"Mm." Ji Wushang nodded shyly.
To Ji Wushang's astonishment, Nan Xuzong slapped the wheelchair with his palm, and the wheelchair, seemingly able to move, slid forward as if it could run! At an extremely fast speed, it passed through several rooms and arrived at a wall! At this moment, Nan Xuzong pulled out a golden thread and touched it on some brick. The wall instantly turned into a mechanism, opened, and the wheelchair "whooshed" and immediately passed inside.
Ji Wushang was taken aback. "Cong, how did you make these mechanisms? You even managed to build something for the Crown Prince's residence?"
"Mmm." A sense of pride welled up in Nan Xuzong's heart. His beloved woman was looking at him with admiring eyes. How could he not be happy?
“It was a bit difficult, but I did it,” he added.
At this point, they had already entered the dark room.
After passing through several corridors, they finally saw Tie Feng and Zhu'er there, along with Gong Shu and several of Nan Xuzong's subordinates.
"The mission is complete?" Nan Xuzong looked at Gong Shu with sharp eyes.
"Reporting to you, sir, it's all done. Everything has been taken care of," Gong Shu stepped forward.
When Tie Feng saw Ji Wushang lying in Nan Xuzong's arms, he was dumbfounded. What was going on? It was this man named Gong Shu who had just sent him here, saying that the young lady was in danger, but that she was out of danger and that he should come with him.
Is it Prince Nan holding the young lady right now?
Seeing the strange looks, Ji Wushang realized what was happening and immediately pushed Nan Xuzong's chest, "Put me down." Everyone around is watching! Nan Xuzong smiled and put Ji Wushang down, then said expressionlessly, "Anyone who tells anyone about what happened today will be killed without mercy."
Upon hearing this, the men immediately knelt before Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong, saying, "Yes!"
Nan Xuzong looked at Ji Wushang with a smug expression, a charming smile playing on his lips. The sight of him instantly dispelled any gloom that had clouded Ji Wushang's heart.
“I’m going to their side,” Ji Wushang said. “With something like this happening to the Crown Prince, no one can escape responsibility.”
"Be careful." Nan Xuzong looked at her. "If anything unexpected happens, be sure to wait for me."
Ji Wushang nodded. Those words were enough.
After giving him one last look, Ji Wushang led Zhu'er and Tiefeng out of the area and into the East Forest of the Crown Prince's residence. There were still many people there, and no one noticed Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang composed himself and then went up to chat with some of the young ladies.
"Look, Miss Ji is here." A young lady said as Ji Wushang approached. Ji Wushang smiled and said, "I saw that everyone was having a great time chatting, so I came to join in the fun."
"Hey, dear sister, where did you go? I couldn't find you anywhere!" Shangguan Feiyan, who was in the distance, had sharp eyes and immediately came forward to ask when she saw Ji Wushang walking over.
Ji Wushang laughed, "Isn't it all because of you, Miss Shangguan? You left me there, so I had no choice but to wander around with my maid. That's how I ended up here!"
"Oh, it was my fault then, please don't blame Feiyan, dear sister!" Shangguan Feiyan said, winking a little embarrassed.
"Since you're going to leave me behind in the future, I'll let you off this time!" Ji Wushang said, feigning annoyance, and pulled her over to chat with the other young ladies from official families.
Ji Wushang listened to their chatter about which young master had become what official, and how some young men had passed the autumn imperial examinations and were now waiting for the spring imperial examinations. They all laughed along, and Ji Wushang only felt slightly relieved when she saw that no one around her had noticed anything amiss.
In the dark room, Gong Shu watched Ji Wushang leave, then stepped forward and asked, "Master, what do we do now?"
"You all go back first and make arrangements. I can't leave now," Nan Xuzong said. "It's time for Aunt Zhao to go back to Nan Jinxue."
"Yes." Gong Shu nodded and then went to do it.
It was already dusk, and seeing this, everyone thought about returning to their residences. However, they still hadn't seen the Crown Prince, which made them feel a little strange, and they all asked why the Crown Prince wasn't coming out.
However, at that moment, more than a dozen guards rushed in from outside the garden! Nan Jinxue followed closely behind!
Ji Wushang paused for a moment, then secretly retreated.
"The Crown Prince suddenly fainted in his room in Xilin for some unknown reason. When he woke up, he was found to be insane! Has anyone here been to the Xilin room?" Nan Jinxue stepped forward with great confidence, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd. Instantly, everyone in the crowd panicked. Was Nan Jinxue implying that someone had assassinated the Crown Prince in his room in Xilin, causing him to go mad?
Nan Jinxue looked at the group of people, while Ji Wushang stepped back, thinking of leaving. However, Nan Jinxue's eyes had already caught sight of her!
Ji Wushang was startled, but then his face showed no sign of tension, and he looked at him with a very disdainful gaze.
Nan Jinxue sighed inwardly. She had originally intended to send this woman to the Crown Prince's bed, making her his consort, but unexpectedly, this woman had managed to escape! And her medicine had been broken by her! Unbelievable! And with that look in her eyes…
He smiled slightly and then turned his gaze to the people on the other side, "Who has ever been to Xilin? Please cooperate, ladies and gentlemen."
