wrap herself in these muddy clothes, she would probably have a high fever again after a while.
Fortunately, the person who was kidnapped was still Princess Shengyang. Qin Yuyao took out two sets of clothes and skirts that had been placed in the thatched hut.
After a busy period, Qin Yuyao was holding a bowl of warm water and was worrying about how to feed it to her.
The person on the bed trembled his eyelids and slowly opened his eyes. Blinking, Sheng Yue turned his eyes and looked at Qin Yuyao beside him.
Her voice was as if it had been ground by gravel, and Sheng Yue said weakly, "Escaped?"
Nodding, Qin Yuyao half-helped him sit up, breathed a sigh of relief, and handed him the warm water.
"It's just that I bandaged your wound a little carelessly. You should know how to deal with this. Let's see how to fix it." Qin Yuyao looked at his shoulder, where the cloth was already soaked with blood.
Nodding slowly, Sheng Yue drank some warm water, and her voice sounded much better: "It's okay, the arrow didn't pierce deep, it's just a superficial wound."
As he spoke, Shengyue Zhuantou looked at the remaining cloth at the head of the bed, his eyes flashing. Those cloths were clearly made of torn clothes, and then looked at this room.
"Is this your former residence?" Sheng Yue knew Qin Yuyao's past, but she had never expected it to be so difficult.
Seeing his strange expression, Qin Yuyao knew that he was a little surprised, and immediately waved her hand and said, "I don't live here permanently, I just come here occasionally. It seems that there are people in the village who want to arrest us and check, so I brought you here."
Hearing her say this, Sheng Yue slowly nodded. She untied the blood-soaked cloth from her shoulder and rewrapped it with a clean piece of cloth beside her.
When the cloth was wrapped around the shoulder again, blood was still flowing out from the bloody area, but not as violently as at the beginning.
Although she had seen it just now, Qin Yuyao still looked away with some reluctance.
"Yuyao, now that this is over, can you give me a chance?" Sheng Yue bandaged the bandage on his hand and looked at her gravely. Emotions surged out of his gleaming eyes like a huge wave.
Hearing this, Qin Yuyao withdrew her hand from the edge of the bed, but Sheng Yue suddenly reached out and held it down. Qin Yuyao then firmly pushed her away, her eyes becoming calm.
"Your Highness, you should know that I am Luan Zhengya's wife. Although I don't know why you have such feelings for me, there are many women in this world who are worthy of you."
Qin Yuyao's voice was firm and clear. During the days when they came to her house to chat and talk about everything, Sheng Yue was intoxicated by this pleasant voice countless times.
Listening to it now, it was like a shower of cold water, chilling him to the core.
Seeing Sheng Yue didn't say a word, Qin Yuyao stood up. She had just cooked some vegetable soup outside, which should be ready by now.
"I was abrupt, but it's a pity that I didn't meet you first. Please don't blame me, Princess. I won't mention it again in the future." Sheng Yue spoke, with obvious regret in her tone.
Qin Yuyao turned around and looked at the other person: "Your Highness's kindness, Yuyao cannot respond, but thank you still for blocking the arrow." As she said that, Qin Yuyao bowed to him.
"If I have to say thank you, it should be me thanking you for saving my life. If it weren't for you, I would have stayed in that cellar until I was taken away for trading." Although Sheng Yue's face was still a little pale, he smiled at this moment.
Hearing this, Qin Yuyao lowered her eyes and stopped looking at him. However, a person, or rather a child, unexpectedly came to the thatched cottage.
"Momo?" Qin Yuyao was a little surprised. This Momo was a child from Taoyuan Village. When he was a little older, he often came to play near Qin Yuyao's house.
When she was seven years old, she nearly drowned while playing by a stream, but Qin Yuyao rescued her. Since then, Momo has often come to visit Qin Yuyao.
They treated her like a sister, and from time to time they would send her wild flowers or food from home. Everyone in the village knew that Qin Yuyao was a young lady from the city, and although she looked young, they all looked up to her.
Knowing that Momo was playing with her, Momo's mother and father were actually happy to see it.
"Sister Yuyao! You're back!" Momo's eyes lit up. She had just come here to catch some fish, but she saw smoke coming from the thatched hut.
Although it wasn't obvious, Momo often came here to clean Qin Yuyao's house. Now that he saw it, he thought someone had taken over the house and wanted to drive them away.
The matter was of great importance, so Qin Yuyao didn't dare to tell the truth. She could only explain to Momo, "Good boy, Momo, don't tell your parents or anyone else about your sister's return for the time being. Okay?"
Momo would absolutely listen to Qin Yuyao's words. Seeing her seriousness, Momo nodded immediately and extended his hand to assure her, "Don't worry, Sister Yuyao, I won't tell anyone about your return!"
Seeing her adorable and confident look, Qin Yuyao's tired heart relaxed a little, and she couldn't help but reach out and touch her head: "But I still have a favor to ask of you."
