Xiao Yanyue was lying in the donkey cart when he immediately sensed someone beside him. He had been asleep for a long time and was not sleepy at all. With the help of the light coming in, he could see the person lying next to him.

As expected, it was General Shen.

His father had told him that if he could escape, he should go to General Shen Zhiheng, who would definitely protect him.

After escaping, their route was also circuitous, heading towards the Shen family army's garrison, but they were captured before they could even meet.

Those guards also died at the hands of the enemy.

He knew that the emperor kept him alive so that he could torture him properly. He would probably be very happy to see his father's only child go from being a "prodigy" praised by everyone in the capital to a cripple who couldn't stand up and was struggling to survive.

He had initially thought that dying would be a good thing, but at this moment, he was very grateful that he had finally lived to see the person he was meant to see.

Unexpectedly, the other party's fate was still unknown on the way to exile.

He had heard the officials mention that General Shen had been unconscious ever since he left the palace. It seemed they wouldn't have a chance to speak with him.

well.

He sighed softly, but suddenly a large hand covered his mouth. His eyes widened instantly, and he almost bit down on the hand, but then he heard a sound very close to his ear—

"Shen Zhiheng greets Your Highness. Your Highness, please do not panic and do not make a sound."

Xiao Yanyue's erratic heartbeat gradually calmed down, and after a while, she nodded almost imperceptibly.

Shen Zhiheng then slowly loosened his grip and said in a embarrassed voice, "I should have greeted you earlier. Making a sound suddenly would have frightened His Highness no matter what. It was my fault."

Shen Zhiheng actually woke up!

Although he didn't know how the emperor had made him fall into a coma, given the man's viciousness, Shen Zhiheng should never have had a chance to wake up again...

What exactly happened?

Xiao Yanyue was shocked, but he remained silent.

He knew that the other person covered his mouth because they were afraid that he would make a sound in his panic and be noticed by the people observing from the shadows.

And what about himself? He was clearly so sick, how come he was already acting like nothing had happened after only half a day?

Although I didn't try to sit up, I could feel the basic condition of my body just by lying down.

He was breathing smoothly, his cheeks were no longer burning, and even the wound on his ankle no longer hurt. He could also use his strength when he clenched his fist.

These are all proof that my health has improved a lot.

Could it be that the Shen family had such a miraculous medicine on their way to exile? That seems unlikely; even my father wouldn't have such a fast-acting drug.

There wasn't even the bitter taste of the medicine left in his mouth. How did he recover? It's all so strange.

Perhaps we can find the answer to all of this from General Shen.

Xiao Yanyue turned to look at him and saw that he was about to bow to her, so she immediately stopped him. It was really not suitable to make any big movements in such a small space.

"There's no need for that. I haven't even thanked you for saving my life yet. General Shen, you're too kind. Besides... I'm just a prisoner now."

His tone was filled with disappointment and sorrow, which was really unlike that of a nine-year-old child.

Shen Zhiheng didn't dare to treat him as an ordinary child.

The name of the eldest grandson of the emperor was already widely known. Everyone in the capital knew that he was proficient in poetry, literature, horsemanship and archery at a young age. He excelled in everything he did.

Even when he was disciplining his grandson, he couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect you to be as precocious as the eldest grandson of the emperor, but you can't be this stupid."

Seeing it with my own eyes now, I know the rumors are true; she is indeed an extremely intelligent child.

But it was this precocious intelligence that made him more able to understand the pain of losing one's family and falling from a great height than others. Even Shen Zhiheng, a man with a heart as hard as iron, felt a little sad watching this.

Of course, his "hard-heartedness" was just his own illusion. In Shen Xingmian's view, his grandfather was incredibly soft-hearted.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have emptied their own coffers and sent one of their sons out to earn money all over the country just to make sure the soldiers had a better life.

This is something that has never been seen before, not only in the capital, but also throughout the entire Lin Yue Kingdom.

"Your Highness, please don't stand on ceremony with this old minister. Saving you was the right thing to do. If we hadn't been far away at the border and hadn't been unaware of the news, the Shen family would have done everything in their power to rescue His Highness the Crown Prince. It's a pity..."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but wipe the corner of his eye.

He had always felt regretful and guilty for not being able to save His Highness the Crown Prince. Fortunately, he saved the only son of the Crown Prince's family, otherwise he would not have the face to face His Highness the Crown Prince in the afterlife.

Xiao Yanyue fell silent. He couldn't forget what happened that night, and he hadn't slept soundly for a single night since.

After being arrested and crippled, while lying in the prison van waiting to die, he drifted off to sleep and woke up here.

"Your Highness, you only need to stay here for a few more days, and then we can leave. At that time, the Shen family will do everything in its power to protect you."

Shen Zhiheng looked into the child's eyes and solemnly promised.

Xiao Yanyue knew that if she truly embarked on the road of escape, every moment would be incredibly dangerous.

The emperor likely sent him to the Shen family with the intention of toying with them and enjoying the thrill of having the upper hand.

But what does it matter? It's an opportunity for him, so he nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble General Chen."

Looking at his calm demeanor, and then at his frail body beneath his tattered clothes, Shen Zhiheng almost burst into tears.

He carefully helped the person lie down, and then said with a hint of pride, "The person who took care of the young prince just now is my granddaughter. She is very smart. If this old minister were not here, you can go to her to discuss anything."

This sounds strange. The old general has sons and daughters, and a very shrewd son-in-law. When it comes to discussing matters, it shouldn't be his granddaughter's turn.

Besides, he seemed to have heard that General Shen's granddaughter was mentally challenged...

This was no secret; it had already spread throughout the capital. He had even heard it with his own ears. Some people used this to attack General Shen, saying that he had committed too many killings, which was why his family had a fool.

How come it's suddenly become "exceptionally smart"?

If it was the girl he saw when he first woke up, it would be true that she was exceptionally smart; she looked remarkably clever and intelligent.

He agrees with this point.

"By the way, it was my granddaughter who brought you back from the officials. Our group is now at the back, and there aren't many eyes and ears around, but we still need to be careful."

Hearing that it was that girl who brought him here, Xiao Yanyue was shocked. This was an extremely difficult thing to do. He even thought that he would die in that prison cart, but that little girl managed to get him out alive.

If he has the chance in the future, he should repay her properly.

Just then, he felt the donkey cart slowly stop, and a sound came from afar—

"We cops are walking under the blazing sun, but you're comfortably sheltered by your donkey cart. Is there something you're trying to hide?"