Ji Wanwan coughed lightly and tried to change the subject after entering the room: “Second Brother, the exam must have been exhausting, right? Are you hungry? Should I have food brought for you first?”
Ji Mingjing looked up and said, “‘Hitting a person is much harder than hitting a carriage.’ Say that sentence for me.”
He hadn’t thought his three-and-a-half-year-old-minded sister could be capable of such a thing, but hearing her voice now, it sounded all too familiar.
Upon hearing this, Ji Wanwan thought, “Oh no, the truth can’t be hidden anymore!”
Her second brother was supposed to be a military man—how could he be so sharp-minded too!
Ji Wanwan frantically tried to think of a way to cover it up, but under Ji Mingjing’s intimidating gaze, she gritted her teeth and coughed again.
Then, deliberately altering her voice a little, she repeated the sentence.
Ji Mingjing stared at her, his eyes seeming to see right through her, and said coldly, “Still not telling the truth?”
Ji Wanwan raised both hands in surrender: “Alright, alright, I just wanted to see you off to the exam. Who told you not to let me go? So I secretly followed. But Second Brother, you should thank me! Otherwise, if you were dragged away and couldn’t take the exam, you’d have to wait another three years!”
Ji Mingjing angrily slapped the table and stood up: “Nonsense! That woman’s martial arts were extremely high-level. How dare you recklessly step in? Just how bold are you to do something like that!”
Then he came closer and asked, “Were you hurt? Did she injure you? I’ll call a doctor to check on you!”
Ji Wanwan waved her hands repeatedly: “No, no, I ran fast—she didn’t catch up. She probably isn’t from the capital. I led her through a few alleys and lost her.”
Only then did Ji Mingjing feel relieved. Recalling the incident that morning, his carriage had indeed been struck, startling the horse and nearly injuring a passerby.
But to outsiders, it looked like he was recklessly riding his horse and endangering others—the evidence was clear.
Ji Mingjing rubbed his temples in frustration.
Ji Wanwan reminded him from the side: “Second Brother, there are so many alleys in the capital. Who knows, maybe she’s still wandering around lost in them. Hehe, I already avenged you, so don’t be angry about her obstructing your exam, okay?”
Ji Mingjing paused and looked up: “Which alley?”
Ji Wanwan answered honestly: “The Nanhen Alley area.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Mingjing remembered that those alleys were indeed difficult to navigate, and with night falling, if something happened to that young woman…
He turned and headed out the door. At first, he walked, but soon he picked up speed and started running.
Ji Wanwan watched his retreating figure with a satisfied smile.
Shen Zhinan asked from behind: “Did Mother say that on purpose?”
Ji Wanwan replied: “Yes, I had to help your second uncle. Luckily, the Military Imperial Examination was completed in one day, otherwise, I’d have had to rescue her myself.”
Even she found the capital’s alleys maddeningly confusing—a woman raised in the borderlands couldn’t possibly fare much better.
What a perfect opportunity for a hero to save a beauty. It’s much more fitting for someone like Ji Mingjing, that blockhead.
Nanhen Alley.
By the time Ji Mingjing arrived, the sky had gradually darkened. The parts of the alley untouched by light were already pitch black.
He searched alley after alley, even running into some of the shorter ones.
This area indeed had many short alleys. With poor lighting, it was like a maze—even locals could get lost, let alone outsiders.
He circled inside again and again, but still didn’t see that red figure. He wondered if she had already walked out.
Just as he was about to go back and have someone investigate the girl’s background to see if she had returned home, he suddenly heard a faint, almost imperceptible sob.
Having practiced martial arts since childhood, his hearing was far better than most. He lightened his footsteps and moved toward the source of the sound.
“Jerk, luring me to such a place, it’s like a maze, impossible to get out of,” the girl cursed between sobs, her voice full of grievance.
She was curled up in a corner, a pitiful little ball.
The narrow alley was already poorly lit, and with the arrival of another person, all the light was blocked.
