I couldn't bear to say anything more to her; she was terrified, so I let it go.
Sect Leader Yu asked, "How did you get trapped inside the carriage?"
"I don't know what happened, but the horse suddenly got frightened and ran wildly. It just happened to stop by the river and rolled down. Alas, it's definitely not a good night to go out."
Just then, the servants rushed up in a panic, "Young Madam, Young Madam, are you alright?"
A little embarrassed, I replied, "It's alright, Xiao Zou, go upstairs and call the young master out."
Xiao Zou answered "yes" and ran off.
As I wrung the water out of my skirt, I asked, "What brings you two sisters to the capital?"
Master Yu said, "A friend in the capital is getting married, and I brought Mu Yun to deliver congratulatory gifts."
"That's wonderful. If Sect Leader Yu has time, why don't you and Sister Mu Yun stay at Guiyun Manor for a few days?"
Sect Leader Yu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let's talk about it later."
After a while, Jiang Chen and his master came running over looking flustered.
Jiang Chen seemed taken aback when he saw Sect Leader Yu and Shui Muyun, then turned to me and asked, "Xiao Mo, are you hurt?"
"It's alright, I was pulled out of the water by Master Fish and Water Girl as soon as I fell in."
The master looked around. "Strange, why did the horse get startled for no reason?"
Jiang Chen turned around and pointed at the four servants, angrily scolding, "What's wrong with you all? Can't even four of you keep an eye on the carriage?"
This is the first time I've seen Jiang Chen lose his temper, which is a bit unexpected. He usually has a pretty good temper, but he likes to hold grudges with me. I really don't remember ever seeing him lose his temper before.
I quickly replied, "The horse suddenly got startled, and I didn't even notice what happened while I was sitting in the carriage. It had nothing to do with them. They haven't practiced martial arts, how could they outrun a horse?"
Jiang Chen held my hand tightly, remained silent for a moment, and after calming down a bit, said to Yu Muxi, "Sect Leader Yu, Miss Shui thanks you both for your help. It's cold today, so please go to Zuisi Tower to change your clothes. I'll send someone to find another carriage."
So we went back to the back of the Drunken Thoughts Pavilion. Jiang Chen found the madam and gave her five taels of silver. The madam happily accepted the silver and led us, a few women soaked to the bone, to a side room, where she brought us some brand-new clothes to change into.
Autumn is approaching, and the nights are already chilly. It's very uncomfortable to have wet clothes sticking to my skin. I sneezed several times in a row, quickly took off my wet clothes, and then reached for dry clothes to change into.
Just then, Yu Muxi reached out to get her clothes. I glanced at her casually and noticed a small red plum blossom on her shoulder!
The crimson plum blossoms stood out strikingly against her snow-white skin, their vibrant red beauty captivating, exuding a gentle, alluring charm amidst their pristine purity.
She picked out an outer garment and draped it over her shoulders, carefully tying the belt and smoothing out any wrinkles. It was clear she was a woman of great attention to detail.
Although I only caught a fleeting glimpse of that red plum blossom, it stirred something within me. Why did this scene seem so familiar? It felt like I had seen it somewhere before.
In the candlelight, her forehead was smooth as jade, and her eyes sparkled brightly, clearly those of a young woman. I find it strange that she always wears a veil.
After changing our clothes, the four of us came out of the side room.
Master said, "Jiang Chen has gone to find the carriage. Sect Leader Yu, it's getting late, why don't we return to Yunshan Manor first?"
"Thank you, Sect Leader Shi. I have already booked a room at Jingyue Inn. I also have some personal business to attend to during my trip to the capital. After I finish this, I will go to Guiyun Manor to pay my respects to Madam Qi."
I remember now. Last time at the Shanyin Villa, she met Jiang Chen and greeted Madam Qi. It seems she and Madam Qi know each other.
Yu Muxi said, "Sect Leader Shi, Miss Yun, we'll take our leave now."
I was extremely grateful when I saw them off.
Before long, Jiang Chen found another carriage from Zuisi Tower and brought it over.
Just as Xiao Hebao and I boarded the carriage, a servant led a horse over and reported to Jiang Chen, "Young Master, I just found this horse. Someone has nailed a hidden weapon to its rear. We don't know where the horse has gone. Young Master, please go back first. I will continue searching around here."
Jiang Chen shone the lantern light on the horse's rump and said to his master, "It looks like it's been hit by a meteor dart."
The master frowned for a long time, then said in a low voice, "She doesn't seem to know how to use hidden weapons."
A thought flashed through my mind! Rumors had been circulating since the afternoon at Guiyun Manor that Master was going to enjoy himself on the Qinhuai River. The carriage's sudden, bizarre loss of control earlier—was my mother angry and sent her men to punish Master? The more I thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Unfortunately, Xiao Hebao and I were in the carriage and saw nothing. We had no idea how the horse had been startled, let alone who had been found at the scene. Except for Yu Muxi and Shui Muyun. A sudden realization struck me: could they be people sent by Mother? This thought immediately became absurd and wild speculation. How could that be?
After swaying in the carriage for a while, I suddenly realized why the plum blossom on Yu Muxi's shoulder looked so familiar!
That time, when Madam Qi summoned my four maids, Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju, to my room and showed me their virginity marks after they took off their outer garments, Lan'er, Xiao Zhu, and Xiao Ju all had tattoos on their shoulders that matched their names. Only Mei'er had nothing on her shoulder. And today, Yu Muxi actually has a similar tattoo on her shoulder. And she knows Madam Qi. Is this a coincidence, or something else?
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but ask Jiang Chen, "Did you know that all four of your daughters, Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju, have tattoos on their shoulders?"
Jiang Chen stared at me for a long time without saying a word, seemingly displeased.
I was a little confused by his displeasure, so I asked him again.
Jiang Chen glared at me angrily and gritted his teeth, saying, "You still don't believe me?"
I paused for a moment, then said, "Oh, I... I didn't distrust you. Is there anything wrong with me asking this?"
He gritted his teeth and said each word slowly and deliberately, "No, not appropriate! Absolutely not appropriate!"
I blinked, puzzled. "What's wrong with it?"
He glared at me intently, looking like he wanted to bite me. I shrank back. Why was he being so fierce?
"They're women, how would I know what they have on them! What do you mean by asking that? And you're asking four people at once, what kind of person do you take me for? You've gone too far!"
Oh, I see. Seeing his bitter and resentful expression, I couldn't help but laugh. Indeed, it seems I went a bit too far. I asked that on impulse, without thinking too much about it. He's really too sensitive; he overthought it.
"I'm just curious. Last time, your mother showed me their virginity marks, and I saw that they all had tattoos on their shoulders, but Mei'er didn't, so I asked out of curiosity."
Jiang Chen rolled his eyes at me. "Why did you ask me? You shouldn't have asked me about this! Humph!"