Chapter 76 Are you interested in traveling together?

The man collapsed immediately. "No! You can kill me or chop me up as you like. I won't complain. Please don't send Ling'er back!"

No one knew better than the man how crazy that group of people was. Sending Ling'er back would simply mean death.

Zhao Chengning brought in a bowl of porridge, blew on it, and placed it to the little girl's mouth. "If you want to save your daughter, then give her something practical in exchange."

Then he continued, "For example... why do you make weapons?"

The man comforted the woman, exhaled deeply, suppressed the despair in his eyes, and then slowly said: "My last name is Li, and I am a weapon smelter. Those weapons... are to be shipped to the capital."

Bang——

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Chengning lost his balance and the porridge in his hand spilled out.

His eyes deepened slightly and he gave a look to his confidant, who immediately understood and led a small team of people to guard the tent.

"Smuggling weapons into the city is a capital offense." Zhao Chengning's aura suddenly grew fierce, his deep black eyes filled with a storm. "How many are you bringing in? When will they be delivered? Who's the contact person?"

Old Li slowly closed his eyes, as if recalling something. A moment later, he opened them again, and they were clear, like a breeze passing through a raging fire, straight to one's heart.

"It's shipped once every two weeks, and the quantity each time is not much. I don't know who the contact person is. He always covers his face. I don't know where the goods are shipped to. I am only responsible for delivering the goods, and I don't know the rest."

Zhao Chengning turned his head and looked at Zhao Jinyuan, only to see the other person shaking his head slightly at him.

The capital is too big and there are too many places to hide. I really can’t think of any at the moment.

Zhao Chengning calmed himself down slightly and remained silent.

Xihe in his arms suddenly spoke, "Uncle, you haven't told me why you want to arrest Xihe? Xihe doesn't know you, why are you arresting me?"

Old Li's face was grim as he spoke word by word, "Your Highness, I am also... following orders."

"By order? By whose order?"

Old Li shook his head. "I don't know. I only know that the higher-ups gave the order, and the owner ordered us to capture the princess alive."

"Alive?" Zhao Chengning immediately grasped the key point. "You disguised yourself as robbers and robbed people on the way, but you want to capture Xihe alive. Are you... going to use Xihe to threaten my mother? Or... my father?"

Xihe was highly favored, so if anyone wanted to use her as a threat, the target would either be Concubine Chen and the Zhenguo Mansion behind her, or Emperor Jingyuan in the palace.

Old Li's face turned grim, and he bit his lower lip tightly without saying anything.

Zhao Chengning suddenly sneered, having guessed most of what he had thought. The look he gave Lao Li was already terrifying.

He turned to General Zhong who was standing beside him and said, "General Zhong, please return to the palace and report today's events and words to the emperor exactly as they were."

On this study tour, Emperor Jingyuan sent two generals from the Xu family, Xu Qingcheng and Zhong Ting, to accompany him.

In order to avoid suspicion, Xu Qingcheng could not participate, so it had to be done by Emperor Jingyuan's confidant Zhong Ting.

Zhong Ting had been in the army for a long time and knew the seriousness of the situation. He immediately agreed, "Your Highness, don't worry. I will take the man back to the Imperial City and ask Your Majesty to make the decision."

Zhao Chengning nodded, his tone becoming more polite, "Then I'll have to trouble General Zhong."

Then he said: "As for this woman..."

Xihe suddenly shook Zhao Chengning's arm, her big grape-like eyes sparkling, "Big brother, let this sister go to the capital with uncle. Uncle will feel more at ease with her by his side."

Zhao Chengning glanced at the little girl suspiciously. He originally wanted to hold the woman hostage to prevent Old Li from going back on his word, but he couldn't resist his sister's pleading and agreed reluctantly. He only asked Zhong Ting to bring more people with him.

Xihe jumped off the chair and slowly walked to Ling'er, brushing off the dust that had just stained her. He smiled sweetly at her and said, "Don't be afraid, little sister. The Imperial City is very safe. Daddy will protect you. Don't worry anymore."

Ling'er gestured with gratitude, "Thank you."

Old Li's heart finally settled down. He bowed to Xihe, and it felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders. The pent-up anger in his heart dissipated with the early spring breeze. "Thank you, Princess!"

His life is worthless, but his daughter is his life. If it can save his daughter's life, he will betray her.

*

Zhong Ting was ordered to lead his men back to the imperial city, and the rest of the people rested for half a day before setting off again.

It took me more than half a month to reach Jiangnan, half walking and half playing.

The mist and rain are dancing, and the green smoke is lingering, which is the beautiful scenery of the south of the Yangtze River.

The sweet laughter of women can be heard from the boats in groups of three or two on the lake, the hawking of street vendors is endless, the water is sparkling, the river is green as blue, a touch of indigo is faintly visible not far away, and the graceful singing of a singing girl can be heard from the restaurant.

Xiao Mingxuan was resting with his eyes closed against a big tree by the river. Occasionally, he heard a few footsteps beside him. Thinking that it was the little girl who had changed her clothes and came out, he opened his eyes suddenly. When he saw her face, the faint smile on his face disappeared immediately.

The woman took a step back, frightened by the gloomy and cold aura emanating from Xiao Mingxuan. However, looking at that stunning face, she secretly encouraged herself and mustered up the courage to step forward and ask, "I am from the Jiangnan Jiang family. I wonder if you would be interested in going on a boat trip with me?"

Jiang Zi spoke humbly, but she couldn't hide the arrogance in her tone.

She is the daughter of the Jiang family. Who in Jiangnan would not give her this face?

Jiang Zi stared at the other person with bright eyes, but unexpectedly Xiao Mingxuan didn't even lift his eyelids. He turned around and closed his eyes again.

Jiang Zi pointed at Xiao Mingxuan in disbelief, "You...how can you be so rude? I kindly invited you to go boating, and this is how you act?"

Jiang Zi is not at all gentle and gentle like a girl from Jiangnan. On the contrary, because she is spoiled by her family, she is like a female tyrant. She is used to being rampant in Jiangnan and no one dares to disrespect her.

Now that she was suddenly disrespected by Xiao Mingxuan, the whispers of the people around her made her even more angry and furious.

Xiao Mingxuan remained unmoved, but there was a hint of annoyance between his brows.

So noisy.

"I'm talking to you! Are you mute?" Jiang Zi took off her gentle mask, revealing her true face. Seeing that the other party didn't respond, she stepped forward and pushed him.

Xiao Mingxuan reacted quickly and opened his eyes immediately. He instantly stopped Jiang Zi's outstretched hand and uttered a few words, "If you don't want to die, get out!"

"You!" Jiang Zi was stunned by the coldness in those eyes. She didn't move for a long time. Even after being pushed down, she just sat there stupidly.

Jiangnan was already showing signs of summer heat, and Xiao Mingxuan's already unhappy mood became even more irritable.

Just as I was about to walk away, I suddenly heard a familiar bell sound in my ears.

Suddenly, a petite girl appeared in the distance. She was wearing a light aqua-green shirt, her black hair was tied into several braids, and several red ribbons were tied at the end of her hair. There were bells on her wrists, which rang every time she moved. She was so cute.