Chapter 912 1 Go deeper
Fearing that Xu Yingyuan might harm Zhuang Shao, Leng Man ordered her to stay in the mansion and arranged for servants to guard her to prevent her from entering the palace and informing on her.
Leng Man mobilized the servants of the Leng Mansion and divided them into four groups to search for the whereabouts of Lord Jingshan.
The imagined scene of everyone shouting and beating her did not happen. For some reason, the rumors outside died down, and along the way, no one pointed fingers at Leng Man, either openly or secretly.
The northern suburbs of Shengjing were sparsely populated. Leng Man guessed that Lord Jingshan might be going to the northern suburbs to commit suicide, so she hurried there.
Passing by a pavilion on North Street, she heard two people chatting on the other side of the wall. When they mentioned her, she gestured to the coachman to stop the carriage.
"Have you heard? The rumors about Miss Leng are all rumors."
"I haven't heard of it. Rumors, coming from the Xu residence, should be well-founded. How can they be just rumors?"
"Lord Jingshan went to Yinsitai in person and submitted evidence to prove that the rumor was false. Lord Zhao, the Chief Justice of Yinsi, was in charge of the case. Just now, he announced to the public that the rumor was false and that Miss Leng was wrongly accused and was suspected of being involved in a dispute in the harem."
"So, someone from the Xu Mansion is intentionally framing Miss Leng?"
"Even Lord Zhao doesn't dare to make a final conclusion on this matter, so how dare I speak nonsense?"
"You mentioned Lord Jingshan. I remembered that my wife came back to the pavilion and said that she saw Lord Jingshan going to Quxin Mountain in the southern suburbs."
"Didn't they say that His Royal Highness Prince Li was about to return to the capital, and that Lord Jingshan had to stay in the city, ready to be dispatched by Prince Dijin at any time and to give him advice? Why was he going to Quxin Mountain?"
"Who knows? Maybe King Di Jin has some secret instructions."
Leng Man was moved by Zhuang Shao's efforts and became more eager to find him. She ordered the coachman to ride non-stop to Qu Xinshan.
On Quxin Mountain, Zhuang Shao looked out from his vantage point and determined Leng Man's location.
While she and the servants were searching separately, he moved to another location as quickly as possible to allow Leng Man to "find" him.
Ning Yunxi had instructed her trusted servant early on to arrange the terrain of the mountains according to the map she had drawn, and to trap the servants at the right time to prevent them from disturbing Zhuang Shao and Leng Man, and then release the servants after the matter was over.
The servants did not know how to survey the terrain and thought that they were lost because of the dense forest. So, they tried hard to find the way while continuing to look for Lord Fang.
The mountain road was rugged and the carriage was not easy to travel, so Leng Man rode a horse and set out on the journey to look for people.
A familiar figure appeared in her peripheral vision. Leng Man turned her head to look and confirmed the person.
She didn't expect to find him so soon. She smiled in surprise and rode away.
Hearing a burst of hurried horse hooves sounds, Zhuang Shao turned his head to confirm the person.
"Miss Leng, please stay and don't come over!"
Leng Man responded, dismounted, and told him what she had thought of before coming.
"Life is precious, and suicide is not an option. My Lord, please think more positively."
"Without me, it's like losing a grain of rice in Taicang. Sir, don't worry too much."
"King Dijin has been very kind to you, and you still have a family mission to fulfill. You must assist Emperor Yan and you cannot afford to slack off. How can you just leave without paying attention?"
Zhuang Shao was filled with dejection and expressed his sorrow with melancholy.
"I came here to let go of my worries."
"For me, love and career are equally important and neither can be missing."
"Your refusal said that we were not of the same mind and were not destined to be together."
"If I were not in my current position, I could change my mind for you and serve the emperor instead."
"But, in this situation, I really can't betray the Lord and forget his kindness."
"If I take one step further, I will be betraying the great grace of Emperor Yan and going against the will of our ancestors; if I take one step back, I will become your enemy and even plot to take your life."
