Chapter 412 - 410: I’m Truly Moved

Chapter 412: Chapter 410: I’m Truly Moved

Before Mr. Yao could finish speaking, his voice was drowned out by the thunderous sound of hoofbeats.

Xu Jing was inside the carriage and couldn’t directly observe the situation ahead, yet she could feel the hoofbeats had reached them. In just a few breaths, they were surrounded!

Through the window, she looked at the soldiers who had reached them. Upon seeing their armor, her gaze suddenly darkened.

The moonlight tonight was exceptionally bright, and their men were holding torches and lanterns, making it easy to see the armor on the soldiers.

The armor was exactly the same as that worn by the soldiers Xiao He had brought to Anping County to escort her back to the capital. The only difference was the main color: Xiao He’s soldiers’ armor was bluish-gray, while these soldiers’ armor was earth yellow.

Xiao He had previously told her that the armor styles of Great Chu were unified, but to distinguish the soldiers from different armies, the colors of the armor would vary.

The soldiers he brought belonged to the Heavenly Martial Army, and their primary armor color was bluish-gray.

To which army did these soldiers belong?

The answer was almost self-evident.

In the next moment, Xu Jing heard Mr. Yao outside, unable to hide his astonishment, say, "You... you are not Jiang Erlang! You... you suddenly surrounded us with your men, what do you intend to do?"

Jiang Erlang... Jiang Yu!

Xu Jing’s heart sank suddenly, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was somehow inevitable.

"Mr. Yao, please don’t be anxious. I didn’t come here with any intentions toward you."

A familiar, clear, and gentle voice sounded from outside, still carrying a certain nonchalance.

"I heard that Miss Xu went out of the city with Mr. Yao today to handle a case. I wonder if Miss Xu would be willing to come down and meet me?"

Xu Jing couldn’t see from inside the carriage, but others clearly did. The handsome man on a black horse looked steadily at the carriage surrounded in the center as he spoke, a gentle smile slightly playing on his lips.

Mr. Yao’s heart trembled slightly, feeling something was amiss.

For a moment, no one spoke. On the official road in the night, though teeming with people, there was an eerie silence.

After what seemed like ages, Xu Jing spoke calmly, "Since Jiang Erlang invites me with such sincerity, I will reluctantly meet you."

With that, she resolutely pushed open the carriage door and jumped down.

Cheng Xiao and Xiang You’s expressions changed slightly, and they couldn’t help but call anxiously, "Madam!"

But Xu Jing didn’t even glance at them. Facing Jiang Yu’s faintly smiling gaze, she walked forward and said calmly, "I wonder what Jiang Erlang intends to discuss with me when time is of the essence?"

The Jiang Family had been under tight surveillance lately, and him appearing here with soldiers could only mean he was in the process of escaping from the Western Capital, deliberately detouring here.

In a race against time, he still had such leisure; Xu Jing couldn’t decide whether to admire him or find him absurd.

Jiang Yu’s eyes flashed briefly. With a light laugh, he said, "Miss Xu is so concerned about me; I’m truly touched. Though time is pressing, there’s always time to see Miss Xu."

Xu Jing: "..."

How had she shown concern for him?

Noticing Xu Jing’s subtle eye roll, Jiang Yu chuckled softly as if enjoying it, suddenly dismounting and approaching her, saying in a low voice, "Miss Xu, aren’t you worried? I’ve come this time to take you away."

Xu Jing quietly stepped back and looked at him with a half-smile, "That would depend on your ability to take me away. Jiang Erlang, you may not understand my temper; I detest being coerced. If someone forces me, I don’t mind going down with them."

With that, she meaningfully touched a pouch hanging from her waist.

Jiang Yu’s gaze swept over the pouch, his lips curving slightly, and he said softly, "Miss Xu, your words wound me deeply. I care so much about you; how could I not know your temperament."

His words, spoken gently and earnestly, carried a surprising hint of tenderness at a certain moment.

Xu Jing frowned, feeling the goosebumps on her skin rise uncontrollably.

How was it that when Xiao Yi spoke similarly sweet words, she found them pleasant, whereas with this man, she felt utterly nauseated?

Xu Jing’s eyes turned cold as she said, "Enough, Jiang Erlang, no more idle talk. Why have you really come?"

As she spoke, she clenched the pouch at her waist.

Jiang Yu looked at her for a moment, sighing softly, "Miss Xu never wishes to believe my sincerity. Truly, I intend no harm this time, though I would love to take you with me. But... the situation is unstable, and I cannot bear to see you suffer with me."

After a pause, his lips curved, his eyes revealing a hint of arrogance and pride, "A woman like Miss Xu deserves to be pursued by a man who stands at the top. I believe you are wise enough to know whom you should choose when the time comes."

Xu Jing couldn’t help but smile slightly.

This man had a certain inexplicable arrogance, as if he believed everything was within his grasp.

Jiang Yu, unfazed by her mockery and disdain, lowered his eyes to her and said, "If you insist I have a purpose here, then yes, I do. I wanted to see you one last time before departing and remind you to avoid returning to the Western Capital before dawn.

Consider it a repayment for finding the murderer of my third sister."

With that, he gave Xu Jing a deep look, flipped his cloak, and walked back to his horse, elegantly mounting it.

But Xu Jing looked up at him, her voice deep, "Why? The country is prosperous and peaceful, the current Holy Emperor is young and ambitious, dedicated to governance. Why do you do this?"

Jiang Yu looked down at Xu Jing for a moment, his lips curling into a familiar proud smile, "Because, if I were on that throne, I could do better."

Xu Jing furrowed her brows.

"Moreover, there are many things you don’t understand."

Jiang Yu suddenly sneered, "In your eyes, the Wei Royal Family can do no wrong. Yet, you know nothing of their sordid deeds and their oppression of our Jiang Family.

I’m merely taking back what rightfully belongs to us."

Xu Jing was slightly taken aback, intending to ask more, when a deputy beside him suddenly stepped forward, urging softly, "Lord, if we don’t leave now, it will be too late."