Her guards

Chapter 217 The Princess's Urgent Question
Princess Heisei rushed to the Imperial Study, but was stopped by a eunuch guarding the door.

"Princess, His Majesty is talking to someone."

Princess Heisei did not stop walking as usual: "I have something important to tell Father Emperor."

Having said that, he walked past the eunuch and went inside.

The eunuch instinctively reached out to stop him: "Princess—"

Before he could finish speaking, Princess Heisei, who had just taken a step forward, raised her hand and slapped him.

The crisp sound of a slap stunned the eunuchs standing outside the door.

The eunuch who was slapped was even more unbelievable.

This was the first time he had been hit by Princess Heisei.

Princess Heisei never even lost her temper with anyone...

"Princess." The head eunuch, who had been standing inside, hurriedly came out. "Princess, please calm down."

Princess Heicheng looked at the chief eunuch: "What, are you going to stop me too?"

The head eunuch hurriedly bowed and said, "This servant dares not."

Despite saying that, the person didn't move aside.

Princess Heisei gave a cold smile, and just as she was about to raise her hand, the commotion outside alerted the inside, and the Emperor's voice came from within.

"Heisei era? Come in quickly."

Princess Heisei flicked her hand and walked past the chief eunuch into the room.

"Father," she called out, her eyes reddening.

The head eunuch followed behind, kneeling on the ground: "We servants deserve to die..."

Before the princess could even express her disapproval, Princess Heisei spoke first.

“…My study companion, Miss Jiang, has had an accident,” she said.

The head eunuch's words remained unspoken.

The princess wasn't angry because the eunuchs were obstructing her; she had urgent business to attend to, and her anxiety overwhelmed her...

He lowered his head, not daring to say another word.

The emperor above was stunned for a moment, unable to recall who Miss Jiang was.

"Jiang Rui?" a female voice came from the side.

Princess Heisei looked at the girl standing by the table.

This time, Princess Heisei remembered the name, unlike the last time she saw him in the Imperial Study.

Maid Asheng.

It's her again.

Her father was talking to her again, and no one was allowed to disturb her.

No, it should be because of Ms. Yang behind her...

She could understand, after all, the background of this Miss Yang behind the scenes was something that couldn't be revealed to others, and no one else was allowed to be present when she met her. A look of disdain flashed in Princess Heisei's eyes.

"What's wrong with Jiang Rui?"

The maid stepped forward and asked.

She didn't even bow, nor did she use any respectful address. This maid is really arrogant.

Princess Heicheng ignored the maid and looked at the emperor with reddened eyes: "She was my study companion. Her family came to me for help. Father, she was kidnapped by bandits."

Bandits? The emperor looked shocked: "There are bandits in the capital?"

Yang Luo froze.

Is Jiang Rui going to die again?

"I don't know the specifics," Princess Heisei said. "Let's invite Miss Yang over and ask her."

Yang Luo was taken aback: "Why are you asking our young lady?"

Princess Heisei looked at her: "At the time of the incident, Miss Jiang came from the Imperial Academy. She didn't have to go to school today. Why did she go to the Imperial Academy? Was she going to see Miss Yang?"

He then looked at the emperor.

“Father, there’s something I haven’t told you yet. Not long ago, Miss Yang and Miss Jiang had a conflict because of Zhu Yunxiao. Miss Yang wanted to treat Miss Jiang and her sister as assassins…”

"What?" The emperor stood up. "Such a thing has happened... How could this be..."

I didn't tell him!

Princess Heisei saw the emperor and immediately looked at the maid, her expression one of shock and nervousness…

Are you worried about Miss Jiang? After all, she is the orphaned daughter of a loyal minister and military general. To be framed as an assassin by this Miss Yang is a disgrace to the Jiang family, and it also makes the emperor lose face...

Yang Luo smiled and said, "Your Majesty, it's alright. Our young lady was just teasing them."

"A joke?" Princess Heisei sneered inwardly. Just as she was about to say something, a palace attendant rushed in from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, Zhu Yunxiao, the heir apparent of the Marquis of Yongwu, requests an audience."

