The head of the Red Mansion

Judging from everyone's expressions, Master Yimu's amulet seems to be highly anticipated.

Although Shen Ning really wanted to go back immediately, she held back when she thought of the monk and the Taoist priest in the Red Chamber.

The two bodies were quickly dragged away, and the blood left on the ground was wiped clean by the servants.

Shen Ning tried her best not to look and went outside with Jia Min for some fresh air.

"Sister-in-law! Let's ride together on the way back!"

Jia Min said it seemingly unintentionally.

But who exactly is Shen Ning?
"worry about me?"

She laughed, "No need for that. Those two are probably after Cousin Zhong and his wife."

She was just sitting a little too close to her.

"……I know."

Jia Min nodded, "Those two came because of Cousin Ding. But for some reason, I feel uneasy today."

I have a feeling something else is going to happen.

In their family... the eldest sister-in-law is more likely to encounter trouble.

The thief that day did indeed alarm the Shuntian Prefecture and the Prince of Jin's residence for several days.

Although the eldest sister-in-law never told them the specifics, they could guess what it was.

Jia Min knew how difficult it was for her husband, the Salt Commissioner, to hold his position in Jiangnan.

Although he always reported good news and never bad news, he was so worried that he didn't even dare let her go home during the Lunar New Year. He only let her stay at her parents' house with the children. He knew that he must have encountered an assassination attempt there as well.

It could even be poisoning.

"Sister-in-law, you should come with me. If anything happens, we sisters-in-law can look out for each other."

"rest assured!"

Shen Ning felt her sincerity and was very gratified, but she really couldn't be with Jia Min.

Without Jia Min, how would Daiyu have grown up?

Although she saved Lin Chang'an, it is equally uncertain whether a child without parental protection can grow up.

Shen Ning said, "Ever since Zhen'er was stabbed, all the carriages in the manor have been modified."

She couldn't let Jia Min get dragged down with her.

"And didn't you see Wen Peilan's skills?"

Shen Ningchao blinked at Jia Min, who wanted to persuade her again, "If something really happens, she can still protect me."

She regretted not carrying the musket with her while eating.

but now……

Shen Ning tightened her cloak, "But you guys..."

Although the old lady was of high status, she had long since retired from public life, and no one would risk assassinating her.

Similarly, Xing Shi was only a nominal title held by Jia She, and as his second wife, no one would waste time on her.

And then there's Wang Xifeng. Jia Lian is riding high, but he works in the armory. Anyone with a brain wouldn't easily touch his wife.

Therefore, besides her, Jia Min is the most dangerous member of the Jia family.

"When you go back, you can ride in the same car as the old lady!"

This?
Jia Min's heart skipped a beat. "Okay!"

At that moment, she finally realized the danger she was in.

Can't wait to go home!

However, given the relationship between the Jia and Shi families, and the fact that the other guests hadn't left yet, it would be too awkward for them to arrive early.

Jia Min forced herself to stay upright and watched as the carriages left one by one.

Shen Ning didn't seem to care much.

Only a thousand days to be a thief, how can a thousand days to guard against thieves?
Come if you want!
The road to the plum garden, though not entirely an official road, was wide and smooth, and there were no ravines or cliffs in the surrounding area.

Influenced by movies and TV dramas, she had paid special attention to this point.

Finally, all the other guests left, and it was their turn.

"Don't take today's events too seriously."

Grandmother Jia was always incredibly proud of her nephew's achievement of being granted the title of Marquis Zhongjing through his own abilities, saying, "If those people dare to cause trouble here, the Emperor will only value you even more."

"Eh~"

Shi Ding smiled and nodded, "It's cold. If you ask me, Aunt, cousins, and cousins ​​shouldn't go back. The Emperor has just bestowed a new estate upon us, which isn't far from here. Perhaps..."

"Your aunt knows your feelings."

Grandmother Jia patted her nephew's hand, "But your eldest cousin's wife still has Xiao Yue'er at home. She needs to find her mother tonight. We, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, are all here in the West Mansion. Feng'er is the head of the household, so we can't stay out all night."

The eldest son's family isn't home, and neither is she. What if Zheng'er has run away...?

Grandmother Jia was also eager to return home.

Although she had already asked Lin Zhixiao to keep an eye on Lixiang Courtyard today, she was really worried about her second son's recent behavior.

"Yes!"

When Zhong Shi tried to persuade her, Shen Ning smiled and said, "It's not like we can't come again in the future. We're family, there's plenty of time."

"Alright, you've all had a long day."

Jia She had drunk a bit too much. "Don't worry about us, get some rest."

As he spoke, he said to Wang Xifeng, "In a little while, you will ride in the same carriage as the old lady." He didn't want to ride alone anymore and wanted his daughter-in-law to go to her mother's place.

“I’ll sit with Mom too.”

