"We don't have any Iron Peak Guards here!" Before the shopkeeper could speak, a woman's voice came over. Ji Wushang looked and saw that it was Jiao Niang! She was dressed quite elegantly and had a certain beauty.
Nan Xuzong pursed his lips and remained silent, his hand constantly fiddling with the gold thread, as if waiting for his beloved woman to give him a word before he could begin his killing spree!
"No, do you want me to teach you a lesson?" Ji Wushang stepped forward, a smile playing on his lips, but it was an extremely sinister smile!
Jiao Niang was somewhat intimidated by her appearance, but looking at this weak woman, a useless person sitting in a wheelchair who only knew how to fiddle with some kind of gold thread, she wondered who she was trying to fool!
"I said no, so... Ah!"
☆、137 Wenge Embroidery, Every Step a Heart-Stopping Experience (Part Two)
Before she could finish speaking, she flew out like a kite and crashed heavily onto a nearby table with a "crack," shattering the table under her weight!
Ji Wushang looked on with some surprise. He turned his head and saw Nan Xuzong casually fiddling with his golden silk. Wasn't this what he did?
Everyone around was astonished. What happened? In that instant, the beautiful woman had already flown away.
"What are you thinking?" The shopkeeper immediately stepped forward and said to Ji Wushang and the other two, "There really isn't anyone you're looking for here, otherwise, we would definitely have led you to search!"
Seeing this scene, all the customers present rushed out. The shopkeeper and his servant looked at Ji Wushang helplessly, but were also trembling with fear.
The beautiful woman got up, and Ji Wushang looked at her coldly, "I'll give you one more chance." The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, as if he were looking at something on a chopping board.
The beautiful woman clutched her chest, blood trickling from her mouth. "Upstairs! If you've got the guts, go get there yourselves!"
Ji Wushang glanced at Nan Xuzong, who remained silent but smiled at him.
"Master, should we..." Gong Shu was about to say something, but Nan Xuzong raised his hand to indicate that he didn't need to say anything more. Nan Xuzong took out a folded piece of Xuan paper from his pocket, and Gong Shu immediately stepped forward, took the paper, and quickly ran out.
Ji Wushang watched Gong Shu run away, not understanding. If he left, how would Nan Xuzong get upstairs? He didn't know any martial arts and couldn't help him with his wheelchair!
Nan Xuzong smiled and said, "Wu Shang, let's go upstairs."
“How can you go up like this? I don’t know martial arts…” Ji Wushang said with difficulty.
The shopkeeper and the young lady on the other side looked at Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong with smug expressions. One of them was a weak woman, and the other had a leg ailment. They didn't believe that they could climb up the stairs!
The shopkeeper then gestured to the servant beside him, who quickly slipped outside. Ji Wushang watched anxiously, knowing that the servant was probably planning to go to the government office to bring people to arrest him and Ji Wushang!
Nan Xuzong's lips curled up. The servant hadn't run far when Gong Shu personally grabbed the servant by the collar and threw him to the ground. Then, Gong Shu stood at the door like a door god and said to Nan Xuzong, "Sir, the Ma family army of the Imperial City garrison has received orders and will immediately lead men over here!"
Nan Xuzong nodded, his eyes bright, and looked at Ji Wushang, "Let's wait a moment."
"Okay." Anyway, there's still time, I can wait.
Nan Xuzong looked at her and said, "Manager, why haven't you served the dishes yet? Wushang, come and sit here." As he spoke, he arrived in his wheelchair and sat down at a table.
Those around were somewhat astonished. Damn it, sending the Ma family army here is practically a death sentence! How are they supposed to do business after this? No, those two are definitely here to cause trouble!
The young woman was already somewhat flustered and stepped forward obsequiously, "Young master, young lady, could you please ask those Ma family soldiers to leave? My little shop is afraid it can't accommodate those military men! Please..."
"I think your shop is definitely a shady business. It's good to have the Ma family army investigate. My people disappeared here, so I'll make you hand them all over. If even a single hair is missing, don't blame me for being lenient." Ji Wushang sneered as he sat opposite Nan Xuzong.
“Miss, there really isn’t anyone like you in this shop. The servants who came with you earlier probably left because they thought you weren’t here. You can ask them if you don’t believe me!” Knowing how powerful they were, Jiao Niang didn’t dare to keep up the act any longer and tried to cover up a lie. “Besides, we really are a small business, absolutely innocent. If the Ma family army came, they would definitely terrify us customers!”
"Is that so?" Ji Wushang looked at her. "As the saying goes, true scriptures are not afraid of being tested by fire. What are you nervous about?"
