“Miss, there’s a group of soldiers outside. In a moment, I’ll go out and stall them. I’ll find a place for you to hide!”
The cavalry under Jia Yu's command entered the Gao Mansion, and the immense commotion attracted the attention of those within the Gao Mansion.
The wet nurse had experienced similar situations in the past, and fear gripped her heart. However, seeing the little miss left behind, she suppressed her fear.
The army rushing into the mansion signified a complete break between the two sides.
Political struggles were incredibly bloody, and the losing side would be subjected to a massacre.
The small courtyard was already surrounded by various troops, making escape impossible.
They didn't know if there were any secret passages or tunnels within the mansion.
The wet nurse took the miss to the arched gate, where there was a patch of relatively dense bushes.
Beneath the bushes, there was a slightly recessed area large enough to conceal a single person.
“Miss, close your eyes. No matter what happens, don't make a sound.”
The wet nurse hid the miss alone and then gathered the little maidservants to block the arched gate.
The bushes on the side, even in the frigid winter, still bloomed with vibrant green life.
Hidden in the bushes, the miss, as the wet nurse instructed, closed her eyes. Her mouth was gagged with fabric and tied with strips of cloth.
Her hands were tied behind her, not tightly, and could be freed with some time.
The wet nurse did this to prevent her from making any noise.
She heard loud noises coming from outside and the soldiers warning the wet nurse.
When she heard the sound of hooves, she thought the wet nurse was about to die at the hands of the soldiers. But then, more conversation sounds reached her ears from outside.
These voices were far more pleasant than the ones before.
As she listened intently, she felt a tickle on her back. She shifted slightly, touching the itchy spot with her hand.
Whizz.
The Gao family miss felt herself soar through the air!
She flew out of the bushes, landing on the solid stone path.
...
Jia Yu looked down. In the firelight, a woman in a light green gown stood, her face a mix of bewilderment and pain.
How...did she suddenly appear!
“Miss!”
The wet nurse, seeing the figure on the ground, cried out in alarm, ignoring her fear and rushing to the girl’s side.
She gently lifted the girl up.
Jia Yu’s eyes moved towards the bushes. The girl had flown out, and a deep pit had opened up in the bushes.
“Jia San, you take a few men and check it out!”
“Yes!”
Jia San responded and immediately led a group of men, using their swords to clear the bushes. They saw a complete set of stairs leading down.
There were also broken wooden planks nearby, likely the cause of the girl’s flight.
She had inadvertently tripped a switch, causing the mechanism to forcefully launch her upwards.
“General, this is the entrance to an underground tunnel.”
Jia San spoke, reaching into the opening. He could feel a slight breeze.
“There’s ventilation inside, it must have several air vents.”
“Take people down and catch that rat for me!”
The red dot on the small map was in this courtyard.
This courtyard was the woman’s courtyard, presumably the residence of Gao Hu’s daughter.
Gao Hu wouldn’t allow an outsider, or even his own sons, to reside here.
He initially thought the rat would be hiding in some corner, but now it seemed like it had taken refuge in an underground chamber.
Jia San, leading ten soldiers of shorter stature, carrying shields, walked into the underground chamber.
Jia Yu focused his attention on the girl being shielded by the wet nurse, her face hidden. But the wet nurse was rather short, only able to cover the girl’s face. Much of her body was still exposed.
Especially when she bent down, a certain curve, even with thick winter clothes, was unmistakable.
It gave Jia Yu a painful pang. His armor had limited space, and with a certain size, it was truly uncomfortable.
“Miss, I'm not a man-eating tiger, nor am I a villain. There’s no need to be so secretive.” Jia Yu shifted his focus. “We’re searching the Gao Mansion with Gao Shangshu's permission.
As long as you cooperate with the search, we won’t harm you.”
“???”
Gao Hu, who was being carried to the courtyard gate by the steward and several guards, pretending to be unconscious, was utterly bewildered by Jia Yu’s words.
“Father agreed to let you search?”
Gao Hui revealed her pretty face, her voice laced with confusion, “But why isn't my father here? Where is he?”
Gao Hui was exceptionally beautiful, each with their own distinct charm, like the veiled Zhao Pan’er.
However, they shared a common trait—both were very tall, around five foot nine.
They had slender figures, with ample curves in all the right places.
Moreover, both were as ripe as peaches, fully matured.
Unlike Daiyu, who was still a young girl, though beautiful, she hadn't fully blossomed. Compared to these two, while her beauty was not inferior, her figure lagged behind significantly.
In the Jia Mansion, the only one he knew who could compete with these two was Wang Xifeng.
Jia Yu shook his head, trying to expel these distracting thoughts.
He didn’t know why, but since leaving the Jia Mansion, his mind had been filled with these thoughts.
“Your father is getting old, he needs some rest,” Jia Yu recovered his composure, making up an excuse. “I don’t even know what your name is, Miss.”
Gao Hui wasn’t naive. Upon reflection, how could her father allow these people to search the Gao Mansion without any Gao Mansion personnel accompanying them?
Her heart sank.
“My family name is Gao, my given name is Hui. I don’t know how to address you, sir.” Gao Hui regained her usual demeanor as a young lady from a prestigious family.
She was unlike the young ladies of the Jia Mansion.
She often attended gatherings and outings with other young ladies from prominent families in the capital.
She participated in all sorts of recreational activities, like polo, cuju (蹴鞠), archery, and throwing arrows into a vase (投壶)...
She had seen much of the world.
The man before her was incredibly burly, his face obscured by the firelight, but she could tell he was exceptionally handsome.
His silver armor was both beautiful and highly protective.
The armor bore various scars, suggesting that he had experienced bloody battles or perhaps it was an heirloom passed down through generations.
He must be from a line of military officials.
“My surname is Jia, my given name is Yu, I have no courtesy name.” Jia Yu stated his full name directly. “Just call me Jia Yu. If you have any need in the future, you can come find me.”
“Jia Yu? That’s a familiar name.” Gao Hui pondered in her heart, the name struck a chord within her.
The wet nurse beside her shuddered.
Jia Yu, the new Jingying Jiedushi (Military Governor of the Jingying Army).
The grandson of Jia Daishan.
“Jia, Jia, Brother Jia.” Gao Hui wanted to address him directly by name, but that would be disrespectful. Judging by his appearance, he was probably older than her.
“I don't know where Brother Jia resides. How will I find you if I need something in the future?”
As Gao Hui spoke, her sincere, round eyes looked at Jia Yu.
.....