After finding the editor-in-chief, Song Ci handed over the subsequent recruitment matters to Shen Huaizhou.
With Li Ji'an assisting, Shen Huaizhou naturally didn't refuse. He also didn't want to be a good-for-nothing dandy.
The servant boy beside him was shocked, his jaw dropped.
Oh my god!
Has the heir changed his ways?
Shen Huaizhou snorted coldly.
"Qingfeng, put your jaw away, or I'll use it to crack walnuts."
The servant boy quickly shut his mouth.
He nervously touched his own jaw.
Seeing the ambition on her eldest brother's face, Song Ci smiled. It seemed that a man needed a career to have motivation.
Going out and running around more would be better for losing weight.
He wouldn't just satisfy himself with eating every day.
The two were discussing some details when a guard's warning voice sounded outside the carriage.
"Young Master, we're being followed."
"Guard Geng, go check it out."
Song Ci reminded him: "Be careful not to beat the grass and startle the snake."
The carriage lightened, and a figure quickly disappeared into the night.
Song Ci pondered: what kind of person was following them?
Since she had just transmigrated, the only person she had offended was Song Qianqian.
Could it be her?
Shen Huaizhou also frowned. Apart from being a bit of a glutton, he had no enemies.
Soon Guard Geng returned.
"Young Master, the other side doesn't look like street thugs, but rather like guard thugs."
"Guards?" Shen Huaizhou frowned. "I'll lure them away. You few, escort Miss Song back to the Marquis's Mansion."
"Eldest Brother, it's too dangerous." Song Ci refused. "For safety, let's split into two groups."
No matter how high one's kung fu, they still fear a kitchen knife.
Shen Huaizhou didn't refuse, and they split the personnel in half.
The two separated, and the black-clothed people hidden in the dark soon noticed something wrong.
"Young Master, they've split up."
"Idiot! Remember, our target is Song Ci! Don't make me remind you again!" The man slapped his subordinate on the back of the head. "Shen Huaizhou has the Duke's Mansion behind him. If you want to die, then go chase him!"
All the subordinates...
Chased toward Song Ci's carriage.
Guard Geng noticed something wrong. "Miss Song, they're closing in..."
Song Ci understood that the other side was coming for her.
"Guard Geng, let's turn around and chase after my eldest brother. Send someone to the Jingzhao Yin to beat the drum, saying that villains attacked the Young Master, and ask them to come and capture the criminals."
"M-Miss, aren't we returning to the mansion?" Amber was so scared her little face turned pale, and her voice trembled.
Song Ci shook her head.
"Distant water cannot save a nearby fire. We can only use the tiger to drive away the wolf."
Amber didn't understand? ? ?
She inexplicably felt that the eldest miss knew a lot.
Guard Geng, however, understood. This was to use the Young Master's name to seek protection.
And then use the government soldiers to intimidate the enemy?
He couldn't help but look at Song Ci with new respect. The person the Young Master protected was indeed smart.
His tone of voice unconsciously became more polite.
"Miss Song, we lack manpower. This is too risky."
"One cannot catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger's den. Guard Geng, please ride hard. Our lives are in your hands."
"I will not fail the mission."
Guard Geng didn't dare delay a moment, and sent someone to ride swiftly toward the yamen.
Horseshoes splashed, stirring up clouds of dust, and quickly disappeared from sight.
When the black-clothed people saw the carriage turn around, they were also stunned.
"Has this girl gone crazy? Why is she running back? Young Master, do we make a move?"
"Move my ass! This is the Capital City, not a desolate wilderness. Committing murder in the street, are you tired of living? Quietly, preferably force them into a dead end, and capture them alive!"
"But..."
"Stop with the 'but's. A sixteen-year-old little girl, could she grow wings and fly away?"
The man was almost furious to death.
A bunch of idiots, insufficient to accomplish tasks but more than enough to ruin them.
Following orders, the black-clothed people began to target pedestrians and children on the road.
Forcing Song Ci's carriage to dodge.
"Watch out!"
In order to avoid the child, they had to turn the carriage into an alley.
By the time they realized something was wrong, it was already too late.
The carriage driver stammered.
"Miss, we've taken the wrong road."
"Don't panic, keep going."
A flicker of unease passed through Song Ci's eyes, but she still said calmly: "Old Ma, you know the Capital City best. See where this street leads to?"
"Eldest... Miss, this street is a dead end. At the end there is a house. Rumors say... it's haunted..."
"We're going in!"
