“Madam! The horses of that family ahead have sprung! They’re coming this way. Please hold on tight, I’ll move the carriage closer to the inner wall.”
Da Zhuang warned gruffly. Jiang Lanyue responded and quietly opened the carriage window to peek out.
A luxurious carriage not far ahead was approaching them at an extremely fast speed. This was a two-way road, and the carriages behind them, like theirs, moved to the innermost part to let the sprung horse pass.
“Hey! That seems to be the carriage of the Mu family, the richest family in the capital. I heard that the Mu family’s daughter is about to marry into the Prince Ke’s mansion and become a concubine for the Prince Ke’s heir!”
“Hmph! A concubine is still a concubine. She’s just using her money to curry favor with the heir…”
A strong sour smell seemed to fill the air. Jiang Lanyue’s eyes flickered slightly. In her previous life, after the tyrant fell, the Prince Ke’s heir was pushed onto the throne by his relatives.
During this process, the Mu family contributed money and effort to the new emperor. After the new emperor ascended the throne, he directly made the Mu family’s daughter a concubine, and the Mu family jumped from merchants to the new elite of the capital.
However, what Jiang Lanyue was more interested in was that the Mu family and Wei Chi were political enemies.
“Look! The Mu family’s carriage is about to fall off the cliff!”
An unexpected incident occurred, and the frenzied horse approached the edge of the cliff, expected to plunge off the cliff when it reached their carriage.
Jiang Lanyue tried hard to recall her memories from her past life. It seemed that the eldest daughter of the Mu family was crippled after falling from a horse, and the person chosen to marry into the Prince Ke’s mansion was replaced by her cousin. Could it be this time?
The Mu family’s carriage was already close at hand, and through the carriage window, one could vaguely see the panicked state of Miss Mu, which was very similar to the way she was abused by Shen Jiaxue in her past life.
Without time to think, Jiang Lanyue shouted to the Mu family’s coachman: “Quickly cut the harness!”
At the critical moment, the coachman quickly cut the harness, and the carriage and the coachman barely clung to the edge of the cliff. This scene made many people’s legs go weak.
Jiang Lanyue immediately got off the carriage: “Dazhuang, go pull the coachman up. Shanhu and Ruyi, hold on tight to me. I’ll hold onto Miss Mu.”
Both were terrified; their minds hadn’t even registered what was happening, yet their hands were already firmly gripping Jiang Lanyue’s arm.
Mu Jiaojiao was so frightened her limbs went weak, and she slumped against the carriage curtain, almost falling off!
“Miss Mu, quickly give me your right hand! Don’t be afraid, I’m here!”
Suddenly, a clear, melodious, and firm voice called to her. Mu Jiaojiao looked towards the voice and was instantly stunned.
So…so beautiful!
She wondered if she was dead, which was why she was seeing a fairy…
The carriage suddenly jolted, not only startling Mu Jiaojiao awake, but also making Jiang Lanyue’s heart tremble.
Seeing the little girl still standing there blankly, she said in a more forceful tone: “Give me your hand if you don’t want to die!!!”
“Okay! Okay!” Mu Jiaojiao stretched out her right hand with all her might, and Jiang Lanyue gritted her teeth and held her tightly, then pulled her out of the carriage step by step.
The moment she pulled her out, the carriage plunged off the cliff, and a moment later the sound of the carriage crashing to the ground was heard.
Mu Jiaojiao, still shaken, burst into tears and buried her face in Jiang Lanyue’s arms, sobbing, “Sister, I was so scared, sob sob…”
Jiang Lanyue then realized that she was covered in cold sweat, and she silently patted Mu Jiaojiao’s back to comfort her.
At this moment, the servants of the Mu family rushed over and checked Mu Jiaojiao over and over again. Seeing that it was no longer their business, Jiang Lanyue and the others got back into the carriage and continued up the mountain.
Mu Jiaojiao recovered her senses and looked around for her benefactor sister, but she couldn’t find that stunningly beautiful face, so she had to give up for the time being.
After this incident, she had no mood to appreciate the flowers, so she led the servants back to the city.
The matter of the horse being startled was absolutely unfounded . “So simple! Someone must have deliberately framed me.” Mu Jiaojiao gritted her teeth, vowing to repay this grudge tenfold once she found the culprit.
The last carriage, a discreetly luxurious one, witnessed this scene, a hint of amusement flashing in its indifferent eyes.
Jun Yao’s gaze followed the carriage slowly making its way up the slope, casually asking, “Whose family is that?”
Quite bold; if they make a single misstep, she too will fall off the cliff.
A guard glanced at Jiang Lanyue’s carriage and respectfully replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, it is Wei Tanhua’s ex-wife, her maiden name is Jiang Lanyue.”
It was her!
He had heard a little about the Wei family’s recent scandals in the palace, which led to Censor Meng’s renewed impeachment, and he conveniently dismissed him.
This Wei Tanhua is truly fortunate; first, he had a beautiful ex-wife who selflessly supported him, and now he has the daughter of the Duke of Liang, who would sacrifice her own reputation to stay with him. He even has connections to the carefree Prince Ke’s heir…
“After returning to the capital, have someone keep a close eye on Wei Chi.” After a pause, she added, “Investigate Jiang Lanyue, down to the smallest detail.”
This woman was quite amusing; it seemed like a good story to hear during a meal.
Her slender fingers withdrew, and the carriage drove further and further away…
…
Half an hour later, Jiang Lanyue and her companions finally arrived at the carriage yard halfway up the mountain.
Hanshan Temple was built atop a high mountain, and the latter half of the path was an endless series of steps; they needed to walk up to the temple.
Most of the carriages had stopped at the carriage yard with them, with only a few continuing along a side path.
Jiang Lanyue glanced at them indifferently and then looked away; people of noble status naturally received special treatment.
They would obediently climb the steps…
Coral looked up at the steep steps, her legs, which had just recovered from the shock, went weak again.
“Madam, I…my legs are weak.”
Jiang Lanyue saw that Coral’s forehead was covered in cold sweat and her cheeks were flushed, so she quickly had Ruyi check her pulse.
“Oh no, Sister Coral is too frightened and has a low-grade fever!” Ruyi frowned and said worriedly.
Coral’s eyes were unfocused, and she said aggrievedly, “I haven’t even admired the green chrysanthemums yet.”
“Even in this state, you’re still thinking about green chrysanthemums. Dazhuang, please take Coral back and get her some medicine while you’re at it.”
Jiang Lanyue made the decision immediately. Coral was always obedient and didn’t resist. She followed Dazhuang back to the capital, and Dazhuang would pick them up later.
After watching the carriage drive away, Jiang Lanyue led Ruyi up the stairs with the crowd.
Her health had always been poor, and in her previous life, she had been tormented by Shen Jiaxue for five years. The five years after gaining her freedom were spent living in poverty. She was already panting after climbing only a third of the stairs.
Ruyi’s cheeks were flushed, and she seemed to be in good spirits. Jiang Lanyue looked on with envy.
“I’m getting old after all. I get tired after just a few steps. It’s a good thing you’re half-supporting me, otherwise I was afraid I would have slipped and fallen.”
“When we get back, I’ll prepare a medicinal bath for you. The more you soak, the better you’ll feel,” Ruyi chuckled, suggesting.
She had been sickly as a child, but after learning medicine from her master and taking many medicinal baths, her health improved compared to ordinary people, even without practicing martial arts.
Jiang Lanyue, curious, asked about it and was slightly moved after learning the reason.
She seemed to have underestimated Ruyi’s medical skills and looked down on her master.
“Ruyi, if I have the chance, I would like to meet your master.”
Ruyi nodded immediately. Her master was a wanderer, and although the probability of meeting him was low, it was not impossible.
The two supported each other and chatted about interesting things. Before they knew it, they saw the main hall of Hanshan Temple.