Chapter 7 Encounter an Ambush
The shop assistant blushed and said, "I'll bring it for Miss right away."
He wrapped the carefully selected pastries in oiled paper and handed them to Jiang Youning, his face still very red: "Here you go, Miss."
Jiang Youning paid thirty copper coins, couldn't wait any longer, and eagerly unwrapped the oiled paper. She picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and took a bite. She hadn't eaten it for several days and was craving it.
Shen Yan was on his way to visit the Imperial Censor, and the streets were crowded with people, causing the carriage to move slowly.
He impatiently lifted the curtain to look outside and was captivated by a young girl in pink attire who was eating pastries with a smile in her eyes.
Skin as white as snow, with a peach blossom-like blush, and almond-shaped eyes slightly curved, shining like stars.
Shen Yan's eyes were fixed, and almost without thinking, he pushed open the carriage door and got down from the carriage, walking towards that pink figure.
After finishing the pastry in her hand and wiping her hands with a handkerchief, a man suddenly appeared in front of her. When she saw the man's face clearly, she furrowed her brow.
Shen Yan said with a smile on his face, "Miss, I am Shen Yan. I feel like we've met before. May I have the pleasure of getting to know you?"
Shen Yan believed that he was well-known throughout Jinling, and this young lady in front of him likely knew he was a top scholar, so she would surely be willing to make his acquaintance.
Jiang Youning assessed Shen Yan with a quick glance. He had a slim figure, fair skin, and was dressed in a long, moon-white robe. His handsome features added to his scholarly aura.
Shen Yan had never smiled like this before at the original host.
"You know Jiang Youning..."
Shen Yan immediately explained, "Jiang Youning lacks restraint; she openly flirts with other men. I have already broken off our engagement. Please don't misunderstand, miss."
Jiang Youning: "..." Is it really appropriate to say such things in front of the person in question?
When Chun Tao returned and heard this sentence, she had long been disgusted with Shen Yan for abandoning her own Young Lady, so she immediately retorted.
"Shen Tanhua, it doesn't matter if you can't read well, but if your eyes go blind, you're really wasted."
Shen Yan was momentarily surprised by Chun Tao's sudden appearance.
"Young Lady, it's crowded on the street. Be careful not to bump into anyone." Chuntao was still affected by the incident where Jiang Youning was bumped into last time, and she quickly pulled her away.
A look of confusion flashed in Shen Yan's eyes. Why was Chun Tao with that young lady?
The Jiang family only has two daughters, and the younger one is only eight years old. Could she be a relative, perhaps a younger cousin?
If Jiang Youning were as beautiful and charming as this, he wouldn't have broken off the engagement; he would have immediately married her.
*
"Ning'er?"
Jiang Youning turned at the sound and saw Lin Rushuang behind her.
Lin Rushuang was the original host's best friend. She's one year older than the original host and doesn't have the same delicate facial features.
She warmly held Jiang Youning's hand and said, "Ning'er, I know you were upset when Shen Tanhua broke off the engagement, but there's nothing we can do if Shen Tanhua doesn't like you."
"......" Jiang Youning pulled her hand back and used a handkerchief to wipe the hand that had been grabbed by Lin Rushuang.
Lin Rushuang's hand paused in mid-air, wondering if it was just her imagination, whether Jiang Youning was showing some form of disdain towards her?
Nan Mianmian waved her small handkerchief as she walked over. If it weren't for Lin Rushuang, she wouldn't have recognized the beautiful girl in front of her as the same Jiang Youning, who used to be considered an ugly duckling.
"Do you think that just because you've become more beautiful, Shen Yan will change his mind? Shen Yan is highly educated and talented; he won't be interested in a flower vase.
Lin Rushuang approached with a smile and said, "Mianmian has a point." But her expression changed immediately when she looked at Jiang Youning. "Ning'er, don't bother yourself with this. Why not choose another good man?"
This statement not only flattered Nan Mianmian but also didn't offend Jiang Youning.
"I have something to do, so I'll leave first." Jiang Youning yawned, feeling a bit tired from shopping, and thought it would be better to go back and get some sleep than to stand around chatting.
