Chapter 54 He supported her waist
Jiang Zhi looked at Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan nodded to her, "Miss Jiang is injured and cannot withstand a bumpy ride. Indeed, a carriage would be more suitable. Miss Jiang, there is no need to refuse."
Jiang Zhi then turned to Xie Qi and said, "Then thank you very much, Your Highness."
Xie Qi felt a surge of anger rising in his chest.
What does Lu Yuan mean by this?
Does he need his permission before he can send Jiang Zhi down the mountain?
He pursed his lips and stepped forward, pulling away Lu Yuan's hand that was supporting Jiang Zhi, and took over the support himself. Only then did the anger in his heart subside somewhat.
"Rest assured, Lord Lu, I will ensure Miss Jiang's safe return to her residence," he sneered.
Lu Yuan's gaze fell on the hand Xie Qi was using to half-embrace Jiang Zhi, his eyes darkened, and then he said coldly, "That would be best, of course."
He watched from afar as Jiang Zhi was helped by Xie Qi to the carriage at the temple gate, and then Xie Qi lifted her onto the carriage.
The heavy carriage curtains obscured Lu Yuan's view.
Lu Yuan suddenly realized, as if waking from a dream, that he had become so fussy and indecisive, and gave a self-deprecating smile.
Inside the carriage, Xie Qi handed Jiang Zhi a set of clothes brought by a servant, saying, "Change into these; it's not appropriate to wear temple clothes."
Jiang Zhi thanked her and accepted the gift.
"I'll keep watch outside for you." Xie Qi got up and sat by the car door before Jiang Zhi could speak.
Soon, the rustling sound of Jiang Zhi changing clothes could be heard from inside.
Xie Qi was driving the carriage comfortably, but for no reason, the image of him and Jiang Zhi in the bathtub that day popped into his mind again.
His body suddenly stiffened, and a surge of heat rose up throughout his body.
Just as she was about to say something to ease the awkwardness, the carriage suddenly jolted, and Jiang Zhi inside cried out in surprise, losing her balance and falling outwards.
In a moment of panic, Xie Qi reached through the carriage curtain to steady her, saying, "Be careful."
His palm, separated by a thin layer of plain gauze, sank into the supple curve beneath, carrying the unique warmth of the human body, like the willow branches just sprouting in early spring, concealing a softness that is not easily noticed.
Xie Qi couldn't see what was happening inside the carriage, but he could sense that he had supported Jiang Zhi's waist, and his entire hand went numb.
It was as if he hadn't touched her waist, but rather fallen into a pool of spring water, so soft it was astonishing.
His ears turned completely red, and after noticing that she had regained her balance, he withdrew his hand and said in a low, husky voice, "Excuse me."
The voices inside the carriage were even softer, like a sigh falling into his ears, "Thank you."
Xie Qi's heart skipped a beat as he gripped the reins tightly, which were about to slip from his grasp.
When Xie Qi personally drove the carriage to take Jiang Zhi back, the Jiang residence was already in chaos.
Wang Yuru was crying uncontrollably and almost fainted. She was supported by the nanny next to her, who repeatedly pinched her philtrum.
Jiang Zhengting's face was as black as ink, and the atmosphere in the entire Jiang residence was gloomy and heavy, as if a storm was brewing.
Jiang Zhi's return was like a drop of water falling into a boiling oil pan.
Seeing her being helped down from the carriage by Xie Qi and entering the gate of the Jiang residence, Wang Yuru felt as if she had seen a blood feud with her. She broke free from the support of those around her and rushed towards her.
"You bitch, you're the one who ruined Yun'er! I'm going to kill you!!"
Xie Qi swiftly pulled Jiang Zhi aside, frowning as he demanded, "Lord Jiang, what's going on here?"
Jiang Zhengting felt deeply ashamed. "Hurry up and take Madam away!"
"No, I want to kill her. It must be her who harmed Yun'er. My Yun'er, my poor Yun'er, her life or death is unknown, sir..." Wang Yuru was determined not to give in.
Jiang Zhi's voice rang out in confusion, "What is Aunt Ru talking about? I went up the mountain to pay respects to my mother today and never saw my sister. How could you say I harmed her?"
"Impossible!" Wang Yuru shouted hoarsely, "She clearly left with you, so why is Yun'er nowhere to be found now that you're back? You're the one who harmed her, abandoning her to the bandits!"
"What bandits?" Jiang Zhi asked with surprise and confusion, "How could there be bandits out of nowhere? Didn't the Ministry of Justice just wipe them out before the New Year?"
Seeing that Jiang Zhi's expression seemed genuine, Jiang Zhengting couldn't help but ask her, "Then why did you come back so late? Do you know how worried your family was?"
"The carriage broke down halfway up the mountain with my daughter, so she and Qingxing abandoned the carriage and walked. Unfortunately, she twisted her ankle when they were almost at Puzhao Temple and could not move for the time being."
Jiang Zhi explained, "Fortunately, I met Prince Xie later. After learning about my situation, he lent me a carriage from the Marquis of Wuyi's residence to send me back."
Xie Qi nodded, "That's right. I met Miss Jiang at Puzhao Temple. I was also going down the mountain, so I escorted her back to her residence."
"Impossible!" Wang Yuru shrieked, "Qingxing has clearly returned to the manor, and she told me you were..."
Wang Yuru was about to continue speaking when she realized something was wrong, and her rationality returned, causing her to stop talking.
No, I can't let the master know that Qingxing came back and reported to him that Jiang Zhi had encountered bandits. Otherwise, wouldn't I be deliberately concealing the truth, delaying the time, and refusing to help her?
“Yes, Aunt Ru,” Jiang Zhi smiled knowingly, “I was afraid that the household would worry if I came back late, so I had Qingxing come back early to inform you. Didn’t Qingxing tell you?”
Wang Yuru's heart sank, and she dared not respond.
I absolutely cannot get entangled in the matter of Qingxing anymore, otherwise I will be dragged down by Jiang Zhi.
She thought of her daughter, who had disappeared without a trace and whose fate was unknown, and said in a tearful voice, "Then why didn't Yun'er come back with you? She clearly got into the carriage and left with you this morning!"
"Aunt Ru, are you confused? Today is the anniversary of my mother's death. I'm going up the mountain to pay my respects, not to go sightseeing. Why would my sister come with me?"
Jiang Zhi then said to Jiang Zhengting seriously, "I have been in Puzhao Temple all day. I only came down the mountain to return home after meeting Prince Xie. I was not with my sister at all. Many monks in the temple can testify to this. If Father does not believe me, your attendants have just returned from Puzhao Temple. Ask them and you will know."
Jiang Zhengting frowned.
Wang Yuru was still unwilling to give up, "But Taozhi clearly said that Yun'er went out with you. Did you deliberately let the bandits kidnap her?"
"Strange, Aunt Ru, why are you so sure that my sister has been captured by bandits? Could it be that Aunt Ru knows the bandits?" Jiang Zhi's sharp eyes were fixed on her. "Tao Zhi, did you see my sister get into my carriage with your own eyes?"
Wang Yuru was speechless.
Taozhi was drugged and slept in the courtyard for a day, never seeing where Yun'er had gone.
But whenever she thought of Qingxing saying that Miss Jiang had been kidnapped by bandits, she couldn't help but want to slap herself a few times.
Why didn't I understand the meaning behind Qingxing's words back then? After such a long delay, how could her Yun'er be safe and sound?
"Father, shouldn't we be looking for my sister first? Why is Aunt Ru questioning me here? If what she said is true, could it be that my sister went up the mountain alone and encountered bandits?"
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