Her guards

Chapter 180 Zhu Yunxiao's Concern
As the sun shone brightly, Jiang Rui hurried outside, only to hear shouts coming from behind her.

"elder sister."

Jiang Rui stopped and turned around to see Jiang Meng running towards her.

“I’m going to see my brother-in-law too,” she said.

"Don't go and make things worse," Jiang Rui said, then frowned and grabbed Jiang Meng's hand behind her back. "What are you holding?"

Jiang Meng tried to dodge, but Jiang Rui had already grabbed her hand and pulled her over, revealing a small dagger.

"What are you doing with that! Didn't I tell you not to play with weapons?" Jiang Rui shouted, snatching the dagger away.

Jiang Meng stomped her foot angrily: "I'm not playing around, I'm going to avenge my brother-in-law—"

Jiang Rui was both annoyed and amused: "What nonsense are you talking about? What revenge are you trying to take!"

Jiang Meng said with a straight face: "I can ride a horse and shoot arrows now. I have also learned the spear that my father passed down from my uncles. If anyone bullies my brother-in-law, I will go and stand up for him."

Jiang Rui held her younger sister's hand and could feel its roughness and numerous scars.

Jiang Meng does indeed practice martial arts diligently every day, hoping to protect her mother and sister.

Jiang Rui said softly, "I know you are very capable, but you are still young and there are many things you don't understand. If you use the knife recklessly, you will hurt yourself, not others."

He paused here, explaining that Yunxiao's actions this time were somewhat impulsive.

Yunxiao is usually intelligent and calm, so why did he do something so absurd this time?

The thought flashed through her mind, but Jiang Rui quickly dismissed it. She couldn't see Yunxiao that way; Yunxiao was just a chivalrous person who spoke out for justice.

Jiang Rui put the dagger back into Jiang Meng's hand.

“Your brother-in-law is a man of his word. We should trust him. He will definitely ask for help when he really needs it,” she said. “Don’t act on your own, or you’ll only cause trouble for your brother-in-law.”

Jiang Meng pointed at Jiang Rui and said, "Sister, didn't you tell me not to call him brother-in-law?"

Jiang Rui blushed and was about to say something when a servant and a male voice came from behind her.

“Arui”.

"Miss, Prince Zhu has arrived."

Jiang Rui quickly turned around and saw Zhu Yunxiao approaching with a smile.

Jiang Meng waved happily, "Brother-in-law."

"What are you talking about so early in the morning?" Zhu Yunxiao asked.

“My sister told me to call you brother-in-law—” Jiang Meng said.

Jiang Rui quickly scolded her, then looked at Zhu Yunxiao: "Why did you come here?" Her expression was tense and concerned as she looked him up and down. "How's your injury? Can you walk? Did you come on horseback?"

Jiang Meng stopped talking and nervously looked around at Zhu Yunxiao.

“It’s not that exaggerated,” Zhu Yunxiao said. “You saw it when the doctor came to our house; it was just a few scrapes.”

His expression turned solemn as he spoke.

“I have already been to the Marquis of Yichun’s residence. The Marquis of Yichun has reconciled with me, and the matter is over.”

How could this be let go? The feud between Yunxiao and Marquis Yichun was growing deeper and deeper. Jiang Rui sighed inwardly, looked at the servants hiding and peeking in the courtyard, and gestured to Zhu Yunxiao: "Let's go inside and talk."

Zhu Yunxiao refused: "I still need to go to the Duke of Ding'an's residence. After all, there are rumors involving me and Miss Yang, and I need to explain to the Duke of Ding'an."

Miss Yang… Jiang Rui nodded, then added, “If her maid says anything unpleasant, don’t argue with them, just bear with it.”

Those two, master and servant, were not known for their good tempers.

Sigh, I thought I would never see these two again after our argument, but I didn't expect we'd end up seeing each other more and more often.

There are now rumors that Yunxiao has a special affection for Miss Yang.

Back when Miss Yang's maid was impersonating Liu Chan, it was also rumored that she had feelings for Yunxiao.

Could this be considered a twist of fate between Yunxiao and this master and servant...?

Jiang Rui clenched her hands, which were hanging inside her sleeves, and hurriedly tried to dispel these random thoughts.

How could she presume to know Yunxiao's feelings for her like an outsider? Did she not know Yunxiao's feelings for her?
Zhu Yunxiao's voice came to my ears.

"You'd better avoid going to the National Academy for the next few days; just stay away from it for a while."

Jiang Rui looked at him and saw Zhu Yunxiao's face full of apology and heartache.

"It's all because I embarrassed you."

