Meng Tongji trembled all over, retreating several steps in fear. "You… what do you want to do?"
Shang Yuanjian ignored Meng Tongji, leaning close to Xin's ear to ask, "What's his name?"
Xin couldn't figure out Shang Yuanjian's intentions, so he could only answer honestly, "Meng Tongji, the second son of Minister Meng Liu."
"Meng Tongji," Shang Yuanjian nodded. His official rank was indeed quite high. She then raised her knee and kicked Xin hard in the abdomen.
Xin grunted, nearly spitting blood.
"Stop this at once!" Li Zhengwen was practically ready to kneel before Shang Yuanjian. If things continued like this, Xin would truly meet his end here.
"Why are you hitting me again?" Xin asked, confused. "I didn't say I wouldn't let you go!"
"Meng Tongji," Shang Yuanjian said.
"What?"
"Because of Meng Tongji," Shang Yuanjian repeated. "Meng Tongji has also offended me, but he's not in my hands. I can only take it out on you."
"You—" Xin trembled with rage, but he didn't dare curse at Shang Yuanjian. Instead, he redirected his anger, glaring fiercely at Meng Tongji.
It was all this Meng Tongji's fault, making him get beaten for no reason. Once he regained his freedom, he would deal with this lowborn along with the entire Meng family.
Seeing the look in Xin's eyes as if he wanted to devour him, Meng Tongji thought to himself, "This is bad." With Xin's vengeful nature, he was surely holding a grudge against him now.
"Your Highness, I…" Meng Tongji didn't know what to say to salvage the situation, but he absolutely couldn't willingly fall into that lowborn's hands. She was ruthless and cruel—what if she killed him?
Shang Yuanjian simply watched coldly as Meng Tongji struggled to explain but couldn't find the words.
That's right, Shang Yuanjian was doing this deliberately.
The most urgent matter now was to escape this dangerous situation. Shang Yuanjian didn't want to waste time on Meng Tongji, so letting Xin teach him a lesson was just as well.
Shang Yuanjian looked down at Xin, whose eyes seemed ready to spit fire, and subtly increased the pressure of her grip. "Your Highness Xin, my request is quite simple."
Feeling the dagger in Shang Yuanjian's hand poised to strike him again, Xin could only endure the pain and say, "Do as she says. Get her a carriage."
Li Zhengwen was extremely reluctant to let Shang Yuanjian leave, but he didn't dare disobey Xin's orders. Moreover, Xin's life was still in her hands—he absolutely couldn't take any risks.
He had no choice but to grit his teeth and order the guards, "Do as she demands…"
The guards worked quickly. In less than a quarter of an hour, a carriage was brought before Shang Yuanjian.
"We have met your demands. I hope you will keep your promise and not harm His Highness," Li Zhengwen said warily to Shang Yuanjian, his tone now devoid of the earlier contempt.
Li Zhengwen was now filled with regret.
He had been blind to think this lowborn was a harmless beggar, allowing her to get close to His Highness. If he had known this would happen, he should have killed her back then.
But it was too late for regrets now. Xin was still in her hands, and he couldn't afford to anger her. He could only comply with her demands.
Shang Yuanjian carefully inspected the carriage from top to bottom. After confirming there were no issues, she suddenly grabbed Xin by the back of his collar and yanked him up from the ground.
"Everyone, step back!" Shang Yuanjian shouted loudly.
The dagger remained pressed tightly against Xin's neck as she practically dragged him toward the carriage.
"What are you all standing around for? Get out of the way now!" Xin roared.
The guards blocking Shang Yuanjian exchanged glances, their eyes wary as they retreated to either side, leaving a narrow path for Shang Yuanjian and Xin to pass through.
Shang Yuanjian led Xin to the carriage and ordered, "Get in yourself."
Xin was tall and robust; dragging him into the carriage would have required considerable effort. With no other choice, Xin lifted his right foot under the threat of Shang Yuanjian’s dagger.
His expression immediately changed.
Damn this lowly commoner—his knee seemed to have been injured when she kicked him earlier. The slightest movement sent a piercing pain through it. Yet, with Shang Yuanjian watching, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure the bone-deep agony as he climbed into the carriage.
Shang Yuanjian followed closely, taking a seat beside Xin.
She grasped the reins, testing their tension.
Fortunately, thanks to her wide-ranging interests in the past, Shang Yuanjian had learned some horsemanship. Otherwise, trying to lead Xin out of here on foot would have likely gotten her killed the moment she stepped outside.
Taking a deep breath, Shang Yuanjian tightened her grip on the reins. The horse, sensing the command, neighed and swiftly charged out of the gate.
Xu An watched as the carriage disappeared from sight, feeling uncertain. He tentatively asked Li Zhengwen, "Lord Li, what… what should we do? Are we just going to wait for that lowly commoner to release His Highness?"
"That commoner is too cunning. We can’t let her lead us by the nose," Li Zhengwen snorted coldly, giving a meaningful glance to the guards beside him. "You there, change into plain clothes and follow that carriage. Ensure His Highness’s safety at all costs. As for that commoner… you know what to do."
"Yes!"
…
By then, night had fallen. Although the capital was under Curfew, it remained brightly lit.
Moreover, the Curfew did not restrict goulan (entertainment quarters) and wine shops, making them the best places for nobles and young masters to seek amusement late at night.
At this moment, the sounds of song, dance, and music painted the most vibrant nightscape of the capital.
Shang Yuanjian had been traveling with Xin for half an hour, but unfortunately, she didn’t know the way and could only head toward densely populated areas.
Even so, Shang Yuanjian could sense a few people following them intermittently in the distance, though they dared not approach due to the crowds.
"We’ve been traveling for so long. Surely you can release me now," Xin said to Shang Yuanjian.
Perhaps fearing she might go back on her word, he quickly added, "If you let me go, I promise I won’t hold it against you."
"Shut up!"
Shang Yuanjian unceremoniously pressed her hand against Xin’s neck.
"What are you trying to do?" Xin grew wary, thinking she intended to attack him now.
Panicked, Xin tried to retreat and evade, but Shang Yuanjian’s grip was too tight for him to break free.
The next moment, Xin felt the world spin around him before he was thrown out of the carriage and onto the ground. He wanted to cry out in pain, but Shang Yuanjian covered his mouth and dragged him into a dark alley.
"If you don’t want to die, keep quiet," Shang Yuanjian threatened.
Xin’s face contorted in agony, but he could only nod and remain silent.
Shang Yuanjian slowly released her hand and looked up to see the carriage she had been riding in continuing unhurriedly along its predetermined path, seemingly unaware of what had happened.
Shang Yuanjian held her breath and waited for over ten seconds before spotting more than a dozen people emerge and chase after the carriage.
The darkness concealed Shang Yuanjian and Xin’s figures, and their pursuers remained completely unaware that the people they were searching for were right before their eyes.
However, this was merely a delaying tactic. They would soon discover it was an empty carriage, and Shang Yuanjian needed to find a way to escape as quickly as possible.
At the end of the dark alley lay a churning river. Night had fallen, and boats occasionally passed by on the water.
Shang Yuanjian stood by the shore, the breeze tousling her disheveled hair. Her brows furrowed slightly as she raised a hand to press against her chest.
Perhaps the earlier commotion had been too intense, for the heart that had been temporarily suppressed by medicine was now aching faintly once more. Time was slipping away, and Shang Yuanjian could feel the throbbing pain in her heart growing increasingly distinct, her strength slowly draining away.
She could delay no longer. If this continued, she wouldn’t even be able to control that useless Xin.
“Can you swim?” Shang Yuanjian asked Xin.
“N-no… I can’t…” Xin had a bad feeling about this.
“Perfect!”
Shang Yuanjian lifted her foot and kicked Xin into the water.
Splash—
Xin fell into the river, sending a large spray of water into the air. The sound of his struggles echoed clearly in the quiet night.
A passerby, drawn by the commotion in the water, stopped in his tracks. He stared in confusion at the figure bobbing up and down in the river, quickly realizing what was happening. A panicked cry escaped his lips: “Quick, someone help! Someone’s fallen into the river!”
Shang Yuanjian paid no attention to Xin struggling in the water. At this moment, her face was pale, and cold sweat continuously beaded on her forehead.
A boat slowly drifted over from the opposite shore. Gritting her teeth against the discomfort in her body, Shang Yuanjian mustered her last ounce of strength and leaped aboard.