Zhuаngshаn саst а triumphant glanсе at the furiоus Han Yаn аnd sаid, "Асtuаlly, Fourth Sistеr isn't very suited to this cloаk. I think it suits mе bettеr." With that, shе tоssеd hеr rabbit-fur сlоаk tо Нan Yаn. "Why don't yоu wеar this fоr now, Fourth Sister?"
Нan Yan lоoked аt hеr аnd rерliеd, "Тhank yоu, Sistеr Yu Shan, but Наn Yаn has nеver hаd thе habit of рiсking up оthers' leftovеrs. Only beggаrs dо thаt."
Zhuangshаn caught the sаrсаsm in Hаn Yаn's wоrds аnd snееred, "If Fоurth Sistеr doеsn't want tо wear mу clоаk, sо be it. Yun'еr, рut thе сloak awаy." She glanced аt Han Yan's fur-linеd jackеt and mосked, "I just hоpe Fourth Sister doesn't freeze later."
Han Yan calmly responded, "No need for Sister Yu Shan to worry." She looked down at her pale green dress, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips.
Zhuangshan had an extremely possessive nature. Once something caught her eye, she would stop at nothing to obtain it. Even if Zhuangshan hadn't proposed exchanging cloaks, Han Yan would have found a way to give it to her. Everything was proceeding even more smoothly than Han Yan had anticipated.
Their argument inside the carriage naturally reached the ears of the guards outside. However, they pretended not to hear, walking at the very back of the procession were Ji Lan and Shu Hong. Both were panting heavily; traversing such rugged mountain paths was exhausting even for a grown man, let alone two delicate women. Fortunately, Ji Lan had a lively disposition and often chatted with the surrounding guards to pass the time, making the journey seem less arduous.
After what felt like an eternity, Ji Lan paused, tugged at the sleeve of a nearby guard, and flashed him a sweet smile. "Brother, what time is it now?" She then wiped the sweat from her forehead, appearing utterly delicate and charming.
The guard, being one who cherished beauty, found Ji Lan both pretty and sweet-tongued. He comforted her, "Don't worry, we're almost at Shahe Beach. Once we cross it, it's just another half-hour to the city."
Hearing this, Ji Lan thanked the guard and exchanged a glance with Shu Hong. Both had already formed a plan in their minds.
Inside the carriage, Han Yan leisurely nibbled on pastries, calculating the time. They must be close now. She turned her head to see Zhuangshan leaning against the carriage wall, toying with her newly acquired silver bracelet, her every movement a clear display of showing off. Han Yan merely smiled, her eyes crinkling. Though her pale green fur-lined jacket was originally a bright color, it paled in comparison to the fiery red cloak Zhuangshan wore.
To ensure nothing went wrong, Madam Zhou would certainly not reveal her plan to Zhuangshan. Zhuangshan's lack of steadiness made Madam Zhou's concern understandable. Yet, it was precisely this that gave Han Yan an opportunity.
With two young ladies sharing the same carriage, could those bandits truly distinguish which was the Second Miss and which was the Fourth Miss?
Han Yan lowered her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Before she could retract it, a sudden commotion erupted outside the carriage, accompanied by the clatter of hooves. The carriage jolted, and the sound of guards drawing their swords rang out sharply amidst the chaos. A coarse, grating voice cut clearly through the noise: "Leave the people behind!"
They've finally arrived, Han Yan thought, her expression turning cold. She had almost worried they wouldn't come. After all, how could the play continue without them?Beside her, Zhuangshan suddenly let out a sharp scream—she was unaware of the situation. Han Yan lifted the carriage curtain and jumped down, shouting in panic, "Quick, protect the young lady!"
Han Yan's cry immediately drew everyone's attention. Outside the carriage, chaos had already erupted. Unexpectedly, all the Zhuang residence guards lay scattered on the ground, seemingly having fallen victim to some covert attack, appearing utterly powerless. Only the guard captain, with the highest martial skills, was still struggling to fend off the bandits' advances.
A flicker of mockery passed through Han Yan's eyes. This man truly knew how to fulfill his duties, even at such a moment, he didn't forget to put on an act. But for whom was this loyalty really intended?
With the guards all fallen, over a dozen burly men dressed in black, disguised as bandits, surrounded the carriage. The leader, mounted on a large horse, paced back and forth but did not immediately seize anyone on the ground.
Han Yan knew they were looking for her.
Inside the carriage, Zhuangshan was stunned for a moment before suddenly realizing something. Madam Zhou had instructed her the night before departure: no matter what happened, she must not panic, as her plan would ruin Zhuang Hanyan. Zhuangshan was not foolish; in an instant, she grasped the reasoning. Could Madam Zhou's plan be to have a group of bandits abduct Han Yan? If so, Han Yan would inevitably lose her purity. With such a daughter, Zhuang Shiyang would surely be disgraced. If she herself behaved obediently and sensibly, the position of the legitimate daughter would be as good as hers. Thinking of Han Yan being violated by a group of burly men, Zhuangshan felt immense satisfaction. She eagerly lifted the carriage curtain, impatient to witness Han Yan's miserable plight.
To her surprise, as soon as she lifted the curtain, Ji Lan and Shu Hong, who had been hiding, shouted in unison, "Young lady!" Zhuangshan was taken aback, still trying to make sense of the situation, when the two maids rushed toward her. Meanwhile, Han Yan also appeared frightened and cried out, "Ji Lan, go protect the young lady!"
The man on the horse had been puzzled. They were hired to do a job: the young lady they were to abduct was said to have her hair styled in a bun and to be seated in the second carriage. Yet upon arrival, they found only one carriage, and no one inside or outside wore their hair in a bun. Moreover, the guards protecting the carriage had suddenly collapsed unconscious, adding to the confusion and raising fears that something had gone wrong. However, upon hearing the two maids' cries and Han Yan's shout of "Ji Lan," he immediately concluded that the young lady in the red cloak inside the carriage was their target. The client had mentioned that the Fourth Miss of the Zhuang residence had two personal maids: one named Ji Lan and the other Shu Hong.
Before Zhuangshan could react, a black-clad man rushed to the carriage, grabbed her arm, and dragged her out. Zhuangshan was dazed for a moment, about to say she was not the one they were after, when a piece of tattered cloth was stuffed into her mouth. Ji Lan and Shu Hong desperately ran toward her, shouting, "Young lady! Young lady!" Han Yan stood beside Ji Lan and Shu Hong, all three wearing identical light-green jackets. The bandits, seeing this, assumed she was also a maid. They were somewhat perplexed: aside from the four maids, there was only one young lady present. The client had clearly stated there would be two young ladies—perhaps the plan had been changed at the last moment.Zhuangshan's maid Yun'er stood frozen in place, bewildered at how her young mistress had been snatched away. She tried to open her mouth to scream, but fear had already stolen her voice.
The black-clad man who had seized Zhuangshan ran up to the bandit leader and tossed her onto a horse. The masked rider on the large steed cracked his whip and commanded, "Retreat!"
Zhuangshan had been screaming all along, inwardly shouting, "I am not Zhuang Hanyan!" But with her mouth gagged, only desperate whimpers escaped. The leader's horse leaped forward, carrying Zhuangshan and Han Yan farther and farther away. Zhuangshan stared fixedly at Han Yan, who had fallen to the ground in a disheveled state, casting a pitiful glance her way—yet at the corner of her lips, there undeniably lingered a faint smile.
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