Chapter 356: It Won't Be Let Go So Easily

The car's heater was on, and the air was filled with the smell of disinfectant.

The imperial physician accompanying them half-knelt before Mu Youyu, carefully treating the ligature marks on her wrist.

While applying medicine, the doctor asked, "Princess, besides your wrist, do you feel any other discomfort? Dizzy? Nauseous?"

Mu Youyu leaned against the soft cushion and obediently shook her head, "My wrist hurts, I feel dizzy, and I'm a bit tired."

"You inhaled a little of the incapacitating smoke; you might have mild dizziness and fatigue, but resting a few days will fix it."

The doctor said, then took a small device from the medical kit, "I need to draw a bit of blood for further testing back there—may I?"

Mu Youyu obediently stretched out a hand, and just as she was about to lift her eyes to the needle, a figure quickly stepped forward.

Jiang Liangjin reached out and blocked her view.

Mu Xi stood to the side, looking at her sister with heartache.

She was the sister he had cherished in his palm since childhood, the treasure he would fret over even at a bump—and she had been kidnapped.

He dared not imagine what those people might have done to her…

Mu Xi closed her eyes and forcibly suppressed that thought.

The blood draw ended quickly; the doctor then carefully checked her elsewhere, confirmed there was no serious problem, sighed in relief, and turned to the two tense-faced individuals.

"Please rest assured, young masters; the princess has no serious injury—she's mainly frightened, and a few days of rest will do."

Jiang Liangjin's tightly clenched jaw eased slightly, "Thank you for your hard work."

The doctor waved his hands repeatedly, packed up, retreated to the front of the carriage, and left them space.

Mu Youyu leaned against the seat, her complexion much improved; her wrist had been treated by the doctor and wrapped in white gauze.

She gathered a bit of strength, opened her eyes, and softly called, "A Jin."

Jiang Liangjin sat beside her, reached out and grasped her other hand—the one not drawn from—asking, "Are you cold?"

Mu Youyu shook her head, "Why are your hands so cold? How long have you been standing outside?"

"Not long." Jiang Liangjin didn't want her to worry, changed the subject: "Did you hear what the doctor said? You need to rest properly."

"I know." Mu Youyu answered obediently, then suddenly remembered and asked softly, "How's Qing An brother? Is he alright?"

"He's outside talking with his brother." Mu Xin also entered, took up the conversation in a gentle tone, "Don't worry, he's fine, just feeling a bit guilty."

Mu Youyu fiddled with the edge of the blanket, "Actually, it's not really his fault… those people were originally out to take revenge on him; I just had bad luck and caught their eye."

"Nonsense." Mu Xi immediately interrupted her, reaching up to ruffle her hair, "What do you mean bad luck? They're just blind, daring to lay a hand on my sister."

Mu Youyu's mood eased a little.

Qing An's voice came from outside: "Sister, may I come in?"

"Sure!" Mu Youyu replied quickly.

The car door opened, Qing An slipped in, followed by Qing Wei, whose complexion wasn't great.

As soon as Qing An got in the car, he squeezed next to his sister, examined her closely, confirmed she had no serious injury, then let out a heavy sigh, "You scared me to death, glad you're okay."

"Qing An brother, you don't need to worry so much." Mu Youyu smiled at him.

"How could I not worry?" Qing An's expression turned serious, "Sister, I'm sorry, I've implicated you—those people were originally coming after me…"

"Qing An brother." Mu Youyu interrupted him, earnestly, "We're family—what's this about implicating or not implicating each other?"

Qing An stared for a moment, then spoke again, his voice a little hoarse, "Right, family."

Following behind, Qing Wei stepped forward and gave Mu Youyu a slight nod, "Mingxi sister, this matter is our fault—we frightened you."

Ruo Ya took up the conversation: "I've already ordered a thorough investigation; none of the personnel involved will be let off."

Mu Youyu shook her head, "This isn't your fault."

Qing An didn't know what to say.

"No matter what, you had an incident in M Guo; we bear responsibility." Qing Wei said solemnly, "I'll personally oversee the follow-up investigation and handling—rest assured, there won't be a next time."

The atmosphere inside the car eased a little.

Mu Xin glanced at the time and said, "Let's head back to the palace first, let Youbao rest properly; we can discuss anything else tomorrow."

Everyone nodded and each got into their own vehicle.

Mu Xin soothed from the side, "Dear, just sleep and we'll be there."

Seeing her brother genuinely worried, Mu Youyu obediently closed her eyes.

But she couldn't fall asleep.

As soon as she closed her eyes, she saw the dagger pressed against her neck, heard those people's words:

"Want to have some fun first?"

"Let him watch, his little sister whom he's cherished since childhood—better dead than alive…"

Mu Youyu's body trembled slightly.

Jiang Liangjin tightened his grip on her hand at once, and covered her eyes with his other hand.

"Don't think about it." His voice was soft, "I'm here."

Mu Youyu didn't speak, just leaned a little closer to him.

Mu Xi watched her sister's state, and her chest began to ache again.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately just silently shifted his gaze to the snowy landscape flying past outside the window.

The snow outside the car window was still falling.

By the time they reached the palace, it was already noon.

Mu Youyu was carried out of the car by Jiang Liangjin; she hadn't opened her eyes the whole way, her breathing shallow, as if asleep.

Just as Mu Xianyan was about to head out, seeing this, the worry she'd held for a long time finally settled.

She stepped forward to stand beside Mu Xianqi, looking at her sister with eyes full of pity, and said nothing.

Jiang Liangjin carried the person in his arms upstairs.

Mu Xi was called to stop by Qing An, Mu Xin kept following behind, and several people didn't speak.

Seeing his sister placed on the bed, Mu Xin squatted in front of her and stared at her for a long time.

He reached out, wanting to touch her face, but afraid of waking her, his hand hovered in midair for a moment, and in the end he merely gently smoothed her blanket.

Mu Xin stood up, hesitated a moment, then spoke: "You… will you stay with her at noon?"

"Mm."

Mu Xin looked at his sister for two seconds, patted his shoulder, said nothing, and left holding the glutinous rice on the floor.

When Mu Xin went downstairs, everyone else was in the side hall.

He handed the glutinous rice to a palace attendant and didn't follow them inside.

Some brothers and Song Ze Yi had found some information; he didn't pay attention to the rest, and he had already seen the news sent by Song Ze Yi.

The kidnappers split into two groups: one group was an old force coming for the M Guo royal family, the true masterminds; the other group consisted of bought-outlaws responsible for carrying out the kidnapping.

The leader was the liaison between the two groups and the direct commander of this operation.

But what he cared more about was another detail.

When the members of that old force learned that his sister was the eldest daughter of the Pei Wei Ka family, they indeed panicked and indeed wanted to withdraw.

This shows that the favors his grandfather had planted among the M Guo underground forces back then were not in vain.

The identities of the Pei Wei Ka family's eldest daughter and Ai Luoxiu's younger sister had long become an invisible talisman in certain places, in those gray areas.

Even so, there are still people who dare to ignore this favor and dare to strike at his sister.

Mu Xin narrowed his lowered eyes; this matter won't just be left as is.