Chapter 63 Exactly the same scent as hers
Yan Wenhong, who was inside the carriage, was almost speechless with astonishment.
He originally thought that Jiang Zhi would at most be taken to the Northern Garrison Command, but he didn't expect Lu Yuan to come out to see her in person.
Who is Lu Yuan?
Even if his father, the Earl of Zhongqin, were here, he would have to personally deliver a letter explaining his reason for requesting an audience with Lu Yuan.
Now, just because of one sentence from Jiang Zhi, he happily followed her?
Jiang Zhi led Lu Yuan to the entrance of the alley. Seeing that no one was around, she took something out of her clothes and handed it to him.
"I was recuperating at home a few days ago and haven't had a chance to personally thank Lord Lu for saving my life. This is something I embroidered myself, and I hope Lord Lu won't find it too shabby and will accept it."
Lu Yuan looked down at the sachet in her hand.
On a sky-blue background, a pair of eagles are embroidered, their eyes sharp and their beaks hooked, with layers of brown and yellow silk threads overlapping each other. The front and back are respectively embroidered with the four characters "鹏程万里" (meaning "A Bright Future") and "青云直上" (meaning "Soaring to Great Heights").
"Why go through all that trouble? Just send a servant to deliver it."
Despite saying that, Lu Yuan still took the sachet from her hand and quietly put it into his pocket.
The sachet still carried a faint, pleasant fragrance, exactly the same as the scent on her body.
A barely perceptible smile crept onto Lu Yuan's lips.
“Lord Lu saved my life, so of course I have to come and thank you in person,” Jiang Zhi said. “You are busy with your internal affairs, so I won’t bother you any longer.”
She originally embroidered this sachet intending to give it to Shen Ci'an.
However, after her falling out with Shen Ci'an that day, she regretted giving him the sachet and took it back. They never saw each other again after that.
It just so happens that it can come in handy today, and all those days and nights she stayed up were worth it.
Lu Yuan had only met her briefly before leaving, feeling somewhat reluctant to move. He simply made an excuse and coldly asked, "Is your injury any better?"
"Yes, it's fine now."
"Is everything alright at the manor?"
"Everything is fine."
"Then go back early, I'll send someone to take you." Aside from handling cases, Lu Yuan was usually a man of few words. He couldn't find any excuse to keep her there, so he could only let her leave.
Jiang Zhi replied, "No need. I'm going to a teahouse to meet with friends, so I won't trouble you, Lord Lu."
Lu Yuan nodded and walked out of the alley with her.
She had only taken a few steps when Jiang Zhi slipped and fell forward before she could even cry out.
"careful."
Suddenly, a warm hand appeared around her waist, steadily catching her as she lost her balance. Jiang Zhi was pulled into his embrace, his uniquely hot breath washing over her.
"Is your foot injury still not healed?" He looked down at her, his dark eyes filled with concern. He wanted to bend down to check her injury, but because they were in public, he withdrew his outstretched hand.
Seeing that she had achieved her goal and that the person in the carriage in the distance must have seen the whole thing, Jiang Zhi stepped out of Lu Yuan's arms.
"I just accidentally missed a step, it's nothing serious. Thank you for your concern, Lord Lu, I should be going now."
Lu Yuan watched Jiang Zhi walk away, smiled speechlessly, and turned back.
Inside the carriage, Yan Wenhong was beyond shocked.
Lu Yuan was known for his cold-bloodedness and ruthlessness. Let alone a daughter of an official, even if a princess fell down in front of him, he wouldn't even blink.
But what about just now?
He could see it clearly from a distance; Jiang Zhi had already stood firmly, but Lu Yuan's hand was still reluctant to leave.
When I gave him the sachet, I carefully and solemnly put it into my bosom.
He would never believe there was nothing fishy going on between the two of them.
Back at Shuyu Tower, Yan Wenhong's face no longer held the arrogance he once had.
"Miss Jiang is truly remarkable; she has managed to earn the respect of someone like Lu Yuan."
"Can Lord Yan believe what I'm saying now?" Jiang Zhi just stared straight at him, her face expressionless.
Using Lu Yuan as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Yan Wenhong is extremely risky and there's nothing to be proud of.
Although Yan Wenhong changed his attitude, he still remained skeptical of her.
"Since you have Lu Yuan as your backer, why do you need to negotiate with me?"
Jiang Zhi simply sighed, "It's all because your family pressured me too much. At the blessing banquet a couple of days ago, the Third Prince's Consort was very aggressive towards me and even used the jade token to embarrass me. I had no choice. No matter how powerful Lu Yuan is, would he really go against the royal family for a woman?"
Yan Wenhong thought about it and agreed. However, he did not expect Yan Liqin to be so audacious as to attack Jiang Zhi at the blessing banquet. The one on the Phoenix Throne is not someone to be easily fooled.
"So what are your conditions?"
Seeing that he had finally gotten to the point, Jiang Zhi felt relieved. "My request is that I pass on the message from the Embroidered Uniform Guard to Lord Yan, and Lord Yan will help me deal with Wang Yuru."
Yan Wenhong was stunned. "Wang Yuru? You mean your stepmother, Madam Jiang?"
“Exactly,” Jiang Zhi said. “I know that my stepmother and the Earl of Zhongqin are on good terms, but has Lord Yan ever considered that if it weren’t for Wang Yuru’s interference, how could things have come to this point between me and the Earl of Zhongqin’s mansion?”
Yan Wenhong gritted his teeth in hatred.
He had indeed warned his mother long ago that Wang Yuru was a wicked and short-sighted person and should not be befriended, but his mother simply wouldn't listen, resulting in his second brother still being imprisoned and awaiting execution in the autumn.
This made it impossible for him to swallow his anger.
However, Jiang Zhi has the Jinyiwei connection, which can be put to good use.
The Third Prince was having a headache because without the Embroidered Uniform Guard's covert presence, he was unable to control their movements.
Now Jiang Zhi has come to me of her own accord.
Compared to the Third Prince's grand ambitions, the younger brother's grudge can be put aside for now; it's not too late to settle accounts with her later.
“Miss Jiang has said so much today, but it’s still impossible for me to completely trust you,” Yan Wenhong was not easily fooled. “If I do the job for you and you don’t give me a single message, am I supposed to go to Lord Lu to seek justice?”
Jiang Zhi laughed, "Lord Yan, please rest assured, there's no rush with Wang Yuru's matter. You can wait a few days until I get information that's truly beneficial to you, then you can help me."
She added, "However, I hope that the Earl of Zhongqin's mansion and the Third Prince's wife will not target me during this period, otherwise our deal will have to be voided."
"That's easy, I'll take it."
Yan Wenhong finally heard the answer he wanted, and the gloom on his face dissipated considerably. He instructed his men to come in and pour Jiang Zhi a cup of tea, saying, "Then let's use tea instead of wine to wish us a successful cooperation."
Jiang Zhi raised her glass in a toast, saying, "Successful cooperation."
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