Seeing Liu Shi fuming with rage, Cheng Xiran didn't hold back either. Ignoring the burning pain on her left cheek, she directly lashed out and slapped Liu Shi across the face. With a cold face, she enunciated each word, "What? You're allowed to harm me, but I'm not allowed to fight back?"
Suddenly, a large group of people appeared behind her.
Hearing the neat footsteps approaching, it would be a lie to say that Cheng Xiran wasn't a bit scared.
Just when she thought it was another scheme of Liu Shi's, she heard a very familiar male voice from behind.
"I hope Miss Cheng will forgive us. We're still a step too late."
She turned around following the sound and saw Zuo Yan.
Cheng Xiran was surprised by his sudden appearance. Just as she was about to ask him in detail, Zuo Yan said frankly, "Half an hour ago, a message came from the palace, asking Miss Cheng to write a press release for the upcoming Hundred - Flower Banquet in a few days and publicize it widely in the next two days. The Emperor personally ordered me to guard Miss Cheng well and not let her suffer any harm, so as not to delay the important matter."
He said the second half of the sentence while looking at Liu Shi. Liu Shi felt a bit nervous under his stare. But after all, she was the legitimate mistress of the Prime Minister's Mansion now, while Zuo Yan was just a personal bodyguard of Helian Duo. A bodyguard was still a bodyguard. When seeing her, he should always pay his respects.
So she didn't leave and still stood there.
Only then did Zuo Yan step forward and pay his respects to her. "Zuo Yan pays his respects to the mistress."
Liu Shi was arranging her hair while pointing at the soldiers behind Zuo Yan. With an unhappy look on her face, she said, "Xiran and I were just chatting. You suddenly brought so many people here. Aren't you afraid of disturbing others?"
But Zuo Yan replied calmly, "I'm answering the mistress. This is the Emperor's order. After all, the Hundred - Flower Banquet is of great importance. Neither you nor I can afford to be careless. If we delay the important matter, who can bear the blame?"
Liu Shi was left speechless.
Through a small gap, Cheng Xiran also noticed a few figures behind the door. Sure enough, Liu Shi was going to take action against her! Fortunately, Zuo Yan came in time. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been as simple as just getting slapped.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but give Zuo Yan a grateful look. Zuo Yan returned a faint smile.
Seeing that she had missed the opportunity, Liu Shi had to swallow this bitter pill. She gave a soft snort and then turned away.
Cheng Xiran led Zuo Yan out of the Cheng Mansion. After walking for a while, she asked, "Is this really the Emperor's order?"
Zuo Yan gave a shy smile and then shook his head. "It's really not. But asking Miss to write a press release is the Emperor's idea. I just wanted to take this opportunity to suppress them, so that they won't go too far and harm Miss again."
"But if the Emperor finds out about this, isn't it a crime of deceiving the Emperor..." Cheng Xiran frowned and tugged at his sleeve, continuing to remind him, "It won't be as simple as it is now then."
Seeing her nervous expression, Zuo Yan couldn't help laughing. "Miss, please rest assured. The Prince has guaranteed this matter. It'll be all right."
It seemed as if Helian Duo was even more powerful than the current Emperor. He could make things happen as he wished.
Since Zuo Yan was so confident, she didn't say anything more. Then she turned around and pointed at the soldiers. After noticing the curious looks from around, she suddenly felt a bit imposing.
Sure enough, it's like a dog relying on its master's power...
Ugh, shoot!
It's like a fly attaching itself to the tail of a thoroughbred horse...
No, she wasn't a fly!
It's like when one person attains the Dao, even his chickens and dogs rise to heaven... Well, whatever. Whether she was a chicken or a dog, as long as it was good, it was fine.
"Um..." Although Cheng Xiran was immersed in this unexpected joy, they were too eye - catching. So she paused for a moment and then continued, "You guys go back. I'm fine now."
But Zuo Yan questioned her righteously, "But Miss, you incited Young Master Qian to turn against them to protect yourself, which led to the downfall of Cheng Zhiyue. Do you think Liu Shi will let you go next?"
Cheng Xiran was shocked. "How do you know about this?"
Zuo Yan looked calm and spoke calmly. "The Prince told me to take good care of you before he left. And he already knew that Qian Youliang had approached you before he left. He specifically instructed me, so I sent people to follow you secretly."
This Helian Duo... Was he being a bit too over - controlling?
But after all, Zuo Yan was right. This wasn't the time for her to be stubborn. If she went back to the Cheng Mansion alone, she didn't know what tricks Liu Shi would come up with against her.
"All right then. Let's go to the newspaper office first and write the manuscript that the Emperor needs, so that it can be added to tomorrow's newspaper."
So, it seemed as if Cheng Xiran had taken over the entire East Street. The group of them walked back and forth on the long street in a grand manner, attracting countless envious looks.
"Isn't that man the Prince's personal bodyguard?"
"Yes, yes. He even brought people to protect the eldest young lady of the Cheng family. It seems that the Prince really has feelings for her."
"Wuwuwu, I'll never have a chance in my life."
"I think it's a pity for the female spy. It's just a pity that she's not as beautiful as the young lady of the Cheng family. Otherwise, the Prince would have already gotten along well with the female spy in the Prince's Mansion. Where would the young lady of the Cheng family come into the picture?"
In short, living like Cheng Xiran had become the dream of countless young girls in the capital. She was talented, well - learned, with a graceful writing style, and had a beautiful appearance. Moreover, a big shot like the Regent Prince had taken a fancy to her. Wasn't this the peak of life?
So, there were sighs all around.
There was an uncontrollable smile on Cheng Xiran's face. It was really right to seek refuge with Helian Duo back then.
After arriving at the newspaper office, she started to write the manuscript. After all, it was the Emperor's order, so she didn't dare to be careless at all. After finishing the manuscript, she revised it again and again, adding and subtracting, going back and forth more than ten times before finally finalizing it.
Cheng Xiran lay contentedly by the window on the first floor, listening to the laughter and chatter outside. Her mood also became wonderful. When the gentle breeze blew by, it carried the smell of meat pies, which whetted her appetite.
Just as she was about to get up and go outside to buy a few to have a taste, she was suddenly startled by a scream from the shopkeeper in the distance.
"Miss, be careful!"