CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: SILENCING WITNESSES

The house isn’t big; the door is just a narrow panel, unpainted, showing the natural gray and white of the wood, appearing fresh and unique.

The eaves of the door aren’t decorated either, only covered in lush green vines, full of vitality.

Beyond the door, faintly one can hear the crisp chirping of birds.

Without seeing anyone, the place already feels extraordinarily beautiful beyond the mundane world.

Could this be the main character’s grandeur?

She was still brewing lines for her first meeting with the main character in her head, but Miss Tang had already taken two to three steps to the door, and without any preambles, raised her hand to knock.

With one knock, Miss Tang’s exquisite delicate hand hit nothing but air.

The door swung open unexpectedly.

In that instant, the air froze.

Tang Xiaobai looked up, stunned.

"Are you two ladies here for Ah Jing?" The woman’s voice was clear and gentle, like a stream filled with falling petals in the mountains.

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but glance at her.

Her arches of the eyebrows resembled willow leaves, her bright eyes like water, a beauty as elegant and graceful as Jiangnan landscapes.

However—

Her beauty didn’t match up to her family’s Miss Tang; she was not Ye Qingrong.

After a simple judgment, Tang Xiaobai still shifted her gaze back to the man beside the beauty.

The man was also handsome, well-matched with the beauty standing next to him.

But the problem was—

Weren’t you about to marry the princess?

Not only a cold-hearted phoenix man, but also hiding a beauty in a golden chamber?

"Ha!" Miss Tang, who once admonished her not to interfere in Pingyang Princess and Zhao Jing’s matters, couldn’t help but snort, "Zhao—"

She had just said a word when Zhao Jing’s eyes suddenly turned cold; fast as lightning, he grabbed Tang Jiaojiao’s throat.

He also choked her words.

Tang Xiaobai’s hackles went up: "You—"

"Shut up!"

The bizarre sound from Tang Jiaojiao’s throat terrified Tang Xiaobai into immediate silence.

Zhao Jing glanced at her, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.

Probably Zhao Jing’s motion was obscured by her and Tang Jiaojiao, the servants at the alley’s entrance didn’t notice anything awry, the scene behind remained hopelessly calm.

Tears surged alongside fear, Tang Xiaobai clasped her sister’s hand, tearfully looking at the woman on the side.

Zhao Jing obviously wished to silence, who could expect him to be merciful?

The woman appeared to be frightened, her complexion pale, until she was looked at, then there was a hint of light in her eyes.

"Ah, Ah Jing, what are you doing?" she hoarsely asked.

Hesitation flashed in Zhao Jing’s eyes, but soon restored to cold and sharp: "Let them come in first!"

Tang Xiaobai boldly said: "Loosen your grip, you’ll get hurt..."

In the lowered voice of the young girl there was a broken sob, listening to this the woman’s eyes turned red, also pleading as she looked at Zhao Jing: "Ah Jing..."

This woman ultimately held significance for Zhao Jing, he hesitated for a moment, and slightly loosened his grip on the throat.

Just then, a gentle sound like a light rub echoed through the air, Zhao Jing grunted, as if electrocuted, and let go.

Tang Xiaobai was taken aback.

Run fast!

The thought flashed, she immediately pulled Tang Jiaojiao and turned to escape.

However, Tang Jiaojiao was still bent over coughing, entirely unprepared to flee; pulled to turn and stumble forward—

Tang Xiaobai was about to scream.

Suddenly, a pair of hands reached out in front and caught Tang Jiaojiao steadily.

Those were a man’s hands.

Dark brown sleeves, with black cloth strips looping several times, the cuffs tied tightly, making his forearms appear strong and powerful.

The palms were large, fingers distinct and powerful even when curled.

Thus, with such a pair of hands, Tang Jiaojiao was easily supported.

Then, one hand held Tang Jiaojiao upright, the other effortlessly pulled Tang Xiaobai behind him, evidently protective.

