Jiang Mansion, in the alley outside the back door.
There stood two furtive figures.
Judging from the clothes they were wearing, they looked like a master and servant.
The leader was a handsome... man?
He was wearing a green men's robe, and had the temperament of a rich young man. His face was covered, but one could still see some exquisiteness. His small and delicate features seemed to look a bit like a woman?
But when he saw the ordinary, flat chest under the other person's robe, he felt more confident.
He indeed looks more like a man with a more delicate appearance!
Behind her was a pretty maid who was carefully looking around and whispered with a little worry, "Miss, is this really okay?"
"Is His Royal Highness really going to meet us?"
The handsome man snorted softly, "Of course, he will definitely meet him."
"oh……"
Xiaolu was a little worried. She looked up ahead, feeling uneasy: "Miss, if we run away and the Second Young Master finds out..."
The two people were Xu Lan and her maid Xiaolu.
Today, the two of them took advantage of the fact that the mansion was not under strict security and sneaked out. They ran to the Jiang Mansion and wanted to meet the Prince of Lin.
Xiaolu didn't want to come out, but was dragged here by his mistress. At this moment, his face was full of worry and fear.
"Don't worry, even if you get caught, I'll take care of you."
Xu Lan didn't take it seriously. She glanced at the furtive maid beside her and said unhappily, "Why are you so scared? We've both put on makeup and disguised ourselves today. No one will recognize us."
"But……"
Xiaolu was still a little anxious and was about to say something when a maid came out from the back door of the Jiang Mansion.
"You two, please follow me in."
Hearing this, Xu Lan's eyes lit up slightly: "Is that guy at home?"
The maids in the mansion were confused. The two people outside the door wanted to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince today. Although they didn't know their origins, since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wanted to see them, they thought they were most likely his distinguished guests.
The maid nodded and led Xu Lan and the maid into the Jiang Mansion through the back door.
"Is this the Jiang Mansion? It's truly extraordinary."
Xu Lan followed the maid as she surveyed the Jiang Mansion. The Jiang family of Jiangnan was wealthy and prominent in the capital. Even their mansion in the capital was comparable to that of her own Xu family in Linzhou.
The Xu family's current status in Linzhou was all thanks to the support of Prince Lin. If it weren't for Prince Lin's care for the Xu family over the years, the Xu family would never have achieved what they have today.
But now...
As if he thought of something, Xu Lan's eyes dimmed, and then became a little angry.
I really don't know what's going on in my grandpa, father, and brother's minds...
After sighing deeply, Xu Lan collected her thoughts and stepped into Jiang's residence. For some reason, she suddenly became nervous.
It’s an indescribable feeling!
There is an unconcealable feeling of uneasiness, a bit of uncontrollable excitement and joy, and an inexplicable shyness.
It's hard to describe.
I haven't seen that guy for a long time. I wonder how he is doing. Does he still remember me...
That bastard, maybe he had forgotten her a long time ago?
Thinking of this, Xu Lan gritted his teeth and couldn't help but ask the maid who led the way.
"Does your Prince Lin live here?"
The maidservant was confused and nodded in response, "My master is the Crown Prince's uncle. This Jiang Mansion can be considered as another home for the Crown Prince. It's natural for the Crown Prince to live here after entering the capital..."
"Besides him, is there anyone else?"
"Yes, His Highness is accompanied by many guards and maids when he comes to the capital this time."
"Who are they?"
"this……"
The maid shook her head: "I don't know."
Xu Lan nodded thoughtfully.
At this time, the maid had already led Xu Lan through the long and narrow corridor to a reception room in the backyard.
The maid led Xu Lan and the other to a seat and poured hot tea for Xu Lan: "Please wait a moment, His Highness will be here soon."
After saying that, the maid left first.
Only Xu Lan and her maid Xiaolu were left, and they looked around curiously.
A cold wind blew outside the courtyard. Xiaolu glanced at the slightly unnatural expression of the young lady beside her. She seemed to have thought of something and whispered, "Young lady, are you nervous?"
"nervous?!"
Xu Lan's voice became louder: "I, why should I be nervous?"
"You're about to meet the prince you've been thinking about so much. Aren't you nervous?"
Xu Lan's face was a little embarrassed, and he glared at her in shame and anger: "What nonsense are you talking about? When did I think of you so much?"
Xiaolu was about to say something, but she saw her mistress staring at him with a bad expression. She quickly shut up and muttered to herself.
Ever since my young lady arrived in the capital, she has been obsessed with the Prince of Lin. She is always concerned about his life and death, and she even has to run out to see him... Isn't this obsession?
"snort."
Xu Lan's face was unnatural as she snorted softly, "Ben, I'm just afraid that he'll die... He hasn't fulfilled the bet I made with him yet, so he can't die now..."