Jia Min said, "Cousin and sister-in-law, you can go back now, we're leaving." With that, she helped the old lady into the car, "Feng girl, get in."

"Eh~"

Wang Xifeng hurriedly followed.

Shen Ning smiled and waved to Shi Ding and the others, "It's not far, go back!"

"Wait a minute, isn't Zhen'er taking the car?"

Shi Ding's smooth sailing in the border town was largely thanks to Jia Zhen, who couldn't help but ask a question when he saw Shi Ding about to ride a horse.

"I didn't drink much."

Jia Zhen laughed and mounted his horse. "I'm at home all day, and it's rare for me to ride a horse. Of course, I'll ride a horse."

The higher you sit, the farther you can see.

He can find out about anything immediately.

Jia Zhen didn't want to be like his mother anymore, waiting for others to report things when something happened.

As the caravan moved further and further away, four mounted guards followed behind Shen Ning's carriage, and four more servants were sandwiched among the attendants in front.

As for the people on the road disguised as pedestrians, there were also six others.

Seeing that they were catching up with the convoy one after another, Jia Zhen and Shen Ning both breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems they were too nervous.

Seeing that they were on the official road and only ten miles or so away from entering the city, Shen Ning completely relaxed and leaned closer to the soft seat.

But just then, a voice full of surprise rang out.

"Is this from Master Zhen of Ningguo Mansion?"

The young Taoist boy on the donkey cart recognized Jia Zhen and immediately cried out, "Master Zhen, something terrible has happened! Your father has suddenly fallen ill with a high fever that won't go down! You must go and see him quickly!"

what?
Jia Zhen was shocked. "When did this happen?"

“I had a fever the day before yesterday. Master Jia said it was nothing and that he would be fine after taking a few doses of medicine. But the more he took the medicine, the worse it got. That’s why I was ordered by my master to go down the mountain to fetch Doctor Bai.”

Shen Ning lifted the carriage curtain and looked out.

Dr. Bai was also lifting the carriage curtain.

They looked at each other and nodded.

Shen Ning has this doctor in her memory.

The original owner of this body lived in a separate courtyard outside the Taoist temple, where this old doctor Bai treated her health.

"Mother!"

Jia Zhen was a little anxious. "I'll accompany Doctor Bai up the mountain to visit my father."

"...Go!"

Shen Ning said, "Bring a few more people."

Grandmother Jia and Jia She, along with a few others, also sent someone over to inquire.

They were all quite anxious when they learned that Jia Jing had a fever.

“I…I’ll go with Zhen’er.”

Jia She arrived and said, "There's just one extra carriage. Doctor Bai, please get in our carriage."

"Thank you, Doctor Bai!" Shen Ning also said, "Taking a carriage is faster, but Brother He, you don't need to go to the Taoist temple. It's cold, and you've been drinking. It wouldn't be good if you caught a cold."

"Sister-in-law~"

"No need to say anything more, it's settled then."

The guards acted swiftly, quickly pulling over Jia She's carriage and separating eight men to follow Jia Zhen towards the Tai Xuan Temple.

In the distance, the men in black who were watching the convoy were still waiting silently.

"Boss," the man in black said as he retrieved his telescope, "Is Jia Jing really sick at Tai Xuan Temple?"

"...Why bother with so much?"

Their target is the Shen family.

As for Jia Jing...

He suspected it was a mission for Team Nineteen.

Jia Zhen of Ningguo Mansion is not a threat.

Jia Jing and Shen Shi, on the other hand, are a very difficult couple to deal with.

Although Jia Jing can no longer enter the imperial court, as long as he is there, he will be the Jia family's support.

The prince already harbored resentment towards him for helping the crown prince back then.

now……

"Watch closely, separate their convoy."

On the official road, an oxcart was loaded with firewood. Horse-drawn carriages passed by one after another. Just as Shen Ning's carriage was about to pass, the old ox was suddenly whipped and darted into the middle of the road with a 'moo'. At the same time, the firewood and a bundle of straw on the cart all fell to the ground with a 'clatter'.

"Xu~"

The guard driving the carriage quickly pulled on the horse, asking, "What's going on?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

The man driving the cart kept apologizing, but a tinderbox was thrown from a distance. When it landed on the ground with a 'thud,' the firewood and straw that had been doused with oil burst into flames with a 'whoosh.'

hiss~
coming.

The guards hurriedly tried to pull the horse back, but just then, an arrow shot from the left front and hit the horse's neck.

Startled and in pain, the horse disregarded everything else and turned tail, heading towards the side path.

With a raging fire ahead, it naturally chose the side path.

The guards tried desperately to hold it back, but the arrows whistled and flew rapidly toward them.

He was accidentally struck in the shoulder by an arrow, and as soon as he loosened his grip, the horse pulled the carriage and galloped wildly into the depths of the path.

