Liu Shuang's lips moved, afraid of offending her, she dared not say any more, and quickly climbed into the car.
When she got into the car and saw the eldest princess sitting in it, her pretty face turned pale, and she regretted what she said just now.
"You said that the third concubine of your family was taken away by thieves, but is it true?" The Eldest Princess asked with a solemn face, her eyes fixed on her.
"Yes, it's true." Fearing her majesty, Liu Shuang replied stammeringly.
"Where are the guards in your mansion? Could it be that the dignified concubine goes out without even a protector?" The princess frowned.
"Yes, yes, it's just that the thieves came so fiercely that the guards couldn't resist it, so they succeeded."
"Where are the guards now? Are all of them seriously injured? Why are you the only one left?" The Eldest Princess asked again.
"They were all injured, and I was asked to go back to rescue soldiers, and now I think they are still at the foot of the mountain over there."
The eldest princess frowned even tighter: "I think it's because your concubine's arrangements are not thorough enough, and it's an eventful time. If you want to go out, there are more escorts than fewer."
"The concubine has been here several times these days, and nothing happened every time, only today was an accident." Liu Shuang explained for her master.
"The Third Highness is currently trapped in the clan's mansion. Concubine Li is in trouble day and night because of the matter of the Third Highness. Your prince and concubine don't stay in the mansion to take care of the family affairs, and you don't go into the palace to comfort the empress, but why come here every now and then? Reasonable?" The eldest princess's complexion sank, and her face was already quite displeased.
"The emperor, the concubine is, is here to pray for, for the third, the third highness..." Liu Shuang shrank her neck, defending her master in a low voice.
Shen Xinyan frowned, but felt a little strange in her heart.
How many times have you been here
Didn't Zhou Guanning already dream about the past life? If so, she should know that she was kidnapped by Murong Tao in her previous life under similar circumstances.
In this life, he should have taken precautions early, not daring to go out easily. How could he simply go out with his guards and maidservants in such an extraordinary period, and even go to the same place several times in succession.
Had she not dreamed of it
As soon as this idea came up, she dismissed it again.
Logically not, she knew that she was sent to the family temple by her eldest son in her previous life, so she should also know the reason for her being sent.
The more she thought about it, the more confused she became, and the more she thought about it, the more strange it became. Later, she even came up with the absurd idea that Zhou Guanning seemed to be waiting for her to be taken away.
The next moment she thought it was impossible.
To be taken away by thieves, for a woman in today's world, it is no less than taking her life directly.
Even if he returned innocently and safely, who would believe it? How many people will believe that a young and beautiful woman can maintain her innocence in the hands of thieves? What's more, Zhou Guanning is still so charming, it is even more difficult to be convincing.
No matter how stupid Zhou Guanning was, he wouldn't make fun of his own reputation and life, would he? If the third prince doesn't love her unwaveringly like her eldest son in the previous life, she will face a catastrophe!
"Ma'am, don't you go to the police first to arrest the thief?" Liu Shuang didn't dare to face the princess again, and turned to ask Shen Xinyan.
Shen Xinyan gave her a squinting look: "If you want to report to the government, I have no objection at all. I just wonder if you, Mrs. Zhou and Madam Zhou, would agree with you to bring their daughter's abduction to the government!"
"It's so stupid!" The eldest princess glared at Liu Shuang angrily.
If such a thing happened, who would not cover it tightly, if Zhang Yang opened it, even if she was rescued safely, the saliva of others would drown her. But this idiot still wants to report to the police!
Liu Shuang's pretty face turned red and white after being scolded, and finally realized that she was really stupid, she shrank her body into a ball immediately, and didn't dare to say more.
"Clean yourself up and look like this, for fear that others will not know if something happened to you?" The eldest princess said again with a sullen face.
When Liu Shuang heard this, she panicked and began to tidy up her appearance. Shen Xinyan frowned, took out a mahogany comb and a hand-held bronze mirror from the dark compartment in the carriage and threw them to her. tidy up.
