After crying, Pan Wenjun felt better. She cleansed her face and applied powder again. Then, as planned, she and Wei Shuwan went to the front hall to ask their father if they could observe a two-day fast, since tomorrow was the day Buddha attained enlightenment and Luoyun Temple would be holding a Buddha bathing ceremony.
For the past two days, Pan Wei hadn't let her go out because he thought there was still a chance, but he was afraid she might do something foolish in her haste. But things had already come to this point, so why was he still stopping her? While she was still in Shengjing and still free, he wanted her to have some fun and explore as much as possible, which would be a kind of compensation.
Besides, those bandits still want to cause trouble for the Pan family. Last night they spilled blood, who knows what they will do tonight? The Wei Rong Army is outside the city and cannot enter the capital to protect him. With only a few close attendants, he is afraid that something unexpected might happen.
So he said, "It's good that you're leaving the city. Stay at Luoyun Temple for a few more days and come back when things have calmed down."
Having received her father's approval, Pan Wenjun should have remained silent, but seeing her father so distressed, she said, half-jokingly and half-coaxingly, "Father, don't worry about Wenjun. Wenjun is protected by Buddha and will surely turn misfortune into good fortune."
At that moment, Pan Wei desperately hoped that his daughter was telling the truth, and that gods and Buddhas truly existed in this world, but he knew in his heart that it was impossible. He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and waved his hand: "Go ahead, take a few more clothes with you."
Wei Shuwan and Pan Wenjun boarded the Wei family's carriage one after the other. Pan Wenjun sat on the chair, but felt uneasy. She lifted the curtain and looked towards the front door of her house.
But the door was already tightly closed.
She frowned, slowly lowered the curtain, and murmured, "I didn't even get a good look at him just now..." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.
In Wei Shuwan's eyes, Pan Wenjun was always independent and a girl who rarely cried. Seeing her now with large tears streaming down her face, Wei Shuwan quickly took her hand and comforted her, "Sister Pan, don't be sad. It's not like we'll never see each other again. It's just that you left the capital before Governor Pan. After you leave Shengjing, the palace will send people to look for you for a month or two, but things will eventually calm down. At that time, my uncle will tell Governor Pan the truth and ask him to request permission to return to the north. Then you and your father can be reunited."
Hearing these words, Pan Wenjun finally felt a little better. "I just hope my father won't worry too much about me."
Wei Shuwan took a handkerchief and wiped away Pan Wenjun's tears while continuing to offer words of comfort, quickly calming her down.
At this moment, the carriage merged onto Zhuque Avenue, and soon slowed down and came to a stop. Pan Wenjun couldn't help but wonder, "They're not going to make their move here, are they? This is a busy area..."
Wei Shuwan smiled and said, "How could that be? We just found a few more witnesses."
As she spoke, Wei Shuwan lifted the curtain and greeted the young ladies in the two carriages next door, and then they agreed on the order in which the three carriages would proceed.
After Wei Shuwan lowered the curtain, Pan Wenjun asked, "Is he your friend?"
"We're not exactly close, but because of my marriage to the young prince, the young ladies in the capital are all giving me the cold shoulder. Since you need more people to witness your affair, I invited them to go out of the city to offer incense together."
Pan Wenjun nodded knowingly and said, "Shuwan, my biggest gain from this trip to Shengjing is making you a friend. Friends should help each other, but unfortunately I haven't had time to help you with anything yet, and I'm already grateful for your kindness."
"Sister Pan, what are you saying? We have a long life ahead of us." Wei Shuwan said with a smile, then straightened her face and solemnly reminded her, "Sister Pan, when we leave the city, you only need to pretend to fight when those bandits appear. You don't need to fight to the death. Just go with them. They won't hurt you."
Pan Wenjun nodded earnestly: "Since it's your arrangement, I naturally trust you."
Wei Shuwan explained embarrassedly, "This was all arranged by the young prince. I was just following the plan." Then, she smiled and joked to ease the atmosphere, "I was afraid that Sister Pan would overdo it and actually kill someone with one punch. After all, I have seen some of your skills."
As the two were talking, they unknowingly left the city. After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they heard a whistle outside, and then the carriage lurched and came to a hasty stop.
Wei Shuwan and Pan Wenjun both understood that the bandits who had helped them had arrived. They swallowed hard, and their emotions quickly settled.
"What happened? Why did you stop?" Wei Shuwan pretended not to know anything and lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. She saw dozens of mountain men holding gleaming broadswords surrounding their three carriages.
Judging from their clothes and appearance, they were the bandits from Yandang Mountain she had encountered before.
At this moment, the young ladies in the other two carriages also lifted their curtains and saw these people clearly. They thought they had been robbed and were so frightened that they cried out in alarm.
"Who are you... what do you want?" a young woman asked the group in a trembling voice.
The leader brandished his broadsword and pointed at the three carriages: "Which one of you is Pan Wei's daughter?"
The other young ladies all turned their gazes to Wei Shuwan's carriage, knowing that Pan Wenjun was inside. Wei Shuwan was also visibly startled and turned to shout a warning: "Sister Pan, run! These people are coming for you!"
Her words clearly pointed the way for the bandits, and immediately two men approached the carriage to seize Pan Wenjun. Pan Wenjun was prepared to feign a few tears and then go with them, but just as the two men were leading her off the carriage, she heard the rapid sound of horses' hooves, and at the same time, a voice rang out:
"Release the princess who was sent for a political marriage to the young prince!"
Wei Shuwan and Pan Wenjun turned around in surprise and saw a large group of people rushing towards them, and the leader was none other than Prince Awuge!
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