By this time, the team in front had also noticed something was wrong.

When Jia She arrived with several servants to help, Shen Ning's carriage was long gone.

Two of the guards from Ningguo Prefecture were also injured.

But no one cared about them now. They themselves didn't care about the arrows in their bodies either. They picked up their broadswords and started fighting with the men in black who also wanted to chase them into the alley.

Besides the brother who drives the carriage, there is also a martial arts expert by the wife's side.

As long as we take down these five men in black, there won't be any problems with the lady of the house.

They were all fighting together. Shen Ning and Wen Peilan, who had rushed into the alley, could feel that the guards were still trying their best to pull the horses back. However, the alley was full of stones, and the carriage would sway this way and that, and then suddenly bounce up into the air...

Shen Ning could only try her best to steady herself and prevent her head from hitting anything.

Fortunately, the carriage had been specially treated after Jia Zhen's assassination attempt, with thick cotton strips used to wrap the area where his head might have been hit.

Even so, she had a very uncomfortable time in the carriage.

Especially when the carriage bounced up and down several times.

Although the large charcoal fire on the carriage was tightly covered by the lid, sparks still flew out from the openwork lid from time to time because the carriage was moving too violently.

"Madam, hurry up."

Wen Peilan grabbed the water bag on the car and hurriedly poured it into the charcoal basin.

A hissing sound was heard, accompanied by a large amount of white smoke.

Shen Ning covered her mouth and nose, and Wen Peilan steadied her with one hand while lifting the thick curtains on this side with the other.

The cold air blew in like a wind.

Just as Shen Ning was about to catch her breath, the carriage suddenly bounced up again.

Fortunately, the wheels were sturdy, and the vehicle did not fall off.

"Madam, stay calm, it will be over soon."

The guards pulling the carriage were still trying to keep it steady, but at that moment, another arrow shot from the right front.

The galloping carriage screeched in pain and turned onto another side path.

"There are others...?"

Hearing the commotion, Wen Peilan's face paled. "Stop pulling the horse! Cut the reins immediately!"

"No, at this point, the other side will definitely think that we might cut the reins."

Jiao Da had rehearsed many unexpected events with them.

The guard said urgently, "Besides, there's a ditch here."

Even after the reins are cut, the carriage will still have a great deal of inertia.

There's a good chance you'll fall into the ditch.

This fall will surely leave them completely disoriented, and if they get hit again... they might not even have the strength to resist.

"Keep your wife calm and don't let her bump into anything."

He tried his best to pull the horse, trying to find a suitable buffer zone.

Finally, there was a small ditch to the left.

Although it was pitifully small, it was enough to trap the carriage.

He tried to make the horse turn its head.

But to everyone's surprise, another arrow whizzed past and headed straight for his head.

Immediately afterwards, there were two more 'whoosh' sounds, and they all rushed towards the horse.

The guard ducked to avoid the arrow, but the horse couldn't.

The short, small arrows pierced the flesh with a series of 'plop' sounds.

The horse neighed mournfully again, quickened its pace, and galloped wildly along the path.

"Madam, there's a big hill ahead, jump out of the car."

The guards shouted for her.

If the carriage falls down the slope, no one will survive.

The other party must have set them up to fall down the slope.

"My wife, hold me tight."

Wen Peilan grabbed Shen Ning and, as the carriage bounced up again, kicked her in the spot Jiao Da had mentioned.

bang~
The carriage was kicked out of the window, as if it were a door.

Considering that she was an official's wife with delicate skin, Wen Peilan first threw off the large, soft chair in the carriage, then grabbed Shen Ning and jumped down.

slap~
Shen Ning's head hit the soft backrest, but her legs and stomach were hit hard.

But Wen Peilan couldn't bother to pull her back at that moment, and several hidden arrows came 'whoosh' towards them again.

Bang bang bang~
She drew her long whip from her waist and knocked all the hidden arrows off.

"Hey, you little brat, come out and say something if you dare."

"Ho~"

A man in black leaped down from the tree. "You do have some skill, sir."

They've been scheming for so long.

They even set traps along the way and hired outside help, but unexpectedly, they still managed to arrive safely.

He glanced at the coachman who had jumped out of the carriage and fallen into the ditch, where he lay motionless, and said to Shen Ning, who was struggling to stand up while clinging to the soft cushions, "Madam Shen, we meet again."

She was lucky last time, but this time...

"So it's an old acquaintance?"

Shen Ning touched her gun. "Are you men of the Prince of Jin?"

She saw two people rushing out of the woods. "Was the killing of Prince Jin last time a ruse, and your real intention to kill me?"

My legs hurt, and my stomach hurts a bit too.

Shen Ning wanted to slow down and wait for reinforcements from her side.

"Hahaha!"

The newly arrived man in black smiled, "Don't waste your breath on her; she's stalling for time." (End of Chapter)