ng Qianqian and the others had just exited the Oiran Manor when they ran into Lu Yuan, hurrying over from Yingchun Road.
When Lu Yuan saw Yu Li slung over ng Qianqian’s back, he glanced at Lin Xiaoru, who was disguised as a man, standing nearby.
"It was Xiaoru who saved Cousin."
ng Qianqian said.
Lu Yuan cupped his hands and made a deep bow to Lin Xiaoru with solemn respect: "Thank you, Miss Lin."
Lin Xiaoru replied, "It was a small effort, no need for thanks."
Lu Yuan took Yu Li from ng Qianqian and carried him on his own back.
ng Qianqian said to Lu Yuan, "I’ll escort Xiaoru ho first; you take Cousin back to the mansion."
Lu Yuan asked, "Are Cousin’s injuries serious?"
ng Qianqian replied, "I’ve already treated him with acupuncture. No major issues, he just needs to sleep it off."
Lu Yuan nodded knowingly: "I’ll accompany you both."
ng Qianqian looked at Lin Xiaoru.
Lin Xiaoru said, "Oh, I have no objection."
The carriages of the two families were nearby, though one was parked at the east end of the street and the other at the west.
ng Qianqian got into Lin Xiaoru’s carriage, while Lu Yuan carried Yu Li into his own family’s carriage.
"Xiaoru, how did you catch up to them?"
Lin Xiaoru said, "I’m quite familiar with the layout of the Capital City, so I took a shortcut to give chase. That person seed to know Qinggong, but even so, they couldn’t outpace my shortcuts."
"I see."
ng Qianqian nodded earnestly and said to Lin Xiaoru, "Xiaoru, I’m very grateful to you for saving my cousin. If sothing like this happens again, you can report it to the authorities."
Lin Xiaoru thought for a mont. "Oh."
anwhile, when Young Master Lin returned ho, Lady Lin saw him alone and couldn’t help but ask, "Didn’t you go to your grandfather’s house? Where’s your sister?"
"I didn’t see her."
"She went to pick you up!"
"What?"
Lin Xiaoru was missing, and the whole family grew alard. They hurriedly sent people to the Imperial College to look for her, wondering if the siblings had missed each other on the way.
But after an hour passed, no one could find any trace of Lin Xiaoru.
Just as the family was on the brink of panic, Lin Xiaoru finally returned ho.
Lin Ji, Lady Lin, and Young Master Lin had been pacing anxiously at the entrance, their clothes dusted with snowflakes.
"Father, Mother, Brother."
Lin Xiaoru greeted them.
She had already changed back into won’s attire, looking the sa as when she had left earlier.
Lady Lin let out a sob and began to cry, "Where did you go? You scared to death!"
Young Master Lin heaved a silent sigh of relief upon seeing his sister unhard. His attention then shifted to ng Qianqian, who had alighted from the carriage with Xiaoru, and Lu Yuan, who had stepped down from another carriage.
The young couple bowed to Lin Ji and Lady Lin, paying their respects as juniors.
The matter was serious, so ng Qianqian did not hide it from the elders. She recounted the entire story of how Lin Xiaoru had rescued her cousin.
Lady Lin was so shocked she forgot to shed tears.
Lu Yuan gave Lin Ji a deep bow. "The Governor Mansion is deeply indebted to the Lin Family. We will never forget this kindness."
Lin Ji said nothing and turned to enter the manor.
Lady Lin glanced back at her husband, then at Lu Yuan, who remained in a bowed position. She sighed softly.
-
On the way back, ng Qianqian and Lu Yuan discussed Yu Li.
"I didn’t notice earlier, but now that I’ve had ti to calm down and reflect, the process of saving my cousin seed a bit too smooth."
Lu Yuan asked, "Are you referring to yourself or Miss Lin?"
ng Qianqian mused, "Both. Xiaoru and I entered the Oiran Manor one after the other. There are many experts in that place. Xiaoru knocked out an Oiran and moved my cousin from a private chamber to a small tea room, yet no one noticed. When I was searching for him, I caused quite a commotion, but no one stepped in to stop ."
"Lady Yan."
Lu Yuan said.
ng Qianqian’s eyes flickered with surprise. "You an to say she was secretly assisting us?"
Lu Yuan analyzed, "The Oiran Manor isn’t an easy place to infiltrate. Even a fly entering would get swatted. Without Lady Yan’s tacit approval, tonight’s operation wouldn’t have gone so smoothly. As for whether her approval was an act of genuine help or a calculated setup, it’s hard to say for now."
ng Qianqian found herself agreeing with Lu Yuan’s reasoning.
After pondering for a mont, Lu Yuan said, "Tonight, just go to sleep. You don’t need to wait for ."
ng Qianqian asked, "Where are you going again?"
Lu Yuan replied coldly, "What do you an by ’again’? ng Xiaojiu, this Governor only occasionally goes out. You can’t even allow that? It hasn’t been long since our wedding, and you’re already this clingy?"
"I..."
ng Qianqian was at a complete loss for words.
How had it turned into her being clingy?
She had simply asked one question, yet he had read so much into it. Wasn’t that his problem?
ng Qianqian puffed up her cheeks in anger and got out of the carriage.
"Still angry?" Lu Yuan scoffed coldly. "Fine, this Governor will try to return earlier, lest your long, lonely nights in an empty room cause undue sorrow."
Who said her room was lonely?
ng Qianqian bent down to grab a handful of snow. She thought of throwing it but held back.
His cold syndro hadn’t fully healed yet. Best not to provoke him.
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