Lai Yue, who was following him, turned his head and frowned. He shook the reins in his hand and leaned against He Changdi, and said in a low voice, "Master Zhang, it's Brother Zhang."
Of course He Changdi knew that the brother Zhang that Laiyue was talking about was Zhang Mai.
His complexion changed slightly, and he ordered Lai Yue to take guards to guard the convoy. He drove to the side of the carriage and said a word, then headed towards Zhang Mai.
Chu Lian was chatting with Madam Jing'an in the carriage when he heard what He Changdi said.
Mrs. Jing'an frowned, "Why is Sanlang still busy at this time?"
Not only was Chu Lian not angry, but she also smiled and comforted Mrs. Jing Anbo, "Mother doesn't know, there has been a lot of trouble recently, and my husband is very busy, let him go and have a look. Since it is Zhang Mai who came in person, it must be something urgent." .”
Mrs. Jing'an sighed, thinking about the past, she said with emotion: "Our mother and I really feel sorry for each other. When I was pregnant with Erlang and Sanlang, your father was very busy all day long, and he was rarely around."
But the third daughter-in-law was luckier than her. She was pregnant at the time, and Bo Jing An had already returned to Mingzhou. Now, even though He Changdi was busy with business all day, at least he was by his side, and he could often spare time to accompany Chu Lian.
Chu Lian's smile became brighter again, but in fact, she was not as calm and composed as her face showed.
After a while, more and more voices sounded outside the carriage.
"Madam, third grandma."
"What is it?"
"Third Mistress, the Third Young Master was called away by Brother Zhang Mai in a temporary emergency, let the little one inform you."
"Understood, let's continue on our way."
Mrs. Jing'an naturally heard the conversation with Chu Lian clearly in the future.
"Sanlang's daughter-in-law, Sanlang has something urgent to leave, otherwise we'd better go back first and go another day." Without He Changdi around, Mrs. Jing'an and her pregnant daughter-in-law are always worried, and the whole family is worried about Chu Lian's love. The stomach is full of expectations, so you have to be more cautious.
Chu Lian shook her head and comforted her mother-in-law, "Mother, no need, the guards were selected early in the morning, and there were two other generals who followed, but the husband was not with him. There are so many of us, how could accidents happen so easily? Stomach is not easy to delay, I have to go back today, and I don’t know when I will go out again.”
Mrs. Jing'an was finally persuaded by Chu Lian.
A group of people headed towards Da'an Temple according to the original plan.
After more than half an hour, I finally arrived at the foot of Lanxiang Mountain.
Originally, it should not take so long, but Chu Lian was pregnant and the carriage was traveling slowly, so the time spent on the journey was doubled.
At the foot of Lanxiang Mountain, there is a special path for nobles to go up the mountain, and He Changdi has already arranged for his men to guide them.
Wen Qing and Mu Xiang got out of the carriage at the back and came to the carriage that Chu Lian and Mrs. Jing Anbo were riding in.
The curtain of the carriage was lifted, Mrs. Jing'an got out of the carriage first, and then Mu Xiang helped Chu Lian out of the carriage first.
Wen Qing could only stand aside.
Yue Yue came over with two guards.
"Ma'am, third grandma, the sedan chair for going up the mountain is ready."
Although Lanxiang Mountain is not high, the road is not as easy as the official road. Even the mountain road specially opened for nobles to walk is not as smooth as the official road.
Whether it is a horse or a carriage, it is not easy to go.
Going up the mountain can only rely on manpower. Because of this, there are many bearers at the foot of Lanxiang Mountain who make money to support their families.
Chu Lian didn't have the strength to climb the mountain holding his belly, so Wenqing and Muxiang supported him to get on the sedan chair and sit down.
The sedan chair carried by these two people was made of rattan, with a place for people to carry it at both ends, and a rattan chair in the middle, with a sun-shading canopy tied on it. Although it is simple, it is light and light, which is several times lighter than ordinary sedan chairs, and it is suitable for going up the mountain.
After Chu Lian and Mrs. Jing'an got into the sedan chair, Lai Yue gave orders to go up the mountain.
Mu Xiang followed Chu Lian's sedan chair, and she asked Qing beside her, "Wen Qing, you go and take care of Madam, as long as Third Grandma has me here."
The maid brought by Mrs. Jing'an twisted her ankle when she got out of the carriage, and was left at the foot of the mountain with the carriage and horses, with only one elderly mother beside her for the time being.
Wen Qing paused, nodded, and walked to Mrs. Jing'an's sedan chair in two or three steps.
The weather was hot, and the team walked for a quarter of an hour. Everyone was sweating profusely. They were in the forest, surrounded by green trees to block the wind, but the trees on both sides of the road were cut down, and the sun was shining directly, making it even hotter.
Chu Lian waved the round fan in his hand, wiped the fine sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, took out a thin white porcelain bottle from his waist, poured out a brown pill and took it.
Mu Xiang, who was by her side, had been paying attention to her movements. Seeing that she had taken the pill, she frowned, pretending to be worried, and said, "Third Grandma, Miracle Doctor Miao said that people who are pregnant should not take medicine indiscriminately."
Chu Lian turned to look at her, and suddenly smiled slyly.
In the sun, her smile was so dazzling in Mu Xiang's eyes.
"Mu Xiang, thank you for your concern, this is the medicine Uncle Miao gave me."