"Ah..." The carriage driver was scared to death. A haunted house and pursuers behind – wasn't that certain death?
Song Ci's voice was cold: "Don't panic! Do as I say."
"Yes..."
The carriage driver could only steel himself, flick the whip, and head toward the abandoned house.
Amber nervously clutched her handkerchief.
"Eldest Miss, are we going to die?"
"Don't be afraid. In this life, I guarantee you'll live to a hundred."
Amber forced a smile that was uglier than crying.
Song Ci gently patted her hand.
"If you don't want to smile, don't smile. Why force yourself?"
Amber...
"Miss, am I too useless that you have to comfort me?"
Amber puffed out her little chest.
"Even if we die, your servant will die before you."
Song Ci...
That's not necessary.
She unconsciously thought of her previous life. Shortly after the original body died, Amber secretly found someone to write a written complaint and wanted to go to the yamen to file a lawsuit, seeking justice for her.
Unfortunately, before she even left the door, she was caught by Song Qianqian.
In a panic, Amber crawled through a dog hole.
She was blocked inside the hole by Song Qianqian's people.
Song Qianqian sneered coldly.
"Crawl out..."
Amber curled up inside the hole, not daring to move.
"Song Ci is already dead, and you still want to be her dog? Fine, I'll fulfill your wish."
Song Qianqian's voice was very soft, yet it carried bloodthirst.
"Beat to death!"
"No... Ah!"
Amber writhed in pain inside the dog hole, her whole body burning with pain.
Song Qianqian watched with pleasure, her smile radiant.
"Fun, haha... hit harder."
Amber was beaten to death.
Song Qianqian watched as Amber's broken body was dragged out, with hardly a piece of good flesh on her.
She laughed wantonly.
"Dead so soon? Not interesting. Throw her to the dogs in the graveyard. May your next life and the life after that, you will always be Song Ci's dog..."
"Miss... we've arrived!"
The carriage driver's trembling voice brought Song Ci back to her thoughts.
The abandoned house was dead silent, overgrown with weeds everywhere. Song Ci looked around. In the darkness, a faint light flickered.
Her gaze sharpened.
"All of you, withdraw."
Guard Geng was greatly alarmed: "Miss Song, don't be rash. Yan San will return."
Was Miss Song giving up on herself?
Song Ci's voice was light.
"Guard Geng, follow orders."
Guard Geng had no choice but to pull the carriage driver back and withdraw.
He couldn't understand. How could a sixteen-year-old little girl have a more intimidating presence than the Young Master?
The black-clothed people crept in. Seeing the lone carriage parked in the yard overgrown with dry grass, they were also startled.
The man signaled his subordinates to be silent.
They looked around, afraid of an ambush.
He waved his hand, and they surrounded the carriage.
Song Ci spoke in a deep voice.
"Amber, lift the carriage curtain."
"Yes..."
Amber, ready to die, lifted the curtain, determined to give her life to protect her mistress.
Song Ci's gaze was cold as she looked at the black-clothed people.
"Who are you? Who sent you?"
"Little girl, not old but quite a big mouth. Get down and kneel before young master, and I'll spare your life."
The man looked at Song Ci's delicate little face, white like a piece of fine porcelain, and suddenly changed his mind.
All the black-clothed people had lecherous expressions.
"Kneel obediently on the ground and lick our young master's shoes..."
"How dare you!"
Amber shouted coldly.
"A bunch of beasts. You don't deserve to live."
The man sneered coldly.
"Stinky girl, on the brink of death and still spouting nonsense! Men, tie them up!"
The man's eyes flashed with a fierce light, but somehow he felt something was off.
Just as the black-clothed man's hand touched Song Ci, a sudden shout exploded.
"Take your dirty hand off! Don't touch my sister!"
Swords and blades were drawn, horses neighed.
A large troop rushed out, surrounding everyone.
"Yamen runners conducting official business! Surrender immediately, or we'll kill on sight!"
"Stinky girl, you actually notified the yamen! Kill her!"
The man's eyes revealed murderous intent.
Song Ci waved her hand.
In the darkness, arrows flew out.
"Kill!"
"Young Master, we've fallen into an ambush."
"Fight them to the death."
The numbers were uneven, and soon the black-clothed people were defeated.
Watching his subordinates fall one by one, the man's eyes nearly split open:
"Song Ci, I want you dead!"
"Miss!"
"Little Sister!"
Shen Huaizhou's heart was about to jump out of his throat...
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