The middle - aged man was greatly shocked the moment he saw the token in Xin Shang's hand. With a thud, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed several times in quick succession towards Xin Shang. "I'm truly sorry, my lord! It's this humble one who failed to recognize your eminence. I'm blind! I didn't know you're a second - rank official in the imperial court. After you return, I'll surely discipline my good - for - nothing son properly!"
"Did you understand what I said just now?" Xin Shang wasn't interested in how this man would discipline his son, but the task assigned to him by Xin Zizhao must be accomplished.
"Yes, yes, yes. This humble one surely understands. I mustn't provoke a certain woman staying in the Fun Inn," the middle - aged man repeated uneasily what Xin Shang had just said. He forced a flattering smile and his eyes darted around shrewdly. "I wonder who this woman the lord is talking about exactly is?"
"You don't need to know that. Her status is noble and she mustn't be offended by others. You just need to remember my words. Also, please educate your ignorant son properly. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
Watching the man exuding a chilling killing aura finally leave with his sword in hand, the middle - aged man heaved a sigh of relief. The uneasiness and flattery on his face disappeared, replaced by a serious expression. "You all, quickly carry the second young master in! And call a doctor to take a look at him! What a good - for - nothing son! He's nothing like his elder brother. Such a worry!"
After leaving the Qian Mansion, Xin Shang returned to the inn where he was staying. He wrote a letter to Xin Zizhao, telling him exactly what had just happened.
Xin Shang tied the letter to the foot of a carrier pigeon, opened the window, and set it free. Worry crept into his heart. He wondered if the empress had noticed that it was him who had thrown out the dagger just now. The empress was extremely smart and shrewd. If he left even the slightest bit of evidence carelessly, it would be easy for the empress to find out.
However... the situation just now was extremely urgent. He had to rescue her. Otherwise, the empress would surely have suffered more than just a sprained ankle. If she had been seriously injured, he would surely be scolded by Xin Zizhao when he got back.
"Knock, knock, knock." Just as Xin Shang was troubled, someone knocked on the door. Xin Shang rubbed the space between his eyebrows. "Come in."
The person who came in was one of his subordinates. "Boss, this subordinate has something to report."
"Has something happened to the madam?" Xin Shang tilted his head slightly and looked at the subordinate standing behind him.
"No, the madam is fine. The secret guard beside the madam has taken her to the medical clinic. The doctor said that it would take about a month for the madam's sprained ankle to recover. Now the madam has returned to the Fun Inn to rest."
"Okay. You continue to protect the madam secretly. Send someone to report to me if anything happens."
"Yes!"
Wei Shuxuan propped up the injured foot that had been medicated on the stack of pillows on the bed. "Oh my god! It's been ages since I sprained my foot. I didn't expect it to be so uncomfortable. I can't even move conveniently..."
After propping up the injured foot, Wei Shuxuan lay on her back on the bed and began to think about what had just happened. Actually, had she been too impulsive just now? Otherwise, things wouldn't have turned out like this...
What bothered her most was the person who had helped her from the shadows. Who on earth could it be? Could it be the personal guard sent by Xin Zizhao? No, no, no. It couldn't be. Xin Zizhao had promised her that he wouldn't send anyone to follow her. But if it wasn't him, then who could it be? Could it be a chivalrous hero who happened to see injustice and stepped in?
"I wonder if the dagger is still there..." Wei Shuxuan wanted to get the dagger to take a look. She quickly called Wei Wei. "Wei Wei, Wei Wei!"
Wei Shuxuan's room and Wei Wei's room were next to each other. So as soon as Wei Shuxuan called out, Wei Wei could hear her voice.
"What's wrong, miss? Does your foot hurt?" As soon as Wei Wei heard Wei Shuxuan's voice, he quickly rushed into her room. Even Si Ma Yongheng followed Wei Wei in, looking worried.
"No, I'm fine. I mean, I want you to go to the riverside just now to see if the dagger is still there. I'm still really curious about who the person who saved me is."
"Miss... do you suspect that it was Young Master Xin who sent someone?" Wei Wei asked her, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly realized that he might have done something stupid.
"Well... actually, I've thought about this possibility. But Xin Zizhao promised me that he wouldn't send anyone to follow me. I choose to believe him."
When Wei Shuxuan answered Wei Wei's question, she was a bit hesitant, but she still wanted to believe that Xin Zizhao really wouldn't do such a thing.
However, Wei Wei's next words made Wei Shuxuan freeze for a moment.
"What if... I'm just saying what if, it really was Young Master Xin who sent someone. What would you think?" Wei Wei was actually very afraid that his miss would get angry.
"Well, there's nothing I can do about it," Wei Shuxuan smiled. A hint of anticipation appeared on her handsome face. "If he sent someone to protect me, it means he still cares about me. He just sent someone to protect me, not to arrest me and take me back. What else can I be dissatisfied with? Wei Wei, you think too badly of me. Although I don't like being lied to, sometimes white lies really do warm the heart."
"That's good then, miss. This subordinate will immediately go and check if the dagger is still there," Wei Wei was actually relieved after hearing Wei Shuxuan's answer. He stood up. "Hey, kid, I'm leaving my miss in your care. Don't be negligent!"
Si Ma Yongheng obviously didn't expect Wei Wei to entrust the task of taking care of Wei Shuxuan to him. He thought Big Brother Wei would hate him. A bright smile appeared on his small face. "Yes, I will surely live up to Big Brother Wei's expectations."
Wei Shuxuan looked at Si Ma Yongheng and Wei Wei curiously. What on earth had happened between these two?
In the imperial palace, Xin Zizhao had already received the letter from the carrier pigeon sent by Xin Shang. After reading it, he couldn't help but smile knowingly. This Xuan'er was still as meddlesome as ever. But this time she was a bit too impulsive. Getting a minor injury might teach her a lesson, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
He thought for a while, then picked up the writing brush beside him and wrote a reply to Xin Shang on the rice paper.
"Let her do as she wishes. Remember, under no circumstances must you be discovered. Xuan'er is extremely vigilant and won't let go of even the slightest clue."