In less than half an hour, the carriage arrived at the capital, and Shen Xinyan ordered someone to send Liushuang to the Zhou Mansion without stopping, and ordered to drive back to the mansion.
"Fortunately, Juan Hang came back in time that day, so we didn't hire Zhou Mao as a daughter for brother Lin." Back at the mansion, the Eldest Princess said with a bit of luck.
Shen Xinyan was waiting for her to wash her hands and face, when she heard her words, she smiled and nodded her head in agreement: "Mother is absolutely right!"
"This woman is beautiful, but she is really not a good wife candidate. As the saying goes, a good wife and husband rarely cause harm. I only hope that Brother Lin can figure it out after this time, and gradually turn off his love for the daughter of the Zhou family." That heart." The Eldest Princess sighed.
For this, Shen Xinyan is not so sure.
After all, Zhou Guanning fell into Murong Tao's hands for many days in his previous life, but after she was rescued, the eldest son's love for her didn't decrease by half, and his attitude towards her didn't change.
The guards sent to inform Zhou Mao came back soon, and only thought that Mr. Zhou seemed to have invited someone to help, and led his troops to the rescue. Shen Xinyan didn't take it too seriously. Zhou Guanning had nothing to do with her in this life. To her, she was just a stranger she knew. There was really no need for her to pay too much attention to it.
Besides, if it was Murong Tao who kidnapped her, then her life would definitely not be in danger. It was too late for Murong Tao to coax her, so how could he be willing to touch half of her finger.
However, the other two guards she sent to track down the thief never came back. As time passed, Shen Xinyan became more and more worried, for fear that something bad happened to those two. Later, she even regretted sending someone to follow up.
The eldest princess seemed to understand what she was worried about, and comforted her by patting the back of her hand: "Don't worry, these guards were trained by your father himself back then. some."
Hearing what she said, Shen Xinyan was relieved a lot.
If it was Murong Tao who took the kidnapper, he would not hurt Zhou Guanning, and he might not be merciful to others. If the guards of the Duke's Mansion died because of these two people, it would be truly unworthy.
Maybe Zhou Mao made thorough arrangements, or maybe the government and the public were either paying attention to the frontier wars or the case of the second prince. Suddenly, no one knew that the third prince and concubine of the court had been taken away by thieves.
Even Li Fei, the biological mother of the Third Prince, did not notice that when her son was imprisoned in the clan mansion, her daughter-in-law disappeared.
However, Shen Xinyan is more aware that paper cannot contain fire, and it can be concealed in a short period of time, but if it takes a long time, it will inevitably arouse people's suspicion. The first one must be Fang Birong, the fifth wife of the Zhou Mansion.
The dispute between the concubine and concubine in the Zhou mansion has already been heated up, and the theory of the Zhou family's direct line has gradually weakened. There is only one eldest son of the concubine, Zhou Mao, who is an official in the court, and everyone in the mansion should look at Zhou Mao and his wife.
However, Fang Birong, the Fifth Household's Fang Birong, is always in the hands of Zhou Mansion's middle sponsor. The Wen family can't get a little bit of money in her hands, and they have to be restricted by her everywhere.
Comparing the two lives, Shen Xinyan felt that the most unlucky thing for the Wen family in this life was having a fifth sibling who was completely different from the previous life. Fang Birong's scheming and means, even if Wen's lived a few more years, she still can't beat her.
After more than half a month, the case of the second prince finally came to light. Both the prince and the third prince were wronged. But the person who planned all this behind the scenes found that he had already committed suicide by taking poison when the official sent by Dali Temple arrived.
This person is none other than a counselor in the second prince's residence. The officials searched the mansion again, and found many old things in the mansion of Prince Cheng. Immediately, the news that Prince Cheng's son had secretly returned to Beijing spread in the court.
