Chapter 21: Little Brother, It’s Just a Simple Doghole to Crawl Through~
When Huang Xuqiu drove the ox cart to the village gate, he suddenly spotted a somewhat familiar figure rushing toward him.
He furrowed his brows slightly.
“Why are you here?”
“I’m also going to look for Cheng Yuan,” Xie Changzhi glanced at him and then walked straight to the ox cart, sitting down without another word.
Mo Bai and Mo Fei instinctively shifted over, making room for him.
Huang Xuqiu gave him a long, deep look, then climbed onto the ox cart as well.
——
Cheng Yuan was roused from unconsciousness by suffocation. Upon opening her eyes, it was dark all around, with only a faint light seeping through the cracks. She took a moment to realize she was likely inside a sack.
Her body swayed gently, as if being carried.
Squinting, she recalled that the hawthorn had been given by her eldest aunt-in-law. If they had drugged her, where were they taking her?
Perhaps her eldest aunt-in-law was overconfident; she noticed her hands and feet were not bound.
Just as she was about to remove the cloth from her mouth, voices sounded outside.
“Be careful, don’t wake her up. If she makes a fuss, the master will make you pay.”
“What if she wakes up?” The young maid sounded a bit nervous.
“Then you deal with it yourself.”
With that, a burst of white light flashed, and Cheng Yuan quickly shut her eyes.
She felt herself being lifted out of the sack, then her clothes were stripped away.
Clenching her back teeth, ready to strike at any moment, she suddenly felt clothes being put back on her and was helped to lie down.
“That’s enough. Just get her inside,” a slightly older female voice said.
After a while, once she was sure no one remained nearby, Cheng Yuan slightly opened one eye and looked down to see herself dressed in a delicate pink gown.
A jade hairpin adorned with dangling beads was inserted into her hair.
She seemed to be inside a sedan chair.
Cheng Yuan was silent for a moment.
Had she been forcibly married off?
But a bride should wear a red wedding dress; this was more like the attire of a concubine.
In an instant, she pieced together the whole scheme.
Failing to take advantage of her family, her eldest aunt-in-law accepted a dowry from another household but, knowing Cheng Yuan would refuse, drugged her and took advantage of the opportunity to carry her over.
Once things were done, it would be impossible for her to escape.
Cheng Yuan’s expression darkened visibly.
It had been a long time since she ate the hawthorn candy; surely her family had realized she was missing, and her mother must be frantic.
She sighed softly.
Fortunately, luck was on her side—she had awakened early. Moreover, she was no ordinary girl to be easily manipulated.
She clenched the anti-wolf baton tightly in her hand.
The sedan chair trundled on for quite some time before suddenly stopping.
Cheng Yuan was uncertain how many people were outside and resolved to keep playing dead.
“Let’s carry her inside and put her on the bed. The mansion is well guarded; not even a fly can get out.”
“Yes.”
She felt the softness of a bed behind her and heard the door close immediately.
The voices of the two receded, and Cheng Yuan opened her eyes.
She scanned the room; the lavish décor was filled with collectibles, and even the floor was carpeted with rugs.
It seemed she had been sold to a wealthy household.
Of course, money-hungry scoundrels!
With a grim face, Cheng Yuan walked to the door and pushed it, but it was locked.
“Aunt Eighteen, if you need anything, just let us know. The master will come at dusk; please be patient,” a male voice sounded outside, clearly from a guard.
Cheng Yuan pressed her lips tight and cursed the Jiang family in her heart.
“I’m hungry; send some food.”
A delicate female voice came from inside. The two guards exchanged cautious glances, and one left.
Soon, a large platter with a balanced mix of meat and vegetables was brought in. The other guard skillfully picked the lock.
“Aunt Eighteen, the food has arrived.”
The guard set down the plate and was about to leave when a voice came from the bed curtain.
“Bring it here! Do you think I’m feeding dogs? I’ll be your master from now on!”
The guard hesitated but had to carry the platter over reluctantly.
Worried she might see something she shouldn’t, he kept his head bowed.
Finally, he placed the plate on the nearby table.
“Aunt Eighteen, I’ll—”
The guard’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.
“What happened?”
The noise did not escape the ears of the guard outside the door, but he just stood watchfully, unwilling to enter.
Behind the curtain, nothing was clear.
Cheng Yuan’s lips curled slightly as she withdrew her hand into her sleeve, expressionless.
“Ah! Someone help! He fainted! How scary!”
The guard hesitated, having seen too many abducted concubines cause scenes to escape.
“Aunt Eighteen, please wait a moment; someone will be here soon—”
“Come in quickly! Drag him out! What kind of man faints in front of me? If the master gets angry, I’ll skin you alive!”
The guard was speechless.
——
The affected tone and commanding aura inside made him think twice.
This woman must covet wealth and status and wouldn’t run away.
So, dragging the man out shouldn’t cause trouble.
With that thought, he entered.
Moments later, Cheng Yuan strode out with a faint smile on her face.
Such a small guard—how laughable.
——
“Can’t we go any faster?”
Xie Changzhi looked at the long stretch of road ahead, irritation creeping into his heart.
Huang Xuqiu smiled faintly but his eyes were calm.
“You get down. If you’re lighter, we can move faster.”
Clearly a jab at him, Xie Changzhi shut up and tried to quell his impatience.
A trace of pleasure appeared in Huang Xuqiu’s eyes.
“I’ve been to the prince’s mansion a few times. Follow me inside; don’t go alone. If you get caught, I won’t be responsible.”
After burning an incense stick, the three stopped before a patch of overgrown weeds and a narrow dog hole.
A faint, indescribable smile tugged at Huang Xuqiu’s lips.
“All other entrances are heavily guarded.I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.