Xie Jinglan had only come out to search for Wen Hui after coincidentally learning that she had gone to the outer palace alone, completely unaware that Ji Zizhao had also followed.
Wen Hui was truly frightened, and the pain in her wrist only amplified her feelings of being wronged. "Do you really care about her that much?"
Xie Jinglan did not answer Wen Hui's question but stood up and looked around.
Given Ji Zizhao's composure, if she was traveling with Wen Hui, she would know the consequences of Wen Hui being injured. Therefore, she knew it was impossible for Ji Zizhao to have abandoned Wen Hui alone.
Thinking of the scene where Wen Hui fell from the carriage window just now…
Xie Jinglan immediately mounted his horse and chased after the still galloping carriage.
At this moment, the carriage was still speeding along.
The palace attendants strangled the horse reins in their hands, but it was still impossible to stop the runaway horse.
The injured horse had completely gone mad, beyond any control.
Seeing the two horses deviate from the path and hurtle down the hillside, the palace attendants were so terrified they closed their eyes.
"Bang—!"
The tightly shut carriage door was kicked open, and a hand grabbed the palace attendant's collar.
The palace attendant felt a sudden lightness in his body. When he opened his eyes again, he was already sitting inside the carriage, looking at Ji Zizhao beside him, so stunned that he had forgotten to be scared.
In the imperial palace, servants saw the high and mighty officials and nobles the most.
To those people, they were less than ants.
Yet, the Eldest Daughter of the Ji family had saved him in his most perilous moment, even though she could barely take care of herself…
A white figure darted into the carriage through the window, as swift as a phantom.
Ji Zizhao, who was still supporting herself with her limbs, was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace. She tilted her head up slightly and saw that familiar delicate face and tense profile.
Xie Jinglan's facial expression visibly relaxed when he saw Ji Zizhao. "Hold on tight to me."
"Okay." Ji Zizhao had nothing to hold back at this moment. She raised her hand and wrapped it around Xie Jinglan's slender neck.
Xie Jinglan held Ji Zizhao's waist with one arm and the palace attendant's collar with the other. As the carriage followed the mad horse down the hillside, he leaped out of the carriage.
"Crash—!"
With a heavy thud, the carriage shattered at the foot of the hill.
The palace attendant sat on the ground, looking at the pulverized carriage, and doubted if he was still alive.
Ji Zizhao had no time to dwell on anything. The arm tightly clasped around her lower back pressed against her injured spine, causing her to frown in pain.
Seeing Ji Zizhao's pained expression, Xie Jinglan steadied her and then looked down to ask, "Did you hurt your back?"
Huo Nian Gong and his men were still chasing two carriages in the distance. Ji Zizhao, concerned about the situation over there, dismissed it with a brief reply, "It's nothing."
Xie Jinglan was not surprised by her demeanor. People of her nature never got used to relying on anyone. No matter what happened, she would always say she was fine.
Wen Hui, standing not far away with Tang Di accompanying her, looked at the two people standing side by side and felt an indescribable sense of familiarity.
Once upon a time, Fourth Cousin had stood by her side just like this.
"Thump, thump, thump… Thump, thump, thump…"
A burst of chaotic hoofbeats approached from afar.
One of the carriages, cornered by Huo Nian Gong, suddenly turned and headed back towards them.
Wen Hui glanced at Xie Jinglan standing beside Ji Zizhao again and then strode towards them.
Wen Hui walked so quickly that Tang Di, standing beside her, was stunned.
He truly hadn't reacted at all!
What normal person would suddenly rush out… to their death?
The sound of hooves behind her grew clearer. Wen Hui's hands and feet turned cold, but despite this, she still shouted in the direction of Xie Jinglan, "Thank goodness Fourth Cousin arrived in time today; otherwise, the consequences would have been truly unimaginable."
It wasn't that she wasn't afraid, but she trusted that Fourth Cousin would not abandon her.
As expected, when Xie Jinglan heard Wen Hui's voice, he glanced over. Upon seeing the carriage rapidly approaching Wen Hui, he immediately leaped to her side.
However, the carriage was now only an arm's length away from them, and even Xie Jinglan had no time to dodge.
Tang Di and Huo Nian Gong, who had finally reacted, showed anxious expressions.
But at this moment, neither of them could spare any effort and could only watch as the carriage rushed towards them.
At the critical moment, Ji Zizhao flipped her palm, and two silver lights shot out against the wind, accurately and ruthlessly piercing the horse's wrist bones.
The pained horse reared up, terrifying the man on the carriage. As they frantically pulled on the reins to stabilize the horse, they saw the horse with shattered wrist bones collapse to the ground and remain motionless.
Huo Nian Gong, "…"
What excellent needlework!
Tang Di, "…"
Silver needles could be used like this?
Everything happened too quickly. By the time Wen Hui, nestled in Xie Jinglan's arms, opened her eyes, Huo Nian Gong and Tang Di had already led their men to apprehend the men in the carriage.
Wen Hui was truly frightened, and coupled with the recent events, she felt wronged. She looked up at Xie Jinglan before her, appearing as pitiable as a wounded peacock. "I knew Fourth Cousin still had me in his heart, just like every time before. As long as I was in danger, Fourth Cousin would always be the first to appear before me."
Tang Di and Huo Nian Gong, who were capturing the men, exchanged knowing glances and looked towards Ji Zizhao not far away.
They knew very well that if Ji family's Eldest Daughter hadn't reacted quickly and intervened, their own Highness would likely have been trampled under the horse's hooves.
In that scenario, playing the hero saving the damsel would be impossible; heroically spitting blood alongside the beauty would be entirely feasible.
"For the first time, I realize how good it is to be home," Wen Hui said, looking at Xie Jinglan with red eyes and a smile. Beneath her usual proud exterior, a hint of softness was revealed.
Even Wen Hui herself was somewhat surprised by this display.
This was the first time she had shown such vulnerability and gentleness towards the man before her.
"If you wish to stay longer, feel free. I believe Father Emperor would be pleased to know," Xie Jinglan said calmly, taking a step back and creating distance between them.
Wen Hui looked at her arm, still suspended in mid-air, her pride wounded as if by a sharp object.
It was both painful and suffocating.
It hadn't been like this before. Fourth Cousin had never refused any of her requests. Even when she had said years ago that she preferred the world outside, he had smiled and sent her away. But why had everything changed now?
Could it truly be because of a woman of such status and position as her?!
As expected, when Wen Hui looked at Xie Jinglan again, she saw him walking towards Ji Zizhao.