vstars Chapter 747: Too Courageous
Chapter 747: Too Courageous
Ling'er and Princess Hongjun looked at the fourth-rank official's wife beside them. Her face looked unfamiliar and they didn't know which family she was from.
Then look at the girl next to her, the woman who testified for her and Jing Chunxi. She has a slender and well-proportioned figure, delicate features, and doesn't look like someone from the north.
His heart finally settled down, and the guards took a few steps back. Jing Chunxi raised his head and looked at the girl with gratitude.
Unexpectedly, she was surprised when she looked up. The moon-shaped pendant on the girl's earlobe flashed as she turned her head, and was looking at her directly. It was the very kind daughter of the Dali Temple Shaoqing, Feng Jiaojiao, whom she had met twice before.
Jing Chunxi only looked up once, and after recognizing the person who helped her hide the truth, she immediately lowered her head and remained silent.
When the two met for the last time in Sihui Town, Feng Jiaojiao treated them to a delicious meal. She then said that her father would be transferred to Beijing soon and that she hoped to meet again in Beijing.
However, Jing Chunxi was a little embarrassed. She didn't expect that their first meeting in the capital would be in the palace and in such a scene.
She also didn't expect that she would help her out after seeing her lowly status as a maid.
At this time, Feng Jiaojiao felt mixed emotions when she looked at Jing Chunxi. She didn't expect that the young lady from a prominent official family had now sold herself into slavery. She couldn't help feeling a little melancholy.
"Who are you?" The captain of the guards wanted to ask Feng Jiaojiao's identity, but he saw her hand holding with a woman.
He stared at the fourth-rank imperial edict patch on Feng Jiaojiao's mother's lapel, and suddenly sheathed his sword: "Let's disperse!"
Before he could finish his words, Ling'er rushed over like an arrow, pulling Jing Chunxi to stagger.
The little girl ran so fast that her embroidered shoes almost fell off, casting a panicked silhouette on the palace wall.
When the three of them got into the carriage, Ling'er's tightly clenched and slightly trembling palms told them that she was still in shock.
Her hands were cold, her knuckles white from exerting too much force, her nails almost digging into Jing Chunxi's flesh. Her eyelashes were still wet with tears, and her chest was heaving violently, clearly still recovering from the shock she had just experienced.
"Xi'er..." Princess Hong was about to speak but stopped herself. She reached out and gently stroked Jing Chunxi's hair. Her fingertips lingered around her ear, her eyes full of fear and heartache.
She opened her mouth, as if she had a thousand words to ask, but in the end she just sighed deeply, turning all her questions into a soft call of "I'm glad you're okay."
"I'm fine, really fine." Jing Chunxi forced a smile, but the trembling in her voice betrayed her.
Her back was already drenched in cold sweat, her undergarments sticking to her skin. Only now did she realize how sore and weak every limb was. The flashbacks from the previous moment made her shiver uncontrollably.
"That's Feng Jiaojiao, the daughter of the Dali Temple's Shaoqing. Xier met her once in Lingnan." Jing Chunxi deliberately slowed down his speech, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the embroidery on his sleeves.
She lowered her eyelids to hide the calculation in her eyes, but her voice became softer: "What a coincidence, she also helped Xier that time in Lingnan." These words were said lightly, but they contained deep meaning. They not only pointed out the favor, but also subtly hinted at the other person's character.
She actually had selfish motives in saying this. Having accepted Feng Jiaojiao's kindness, she had no way to repay it, so she could only hope that Prince Hong and Prince Jing, or Princess Hong, would take care of her in the future.
Or even if you can't help, at least you won't become their enemy.
After entering the mansion and getting off the carriage, Jing Chunxi saw Prince Jing, who had already dismounted and was waiting beside him. He immediately said to Ling'er and Princess Hong, "Xi'er must return early tomorrow morning."
She looked at Ling'er with a guilty look, her fingertips gently brushing the corners of her eyes, which had turned red from fear. This time, Ling'er was surprisingly quiet, and the hand that had been tightly grasping the corner of her clothes slowly loosened. But her face was still pale, and her lips were pressed into a straight line.
"Ling'er, wait until your sister comes back before you go to sleep." Ling'er's voice was as soft as a mosquito's whisper, but it revealed an unprecedented determination. She raised her face, her black and white eyes filled with stubbornness, as if she had grown up a lot overnight.
The Princess knew that she must have something urgent to do, and did not ask why. She just said lightly: "Receive the red envelope tomorrow and then leave." She reached out and gathered Jing Chunxi's scattered hair, her movements as gentle as if she was treating fragile porcelain.
Jing Chunxi smiled, "Of course, I still have to wish everyone a happy new year tomorrow! Auntie's red envelope must be wrapped thickly, Xier is waiting!" She blinked deliberately, trying to make the atmosphere more relaxed, but the smile did not reach her eyes.
"Let's go!" The Princess turned around decisively, but paused as she passed Prince Jing. She lowered her voice and said, "Father must not have eaten enough. I'll ask the maid to bring some chicken soup and pastries later." She glanced at the old man's lips that were blue from the cold and frowned with heartache.
After the two walked away, Jing Chunxi trotted to catch up with Prince Jing, "Grandfather, hasn't my uncle come back yet?" She looked around anxiously, fearing that her uncle was still looking for her in vain in the palace.
The night wind lifted the hem of her skirt, and it was obvious that she had been through a lot that night.
"He's fine. He's in the back. Let's eat while we wait." Prince Jing walked hurriedly, but he didn't forget to turn back and instruct the servant: "Turn on the fire in the earthenware duct and make some tea quickly."
The white breath exhaled by the old man when he spoke was particularly obvious in the cold night. His red nose due to the cold made him look a little funny, but his furrowed brows showed his inner worries.
Jing Chunxi had deliberately eaten a full meal before entering the palace, so he could only barely swallow half a bowl of hot porridge. However, he saw Prince Jing wolfing down two large bowls, not even bothering to wipe the porridge dripping down his gray beard.
"What's the point of having a palace banquet in the middle of winter? The pot is cold, and it's even colder outside." The old man complained angrily, holding the bowl with his calloused hands to keep warm, and there were still traces of redness on his knuckles from the frostbite.
"Xi'er made you worry, grandpa. You were left outside in the cold late at night." Jing Chunxi twisted his handkerchief guiltily. His throat tightened when he thought of his grandfather waiting worriedly in the cold wind.
"It's okay, it's okay. If it was twenty years earlier, I wouldn't be freezing even if I squatted outside for half a night. It's just that my grandfather is old and useless." Prince Jing waved his hands, but couldn't help coughing, shaking the teacups on the table.
After Prince Jing finished his meal, Jing Chunxi recounted the terrifying events of the night. He left out the details of the incident, no matter how big or small, except for saving Nanny Zhou.
When talking about sneaking into Jingren Palace, the old man suddenly slammed the table and stood up, "Hiss! You girl, you are too brave." The teacup jumped up due to the shock, and the brown tea splashed on the table, reflecting the old man's face of shock and anger.
"That person is very cruel. If you are caught by her people, you will be in trouble." Prince Jing put down the teacup heavily, and the bottom of the cup hit the table with a dull sound.
His wrinkled hands were shaking slightly, and it was unclear whether it was due to lingering anger or fear.