However, as soon as he let go, Tang Jiaojiao’s legs weakened again, causing her to lean against him slightly.

He had no choice but to extend his hand again to support her; withdrawing his hand, naturally he patted away the dust on the spot where Tang Jiaojiao had leaned.

This act was immensely insulting to the proud Miss Tang; Tang Jiaojiao opened her eyes wide suddenly: "You—"

"Oh!" This person realized and explained with a smile, "Just a habit! Just a habit!"

His tone was bright and composed, reassuring Tang Xiaobai in her heart as she looked up at this life-saving benefactor who had appeared from nowhere—

So tall...

Must be about 1.9 meters?

With shoulders broad and solid, his figure extraordinarily tall, standing before her like a small mountain.

Although protecting her, looking at him still gave a curious sense of pressure.

Just like on the second day after entering the book she encountered that person—

Tang Xiaobai jolted, took another look at this person’s figure.

"Su Shunqing!" Zhao Jing finally spoke after failing to silence.

Tang Xiaobai was dumbfounded.

This isn’t Su Shunqing?

"General Zhao! Prince Consort Zhao!"

At the sound, Tang Xiaobai turned her head, just in time to see Su Shunqing walking with his hands behind his back, his eyes cold and sharp, contrasting starkly with the amiable kindness during Zhao Jing’s search of Zhenzhou Imperial Court.

Behind him, the belated servants from Duke Yan Mansion finally rushed over...

...

"A bunch of useless people!" Miss Tang hoarsely complained, but her anger was unaffected, "By the time they noticed, Xiao Bai and I would already be dead!"

Doctor Feng had no choice but to stop comforting her: "Miss Tang, please refrain from speaking; let me see if your throat is injured."

Only then did Tang Jiaojiao quiet down; as she opened her mouth, her eyes blinked twice, suddenly tears welled up.

After all, she was just a thirteen-year-old girl; how could she not be frightened by such an incident?

The Gu Family matriarch hugged her tightly, also tearful, softly comforting: "Don’t be angry, Jiaojiao. Mother will have them beaten and sold, and we’ll pick another batch that’s useful."

Tang Xiaobai grew tense: "It’s not their fault—"

"Who else to blame if not them!" Suddenly the matriarch shouted fiercely, "Your sister got hurt, and you’re still caring about those worthless servants!"

Tang Xiaobai was stunned.

The matriarch was always gentle and soft; such an unexpected shout left not even the Gu family members reacting.

Just then, news came briskly from outside: "Madam, the Eldest Princess is here!"

In an instant, everyone except the matriarch holding Tang Jiaojiao rose hurriedly to welcome her.

Though the sisters were returned to the mansion less than an hour ago, the Gu family had already sent more than a dozen people in great numbers, now they even alarmed the Eldest Princess of Ji Country.

Although the Eldest Princess was over sixty, she remained strong enough to dismiss servants and rush in, shouting, "Jiaojiao’er! Where’s my poor Jiaojiao’er!" Her tone was frantic with fear and anger.

Faced with the younger generations returning from outside to meet her, she ignored them, pushing past to get inside.

Tang Xiaobai staggered backward from the impact; fortunately, Gu Qinglan and Gu Hui caught her, preventing a fall.

"Jiaojiao’er! My poor Jiaojiao’er!"

Inside the house, the sound of crying loud and small mixed with the Eldest Princess’s curses; the Gu family aunties hurriedly entered to comfort her, leaving only a few Gu family children who attended school together lingering outside.

"You were too small for Grandmother to see." Gu You said bluntly.

"Grandmother must be terribly worried..." Gu Hui comforted warmly.

"Aunt is anxious; don’t take it to heart, my mother often scolds me too." Gu Qinglan said.

Tang Xiaobai nodded, then nodded again.

She wasn’t that ignorant.

But listening to the crying inside the house, she couldn’t help but let tears brim in her eyes as well...