Emperor Yuanyou took the opportunity to issue an order, strictly ordering guards everywhere in Beijing to strengthen patrols, and must find out the whereabouts of Prince Cheng's son.
Immediately, the guards in the capital gradually became stricter. Every day, many officials guarded the gates of various cities, and strictly checked the people who entered and left the city, for fear that the son of Prince Cheng would be mixed in with the common people.
"Mr. Chen, what do you think of this matter?" Today, after breakfast, the Eldest Princess looked at Shen Xinyan and Mrs. Yang in front of her, and suddenly asked.
Shen Xinyan thought for a moment, then slowly said: "Whether the real murderer is really the real murderer is open to question. According to my daughter-in-law's guess, strengthening the guards of the capital and searching for the son of Prince Cheng is the real purpose of His Majesty."
The eldest princess nodded approvingly, then looked at the suspicious Yang family, smiled slightly, and changed the subject: "Brother Zhao's wedding should be on the original date. Father and son have triumphed."
When she heard her son's marriage, Yang Shi was overjoyed and nodded again and again: "What mother said is very true, the daughter-in-law has entrusted many people to pay, that day is really a rare and good day, and it is the most suitable for marriage."
Earlier, Mrs. Yang had already fixed the wedding date for her son and her niece, but the incident of Wei Chenglin's disappearance and unexplained disappearance soon appeared in the mansion, and then Rong Di went south to attack the city, and Wei Junhang went out to fight, so it was difficult for her to mention these things again. It's just that I was very anxious, and I was even more worried that if Wei Chenglin really lost his life, her son's marriage would not be moved until when.
Now that she finally got the right words, she finally felt relieved.
With this happiness, the words became more and more.
"I'm not boasting. My niece is indeed a rare and good girl. Anyone who has met her can boast..."
Shen Xinyan listened to her eloquence, but wanted to laugh a little.
How can a niece and a daughter-in-law be the same? When she was a niece, it was natural to see her as good as she wanted, but once she became a daughter-in-law, it would be different. It was like looking at each other with a magnifying glass. No matter how good the other party is, there is always something that she can't look down on.
She clearly remembered that in her previous life, Mrs. Yang often complained to herself in private about her former niece and later eldest son-in-law.
It was rare for the eldest princess to listen to Yang's continuous praise of her unmarried daughter-in-law with a good temper, and even when she noticed that Yang's throat seemed a little dry, she thoughtfully motioned Shen Xinyan to pour tea for her.
Shen Xinyan received her gaze, took the teapot with a smile and poured a cup of tea for Yang Shi and brought it to her.
"...Didn't I say that when it comes to marrying a daughter-in-law, character is the most important thing. Compared with this appearance, it is not so important. Look at that beautiful girl in the Zhou Mansion, who is now the third concubine. It's too attractive to attract the attention of thieves!"
Shen Xinyan was startled, and subconsciously looked at the eldest princess, just in time to meet the same surprised gaze of the eldest princess.
"Third brother and sister, what do you mean by this? What kind of thief's concern?" After a while, she asked tentatively.
"Second sister-in-law, it's not surprising that you don't know. I only heard about it when I went back to my mother's house yesterday. It is said that the third princess was taken away by thieves. As soon as the third prince came out of the clan mansion, he brought people to rescue her She went. Oh, I don't know if the third concubine is too unlucky, this time he is captured, and he will be gone for the rest of his life." Yang Shi clicked his tongue a few times, but the expression on his face was that he was watching the show .
"Is there any evidence to prove that the third concubine was kidnapped by thieves?" Shen Xinyan asked again.
"Has it spread outside?" The Eldest Princess asked immediately.
"How could it all spread? If it spread, my mother and second sister-in-law would have heard the news long ago. It's my turn to say it. It's just that some insiders revealed a few words in private. Just listen." Yang said with a smile.
