It was the man I had seen at the Cao Family Courtyard in Xuzhou.
Wei Hanzhang's eyes moved slightly, and he slowly walked towards the corner and bowed: "Thank you, sir."
The man lowered his eyelashes and looked at her, then handed something to her: "There is blood on your face."
His hands are very beautiful, with clear joints, smooth and beautiful lines, and a clean and beautiful look just like his person.
But Wei Hanzhang didn't take his handkerchief and said nonchalantly: "It doesn't matter, my clothes are dirty anyway."
She had held Cao Xinrou in her arms for so long, and her body had long been stained with blood, and she couldn't wipe it clean.
After thanking him, he was about to say goodbye when he heard the man in front of him say: "Do you regret being so impulsive just now?"
Wei Hanzhang knew that he was asking about Cao Xinrou's identity and rushed out to save her.
Although his question was a bit superficial for the two of them who had only met twice, Wei Hanzhang was in a state of unstable mood today and did not feel that he was being disrespectful.
Instead, he said bluntly: "I have no regrets. If I saw my playmate who grew up together falling from a building today and pretended that I didn't see it, then it wouldn't be me."
It doesn't matter if it affects the marriage. If Gu Yunran regrets the marriage because she wants to save Rou Niang, it doesn't matter if she doesn't want the marriage.
Wei Hanzhang glanced at the man in front of him and said, "Do you know who the girl who just jumped off the building is?"
There were thin ripples in Xiao Junzhan's eyes. He looked at her for a moment, then lowered his eyes and said, "Who is it?"
Wei Hanzhang pinched the hem of his skirt and sniffed lightly: "The daughter of the former owner of that courtyard when I first met you, the eldest daughter of the Cao family in Xuzhou."
"Her father committed a crime and was sentenced to be beheaded six months ago. She and her sisters have all entered the Jiaofang Department, but she was still fine the last time I saw her."
Thinking of Gu Yundan who had just appeared here, Rou Niang's death was definitely related to him.
Wei Hanzhang secretly gritted his teeth, marrying another bride, and ruining Qingmei who fell into a lowly status. How dehumanizing this is! Xiao Junzhan was silent for a few moments and said calmly: "Last spring, there was a sudden flood in Yunzhou and Ningzhou in the south of the Yangtze River. The imperial court allocated 30 taels of disaster relief money. However, local officials were embezzled at all levels. Cao Shiren was the governor of Yunzhou, so he was not unjustly sentenced to death. .”
Wei Hanzhang didn't expect that she would be educated about the court affairs by a man she had only met twice. She knew that the Cao family was a serious embezzler, but no one would specifically tell her what the specific situation was.
She didn't even know Cao Xinrou's father's name, but this man addressed him by his first name, as if he knew his family treasures.
She was filled with surprise and uncertainty. She felt that the person in front of her was a little unpredictable. He had a cold and distant temperament, and looked a little unhuman as if he was standing in a cloud.
Wei Hanzhang looked him up and down for a while and said, "I don't mean to feel aggrieved for the Cao family. It's just that the Cao family's daughter and I knew each other when we were young, and I can't bear it..."
Xiao Junzhan said warmly: "You don't need to explain, I know."
"..." Wei Hanzhang was silent. Is this her explanation?
She was afraid that others would hear her and mistakenly think that she was dissatisfied with the court and the prince...
Xiao Junzhan said again: "Did you lose something last time?"
Wei Hanzhang blinked and thought: "I lost a jade pendant."
She raised her eyes: "Did you pick it?"
"That's right." The wind blew by, blowing up Xiao Junzhan's black belt. He nodded slightly and said, "But I don't have it with me now. How about I bring it to you next time?"
"Next time?" Wei Hanzhang frowned slightly, feeling that this person had evil intentions.
But the jade pendant was a birthday gift given to her by the Jiang family. Not only was her small name engraved on it, it was also engraved with the Wei family emblem. Although it was small, you could see it if you looked closely.
It's really wrong to leave it outside.
When I was in an extreme dilemma, I heard the man in front of me say: "It'll be next time."
Wei Hanzhang paused slightly and asked bluntly: "Which son are you from?"
"My surname is Xiao, and my courtesy name is Boqian." Xiao Junzhan lowered his eyes to look at her and said softly: "Girl, it's time for you to tell me your name."
"Which Xiao?" Wei Hanzhang's eyes widened: "The Xiao family of Dingguo Palace, or..." Xiao was the surname of the current royal family.
Xiao Junzhan said: "It's the royal family, what do you think?"
It's obviously still a gentle gaze, but it always makes people feel a slight pressure.
Wei Hanzhang took half a step back unconsciously.
Xiao Junzhan looked away, "The girl asked my name, but she didn't answer my question."
Nowadays, the trend is open, and there is no taboo on a woman’s maiden name.
Wei Hanzhang took a deep look at him and said, "The jade pendant is already in your hand. Can you not know my name?"
The man laughed when he heard this, looked at her again, and said softly: "Is it really called 'Ran Ran'?"
"..."
lecher! Wei Hanzhang felt his heart tremble at his call of 'Ran Ran', and said: "It's time for me to go back. Master, please do as you please."
"If today's incident is reported to the house, I'm afraid the girl will be blamed." Seeing her back, Xiao Junzhan was a little confused: "Are you afraid?"
Wei Hanzhang said: "If you dare to do it, you dare to do it. There is nothing to be afraid of."
"and many more…"
Wei Hanzhang stopped and turned around to look at him.
"There is no need to be afraid." Xiao Junzhan paused and said warmly: "You are not wrong in this matter. You are a good girl who values friendship."
"..." Wei Hanzhang discovered that this is really a wonderful person.
She smiled, said nothing, and turned to leave.
…………
In the carriage, Lu Zhu took out the spare clothes prepared for the banquet and said, "Girl, please change your clothes."
Her body was covered in blood. Jiang was afraid that she would faint if she returned home like this.
When changing clothes, he saw the maid looking frightened. Wei Hanzhang apologized: "It doesn't matter, there is really a punishment at home, I will bear it as well, and I will definitely protect you."
Luzhu and Lulan have been her personal maids since childhood. They came to Beijing with her from Xuzhou. Lulan stayed in the house today, and Luzhu went out with her to the banquet. If Luzhu was really blamed for what happened today, Wei Han Zhang felt uneasy.
"My maid is not afraid," Luzhu said as she fastened her belt deftly, "My maid is worried about the girl. There were so many people at the gate of the teaching workshop just now. I'm afraid the news has spread back to the mansion."
"It's not a big deal," Wei Hanzhang pretended not to care, smiled and reassured: "You also heard what the person just said, I am a good girl who values friendship."
…………
After Wei Hanzhang left, Xiao Junzhan stood there quietly for a while.
The spring sunset was not very bright, and it shone quietly on his face. The yellowish color softened his alienated face, like a god infected with the secular atmosphere, no one dared to disturb him.
Until the sky darkened and night was approaching, the servant behind him who had never spoken said: "Your Highness, it's time to return to the palace."
Xiao Junzhan hummed, got back on the carriage, took a memorial and read through it.
The white-faced and beardless servant whispered: "The jade pendant of the Wei family girl is on the horse..."
The voice disappeared in His Highness's eyes.
(End of this chapter)