The Dandy's Duchess

Chapter 175: Fleeing Isn't Shameful (2)

The six hidden guards, following orders, immediately encircled Mo Li and Yun Qianyue, blocking any escape.

If Mo Li were alone, escaping wouldn't have been an issue, but with Yun Qianyue in tow, it became challenging. He could only struggle in a fierce clash with the six guards from the Xiaoqin Prince's residence, both sides using deadly moves.

"Throw me out!" Yun Qianyue made a quick decision.

"No, it's too dangerous!" Mo Li shook his head. "If I throw you out, they'll abandon me and go straight after you. I have a signal flare in my pocket—take it out and fire it. The Yun Prince's hidden guards will see it and come to our rescue."

"Alright!" Yun Qianyue reached into Mo Li's pocket.

"Cold-bloodedly killing in broad daylight! Leng Shaozhuo, you have some nerve!" At that moment, a familiar voice rang out. Though gentle as a breeze, it overpowered the murderous intent filling the air.

Yun Qianyue's hand froze. She turned her head to see a pitch-black carriage had stopped not far away. The curtain lifted, revealing Rongjing's elegant, poetic face. His expression was calm, his gaze indifferent. He wasn't looking at her but at Leng Shaozhuo, who stood nearby, watching the fight.

Leng Shaozhuo was startled by the voice. He turned sharply, his body seeming to tremble slightly upon seeing Rongjing.

"Stop!" Rongjing's usually gentle voice took on a sharper tone.

"Heir Jing, this is a personal matter between Yun Qianyue and me; it's best if you stay out of it!" Leng Shaozhuo, though fearful, didn't want to lose this rare opportunity to kill Yun Qianyue.

"You've brought the prince's residence guards into this, and it's still a 'personal matter'? This is a first," Rongjing replied, raising an eyebrow slightly.

"It is personal! Yun Qianyue hit me and killed my guards; naturally, I can't just let it go," Leng Shaozhuo retorted quickly.

"Seems like you're determined to kill her?" Rongjing asked.

"She's nothing more than an insolent woman, and she—"

"Xian Ge! Go up and eliminate those who are publicly committing murder under broad daylight." Rongjing's voice interrupted, still gentle yet laced with cold intent. He emphasized, "Leave none alive!"

"Yes, my lord!" Xian Ge immediately leaped up, darting toward the hidden guards surrounding Mo Li and Yun Qianyue. As he arrived, his sword flashed with cold light, piercing through one of the hidden guards in an instant.

"Heir Jing, what do you mean by this?" Leng Shaozhuo's face turned pale.

"You say it's a private matter, so I'll consider it one. Since Miss Qianyue of the Yun Prince's residence is temporarily under my guidance, her matters are my matters. If you wish her dead, I won't sit idly by." Rongjing's voice was calm.

"You..." Leng Shaozhuo glared at Rongjing, his eyes filled with fury.

Rongjing didn't spare him another glance, instead watching the ongoing battle. With Xian Ge's assistance, Mo Li was no longer restrained. The two joined forces, and in an instant, the remaining guards from the Xiaoqin Prince's residence lay dead, none surviving.

Yun Qianyue stepped out from Mo Li's protective embrace, glancing at the fallen bodies of the twelve guards on the ground—no more, no less. She had warned Leng Shaozhuo not to provoke her, but he'd ignored her warning and sought vengeance, now paying the price.

Leng Shaozhuo shifted his gaze back to see his twelve personal guards all dead. His legs weakened, and he slumped to the ground. These twelve guards had always been by his side, yet now they were all gone. His face, already bruised and swollen, twisted in anger as he looked back at Rongjing, wanting to curse. But seeing Rongjing's calm gaze, he swallowed his words, his angry expression turning into fear.

Rongjing gave Leng Shaozhuo a brief glance before turning to Yun Qianyue. Seeing her disheveled hair and blood-stained dress, he frowned slightly and said, "Is there ever a day you don't cause trouble?"

"How can you blame me for this? He intercepted my carriage and tried to beat and kill me. He asked for it!" Yun Qianyue snorted.

"Why are you still standing there? Do you think you look good like that? Get in the carriage already!" Rongjing's gaze fell on Yun Qianyue's arm, where her sleeve had been slashed, revealing a fair, snow-white section of her arm. His expression hardened as his tone grew a bit stern.

Yun Qianyue followed his gaze and looked at her arm, grateful she'd dodged quickly enough to avoid injury. Obeying Rongjing's words, she walked over to his carriage. Upon reaching it, she climbed in, momentarily forgetting she had her own carriage nearby. But since she needed to go to his residence anyway, she didn't bother to get down.

"Leng Shaozhuo, if you don't want the Emperor to know you intercepted someone with the intent to kill, it would be best to settle this as you said, privately," Rongjing said to Leng Shaozhuo before lowering the curtain. Then, he instructed Xian Ge, "Return to the residence!"

"Yes, my lord!" Xian Ge cracked the whip, steering the carriage northward.

Cailian, who had been petrified in the other carriage, snapped out of it and quickly ordered the driver to follow. The driver picked up the whip Yun Qianyue had thrown, climbed back into the carriage, and directed it to follow Rongjing's.

Mo Li gave Leng Shaozhuo a cold glance before leaving, his toes lightly tapping the ground as he moved toward the Yun Prince's residence to report to the Old Lord.

Leng Shaozhuo sat on the ground, watching Rongjing's carriage fade into the distance. After a long moment, he spat in anger, muttering through gritted teeth, "Rongjing, who do you think you are? Just a sickly invalid. I'll remember today's humiliation." He then turned to the twenty or so burly men nearby, cursing furiously, "You bunch of useless fools, get up and clean this place up! If even a drop of blood is left behind, I'll have your heads."

"Yes, young lord!" The men quickly scrambled to their feet, ignoring their injuries as they set to cleaning up the bodies.

Their swift work had the street spotless in the time it takes to drink two cups of tea. Leng Shaozhuo, leading his men as they carried the bodies of the hidden guards, returned to the Xiaoqin Prince's residence, grumbling bitterly along the way.

The common folk, fearing trouble, had kept their distance, but some of the braver ones had watched the drama unfold from hidden nooks. Now, seeing that the conflict had ended and everyone had left, they came out and gathered in small groups to quietly discuss the event. Many, fed up with Leng Shaozhuo's antics, felt satisfied to see him taken down by Miss Qianyue and Heir Jing. Though they didn't dare cheer openly, none could resist inwardly celebrating, feeling a deep sense of justice served.