Time Travel: The Noble Family-Chapter 1373 - 561: Ambush (Part 2)

Ma Peng said with a smile: "Why would I have regrets? I’m just asking you. You yourself also mentioned that Yueyao originally wanted to match Kexin with the eldest son of the Niu Family, but it ended up the way it did because Old Grand Master Niu interfered."

Zhuang Ruolan couldn’t understand why Old Grand Master Niu acted that way: "Old Grand Master Niu knew that Mingzhu always wanted to be Yueyao’s in-law and wanted Kexin as a daughter-in-law, yet he insisted on interfering. I wonder what the Peng Family is thinking about, agreeing to this marriage? Old Grand Master Niu is an elder; Mingzhu can’t do anything about him. But if Mingzhu turns her anger on Miss Peng, will she have good days after marrying into the Niu Family? Everyone in Capital City knows that Mingzhu is hard to get along with; Kexin is the one Mingzhu favors. After marrying into the Niu Family, she’s sure to get along with Mingzhu, but Miss Peng may not."

Ma Peng thought that as soon as you mention family matters to a woman, she can go on and on, and it’s very easy for her to change the subject so much that you don’t even know where she’s headed: "Forget it, as long as you have this matter clear in your mind, that’s all that matters."

Yueyao looked at the child with similar features to Kexin and felt some pity. Yueyao had asked An Zhichen before where he found such a child, but An Zhichen was unwilling to tell her.

Lately, Yueyao had spent very little time with Kexin’s substitute, with almost no communication—not that Yueyao deliberately distanced herself, but Xiang Wei wouldn’t allow Yueyao to spend too much time with the substitute. Xiang Wei knew Yueyao too well, worried that if they spent too much time together, Yueyao would become softhearted, which would easily ruin things.

The carriage sped into an alley, Yueyao still lost in thought, when suddenly someone shouted: "Be careful, it’s an ambush."

As soon as the words fell, Yueyao heard several cries of agony. Upon hearing these cries, Yueyao immediately pulled out a short dagger from her sleeve.

The substitute looked at Yueyao’s action with a hint of surprise; if it weren’t for seeing Xiang Wei’s respect towards Yueyao, just based on that earlier move, she would have assumed the woman before her was also a substitute for Lady of the Earl of Pingyang.

Xiang Wei advised the substitute: "Be extra cautious later."

Yueyao hadn’t quite understood the meaning of those words when the carriage curtain was suddenly lifted. Xiang Wei’s movements were swift, shooting three poisoned needles. Evidently, the opponent was well-prepared and dodged the needles.

At that moment, the rear compartment of the carriage was slashed open with a knife. Two masked men charged forward—one towards Yueyao, the other towards Kexin.

Yueyao’s face darkened, shouting to Xiang Wei: "Protect Keer." With those words, she directly stabbed the man reaching towards her with her dagger.

The man was only guarding against Xiang Wei and hadn’t anticipated Yueyao’s move, resulting in him being stabbed by Yueyao. Her strength was considerable, and the stab went deep.

The masked man cursed: "Damn, caught in a trap."

The leader, seeing one of his men grab hold of Kexin and hearing the footsteps approaching from afar, immediately shouted: "Retreat."

Yueyao shouted loudly: "Keer..." Unfortunately, the group quickly vanished into the alley, leaving Yueyao by the shattered carriage, in shock. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Xiang Wei also sustained a minor injury, better off compared to Yueyao who hadn’t been hurt: "Madam, the soldiers are coming. Madam, quick, cry!" Both An Zhichen and Xiang Wei agreed that if someone came to kidnap Yueyao, Zhou Shu would certainly not act personally. With Kexin in hand, they could set a long-lasting trap.

Thinking of Kexin being abducted, tears streamed down Yueyao’s face, and the news spread quickly across Capital City.

Returning to the Earl’s Mansion, Yueyao immediately had the three children brought back, forbidding them from going out. She was genuinely frightened, worried that Zhou Shu might abduct Brother Shengsheng and the others.

An Zhichen, however, did not return, and it wasn’t until the next morning that he came back. Observing An Zhichen’s exhausted expression, Yueyao hurriedly asked: "How did it go? Did you catch them?"

An Zhichen, full of anger: "No, Zhou Shu didn’t show up. What was captured was nothing but a motley crew. Zhou Shu is too cunning; even like this, he was not caught."

Yueyao stiffened, then said: "No, we must catch Zhou Shu." It’s not just about him now; Zhou Shu, the madman, could threaten her children at any moment.

An Zhichen also wanted to catch him, but Zhou Shu was hiding too well.

While they were pondering ways, Steward Hong rushed over and said: "Old Master, it’s not good; an Imperial Censor has accused Old Master of privately mobilizing troops with ill intentions."

An Zhichen wasn’t worried; this time he only mobilized three hundred soldiers, surely not exceeding the Emperor’s limit.

Yueyao’s eyes brightened; after sending Steward Hong away, she grasped An Zhichen’s hand and said: "Heyue, this is an opportunity. If you’re imprisoned, I’ll lose my backing, and Zhou Shu will surely act recklessly." Only if An Zhichen was imprisoned, and the Earl’s Mansion fell, would Zhou Shu show himself. Otherwise, Zhou Shu would never appear, only stay hidden behind the scenes. In that case, their family would truly never have peace.

An Zhichen thought the idea was sound but had one downside: Yueyao would be extremely vulnerable: "You want to use yourself as bait to lure out Zhou Shu?" It’s a last resort, one he truly wouldn’t prefer to use.

Yueyao appeared resolute: "If Zhou Shu isn’t dead, I’ll never have peace of mind." If Zhou Shu was targeting her, she wasn’t afraid, but she feared Zhou Shu might attack the children.

An Zhichen was also a person of decisive action, immediately agreeing: "Alright, I’ll agree. But you must promise me, regardless of the situation, not to do anything foolish." Zhou Shu is truly hard to handle, or the General Secretary Department would’ve long uncovered his identity. But if he were imprisoned, Zhou Shu would surely act.

Yueyao nodded: "Alright, I’ll agree. No matter what happens, for you and the children, I will take good care of myself."