Shen Lixue hurriedly turned around, her back to Ye Qianlong. She couldn't continue releasing lanterns, otherwise Ye Qianlong would definitely recognize her.
"Third cousin, Brother Li!" Ye Qianyue's voice was closer, as if she was running over.
Shen Lixue was startled. Oh no! Ye Qianyue had run over, and Ye Qianlong would definitely follow. What should she do? She really didn't want to disrupt his peaceful life any further.
Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats rang out behind them, and a rough male voice quickly spread across the street: "Make way, make way now!"
Shen Lixue glanced to the side and saw a young man galloping away on horseback. His face was cold and stern, his eyes filled with murderous intent, and he exuded a strong aura of battle. A name seemed to spring to mind: he was…
"Mu Tao, the second son of the Duke of Mu's family, has actually returned to the capital!" Lu Jiangfeng smiled slightly, his expression unfathomable: "It seems the theft at the Duke of Mu's mansion has dealt them a heavy blow!"
Shen Lixue blinked: "I've heard the people talking about it a lot, is the case still unsolved?"
"They were very shrewd, leaving no clues. Finding those thieves won't be easy." The prestigious Duke Mu's mansion, despite its constant vigilance, failed to prevent the theft of a million taels of gold and silver, which has become the laughing stock of the entire Xiliang people.
As Mu Tao galloped away, he seemed to sense someone watching him. His sharp gaze swept over, and Lu Jiangfeng smiled slightly in his direction, his unfocused black eyes seeming to mock him silently. Standing beside him was a white-clad man with a handsome face and elegant demeanor. He was undoubtedly the mysterious and unpredictable Shen Li mentioned in the family letter. He had saved Consort De and moved into the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion, making him an enemy of the Mu family.
With a sharp glint in his eyes, Mu Tao jerked the reins, and the horse instantly changed direction, its hooves aimed at Shen Lixue as Lu Jiangfeng charged forward.
The sound of horses' hooves was urgent, urging people to their deaths. Shen Lixue sneered and raised an eyebrow at Lu Jiangfeng. He could sense Dongfang Heng's slight breathing, so his martial arts must be unfathomable. Mu Tao riding a horse to trample him was overestimating his own strength.
Lu Jiangfeng smiled slightly, his expression unchanged. Just as the horse was about to trample the two of them, he suddenly swung his palm, striking the horse hard. The horse neighed and fell to the ground instantly. Mu Tao didn't have time to dismount and was violently thrown away by the horse...
<......
Chapter 172: A tender embrace, an old friend reappears.
Mu Tao was shocked. He quickly steadied himself, and his bright red cloak drew an irregular arc in the air before landing heavily. A powerful shock entered from the soles of his feet and instantly spread throughout his legs. He staggered back three or four steps before regaining his footing. His legs were numb from the shock and trembled slightly under the cloak. He almost couldn't support his body.
He looked up at Lu Jiangfeng, his tiger-like eyes flashing with a cold, fierce light. In the year since they last met, this blind man's martial arts had become even more unfathomable. Even with his own speed, he had still been defeated by him.
"Brother Jiang Feng, how have you been?" Mu Tao's calm greeting was laced with sarcasm. How could a blind man be expected to be well?
"Thanks to Brother Mu's good fortune, everything is well!" Lu Jiangfeng looked in Mu Tao's direction, his gentle smile as warm as a spring breeze in March: "But Brother Mu, judging from your voice, it seems you've suffered a minor internal injury!"
Mu Tao's anger flared up. Lu Jiangfeng had killed his horse and injured him, yet he pretended to be a kind person: "It's just a minor injury, nothing to worry about. Brother Jiangfeng's eye disease is of great importance, it's a real pity that no treatment has been found."
No matter how severe Mu Tao's injuries are, they will recover in time, but Lu Jiangfeng's eyes will never be able to regain their sight. Mu Tao seized on this point and relentlessly rubbed Lu Jiangfeng's wounds, mercilessly provoking him.
"Some people, though they have eyes, can't see the road. They ride fast horses and crash into people, yet they're not as good as me, a blind person, who can walk on a normal path!" Lu Jiangfeng smiled slightly, his clear and gentle voice mocking Mu Tao, who felt utterly ashamed and gritted his teeth: You blind bastard!
Pedestrians stopped and gathered around, pointing and whispering as they looked at Mu Tao.
"It was him, riding his horse recklessly through the crowd, almost hitting someone..."
"The horse deserved to be beaten to death..."
"Instead of repenting, they blame those who are kind-hearted..."
Mu Tao's face was gloomy. His tiger-like eyes glared, and his cold gaze swept over the onlookers. A bunch of ignorant lowly people, when did it become their place to lecture him!
The people shuddered, not daring to look Mu Tao in the eye, and quickly turned and left, their whispers echoing in the air:
"Unrepentant..."
"Bullying others by taking advantage of one's power..."
Mu Tao's trembling legs gradually returned to normal. His feet were still a little numb, but it didn't affect his walking. He glanced at the corpse of the fast horse on the ground and said coldly, "Brother Jiang Feng, farewell!"
In their first encounter, he lost to Lu Jiangfeng, who was quick-witted and eloquent, leaving him speechless. Staying would not bring him any advantage, and besides, he had important matters to attend to in the capital and could not afford to waste any more time. There would be plenty of opportunities to teach Lu Jiangfeng a lesson later, so there was no need to rush.
As Mu Tao left and the crowd dispersed, Ye Qianyue, who was standing on the outer circle, hurried over, her clear eyes urgently looking Lu Jiangfeng up and down: "Third cousin, are you alright?"
That huge horse charged straight at Lu Jiangfeng; her heart pounded with worry.
Lu Jiangfeng shook his head, seemingly unfazed, a faint smile playing on his lips: "It's nothing!"
It's good that you're alright.
Ye Qianyue patted her chest and let out a long sigh of relief. She looked around but didn't see the person she wanted to see. She asked in confusion, "Where's Brother Li? I clearly saw you standing together just now."
Ye Qianlong also walked over, his clear gaze quickly sweeping over one female pedestrian after another. He didn't see the face he remembered, and his gaze dimmed slightly. That person's name contained the character "Li," so it might not be Li Xue.
"He... had something to do and left first!" Lu Jiangfeng smiled. The moment he turned on his fast horse, a scent of pine resin appeared beside him. Then, the pine resin and Shen Lixue's aura disappeared together. There was no cry for help, no struggle. She had gone with him willingly.
Who is that person? And what is their relationship with Shen Li?
On a street not far away, Dongfang Heng's jade-like fingers held Shen Lixue's soft, boneless hand as they walked slowly forward. The two white figures, one tall and one short, one slender and one delicate, looked very well-matched walking together. However, it was somewhat strange that the two handsome and outstanding men were holding hands, and the passersby looked at them with curiosity and incomprehension.
A faint scent of pine resin lingered in the air, and the wind lifted Dongfang Hengmo's ink-black hair, gently brushing against Chen Lixue's beautiful, delicate cheeks.
She looked up at him; his face was handsome, his striking features as soft as a painting. He walked quietly, holding her hand tightly. There was no unexpected storm, only a quiet that made her very uneasy.
She and Lu Jiangfeng went to the street to release lanterns, and he didn't get angry. Had he changed his personality, or was it the calm before the storm?
As it grew darker, Dongfang Heng remained silent and showed no sign of stopping. Shen Lixue's eyes flickered. Rather than walking with such trepidation, she decided to ask him directly. Once she had a clear understanding, she wouldn't have to worry so much.
"Prince An, where are we going?" Shen Lixue asked coquettishly, her voice laced with a playful teasing.
"What day is it today?" Dongfang Heng glanced at Shen Lixue. Her smooth black hair was tied up high, and her clear eyes sparkled with a hint of cunning, like a sly little fox, subtly trying to get the information she wanted.
"The Lantern Festival!" Dongfang Heng's obsidian-like eyes held a faint smile, showing no sign of anger. Shen Lixue was completely bewildered, unable to fathom his thoughts.
"Since it's the Lantern Festival, we should naturally release lanterns!" Dongfang Heng raised his hand, and a beautiful lotus lantern magically appeared in his palm, making his handsome face appear even more gentle. His dark eyes, like a deep pool, clearly reflected her figure.
Shen Lixue glanced to the side and saw that they had arrived at a small river. Groups of men and women were standing on the riverbank releasing lanterns. Many beautiful lanterns floated in the clear river water, their soft light illuminating patches of water like twinkling stars in the sky, which was very charming.
"Let's release the lanterns together." Dongfang Heng's dark eyes overflowed with tenderness.