"Weren't you always by the Crown Prince's side? How come you didn't know he was injured? Now you're here telling everyone that the Crown Prince is injured?" One of the young masters, perhaps disapproving of Nan Jinxue's usual behavior, shouted loudly. Immediately, several people felt that he made sense and quietly echoed him.
“Indeed, Young Master Li is right. Guards, take Young Master Li away!” Nan Jinxue’s temper flared faster than anyone else’s! Young Master Li’s legs went weak immediately. He never expected to be arrested for just one sentence! “I have not done anything wrong, why are you arresting me!” Young Master Li roared.
This young master Li, the son of a sixth-rank official, was now somewhat flustered, fearing that it was Nan Jinxue's revenge.
Nan Jinxue laughed and said, "Everyone else is silent, but you are the one who speaks. There must be something wrong with you."
Upon hearing this, everyone was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat. What basis did Nan Jinxue have for this?
"Take them away!" Nan Jinxue shouted sharply, then glanced coldly at everyone before walking away.
At this moment, Princess Huangfu Jing hurriedly walked in from outside the garden, asking, "What happened? What's wrong with the Crown Prince?"
Upon seeing that it was the eldest princess, everyone immediately knelt down to pay their respects, while Ji Wushang kept his head bowed low.
"Your Highness, for some unknown reason, the Crown Prince suddenly fainted in his room in Xilin. After being revived by the imperial physician, he went mad! Your subordinate is investigating this matter!" Nan Jinxue reported.
The eldest princess glanced at Nan Jinxue, who was kneeling before her with his hands clasped and head bowed. However, she sensed his arrogance and knew he often followed the crown prince. So she nodded and said, "Get up! I want the truth!"
"Yes!" Nan Jinxue nodded and stood up, then stood to the side.
The eldest princess looked at the large group of people kneeling and frowned slightly. "You may all get up and go back to your residences! I didn't expect such a thing to happen here, and I'm truly sorry for causing everyone such a shock."
When everyone saw that the princess had apologized, they immediately knelt down and bowed again before getting up.
When Ji Wushang saw that the princess had dismissed them, she was about to leave as well. However, the princess spotted Ji Wushang at a glance and immediately called out, "Miss Ji, please wait."
"Your Highness, is there something you need?" Ji Wushang turned around and bowed to her gracefully. Zhu'er, who was beside Ji Wushang, immediately knelt down upon hearing the princess address her.
The eldest princess glanced at Ji Wushang, looking at her expression but not discerning anything, before saying, "It's alright, Miss Ji, please be careful on your journey."
"Thank you for your kindness, Princess. I am deeply grateful." Ji Wushang bowed again.
Just as the princess turned to leave, she caught a glimpse of Zhu'er kneeling to one side. Zhu'er was trembling with nervousness. Princess Princess turned back, wondering, "What's wrong with your maid? Why is she trembling so badly?" Her eyes were sharp, as if she wanted to see something.
Ji Wushang said, "The maid Zhu'er must have been so nervous when she saw the Princess standing so close that her heart raced and her legs trembled. Please forgive her, Princess. Zhu'er, quickly apologize to the Princess!"
"Yes." Zhu'er listened and kowtowed heavily to the princess. "Please forgive me, Your Highness. I am naturally dull-witted and only felt nervous in front of Your Highness's majesty. Please forgive me." After saying that, she kowtowed again.
The eldest princess nodded, then turned and left.
Once the person had walked away, Ji Wushang immediately helped Zhu'er up, asking, "How could you be so careless?"
“Miss, Pearl is really too nervous.” Pearl stood up.
"Let's go back to the manor!" Ji Wushang said with a smile.
"Yes," Pearl replied.
Ji Wushang glanced in the direction where Nan Jinxue and the Princess had disappeared, and a smile suddenly appeared on his lips. This Nan Jinxue probably knew and guessed that he might have been the one who did it, but he let him go. Did he do this in the hopes that he would forgive him? How ridiculous!
Ji Wushang sat in the carriage, gradually trying to fall asleep. However, just as she was about to drift off, the memory of almost being humiliated by the Crown Prince resurfaced in her mind. A cold sweat broke out, and Ji Wushang abruptly opened her eyes. Zhu'er looked at her worriedly and asked, "Miss, what's wrong? What exactly happened in the room? Zhu'er was originally by your bedside, but unexpectedly, I suddenly fainted. When I woke up, I saw Prince Nan and the others!"
"It's nothing, I was bitten a few times by a dog, but thankfully, I wasn't seriously injured," Ji Wushang said after taking a breath.
Pearl listened with concern, "What? It got bitten by a dog?"
"Don't ask too many questions. The more you know, the less good it will do you." Ji Wushang rolled his eyes at her, not wanting to recall what had happened before.
Pearl nodded, "Oh."
