The Ultimate Push and Pull Inside the Carriage, an Ambush on All Sides Outside Fallen Plum Studio
"The axle modification is good, and the metal brackets are nailed securely, but the suspension..."
She crouched down and reached out to touch the axle.
"It can be modified further, otherwise my butt can't handle the bouncing."
Murong Xue rolled her eyes.
"Such a spacious carriage can still bounce you around? Is your butt made of gold? Are you that precious?"
"Hey, what are you spraying? I'm doing this for everyone's benefit."
Zhen Meili stood up and patted the mud off her hands.
"Get in the car."
Gu Moran lifted the carriage curtain and was the first to climb inside.
The carriage was quite spacious, with thick soft cushions and a row of soft couches on each side.
Shen Ling'er followed closely behind and got into the car, sitting to Gu Moran's left.
Murong Xue didn't stand on ceremony, taking the right-hand side with an imposing air, placing her scarlet whip at her waist on her knee, thus creating a half-foot-wide no-go zone.
Lin Qingdai was the last to board the bus. She found a seat in the front and closed her eyes, pretending to doze off.
Meng Jiuning was holding a jade sachet and was about to move closer to Gu Moran.
Without raising her wrist, Lin Qingdai's cold jade scabbard flashed out three inches, icy coldly blocking her waist and abdomen.
Meng Jiuning bit her lower lip and could only find a seat in the back.
Zhen Meili was the last to get on the vehicle, squatting down by the rear axle, tapping and banging on it with a wrench in her hand.
"The car is leaning to the right; it's definitely because the weight isn't evenly distributed on the right side."
She muttered something to herself, glancing towards Murong Xue.
"Some people have such heavy pelvises that they're bending the axle of the vehicle."
Murong Xue raised an eyebrow.
Who are you calling a heavy-set pelvis?
"I don't know, I didn't name anyone."
Zhen Meili lowered her head and continued tapping the axle.
Anyone who takes this personally is guilty.
Murong Xue was so angry that she dug her fingers into the soft whip.
Do you believe I'll throw you out of the car?
"You can't beat me anyway."
Zhen Meili raised her head and brandished the wrench in her hand.
"Besides, the prince is still here. Try touching a single hair on my head."
The two were on the verge of exchanging blows.
Gu Moran leaned back on the soft couch, his eyes closed and he remained silent.
Seeing this, Shen Ling'er quickly tried to smooth things over.
"Sister Meili, we'll talk about the axle later. Please sit down and rest for a bit."
"I'm not tired."
Zhen Meili stubbornly squatted beside the axle.
"If this axle breaks halfway through the journey, we'll all overturn."
Shen Ling'er had no choice but to turn and look at Gu Moran.
"Husband... Sister Su Yao isn't here, so no one can control them."
Gu Moran opened his eyes and glanced at Zhen Meili.
"That's enough, come here."
Zhen Meili paused for a moment, put down the wrench, and obediently walked over.
Gu Moran reached out and pulled her to sit down beside him.
"The axle issue isn't urgent, let's rest first."
Zhen Meili blushed slightly and nodded.
Murong Xue watched this scene and snorted.
Taking the opportunity, Shen Ling'er reached out and placed her hand on Gu Moran's wrist.
"My lord, you've been traveling and working hard these past few days; your pulse seems a bit weak. Ling'er me massage your meridians."
After saying that, she gently massaged his wrist with her slender fingers, all the way down to his elbow joint.
Seeing this, Meng Jiuning bit her lower lip and brought the sachet closer.
"Your Highness, this sachet was specially made by the Dali royal family; it can calm the mind and aid sleep."
Lin Qingdai lifted her eyelids, and the sword sheath flashed out again.
"Princess, please sit back down. It's better to avoid falling because of the bumpy carriage ride."
Meng Jiuning was forced to retreat to the back seat, her fingers gripping the sachet tightly.
Several pairs of delicate arms pushed and shoved each other within a small space, using each other for leverage.
The women each had their own thoughts.
Shen Ling'er massaged Gu Moran's wrist with her fingers, glancing at Murong Xue out of the corner of her eye.
Murong Xue leaned back on the soft couch, seemingly resting with her eyes closed, but secretly observing Shen Ling'er's movements.
Zhen Meili sat next to Gu Moran, holding a wrench in her hand, occasionally tapping the axle.
Meng Jiuning sat in the back seat, twisting the string of the sachet between her fingers, her eyes fixed on Gu Moran.
Lin Qingdai closed her eyes, feigning sleep, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, ready to strike at any moment.
