Chapter 610: Chapter 608: Ambushed

After keeping the invitation card, Lin Wanwan wasted no time leaving Chang’an City. Today the veterinarian was coming to geld the pig, and she had to check the surgery outcome.

Although she had previously guided the veterinarian theoretically, she wasn’t confident whether he had truly understood it.

Shortly after leaving the city, Lin Wanwan felt a little anxious and short of breath. Strange, why was this happening? Could it be that she was too busy lately and had not adjusted to the time difference?

At that moment, a gust of wind suddenly sounded in her ear, followed by exclamations from Hong Yan and Kun Lun, as well as startled sounds from the horse.

As danger approached, Lin Wanwan instinctively raised her hand to shield her head. The next moment, a sharp pain came from her arm, followed by an eagle cry.

A giant bird was attacking her! Unbelievable!

At this time, the giant bird had missed the target, lowering both altitude and speed, and Kun Lun had reacted. He wielded the big iron hammer and descended rapidly, wildly throwing it into the air.

Lin Wanwan also jumped off the horse at this moment, standing behind Kun Lun, clutching her bleeding arm, and coldly staring at this feathered beast.

Hong Yan had just been thrown off by the startled horse, but now she ignored her injuries, desperately shielding Lin Wanwan and waving her arms futilely to drive the bird away, trying to act as a meat shield for her.

The giant bird had a large size, strong strength, and was very aggressive, putting Lin Wanwan and her two attendants in perilous situations.

Air power attacking cavalry surely has a crushing advantage unless the three have arrows; otherwise, there’s really nothing they can do.

But the three were entering the Chang’an City Palace today, how could they carry arrows? Even the big iron hammer Kun Lun held couldn’t enter the gate of the Imperial City; he waited outside the city.

As for arrows, such powerful long-range weapons can’t be casually carried in Chang’an City; one must register with the Marquis to get permission. Otherwise, if caught, you would be fined, beaten, or even imprisoned.

For instance, if you wanted to hunt outside the city today, you must apply several days in advance at the specialized Great Tang City Management Office to carry arrows on the street.

But even the Emperor wouldn’t hunt in the spring, as it’s the time for animals to breed and proliferate; one must not fish from a drained riverbed, so even if you applied to carry arrows, it would not be approved.

Just as Lin Wanwan was considering opening the Space-Time Gate to evade, a sound of an arrow breaking through the air came to her ear.

“Whoosh,” an arrow shot toward the giant bird, causing it to lose a few feathers, but failing to break its defense.

However, this shot already frightened the feathered beast greatly, prompting it to ascend rapidly, disappearing in no time.

The following arrows also only caused it to lose a few feathers, without causing any substantial damage.

Lin Wanwan then looked toward where the arrows came from, only to see a few dozen meters away, a young man in plain clothes sitting on a horse with a bow and arrow. It was his assistance that drove away the giant bird.

“Thank you, young hero, for saving me. I am Village Lady Le’an. Please leave your name so I may visit to thank you someday.”

The spirited young man’s horse gently moved forward as he dismounted, cupping his fists before Lin Wanwan and said, “I am Pei Jiu. It’s a minor matter, no need to mention it, Lin Le’an. Pei has some golden sore medicine here, please stop the bleeding, Lin Le’an.”

With that, he took out a small porcelain bottle from his shirt and respectfully handed it over.

Pei Jiu? Could it be the Pei Family, known for producing seventeen Prime Ministers?

Who is he?

Lin Wanwan couldn’t think of it.

“Thank you, Pei Jun.” Lin Wanwan received it casually and uncapped the bottle to smell the medicine. This golden sore medicine was a common military prescription, not particularly effective, but still better than most other bleeding-stop medicines.

Being able to carry such golden sore medicine with him, it seemed Pei Jiu had some connections in the military.

Judging by his tall and slender build, extraordinary demeanor, and calm, composed eyes, his actions were steady and calm without sorrow or joy, different from ordinary young men, yet his handsome face still bore a trace of childishness, implying he was definitely young, not over sixteen years old, thus unlikely to be a military man.

Thinking about this, she grit her teeth and poured some golden sore medicine on the wound. The wound was quite deep, and to prevent complications, she planned to rush back to modern times later to get a tetanus shot.

“Lin Le’an, how did you encounter this crazy giant bird?” Seeing Lin Wanwan had dealt with the wound, Pei Jiu curiously inquired.

Generally speaking, large birds like giant eagles wouldn’t attack people for no reason. Adult humans aren’t on their menu, let alone when Lin Wanwan was accompanied by three horses.

This giant bird was certainly raised by someone and attacked on command. However, there was no hidden person nearby, who could execute such a malicious act?

Even though Pei Jiu was exceptionally clever, he couldn’t figure it out for the moment.

“I don’t know either; it attacked me suddenly while I was just randomly walking around. The giant bird dove straight down, targeting me specifically.”

Lin Wanwan was even more puzzled. During her days in Chang’an City, she barely interacted with people, except entering the palace to pulse Zhangsun’s he, or following Old Sun, with the only interaction being with Xiao’s eldest daughter-in-law, Princess Xiangcheng. She didn’t know whom she could have offended!

Pei Jiu pondered for a moment and asked, “Did Lin Le’an come out from the city of Chang’an just now? Whom did you meet before? Was there anything out of the ordinary? Who knows your itinerary?”

Lin Wanwan frowned and said, “I was tasked with taking care of the Empress’s unborn child, with a fixed schedule from both inside and outside the palace that anyone interested could know.”

Speaking of this, Lin Wanwan started getting suspicious: “However, today’s schedule was different from usual. After leaving the Empress Palace, I was stopped by a palace maid from Yang Consort, who requested me to pulse Yang Consort… After leaving the palace, I encountered a servant from Xiao’s who handed me an invite for a flower-viewing banquet, with the venue specified as a courtyard in Xingdao Lane.”

Pei Jiu nodded upon hearing this: “A courtyard in Xingdao Lane, with the surname Xiao; undoubtedly the person extending the invitation is the former Empress Xiao of the previous dynasty. Empress Xiao is upright and commands the world under her maternal dignity, surely unrelated to this matter.”

Lin Wanwan mentioned two people, but Pei Jiu only commented that the matter was unrelated to Empress Xiao. Clearly, he was also suspecting Yang Consort like Lin Wanwan. Yet, perhaps out of caution, he didn’t utter a word about anyone in the palace.

Despite the young lad’s age, his conduct was exceedingly calm. In just a few words, he helped Lin Wanwan find a clue amidst the chaos.

Seeing the realization dawning on Lin Wanwan’s face, Pei Jiu bowed to take leave: “Since Lin Le’an appears to be fine now, Pei shall not disturb further, farewell.”

Lin Wanwan quickly attempted to retain him: “Don’t!”

She originally intended to ask for his address to show gratitude later, but seeing he didn’t even mention his full name, it was evident he sought no repayment for his kindness, so if she directly spoke, he would surely decline.

However, Lin Wanwan had always repaid kindness and vengeance alike; she couldn’t just let him leave like this.

Thinking swiftly, she said with slightly reddened eyes, “Having just been attacked, my heart still trembles with fear; I beseech Pei Jun to escort me a while, much appreciated.”

Suggesting gratitude might lead to rejection, but asking for help would not likely be declined, especially by such young lads, Lin Wanwan was quite confident.

Indeed, after a moment’s hesitation, Pei Jiu agreed.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep