201 Saving a Life
Yu Niaoniao jumped off the donkey’s back and ran to Xiao Juan. She pulled his hand and sized him up.
She saw that not a single hair on his body was messy. It seemed that it was very easy for them to deal with this group of bandits.
Yu Niaoniao looked at Xiao Juan with sparkling eyes, her eyes filled with admiration.
“Your Highness, you’re really awesome to get rid of evil for the people!”
Xiao Juan enjoyed her praise very much.
He said quietly, “We’re still not sure if the Mountain Bandits have an accomplice. To avoid unnecessary trouble, we have to get out of here as soon as possible.”
Although the Eagle Guards were agile, it was difficult for a strong dragon to suppress a local snake.
Xiao Juan planned to leave this place first. When he arrived at the county city, he would get the officials to send people to search the bandits’ lair nearby.
Yu Niaoniao had no objections to his decision.
The family of three supported each other and walked toward Xiao Juan.
Yu Niaoniao looked at them and saw that they were dressed rather simply. They looked like ordinary commoners.
Surprisingly, the family of three looked outstanding.
The middle-aged man was gentle and elegant, like a scholar.
His wife was delicate and graceful.
Her daughter had all their strengths. Not only were her eyebrows exquisite, but her skin was also fair and tender, and her figure was slender.
Because she had just cried, the corners of her eyes were red and her eyelashes were wet. She looked really pitiful.
The three of them knelt down towards Xiao Juan.
“Thank you for saving our lives, sir!”
Xiao Juan’s reaction was very cold. “It was nothing. There’s no need to thank me.”
The middle-aged man struggled to his feet with the help of his wife and daughter.
He spoke weakly.
“My surname is Duan and my name is Hanyi. This is my wife, Madam Zhao. That’s our daughter, Nian’er.”
When Duan Nian’er heard her father introduce her, she quickly glanced at Xiao Juan. She looked timid as if there was some hidden anticipation, but she did not dare to express it because of her shyness.
Duan Hanyi looked embarrassed.
“Our carriage is broken, but this place is at least three days away from the nearest county city. I’m injured now and can’t walk that far. Can you make an exception and lend us a carriage? Don’t worry, we won’t use your carriage for nothing. We’ll pay!”
Yu Niaoniao looked at the carriage that had fallen to the side of the road. The carriage showed signs of falling apart. It really could not sit anyone else.
She thought that Xiao Juan would agree.
After all, their team had several carriages. It was not a problem to lend them one.
However, Xiao Juan called Meng Xizhou over and instructed him in a low voice.
Meng Xizhou nodded his understanding.
Then, he led a few Eagle Guards to the carriage and straightened it. Then, they began to dismantle the carriage.
It was only a moment.
The carriage was stripped down to the bottom panel.
Meng Xizhou patted the bottom of the carriage and grinned. “Hehe, it’s quite sturdy!”
He waved at Duan Shiyi’s family of three.
“Come here.”
Madam Zhao and Duan Nian’er helped Duan Hanyi over.
Meng Xizhou let them sit on the board and then smiled.
“So the carriage won’t fall apart anymore. You can continue on your way.”
Duan Hanyi and his family were immediately dumbfounded.
They never expected such a thing to happen!
Duan Nian’er said timidly, “There’s not even any cover in this car. It’ll definitely be very cold at night.”
Meng Xizhou said casually, “Didn’t you bring blankets? If you’re cold, cover yourself with a blanket. Do you need me to teach you such a simple thing?”
Duan Nian’er was speechless.
After completing the mission, Meng Xizhou returned to report.
Duan Hanyi and his family were left sitting on the handcart, staring at one another.
The team set off again.
As Xiao Juan rode past the handcart without looking sideways, Duan Nian’er’s gaze followed him.
Soon, Prince Min and Shen Xu’s carriage drove past the handcart one after another.
Shen Xu saw the family of three sitting on the handcart through the car window.
His gaze was immediately attracted to Duan Nian’er.
This girl was really beautiful! Even though she was only wearing a rough dress and no makeup, it still could not hide her beauty.
Shen Xu quickly got someone to stop the carriage.
He stuck his head out of the car window and asked Duan Nian’er.
“Miss, do you want to come to my car?”
Duan Nian’er was like a frightened deer. Her small body trembled slightly, and then she shrank her shoulders and hid behind her parents. She lowered her head to reveal her fair and slender neck.
She said timidly, “Thank you for your kindness, but there’s no need. I still have to take care of Father.”
Shen Xu liked beautiful and innocent girls like her the most.
He chewed carefully. “So your name is Nian’er? What a good name.”
Duan Nian’er blushed.
Shen Xu was just complaining that the journey was too boring. It was rare for a beautiful girl to come knocking on his door. How could he let her go?
He asked the attendant to force Duan Nian’er into his car.
Duan Nian’er was terrified. She wanted to cry but did not dare to. Tears welled up in her eyes, making her look even more pitiful.
Shen Xu was tempted and hugged her tightly. His big hand rubbed her slender waist.
With her in his arms, he felt his heart flutter and his soul almost fly away.
Duan Nian’er wanted to ask her parents for help. She turned to look out the window and saw that her parents had been taken away.
She was instantly even more afraid. Her voice trembled as she begged.
“Young Master, please let my parents go.”
Shen Xu raised her chin and smiled maliciously.
“Little beauty, don’t worry. As long as you serve me well, your parents will definitely be safe.”
Duan Nian’er was worried about her parents’ safety and did not dare to resist. She could only follow the other party’s wishes with tears in her eyes.
What happened here was quickly spread to Xiao Juan’s ears.
Xiao Juan had always been cautious. Even though Duan Hanyi and his family looked very harmless, he was still a little wary.
It was precisely because of this that he had refused the other party’s request to rent a carriage.
He wanted to distance himself from the family of three as soon as possible to avoid any unnecessary trouble.
Unexpectedly, Shen Xu was blinded by lust and got her into his car.
If there was really something wrong with that Duan Nian’er, Shen Xu would be sending himself to the lion’s den.
He had seen people courting death, but he had never seen anyone doing it in such an extreme manner!
Yu Niaoniao could not help but ask when she saw Xiao Juan’s serious expression.
“Is something wrong?”
Xiao Juan knew Shen Xu’s style. If he asked Shen Xu to throw Duan Nian’er out of the carriage now, not only would Shen Xu not agree, but he would also very likely cause a commotion about this matter and drag down the entire convoy’s speed.
For now, he could only wait and find an opportunity to investigate Duan Nian’er.
He reminded her, “Follow me for the next few days. Don’t wander off, and definitely don’t act alone.”
Although Yu Niaoniao did not understand, she still nodded obediently.
“Yes!”
201 Saving a Life
Yu Niaoniao jumped off the donkey’s back and ran to Xiao Juan. She pulled his hand and sized him up.
She saw that not a single hair on his body was messy. It seemed that it was very easy for them to deal with this group of bandits.
Yu Niaoniao looked at Xiao Juan with sparkling eyes, her eyes filled with admiration.
“Your Highness, you’re really awesome to get rid of evil for the people!”
Xiao Juan enjoyed her praise very much.
He said quietly, “We’re still not sure if the Mountain Bandits have an accomplice. To avoid unnecessary trouble, we have to get out of here as soon as possible.”
Although the Eagle Guards were agile, it was difficult for a strong dragon to suppress a local snake.
Xiao Juan planned to leave this place first. When he arrived at the county city, he would get the officials to send people to search the bandits’ lair nearby.
Yu Niaoniao had no objections to his decision.
The family of three supported each other and walked toward Xiao Juan.
Yu Niaoniao looked at them and saw that they were dressed rather simply. They looked like ordinary commoners.
Surprisingly, the family of three looked outstanding.
The middle-aged man was gentle and elegant, like a scholar.
His wife was delicate and graceful.
Her daughter had all their strengths. Not only were her eyebrows exquisite, but her skin was also fair and tender, and her figure was slender.
Because she had just cried, the corners of her eyes were red and her eyelashes were wet. She looked really pitiful.
The three of them knelt down towards Xiao Juan.
“Thank you for saving our lives, sir!”
Xiao Juan’s reaction was very cold. “It was nothing. There’s no need to thank me.”
The middle-aged man struggled to his feet with the help of his wife and daughter.
He spoke weakly.
“My surname is Duan and my name is Hanyi. This is my wife, Madam Zhao. That’s our daughter, Nian’er.”
When Duan Nian’er heard her father introduce her, she quickly glanced at Xiao Juan. She looked timid as if there was some hidden anticipation, but she did not dare to express it because of her shyness.
Duan Hanyi looked embarrassed.
“Our carriage is broken, but this place is at least three days away from the nearest county city. I’m injured now and can’t walk that far. Can you make an exception and lend us a carriage? Don’t worry, we won’t use your carriage for nothing. We’ll pay!”
