Chapter 55: Prank or Conspiracy

  Although it was noon at this time, the bamboo forest near the cliff felt not hot at all as the mountain wind blew in gusts and the bamboo forest blocked the sun.

  Xu Mingjin stopped one step in front of Xuan Yuan Qiyue, then halted. Xuan Yuan Qiyue sneered and said: "I originally thought you were different from those thousand-gold misses, a free-spirited person who doesn't bother with trivialities. Now it seems that you're no different from those women who only know how to rigidly follow etiquette."

  Xu Mingjin blinked, and said even more respectfully: "Young Master Wang is right." As she spoke, she didn't look at Xuan Yuan Qi Yi at all, lowering her gaze.

  Xuanyuan Qiyue heard the words and instead laughed, he stretched out his arm and pulled Xu Mingjin to sit on a large stone. Xu Mingjin was startled, just about to exclaim, when she heard Xuanyuan Qiyue say with a smile that was not quite a smile: "You are different from those women, I knew it from the first time I saw you." After finishing speaking, he released the arm that had been holding her.

  Xu Mingjin took a look, and although the two people were sitting on a large stone, they were at least one and a half meters apart, so it didn't count as sitting together. Looking at Xuan Yuan's expression, if she dared to stand up, he would definitely do something even more excessive. Xu Mingjin didn't want to provoke him, so she quietly sat there without making a sound.

  Xuanyuan Xie saw her silence and said: "Don't you ask how you appeared here?"

  Xu Mingjin raised his head and said: "How did I end up here?"

  Xuanyuan Qishi picked up another glass of wine and poured a cup, handing it to Xu Mingjin: "You drink it and I'll tell you."

  Xu Mingjin quietly looked at the cup of wine held in front of him for a moment, reached out to take it, and drank it all in one gulp.

  "Good!" Xuan Yuan Qi exclaimed: "I have never seen such a generous woman!"

  Xu Mingjin glanced at him faintly and said, "Answer the question."

  Xuanyuan Xike's laughter came to an abrupt halt as he stared at Xu Mingjin, as if the latter had just asked a question that was utterly out of place. In fact, that was indeed the case. After a long while, he finally spoke up: "I knew several days ago that Jinglin would be coming to the Protecting Country Temple to burn incense, it's something she does every month. Usually, she comes alone, but this time I figured she'd definitely bring you along. After all, she's quite fond of you now. So I made preparations ahead of time and dug a tunnel in the wing room where you're staying. I also gave the abbot a heads up, so you ended up staying in that very room. Then, I knocked you out and brought you out through the tunnel."

  Xu Mingjin heard this and really didn't know whether to cry or laugh. How was this person's brain grown, actually digging a tunnel in the side house of Huguo Temple! Fortunately, he brought himself out from the tunnel, otherwise if someone else saw him, his reputation would be ruined. In that case, should she still thank him? Xu Mingjin spat in her heart.

  "What did you bring me here for?"

  "What do you think?" Xuan Yuan Qi Yu looked at Xu Ming Jin with a sly and charming smile.

  Xu Mingjin said impatiently: "I'm not interested in guessing, if you don't say I'll leave!"

  "You little scamp! You don't have any patience at all." Xuan Yuan Qi Yu said: "Sit obediently here, if not I won't send you back, today you absolutely can't go back."

  Xu Mingjin said discontentedly: "Don't be so arrogant here. Can I go back by myself?"

  Xuanyuan Ji sprang up from that big stone, his eyes shining with a "Want to try?"

  Xu Mingjin saw him like this and couldn't help but secretly raise his guard.

  Xuanyuan Qiyue looked at her with a smug expression and said, "I'm not underestimating you, but this place is at least ten miles away from your living quarters, and we've already left the protection of the temple. As a young lady, you'll have to walk back by yourself, and how many people will be staring at you along the way? Even if you're physically strong and can make it back, how will you explain to others that you snuck out of the temple without a maid, all alone? Someone is bound to suspect that you sneaked out during everyone's afternoon nap to secretly meet your lover! This way, your reputation will be ruined."

  Xu Mingjin's face turned whiter the more she listened. She already knew that she couldn't act rashly. Xuan Yuan Qiyue looked at her expression and couldn't help but sneer in his heart: She was just like those foolish young ladies, thinking that chastity was more important than life itself!

  Xu Mingjin had to care about her reputation. Living in the Shengxi Dynasty, an ancient society, she had to follow its rules. Otherwise, the consequences would be severe.

  The two fell silent for a moment, and Xuan Yuan Qi suddenly threw away the crystal cup in his hand with a "bang" sound. He stood up with ill intentions and said to Xu Ming Jin: "Master has changed his mind, you can go back slowly by yourself! Haha!" As soon as he finished speaking, he leaped into the air and disappeared without a trace.

  Xu Mingjin was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but curse: "This is really a mental illness!" She got up and searched around the bamboo forest, only to find that there was nothing else except for the wine in the jug on the big stone that could be drunk. Xu Mingjin knew that she had to expend a lot of physical strength to get out of here. Now her stomach wasn't hungry, but she was extremely thirsty. Without saying another word, she grabbed the wine jug from the table and drank it all down with a loud "gulp". Then, she smashed the jug to the ground with a loud "crash", determined the direction, and strode outwards in big steps.

  Behind him, on the treetop, Xuan Yuan's eyes shone brightly.

  Xu Mingjin, who was walking, suddenly slapped her forehead and said, "Are you stupid too?!" After finishing speaking, she walked back quickly and sat down heavily on a big stone.

