High-class Spring Joy

Before Chu Jingyu could speak, Qingyuan smiled and said, "A few days ago, Hongdou was kidnapped and tortured. She was covered in wounds and was poisoned by a snake. She was on the verge of death and almost died. In order to save Hongdou, I had no choice but to ask the Empress Dowager for the hundred-year-old Tianshan Snow Silkworm to save her life."

As she spoke, Qingyuan lowered her brows and looked down, appearing very sad and pitiful. She even used her handkerchief to wipe away imaginary tears from the corners of her eyes.

"What a pity. To be honest, young master, I had thought about what you just said. But I thought I was of low birth, and now that I have finally made an appearance in front of the Empress Dowager and received a reward, how could I not want to ask for things that I could not get before? Unfortunately, who could have imagined that Hongdou would have an accident at this critical moment and be almost killed? I had no choice but to ask for it."

As she spoke, Qingyuan kept her head down, wiping her eyes as if she were crying very sadly.

Chu Jingyu felt even more heartache upon seeing this, his brows furrowing tightly. He knew all too well who had done what happened to Hongdou.

Almost instantly, he took the things that Qingyuan had mentioned—things he had never dared to dream of or obtain before—as his own.

Chu Jingyu grew increasingly disgusted and resentful of Jiang Qingyun, and he didn't want to think about Jiang Qingge anymore either.

"Don't be sad, Guoguo. We'll have plenty of opportunities in the future. The person behind this is truly despicable. I was too lenient with them."

Hearing the heartache in Chu Jingyu's words, Qingyuan couldn't help but roll her eyes. Although she couldn't take direct revenge, she could certainly stir up trouble.

The next day, when Qingyuan woke up in the morning, she heard a group of maids and servants discussing what had happened in the capital.

"Have you heard? I heard that something very strange happened yesterday. It involves Jiang Qingyun!"

"Hey, I heard about it. Are you talking about the incident where Jiang Qingyun was cornered in a dark alley, stuffed into a sack, and given a severe beating?"

"Yes, yes, I heard it all, I really heard it. It's really strange. You know, Bianjing, right under the emperor's nose, should be a very safe place. How come a group of men in black suddenly appeared and didn't just kidnap Jiang Qingyun? Instead, they chased her into a dark alley, beat her up, and that was it?"

"Why else? Don't you all think about how arrogant and domineering Jiang Qingyun is? In our Marquis's mansion, she's the type to beat and scold people, bully servants, and smash people with vases at the drop of a hat. Imagine how arrogant and abusive she would be in her own Dali Temple Minister's mansion! A person as vicious as her must have done too many unscrupulous and immoral things in the past. She'll have enemies wherever she goes. This is what they call 'those who do many evil deeds will surely perish.' Heaven has eyes!"

"I actually hope a band of bandits really does kidnap her, and that she never comes to the Marquis's residence again!"

"Oh, you know what, I heard from my third uncle's daughter's mother-in-law's sister that Jiang Qingyun was beaten pretty badly. She was already unconscious when she was found. I don't know about other parts, but her face is definitely ruined. I don't know if she'll ever be able to look at herself again."

Qingyuan raised an eyebrow, not expecting that Chu Jingyu would actually go through with it this time.

It's probably because Jiang Qingyun's actions towards Hongdou damaged Chu Jingyu's interests. If things didn't go his way, Chu Jingyu would be willing to harm anyone.

It wasn't for nothing that she put on a show with Chu Jingyu yesterday.

Since Jiang Qingyun was expelled from the Zhenguo Marquis's Mansion, Jiang Qingge has been relatively quiet in the mansion. If it weren't for the frequent discussions among the servants about Qingyuan, one would almost forget that Jiang Qingge was still in the Zhenguo Marquis's Mansion.

Soon it arrived that Qingyuan would accompany the Empress Dowager and others to Xiangguo Temple to pray for blessings.

Although Xiangguo Temple is not far from Bianjing City, it still requires passing through a mountain and a section of mountain road.

This time, the Empress Dowager was going to pray for the people and the Song Kingdom, so there were more people. Princess Jing'an naturally had to go, and the Crown Prince and several princes accompanied her.

The sons, daughters, and wives of some wealthy and powerful families, as long as the Empress Dowager had specifically requested them, were also required to go along.

Madam Dou and Jiang Qingge were also on the list.

Most of the family members were in the carriages, and on both sides of the carriage convoy were mounted guards who accompanied and protected everyone's safety.

At the head of the carriage procession was His Highness the Crown Prince, riding a horse and accompanied by a group of imperial guards. The Third Prince traveled with His Highness the Crown Prince.

The procession of hundreds of people was grand and imposing, and the servants like Qingyuan could only walk behind the caravan.

It takes half a day to travel from Bianjing to Xiangguo Temple. Perhaps the journey is bumpy enough. Many young ladies have been grumbling in the carriage all the way and have already complained, but they just don't say it out loud.

But maids, servants, and servants like Qingyuan had to walk all the way along the bumpy and rugged mountain path.

Qingyuan was originally among the maids and servants of the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion, but since she became pregnant, her physical strength has become worse and worse. She is not as strong as before. After walking for more than an hour, her strength was insufficient, and she had to slow down and fell to the back of the group.

Qingyuan followed with some difficulty when suddenly a gust of sand rose up in front of her, and the sound of hooves grew closer and closer before stopping directly in front of her.

"Miss Qingyuan."

Qingyuan looked up and saw Zheji stop in front of him. He then dismounted.

Qingyuan forced a smile: "Broken Halberd Guard."

"Miss Qingyuan, would you like to mount your horse?"

Broken Halberd Road.

"I...I can't ride a horse. Guards, don't worry about me. Go and follow the Third Young Master. His eyesight is poor, so don't worry about me."

"The young master said that the young lady is in poor health. If she were to follow the group for most of the day, she might faint before they even arrive at their destination."

Zheji sighed, knowing that Qingyuan didn't like him causing trouble for others, so he changed his approach to persuade her: "Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about others."

Zheji's persuasion was very effective, and Qingyuan did not refuse again, but she was a little embarrassed: "But this servant really does not know how to ride a horse."

"It's alright, young master has already thought of that. As long as you mount your horse, hold the reins, and sit securely, I will lead the horse for you. Just follow at a distance behind the group, and no one will notice you."

As Zheji spoke, he exerted his strength and easily pulled Qingyuan by the collar, placing her on the horse's back.

Qingyuan was so frightened that she quickly tightened her grip on the reins.

Little did they know that this scene was being witnessed by others.