He Ying looked up and saw a tall figure standing at the mouth of the alley, breathing heavily as if he had run all the way there.
Ji Mingjing walked over, frowning involuntarily at the sight of the girl sitting on the ground. Women were naturally prone to chills, and this sunless alley was bitterly cold.
He crouched in front of her and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s you!” He Ying remembered him—the man she had mistakenly accused of reckless riding that morning.
If it weren’t for the masked woman who appeared later, she would have thought it was him. She hadn’t expected to have misunderstood him.
Seeing that she didn’t answer, Ji Mingjing asked again, “Are you hurt?”
If she weren’t injured, she should still be trying to find her way out, not sitting on the cold ground.
He Ying turned her face away and said, “I twisted my ankle.”
She had deliberately shaken off her maids and guards today, wanting to wander around freely. She hadn’t anticipated such an accident.
Her grandfather was probably frantic with worry at home, but she couldn’t walk, let alone navigate this maze-like alley.
Ji Mingjing remained silent for a moment before finally turning his back to her and crouching down. “Get on. I’ll take you home.”
He Ying initially thought that men and women shouldn’t be too familiar and that she shouldn’t accept the offer, but her straightforward nature since childhood made her climb onto his back without hesitation.
Just this once!
He Ying had been sitting on the ground for a long time, her body chilled. Ji Mingjing had left in a hurry and hadn’t brought a cloak, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to take off his clothes for her, so he decided against it.
As he carried her, Ji Mingjing asked, “Where do you live?”
He Ying replied, “North Fifth Road, the He Residence.”
Ji Mingjing paused for a moment before continuing forward. “You’re General He’s granddaughter.”
General He had devoted his life to the military, and his only son had died in battle. His daughter-in-law, overwhelmed by grief, had also passed away early, leaving behind only a daughter—likely the girl on his back.
He Ying turned her face away awkwardly and said, embarrassed, “Don’t mention my grandfather when I’m being so disgraceful…”
She wasn’t bringing glory to her grandfather, but at least she shouldn’t be doing anything shameful.
Ji Mingjing said calmly, “There’s nothing shameful about it. The alleys in this area are indeed confusing. Even long-time residents can get lost.”
“Alright… hearing it that way makes it a bit easier to accept,” He Ying resigned herself.
This wasn’t the first time Ji Mingjing had carried a girl. Ji Wanwan had caused trouble since she was young, and he had often cleaned up her messes. Carrying her was a common occurrence.
But the girl on his back now wasn’t his relative, giving him a strange feeling. The contact on his back was particularly sensitive, impossible to ignore.
He Ying was also aware of it, especially when the two fell silent. She could feel the man’s broad back, which felt incredibly reassuring.
However, she didn’t forget to lift her upper body to avoid touching his back…
He Ying recalled that Ji Mingjing had mentioned having business in the morning and couldn’t help asking, “I was wrong this morning. I acted against you without understanding the situation and almost delayed your matters… By the way, did I delay your business?”
Ji Mingjing replied indifferently, “No.”
For the rest of the journey, neither spoke again.
He Ying wanted to say more, but Ji Mingjing’s responses remained cold and detached, like ice.
As they approached the small alley before the He Family residence, Ji Mingjing set her down. “You can walk the rest of the way yourself.”
He Ying asked, puzzled, “My foot still hurts a little. Since you’ve brought me this far, why not take me to the door?”
Hearing her naive words, Ji Mingjing reminded her, “Men and women should avoid improper contact. If word gets out that you were carried home by a man late at night, do you still think you can arrange a marriage?”
“I…”
Ji Mingjing picked up a small stone from the ground and placed it in her hand. “Figure it out yourself.”
With that, the young man turned and left.
He Ying clutched the stone, pouting. “He gave me the stone but tells me to figure it out myself. Such a hypocrite.”
Then, channeling her inner strength, she flicked the small stone at the guard stationed at her family’s gate.
Soon, the guards discovered their young lady, whom they had been searching for frantically.