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

Chapter 170 Love rivals are extremely jealous when they meet each other

Jian Shuyan hurriedly declined, "Your Highness, you have been frightened today. It would be better if the Prince stayed at the residence to take care of you. I will take the servants with me and go back on my own."

Consort Xie stubbornly refused and ordered her servants, "Quickly go and invite the Prince to escort Miss Jian back to the Minister's residence."

The servant immediately obeyed and went out to deliver the message. Just then, Gu Xizhi returned after seeing the doctor off.

With a blush, Jian Shuyan bid farewell to Consort Xie, saying, "Your Highness, please take care of your health. I will come to pay my respects another day."

He turned and left the room.

Gu Xizhi thanked her again: "My mother was in danger today, and I am extremely grateful to Miss Jian for saving her."

Jian Shuyan politely replied, "It was nothing, Your Highness, you're too kind."

"Miss Jian, did you see those robbers?"

Jian Shuyan shook her head: "When I was returning from offering incense, I encountered the Empress Dowager's carriage, which had been startled and was rushing towards us. I was also startled and immediately ordered my servants to find a way to stop the Empress Dowager's carriage."

It seems there were indeed a few men chasing after the carriage, brandishing knives and looking menacing. However, seeing that I had many followers, they didn't approach and retreated dejectedly.

I was so focused on the Dowager Princess's condition that I didn't notice where they went, nor did I know what had happened. Weren't the robbers caught?

Gu Xizhi shook her head: "We just sent people out of the city, and those bandits have already fled and disappeared without a trace. The coachman is also nowhere to be found."

"When we stopped the Empress Dowager's carriage, there was no coachman on board, only a nanny who had been shot and killed by an arrow blocking the way. The Empress Dowager was unconscious."

Because the city gates were about to close, I dared not delay, so I intended to take the Imperial Concubine back to the Minister's residence first. I knew nothing else.

"Fortunately, it was a close call, thanks to Miss Jane."

"It is because the Empress Dowager is blessed with good fortune and divine assistance. I never expected that in broad daylight, under the clear sky, these bandits would be so audacious as to dare to provoke the Prince of Pingxi's residence."

The two talked as they left the Prince of Pingxi's residence.

Someone rushed in from the opposite direction, almost bumping into Jian Shuyan.

Thankfully, Gu Xizhi reacted quickly and caught Jian Shuyan. Then she looked up and scolded her with some displeasure, "Wan'er, why are you always so impulsive? You don't act like a proper lady at all."

The visitor was none other than Xie Wan'er, the young princess of the Marquis of Huaiyuan's mansion.

Upon seeing Gu Xizhi, Xie Wan'er immediately asked anxiously, "I just heard from the guards that my aunt was robbed. Is she alright?"

Gu Xizhi snorted: "They were a little frightened, but nothing serious. It's just that those guards were either dead or injured, and they were killed."

Xie Wan'er lowered her head guiltily: "I'm sorry, I didn't expect that there would be robbers committing violence when we were about to arrive in the capital."

Gu Xizhi said helplessly, "You are so willful, riding your horse so fast. My mother was worried about your safety as a young lady, so she sent most of the guards to follow you and protect you, which gave the robbers an opportunity."

Xie Wan'er pouted and lowered her head: "I just haven't been back for a long time, and I was a little excited. My aunt has been traveling for days and is exhausted. The carriage was as slow as an old oxcart. I really couldn't wait, who knew something like this would happen."

"After you return to the capital, you can send someone to the Prince's residence to let me know, so that I can send someone to welcome you."

Xie Wan'er tugged at his sleeve and acted coquettishly, looking up at Gu Xizhi's tense face with a fawning smile: "I was wrong, I know I was wrong, I will definitely change next time. Please don't be angry, cousin."

Jian Shuyan pleaded, "This was an accident. Princess Wan'er probably never expected that a ruthless bandit would commit such a crime right under the emperor's nose."

Xie Wan'er stopped abruptly, turned to look at Jian Shuyan, and asked Gu Xizhi, "Who is she? How come she's with you?"