"I am in a dilemma, and the only option is to die."
"Lest you be merciful to the enemy forces because you are unwilling to hurt you while planning for King Dijin, and betray the trust of the king; and lest you be changed your mind and destroy the good reputation of the Fang clan for hundreds of years with your own strength, and be ashamed to face your family after your death."
Leng Man expressed her understanding and told her what was on her mind.
"I understand that the members of the Fang clan are loyal and will support Emperor Yan even if they die nine times without regret."
"I said that only to refuse, not to force you to change your mind."
"You are very kind and treat me very well. I don't want to embarrass you."
"I rejected you because I felt that I was not worthy of you."
"You are famous, admired by thousands of people, have outstanding appearance, are single, and have never had a romantic relationship. You can definitely choose a girl of equal status and marry her to become a perfect match."
"I have been married before and have a pair of children. Besides, the Leng family has been out of power for a long time. How can I be so virtuous as to marry into a prestigious family?"
Zhuang Shao looked unhappy and frustrated.
"I've heard the words of rejection once, and I don't want to hear them again."
"Go back and don't worry about me."
"I have my own way in my life."
Seeing him moving as if he was about to jump off the cliff, Leng Man raised her voice to stop him.
"I'm not going back!"
"Fang Zhixuan, if you dare to jump down, I will never live alone!"
Realizing that her words were coercive and inappropriate, she changed her tone in time.
"If you are really troubled, I can change my mind."
Zhuang Shao grasped the key point and was suddenly shocked.
"You changed your mind?"
Leng Man was determined not to take Shi Chi away.
"Correct."
"Why are you so selfless, wanting only to change your own ambitions?"
"You have a family mission and a heavy responsibility on your shoulders. You must not disappoint the people's trust and must not waver in your resolve. I am at ease. As long as King Dijin does not despise me, I can switch to being your subordinate and go through fire and water without hesitation."
"I only ask you, sir, to cherish your life and not make mistakes."
Zhuang Shao fixed his eyes on her.
"Are you serious about this?"
Leng Man stood still, swearing solemnly.
"As God is my witness, I, Leng Man, have surrendered to King Di Jin's service. If I act against my will, God will not bless me."
Seeing that he looked a little happy, she smiled too, waved at him, and tried to persuade him in a coaxing tone.
"It's too dangerous on the edge of the cliff. Please stay away and come to me."
Zhuang Shao followed her wishes and walked towards her step by step.
Leng Man didn't move her eyes at all, and looked carefully at his feet.
"Yes, that's it. Slowly and carefully, don't fall..."
Ten steps away, safe and secure, Zhuang Shao stood in front of Leng Man and smiled warmly.
Leng Man tied the reins, turned around, threw herself into his arms, and hugged him.
"In this way, you can't commit suicide, unless you drag me and jump down with you."
With such close contact, Zhuang Shao's heart was filled with joy, but his hands were tense and he didn't know how to respond to her.
"I...I won't commit suicide."
"do not worry."
Leng Man raised her head and looked into his eyes.
"really?"
When their eyes met, Zhuang Shao tensed and tensed up, sweating profusely.
"Well, really."
Noticing his sweat, Leng Man turned up one section of her sleeve and wiped the sweat off him.
"The mountain breeze is cool, but you are sweating. Are you sick?"
Zhuang Shao spoke incoherently and his whole body was stiff.
"No...I'm...nervous."
"You're too close..."
Seeing his immature appearance, Leng Man couldn't help laughing.
"I thought all men were the same, obsessed with sex and without any sense of propriety. I never thought there would be such a dull person like you in the world."
Zhuang Shao was worried.
"Why am I dumb?"
"If you don't like it, I'll change it."
Leng Man raised her arms, wrapped them around his neck, and brought him closer.
"No need to change it, I like it."
"I have a way to relieve tension, Xuanlang, are you willing to try it?"
Zhuang Shao nodded.
"Yes, I do."
"I will listen to you in everything."
Leng Man stood on tiptoe and gave him a sweet kiss, tenderly and affectionately.