Lu Wanning got into the carriage home in a delicate manner, listening to Jiyue enthusiastically telling her the information she had gathered.
"Your Highness the Princess may not know that when the guards found He Chan, she was lying on the shore, barely breathing. And beside her, also with wet clothes, was none other than Second Young Master Fu. Apparently, it was Second Young Master Fu who saved her. Moreover, their legs were entangled, and it took the guards a great deal of effort to separate them when they rescued them. Tsk, tsk..."
Lu Wanning yawned. She had originally thought that the Prince of Yu would let others see the entangled state of Fu Rongli and He Chan. "You said I was too kind to my enemies. Aren't you the same?"
Jiyue asked blankly, "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
Lu Wanning shook her head. "It's nothing. Don't bother about their affairs. Did you send someone to inquire about Sister Jiang as I told you?"
Jiyue nodded. "I sent someone, but it seems that besides our people, there was already someone protecting her."
Someone was protecting her? The Jiang family? It didn't seem likely. Could it be He Nanfeng? But with He Nanfeng's weak appearance, it didn't seem likely either.
Forget it. She would just ask Sister Jiang later.
Just as they reached the city gate, they saw the carriages of the He and Fu families blocking the way. Everyone coming back from the horse - ranch was blocked here. Of course, the princesses and princes must have already passed through. The people behind, out of deference to the power of the two ducal mansions, had to wait here.
Madam He clutched her chest and said tearfully, pointing at the Fu family, "You did this on purpose! A concubine - born son dares to covet the legitimate daughter of the He family. Chan'er is the only niece of the Empress. Even a prince would be a worthy match for her. Your concubine - born son is clearly doing this on purpose!"
Madam Fu was extremely angry and also lost her temper. "If your He Chan hadn't tried to deal with the Princess of Zhaoyang, how could she have ended up like this?"
This was shifting the blame, but the Prince of Yu had already spoken up for Lu Wanning at the horse - ranch. So it was impossible for Madam He to blame Lu Wanning now.
Lu Wanning's carriage was close enough for her to hear everything clearly, but she remained expressionless.
Jiyue whispered, "Your Highness, they are so rude!"
Yes, they were indeed rude.
Lu Wanning curled her lips. "Tell someone to say that I will never let this matter rest. After returning to the capital, I will report it truthfully. Let He Chan wait."
If the He family wanted to settle this matter quietly, they would have to rely on the Empress and the Crown Prince to put pressure. In this way, Lu Hongxi would only grow further apart from the Crown Prince's faction. Moreover, the Prince of Yu had saved her today, and Lu Hongxi would surely be extremely grateful to the Prince of Yu.
Instead of sending someone, Jiyue got out of the carriage with a solemn face. She walked up haughtily and said coldly, "Our princess said that Miss He's schemes against her cannot be let go. After returning to the capital, she will surely file a complaint with the Ministry of Justice."
Lu Wanning looked out through the carriage window. The book said that Jiyue was a bully who used her master's power. Previously, Lu Wanning only thought that Jiyue was just a bit bold and loyal. Now she realized that as her chief maid, Jiyue indeed had an imposing manner.
Madam He was trembling with anger. This maid was really causing trouble. Lu Wanning was perfectly fine, yet she said she would file a complaint against He Chan?
"He Chan is her own cousin!"
Jiyue raised her eyebrows slightly. Apart from her appearance, this gesture was exactly the same as Lu Wanning's usual one. "Madam He remembers now that the princess is Miss He's cousin? I dare to ask, when our princess, out of sisterly affection, risked her life to jump off the cliff to save Miss He, what did Miss He do?"
Madam He was at a loss for words and reluctantly defended, "That was... that was because Chan'er was... after all, young and frightened..."
Jiyue impatiently interrupted her. "Everyone knows the truth clearly. Why does Madam He still deceive herself? The attendants of the Prince of Jia saw clearly that Miss He deliberately hurt the princess. The Prince of Yu also made it clear that when he saved the princess, he found that she had been drugged and was too weak to resist."
Inside the carriage, He Chan was huddled in Shi Aohan's arms, shivering and in a daze. Hearing this, she struggled to get up.
Shi Aohan hugged her tightly. "Chan'er, don't. Be good and listen to me. Cousin will protect you."
He Chan's eyes were swollen like walnuts. "Cousin, didn't you say it would be foolproof... didn't you say that even if we fell, there would be a water pool below and we wouldn't die?"
Shi Aohan said tearfully, "Yes... but I never expected that the Prince of Yu would be there. Chan'er, it's all my fault. Hit me and scold me, okay? Seeing you like this, I feel so heart - broken. I wish I could take your place and suffer. I even wish I could die for you!"
He Chan sobbed and pushed her away. "What's the use of saying these things now? My whole life is ruined..."
Shi Aohan took a deep breath and tried to hold her tightly. "Chan'er, Lu Wanning is really cunning. Your reputation was originally ruined by her. Now she..."
He Chan's eyes were filled with deep hatred. "Yes, it's all her fault. You're right, cousin. When she saved me, I actually felt a bit touched. I didn't expect that she did it on purpose. Clearly, the people from Sheng Li saved me, but then they knocked me out... Sheng Li has had a deep - seated relationship with Lu Wanning since childhood. If it wasn't at Lu Wanning's order, that would be strange!"
Shi Aohan nodded and stroked He Chan's face. "Chan'er, but now that the matter has been exposed, everything can't go back."
He Chan shivered and said, "Cousin, I don't want to go to the Ministry of Justice. Cousin, I don't want to go to jail, cousin."
Shi Aohan hugged her tightly. Her eyes flashed. "No, you won't. Your mother is here, and the Empress is also here. They won't let you suffer in jail."
He Chan buried her head in her arms and didn't see that Shi Aohan lifted the curtain of the carriage and made a gesture outside.
The maid outside quickly went near the last carriage of the Fu family and whispered something to a pageboy. The pageboy quickly got into the carriage.
The maid took a deep breath and was about to go back when she was stopped.
It was Fu Rongxuan.
Fu Rongxuan grabbed the maid's hand and threatened in a low voice, "Come with me, or I'll expose you right away."
The maid was shivering and didn't dare to refuse.
As for Fu Rongli, he was lying in the carriage, completely unaware of how things had turned out like this. However, whether it was Lu Wanning or He Chan, it was beneficial to him. He wouldn't be abandoned by his family and would even become the son - in - law of the He family.
Fu Rongli couldn't help but smile. His elder brother, Fu Rongxuan, was eager to marry the orphan Shi Aohan of the He family, while his future wife would be He Chan, the legitimate daughter of the He family. Wouldn't he be able to outshine his elder brother in the future?
He clenched his hands tightly. Anyway, he wouldn't lose out. That was right.
The pageboy got into the carriage and whispered, "Young Master, Xiaoxiang said that if you don't find a way to save Miss He, all your efforts today will be in vain."