Chapter Seventy-Eight: Gone?
After Yuan Qing and the others' bridal sedan chairs passed by, Shen Qingnian finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She hadn't expected Yuan Qing to be as perceptive as Xie Yanzhi, actually noticing the same thing and thinking of checking if she was still in the sedan chair.
Fortunately, she had placed the dragon and phoenix bracelet in the sedan chair.
After she and Gu Lingyu took advantage of the chaos to enter each other's bridal sedan chairs, Ling'er reminded Gu Lingyu to put on the bridal gown.
Upon seeing the bracelet, Yuan Qing indeed had no further doubts.
However, as the two sedan chairs passed each other, Gu Lingyu lifted the curtain and glanced at her.
That glance contained smugness, contempt, and an indescribable meaning.
It's the kind of look you only have when you see someone else in trouble.
This made her feel wary.
Hopefully, Gu Lingyu won't turn out the way she suspected.
The bridal sedan chair has been moving for quite a while now and hasn't stopped yet.
Shen Qingnian wanted to lift the curtain to take a look, but the matchmaker next to her pulled the curtain down, preventing her from looking out: "Madam, don't show your face so easily, it won't look good if someone sees you."
Shen Qingnian's unease grew stronger, and her intuition told her that something was wrong.
Gu Lingyu is probably trying to harm her! There are too many people around, and she has no way to resist. She can only take it one step at a time.
She pulled out the gold hairpin Xie Yanzhi had given her and held it tightly in her hand.
After a while, the sedan chair stopped, and there was no more sound around.
Shen Qingnian lifted the curtain and looked around. The surroundings were overgrown with weeds, and there wasn't a soul in sight.
She appeared to have been carried to an abandoned courtyard.
Gu Lingyu did not keep his promise and placed her at the pre-arranged location.
She looked around; the entire courtyard was surrounded by high walls, with only one large gate leading out. Shen Qingnian lifted her skirt and hurried over, trying to open the gate, only to find it locked from the outside and impossible to open.
But she still managed to glimpse a red hem of clothing through the crack in the door.
It seems someone is still guarding outside the door; Gu Lingyu intends to lock her up here.
At this moment, a sound came from the house behind her. Shen Qingnian turned around and saw a disheveled man with tattered clothes that smelled bad.
The man's eyes lit up as soon as he saw him: "Hehe, I didn't expect what you said was true."
They actually sent him a young woman.
He was originally just a lowly beggar, but unexpectedly a benefactor took a liking to him, gave him money, and said he would send him a young woman to do with as he pleased.
The beggar was secretly delighted; he had finally encountered such a windfall.
The beggar drew closer, wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, and said with a grin, "Wife, come here quickly."
Seeing this, Shen Qingnian understood everything.
Gu Lingyu wanted this beggar to ruin her reputation!
She frowned, forcing herself to calm down, gripping the gold hairpin, and retreated step by step, her eyes fixed on the beggar's every move.
It's pointless to confront the beggar head-on; there are guards at the entrance too.
What should we do?
Shen Qingnian quickly thought it over.
At that moment, her hand touched something at her waist, and Shen Qingnian's mind raced.
Seeing the beggar closing in, he thought to himself that he had no choice but to give it a try.
The beggar was smiling and about to reach out to grab her when she threw something at him, which came straight at him.
The beggar couldn't dodge in time and was hit on the forehead.
He touched his forehead where he'd been hit and spat. He hadn't expected this young lady to have such a temper!
The beggar, enraged, bent down to pick up the object and throw it back, only to realize upon looking down that what had just hit him was a piece of silver.
Unexpectedly, the young lady threw silver at him.
He happily picked it up, smiled at Shen Qingnian, revealing a set of yellow teeth.
Shen Qingnian suppressed the churning in her stomach and looked at him calmly: "Do you still want money?"
The beggar nodded, waiting for Shen Qingnian to take out more silver.
"Do you know that I am marrying the heir of the Marquis of Jingnan's mansion today?" Shen Qingnian stared at the beggar, her tone calm, but her eyes were full of warning.