"If there is no evidence, don't spread such words indiscriminately. Fame and innocence are so important to a woman. Don't copy what others say, and harm other people's life for no reason." The eldest princess taught.
Mrs. Yang replied dumbly, not daring to say more.
Shen Xinyan pondered.
Who came up with such plausible words? Although there is no conclusive evidence, the power of such a story cannot be underestimated. Those who spread such words clearly wanted to punish Zhou Wanning to death.
For some reason, Fang Birong's face suddenly flashed in her mind.
Could it be her? She didn't rule out the possibility. In the dispute between the concubine and concubine of the Zhou family, Zhou Wanning was the most beloved daughter of Zhou Mao, the eldest son of the concubine. If Zhou Guanning was destroyed, Zhou Mao and his wife would be severely damaged. For Fang Birong, it was not impossible.
A few days later, the two guards of the mansion that she sent to track down the thief came back, and they also brought back the news that Zhou Guanning was brought back to the mansion safely by the third prince.
"So, it was the third prince who saved the third concubine?" she asked.
The two guards looked at each other with some hesitation on their faces, and one of them who was a little taller replied, "It's not the third concubine that the third prince rescued from the little general Murong, but, it's the son of the world." !"
Shen Xinyan was taken aback, her expression stunned.
"Master? Are you sure it was he who saved you? But didn't Master Hou lead the troops to help General Murong?"
"The subordinates are very sure that it was the Shizi who led the troops to rescue the third concubine, and then ordered someone to escort her to meet the third prince who rushed over."
Shen Xinyan was speechless for a long time.
She did all the calculations and never figured out that it was the eldest son who rescued Zhou Wanning in this life. Obviously, at this time, the eldest son should be joining General Murong soon, and was about to lead troops to attack Rongdi imperial court.
"What about the world?" She asked.
"After the prince saved the man, he left with his men and horses. From the looks of his subordinates, he should have rushed to meet Lord Hou."
Shen Xinyan breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he didn't know how he found out that Zhou Guanning had been robbed, but no matter what, he wasn't overwhelmed by love this time, he didn't disregard the emperor's life, and he didn't disregard his relatives in Beijing.
***
However, Wei Chenglin quelled the bandit rebellion in Xiyan that day. He originally planned to cooperate with the local government to resettle the people. He never thought that Emperor Yuanyou would suddenly issue a decree, ordering him and Yunfu to bring troops and horses to join General Murong and pursue Rongdi together. .
Wei Chenglin has heard a lot about his great-grandfather's glorious deeds since he was a child, and he has great admiration for this great-grandfather who has never failed in his life. Therefore, knowing that he could really go to the battlefield for the first time, and with General Murong, who was as famous as his grandfather back then, I have to say that he was still quite excited.
The moment he received the imperial decree, he immediately ordered someone to clean it up briefly, and he and Yun Fu set off on the road with soldiers and horses.
After less than half a month of rapid march, he suddenly received a letter from his father, ordering him to take a small team to rescue people.
The letter didn't explicitly say who he was asking him to save, and Wei Chenglin didn't have time to think too much. After explaining to Yunfu, he led his personal guards and went straight in the direction indicated in the letter.
After driving fast for several days, he unexpectedly saw a familiar figure on a secluded mountain road.
"It's you? Why are you here if you didn't follow General Murong to chase after the Rongdi people?" He reined in his reins, with doubts on his face.
Murong Tao subconsciously clenched the long sword at his waist, and when he heard his words, he stopped wanting to draw the sword, and his thoughts flashed quickly.
It seems that he didn't specifically come to intercept himself, so I don't know if I think about it...
However, before he could come up with any countermeasures to deal with it, Zhou Guanning's surprised and joyful voice came from the carriage behind him: "Brother Wei, Brother Wei!"
Wei Chenglin suddenly looked up at the carriage behind him, and asked sharply, "Who is in the carriage?"