Jiao Niang was speechless. Just then, the Ma family army arrived with Ma Rui, the second young master of the Ma family. As soon as they entered, they shouted, "Who reported that someone was harboring servants here?"
"Young Master Ma, how have you been?" Nan Xuzong said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Ma Rui walked towards Nan Xuzong and exclaimed in surprise, "So it's Prince Nan!"
"It's been a long time." Nan Xuzong cupped his hands in greeting.
Ji Wushang smiled. He had seen Ma Rui before in the palace garden, but he didn't know how good Ma Rui's memory was.
"Young Master Ma is well," Ji Wushang nodded.
"Oh, Miss Ji! It's truly an honor to meet you. It would be my pleasure to serve you!" Ma Rui exclaimed excitedly. But then, as if realizing something, he understood. This young lady was engaged to the Prince of Nan, yet they were now openly together? Oh well, that's their business; he shouldn't interfere. But shouldn't this young lady be at the palace participating in the literary embroidery competition? Why was she suddenly here?
“Actually, the reason I troubled you, Young Master Ma, to come here today is to ask you to help me find a few people.” Ji Wushang ignored the slight doubt in his eyes and said, “The guards escorted me into the palace, but we were ambushed and killed on the way. I barely escaped and was thinking of getting my wounds bandaged, but I never expected that this place was a black-hearted inn that almost killed me! I hope that you, Young Master Ma, can take some men to search the upstairs rooms and find my guards so that they can recuperate in peace.” Ji Wushang said briefly.
Ma Rui nodded, realizing the situation. His Ma family army was protecting the safety of the imperial city, yet someone had come to assassinate the young lady. This was his dereliction of duty! "Men, search her!" Ma Rui glared angrily.
Jiao Niang stepped forward in one stride, "You can't search me!"
"Get out!" Ma Rui coldly rebuked, "This young lady is the eldest daughter of the General's Mansion! You're all courting death!"
Upon hearing this, Jiao Niang was stunned and staggered backward. What was she going to do? How had she gotten involved with the eldest daughter of the General's Mansion? No, and what was this "Prince of the South"? Could it all be that Prince of the South of the Marquis of Jin'nan's mansion, who had a leg ailment... Heavens!
Ji Wushang didn't have much patience. The time was almost up, and he had already wasted too much time. "Cong, I need to go into the palace, or I will be punished."
Nan Xuzong nodded.
Sure enough, a short while later, Ma Rui led his men to help Tie Wei and the others down from upstairs and put them all down. They were probably drugged with sleeping pills!
Enraged, Ji Wushang stepped forward. Jiaoniang, thinking Ji Wushang was up to something, tried to reason with her, but to her surprise, Ji Wushang swung her hand and slapped her three times. "Lying to me will end badly!" Ji Wushang narrowed her cold eyes, looking at Jiaoniang. Jiaoniang dared not say another word and immediately knelt down, begging for mercy, "Please spare my life, Miss! I was just trying to earn a little more silver..."
"Despicable!" Ji Wushang sneered, then turned to Ma Rui and said, "Young Master Ma, I'm leaving this matter to you!"
“Okay!” Ma Rui nodded, his eyes fixed on Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang didn’t have time to pay attention to him and walked towards Nan Xucong. “Cong.”
"I'll escort you, Gong Shu. Bring the carriage over! Quickly!" Nan Xuzong said immediately.
"yes."
“Young Miss, your Iron Guard…” Ma Rui quickly said.
"Please wake them up, and then let Tie Feng make his own decision." Ji Wushang pointed to the taller man, indicating that he was Tie Feng.
Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong walked out, and at that moment they heard Ma Rui say, "Men, take all these people to jail. This shop, shut it down!"
At this moment, Gong Shu had already arrived on horseback and stopped to the side. Looking at Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong, he immediately dismounted and said, "Master."
"Alright." Nan Xuzong turned to look at Ji Wushang. "It's a pity I can't personally take you there."
"That's enough." Ji Wushang looked at him. "Take good care of yourself."
"Gong Shu will safely escort you to the palace. Try not to associate with them." Nan Xuzong's gaze was deep, with a faint but bright light hidden within.
"Hmm." Ji Wushang nodded, then got into the carriage, and Gong Shu immediately jumped onto the carriage. "Master, then I will take the young lady there first."
“Okay.” Nan Xuzong looked at the woman in the carriage, who then lifted the curtain and looked at him as well.
"I will enter the palace." Nan Xuzong's lips twitched slightly.
Ji Wushang nodded, and the carriage started moving. Only when he could no longer see anyone else did Ji Wushang lower the curtain.
Gong Shu drove the carriage the whole time without speaking to Ji Wushang, so Ji Wushang took a nap in the carriage.