Zhu Yunxiao.

Princess Heisei said, "They must have come for Miss Jiang as well."

The emperor hurriedly instructed the eunuch to summon him quickly, and a moment later Zhu Yunxiao strode in.

Princess Heicheng noticed his somber expression. Upon entering, her gaze first fell upon the maid, Ah Sheng, with a hint of joy. But when she saw herself, her expression froze, seemingly surprised…

What's so surprising?
Seeing a maidservant in front of the emperor is not surprising, but seeing a princess is? It's as if she shouldn't be there at all...

"Your Majesty," Zhu Yunxiao bowed to the emperor, "I have found crucial evidence concerning Baima Town for Miss Yang."

Everyone inside the hall was stunned.

"You came here to talk about this?" Princess Heisei asked in surprise, then raised her eyebrows. "Even at a time like this, you're still thinking about Miss Yang?"

Zhu Yunxiao looked at her, somewhat puzzled, "Princess, I..."

"Miss Jiang has been kidnapped!" Princess Heisei shouted.

Zhu Yunxiao was shocked: "When? What happened?"

……

……

"...A-Meng ran out first, and A-Rui went to find her..."

"...Your Majesty, neither of them told us they were going out, so we didn't know. If we had known it was so dangerous outside, we would have gone with them..."

“There’s no one else in the family, just a driver. Sigh, I suggested hiring more people, but my sister-in-law refused, saying we should be frugal. The family isn’t well-off; we have no official position or job, and we rely on my brother’s pension…”

Listening to the man and woman kneeling on the ground talking incoherently and going further and further off-topic, Zhu Yunxiao stepped forward and scolded them, "Don't talk nonsense about Arui!" He then whispered, "This is in front of His Majesty."

Uncle Jiang was actually very scared, as this was his first time meeting the emperor.

He hadn't originally planned to come to meet the emperor, but Aunt Jiang suddenly said that this was their chance to get rich.

When Jiang Feng died, they got the opportunity to go to the capital. Now that Jiang Feng's daughter is dead, shouldn't it be their turn to inherit the glory of the Jiang family's business?

The couple mustered their courage and went to the palace gate, not really expecting much. But when they heard that Miss Jiang was a princess's study companion, a palace servant went in to deliver the message, and before long, Princess Heisei actually summoned them in.

They even brought him to see His Majesty.

This is the emperor!

I actually saw it!

Uncle Jiang was both excited and nervous, and his tongue was tied in knots. When Zhu Yunxiao scolded him, he couldn't speak anymore.

Aunt Jiang was not about to let this opportunity slip by, and she ignored Zhu Yunxiao's words.

"Your Highness, Ah Rui is in trouble. The authorities came looking for you immediately," she cried. "There's no one at your home; they can't find you."

Zhu Yunxiao frowned and said, "I happen to have something to do..."

Aunt Jiang slapped her thigh: "My poor Arui, I've been so worried about you lately, you and that Miss Yang..."

"Shut up!" Yang Luo shouted.

His voice was cold and stern.

Aunt Jiang shuddered and inexplicably stopped talking.

The emperor remained silent. How arrogant of a mere maid! She must be feeling guilty. Princess Heping frowned and snapped, "Shut up! Let her finish what she has to say!"

Yang Luo said calmly, "She also said that she didn't even know Jiang Rui had gone out, so what else can she say?"

“She is Miss Jiang’s family,” Princess Heisei said. “Miss Jiang is in danger, her life hangs in the balance, and you won’t even let them speak? Are you being too domineering, or is this your mistress’s doing!”

After saying this, he looked at the emperor.

"Father, bring Miss Yang here. She must have met with Miss Jiang today."

The emperor hesitated. Bandits had appeared, and it was so dangerous. He should indeed summon Miss Yang to the palace, so that A-Luo could stay in the palace...

"Your Majesty," Zhu Yunxiao suddenly knelt down, "I know who hurt Arui. I have found evidence of the real culprit in Baima Town. Those who assassinated Miss Yang came to harm Arui in revenge against me."