The atmosphere inside the carriage was very strange.
Gu Moran leaned against the soft couch, feeling the subtle movements of the people around her. She could only secretly circulate her Pure Yang True Qi to resist the waves of fragrance while planning her next move.
My younger sister is in Luoyang; I don't know how she is doing now.
We need to get there as soon as possible, before anything happens to that girl.
As he was thinking, the car suddenly lurched.
Shen Ling'er lost her balance and fell into his arms.
Gu Moran reached out to support her, touching her soft spot.
"Careful."
Shen Ling'er blushed, leaned against his chest, and whispered as softly as a mosquito's buzz.
"Thank you, my husband."
Murong Xue watched this scene, her fingers digging into the soft whip.
Meng Jiuning bit her lower lip, her fingers twisting the sachet string tightly.
Zhen Meili didn't seem to care and continued tapping the axle.
Lin Qingdai opened her eyes, glanced around, and then closed them again.
Inside the carriage, undercurrents continued to flow.
The gate to Fallen Plum Studio has not been opened for three days.
Every morning, a maid would bring in a bucket of clean water, place it on the stone platform inside the threshold, knock twice on the door, and then turn and leave.
The water in the bucket will be empty by evening, and the empty bucket will be returned to the stone platform.
Apart from that, this abandoned courtyard is practically dead.
Mei Zhongjun's wheelchair was parked in the alley behind the Pine and Crane Hall. The wind blew in from the alley entrance, making the hem of his robe flap loudly.
He held a three-inch dagger in his hand, the blade pressed against the inside of the wheelchair armrest, his thumb repeatedly rubbing the shiny deerskin on the handle.
"Did you investigate?"
Behind him stood a lean man in short black clothes, around thirty years old, with half of his left ear missing—it had been cut off years ago when he shielded Mei Zhongjun from a knife.
This man is called Dingzi, the leader of the assassins that Mei Zhongjun has kept for many years.
"It's been investigated."
Dingzi lowered his voice.
"We went through all the inn registers, carriage and horse records, and city gate entry and exit records from the past three months inside and outside Luoyang."
Mei Zhongjun did not turn around.
There is no such person as Gu Li'er.
The Dingzi paused.
"The pronunciation doesn't even match. The innkeeper said that two women came that day, a mistress and a servant. The mistress rode a Qinghai horse, and the servant carried a bundle. The bundle was made of Songjiang cloth, which is not commonly seen on the market."
The guards at the city gate had changed shifts, and the men on duty were unrecognizable, except for the horse—fat and strong, with silver hooves on all fours, something an ordinary merchant couldn't afford.
Mei Zhongjun hummed in agreement and flipped the dagger over in his palm.
"Last night I had the stewardess check her room. It was spotless, the bed was made neatly, without a single wrinkle."
The paper and brushes used for copying scriptures are stored in the cabinet, the ink stick is half-ground, and the inkstone is washed clean.
There were no extra footprints on the ground, and the window frames were wiped at least three times a day.
The cleanliness and orderliness were almost frightening; this wasn't the habit of most households.
He tilted his head, his tone carrying an ambiguous or indescribable meaning.
"I think I've been fooled; this little wench is no pushover."
"Transfer ten people."
Mei Zhongjun lowered his voice, so low that only Dingzi could hear it.
Dingzi frowned slightly.
Ten?
Mei Zhongjun raised his finger and pointed in the direction of Fallen Plum Studio.
"The courtyard is surrounded by four walls. The east wall is an abandoned woodshed, the west wall is adjacent to a garden rockery, the south wall faces the back alley of the Pine and Crane Hall, and the north wall is against the base of the mansion wall."
Two people squatted at each of the four corners, and the remaining two guarded the roof of the woodshed, where they could see half of the activity in the yard.
[Thanks to: Lao Longju and Yun Wanjia for their amazing verification! Also thanks to Xiaozhu for her 4 update reminder charms, Xun Chuan for her update reminder charm, 5599 for her Bobo Milk Tea, Fu Zhi for her love letter, Qing Han for her flower, Feng Qing for her 2 update reminder charms, Xiao Lin for her flower, Li Zhi for her flower, and everyone else for their love and support!]
[I've been receiving treatment at the hospital every day lately, and I can't get home until 5 PM. I don't have any drafts saved up, Ϟ(๑⚈ ․̫ ⚈๑)⋆, I still have to owe you some.]
(｡•́•̀｡), let me figure out this transition scene... ah, sorry ꒦໊ྀʚ꒦໊ི.