Hearing her say this, Momo opened her eyes wide, and then heard Qin Yuyao's plan. Taking Qin Yuyao's handkerchief, she went to find Liang Mama.
It was because a few days ago, Nanny Liang had invited herself to visit relatives in Taoyuan Village. Now, Nanny Liang was the least likely to arouse suspicion. Yet, she could immediately find reinforcements. Thinking of this, Qin Yuyao touched Momo's cheek and spoke.
"Momo, don't say anything until this handkerchief sees Madam Liang. Just tell Madam Liang that the owner of this handkerchief is very anxious." Qin Yuyao didn't dare to say anything else, for fear that someone would kill Momo.
Looking at Qin Yuyao's concerned eyes, Momo nodded: "Sister Yuyao, don't worry, I met Aunt Liang today, I will definitely give your handkerchief to her."
Seeing her so well-behaved, Qin Yuyao curled her lips and said, "Thank you, Momo. I'll bring you some delicious food after I finish my work."
Watching Momo run towards Taoyuan Village, Qin Yuyao felt a surge of unease. Luan Zhengya must have known about her abduction, and with Princess Shengyang also captured, everyone in Shengjing was eager to find the princess first, putting pressure on Luan Zhengya.
*
"Princess Shengyang came to Shengjing as an envoy. Now she's gone. How do you want me to explain this to the grassland tribes?" Qilian Jingyao sat on the dragon throne. Before dawn the next day after he received the news, he urged all the ministers to go to court.
Many ministers frowned below. This matter was extremely serious. If the grassland tribes rebelled because of this, the border war would probably break out again.
Zhang Wenhe glanced at Luan Zhengya's tense face, his lips curled slightly as he took a step forward. He bowed to Qilian Jingyao and said, "Your Majesty, the most urgent task now is to send a message to recall the soldiers sent to the grassland tribes to support His Highness Shengyue. If any rift arises due to the princess's disappearance, the fate of our soldiers is in jeopardy."
Upon hearing this, Qilian Jingyao's face darkened. He had originally agreed with Princess Shengyang to borrow troops, but the real Princess Shengyue had disappeared in the capital of Sheng State.
Seeing Qilian Jingyao silent after hearing Zhang Wenhe's words, Qin Ziwen immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Princess Shengyang is missing now. We have searched everywhere but to no avail. I'm afraid she has been murdered."
For a moment, many ministers in the court were discussing this matter. If the grassland tribe regretted their decision now, they would suffer heavy losses. The food, fodder, and soldiers they had sent would most likely become targets.
Seeing this, Qilian Jingyao looked at Luan Zhengya who had remained silent.
The soldiers following Luan Zhengya did not speak. Although they were a little worried, they did not lose their composure.
"I have already informed the Imperial Guards about this matter and are searching the entire city. Another team is heading towards the villages outside Shengjing to search. We will do our best to find the whereabouts of Princess Shengyang. Your Majesty, please rest assured." Luan Zhengya's tone was calm, and there was no sign of panic at all.
A glint of gloom flashed across Zhang Wenhe's eyes, but he feigned concern and said, "Prince Zhen'an is frightened. I heard that the princess was also missing on the same day the princess disappeared. I beg Prince Zhen'an to prioritize. If we delay the search for the princess without finding the princess, I'm afraid the conflict between our two countries will be difficult to reconcile."
As soon as these words were spoken, except for Qin Ziwen who looked normal, the expressions of the other ministers, including Qilian Jingyao, Luan Zhengya and others, changed.
"The Princess of Southern Zhejiang is also missing? When did this happen?" A minister standing in the queue of civil officials spoke up, looking at Luan Zhengya with a hint of sympathy in his eyes.
Another general who had a good relationship with Luan Zhengya became anxious: "Prince Zhen'an, if the princess is missing too, wouldn't she have been captured along with Princess Shengyang?"
For a moment, everyone's gaze was focused on Luan Zhengya. Only Luan Zhengya's eyes moved slightly, and a half-smile appeared on her face: "How did the princess disappear? How come I didn't know? The Left Prime Minister actually knows more than me, who has been with her day and night?"
Suddenly, Zhang Wenhe's expression turned cold, and Qilian Jingyao on the high platform had been looking at him with a deathly look since he finished speaking.
"Before, my guards went to Jinling Second Street to do some shopping and happened to run into the prince and princess having dinner in a restaurant. Then they found that the princess had not come out for a long time." Zhang Wenhe's face was very frank, as if he was really only concerned about why the princess of Southern Zhejiang disappeared.
"Well, the princess was indeed missing, but she came back yesterday evening. However, the person who came back this time was extremely interesting." Luan Zhengya's voice sank, as biting as the cold winter wind.
As the chains scraped across the floor, everyone couldn't help but look back.
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