She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Before she could even scream... a half-green, half-yellow fruit flew swiftly past the corner of her eye, striking the bastard who was trying to ambush her between the eyebrows. His eyes snapped shut, and the ecstatic joy on his face, which had been on the verge of a successful ambush, instantly turned ashen white. He fell straight down, blood seeping from his ears and nose.

Jiang Ruining, who was halfway down in a squatting position, thought, "...Huh?" Is the fruit really that powerful?

The door to the private room next door opened at some point.

Shi An and the others, who had come out to help, had barely stepped out when they saw the attacker already lying on the ground.

His gaze fell on the fruit on the ground, which served as a hidden piece.

It's bursting with juice.

They all fell silent, stunned.

It's clear that their master went all out; the one who got beaten must have had his bones cracked open, and he'll probably be bedridden for at least two or three months, suffering from dizziness and excruciating pain.

Shi An touched his chin. Could this be considered a "bickering couple" in a play?

She's sharp-tongued but deeply concerned. She gets murderous when she sees someone being bullied, thinking: "Only I can bully her; anyone who touches her will die!"

Jiu Jing remained expressionless, but shared the same thought.

In the past, when the prince was away from home, if he encountered trouble with the family members of his trusted ministers, he would only send someone to help when the family members were unable to cope. When did it become like just now, when that bastard's people took action personally before they even got close to Miss Jiang!

Tsk tsk.

The two looked at each other.

Silent communication.

Shi An: "..." I should write up the betrothal gift list when I get back to the capital!

Jiu Jing: "..." I bet the Prince will empty the warehouse of all the good stuff!

Twelve Ming and Thirteen Huo joined in: "..." We need to find the little pet quickly, otherwise we won't have time to add it to the betrothal gift list!

Eleven Crane stared intently at the attacker through the thin veil hanging from his hat, veins bulging and throbbing in his neck. The next second, he bent his knees and knelt down before Jiang Ruining.

"Hey!" Jiang Ruining reacted quickly, grabbing him. "Don't kneel! Just because someone reacted faster than you doesn't mean you can't save me in time! I still have a lot of faith in your skills!"

"If you don't stand up straight, do you expect me to kneel down in front of you?"

Eleven Crane dared not make her kneel, and quickly stood up straight: "Thank you for your mercy, young lady."

Jiang Ruining patted the honest young man on the shoulder: "Have you forgotten that your mission is to monitor me, not protect me?"

Eleven Crane hadn't received a definite "protection" order, but having followed his master for two years, he was capable of understanding his master's meaning; otherwise, he wouldn't be qualified to stay by his master's side: "It means the same thing, Master didn't say he could just stand by and watch someone die."

Jiang Ruining scratched his head.

Is it possible to draw an equal sign like this?

Sigh! It's not important. What's important is that Shiyihe understands things so well, which has really helped her a lot!

"Are they all dead?!" The salted pig's trotter waited in disbelief for the bursting fruit, but how could he tolerate someone being more arrogant than him on his territory, which he had ruled for so many years? "Whoever can kill them, I'll reward them with a thousand taels of silver!"

The scene was completely silent.

Having witnessed a single fruit knock someone unconscious and cause them to bleed from their mouth and nose, who would dare to make a move?

Of course, the salted pig's trotter wasn't stupid enough to rush up and fight on his own. He glared fiercely at the handsome young boy who looked like he could be bullied, and then hurriedly left with his men.

But anyone could tell from his eyes that he wasn't slinking away to accept the humiliation; he was going to call for help!

The shopkeeper was about to faint.

He would have kicked out an ordinary customer long ago, but seeing how capable the other party was and how different their clothes and demeanor were from ordinary people, he was afraid that if he spoke up, the group would smash up his shop first. So he turned around and ordered the waiter to go and get reinforcements.

Jiang Ruining saw familiar faces, put her hands on her hips, and chuckled, "It really is you guys! Xiao..." She almost blurted out his name, but remembering his special status, she hesitated, worried that someone might overhear and attract a swarm of assassins. She quickly changed her tone, "Where's Li Nu?"

Li Nu was Xiao Che's childhood name.

Although the guards didn't know, they could tell that she was calling their master by his childhood nickname!

Everyone was shocked. How did she know her master's childhood name?

Isn't it a wonder you get silenced for shouting it out so openly?

Shi An thought about it and decided that it probably wouldn't happen.

Then it dawned on her that Miss Jiang dared to be so arrogant in an unfamiliar place, clearly knowing that they were also there and deliberately trying to force them to show themselves!

I couldn't help but wonder: "How did you know we were here too, young lady?"

Jiang Ruining's face wore a look of utter bewilderment, as if to say, "Is there even a need to identify you all?" She continued, "You're all basically the same—arrogant, cold-faced, and walking with a swagger. When you're all together, you're the most eye-catching person in any crowd!"

Bend two fingers and look them at your eyes.

He snorted, "And that sneaky, teasing look when he's staring at people from behind... only he could have that! With two such striking characteristics combined, there's no one else but you two."

The guards, both inside and out, in the open and in the shadows: "..."

Sitting in the private room, Xiao Li Nu Che: "..."

Jiang Ruining gestured with her chin towards the next room: "Inside?"

Shi An nodded without hesitation, made way for her, and invited her in with a grin: "Please come in, young lady! I was just wondering when you'd realize someone was following you. If I knew you'd guess right away, I would have come to reunite with you long ago!"

"I've been thinking about the young lady these past few days!"

Jiang Ruining wrinkled her nose at him: "Come on! Don't make it sound like you're thinking about me by checking and monitoring my daily records! I'm not stupid."

Shi An paused for a moment.

If it were anyone else, upon hearing that a powerful, wealthy, and handsome man was thinking of them, and that they had actually had a relationship, how could they not blush, have their heart race, and their eyelashes tremble?

This one, I don't know if she's too rational or just lacks confidence, she doesn't believe that I care about her at all!

I secretly glanced at the old man inside the house, and oh my, his face was indeed dark!

"Of course not! I made a special stop on my trips to pick out gifts for you!"

Did the evil spirit bring her a gift?

Jiang Ruining's eyes lit up. Who wouldn't like a gift!

Especially for someone who is not short of money and has good taste, the gift will definitely be a pleasant surprise!

Filled with anticipation, she swaggered into the private room.

Upon approaching, one sees Xiao Che leaning casually against a rosewood armchair, his fingers twirling a small white porcelain cup, the steam rising and swirling around the dark blue ribbon in his hair, giving him an ethereal air.

The light and shadows that fell through the eaves slanted onto his face, half bright and half dark, like gods and demons coexisting. The small red mole under his eye was just brushed by the light, so bright and clear, adding a touch of warmth to his cold eyes.

It also unexpectedly left a vivid mark on her heart, one that could not be erased or ignored.