His heartbeat accelerated sharply, and he couldn't believe the voice he heard just now. The voice was too familiar, but it belonged to the person who shouldn't be here.
The moment Zhou Guanning spoke, Murong Tao knew that the situation had reached an unavoidable point. He really did not expect that the effect of her medicine would pass by such a coincidence when Wei Chenglin appeared.
"Brother Wei, Brother Wei, it's me, I'm Awan!" Zhou Guanning was weak all over, but still struggled to lift the car curtain.
When that beautiful face appeared in the carriage, Wei Chenglin was struck by thunder: "You, why are you here?"
As a concubine, how could she appear in a place far away from the capital...
Before Zhou Guanning could answer, he suddenly glared at Murong Tao: "It's you, you brought her here?"
Murong Tao sneered, and pulled out the long sword from his waist with a 'chu' sound: "Stop talking nonsense, today you and I should have a break!"
If he hadn't planned to cause him to be seriously injured that day, how could Ah Wan marry the third prince? In the final analysis, it was all because of this person that he made such a bad plan.
Wei Chenglin hated the same in his heart, he just felt that this person was really unreasonable, how important a woman's reputation is, how should she deal with Ah Wan being kidnapped by him in this way? How would the third prince treat her? !
He also drew out his long sword, stared angrily, and rode his horse towards Murong Tao who was coming with the sword.
There was only a sound of 'ping, ping, ping, ping, ping,' when weapons were handed over, and within a short while, the two began to fight, with fierce moves, each refusing to give in.
Zhou Guanning was very anxious and shouted desperately to stop, but the two had new and old grudges intertwined, and they just wished to kill each other on the spot, so how could they listen to her.
Especially for Murong Tao, the hatred of losing his lover, the hatred of being calculated years ago, every time he thinks about it, his killing intent increases a bit.
On the contrary, Wei Chenglin was worried about General Murong at the front line, leaving room for every move.
The martial arts of the two people are equal, if they both go all out, it would be hard to tell the winner, but now one is focused on killing the other, and the other is merciful, after a long time, Wei Chenglin has already lost the upper hand.
Zhou Guanning watched Wei Chenglin nearly die by Murong Tao's sword several times, his whole heart tightened, and he screamed, "Stop, Murong Tao, stop!"
But she would never have thought that the more she yelled to stop, the more intense Murong Tao's murderous intent would become.
Wei Chenglin was forced by him to back straight away, his arm was scratched by the opponent, a flash of anger flashed in his eyes, and the murderous intent suddenly appeared.
That being the case, he doesn't have to show mercy!
With a plan in mind, he suddenly yelled, kicked in the air, and then swung his sword in the air, taking advantage of Murong Tao's dodge, he made a sudden move, and the long sword pierced directly between the opponent's eyebrows.
Murong Tao secretly thought that it was not good, he hastily pulled away, narrowly dodging his sword. Before he could stand still, Wei Chenglin struck again with his sword strike.
In an instant, the sword light overflowed, and the murderous aura was all over the sky, and the guards on both sides were asked to look at me and I to look at you, and they couldn't make up their minds whether to step forward to help.
Murong Tao made an opening, taking advantage of Wei Chenglin raising his sword to welcome him, he suddenly pulled his hand, raised the sword and stabbed towards his chest, seeing that the tip of the sword was about to pierce the opponent's chest, suddenly, there was a sound of 'dang', horizontally A long knife inserted in opened his sword violently.
"Second Uncle?!" Murong Tao was furious, and was about to scold Cheng Yaojin who had come out, not wanting his face to change drastically when he saw the opponent's appearance clearly.
The person who came was none other than his biological uncle, Murong Jue, the younger brother of General Zhen Guo.
"Bastard!" Murong Jue slapped him directly, until the corner of his mouth was bloodshot, which was enough to show how hard he was.
"You are in vain as a child of the Murong family, and you have shamed the Murong family!" Murong Jue was extremely angry, and suddenly kicked him flying several feet away, before falling heavily to the ground.
