Reborn Spoiled Girl Tames the Regent

Chapter 89: Leaking the water

Back at the Jiang residence, Jiang Mian was still preoccupied.

Duan Zhian's words kept her tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

To be honest, she didn't want to or even think about getting rid of Xiao Hengzhi, but it was just a faint thought. In her previous life, she had tried many methods, but none of them worked, and she always ended up being trapped.

She tried it in this life as well, but without exception, she failed.

So even if she wanted to get rid of him now, she couldn't think of a better way.

The psychological warfare strategy that Duan Zhian mentioned... she hadn't tried it yet.

But if she suddenly gets close, given that person's suspicious nature, he will definitely become suspicious...

As I pondered this, a faint smell of burning wafted in.

Jiang Wan was slightly taken aback. She listened carefully and vaguely heard hurried footsteps and shouts coming from outside.

"The water is gone! The water is gone!"

Her heart tightened, and she immediately jumped out of bed, trying to push the door open. But the door wouldn't budge! She kicked it with all her might, only to find it locked from the outside!

"Someone come here! Open the door!"

She shouted loudly.

But it was so noisy outside, everyone was busy escaping, and no one heard her voice.

Soon, the smoke grew thicker and thicker, pouring in through the cracks in the door. She covered her mouth and nose, a sense of unease rising within her. She grabbed a chair and smashed it against the door and window.

He smashed things while shouting, "Can't anyone hear me! Someone help!"

She coughed, gradually losing her voice. The firelight crept in through the crack in the door, and the temperature in the room rose higher and higher; a fine layer of sweat began to appear on her forehead.

"Wan'er!" Jiang Xun's voice came from outside, "Go save Miss! Hurry!"

The sound of water being splashed outside the door was useless; the water sizzled and disappeared instantly in the fire.

"Wan'er, hold on!" Jiang Xun's voice trembled with urgency, but the flames blocked the door, and he couldn't get close at all.

Thick smoke filled the air, and Jiang Mian's room was trapped in the center of the raging fire. Flames flickered on the roof, and the walls crackled in the flames. The air was scorching hot, as if it would devour everything.

She inhaled the thick smoke, her consciousness gradually fading, and her last bit of strength was swallowed up by the scorching smoke, her hand falling limply to her side.

Just as she completely lost consciousness, a loud bang came from outside the door.

In the firelight, a tall figure burst through the door.

Xiao Hengzhi's gaze was sharp as he rushed into the sea of ​​fire without regard for anything else. His clothes were licked by the flames, and the edges were slightly charred.

The thick smoke choked him, causing a sharp pain in his chest. He raised his hand to cover his mouth and nose.

"Jiang Man!"

His eyes were filled with anxiety as he searched for her in the smoke-filled room. Finally, through the thick smoke, he could vaguely see a weak figure leaning against the window, looking disheveled.

Jiang Mian's clothes were blackened by smoke, her face was pale, her hair was disheveled, and she was unconscious due to suffocation from the thick smoke.

A hint of panic flashed in Xiao Hengzhi's eyes. He rushed to her side, quickly picked her up, and ran outside.

As he reached the doorway, a beam suddenly fell from above, engulfed in flames, blocking his path. Xiao Hengzhi's grip tightened, his gaze darkening. He raised his foot and kicked a corner of the beam hard, forcefully pushing it aside, but his ankle was burned hot.

Everyone in the Jiang family was astonished to see Xiao Hengzhi carrying Jiang Wan as he rushed out of the fire. In the firelight, his expression was stern, his forehead was covered in a mixture of sweat and dust, and his eyes were filled with intense anxiety.

Get out of the way! "

Xiao Hengzhi gave a low shout, placed Jiang Mian in a shady spot, placed his fingers on her pulse point, and bent down to check her breathing.

After confirming that she was still breathing, Xiao Hengzhi breathed a sigh of relief, but there was still a hint of worry in his eyes.

Jiang Xun disappeared without a trace; her clothes were burned beyond recognition, and she collapsed outside the door.

Aunt Wan kept crying, and the maids and servants were in complete chaos.

Xiao Hengzhi instructed the nanny in a deep voice: "The fire is not yet extinguished, and the Jiang residence is temporarily uninhabitable. Send everyone to the Prince's residence for accommodation first, and make further arrangements after the fire has subsided."

As he spoke, his gaze never left Jiang Mian for a moment.

Before the old woman could reply, he nimbly stood up, picked up Jiang Mian, and ordered the servants to follow.

The group hurriedly moved to the Prince's Mansion. After settling in, Xiao Hengzhi personally arranged for Jiang Mian to stay in a side room in his own courtyard.

