At the same time, the man let out a disgusting laugh.
Song Chaoyu, pulling Xun Lu, retreated step by step. She knew that there was no point in saying anything more to this drunken man.
She could only turn back and look at the two hesitant figures behind her: "No matter who you are, this is the capital, a vital area of the empire. Are you truly prepared to provoke the Lin family? Although we are merely servants, we are still part of the Lin family. Do you really think the Lin family will stand by and do nothing?"
The two men exchanged glances, their eyes full of hesitation, clearly swayed by Song Chaoyu's words.
However, the drunken man spat fiercely at the other two: "Is this all the courage you have? Two living young ladies are here, and you still dare not take them? Truly pathetic. If you don't dare, I'll go first! Don't envy me then!"
Saying this, he was about to step forward again to grab Song Chaoyu and Xun Lu.
"Ah—"
Xun Lu cried out in alarm, pulling even harder on Song Chaoyu's sleeve, refusing to let go.
"Ugh!"
"Crack—"
However, before the man could get close to Song Chaoyu and Xun Lu, Song Chaoyu heard his pained cry, accompanied by the sound of bone breaking!
Xun Lu, hiding in Song Chaoyu's embrace, closed her eyes, not daring to look up.
Song Chaoyu looked towards the man and saw a pained expression on his face.
Standing behind him was a person in black, fitted attire.
It was this person who had grabbed the man's hand, which was reaching out to touch Song Chaoyu and Xun Lu, from behind and with a slight movement, had directly broken his arm!
Now, in his pain, the drunken man seemed to have finally sobered up. He wailed continuously, "It hurts! It hurts so much! Let me go! Which immortal are you? I won't dare again, I won't dare again!"
"Hmph!"
The person behind him snorted coldly, then shoved the drunken man away fiercely.
Song Chaoyu heard a "plop" as the man was directly pushed by the powerful shove towards the edge of the wharf and into the water!
They worked at the wharf and should have been familiar with swimming.
But the man had drunk a lot of wine, and his arm was broken. After struggling in the water for a while, he was on the verge of sinking.
His other two companions did not dare to step forward to rescue him, fearing that they would be the next to have their arms broken.
Until the water submerged the man's head, the person in black fitted attire nodded to the other two: "Go save him. If you dare to cause trouble here again, you won't have this life."
The two men thanked the man profusely and then jumped into the water one after another.
Song Chaoyu pushed Xun Lu, who was still hiding in her embrace, away and walked towards the man, bowing deeply to him, "Thank you, brave sir, for saving us. May I know your name?"
The man returned her bow with a cupped fist: "Miss Song, there is no need for thanks. My master is on the street ahead. Please, Miss Song, go and see him."
He knew her identity?!
Song Chaoyu looked in the direction he pointed and indeed saw a carriage parked not far from the painted boat.
Song Chaoyu knew that she had to meet him today.
She walked forward, "Please lead the way, brave sir."
"Miss!"
At this moment, Xun Lu pulled Song Chaoyu again: "Don't go, right? Let's hurry home."
In fact, Song Chaoyu was somewhat disappointed with Xun Lu today.
She shook off Xun Lu's hand and walked straight towards the carriage: "Since you saved my life, I naturally must thank you."
The man also walked ahead of Song Chaoyu to lead the way: "My name is Ping Jiang."
Song Chaoyu felt that he looked somewhat familiar: "Have I seen you somewhere before?"
Ping Jiang merely smiled: "When Miss meets our master, she will naturally know."
Before long, Song Chaoyu arrived at the carriage.
She couldn't see clearly before, but now she saw that this carriage with silver dragons coiled at the base could only be of a specification reserved for royalty.
And on the lantern hanging on the carriage, the character "Chang" was written!
Song Chaoyu immediately understood who was in the carriage, but as she stood before it, an inexplicable fear arose in her heart.
She didn't know if she was afraid of meeting Prince Chang, or if she was afraid of his face, which so closely resembled Han Xi's.
She was afraid that it would prove Han Xi was Prince Chang, yet also afraid that it wouldn't.
Sensing her hesitation, the voice from inside the carriage came faintly: "Miss Song, get in the carriage. You have been out for a long time. This King will escort you back to your manor."
Some things, one has to face them, right?
Song Chaoyu took a deep breath, then stepped onto the small stool that Ping Jiang had brought for her, and got into the carriage—
The carriage was spacious. A eunuch attending Prince Chang opened the carriage curtain for Song Chaoyu.
Xun Lu, either still not reacting or wanting to follow Song Chaoyu, also tried to get into the carriage. But as soon as her foot touched the small stool, Ping Jiang pulled her down.
Song Chaoyu paid no attention to Xun Lu. Entering the carriage, although the space was large, she immediately saw Prince Chang sitting in the center of the carriage.
Today, he was wearing a dark patterned silver dragon robe and a Hetian white jade crown. Although his eyes were cold, he appeared handsome and dignified.
If it weren't for the wooden wheelchair placed to his left, Song Chaoyu would have almost thought he was like Han Xi, able to run and jump freely up mountains and down rivers.
After observing him for a moment, Song Chaoyu lowered her head and, adhering to protocol, bowed to him: "Song family's illegitimate daughter Chaoyu, thanks Prince Chang for saving my life."
"Mmm."
Prince Chang, just like the last time they met in the palace, seemed to be a man of few words. He nodded lightly: "Rise and sit down."
"This subject dares not!"
How could Song Chaoyu sit side-by-side with Prince Chang?
However, as the carriage moved, Song Chaoyu suddenly lost her balance.
Her hand involuntarily reached forward, and was precisely caught by Prince Chang.
His tone remained cold, with a hint of command: "Sit down, or you will lose your composure in front of this King."
He isn't Brother Han Xi, is he? Han Xi never spoke to her in such a cold and commanding tone.
Song Chaoyu quickly withdrew her hand from Prince Chang's and then, lowering her head, sat to Prince Chang's right.
The carriage moved slowly, and Prince Chang spoke first: "You... do not wish to marry Lin Zhaofeng?"
It seemed he knew why she had come out to the painted boat today.
In this world, only Han Xi would understand her so well, right?
Song Chaoyu could only keep her head down, forcing herself not to think of Han Xi: "Replying to Your Highness, this subject dares not. Marriage is a matter decided by parents, and this subject obeys."
"Mm."
Prince Chang's tone remained devoid of warmth: "He is not a good match. It is good that you know this."