Actually, she didn't feel embarrassed at all, nor was she afraid of being pointed at or questioned by others. She could even explain herself to avoid misunderstandings about Yunxiao, but Yunxiao insisted that she stay at home and not go to the National Academy.

"I don't want you to listen to other people's criticisms or argue with them because of me."

Yunxiao already has a lot to deal with, so I can't let him worry about me anymore. I'll just stay home.

Jiang Rui nodded: "As you said, I asked the Academy of Chinese Learning for sick leave." She then smiled playfully and lowered her voice, "I also had my servant go to the pharmacy to get some medicine."

Their second uncle and aunt have been trying to ruin their reputation.

She went all out of her act to avoid being accused of faking illness and damaging her reputation.

Zhu Yunxiao hurriedly said, "Don't take medicine randomly." Jiang Rui's heart softened: "I didn't take it randomly. It's a calming tonic, and I reduced the dosage."

Zhu Yunxiao thought of something and took a sachet from his waist: "This is a sachet that the doctor in the army gave me. It has a faint medicinal fragrance and is used to repel snakes and insects."

Jiang Rui took it, and Jiang Meng leaned over to sniff it, nodded vigorously, and whispered, "That's good, sister can smell the medicine even without taking it."

After saying that, he looked at Zhu Yunxiao again, his eyes full of joy.

"My brother-in-law is the best."

Zhu Yunxiao patted her shoulder with a smile: "A-Meng, take good care of your older sister at home."

Jiang Meng nodded emphatically.

"Then I'll be going now," Zhu Yunxiao said, looking at Jiang Rui again.

Jiang Rui gently instructed, "Take care of yourself..." She paused here, "Don't get hurt because of others."

She finally said those words.

Jiang Rui was slightly nervous; she hadn't realized how petty and jealous she was...

Zhu Yunxiao smiled and said, "I know, don't worry." Then he turned and left.

"I'm going to practice my kung fu too!" Jiang Meng ran off.

Jiang Rui watched Zhu Yunxiao's figure disappear before returning to the inner courtyard, and couldn't help but sniff the sachet that Zhu Yunxiao had given her.

I don't know if I smelled it too hard, but my throat felt itchy, and I couldn't help but cough twice.

She couldn't help but smile.

Hmm, that sounds more like an illness.

……

……

The young ladies who accompanied the students to school today did not see Miss Yang again, but only saw the royal carriages parked outside the palace when school was over.

This time, we're not here to pick up Ms. Yang, but to deliver some of her daily necessities.

After the Emperor and the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy removed Miss Yang from attending classes with her companions, Miss Yang moved out of the palace. However, she did not return to the Duke of Ding'an's residence but instead moved into the Imperial Academy.

This was also said by the emperor himself.

"Your studies have been delayed because of the injury. Try to catch up on your studies instead of going home."

The young ladies who accompanied the princess first saw her off, then boarded the carriage in twos and threes, each glancing at the maid standing to the side directing the palace maids.

"Look at her, she really treats the royal palace maids and servants like her own slaves."

“She’s always been like this; she was aloof and superior when she looked at us at school.”

"Hey, look, Zhu Yunxiao, what brings him here?"

“I heard from the instructor that Jiang Rui is sick and has taken leave, but we have prepared her homework for the next few days. Prince Zhu will come to collect it.”

"Is it because Prince Zhu fell ill from standing up for Miss Yang?"

"Don't say that, Prince Zhu is not that kind of person."

"Look, Prince Zhu has gone to find Ah Sheng."

……

.......
"Prince Zhu".

Yang Luo looked at Zhu Yunxiao approaching and said calmly.

She knew that Zhu Yunxiao was coming to the National Academy, but she also knew that his purpose in coming here to get homework from Jiang Rui was just a pretext; his real purpose was to get close to Miss Yang.

So when she saw Zhu Yunxiao jump off his horse and walk straight toward her, she revealed a hint of mockery.

Zhu Yunxiao didn't care about the maid's mockery; he was used to it.

“I went to the Duke of Ding’an’s residence today,” he said directly, “to apologize to Miss Yang.”

Yang Luo said calmly, "I will convey this to Miss. Our Miss will not pursue this matter this time. Young Master, please be more careful in your actions in the future."

Zhu Yunxiao chuckled. Sure enough, this maid always said something surprising. Even if it was just a pretense, a normal person should at least say thank you. After all, she was standing up for her young lady.

Seeing that he smiled, the maid seemed even less inclined to speak and turned away.

Zhu Yunxiao stepped in front of her and bowed slightly.

"Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Highness."

what?
Yang Luo was startled and looked at the young man in front of her.

Zhu Yunxiao smiled slightly.

You must be scared.

You're not the only maid who says such outrageous things.

(End of this chapter)