Ji Mingzhu did not want to go sightseeing outside the city, but the Old Madam and the Commandery Princess specifically sent someone to notify her, asking her to join them on an outing.
The date was set for three days later.
There was absolutely no opportunity given for her to refuse.
If she hadn't seen through everything, Ji Mingzhu might have thought that the elders were genuinely concerned about her.
She let out a light laugh, her eyes full of sarcasm.
It was nothing but an attempt to avoid criticism, a mere facade.
Ji Mingzhu felt weary; she hadn't done anything to let the Xie Family down, yet her presence felt like a thorn in the side of some people.
They couldn't spit it out, nor swallow it.
At this moment, her urge to escape grew more intense.
Ji Mingzhu told herself to wait a little longer.
Once the year turned, there would be light at the end of the tunnel.
Once she left Yangzhou, whether or not things worked out with Brother Yuan, she wouldn't return to the capital.
Whether she got married or started her own household, things would eventually work themselves out.
Ji Mingzhu felt a bit guilty; she knew this thought was unfair to her aunt.
But leaving the Xie Family and the capital was better than making things difficult for her aunt.
She could also find a bit of comfort for herself.
...
After getting drunk earlier, Xie Yunxuan wasn't sure if he had spoken nonsense.
Feeling uneasy, he specially sought out his brother to ask about it.
Upon learning that he had spoken nonsense and scared Mingzhu away, Xie Yunxuan felt even more afraid to face her.
He was afraid to see the disgust for him in Mingzhu's eyes.
It so happened that he heard his teacher had come to the capital and was staying at an estate outside the city. Xie Yunxuan used the excuse of discussing learning with his teacher to move outside the city for a while.
Seeing his determination, he wouldn't be back until the new year.
The men in the family were progressing, which made the Old Madam very happy. Thus, she didn't force him to go sightseeing or to meet girls.
It was perfect timing to marry off Ji Mingzhu after the new year.
It seemed even the heavens were helping the Xie Family, not giving Ji Mingzhu a chance to climb to a higher branch.
Feeling pleased, the Old Madam even looked at Ji Mingzhu more favorably for a few minutes.
In the following days, when she came to Crane Dance Hall to pay her respects, not only did they not make things difficult for her, but they also gave her a piece of cloth to make new clothes.
Soon, the day of the outing arrived.
Ji Mingzhu was very surprised to see Xie Yunzhen.
With his temper, he should avoid such activities.
But then she thought, Xie Yunzhen was already twenty-three this year, and wanting to marry and have children was only natural.
In her previous life, she had been a hindrance, preventing him from meeting other girls.
This life, she voluntarily stepped away, making the current situation all the more reasonable.
Her gaze lingered on Xie Yunzhen for just a moment before Ji Mingzhu got into the carriage.
The curtain fell, so she couldn't see the gaze cast her way by the man.
Xie Yunzhen, out on business, saw Ji Mingzhu, Xie Yunling, and the other concubine-born sisters of the estate and remembered what his mother had told him.
He wasn't interested in outings or meeting girls, so it went in one ear and out the other.
He didn't take it to heart afterwards.
He didn't expect to encounter them at the mansion gate.
Recalling Ji Mingzhu treating him as if he were air, Xie Yunzhen inexplicably wanted to laugh.
After all, he had helped Ji Mingzhu, and this was how she repaid him.
Not even a greeting, her etiquette was learned in vain.
His jaw tightened, as he asked, "Am I standing in the wrong place?"
"Huh?"
Gao Xing was puzzled, unsure of what this lord meant.
Just as he was about to ask for clarification, the person had already boarded the carriage.
The noble figure exuded a chill, indicating a less than pleasant mood.
Gao Xing was all the more confused; who had offended this lord again?
Xie Yunzhen's carriage began to move, and those behind followed, thinking that the Young Master was with them.
Ji Mingzhu and Xie Yunling shared a carriage, following immediately behind Xie Yunzhen's.
As a result, when the accident happened, she was also affected.
"Make way!"