"I just came to see if he's still alive. If he's really dead... well, that's fine. If he's dead, there's one less scourge in the world..."
Listening to her young lady's increasingly harsh words, Xiaolu sighed inwardly. Just as she was about to say something, a voice suddenly came from behind them.
"How come I heard someone cursing this prince dead from so far away?"
The voice startled the two of them and they turned around. Not far behind them stood a handsome young man with extraordinary temperament.
He has regular facial features, sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. Perhaps because he was exhausted on the journey to Beijing, he has lost some of the elegance of a scholar and gained some of the chivalrous spirit of the world.
He appeared not far away, looking at the two of them.
"Shi, His Highness the Crown Prince?!"
Xiaolu was startled, and when he turned around and saw the figure behind him, he was slightly stunned.
This, this is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Lin?!
It’s been a long time since we last met. Xiaolu blinked and felt that the Crown Prince seemed... a little different.
It seems to look better?
Xu Lan stared blankly at the familiar figure that appeared in his sight, and the familiar annoying face, but somehow, it seemed that there had been a lot of changes.
Seems to have grown taller?
It also seems that there is a bit more temperament that was not there before...
It's been less than half a year, but it seems like many years have passed.
For some reason, Xu Lan's heart tightened at this moment, and an inexplicable sense of tension surged in his heart.
Even she herself didn't know what was going on.
She was clearly fearless, and she also held the crucial leverage over this guy, so why was she nervous?
But she was indeed very nervous, her palms clenched subconsciously, and her fists were full of sweat.
I feel like I've reunited with my lover after a long separation...
Xu Lan quickly shook his head to get rid of these messy thoughts.
What the hell, why would she think of such nonsense?
She took a deep breath, and when she saw the familiar, provocative smile on that familiar face, she seemed to find some familiarity. Her tension subsided a lot, and she snorted softly, "It would be better if he died. If he died, there would be one less disaster in the world..."
Lin Jiangnian looked at the master and servant in front of him, Xu Lan and the maid named Xiaolu beside her.
I haven't seen Xu Lan for half a year, but she hasn't changed much... She still dresses the same as before.
In Linzhou, Xu Lan had a fiery personality and dressed in a more androgynous style. Coupled with his flat physique, at first glance, he looked just like a man.
Of course, it also has something to do with the reason why she sneaks out of the house from time to time.
But today she...
Lin Jiangnian was stunned: "What's that painted on your face?"
Xu Lan seemed to have put on some makeup, which made her look a little different from before.
"Humph, it's all your fault!"
Xu Lan spoke.
"Blame me?"
Lin Jiangnian was puzzled. What did this have to do with him?
The maid Xiaolu beside her explained softly, "The young lady was afraid of being discovered, so she disguised herself and came to see Your Highness..."
"Afraid of being discovered?"
Lin Jiangnian was even more puzzled: "Why are you afraid of being discovered?"
Why does this sound like an affair?
"Of course it's because..."
Xiaolu opened her mouth subconsciously, but was quickly covered by Xu Lan beside her.
"Xiaolu, there's nothing for you to do here, go out and play first."
Xiaolu looked at her mistress aggrievedly, said "Oh", and stood up and left the living room.
Lin Jiangnian glanced at Xiaolu who was walking out, as if thinking about something.
"Hey, I didn't expect you to be alive."
After driving Xiaolu away, Xu Lan looked at Lin Jiangnian again with an unnatural expression. She slightly shifted her gaze and snorted, "I thought you would die on the road."
The familiar tone was indeed the speaking style of this Miss Xu.
Lin Jiangnian raised his eyebrows: "Why? You wish I were dead?"
"I don't."
Xu Lan curled her lips.
"Did you curse me just now?"
"No?"
Xu Lan glared at him lightly.
"Has this prince offended you?"
"That's right."
"Tell me about it?"
Lin Jiangnian walked closer and looked at the vaguely familiar Miss Xu in front of him. There seemed to be no change.
Didn't even develop?
"snort!"
Xu Lan seemed to have regained some of her confidence and glared at him. "You've been gone for half a year without a word from me. You're as good as dead. Do you know how worried I...my dad and the others are about you?"
"Your father is worried about me?"
Lin Jiangnian looked at her in astonishment and said, "Didn't I tell you? It might take a long time for me to return from Beijing this time. It could be as short as half a year, or as long as one or two years..."
At this point, Lin Jiangnian suddenly remembered something: "By the way, why did you come to the capital?"
“Play!”
"Play?"
"yes!"
Xu Lan glanced at Lin Jiangnian and snorted, "If you can come, why can't I?"
"I'm here to do business."