Ji Wushang shook his head gently, then leaned against the window, gently lifted the curtain, looked at the scenery outside, and said, "Zhu'er, do you know when the Second Miss will be back?" If she could come back soon, that would be even better, as he had promised to give Ji Yinxue a very big gift!
“Miss, I heard from Xian’er that she is really coming back, and the old lady has also nodded in agreement, saying that it is time to marry the second young lady off to a suitable family.”
Indeed, Ji Meiyuan was the same age as her, but she was a few months older and born to Madam Bei, which was why she became the eldest legitimate daughter. Now that Ji Yinxue and Ji Wuxia's marriages were settled, only she and Ji Meiyuan remained. Presumably, the matriarch was worried that the third and fourth sisters were already engaged, while the eldest and second sisters were not, and felt it would be a loss of face. That's why she allowed her to return.
This suits me perfectly. Ji Meiyuan, you should thank me!
Ji Wushang smiled slightly as he looked at the crowds coming and going on the street.
After wandering around several streets, they finally returned to the manor. The matriarch of the Yuan family was already leading a group of people out of the house. "Wu Shang is back?"
"Reporting to Grandmother, Wu Shang has returned." Ji Wu Shang stepped forward quickly and bowed to the Old Madam. "Grandmother should be enjoying her remaining years in Jingyuan."
"Yes, Wu Shang is very thoughtful." The old lady pulled Ji Wu Shang to sit down in the main hall. "Your concubines are all busy, so please go to the Yuanyue Nunnery and bring Mei Yuan back! Mei Yuan has been in seclusion for a long time. She said she misses me very much and has written a letter of repentance. I have already written a letter to your father. He did not object, and apart from feeling a little surprised about Yin Xue's marriage to the Second Young Master Nan, he did not say anything else."
"Yes, Wu Shang will definitely bring Second Sister back safely," Ji Wu Shang nodded. What remorse? He must be so worried about Ji Yin Xue marrying Nan Jin Xue that he made up this excuse!
The matriarch nodded and said, "Let's set off tomorrow!"
"yes."
"By the way, did anything unusual happen at the Crown Prince's residence?" the old lady suddenly asked.
Ji Wushang was taken aback, but then smiled and said, "Wushang didn't participate in anything. I was just enjoying the flowers and reciting poems with a few young ladies from official families."
"Very well. You may leave now!"
"Yes." After bowing, Ji Wushang took Zhu'er back to his own Xinyuan Garden.
Back at Xinyuan, Ji Wushang was already so sleepy that she wanted to sleep, perhaps because she was really too tired. Looking at the clothes she was making for the Seventh Princess that she hadn't finished yet, Ji Wushang counted on her fingers and realized that there were only a few days left until the eighth day of the tenth month, so she had no choice but to sit down at her desk and sew for a while.
Seeing that she was tired, Zhu'er brought over some bird's nest soup. "Miss, please eat something first so you'll have the energy to continue cooking."
"Mm." Ji Wushang nodded.
"Where's Xian'er? And Yue'er? Let them in," Ji Wushang said, taking a sip of his bird's nest soup.
“They’re outside. I’ll call them in right away,” Pearl said with a smile.
Ji Wushang waved his hand, signaling her to go.
A moment later, Xian'er and Yue'er came in, "Miss."
"Xian'er, I asked you to keep an eye on Aunt Qin. How is Aunt Qin doing now?"
“Miss, Aunt Qin is currently recovering and there are no signs of discomfort,” Xian’er said.
"Hmm. How about Yue'er? How's Lan Garden?" Ji Wushang asked, looking at her.
Yue'er shook her head, "Miss, we can't get into Lan Garden at all. Even the Iron Guard won't let me in. But I haven't seen anyone go in either."
Ji Wushang listened and put down the silver needles. It seemed that Ji Yinxue was indeed hiding her true intentions very well.
That's it. If she does anything else, I'll skin her alive myself!
"You can all leave now!" Ji Wushang rubbed his temples, he was tired.
"Yes." The men immediately left, and Ji Wushang went into his inner room, where he fell asleep shortly afterward.
The late autumn night was somewhat desolate, the moonlight pale. A man in black jumped in through the window and went straight to Ji Wushang's inner room. Ji Wushang was fast asleep and didn't know that the man was already sitting by his bedside.
He was wearing a butterfly mask, and his thin lips curled slightly as he looked at Ji Wushang, saying with a slight smile, "How can you be so heartless? I saved you, and you just dumped me on someone else?" Bei Gongminhao was feeling a bit resentful at this moment.
His large hand was reaching towards Ji Wushang's face, but he noticed some marks on Ji Wushang's face. What were they? Bei Gongminhao immediately leaned forward and saw tear stains. His heart skipped a beat. "What happened? Who bullied you?" He gently wiped them with his hand until he was satisfied.
Ji Wushang felt something touching his face, so he raised his hand, intending to remove it. Suddenly, he remembered his time with the Crown Prince—he felt the same way then! Instantly, he snapped awake, his eyes snapping open. "You…who are you? Who are you?!"