"Quickly, make way!"
"..."
A carriage came speeding from the direction of the city gate; the horse pulling the cart suddenly lost control, charging headlong towards the Xie Family's convoy.
Pedestrians on the road screamed in fear, children cried in terror, and vendors' stalls were knocked over...
Screams and crash sounds echoed, and the scene became chaotic in an instant.
The runaway carriage didn't stop, racing forward at a high speed.
The driver responsible for Xie Yunzhen's carriage was the most experienced in the estate.
The driver reacted quickly, immediately changing course to avoid the collision.
By doing so, Ji Mingzhu and Xie Yunling's carriage bore the brunt.
With a "thud," Ji Mingzhu's head slammed into the carriage wall, instantly making her feel dizzy.
By instinct, she tightly held Xie Yunling in her arms to protect her.
Frightened, the horse also began to run wild.
The driver clung tightly to the reins, while the horse neighed, raising its front hooves.
Inside the carriage, the occupants were thrown against the walls again.
A sharp pain shot from the back of her head, spreading to her entire body.
Ji Mingzhu's mind went blank.
All she could feel was pain; nothing else registered.
The pedestrians by the roadside continued to shout in alarm. The more chaotic the scene, the more agitated the horse became.
With flaring nostrils, it panted heavily, frequently pacing, trying to break free from the reins.
The driver, in a cold sweat, kept whistling signals but failed to calm the horse.
Xie Yunzhen quickly climbed out of the carriage.
His sharp eyes narrowed, and without hesitation, he hurled the dagger he always carried.
With the sound of air being sliced, in a flash, the dagger embedded in the horse's vital spot.
The frenzied horse collapsed with a heavy thud, breathing more than expelling, clearly beyond saving.
The carriage tipped, making Ji Mingzhu's entire insides ache, yet she held on tightly to Xie Yunling, protecting her head, refusing to let go.
Xie Yunling started to cry, "Sister Mingzhu, are you alright?"
She said, emerging from Ji Mingzhu's embrace, wanting to check her condition.
Ji Mingzhu felt pain everywhere, but she didn't want Xie Yunling to worry.
She struggled to tug a smile, "I'm fine."
"I don't believe you; your face is pale."
Having climbed out of the carriage first, Xie Yunling reached out to Ji Mingzhu.
"Sister Mingzhu, let me help you out."
Ji Mingzhu placed her hand on Xie Yun's, but as soon as she propped up her upper body, dizziness overwhelmed her.
With a "thump," she fell back again.
Xie Yunling was truly frightened; she didn't dare touch Ji Mingzhu again.
She could only panic and shout, "Quick, get a doctor!"
People with injuries from bumps and knocks shouldn't be moved casually, or it might cause secondary injuries.
Watching her Miss sweating in pain with her eyes tightly shut, Gold knew the situation was serious.
He sprinted toward the nearby clinic, fearing the doctor's delay would lead to dire consequences.
Xie Yunling, teary-eyed and anxious, "Sister Mingzhu, don't be afraid, the doctor will be here soon."
Her heart was filled with guilt.
If it wasn't for protecting her, Sister Mingzhu wouldn't have been so badly injured.
Ji Mingzhu felt awful everywhere, yet she didn't forget to comfort the tearful girl, "I'll be fine after a rest, don't cry."
Her voice was weak and powerless; had it not been for keen hearing, it might've been drowned by the noise.
Xie Yunzhen hesitated for a moment, then walked toward the toppled carriage.
Ji Mingzhu was out with the Xie Family, riding in one of their carriages.
As the heir, both sentimentally and rationally, he should be concerned about Ji Mingzhu's situation.
"Ah Zhen!"
A familiar yet unfamiliar voice came from behind, causing Xie Yunzhen to stop and instinctively turn his head.
From the first runaway carriage emerged a woman in plain garb.
Her hair was styled in a married woman's bun, her face haggard and thin, with a conspicuous bloodstain on her forehead.
She looked as if caught between laughter and tears, "Long time no see, only… I seem to have caused you trouble again."