Chapter 293 I'll be entangled with you for the rest of my life
Shen Ci'an's body trembled, and a possibility immediately came to mind.
She looked up and glanced at the tightly closed inner room door beside Lu Yuan.
His previously calm and composed face was now furrowed with worry, and he couldn't help but take a step forward.
But Lu Yuan's cold voice brought him back to his senses, "Lord Shen has taken the person and isn't leaving, what are you waiting for?"
Shen Ci'an pursed her lips, suppressing the urge to step forward.
Whether the young lady is here or not, she cannot show herself in front of so many people, otherwise things will only get out of control.
He gripped the jade belt at his side, struggling to calm his breathing, and led his men, escorting the prisoner, away to take their leave.
This was his promise to Xiao Yunheng, and also a "pledge of allegiance" to gain Xiao Yunheng's trust.
His mission was complete once he brought Li Yan, the Minister of Works, out of the imperial prison.
At this moment, Lu Yuan was also in a very bad mood. He glanced at Ye Qi sideways and asked, "Is there anything else?"
"Yes, yes, I'll take my leave now." Ye Qi didn't dare to stay any longer, shrinking his neck as he withdrew, and thoughtfully closed the door behind him.
"Ah Zhi, have you seen him? This is the husband you personally chose." Lu Yuan let out a cold laugh from his chest.
Jiang Zhi came out from the inner room.
She knew about the deal between Shen Ci'an and Xiao Yunheng, so naturally she didn't take it to heart.
However, Shen Ci'an had also instructed her that the matter should be kept secret and that Lu Yuan or anyone else should not know about it.
She couldn't help but snort, "Is Lord Lu trying to say that I have bad taste?"
"Isn't that right?"
This was the first time a prisoner had been openly and brazenly taken away from the imperial prison, and the person who did it was Shen Ci'an, whom Lu Yuan had always disliked.
This made him unable to swallow his anger.
“Yes, that’s right, my taste is indeed not very good,” Jiang Zhi raised her chin, “otherwise why would I be with Lord Lu?”
“How could I be like Shen Ci’an?” Lu Yuan frowned. “He will stop at nothing to climb the social ladder, and he doesn’t even care about the safety of his wife. Fortunately, you are going to divorce him soon, otherwise you wouldn’t know how he will scheme against and use you in the future.”
Jiang Zhi didn't want to hear Lu Yuan's malicious speculation about Shen Ci'an, so her face turned cold. "Lord Lu, Shen Ci'an is my husband. He must have his reasons for doing this. I won't allow you to slander him like this."
Lu Yuan looked on incredulously, "You're still going to speak up for someone like that? What's so special about him that you like him?"
“I just love him,” Jiang Zhi said, her temper flaring up. “Even if we divorce, it’s only because I don’t want to be a burden to him. I still love him!”
Lu Yuan was already feeling depressed, and now he was deeply hurt by Jiang Zhi's words.
What did she say?
Even if they divorce, do you still like Shen Ci'an?
Then what is he?
Lu Yuan struggled to breathe, his jaw clenched, and his eyes were as dark and gloomy as frost.
Jiang Zhi regretted her words as soon as she opened her mouth.
Lu Yuan was unaware of the truth, so it was understandable that he misunderstood Shen Ci'an. Even when he was at the hot spring villa, he initially thought that Shen Ci'an was after power.
But she refused to back down and stubbornly glared at him.
Lu Yuan's chest heaved, and the veins on his forehead throbbed; he was clearly furious.
Only she in this world has the ability to push herself to this point.
But then I think about it and realize how ridiculous I am.
Why get angry with her? Shen Ci'an is her husband, so it's only natural that she likes him.
Once the two of them divorce, he will take Jiang Zhi and run away together. At that time, she will only have eyes for him and in her heart, and Shen Ci'an will have no place in her life.
Lu Yuan quickly calmed himself down.
He raised his hand to pinch her cheek, but Jiang Zhi suddenly took a step back to avoid it.
He stared blankly at his hand, which was hanging in mid-air.
Jiang Zhi realized she had misunderstood and awkwardly forced a smile. "I... I thought you were angry and going to hit me."