Princess Heisei paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Young Master Zhu, you're being too hasty," she said. "The matter hasn't even been investigated yet, and you're already taking the blame for Miss Yang's sake?"

"Princess, you're the one being presumptuous. The matter hasn't even been investigated yet, how can you say it's related to our young lady?" Yang Luo sneered. "What, does the princess harbor such resentment towards our young lady? Is it because she passed the exam better than you and became the disciple of the Imperial Academy Chancellor?"

Princess Heisei felt a buzzing in her head, and her face instantly turned red and then pale.

That vile servant girl!

That's incredibly bold.

That's incredibly bold.

"Slap him!" she shouted.

The palace attendants remained motionless.

The emperor didn't seem to have realized what was happening either.

"Fine, if you won't do it, she'll do it herself," Princess Heisei said, stepping forward.

"Enough!" the emperor commanded. "All of you, step back!"

He stood up without looking at the people in the hall, and gave orders.

"Summon the Prefect of the Capital."

As soon as the emperor gave the order, the motionless eunuchs came to life. Some took away Uncle and Aunt Jiang, some led the maid Asheng, and Zhu Yunxiao, who had been kneeling, stood up and followed the maid...

"Princess, please." A palace attendant stood beside Princess Heisei and said cautiously.

Princess Heisei looked at the Emperor, who was pacing back and forth with a frown, unaware of her gaze...

The Emperor didn't react at all when the maid said such offensive things to her.

Princess Heisei's eyes stung with tears, she bit her lower lip and turned away.

……

……

"Zhu Yunxiao!"

Inside the side hall, after dismissing the eunuchs, Yang Luo stepped forward in front of Zhu Yunxiao and whispered through gritted teeth.

"Did you do this?!"

Zhu Yunxiao frowned: "What do you mean I did it?"

Yang Luo looked at him and said, word by word, "Have someone hurt Jiang Rui."

Zhu Yunxiao said calmly, "How could I hurt her?"

How could it not? Putting aside the previous life, this time you've already put a poisoned sachet on her.

If Mo Zheng hadn't guessed and asked Tao Hua to check, Jiang Rui would already be lying on the bed, half-dead.

However, because Jiang Rui was persuaded by Liu Chan to go back to school, Zhu Yunxiao, fearing that things would be exposed, took the sachet away.

Although Mo Zheng left behind the original poison, he was not caught in the act, and at the time, in order not to alarm Marquis Yichun and Lady Li, they did not do anything to him.

Unexpectedly, he targeted Jiang Rui again...

Yang Luo looked at him and said, word by word, "Then how do you say it was those who harmed my young lady and hurt Jiang Rui?"

"Isn't it better to say it this way?" Zhu Yunxiao said softly. "In this way, if Miss Jiang gets into trouble, she will have the same enemy as Miss Yang. Then the Jiang family members of Changshui Camp will naturally share the same hatred as Miss Yang, be wholeheartedly devoted to her, and obey her orders. Ah Sheng, do you know how many soldiers Changshui Camp has?"

He took a step closer and whispered almost in her ear.

"Several hundred people."

"A strategically important location in the capital."

"Completely loyal".

Hundreds of soldiers, loyal and devoted, stood near the capital. Yang Luo's heart churned, and he clenched his fists in front of him.

"You still say it wasn't you..." she gritted her teeth, about to say.

The voice of a palace attendant came from outside the palace gate.

"Miss Asheng, Prince Zhu, and Miss Jiang have been found."

found it?
Wow, that was fast!

Zhu Yunxiao's mind raced, while Yang Luo, who was standing in front of him, rushed to the door and opened it.

"Where is she? What happened?" she asked urgently, her voice trembling slightly, "She's..."

Are you still alive?
The eunuch chuckled and said, "The news just came from the Jingzhao Prefecture. We haven't received the person yet, but we already know that everything is alright. Miss Jiang was just kidnapped when she encountered a patrol of soldiers from the Changshui Camp. They recognized her, killed the kidnappers, and rescued her. It was a close call."

what?
Zhu Yunxiao, standing at the back, was stunned.

Did they encounter Changshui Camp?

What a coincidence!

(End of this chapter)