Xie Yanzhi, the heir of the Marquis of Jingnan, is a name known to everyone in the capital, even beggars.
Seeing that the beggar did not make any further moves, Shen Qingnian said, "The young master loves me very much and has given me a lot of money as a dowry. If you want it, go find the maid at the door."
"As long as I can get out, all that money is yours."
The beggar stroked his chin, rolled his eyes, and a glint of shrewdness appeared in them.
The young lady is beautiful, and he wants the money too.
Shen Qingnian didn't miss his expression and saw through his thoughts immediately. She said seriously, "If you still have any improper thoughts about me, you won't survive when the young master comes looking for you."
"Take the money and enjoy the good life for the rest of your days, or fight to the death. You choose one."
As she spoke, Shen Qingnian held the gold hairpin to her neck.
Seeing Shen Qingnian's resolute expression, the beggar dared not make a move.
Vanilla was listening intently to what was happening inside.
The young lady said that as long as this matter was accomplished, she would return her indenture and let her go home.
This young lady can't be blamed; the blame lies with her mistress.
It's been so long, and there's still no sound from inside the house.
Just then, Shen Qingnian's voice came from inside the house: "Help! You...you don't come any closer!"
"Young lady, don't be afraid!" came the beggar's lewd voice again.
Xiangye squeezed through the crack in the door and saw that Shen Qingnian seemed to be forced to retreat by the beggar.
The two figures flashed past the door, and then nothing else could be seen.
Vanilla was relieved; at least there was some movement.
I knew it! How could I not be tempted by that beautiful young lady?
She sat down by the door, and then heard another dull thud, followed by the beggar saying, "Don't die!"
die?
Vanilla hurriedly stood up, trying to peek through the crack in the door again.
But then she saw a large eye peeking out from behind the door, staring at her!
Vanilla was so startled that she took two steps back and almost fell to the ground.
The beggar pounded on the door, shouting, "Open the door! The person is dead!"
Vanilla approached the door: "What happened? I told you to ruin her reputation, but why did you kill her?"
"Who would have thought she had such a strong temper! She couldn't think straight and banged her head against the wall."
"Hurry! Hurry! I need to get out!"
"I don't want the money from you, sir."
The beggar kept banging on the door, so Vanilla had no choice but to take out her key, open the door, and peer inside.
Instead of seeing Shen Qingnian, he was grabbed by the beggar and dragged into the house.
The beggar dragged Xiangcao into the house and, ignoring her resistance, began searching her body for the silver coins Shen Qingnian had mentioned.
Shen Qingnian took the opportunity to run outside and lock the door again.
Seeing that no one was around, she quickly took off her wedding dress, revealing the bamboo-green robe underneath.
She then removed the jewels from her head and put them into her sleeve, secured her hair with a wooden hairpin, and then hurriedly left.
She had barely left when Xie Yanzhi arrived.
The courtyard gate was locked, and a wedding dress lay on the ground.
Then came the man's shouts and curses from inside: "What are you crying for! You still have the nerve to cry!"
The beggar had just searched the vanilla groceries thoroughly and found only a few coins when he realized he had been tricked.
Now look what's happened! That beautiful young lady has run away, and the money is gone too.
He got angry just looking at Xiangcao, and seeing her crying and sobbing, the beggar went up and slapped her again.
Before he could even lower his hand, the person was kicked away.
After Xie Yanzhi kicked the beggar away, he saw that it was Xiangcao sitting on a pile of dry grass, her clothes disheveled, crying.
His expression relaxed slightly.
"Where is Shen Qingnian?" Xie Yanzhi pointed his sword at Xiangcao.
"Cousin...cousin has run away." Xiangcao was so frightened by the sight of the sword gleaming coldly as it thrust towards her that she broke out in a cold sweat.
The eldest young master must know that she and the young lady plotted against Shen Qingnian.
He might very well kill her with a single sword strike!
Without further hesitation, she said tremblingly, "Young Master, I...I know where Miss is going."
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