"I'll come play!"
Xu Lan curled her lips: "After you left Linjiang City, there was no one to play with me. I was bored, so I came to the capital..."
For some reason, Lin Jiangnian heard a hint of grievance in her tone?
Xu Lan was indeed aggrieved.
This guy left without saying anything and there was no news of him since he left Linjiang City.
She had come to the capital quietly, intending to give this guy a surprise, but he had an accident on the way and nearly lost his life. She was so worried and anxious that she finally found out that he was still alive. Now that she saw him, she felt inexplicably angry.
I can’t say.
"I see."
Lin Jiangnian nodded slightly, looked at Miss Xu in front of him, and said with a smile: "Is the capital city fun?"
“It’s not fun at all.”
Xu Lan curled her lips, her tone a little depressed.
She hasn't been out much since she came to the capital...
However, seeing Lin Jiangnian's still familiar face, it was as if she had returned to the Lin Palace. The tension in her heart and the sense of alienation she hadn't seen for a long time gradually disappeared.
I haven't seen him for a long time, but this guy hasn't changed.
This made Xu Lan feel relieved.
The small grievances that had been accumulating also disappeared.
Then, she grabbed Lin Jiangnian and asked about his experiences along the way.
"By the way, what happened on your way to Beijing this time? I heard you were dying? Is that true? What happened? Tell me quickly..."
Xu Lan asked all the questions at once.
She was a person who could not hide her thoughts. Now that Lin Jiangnian did not distance himself from her, she couldn't wait to know what had happened during this period of time.
"Calm down first, I'll tell you slowly."
Lin Jiangnian had anticipated that Miss Xu would be curious about these things, so he let her calm down first and then slowly told her the story.
However, Lin Jiangnian's explanation was brief, mostly brushing over what had happened. Even so, Xu Lan could still sense the danger within.
From the moment he entered Xunyang City, he encountered an assassination attempt, was nearly buried in a secret room, was injured, and then continued on to the capital. He encountered various assassinations along the way, and was almost killed by Master Shen Lingjun. He narrowly escaped death...
Even though it was just a brief description, Xu Lan still felt terrified, her eyes widened, and her breathing became rapid.
Xu Lan was different from other women. She had always been strong-willed and had a deep yearning for the martial arts world. She was much more receptive to fighting and killing than the average woman. But after hearing Lin Jiangnian's description, she still felt extremely thrilled and terrified.
"It's really not easy for you to reach the capital alive. You are so lucky..."
Xu Lan couldn't help but sigh.
"Yes, if it weren't for my good luck, you might not be able to see me today." Lin Jiang smiled young.
"The scourge that has been left behind for a thousand years is you."
Xu Lan subconsciously retorted, but soon thought of something and said angrily: "Who was the person who sent people to assassinate you and almost killed you? Have you found out?"
"Why are you asking that?"
"Revenge!"
Xu Lan said angrily, "You were almost killed. How can I not avenge you?"
Lin Jiangnian looked at Xu Lan, whose face was filled with indignation, and sighed, "I can't report it!"
"Why?"
"The other party is too powerful!"
Xu Lan was surprised: "Is there anyone with a greater background than you, the Prince of Lin?!"
"Why not?"
Lin Jiangnian shook his head: "My title as the Prince of Lin is only effective in Linzhou. After I leave Linzhou, how many people will take me seriously?"
Xu Lan thought about it and it seemed to make sense...
During the time she was in the capital, she heard many people in the capital scolding Lin Jiangnian.
Although I had cursed quite a bit in Linjiang City before, I had never imagined someone in the capital would be so brazen...
"So you don't plan to take revenge? This is not like you?!" Xu Lan couldn't help but say.
"What do you think we should do?"
"Of course I have to take revenge, tooth for tooth!"
Xu Lan said as a matter of course: "Since they sent people to assassinate you, then you should also send people to assassinate them in retaliation. It's only right to reciprocate!"
Lin Jiangnian looked at Miss Xu in front of him and couldn't help but sigh: "Miss Xu is really brave and resourceful, and she is very agile!"
"Humph, no way!"
Xu Lan raised her little face with a hint of pride.
"Miss Xu is a martial arts master, so how about you avenge this prince?"
"No." Xu Lan refused without even thinking.
"Why?"
"Don't try to trick me into committing suicide!"
Xu Lan snorted coldly and said unhappily.
How could someone who could assassinate Prince Lin be an ordinary person?
If she goes there with her mediocre skills, wouldn't that be asking for death?
Although Miss Xu is naive, she is not stupid.
When this matter was mentioned, Xu Lan quickly remembered something and was about to speak when a figure appeared in his sight.
"Huh?"
"Kite...girl?!"
“…”