Lu Yuan: ...
He was so angry he laughed. "When have I ever laid a hand on you?"
Hit her?
He couldn't bear to hit her, even if he hit himself.
Jiang Zhi immediately brought up old grievances, "The first time we met, you slashed my neck, and the day Yan Wenhong's affair was exposed, you almost strangled me to death..."
Lu Yuan immediately pulled her back and covered her lips, "Don't say anything."
Jiang Zhi pushed his hand away, "You still say you haven't laid a hand on me?"
"It's my fault." Lu Yuan said helplessly as he pulled her into his arms.
“But even if you like Shen Ci’an, there’s nothing I can do,” he pressed his lips to her smooth forehead. “You provoked me first, so you have to take responsibility for me to the end. I’m going to cling to you for the rest of my life.”
＊
Shanglin Garden, on the outskirts of Beijing.
Banners fluttered in the wind, yellow parasols covered the sky and sun, and the Imperial Guards, dressed in silver armor and with carved bows at their waists, stood in neat and solemn formation.
Horse hooves trod on the new grass, startling butterflies into fluttering.
It's spring hunting season again.
Jiang Zhi originally planned to continue feigning illness and avoiding work, but since she had agreed to cooperate with Xiao Xuanyou in performing, she couldn't be absent from this occasion.
Three rows of targets had already been set up in the center of the hunting grounds. Before the spring hunt even began, Emperor Xuanzhao set up a prize in advance, and the archery competition started.
Jiang Zhi sat in the middle seat, listening to the whispers and gossips of the noblewomen on either side of her.
"Have you heard? The prize for this competition is a dagger that the Holy Ancestor obtained from the leader outside the Great Wall—a trophy he always carried with him during his lifetime!"
"I've heard that the dagger is inlaid with gemstones and agate, making it extremely valuable. I wonder who will win it today?"
"I heard that both the Crown Prince and the Prince of Xiang's heir will be participating."
"It's a pity that General Xie is not here. He was truly remarkable. He could shoot an arrow through a willow leaf from a hundred paces on horseback without any problem. He won the championship last year."
...
Jiang Zhi lazily sipped a few mouthfuls of fruit wine, and the competition in the center of the hunting grounds had already begun.
The rules of the competition were simple: three rows of targets, 30 zhang, 40 zhang and 50 zhang away from the shooting position, with five targets in each row. The three archers who hit the bullseye the most accurately would participate in the final mounted archery competition.
The cheers from the crowd grew louder and louder.
The spring breeze was warm and pleasant, and Jiang Zhi was dressed in riding gear today, which gave her originally delicate and graceful face a touch of heroic spirit.
The voices of the people around her seemed very far away, and she actually felt a little drowsy.
But soon, she was startled by the exclamation next to her, and her drowsiness completely vanished.
"Wow, the top three in this archery competition are out! That's quite a surprise!"
"I won't mention His Highness the Crown Prince, but there are two others you would never guess."
"The Crown Prince of Xiang looks sickly, but I never expected his horsemanship and archery skills to be so outstanding!"
Jiang Zhi couldn't help but mutter to herself.
Now that Xiao Yunheng intends to vie for the throne, he naturally has to put in all his effort to perform well in front of everyone in order to demonstrate his good health.
"The last one is someone who has never participated in the competition before—the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Lord Lu!"
These words surprised everyone even more than Xiao Yunheng's earlier statement.
Lu Yuan is cold and aloof by nature, rarely showing himself in public except when handling cases, and he would never participate in such competitions.
I don't know what triggered it this year?
At this moment, Emperor Xuanzhao also raised his own question, looking at this confidant who had always been taciturn.
Lu Yuan wiped the bow and arrow in his hand, his tone indifferent, "Your Majesty, my beloved has married another man. I want her to know how wrong she was in choosing someone else."
Emperor Xuanzhao remained silent for a moment.
Although Lu Yuan was quite frank, being too frank was clearly not a good thing.
"Does Your Majesty wish to know who she is?"
Emperor Xuanzhao immediately declined, saying, "No need."
It's bound to be another messy affair.
Just don't come begging him to grant you marriage.
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