Yu Niaoniao looked at the carriage that had fallen to the side of the road. The carriage showed signs of falling apart. It really could not sit anyone else.
She thought that Xiao Juan would agree.
After all, their team had several carriages. It was not a problem to lend them one.
However, Xiao Juan called Meng Xizhou over and instructed him in a low voice.
Meng Xizhou nodded his understanding.
Then, he led a few Eagle Guards to the carriage and straightened it. Then, they began to dismantle the carriage.
It was only a moment.
The carriage was stripped down to the bottom panel.
Meng Xizhou patted the bottom of the carriage and grinned. “Hehe, it’s quite sturdy!”
He waved at Duan Shiyi’s family of three.
“Come here.”
Madam Zhao and Duan Nian’er helped Duan Hanyi over.
Meng Xizhou let them sit on the board and then smiled.
“So the carriage won’t fall apart anymore. You can continue on your way.”
Duan Hanyi and his family were immediately dumbfounded.
They never expected such a thing to happen!
Duan Nian’er said timidly, “There’s not even any cover in this car. It’ll definitely be very cold at night.”
Meng Xizhou said casually, “Didn’t you bring blankets? If you’re cold, cover yourself with a blanket. Do you need me to teach you such a simple thing?”
Duan Nian’er was speechless.
After completing the mission, Meng Xizhou returned to report.
Duan Hanyi and his family were left sitting on the handcart, staring at one another.
The team set off again.
As Xiao Juan rode past the handcart without looking sideways, Duan Nian’er’s gaze followed him.
Soon, Prince Min and Shen Xu’s carriage drove past the handcart one after another.
Shen Xu saw the family of three sitting on the handcart through the car window.
His gaze was immediately attracted to Duan Nian’er.
This girl was really beautiful! Even though she was only wearing a rough dress and no makeup, it still could not hide her beauty.
Shen Xu quickly got someone to stop the carriage.
He stuck his head out of the car window and asked Duan Nian’er.
“Miss, do you want to come to my car?”
Duan Nian’er was like a frightened deer. Her small body trembled slightly, and then she shrank her shoulders and hid behind her parents. She lowered her head to reveal her fair and slender neck.
She said timidly, “Thank you for your kindness, but there’s no need. I still have to take care of Father.”
Shen Xu liked beautiful and innocent girls like her the most.
He chewed carefully. “So your name is Nian’er? What a good name.”
Duan Nian’er blushed.
Shen Xu was just complaining that the journey was too boring. It was rare for a beautiful girl to come knocking on his door. How could he let her go?
He asked the attendant to force Duan Nian’er into his car.
Duan Nian’er was terrified. She wanted to cry but did not dare to. Tears welled up in her eyes, making her look even more pitiful.
Shen Xu was tempted and hugged her tightly. His big hand rubbed her slender waist.
With her in his arms, he felt his heart flutter and his soul almost fly away.
Duan Nian’er wanted to ask her parents for help. She turned to look out the window and saw that her parents had been taken away.
She was instantly even more afraid. Her voice trembled as she begged.
“Young Master, please let my parents go.”
Shen Xu raised her chin and smiled maliciously.
“Little beauty, don’t worry. As long as you serve me well, your parents will definitely be safe.”
Duan Nian’er was worried about her parents’ safety and did not dare to resist. She could only follow the other party’s wishes with tears in her eyes.
What happened here was quickly spread to Xiao Juan’s ears.
Xiao Juan had always been cautious. Even though Duan Hanyi and his family looked very harmless, he was still a little wary.
It was precisely because of this that he had refused the other party’s request to rent a carriage.
He wanted to distance himself from the family of three as soon as possible to avoid any unnecessary trouble.
Unexpectedly, Shen Xu was blinded by lust and got her into his car.
If there was really something wrong with that Duan Nian’er, Shen Xu would be sending himself to the lion’s den.
He had seen people courting death, but he had never seen anyone doing it in such an extreme manner!
Yu Niaoniao could not help but ask when she saw Xiao Juan’s serious expression.
“Is something wrong?”
Xiao Juan knew Shen Xu’s style. If he asked Shen Xu to throw Duan Nian’er out of the carriage now, not only would Shen Xu not agree, but he would also very likely cause a commotion about this matter and drag down the entire convoy’s speed.
For now, he could only wait and find an opportunity to investigate Duan Nian’er.
He reminded her, “Follow me for the next few days. Don’t wander off, and definitely don’t act alone.”
Although Yu Niaoniao did not understand, she still nodded obediently.
“Yes!”
