klisemfg Chapter 340: Acting
Chapter 340: Acting
Chapter 340: Acting
I don't know whether to pity Princess Xiangping for her infatuation or despise her ruthlessness. Now, I don't know what's wrong with Ning'er; only Shen Bin can save her now. Whether he can save her or not depends on fate.
Upon arriving at Zuixianlou, Ji Meiqing alighted from the carriage first and headed straight for the house. As soon as she entered, she saw Shen Bin coming downstairs. Shen Bin was clearly in good spirits today. Seeing Ji Meiqing, he quickened his pace and said, "Miss Ji, have you seen Ning'er? Why isn't she in her room?"
Seeing that Shen Bin seemed completely unaware, Ji Meiqing hesitated, wondering whether she should tell him that Ning'er had been kidnapped by Princess Xiangping. But thinking of the possibility that Ning'er might lose her life at any moment, she hardened her heart and said, "Ning'er has been kidnapped."
Shen Bin, who had been all smiles, froze on his face. Standing there dumbfounded, he forced a smile and said, "Miss Ji, this joke isn't funny at this early in the morning."
Ji Meiqing felt sorry for Shen Bin, but she didn't explain. She took out the paper Zhao Lei had given her from her sleeve and handed it to Shen Bin. Shen Bin took the paper, on which was written...
"Zhao Ning'er is in my hands. If you want to save her, marry me and I will ensure her safety."
Upon seeing the words on the paper, Shen Bin crumpled it into a ball, inwardly roaring with anger. He didn't know why, even though he and Princess Xiangping had spoken so harshly, she still wouldn't let him go, or let Ning'er go.
"You all stay in the restaurant, I'm going to rescue Ning'er." After saying that, he left the restaurant, found a horse, and headed straight for the palace without looking back.
Watching Shen Bin's departing figure, Ji Meiqing felt a pang of anxiety and looked at Lu Yu. Seeing Ji Meiqing's unease, Lu Yu went over and hugged her. Holding her in his arms, Ji Meiqing felt a sense of security and didn't want to leave his embrace.
After hugging for a while, Lu Yu released Ji Meiqing, smoothed the stray hairs from her forehead, and said, "You stay obediently in the restaurant. This time, Young Master Shen is probably in grave danger." Ji Meiqing clung to him tightly, but in the end, they had to separate. Looking at Ji Meiqing's reluctant expression, Lu Yu kissed her forehead.
As they left the restaurant, Lu Yu said to Zhao Lei, who was standing beside him, "Don't worry, your sister will be safe and sound. Take good care of your sister Ji. If she encounters bad people, just ask Uncle Yin for help." Lu Yu trusted Yin Lie. Zhao Lei didn't know who Zhao Ning'er had gotten into trouble with, only that Lu Yu was definitely going to rescue his sister, so he nodded at Lu Yu as if he understood.
Lu Yu urged his horse on and followed in the direction Shen Bin had gone.
Zhao Ning'er had just woken up when she felt a tap on the back of her head. For some reason, her eyes involuntarily closed. When she woke up, everything was pitch black, and she felt breathless. She could hear footsteps all around her, and her hands were tightly bound with rope, preventing her from moving.
Zhao Ning'er's first thought was that she might have been kidnapped and was in trouble. Her first instinct was to run, but the men only tied her hands and put a black sack over her head; her feet were not bound. She had only taken a few steps when someone grabbed her arm and said, "You'd better behave yourself. If you don't, Princess Xiangping will take our heads, and you won't have a good time either."
As the man spoke, he tightened his grip on Zhao Ning'er's hand slightly, and Zhao Ning'er endured the pain without crying out. These men were all dressed in black, their faces masked, but their eyes radiated a menacing aura. When they saw Zhao Ning'er, they realized she had never shown her face before. Princess Xiangping, too, seemed unwilling to let them see her.
But looking at Zhao Ning'er's thin body, it was a little strange that she had offended Princess Xiangping in some way, to the point that she had bribed people from the Dark Night Pavilion to capture a thin woman.
However, they were servants, while Princess Xiangping was the employer. So, no matter how many questions they had, they couldn't do anything that violated business ethics. Suppressing their doubts, they took Zhao Ning'er to a secluded place near the Cold Palace, where there was a small house in a corner.
Without hesitation, several men in black threw Zhao Ning'er into the room, locked it, and then lay in ambush near the Cold Palace.
Shen Bin was on his way to the palace. Thinking of Zhao Ning'er's precarious life, he quickened his pace, urging his horse on. The bumpy ride had left him exhausted. He dismounted and hurried to Xiangping Palace.
The vast palace had its main gate on the east side, while Xiangping Hall was on the west. Shen Bin practically walked around most of the palace before finally finding Xiangping Hall. The guards and maids outside Xiangping Hall immediately left upon seeing Shen Bin. Standing at the entrance, Shen Bin pondered how to ask about Zhao Ning'er once inside.
After thinking for a while, he still couldn't come up with a solution, so he simply pushed the door open and entered. As soon as Shen Bin entered, he smelled a faint floral fragrance, but he couldn't see Princess Xiangping anywhere. After a while, Princess Xiangping finally emerged from behind a screen.
Today she wore light makeup and a simple dress, with her long hair hanging down to her waist. Shen Bin glanced at her and almost mistook her for Zhao Ning'er. He immediately scolded himself for mistaking her for someone else.
Princess Xiangping, seeing Shen Bin's reaction, was clearly pleased. She approached him, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Young Master Shen. What brings you here?" Princess Xiangping's head was lowered, but her cleavage was subtly exposed, whether intentionally or unintentionally, was unclear. Shen Bin, however, coldly turned his head away, feeling a wave of nausea.
"Princess, you surely know better than anyone why I've come today," Shen Bin said directly, without even looking at Princess Xiangping. Hearing Princess Xiangping's words, he couldn't help but sneer inwardly; she really knew how to act.
Princess Xiangping smiled, covering her face, seeing Shen Bin's frankness. She was also very happy that she hadn't misjudged him. "But I wonder, Young Master Shen, did you come to the palace to see me today because you've thought it through?" Seeing Shen Bin's straightforwardness, she saw no need to pretend anymore and decided to be frank with him as well.
"Consider? Consider what? Marry you? Princess, are you still dreaming?" Shen Bin sneered at Princess Xiangping. Ever since he discovered Princess Xiangping's true nature, he couldn't help but fear her ruthless methods. He wasn't afraid of being hurt himself; his only concern was Zhao Ning'er.