After saying that, Lu Yunxi immediately closed the carriage door and ordered them to continue moving forward. But Young Master Qi acted swiftly as well. He quickly surrounded the carriage and dispersed the common people around.
Lu Yunxi was furious. She opened the carriage door and shouted angrily, "What on earth do you want to do..."
Before she could finish speaking, Young Master Qi leaped up and reached out his hand to grab her. Lu Yunxi whipped out her long whip and lashed it at him.
Cheng Yinyin was already terrified. She shrank against the carriage wall and stammered after a while, "Li Yue, what... what shall we do?"
Gu Liyue lifted the carriage curtain and took a careful look. The Qi family had brought enough men this time. The guards of the Qingling Prince's Mansion and the Gu family were obviously no match for them. They came with ill intentions, blatantly trying to kidnap someone.
However, fighting openly on Mingzheng Street would soon attract the attention of the government. She needed to wait and stall for time. She reckoned they could return to the mansion safely.
Thinking of this, Gu Liyue secretly told the servant below the carriage, "Find a way to drive the carriage back to the mansion."
The servant understood. He leaped onto the carriage and drove it himself, shouting, "Don't engage in a long fight. It's crucial to return to the mansion."
Just as the carriage turned around, there was actually a large group of men and horses behind. Lu Yunxi was stunned.
"What are you doing? Are you going to kidnap someone right on the street? Aren't you afraid of the emperor's punishment!"
Young Master Qi said coldly, "We've found out that Gu Liyue knows sorcery. She's a witch. Such a woman must be captured and investigated thoroughly. Otherwise, she'll only bring disaster to the Great Zhou. The emperor is seriously ill. It's not some great calamity in the palace. It's clearly the doing of this witch. She entered the palace not long ago, and then the emperor fell ill!"
Although Lu Yunxi knew martial arts, she had only practiced in the palace over the years. The guards knew she was a princess, so they always gave way to her. Her skills were far inferior to those of the servants present. Moreover, outnumbered, she was quickly pressed to the ground.
Gu Liyue suddenly pushed open the carriage door, got off the carriage, and looked at Young Master Qi. "If you want to frame someone, you'll never lack an excuse. Besides, even if I'm a witch, it's not for you Qi family members to touch me, right? What right do you have to arrest me?"
Young Master Qi was about to say something else when a whistle sounded not far away. He glanced into the distance, nodded, flashed over, and struck Gu Liyue on the back of her neck, knocking her out. Gu Liyue slumped down limply.
Seeing this, the servants immediately let go of Lu Yunxi and bowed, saying, "It's our fault, my lady."
Lu Yunxi was extremely angry. She leaped forward to snatch Gu Liyue back. "You're all crazy. I'm going to the palace to complain. I'll ask the empress dowager and the emperor to behead you! And Qi Xuan, you wait for me. You can't escape, and neither can the entire Qi family!"
Young Master Qi just smiled. He waved his hand and told his men to stop Lu Yunxi. Then he turned around, picked up Gu Liyue, placed her on his horse, and galloped away.
As soon as he left, all the guards he brought retreated. In a moment, the road was empty, leaving only Lu Yunxi and her group.
Tangyuan was rescued. She burst into tears and wailed, "Miss, my miss..."
Lu Yunxi panicked for a moment. She turned around and wanted to chase after them, but she had pulled her arm during the fight just now, and it was hurting badly at this moment.
Cheng Yinyin came to her senses and shouted urgently, "Yunxi, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and get in the carriage. Go to the Gu family and explain everything clearly!"
After Lu Yunxi stumbled into the carriage, she seemed to feel scared. She cried and shouted, "What should I do? I brought Liyue out, but I lost her. It's all my fault. Why did I bring her out? Cheng Zhi... he must hate me to death. The entire Gu family will hate me!"
Cheng Yinyin held her hand. "It's not your fault, Yunxi. The Qi family came prepared. Didn't you hear what they said? They were originally going to the Gu family. They brought nearly a hundred men, and there were probably many more who didn't show up. They seemed determined to take Gu Liyue away."
Lu Yunxi stammered, "Liyue didn't do anything. Why are they doing this?"
How could Cheng Yinyin know? She just urged the coachman to go faster and faster. When they arrived at the Gu family, she almost ran at the fastest speed in her life. She didn't even bother to ask someone to announce her arrival. She pushed open the servant at the door and rushed in.
Madam Jiang was still in a daze. Lu Yunxi knelt on the ground and wailed. She was dirty all over and had a few scratches. Cheng Yinyin cried and told them what had happened.
"Why did the Qi family kidnap my Liyue for no reason?"
How could Cheng Yinyin know? She just shook her head. "We're all unclear. On Mingzheng Street, they kidnapped someone openly. They brought nearly a hundred men. We were no match for them..."
Lu Yunxi crawled in front of Madam Jiang and grabbed her clothes. "Go and save her quickly. Qi Xuan knocked Liyue out and took her away. Go quickly, or Liyue... Liyue..."
Madam Jiang told Madam Qin to take good care of the two girls in the house. Then she went to change her clothes and prepared to go to the Qi family to demand an explanation.
Lu Yunxi stood up. "Madam Gu, I'll go with you."
Madam Qin held her back. "Princess, you're a bit injured. It's not convenient for you to run around. You'd better..."
"No, I'm going. If the Qi family dares not to release her, I'll turn the Qi family upside down!"
Just at this moment, the gatekeeper came to report that the Duke of Qi, along with his wife and the Qi heir, had come.
The Duke of Qi entered with a worried look on his face. He didn't bother with much courtesy and got straight to the point. "My son has committed a great mistake. We were extremely angry when we learned that he had kidnapped the young lady of the Gu family. We've already sent people to look for him. Please calm down, Madam Hou."
Madam Jiang sneered. "Calm down? If my son kidnapped a young lady of your Qi family, would you be able to calm down? Gu Liyue is the only young lady in my Gu family. If anything happens to her, my Gu family will never let it go! Your Qi family dared to kidnap someone on the street, thinking that there are only old people, children, and women in my Gu family. Very good, really very good!"
Madam Qi was also extremely anxious. She pulled Madam Jiang and apologized. "It's my son's fault. Madam Hou, you can scold or beat me. I have no objections. Please take care of yourself..."
Madam Jiang shook off her hand. "My Liyue is missing. You're still telling me to take care of myself here? Get out of my way. I'm going to the palace right now to report to the empress. I'll tell her all the evil deeds of your Qi family kidnapping someone on the street!"
The Duke of Qi said, "Why do you have to do this, Madam Hou? General Gu is old, and the old lady is not in good health. It's not good if this makes them restless. I will definitely give the Gu family an explanation for this matter!"
Madam Jiang was even more anxious. "Everyone saw it clearly. It was your second son of the Qi family who kidnapped Liyue. Now you keep saying that you don't know where Qi Xuan is. Isn't this clearly disregarding the reputation of my Gu family's young lady? Besides, can you hide Liyue's accident from my in - laws forever?"
Madam Qi knew she was in the wrong and quickly explained, "No, Madam Hou, don't be angry. This is definitely Xuan'er's fault. If Liyue's reputation is in the slightest bit damaged, our Qi family will never ignore it."
Madam Jiang sneered repeatedly. "Liyue is already engaged. Are you saying that whenever your Qi family's young man takes a fancy to someone, he can just kidnap her on the street? Do you still have any laws and rules in mind?"