"Whoa! Miss, we've arrived." Gong Shu jumped down from the carriage.
Ji Wushang rubbed his temples, then quickly perked himself up, lifted the curtain, and saw Gong Shu put down the footstool. Ji Wushang then let him help him down, saying, "Thank you."
"Please don't be so polite, Miss. It's what I should do." Gong Shu smiled憨厚ly. "Miss, you must be careful. This palace is a place that devours people. Please be careful!"
"I understand." Ji Wushang nodded, took out a purse, and placed it in front of him. "Consider this purse a reward from me!"
"No, no! If the master knew you were rewarding me with a purse, my good days would be over!"
"What?" Ji Wushang asked.
"What man in the world would want his beloved woman to give a purse to another man? No, this purse must be something Miss intended to give to Master! Thank you, Miss, I will certainly pass it on to Master!" Gong Shu took the purse and put it in his pocket. "Master will surely be pleased!"
"Thank you." Ji Wushang smiled. "Don't let anyone know, it'll damage my reputation..." Ji Wushang stopped mid-sentence, glancing around. Fortunately, it was still early and there weren't many people around.
Gong Shu nodded, "Yes, yes. Then I'll take my leave."
Ji Wushang nodded, watched him leave, and then walked through the back gate of the palace.
The guards saw Ji Wushang and immediately stepped forward to stop her. Which young lady doesn't come with a large group of maids and servants? Why doesn't this one look like a young lady who is going to the palace for a competition?
"Wait, who are you?" a guard immediately stepped forward and asked.
Ji Wushang bowed slightly and said, "This humble girl is the eldest daughter of General Ji's mansion, her given name is Wushang." Was she too early or too late at this hour? Why hadn't she seen a single person?
"Oh my, Miss Wushang, you've finally arrived!" Before Ji Wushang could react, a voice came from inside. Ji Wushang looked up and saw a woman dressed as a palace maid, followed by several maids. Ji Wushang looked at her and really couldn't remember who this person was.
"Greetings, Granny." Ji Wushang bowed to her.
"Hurry, hurry up, there's no time!" Granny Wang stepped forward and immediately grabbed Ji Wushang's hand, then led him inside. Ji Wushang, not understanding what was going on, asked, "Granny, is the competition about to begin?"
"Isn't that right? Why are you so late! I don't care anymore. If you're any later, the people in the palace definitely won't let you participate." Wang Mama looked at her and immediately led her towards the back garden.
Ji Wushang looked around but couldn't find anyone. Ji Wushang had some questions in his mind, but he still continued to follow her and the maids.
Upon arriving at the back garden, they entered a palace, which was two or three stories high. Just as Ji Wushang was about to follow them inside, he saw several young ladies gathered together, chatting and laughing. When they saw Ji Wushang, they started teasing him.
"Isn't this Miss Ji? Why are you only arriving now?"
"Not yet. The first batch is finished, and the second batch is probably halfway through now, right?"
"Isn't that right? Even if she gets in, she'll still be ranked low. Let's see what she can embroider!"
"Maybe it's a duck. I heard she was planning to embroider a mandarin duck, but it turned out to be a duck!"
"Haha, this is interesting!"
...
Ji Wushang stopped listening, feeling annoyed, but if what they said was true, he should have gone in earlier to finish his embroidery!
Ji Wushang had just stepped inside when, unexpectedly, a bucket of cold water was poured down from upstairs! Ji Wushang was completely drenched!
"Hahaha, look, look at her!"
"Haha, soaked to the bone, that's hilarious!"
...
Ji Wushang clenched her fists. It was late autumn, and the weather was cold. Now, the water had been splashed on her, and she was soaked to the bone! Ji Wushang looked up at the building. Who else could it be but Gao Fengfen? She poked her head out and said, "Oh, it's Miss Ji? I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were passing by, so I splashed the water down."
"Miss Gao, hehe!" Ji Wushang suppressed his anger and instead smiled broadly. "Miss Gao, be careful not to fall down from up there."
Gao Fengfen was taken aback. No, she should be angry. She should be rushing up to argue with her!
Seeing that she remained silent, Ji Wushang glanced at the group of women over there, his eyes cold. Those women, seeing Ji Wushang's murderous gaze, fell silent and stared at him.
Granny Wang turned around and looked at Ji Wushang's appearance. Her face was grim, but seeing Ji Wushang's disheveled state, she wanted to laugh, but she held back. "Young Miss, you don't have much time left. If you miss this round, you'll have to forfeit the competition! But you're soaked in water..."
"Granny, I'm fine." Ji Wushang forced a smile. Didn't they want to embarrass her and the General's Mansion? She wouldn't let them!