After Jiang Youning left, Lin Rushuang flattered and said, "Ning'er's false identity as a wealthy young lady has been exposed, and she's not even as good as a concubine daughter. Mianmian has a noble status that she can't compare to."
Nan Mianmian snorted disdainfully and said, "She only knows these disgusting tactics. Without the backing of the Jiang family, she'll definitely cling to Shen Tanhua and won't let go."
There was a fleeting triumphant expression in Lin Rushuang's eyes, so quick that it was almost imperceptible.
On that night, she intentionally pushed Jiang Youning into the arms of a stranger to make Shen Tanhua believe that Jiang Youning was a promiscuous woman.
Only when Shen Tanhua broke off the engagement did she have a chance.
It's just that Lin Rushuang didn't know that the man was General Xie. If she had known, she might have regretted it deeply.
*
As soon as they returned to the house, Chun Tao took out a money pouch, her face filled with excitement.
"Young Lady, that rose was bought by Young Lady Nan for two taels of silver. Wealthy people are quite generous when they spend money."
Considering the local prices, selling a rose for one tael of silver would have been somewhat expensive and difficult to sell. She never thought it would be bought for two taels of silver. Back then, she hesitated to spend even one tael of silver on a hairpin.
She couldn't help but sigh: "Rich second generations are really something else."
Chun Tao asked, "Young Lady, what does 'rich second generation' mean?"
"They are the sons and daughters of the rich people."
Chun Tao had a look of understanding and said, "Nubi understand."
Jiang Youning said and then sprawled out on the couch.
Although she is just a little salted fish who has nothing to do but browse a certain platform like Taobao and watch short videos, she also knows that making money from velvet flowers alone is too time-consuming.
She suddenly thought about food, realizing that in ancient times, there were many delicacies that didn't exist.
Thinking about food made her crave it again...
Chun Tao sat down and remembered she had learned how to make osmanthus-themed velvet flower hairpins yesterday. She needed to hurry and make a couple of them. With the arrival of autumn, they should sell for a good price.
At the foot of Qiyan Mountain.
Xie Jing led twenty Xie family soldiers, marching through Qiyan Mountain in an orderly manner.
Halfway through, they saw a woman by the roadside crying very sorrowfully.
The woman appeared to be in her early twenties, with a delicate appearance, but her body seemed quite frail and slender.
The elderly person had white, disheveled hair and had fainted at the moment.
Upon inquiry, the soldiers learned that the woman and the elderly person were on their way to seek refuge with distant relatives when the elderly person fell ill halfway through.
After learning this, Xie Jing sent someone to escort the father and daughter on the rest of their journey.
The woman was grateful and came to kowtow in front of Xie Jing to express her gratitude.
Xie Jing sat on horseback, glanced at the woman, then averted his gaze. However, the woman suddenly stood up and threw a hidden weapon at him.
Xie Jing reacted quickly, lifting his foot and kicking the woman away, at the same time realizing that she hadn't thrown a hidden weapon but rather medicinal powder.
Today, there was a southwest wind, and the medicinal powder blew directly into Xie Jing's face. It was too late for him to cover his mouth and nose.
At this moment, dozens of black-clad men leaped down from the trees, each wielding large knives and charging towards Xie Jing with intense murderous intent.
Xie Jing felt his limbs go weak. As danger loomed, he desperately wielded his sword to fend off the lethal strikes from the black-clad men.
The elderly person who had been lying unconscious on the ground suddenly opened their eyes, pulled a dagger from his arm, and attempted to launch a surprise attack on Xie Jing from behind.
"General, be careful."
Xie family soldiers drew their swords and charged toward the black-clad men.
After a fierce life-and-death struggle, both sides suffered casualties.
Xie Jing was also wounded under the siege of the black-clad men.
When they reached a safe place, Wen Xianyu carefully examined Xie Jing and then said, "Fortunately, the tendons and bones were not injured. General, you don't need to worry."
Xue Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief, but his expression quickly turned serious, "The assassins had set up an ambush near Qiyan Mountain, knowing in advance where we would pass through. Someone leaked the information ahead of time."
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