Several doctors treated her in succession, and fortunately she had only inhaled some smoke and dust and was otherwise unharmed.

But Xiao Hengzhi was still worried and stayed by her side all night.

In the middle of the night, Jiang Mian slowly woke up and met Xiao Hengzhi's gaze as soon as she opened her eyes.

"Awake?" he asked in a low voice, a hint of worry in his eyes.

Jiang Wan was slightly stunned, looking at the unfamiliar room, her mind replaying the fire from earlier. She asked, "This is...?"

"The palace."

"Your Highness, you saved me?"

Her voice was hoarse and dry, like a blade scraping.

Xiao Hengzhi poured her a glass of water: "Your throat was choked by the thick smoke. The doctor said you'll be fine after a few days of rest."

Jiang Wan took the tea, took a small sip, and then asked anxiously, "At the Jiang residence, how is the fire going?"

"The fire has been extinguished, but the damage is severe, with most houses destroyed."

Jiang Mian frowned: "The General's Mansion is on fire, and the government will definitely come to investigate thoroughly, but my room is locked, which is very strange."

Xiao Hengzhi frowned slightly and said to the door, "Bring the person in."

Jiang Mian came to her senses and saw the guards escorting in a maid.

"Yuemei?" Jiang Mian was somewhat surprised.

Yuemei knelt on the ground with a thud: "Miss, spare me! Miss, spare me! I was confused for a moment, Miss, spare me!"

Jiang Wan was slightly taken aback and asked incredulously, "You started this fire?"

Yuemei begged for mercy with tears streaming down her face, kowtowing repeatedly until blood appeared on the ground.

Jiang Wan saw the bloody welts from the whip marks on her body, which meant that Xiao Hengzhi must have coerced her.

She clenched her fists; if she weren't sore all over, she would have definitely gone up and kicked him a couple of times.

"Why did you try to harm me? Why did you burn down the Jiang residence? You've been here for over ten years, why did you commit such a heinous act?"

"Yes...it's my aunt," she stammered.

"Auntie?"

"Yes... My aunt said that the Jiang family caused her daughter to marry into a wolf's den, so she wanted to destroy the Jiang family and even told me to lock your room at night... I accepted the gold she gave me, and I was bewitched..."

Jiang Wan stared at her slightly trembling hands and slowly said, "If you dare to utter even the slightest lie, do you know the consequences?"

Yuemei's hands went limp, and she knelt on the ground, pleading, "It really is my aunt! Yuemei begs you for mercy, Miss! I dare not lie!"

Jiang Man looked at her pleading expression and pondered.

The concubine had a reason, a motive, and an easy way to carry out her plan. However, this method was truly insidious.

She glanced at Yuemei again, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke with a resolute air: "Yuemei, my Jiang family has always believed we have treated you well, but your treachery is so blatant that I dare not keep you here..."

"Miss..." Yuemei froze, crying out, "Miss, please don't!"

Xiao Hengzhi was worried that Jiang Mian would soften her heart after hearing her pleas for mercy. As soon as she finished speaking, he waved his hand, and the guards dragged Yue Mei outside. With a slash of a scabbard, there was no sound in an instant.

Jiang Wan's heart skipped a beat, then she opened her eyes and took a deep breath.

After calming down for a moment, she turned her head and asked, "Where is my father? How is he?"

"Don't worry, he just fainted. The doctor examined him and said he's fine."

Looking at his tired, red eyes, and the burn marks on his shoulders and the backs of his hands, Jiang Mian could guess how he had managed to rescue her from the raging fire.

If it weren't for him, she would probably have died in the fire.

"...Thank you very much for saving me today, Your Highness."

Xiao Hengzhi smiled slightly and pulled the blanket up for her: "Rest well. Stay at the Prince's Mansion for the next few days."

Jiang Wan was taken aback: "Stay at the Prince's mansion?" She shook her head, "I think it's unnecessary. There are many inconveniences here. We should find another residence or stay at an inn..."

"Jiang Mian." Xiao Hengzhi interrupted her impatiently, his voice low, "Do you think I would let you go after I brought you to the Prince's Mansion? Stay here and don't think about anything else."

His tone was gentle and slow, as if coaxing, but his gaze was as deep and unfathomable as a cold pool, carrying an undeniable sense of aggression.

Jiang Wan was taken aback, and couldn't help but frown. A sense of resistance welled up in her heart: "Now that the prince's status has changed, it's not appropriate for word to get out that I'm moving into the prince's mansion like this."

He stared at her coldly: "Are you afraid that this will reach Ning Zhi's ears and make him suspicious?"