Yang Jingyuan reached out and touched the horse’s mane. The dye mixed with glue had long since dried. Not a trace remained on his hand. He doubted whether water alone could wash it clean.

Ji Yingying, pressing her advantage, continued to deceive the old steward: “You’re too kind, sir. I’m Ji Erniang from the Huanhua Dye House. I notice this horse appears to have been brushed with red dye. Water won’t clean it—you’ll need a special solution.”

The old steward was overjoyed. “Please, young miss, tell me more!”

Ji Yingying glanced at the sun and said sheepishly, “My maid and I forgot to bring money when we left home. We were quite hungry and were just about to head back for lunch. Perhaps I could return this afternoon with the prepared solution?”

With the horse in such an obvious state, the old steward couldn’t wait until afternoon. He urgently replied, “Miss Ji, if you don’t mind, please come inside and have a meal. I’ll buy the materials, and then you can prepare the solution. This old one will surely reward you generously.”

You dyed my horse and now have the nerve to come freeload a meal and earn money? Yang Jingyuan’s eyes narrowed as the flames of anger in his heart spread like wildfire.

Ji Yingying shot a triumphant look at Ling’er, not noticing Yang Jingyuan’s reaction. Just as she and her maid were about to enter, the world suddenly spun around her. She heard Ling’er cry out in shock and found herself thrown onto the horse.

“Hey! What are you doing?!” Ji Yingying cried out in panic as a pair of arms wrapped around her.

Yang Jingyuan mounted the horse, one arm securing Ji Yingying, and called out to Ling’er and the old steward: “If you don’t want anything to happen to your mistress, stay right where you are! Old steward, watch her!”

With a shake of the reins, the horse galloped away like lightning.

The old steward and Ling’er stood frozen like wooden chickens.

Ling’er burst into tears, clutching the old steward’s sleeve: “If anything happens to my mistress, this servant won’t be able to live!”

The old steward watched Yang Jingyuan disappear with Ji Yingying, his mind in chaos. Having once served as Yang family’s chief steward, he gathered his wits and took the offensive: “Our young master is clever—he must have noticed something suspicious. Tell me, did your mistress brush our young master’s horse with dye?”

His former position as chief steward lent weight to his stern demeanor, frightening Ling’er so much she could barely cry, only whimpering softly: “No, no…”

The old steward, proud of his sharp eyes, recalled that the Third Young Master seemed to recognize Miss Ji, though he didn’t know what grievance lay between them. He’d heard that Miss Ji from Huanhua Dye House had feelings for the Zhao family’s second son, and the Yang and Zhao families were rivals. Could Miss Ji have come to cause trouble for the Third Young Master out of loyalty to the Zhao family? This matter shouldn’t be publicized. Remembering Yang Jingyuan’s words, he pondered before saying, “You heard our young master. Come wait inside with me. Perhaps our young master was just anxious about his horse and took your mistress to prepare the solution.”

Ling’er dared not make a scene either and could only follow the old steward into the courtyard, wiping her tears.

The wind whistled past Ji Yingying’s ears, filling her mouth when she tried to speak. She struggled, but Yang Jingyuan’s arms held her firmly in place.

A low-hanging branch whipped toward her face, making her close her eyes in fear. Yang Jingyuan ducked with her, avoiding it. When Ji Yingying opened her eyes again, they had left the houses far behind and entered a riverside grove.

Both frightened and angry, Ji Yingying turned her head and shouted, “What are you doing kidnapping me? Have you no shame?”

You cause trouble and then accuse others of having no shame? Yang Jingyuan, accustomed to being a spoiled young master, usually settled troubles with silver. Now Ji Yingying’s words made his head spin with anger. Seeing her face so close, he didn’t think twice before planting a loud kiss on it: “You’re the one who turned to ask for a kiss!”

He could play the blame game too! Just because last time she’d wiped her mouth and accidentally kissed his face, she deliberately dyed his horse. This time he kissed her on purpose! That would teach her! Yang Jingyuan’s thoughts ran wild, throwing all propriety about men and women and protecting reputations to the wind.

After the kiss, he tightened his arms, holding Ji Yingying against his chest to prevent her struggles: “Really want to hit me, don’t you? Can you even reach me? Beg nicely, clean my horse, and I’ll let bygones be bygones.”

His foul mouth made Ji Yingying want to slap him!

Who would have thought Yang Jingyuan would immediately assume guilt and kidnap her? The thinking of these spoiled young masters truly defied common sense. Ji Yingying realized this and regretted it so much her intestines turned blue. She had walked right into disaster!

No matter how crude Yang Jingyuan’s words were, she was helpless against him now.

Though Ji Yingying had a fiery temperament, she’d never been physically bullied before. Even when she’d kicked Zhou Qilang into the river on the fifteenth of the eighth month, it had been at the crowded Huanhua Creek. If she couldn’t outrun someone, she could always cry out for help, and someone would surely appear to defend her honor.

But now it was different—there wasn’t another soul around. Even if there were, she wouldn’t dare call out. If this incident spread, her reputation would be the one to suffer. Seeing Yang Jingyuan’s smug raised eyebrow, Ji Yingying was furious. Looking down and judging the distance suitable, she bit down hard on his arm.

She used all her strength as if trying to sharpen her teeth through his flesh.

Yang Jingyuan grabbed her jaw in pain.

Ji Yingying had no choice but to release her bite. Turning to see Yang Jingyuan rolling up his sleeve to examine the injury, she didn’t hesitate before landing a hook punch squarely on his chin.

“Hiss!” Caught off guard, Yang Jingyuan bit his tongue, covering his mouth in pain.

Ji Yingying seized the moment to slide off the horse, quickly picking up a branch from the ground and pointing it at him: “Shameless!”

You dye my horse, make me bite my tongue, and call me shameless? Yang Jingyuan dismounted after her, nursing his injured tongue, thinking perhaps he should truly act shameless.

He crossed his arms and curved his lips into a malicious smile: “What to do? When Zhao Erlang learns his sweetheart has been taken advantage of by me, he’ll probably go mad with rage!”

The dead caterpillar knew exactly where to hurt her. This really couldn’t reach Zhao Xiuyuan’s ears. Given the relationship between the Zhao and Yang families, even if someone from the Yang family pulled out a single strand of her hair, the Zhao family would consider it a great humiliation.

Though Ji Yingying thought this, she showed no weakness: “On the fifteenth of the eighth month, you were beaten badly by Zhao Erlang. Too scared to face him, you pick on me instead. I’m just an unfortunate soul caught up in this because of Zhao Erlang. He’ll be heartbroken with guilt. If you’re smart, you’ll leave now. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rough!”

She brandished the branch threateningly.

The branch in her hand was only as thick as a finger, clearly a fallen dead branch that would snap with the slightest force. Yang Jingyuan glanced around before gripping a living branch.

“Crack!”

He broke off an arm-thick branch.

Ji Yingying’s mouth fell open as she looked at the dead branch in her hand, feeling utterly defeated.

More cracking sounds followed as Yang Jingyuan stripped the smaller branches, fashioning them into a staff. He offered it to her: “Would you prefer to use this instead?”

Ji Yingying wanted to howl in frustration. Was there any need to show off his strength like this? This was too much! What should she do?