Transmigrated Leftover Woman in Rural Style

As they approached the first carriage, Xiao Si whispered, "Doctor Jing, young master, Miss Li has arrived."

Prince Jing stuck his head out of the carriage window and said to Li Xiaonuan, "Get into the carriage in the back. Let's find a safe place to talk."

Li Xiaonuan agreed. She had no reason to object to Prince Jing. Turning to Xiaoyang, she said, "Go back now. Just tell him I'm going to the clinic and will come back with Xiaogang later."

Xiao Yang was a little worried, mainly because there were quite a few meddlesome people watching under the banyan tree. Li Xiaonuan followed his gaze and instantly understood. So she changed her mind and said, "Let's go together, and you can come back later so that Mom and Dad won't worry."

Xiao Yang readily agreed, helped Li Xiaonuan into the carriage, and then jumped on himself. The two carriages departed one after the other, and the people under the banyan tree huddled together, discussing the matter.

"Who do you think that person who just poked their head out was? They're really good-looking."

"Oh my, what good deeds did Li Xiaonuan do in her past life to know that every man she meets is better than the last. Just by looking at his clothes, you can tell he's a wealthy person."

"That's right. If I had to say, I think that rumor from before is probably true."

"Are you out of your mind? The county magistrate said that anyone who dares to talk about that matter again will have their tongue pulled out."

"Stop talking, everyone. That man is that so-called 'Master Healer.' He's incredibly powerful; even the county magistrate has to kneel before him. My uncle works at the yamen and saw it with his own eyes."

"Oh dear, that's really... well, I haven't fed the pigs yet, I'll head back now."

“Hey, I haven’t cooked for my husband yet. I’ll go back with you.”

In a few words, the women who had been chatting animatedly scattered. Matchmaker Jin and Zhou Rong's wife stood there, staring blankly at their retreating figures. After a long while, Matchmaker Jin slapped her mouth and said:

"Oh dear, this is really asking for trouble. I have to go back now, and I won't go out and chat anymore."

Zhou Rong's wife called out from behind the matchmaker, "Hey, hey, why did everyone leave? What does this mean?"

The carriage slowly drove into the backyard of the clinic, and the group disembarked and entered Fuwei Courtyard. A moment later, Li Xiaoyang came out of the clinic and bought two catties of meat and several large bones. Just before leaving the city gate, he saw an old farmer selling very fresh lychees, so he bought a small basket of them and then returned home satisfied.

Upon seeing this, the tail following Li Xiaoyang hurried back to the Wei residence to report. Meanwhile, another group of people crouched near the clinic, keeping a close watch. From the moment they appeared, those people had been targeted by three groups, though they remained unaware of it.

Inside Fuwei Courtyard, after the tea and refreshments were served, the courtyard was cleared out. Prince Jing went back to his room for a while, then returned with a brocade box and handed it to Li Xiaonuan. Li Xiaonuan took it with a puzzled look, opened it, and was immediately dumbfounded.

Inside the brocade box were their two Buddhist scriptures. Underneath the scriptures were forged nautical charts and maps by Li Xiaonuan.

Everyone knew these two would send people to investigate their house, but no one expected them to do it so stealthily. The *Tao Te Ching* was first discovered missing on the very day Chen stole the silver. Therefore, everyone assumed Chen had taken the book.

Who would have thought...

"How did these things get here?" To be honest, Li Xiaonuan felt really aggrieved, as if she was being blatantly monitored.

Prince Jing did not explain, but instead asked, "Where did all these come from?"

Li Xiaonuan glared fiercely at Wei Yu, convinced that he must have sent someone to do it. But he continued to sip his tea elegantly, completely unmoved by Li Xiaonuan's hostile attitude.

Li Xiaonuan looked dejected and replied quietly, "I don't know. My father said it was given to me by an old man on the way we fled famine."

Upon hearing this, Wei Yu raised an eyebrow. He wanted to ask Li Xiaonuan something, but he held back. He knew that even if he asked, Li Xiaonuan might not answer.

Prince Jing placed the brocade box back on the table and continued to ask, "Did you draw those nautical charts after looking at these?"

Li Xiaonuan wanted to nod in agreement, but she resisted inwardly, feeling that if she answered that way, she would be in big trouble. The room, which was originally quite cool with ice placed inside, was now covered in sweat from anxiety.

She had a vague unease; this matter involved far more than she could possibly imagine. Dealing with the royal family was a life-or-death affair. And not just her own, but the lives of her entire clan.

Finally, Li Xiaonuan, with a "what the heck" attitude, said, "Doctor Jing. No, it should be His Highness Prince Jing."

Li Xiaonuan stood up, knelt before Prince Jing, and pleaded, "Your Highness, I beg you, whatever I have said or done wrong, please do not bring harm upon my clan. I am willing to bear all the consequences alone. My clan, family, and relatives know nothing of what I have done."

After saying this, Li Xiaonuan kowtowed three times. In her heart, however, she cursed: "Kneeling before you now is shortening your lifespan." This is also why ancient emperors and nobles generally had short lifespans.

Li Xiaonuan's every move was observed by Prince Jing and Wei Yu. Prince Jing was not surprised when Li Xiaonuan knelt down. However, Wei Yu was somewhat worried and wanted to say a few words on her behalf, but he didn't know what to say.

Prince Jing sipped his tea, seemingly lost in thought, or perhaps showing no reaction whatsoever. Li Xiaonuan knelt upright, sweat trickling down her back and chest, making her feel strangely itchy.

Sweat dripped from her chin onto the grayish-blue cotton collar of Li Xiaonuan's dress, blurring into a dark floral pattern. But at this moment, Li Xiaonuan was no longer afraid or nervous. Rather than be burned to death as a monster, it was better to end it quietly here. At least, her family would be safe.

Once she understood, she felt refreshed. Li Xiaonuan's expression became resolute, devoid of confusion and fear.

Seeing this, Prince Jing secretly admired Li Xiaonuan. He thought that she had given him the necessary warning and clearly understood his stance. Only then did Prince Jing put down his teacup and slowly say:

"Then tell me what you've done that has harmed your people?"

In contrast to Prince Jing's disdain, Li Xiaonuan remained composed and dignified: "Your Highness, you have not yet granted my request."

Upon hearing Li Xiaonuan's words, Prince Jing instantly unleashed his irresistible domineering aura, demanding, "You are merely a commoner, what right do you have to negotiate with me?"

Li Xiaonuan was unfazed. She was gambling on the importance of the nautical chart, and also on the fact that Prince Jing wouldn't discard her after he had served his purpose.

"Your Highness, I believe you have also noticed that no one can understand that diagram. Even if they can understand a little bit, they cannot interpret it accurately. Therefore, I am using this as a condition to ask Your Highness for the safety of my clan and relatives."

Li Xiaonuan's words touched the most volatile nerve in Prince Jing's heart. Over the past month, the nautical chart had been circulated among experts in chart analysis, yet not a single person could decipher its mysteries.