Chapter 26 - Encountering a Familiar Face

The foot boy had been traveling for half the day. He felt his eyelids becoming heavy, but he held on thinking that he would reach Liu Yun Village soon. With that thought, he found some strength within himself and rubbed his eyes, yawning. He abruptly shouted in the air to vent his feelings before he continued to travel.

Suddenly, a black silhouette appeared before his eyes.

He was startled and thought that he had seen wrong, hurriedly pulling on the reins of the horse. He widened his eyes and looked around, but the surroundings were dark and he could only hear the faint sounds of insects while traveling through the quiet mountain road. He could faintly see a blurry figure under the moonlight.

Shen Ziqiao inquired about the situation from within the horse carriage.

A chilly sense of fear crawled up his back.

Why do I feel like someone is behind me? The foot boy started to tremble and he stiffly turned his head around only to see the curtains of the carriage slightly swaying. There wasn’t anyone or anything nearby. He sighed in relief and hurried up while replying, “Third Miss, nothing. A rabbit was just running by.”

There was no noise within the horse carriage. He thought that Shen Ziqiao was unhappy, so he didn’t dare to say anything more.

Shen Ziqiao wasn’t unhappy, but indeed, she couldn’t find it in herself to be happy either. It wasn’t because of the foot boy outside, but rather the man in black who suddenly got into the carriage.

This wasn’t a melodramatic plot, but rather a lightning bolt coming from the sky!

“Who are you? What do you want?” Facing the man in black, Shen Ziqiao suppressed the fear inside her heart.

Hong Yu and Hong Ying’s faces paled at the sight, but the two of them got in front of Shen Ziqiao and fearfully said, “Don’t come over. Don’t you dare hurt our young miss.”

However, they were too weak and no match against the man in black at all.

The man in black had deep and dark eyes, and he clearly froze after seeing Shen Ziqiao. I know her!

Shen Ziqiao noticed the change in his eyes and she carefully observed him. Looking at the eyebrows, she really found him to be quite familiar to someone.

“Young lady, I’m going to borrow your horse carriage and hide here for a bit. I won’t bother you for too long so please forgive me if I inconvenience you in any way.” The man in black slightly lowered his head and said in a deep voice.

This voice? Shen Ziqiao’s eyes slightly brightened. The mellow and rich magnetic voice like the notes of a cello… It was Qi Zheng!

As a child, Shen Ziqiao liked males with pleasant voices. Therefore, she remembered Qi Zheng when she heard him talking in the Thousands Buddha Temple.

“I know who you are!” Shen Ziqiao was about to blurt out Qi Zheng, but she swallowed her words. She pushed the trembling Hong Yu and Hong Ying behind her and smiled at the man in black.

The man in black froze and glanced coldly and sharply at Shen Ziqiao.

Shen Ziqiao was stunned by his gaze and terrified at the same time. Oh no! Since he covered his face, he obviously was unwilling to let others find out about his identity. Yet, she fearlessly exposed his identity. She might end up getting killed because of this.

Could it be that I was infected with a disease called being brainless?

The horse carriage came to an abrupt stop again and Shen Ziqiao lost her balance, her body thrown forward.

Thankfully, her face didn’t hit the floor, but the man in black instead. She felt the sturdy and warm muscles under the hollow of her palm and his masculine scent under her nose. Shen Ziqiao’s face indescribably burned up.

The foot boy driving the horse carriage said in a terrified voice, “Third Miss, there are a lot of people ahead holding torches. I don’t know if they’re brigands.”

It must have to do with this man! Shen Ziqiao looked up at him.

“You’re fine. You can get up now.” The man in black had his arms around Shen Ziqiao’s slender waist and his gaze deepened as he sniffed in her distinctive fragrance.

Hong Ying and Hong Yu weren’t that lucky, on the other hand. They knocked against the walls and their foreheads were swollen. Seeing that Shen Ziqiao was in the man in black’s arms, the servant girls weren’t afraid anymore. Like a hen protecting its chick, they grabbed Shen Ziqiao from the man in black’s arms and glared at him in alarm.

Qi Zheng faintly glanced at them and then pulled the curtains to the side to observe the situation outside. As expected, it had to do with him. He knitted his straight eyebrows tightly right then.

Shen Ziqiao softly coughed and asked, “What’s going on outside?”

“The road’s been blocked off. Third Miss, we can’t go over.” The foot boy replied.

“They’re here for you?” Shen Ziqiao glanced at the man in black who still hadn’t revealed his real identity.

The man in black glanced sideways at Shen Ziqiao. The only person who could help him right now was the young lady in front of him.

He took the black cloth off and revealed a handsome face.

Shen Ziqiao smiled and said, “As expected, it’s you.” It’s really Qi Zheng! He was clearly acting stupid.

“You guys… What do you guys want? Our Third Miss is inside alone!” The foot boy’s anxious voice rang outside.

Qi Zheng clenched his fists. These people weren’t easily deceived and they will definitely ask to look in the horse carriage. He looked at Shen Ziqiao.

Hong Ying and Hong Yu had never seen Qi Zheng, so they didn’t know who he was. But seeing that he was handsome and had a chilly imposing manner, he didn’t seem to be from an ordinary family.

Plus, since the Third Miss recognizes him, he shouldn’t be a bad guy.

Hearing the footsteps approaching closer outside, Qi Zheng didn’t have any time to explain before he quickly took the black clothes off and shoved them in the box under the bed.

As he untied his belt, Hong Ying and Hong Yu both looked down, their faces flushed. However, Shen Ziqiao kept on looking at him as if she didn’t know what it meant to be shy.

Under the black clothes, Qi Zheng had actually worn a deep blue silk shirt which made him look even more elegant and noble. However, the moment he took off his black clothes it felt as if he had completely transformed into another person, because his cold and nonchalant temperament had disappeared as well.

The handsome Qi Zheng glanced towards Shen Ziqiao, who was looking at him in interest, and the corner of his eyes twitched. Does this young lady… Not know what being indecent means?

From Qi Zheng’s perspective, Shen Ziqiao was just a thirteen-year-old girl who hadn't finished growing up and was a bit unruly. Yet, he didn’t expect her to be that different.

Hong Yu and Hong Ying pulled Shen Ziqiao over with red faces, saying, “Third Miss…”

At this time, the curtains were roughly pulled to the side and two tall and sturdy men were standing outside with fierce looks. The moment they saw Qi Zheng, their eyes blunted ominously. “Come out!”

Qi Zheng shook his head firmly and pretended to be afraid, hiding in the corner of the carriage.

Hong Yu and Hong Ying stared at him in shock.

Shen Ziqiao was scared that these two ignorant servant girls would say something unsuitable, so she acted haughtily and glared at the two men saying, “Who are you guys? You dare to stop this young miss’s carriage? Quickly move out of the way!”

“Who is he?” The two men didn’t place Shen Ziqiao in their eyes at all. One of the men with a huge beard pointed at Qi Zheng and asked loudly.

A few more men from behind walked over. One of them was wearing a cyan-colored long gown and he appeared to be refined in manner. He should be a scholar and he asked, “What’s the matter?”

“There’s a man in the carriage.” The bearded man said…