Gu Xizhi said helplessly, "This is Miss Jian from the Minister's Mansion. Do you know that if Miss Jian hadn't happened to pass by today and saved my mother, she might have met with misfortune?"

Xie Wan'er sized up Jian Shuyan, her expression immediately darkening. As the saying goes, rivals in love are always eyeing each other with intense hatred; her earlier coquettish words were now filled with hostility.

"So you're the Princess Consort of Pingxi that the Emperor mentioned?" Jian Shuyan bowed respectfully to Xie Wan'er: "Indeed, Shuyan greets the young princess."

Xie Wan'er gave a forced smile: "What a coincidence."

Jian Shuyan still smiled and asked, "What do you mean by that, Princess Wan'er?"

"It means exactly what it says. What a coincidence! Miss Jian, what were you doing back so late?"

"Offering incense to fulfill a vow."

Xie Wan'er said with a carefree and innocent look, "I know, you must have gone to the Temple of the Old Man Under the Moon, right?"

One sentence made Jian Shuyan blush and stammer, not knowing how to refute.

Gu Xizhi scolded unhappily, "Your aunt is in the mansion. Why don't you go in? What nonsense are you spouting here?"

“I’m not making this up. She got her wish and promised to your cousin, so you have to fulfill your vow. Besides, the Temple of the Matchmaker is a bit far from the capital, which is why Miss Jian came back late. Am I right?”

Jian Shuyan glanced at Gu Xizhi for help, then lowered her head uncomfortably, her voice barely audible: "Yes."

Xie Wan'er chuckled, looking as if she had just expected it, then turned and headed into the mansion. After stepping over the threshold, she turned back and asked, "So, cousin, what are you going to do?"

"I will escort Miss Jian back to her residence."

Xie Wan'er pulled back the leg she had stepped out with: "I'm relieved to know that my aunt is safe and sound. Cousin, you're so busy, let me take Miss Jian home?"

Jian Shuyan hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Gu Xizhi thought for a moment and said, "Very well. I still need to investigate the matter of the robbers today. You can go on my behalf and explain the situation to Minister Jian. I will prepare a thank-you gift and visit him tomorrow to express my gratitude."

Xie Wan'er readily agreed: "Miss Jian, let's go."

Jian Shuyan didn't move: "I have my attendants with me, so I won't trouble Princess Wan'er."

Xie Wan'er grabbed her arm and said, "Why are you being so polite with me? It's so late, and there's a difference between men and women. Let my cousin take you home. If you run into those gossipy people, it might damage your reputation."

Without a word, he pushed Jian Shuyan into her carriage.

Gu Xizhi watched the two leave, then casually instructed Guan Qi, who was standing nearby, "Send someone to the Temple of the Matchmaker tomorrow to investigate whether Jian Shuyan really went there and what time she left."

Guan Qi accepted the order: "Your Highness, are you perhaps doubting Miss Jian?"

Gu Xizhi narrowed her eyes slightly: "Wan'er is right about something: there are no coincidences in life."

Guan Qi thought to himself, "Sure enough, if you don't like someone, even their breathing is wrong."

Miss Jian just saved the Empress Dowager, and you actually suspect her of having ulterior motives?
Your Highness, your imagination is far too vivid! It's simply excessive.

The next morning, Liang Jiang, concerned about the coachman's injuries, ordered Yu Qin to lead a group out of the city and go to the address given by the two villagers the day before.

The coachman was seriously injured, and the village doctor was not skilled in treating external injuries. When Yu Qin arrived, the coachman was still unconscious and had a fever, and his life was in danger at any moment.

Yu Tan could only follow Liang Jiang's instructions, taking the coachman back to Shangjing and sending him to Renhetang. Then, he informed Liang Jiang of the situation and asked Lady Liang to come and treat his wounds and help him recover.

Lady Liang was most skilled at treating external injuries. With her personal intervention, the coachman was able to turn the tide and escape danger.

Because of the severity of his injuries, he has not yet regained consciousness.

(End of this chapter)