Herumrennen und kleinere Rollen spielen

Kapitel 81

I felt a sense of loss and oppression. I really wanted to see Xilan, but I couldn't get away for the time being. I couldn't just rush off to Wangzhou without thinking, could I? I had another fight with Fox yesterday, and he still hasn't answered the questions I asked. Even if I really misunderstood him, he should at least make things clear.

"Young Master, Yunhui and Yunyao are back," Zi'er said softly from outside the door. Zi'er was a maid assigned to Xifeng Garden by Zhang Dexin. Since Hong'er was gone, I was one less personal maid.

Yunhui and the others are back? I didn't have time to pay attention to Zi'er and ran outside.

"Where are they?" I ran back and forth in Xifeng Garden, but I couldn't find Yun Hui or Yun Yao. I saw Zi'er following behind me, jogging along, and asked breathlessly.

"Young master, they are receiving their punishment in the steward's room," the maid replied, panting.

"What?" I was furious. It was that stupid family rule again. Even if Xiu Ruo was really a member of the royal family, this family rule was really too strict. Punishing people at the drop of a hat, weren't they afraid of losing the hearts of the people and causing a collective rebellion among these servants?

"What is this all about!" I ran to the deacon's room in one breath and shouted angrily at the people inside.

"Young Master, your subordinate failed to protect you properly and is willing to accept punishment." Yun Hui and Yun Yao knelt there, their expressions solemn, but there were traces of fatigue between their brows, suggesting that they had been in a hurry to travel and had not rested enough.

This time, there were fewer onlookers in the steward's room. Apart from Yun Hui and Yun Yao, there was only Zhang De and the two stewards. Zhang De gave a wink, and the two stewards bowed and withdrew.

"What do you mean by inadequate protection? I'm perfectly fine now, aren't I? Get up, get up, all of you, get up!" I said, reaching out to pull them up. What's wrong with these people? They're even voluntarily accepting punishment. Don't they feel pain from being hit?

The two men remained kneeling, calling out "Young Master" again, seemingly unwilling to rise unless punished.

"You two, are you going against the young master's wishes?" Zhang De asked, looking at Yun Yao and Yun Hui.

The two men looked up at me abruptly, finally giving in and getting up. I quickly pulled them back, asking repeatedly, "Haven't you eaten yet? Shall we eat first? Or are you tired and want to rest?"

"Uncle De, we're going back now." I bowed slightly to Zhang De, then pulled Yun Hui and Yun Yao out the door. Zhang De naturally bowed back in return.

I ordered Zi'er to prepare lunch, pulled Yunhui and the others to sit down, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "How did you know I was rescued?"

"It was General Mu who told us that the young master had been rescued and returned home, so we rushed back day and night."

"Shouldn't you be at the Tianqing Army camp?" I asked curiously. Why was it Qinglin who told them? Shouldn't it have been Xilan who read my letter and sent them back?

“Young Master, you may not know this, but on the night you were abducted, not only did Wangyue send men to secretly burn the supplies, but the Tianqing army camp also experienced internal strife, with soldiers burning tents and supplies. We couldn’t find you, but we ran into the Sixth Prince and learned that you had been kidnapped in the chaos. The Sixth Prince ordered us to quickly send a message to General Mu, so we stayed at the Longyao army camp.” Yun Yao finished speaking simply and clearly, while Yun Hui, standing to the side, had a face full of anger.

"Why was it only Xilan who came to save me from the city wall that day?" I finally asked. I wasn't blaming them, nor was I saying that these people should rush to my rescue whenever I was in trouble. I just wanted to know why only Xilan went up to the city wall to save me. There must be a reason.

"Your subordinate deserves to die, young master, please forgive us." The two men immediately knelt down in front of me again, bowing their heads to beg for forgiveness.

I quickly got up and jumped away, waving my hand and saying, "Get up, get up. I'm not blaming you. I just want to know what exactly happened that day."

The two men looked up at me again before getting up. I gestured for them to sit down, and Yun Yao continued, "That night, by the time Wu Yin and the others discovered the abnormality, the young master had already been kidnapped. They left behind that princess who was tied up, along with a note saying that only the Sixth Prince could come to rescue her, otherwise the young master would be in trouble. The Sixth Prince and General Mu discussed the matter and decided that for the young master's safety, we were not allowed to take action."