Mu Xiang's face froze slightly, suppressed the anger in her heart, and squeezed out a smile, "Since it was made by Miracle Doctor Miao himself, then the servants don't have to worry about it."
After this little episode, Chu Lian just sat in the sedan chair and had nothing to say with Mu Xiang.
Halfway, Mu Xiang noticed a sign somewhere, and suddenly made a subtle gesture.
On both sides of the dreary uphill road, a small group of masked men rushed out suddenly, and immediately fought with the guards of the Anyuanhou Mansion.
A strong man with a mask and tunic sleeves was about to stab Mrs. Jing Anbo next to him with his sword.
Wen Qing, who was about to leave to protect Chu Lian's safety, had no choice but to turn around and block the man's attack with the soft sword hidden in his waist.
There was a ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, sound between the weapons.
Here Mu Xiang yelled to protect Chu Lian, but Lai Yue and a few skilled guards were blocked in the middle.
The sedan chair Chu Lian was riding in was robbed by two men in gray clothes, and even Mu Xiang was gagged and taken away.
This group of people seemed to have no intention of fighting, and after snatching people away, they retreated quickly with a gesture.
In just over a quarter of an hour, halfway up the Lanxiang Mountain, there were wounded scattered all over the place and Mrs. Jing Anbo with a dazed and frightened face.
Mrs. Jing'an collapsed to the ground in fright when she found out that Chu Lian had been taken away. She shouted angrily, "Hurry up! No matter what the price is, I will bring Sanlang's wife back safely!"
With a trembling voice, she ordered Yue Yue, "Hurry up and send someone to deliver the news to the third young master, uncle and Prince Wei's mansion! Hurry up!"
The family general Huang Zhijian had already brought people to chase him, and he hurriedly ordered people to report the news, but he himself did not dare to leave. After all, Madam Jing'an is still here, one of the mistresses in the house has had an accident, and the other can no longer problem occurs.
Chu Lian was carried away sitting on the palanquin. She held her stomach and didn't dare to move.
It turned out that the two bearers who carried her were already arranged by others.
She looked around at the surrounding paths, but this was the forest of Lanxiang Mountain. Except for shrubs and trees, there were no landmarks around. She pursed her lips, carefully shook the purse at her waist, and some debris fell.
In such an urgent situation, the light-colored powder that fell from the purse would not be noticed at all.
Chu Lian's eyes fell on Mu Xiang, who was tied up and carried on her shoulders. She was covered with a cloth bag by the group of people, and she couldn't see her expression at this time.
What made Chu Lian feel strange was that except for Mu Xiang's struggle at the beginning, when they were snatched away from the sight of Lai Yue and others, she seemed to have fainted and remained motionless.
The two men carrying the sedan chair were running wildly, but Chu Lian held on to the sedan chair with all his strength but did not dare to move.
Finally, the group of bandits threw off the guards of the Hou Mansion who were chasing after them, circled around the forest again, and finally stopped in front of a thatched hut.
Chu Lian and Mu Xiang were pushed into the only thatched hut.
There is simply a set of old tables and chairs in the thatched hut. There is a pile of hay in one corner, and there is nothing beside it. There is only a narrow door and no windows to enter this hut, so the whole room looks dark and damp.
Chu Lian supported the muddy wall to stabilize his figure, and leaned towards the pile of hay.
The team of robbing people actually retreated after throwing Chu Lian and Mu Xiang in the hut, guarding the hut a dozen meters away.
Chu Lian frowned, and his eyes quickly fell on Mu Xiang who was sitting next to her on the ground with her head covered.
Mu Xiang, who was thought to be in a coma, suddenly moved, untied her hands in two or three strokes, and pulled down the cloth bag covering her head and face.
In a moment, her usual kind face was revealed.
It's just completely different from Mu Xiang's gentle and obedient appearance.
She had a mischievous expression, the corners of her mouth were raised high, and her eyes were full of gloom, as if she was a completely different person, and there was no trace of Mu Xiang.
Chu Lian's brows furrowed tighter, her red lips parted slightly, apparently still in shock.
She swallowed subconsciously, "You... who are you?"
Chu Lian's mind was spinning fast, this group of people took her away, and left her and Mu Xiang in the hut alone, could it be that Mu Xiang arranged all of this
Otherwise, how to explain that this group of people only kidnapped her and Mu Xiang
Mu Xiang stood up and walked a few steps towards Chu Lian.
Now Mu Xiang in front of her, there is no shadow of that obedient servant girl, she is walking, her chin is slightly raised, her whole face is full of arrogance.
She tilted her mouth and stared at Chu Lian who was supporting the wall, and then bent slightly to get closer.
Mu Xiang was tall and tall, standing with the petite Chu Lian at this time, she was half a head taller than her. This time, Mu Xiang also experienced the feeling of looking down at others.
She gave a strange laugh, with hatred in her mocking tone, "Huh? Who am I? This should be me asking you, Mrs. Anyuanhou! Who are you? Don't you feel a little bit about taking this body?" Ashamed? You snatched someone else’s husband as your own and concealed the truth about him, so you don’t feel guilty at all? You monster, today I want to see how long you’re going to act!”
Chu Lian: ...
Chu Lian was slightly startled, and stared at Mu Xiang, whose face was distorted due to anger, with wide eyes.