  Xu Mingjin suddenly thought to herself, "As a young lady from a good family, how can I possibly appear alone in this desolate mountain wilderness? If I were to encounter some ruffians or bandits, wouldn't I be in grave danger?" In other words, if she were lucky enough to make it back to the temple after much hardship and struggle, she would certainly arrive disheveled and dirty. What would people think of her then? Wouldn't they gossip and speculate wildly about her? Her immediate priority was to find a way to send out a signal. Yuzhu and the others had only been knocked unconscious, so it was likely that they were awake by now and frantically searching for her when they saw she was gone. When they saw the signal she sent out, they would surely bring people to rescue her.

  I just need to wait here with ease and let others work hard, that's the right way. Thought Xu Mingjin.

  Xuanyuan Qi's gaze on the bamboo tip watched Xu Mingjin's calm and self-assured appearance, and he couldn't help but praise her in his heart: she really didn't disappoint him. Usually, a young lady would cry when faced with such a situation, where was there still room for rational thinking to solve the problem? His eyes gazing at Xu Mingjin became even softer.

  As time went on, Xuan Yuan Xi began to secretly regret it. He was standing on the tip of the bamboo, suffering greatly, but when he lowered his head to look at Xu Ming Jin, she didn't know if she had drunk too much wine or was tired, and actually fell asleep comfortably on the big stone.

  Xuanyuan Qiyue regretted leaving just now, otherwise he would be the one sleeping comfortably on the big stone. He looked down at Xu Mingjin again, reluctant to leave, and flew away to find a place to sleep.

  In the side house, Yu Zhu and others woke up to find Xu Mingjin gone, and they were all shocked. Chun Xing suggested going to look for Xuan Yuan Jinglin, she must have a way to find Miss. But as soon as this suggestion was made, it was vetoed by Yu Zhu: "No, if Miss is not with the princess, more and more people will know that Miss is missing, which would be bad for her reputation. Now our priority is to search for her ourselves first, and if we can't find her, then telling the princess won't be too late."

  Chun Xing and the others listened, thought carefully for a moment, and all nodded in agreement. So everyone discussed it and decided that Qiu Yun and two little maids would guard the house, while Chun Xing went with Yu Zhu to look for Xu Ming Jin. If they happened to meet someone on the road, they would say they were just strolling around casually.

  Just as they came out of the house, they saw Xuan Yuan Jing Lin walking towards them. The two hastily paid their respects. Xuan Yuan Jing Lin waved her hand, indicating for them to get up, and asked: "Where is Ming Jin?"

  "Replying to Your Highness," said Jade Bamboo at once, "my mistress is nowhere to be found!"

  Xuanyuan Jinglin looked surprised and hastily said, "Tell me more about it."

  Yu Zhu told the story of how she and a few others suddenly fainted, then woke up to find Xu Mingjin gone. The more Xuan Yuan Jinglin listened, the graver her expression became, until finally, her face turned black as coal.

  "Who has the audacity to kidnap my friend right under my nose? They must have eaten a tiger's heart and bear's gall!" Xuan Yuan Jing Lin gritted her teeth. Suddenly, she had an idea - could it be that Second Brother Xuan Yuan Ze was behind this? But as soon as she thought of it, she immediately denied it. Second Brother had always been straightforward and aboveboard in his actions. Kidnapping someone while they were unconscious was a despicable move, something only that scoundrel Xuan Yuan Qi Wei would do. Last time at the Ping Xi Wang Fu, hadn't he framed Xu Ming Jin and then trapped her in his own courtyard so she couldn't leave? Thinking of this, Xuan Yuan Jing Lin's mind moved quickly, and she immediately called for the abbot of the Hu Guo Temple to ask if Xuan Yuan Qi Wei had come to the temple in the past two days.

  The host dared not hide the truth and told Xuan Yuan Jinglin: "Young Master Wang arrived at our temple a few days ago and has been staying in a wing room not far from here. He is not in the temple today, and we do not dare to ask about Young Master Wang's whereabouts."

  Xuan Yuan Jing Lin knew as soon as she heard it that Xu Ming Jin's disappearance was related to Xuan Yuan Qi Yi.

  "You all go back first and wait in the wing room. Your young lady's matter, I'll take care of it. Don't worry, within two hours, I will definitely bring your unharmed young lady back." After finishing speaking, Xuan Yuan Jing Lin turned around and quickly walked away.

  Xu Mingjin lay alone on the large stone, racking his brains but unable to think of a solution, and was instead lulled into a drowsy sleep by the gentle breeze.

  Xuanyuan Qiyue didn't expect that Xuming Jin would still have the mood to sleep at this time, and his depressed mood was like a raging fire that couldn't be contained. In the end, he really didn't want to stay on the bamboo tip, so he turned around and landed beside Xuming Jin. But at that time, the person was completely unaware, sleeping soundly.

  Xuanyuan Qiyue gazed at Xuming Jin's sleeping face, to be honest, Xuming Jin was stunningly beautiful, but what attracted him was not her beauty. From the first time they met, he thought this girl was very interesting, mainly because she didn't fall in love with him at first sight. You know, all the noble ladies in the capital city who saw his face couldn't help but fall for him.

  The first time they met, she fled in a hurry. The second time was the same, and the third time she directly ignored him. He should have been angry, but his heart was filled with joy instead. He looked forward to the day when he could see deep infatuation for himself in Xu Mingjin's eyes.

  Xuanyuan Xike's hand involuntarily stretched out, reaching for Xu Mingjin's face as he slept, his skin crystal clear. He had long wanted to touch him. His hand was getting closer and closer, just about to caress Xu Mingjin's face when he heard the sound of something piercing the air. He hastily withdrew his hand, a white feathered arrow flying past his ear.