It was indeed that fake man's doing; it seems my guess was right. But the internal strife in Tianqing that night was something I hadn't anticipated. So, was my kidnapping that night also unexpected by Xilan? If so, it seems I did something wrong.

"Was Xi Lan badly injured that day?" I looked at Yun Yao, my heart pounding. I swallowed hard and asked nervously.

The two remained silent for a moment, neither willing to answer. My heart clenched even tighter; had the fox really lied to me?

"Yun Yao!" I cried out anxiously, and my voice unconsciously rose a little.

"Yes." Yun Yao hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded and said.

My heart sank. No wonder only Wuyin and the others showed up that night. No wonder Xilan insisted on having them rescue me. Xilan couldn't come to save me himself; he must have been worried sick. But what about me? Xilan was seriously injured saving me, yet I followed the fox back without a second thought. Xilan is now in a coma, his life hanging in the balance, all because of me.

"Sir..." Yun Hui was about to speak when Yun Yao stopped him. One hesitated, while the other shook his head almost imperceptibly.

"Yunhui?" I tilted my head back slightly, blinked away the tears in my eyes, and asked with a hint of surprise.

Yunhui hesitated, but lowered his head and remained silent.

"Is Yunhui trying to hide something from me?" For some reason, my heart couldn't help but panic, as if Yunhui's next words would have a different meaning for me and would change some things.

He looked up and shook his head as if on instinct. I glanced at Yun Yao, who had his head slightly lowered and this time didn't try to stop me. I then looked at Yun Hui, signaling him to continue.

“Young Master,” he said, glancing at me again with a hint of unease, “Actually, when he went up to the city wall to save you that day, the Sixth Prince of Tianqing was already injured.”

I went back to my room alone, sat on the bed, wrapped myself in the blanket, and processed what I had just heard. Could it be that Xi Lan was injured the night I was kidnapped? If so, then the internal strife in Tianqing that night must have been unexpected by Xi Lan, and his injuries must have been very serious the night I was rescued. Yet he still went to war with his injuries? No wonder he fell into a coma. Was this idiot trying to kill himself?

"Young Master." Night Wind's voice rang out from outside the door.

"Any news about Xilan?" I jumped out of bed, opened the door, and asked nervously.

He glanced at me, then shook his head slightly: "He hasn't woken up yet."

I unconsciously took a few steps back and slumped into the chair behind me. For a moment, I felt a buzzing in my ears and was disoriented, not knowing where I was.

"Young master, the gates of Wangzhou have fallen." Ye Feng handed me a letter and continued, "This is a letter from General Mu to you."

I stared at the letter for a long time before I realized what it meant. I took it with one hand and asked in surprise, "Has the city gate really been breached?"

I thought that with Xi Lan in a coma, the army would pause their siege, or at least not breach the city gates so quickly. I never expected Qing Lin and his men to succeed. Has the breached city meant the war is about to end? If so, Qing Lin can truly return to the capital before the New Year.

Night Breeze nodded, and I quickly bent down to pull out the letter and unfolded it: Marshal Tian is unconscious and in critical condition. Qianqian, please be cautious!

Qinglin wrote me this letter, could it be about Xilan? No, no, Xilan will definitely be alright.

"Night Breeze, come with me to the palace." I tucked Qinglin's letter into my pocket, glanced down at my white casual clothes, and walked out of the outer room as I spoke.

"The master is at Qianzui Residence at this time." Ye Feng followed behind me, his tone as calm as ever.

"Then let's go to Qianzui Residence." I walked out of the house, gave Zi'er a few instructions, and then strode outside.

Just like yesterday, the fox stood by my bed, playing with the octagonal lamp Qinglin had given me on the bedside table. His posture and expression made me feel as if it were still yesterday. Night Breeze, of course, didn't follow. Hearing the sound, he turned to look at me, just like yesterday.

“Qianqian.” He approached and reached out his hand.

This time I didn't pull away. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my face against his chest. Fox, he's the one I love. Yes, he lied to me, saying Xi Lan was alright. Even if he had his own ulterior motives for lying, it was mostly for my safety. I shouldn't question him about secretly withholding my letter. A proud and confident man like him, having agreed to let me write, would he stoop to such petty tricks behind my back?