The Eldest Daughter is Delicate and Pretty, How Can She Be a Malicious Supporting Character - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Ambush

Pei Lingyi sat in the carriage, surrounded by the soft scent of incense. Feeling drowsy after thwarting Xue Yiran’s plans, she couldn’t help but doze off.
When she woke up, she was surprised to find herself being jolted awake by a commotion outside.
She lifted the curtain and asked, “What’s going on? Why is it so noisy?”

Luoxu ran back, panting. “It seems that the Imperial Guard is arresting a suspect and clearing the way.”
The Imperial Guard? That was under Xiao Yan’s jurisdiction.
Xiao Yan was a noble who chose to serve as an official instead of inheriting his title. Given their past conflicts, Pei Lingyi didn’t want to deal with him.
“Let’s take a detour,” she instructed.
“Give them some space.”

The coachman, Uncle Li, replied, “Alright, miss. Hold on tight.”
However, fate seemed to be working against her. The commotion was related to Xiao Yan, and she was about to get caught up in it.

Suddenly, a whizzing sound filled the air.
Pei Lingyi was thrown off balance as the carriage swayed violently. The horses panicked and whinnied, and Luoxu cried out, “Miss!”
As Pei Lingyi regained her footing, she heard a rough male voice shouting from the carriage roof, “If you don’t let me leave the city, this old man will die!”
Another voice, clearly Uncle Li’s, pleaded, “Sir, please spare my life!”

Pei Lingyi cursed her bad luck. The fugitive had somehow ended up on her carriage, and now she was at the mercy of Xiao Yan.
Fortunately, the carriage didn’t bear the Pei family’s markings, and Xiao Yan might not recognize it as belonging to her. She hoped he would intervene to save innocent bystanders.

However, she worried that he might use her as leverage.
“Drop your sword, or he’ll die,” the rough voice threatened.

The man in black clothing sat atop a tall horse, his deep eyes fixed intently on the prisoner, his gaze cold and piercing.
Pei Lingyi, still unsteady from the earlier jolt, knelt in the carriage. She tried to jump out while the two men were distracted, but the carriage was swaying too much due to the frightened horses.
The prisoner would likely enter the carriage and take her hostage.

Panicked, she quickly pulled out the silver hairpin from her hair.
As expected, the next moment, the carriage curtain was flung open, and the prisoner dragged Uncle Li inside with one hand while holding a dagger in the other.

“Don’t move if you don’t want to die,” the prisoner warned.
The prisoner wore a white prison uniform, stained with blood, and had shackles on his feet. A scar ran across his dark face, making him look intimidating.

Pei Lingyi looked up and saw a flash of surprise in the prisoner’s eyes. She forced herself to remain calm and said, “You won’t escape. Everyone knows Xiao Yan’s ruthlessness. Do you think he’ll let you go just because you’ve taken us hostage?”
However, the prisoner didn’t seem to listen. He laughed maniacally.

“Ha! I never thought I’d be so lucky. I stumbled upon a beautiful woman like you. You’re not from an ordinary family, are you? If I take you hostage, Xiao Yan won’t dare refuse to let me go, will he?”
In an instant, Pei Lingyi was pinned down and dragged out of the carriage, the prisoner’s hand wrapped tightly around her neck.

“If you don’t want this beautiful lady to become a ghost under my blade, you’d better open the city gate, Xiao Yan.”
Pei Lingyi realized that the prisoner wouldn’t negotiate. He was a desperate fugitive. The Imperial Guard seemed to have failed to do their job properly, allowing this man to escape.
The pain in her neck reminded her that the prisoner was ruthless.

She had to save herself.
Xiao Yan’s expression changed when he saw that the person in the carriage was Pei Lingyi. His cold gaze swept over the prisoner, and he smiled, his voice cruel and menacing. “Ouyang Ping, do you think one woman can save you?”

With a sweep of his arm, the men behind him handed him a crossbow bolt. He adjusted his stance, taking aim at the two.
Pei Lingyi’s face contorted in pain, but she could see the attacker’s posture.
She had anticipated this, and her heart cursed, “Xiao Changyu is truly ruthless.”

Ouyang Ping didn’t expect Xiao Yan to be so merciless, willing to kill such a beautiful woman. For a moment, he lost his composure.
Feeling the person behind her tremble with fear, Pei Lingyi seized the moment.

With a swift motion, she plunged the silver hairpin she had been clenching into Ouyang Ping’s thigh.
Ouyang Ping let out a cold cry, his grip loosening, and he slapped Pei Lingyi away with great force.
Xiao Yan leaped into the air, and the Imperial Guards behind him fired their crossbows in unison, piercing Ouyang Ping’s chest.

Pei Lingyi, thrown out of the carriage, expected to hit the cold ground but was instead caught by a strong arm around her waist, followed by the warmth of a man’s chest.

This happened in an instant.
She could even hear the man’s heartbeat clearly.
When they landed, Luoxu rushed over, her voice trembling with tears. “Miss, are you okay?”
Luoxu was usually composed, but now she was crying, indicating the danger they had faced.

The prisoner, Ouyang Ping, had jumped onto the carriage, and the crowd had scattered in panic, carrying Luoxu away from the scene.
When she returned, she saw Pei Lingyi being thrown out of the carriage and was relieved that

Xiao Yan had saved her.
“Miss Pei, I hope you’re not hurt,” Xiao Yan said, withdrawing his hand after ensuring Pei Lingyi’s safety.
The prisoner had a strong grip, and Pei Lingyi knew her neck would be red from the strangulation. All this was thanks to the man in front of her.
She had been held hostage and almost thrown to the ground. Pei Lingyi was naturally upset. She hadn’t forgotten that Xiao Yan had intended to shoot her moments before.

Since they had already clashed, Pei Lingyi didn’t mind offending him further. Her tone was sharp and lacked the usual gentleness.
“Thanks to you, I didn’t die from your arrow just now. But I think you should manage the Imperial Guard better in the future.”

“If you take on this role, you need to do your job properly. Otherwise, if prisoners keep escaping, will the capital city ever be at peace?”

Luoxu stood by, not daring to speak. Her mistress’s words were harsh, essentially scolding Xiao Yan severely.
Pei Lingyi didn’t wait for a response and left with Luoxu, concerned about treating the wound on her neck to prevent scarring.

Xiao Yan watched them leave, the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat.