“Stop the carriage.”
“Whoa—Miss, what is it?”
Ye Qingyu’s gaze hardened, her tone icy. “Turn back. Take the official road.”
The driver hesitated, panic flickering in his eyes. “Miss, we’re almost caught up with the others. Turning back will waste a lot of time.”
“No matter. Return at once.”
The driver hadn’t expected her to be so insistent. “That won’t do. If the Marquis doesn’t see you for too long, he’ll punish me. Don’t worry, this path is a shortcut—we might even arrive before them.”
Without waiting for her consent, he urged the horses forward.
“Hey! Didn’t you hear the young lady? Stop at once!” Nian Chun shouted angrily.
“Sit tight, Miss. The road is bumpy—you might get hurt,” the driver replied, ignoring them.
Ye Qingyu’s heart sank. She understood. Before going to Nanhua Temple, her usual driver had injured his hand and was replaced by this man. The “broken carriage,” the “shortcut”—all excuses. A trap awaited ahead.
“I’ll say it again. Turn back!”
The driver ignored her, speeding up instead.
“You dare disobey your mistress? Stop now!” Nian Chun fumed.
Ye Qingyu closed her eyes, silent, her expression cold. Nian Chun, seeing this, fell quiet too, glaring at the driver, already planning to report him later.
The carriage jolted violently, then stopped abruptly, throwing them against the wall.
“Miss, are you alright?” Nian Chun steadied her.
“I’m fine,” Ye Qingyu said, shaking her head.
Then came the driver’s shout: “Miss, it’s terrible—bandits!”
Laughter rang outside. “Well, well, a little lady in the carriage. Don’t be afraid, come out and let us have a look.”
“Big brother, I hear rich girls are delicate beauties.”
Nian Chun trembled. “Miss, what do we do?”
Ye Qingyu lifted the curtain. Four or five ragged men stood outside, each wielding a blade, grinning at her.
“Well, she really is a beauty.”
“Come down, pretty one, keep us company.”
“Don’t worry. Behave, and your family can pay the ransom. You’ll be fine.”
The driver turned, feigning fear. “Miss, what should we do?”
“What should we do? Like this.” Ye Qingyu’s eyes flashed cold. She swung the incense burner she had hidden, smashing it against the driver’s head. He collapsed unconscious. Kicking him out of the carriage, she seized the reins, whipped the horses, and spun the carriage around, racing forward.
The bandits froze, stunned, before shouting, “Don’t just stand there! After them!”
Nian Chun gaped at her mistress driving the carriage. Since when did Miss know how to do this?
Ye Qingyu sped along, soon reaching the official road. She kept driving toward Nanhua Temple.
“Miss, that’s the wrong way—we’re heading back to the temple!” Nian Chun cried.
“I know,” Ye Qingyu replied firmly.
The road was wide and smooth. The carriage thundered forward. Nian Chun, seeing her mistress’s stern, unfamiliar face, felt a strange chill.
Soon, a troop appeared ahead, blocking the road. “Who goes there? Stop!”
Ye Qingyu halted, leapt down, and ran forward. Kneeling, her beautiful face pale with fear, she cried: “I am Ye Qingyu, legitimate daughter of Marquis Qingyuan. I beg to see His Highness Prince Chu. Please save me—bandits are chasing us!”
Nian Chun scrambled down too, kneeling beside her. “Your Highness, please save my lady! The bandits are right behind us!”
Ye Qingyu knelt straight, eyes fixed on the plain carriage ahead. She remembered—last life, she only learned afterward that Prince Chu, Shen Yanli, had also gone to Nanhua Temple to honor the late Empress, returning to the capital this same day. She had regretted not meeting him sooner; had she done so, no bandits would have dared appear.
As they pleaded, shouts rang from behind. “You little brat, don’t let us catch you!”
The bandits were closing in. Ye Qingyu’s eyes flickered with urgency. The carriage ahead remained silent. Suddenly, she rose, darted past the stunned guards, and rushed to the window.
“Miss Ye, you mustn’t—” the guards cried.
Ignoring them, she called out loudly: “Your Highness, I am Ye Qingyu, daughter of Marquis Qingyuan. Bandits are upon us—please save me!”
From inside came a deep, magnetic voice, tinged with hoarseness: “Ye Qingyu?”