Madam Chen glared at Jiang Yuanfa, then flung open the carriage curtain and hopped out. She then pinched a few pieces of silver from her purse and tossed them to the coachman.
The coachman bowed his head in thanks, but she didn't even glance at him, just turned and walked away, swaying her hips.
Qingzhou was bustling and prosperous, and Rong Yue couldn't help but look around curiously.
She had only been to Qingzhou once as a child and hadn't been back since. She'd never left home after marrying Jiang Wencheng.
The three of them hadn't walked far before their presence immediately drew attention.
Everyone around them was secretly sizing up Rong Yue, and occasional whispers could be heard: "Who is this young lady? She's so beautiful."
Rong Yue frowned slightly, feeling somewhat flustered.
The maids and servants at home often complimented her beauty, but she had never appeared before so many strangers. This was a first.
Madam Chen, of course, knew what everyone was looking at. She turned around and spat at Rong Yue, then reached out and twisted her arm harshly, cursing, "You vixen! You can't behave yourself anywhere!"
Rong Yue's eyes turned red with pain, and she whispered her defense, "Mother, I haven't."
Jiang Yuanfa hadn't expected this either. His daughter-in-law's exquisite appearance was bound to attract attention, and she shouldn't have come out.
He couldn't help but grumble to Madam Chen, "I don't know why you insisted on bringing her along. Wouldn't it have been better if she'd stayed home?"
Madam Chen pursed her lips, wearing a mocking smile. "She naturally has her uses. My son is in trouble, and she still wants to be comfortable?"
The three of them walked a while further and arrived in front of a restaurant. The sign read, in three imposing characters: Fuxian Restaurant.
Jiang Yuanfa didn't know where Xu Hongchuan's residence was, so he had asked someone to find a waiter from this restaurant, who would then lead them there. He'd sent the invitation through this very person.
They had come at an inconvenient time, with many customers already present. Madam Chen and Rong Yue waited outside while Jiang Yuanfa went in to find the waiter.
Just then, a rowdy group of twenty or so people arrived, carrying a body covered with a white cloth. They blocked the restaurant's entrance, shouting that Fuxian Restaurant had killed someone and demanding justice!
The waiters from Fuxian Restaurant also rushed out, and a shoving match ensued. Rong Yue was pushed to the side of the road, and then, by someone else, she was pushed again. She stumbled, losing her balance, and was thrown into the middle of the road.
At that moment, someone on horseback was approaching. Rong Yue raised her eyes and saw a tall horse charging straight at her, and she froze, unable to move.
Just as the horse's hooves were raised, about to trample Rong Yue, a tall man leaped in front of her. He wrapped his long arms around her waist and pulled her close.
With a graceful turn, he swept Rong Yue to the other side of the road.
Rong Yue only felt her waist tighten, a gust of wind brushed past her face. When she regained her senses, the two horses had already galloped away. She was alive?
Rong Yue gasped for breath, gradually coming to her senses. She looked up and found a stranger in front of her!
The man was tall and muscular, with sharp eyebrows, deep eyes, a high nose, and thin lips. His tan skin exuded a strong masculine aura.
The man took a good look at Rong Yue, and he was stunned as well.
The woman in his arms had skin as white as snow, with almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks. She was a vision of loveliness, especially her delicate eyes, which were moist, and her rosy lips were tempting!
The man's eyes darkened, his gaze sweeping over Rong Yue's pretty face, inch by inch, without any restraint.
The waist under his hand was slender and soft, while his chest was being firmly pressed against by two mounds of fullness. A small fire immediately ignited in his lower abdomen…
Not only was she beautiful, but she was also curvy!
She could take a man's life!
Rong Yue suddenly realized that the man was affectionately holding her and was immediately flustered, pushing against his chest.
The man didn't want to let go of the slender waist in his hand, and the woman in his arms couldn't push him away at first.
He caught sight of her married woman's hair bun, and a wave of disappointment washed over him. When Rong Yue pushed him again, he released her.
Rong Yue stepped back twice, her cheeks already flushed.
She looked up at the handsome man with a mix of shame and embarrassment, knowing that he had saved her life.
She bowed to the man, and her soft, pleasant voice rang out: "Thank you, brave sir, for saving me. I am deeply grateful."
The man didn't say anything, just nodded lightly.
After giving him a grateful smile, Rong Yue quickly turned and went back to the restaurant across the street.
The beautiful woman's smile was like a shy and lovely hibiscus flower, exuding a captivating fragrance!
The man's gaze remained fixed on her graceful, pretty back, and his eyes couldn't help but fall on the back of her neck, which was exposed by her collar. It was bright white, smooth and delicate, like a tender lotus root, making him want to take a bite…
The two young men who had been standing behind him came closer. One of them murmured, "There are actually such beauties in Qingzhou…"
His eyes were glued on her, and he nudged the other young man with his elbow, continuing, "I haven't even seen a woman this beautiful in Shuntian Prefecture."
The other young man nodded in agreement, also lost in thought: "The top courtesan in the Baihua Tower in Shuntian Prefecture isn't as beautiful as that young lady."
The leading man turned his gaze away and gave them a cold look. The two of them immediately lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
The leading man said softly, "Return to the Dusi."
After Rong Yue crossed the street, the group that had been causing the commotion hadn't left yet. Inside and outside the restaurant was in chaos. Her mother-in-law was squeezed into a corner, wailing, and she wanted to go over, but there were people in the way.
At this moment, someone shouted, "The officers are here!"
Several constables came running, and the commotion subsided. Jiang Yuanfa came out of the restaurant at this time, followed by a waiter. He had searched for a long time before finding Madam Chen, and he squeezed over to help her up. Rong Yue finally managed to squeeze over as well.
As soon as Madam Chen stood up, she raised her hand to slap Rong Yue.
Rong Yue shrunk her neck and closed her eyes, but Madam Chen's hand stopped in mid-air. Then, she sullenly lowered her hand and kicked Rong Yue hard, "Are you a dead person? Don't you know to come and help?"
Rong Yue cried out in pain, dared not say anything, and endured the pain in her leg, she went forward to support her mother-in-law.