"Tie up this traitor!!"
Immediately, a soldier stepped forward and tied up Murong Tao who was struggling to get up.
"Uncle, uncle..." Murong Tao was in a hurry, wanting to say something, but Murong Jue directly covered his mouth with a cloth towel, unwilling to listen to him at all.
"How offending, please don't be offended by Wei Shizi." After cleaning up his nephew, he took a few deep breaths to calm his anger, and cupped his hands towards Wei Chenglin.
Wei Chenglin avoided it: "I dare not take it."
Murong Jue's eyes were a bit complicated.
The Wei family and the Murong family have always been in a cooperative and competitive relationship. Their ancestors were brave and good at fighting, but because of Wei's pressure, they could not reach the peak.
Now among the younger generations in the two houses, this Wei Chenglin has gradually emerged, but the greatest hope of the Murong clan is still obsessed with women and does not know how to repent.
That day when Wei Junhang mentioned to him that his nephew had kidnapped the third concubine, he still didn't believe it. He just blamed him for pouring dirty water on the Murong family on purpose. He must be suppressed by the Murong family.
But he never expected that what Wei Junhang said was true!
His good nephew even pretended to be injured and quit the front line, and under the pretense of escorting food and grass, he actually went to Beijing to take people away in private!
He slowly looked at Zhou Guanning who was climbing down from the carriage in embarrassment and struggling to get over, his eyes flashed murderous intent.
"General!" Wei Chenglin sensed that he had murderous intentions towards Zhou Wanning, and stepped forward sideways, blocking his view.
Murong Jue sneered: "Could it be that Wei Shizi was also bewitched by this calamity?"
Wei Chenglin reminded lightly: "General, she is not an ordinary woman, but the concubine of the Third Prince. If something happens to her, I'm afraid the General will not be able to explain it to the Third Prince."
Murong Jue was just impulsive for a moment, and when he calmed down, he knew that this woman would not be able to kill him. Hearing this, he sneered again: "If that's the case, this woman will be handed over to Wei Shizi!"
After finishing speaking, without waiting for Wei Chenglin's reaction, he left with the struggling Murong Tao.
Wei Chenglin was silent for a moment, then slowly walked out of Zhou Wanning, who was looking at him excitedly with tears in his eyes.
"Ah... third concubine, I will order someone to escort you back to Beijing."
"Prince Concubine? You actually called me Prince Concubine? If it wasn't because you left without a word back then, how could I have become this Princess Concubine!" Zhou Guanning's eyes widened in disbelief.
"I'm sorry for what happened back then." Wei Chenglin was silent for a long while, with shame on his face.
Regardless of the reason, it was indeed his fault that he left her behind and left without a word.
"Do you know? In order to see you, I even tried to let myself fall into Murong Tao's hands, because I knew that you would definitely come to save me. Look, didn't I guess right? In my most dangerous place At that time, you really came!" Zhou Guanning said with tears.
"Did you fall into Murong Tao's hands on purpose?" Wei Chenglin frowned.
"How did you know about Murong Tao's plan?"
"Do you believe it? We were husband and wife in the previous life, and Murong Tao kidnapped me like this in the previous life. You rushed back and rescued me!" Zhou Guanning grabbed his sleeve, with a touch of tenderness on his face.
"You are frightened, I'd better get someone to send you back to Beijing!" Seeing that she started talking nonsense, even saying such things in her previous life, Wei Chenglin was a little worried and authentic.
"I'm not talking nonsense, it's true, we were a loving couple in our previous life, because my mother, that is, Mrs. Wei pushed me off the carriage, and I was captured by Murong Tao, and you, you sent her to the family temple. Seeing that he didn't believe it, Zhou Guanning became anxious immediately.
"Nonsense!" Wei Chenglin stopped her.
"Send your birth mother to the family temple to die, how different is it from a beast!"