You expect me to serve your mistress? The mistress is driving this scumbag and his entire family cra

Chapter 169 The Empress Dowager is Assassinated
Liang Jiang followed the official road back to the capital, asking everyone she met. After chasing for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she couldn't find the carriage. However, she found the carriage driver lying unconscious in a pool of blood by the side of the road.

Two villagers passing by discovered him, but they were helpless and did not know how to treat him.

Liang Jiang dismounted and checked on him. In addition to the arrow wound in his left abdomen, he also had a sword wound in his chest. Due to excessive blood loss, he was on the verge of death.

It seems that after escaping the encirclement, he encountered those bandits again.

The carriage has disappeared without a trace, and it is unknown who was on it or whether their lives are in danger.

But if the coachman doesn't take care of it, he will surely die.

Liang Jiang immediately tore off her clothes and first helped the driver treat his wounds to stop the bleeding, but she was at a loss for what to do.

Given his current condition, he is no longer suitable to move.

She stood up and asked the two villagers, "He's not really fit to move around right now. Do you know if there's an inn nearby?"

The two villagers exchanged a glance: "To find an inn, we'd have to go all the way to the city gate. How about this, our house is nearby, let him stay at my place to recover for now."

This arrangement couldn't be better.

Liang Jiang nodded and took out some silver from her bosom: "They were just robbed, and their companions are probably in danger as well. I need to rush over and check on them immediately."

"I'll trouble you two to find him a good doctor to treat him. I'll send someone to pick him up as soon as the city gates open tomorrow."

The two men accepted the silver, showing their kind hearts: "Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Since you helped us, it was just a small favor. If we weren't so poor, we wouldn't accept this silver from you."

Liang Jiang inquired about the two men's whereabouts and instructed them not to let the news leak out, lest the bandits return for revenge.

The two readily agreed and left behind the driver.

Liang Jiang didn't delay and immediately mounted her horse. She asked every passerby she met along the way, and only after learning that the carriage had safely entered the city and had not encountered any mishap did she feel relieved.

When we arrived at the city gate, it was already closed.

Although Liang Jiang was a princess, she had no waist token and no one recognized her, so entering the city was not so easy.

Just as he was pondering a solution, the sound of galloping hooves came from inside the city, and the city gates slowly opened from the inside.

A group of mounted guards surged out of the city gate.

Liang Jiang immediately stepped forward, identified herself to the guards, and hoped they would make an exception and let her in.

The soldier looked her up and down and saw that she was dressed in white mourning clothes and had a white flower in her hair. He was not about to believe her.

"I'm sorry, please forgive my poor eyesight. I have never seen any Princess Heya before, so I cannot let you in without permission. Please come early tomorrow."

Liang Jiang knew she couldn't blame them; they were just following the rules. "Is your gatekeeper here?"

"Not here," the soldier waved impatiently. "Get out of the way, don't block the way and delay official business."

Liang Jiang was filled with disappointment and was about to speak again when she suddenly heard one of the mounted guards call out with some doubt, "Grandma?"

Liang Jiang paused, wondering why the title sounded so familiar.

Looking in the direction of the sound, a guard had already left the city gate, then turned his horse around and came back. He dismounted and knelt down in front of Liang Jiang, saying, "This humble servant greets the Princess."

Liang Jiang looked at him and realized that he looked familiar. Suddenly, she remembered that he was a guard from the Prince of Pingxi's mansion.
When I went to the Prince of Pingxi's mansion to find Gu Xizhi, he made a bet with me: if I could help Gu Xizhi find Jin Shouxing, he would call me "Grandma" and kowtow to me respectfully.

If you happen to run into an acquaintance at this time, that would be wonderful.

"You've come at the right time. I came back a little late from the city today. Could you please tell them to let me in?"

The guard readily agreed and explained Liang Jiang's identity to the city guards. The soldiers dared not neglect her, and hurriedly apologized and pleaded with her before letting Liang Jiang into the city.

Liang Jiang thanked the guard and was about to ask them what they were doing in such a hurry when the guard had already mounted his horse and chased after the group ahead.

Could something have happened at the Prince of Pingxi's residence?
Liang Jiang couldn't help but ask the soldiers guarding the city, but the soldiers shook their heads: "They only said that they had important official business, and we dared not ask any more questions."

Liang Jiang had no choice but to give up and return directly to the Duke's mansion.

Pingxi Palace.

After hearing the guard's report, Gu Xizhi's brows furrowed more and more, and a coldness swept over her eyes.

"Ever since the bandits in Black Wind Temple were all wiped out by Princess Heya, we have not heard of any bandits committing crimes, let alone such a powerful one."

They even dared to rob the Imperial Concubine; the Prince's guards were no match for them. Are you sure they were just thugs and not assassins?

"The surviving brothers said that the bandits had laid an ambush. When the carriage came close, they were hit by a cold arrow. They were caught off guard and had nowhere to hide, which is why they suffered such a great loss."

"Hmph, they were lying in wait; it was clearly premeditated. What kind of bandits are they? Do you have any leads?"

"He only remembered that the robbers were all dressed in blue, with blue veils covering their faces, and they were carrying steel knives. They were quick and ruthless."

Was he the only survivor?

"Old Qian, the coachman, has disappeared."

"Among them, Old Qian is the best in martial arts and is extremely loyal to the Dowager. As long as he has a breath left, he will not abandon her. If he escaped on his own, something must have happened to him. Order the search area to be expanded."

The guards were ordered to retreat.

The doctor came out of the room and reported to Gu Xizhi: "Your Highness, the Dowager Consort is fine now. She was just a little frightened and hit her head on the carriage, which caused her to faint briefly. There is nothing seriously wrong with her."

Gu Xizhi nodded and turned to go inside.

Inside the room, Consort Xie had already woken up. She leaned against the headboard, holding the hand of the woman in yellow in front of her, her face full of gratitude.

"I am truly grateful to you today. If you hadn't arrived in time to save me, I wouldn't be back today. What is your name and where do you live? I will have my son personally escort you back to your residence and express my gratitude."

The woman lowered her head shyly, smiling sweetly: "Your Highness, you don't need to be so polite. This is what Shuyan, as a junior, should do. It's also because you are blessed with good fortune."

Consort Xie was somewhat surprised: "Your name is Shu Yan? What's your surname?"

"In response to Your Highness, my surname is Jian, and my father is the Minister of Rites."

Consort Xie was taken aback: "You are actually Jian Shuyan? My Xizhi's betrothed princess?"

Jian Shuyan lowered her head, feeling extremely shy: "When I first met the Dowager Consort, I saw your extraordinary demeanor and noble bearing, and I knew that you were not from an ordinary family. But I never expected that you would be the Dowager Consort. What a coincidence."

Consort Xie could not hide her joy as she affectionately took Jian Shuyan's hand:

"No wonder my son was stunned when he saw that you were my savior. It turns out that the flood washed away the Dragon King Temple. We were originally one family."

I have long heard of your exceptional talent and gentle demeanor. When I learned in Weixi that the Emperor had bestowed a marriage upon you and my son, I was overjoyed. Today, upon seeing you, I find you to be intelligent and virtuous, like a pearl radiating a soft glow, a flawless jade, a perfect match for my son.”

Jian Shuyan blushed at the praise: "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. Now that you are safe and sound, I am relieved."

It's getting late, Shuyan needs to hurry back to the manor so as not to worry her mother and father.

Consort Xie smiled broadly: "It is indeed a bit late today, so I won't keep you any longer. I'll have Xi Zhi personally escort you back to your residence, and I'll invite you to visit me at my residence another day."

(End of this chapter)