Xu Shunsui's good mood from early in the morning was also ruined. He had originally planned to stay at home on the first day of the Lunar New Year, playing with his birds, walking his dog, and spending time with his family.

Unexpectedly, His Majesty passed away!

The death knell tolled throughout Nanjing, and he was jolted awake in the dead of night!

However, now that he has retired from officialdom and has no rank, it is inappropriate for him to attend the morning court session to offer condolences.

I sat there all night until dawn, intending to go to the Eastern Palace to ask the Crown Prince for a token to offer condolences, but as a result, my doorstep was already crowded with people early in the morning...

After finally getting rid of wave after wave of people, I was getting a bit hungry and didn't want to see any more guests.

"Father-in-law~"

"Teacher~"

Okay, this future son-in-law and apprentice don't count as guests.

"Let's go have lunch together!"

Upon hearing this, Qingyun and Changjun exchanged a glance. They realized that, indeed, they were hungry.

With this incident, the morning court session was another chaotic affair, so they had no interest in staying to eat the food specially provided by the imperial kitchen.

......

If officials' families were in such a state, it was no surprise that even prominent merchant families in Nanjing were living in fear.

Zhu Rong Hot Pot Restaurant is closed for a few days due to the national mourning period.

Qingsong was busy; he went to the embroidery room to pick up his sister-in-law and then to the clinic to pick up his sister-in-law.

Who knows if there will be a mutiny? We should leave Nanjing as soon as possible.

The father-in-law wasn't in a hurry to leave, but he asked his brother-in-law to go with them to Yunshui County to take care of something.

Qingsong didn't ask what the matter was.

The servants and maids in the Wu residence were all packing their luggage.

After giving his wife some instructions, he went to his third brother's house and waited for him to return. He then asked his brother if he wanted to come with him...

However, having already obtained information from Xu's father-in-law/teacher, how could the two possibly leave?!

Putting aside the fact that officials are not allowed to leave the capital without authorization, Qingyun has already openly boarded the Crown Prince's ship. Now, thinking about it, it's practically telling the Crown Prince that he wants to desert and get off the ship.

If the crown prince ascends the throne one day, won't the first people he settle accounts with be those who are disloyal?

Qingyun can't leave, and neither can Changjun!

There's another secret: the imperial edict the chief eunuch mentioned is in the Xu residence.

Qingyun and Changjun had recently read the contents of the will.

Well, how should I put it? It was shocking and sent chills down my spine.

Unexpectedly, in the end, His Majesty tricked both the Crown Prince and Prince Zhao!

When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits!

The ultimate winner, however, was...

"Second brother, we can't leave. You take sister-in-law and the others and leave Jinling as soon as possible. Come back after this is all over."

Qingyun shook his head; he couldn't tell his second brother the truth.

“You two weak and bookish nerds, how can you protect yourselves if something really happens? Listen to your brother, come with me.”

Qingsong said anxiously. He didn't understand the political situation, but he knew that the two people in front of him were his younger brothers, and he couldn't just let them stay.

"Brother Qingsong, Qingyun is right. We can't leave. We have to stay and negotiate. Otherwise, if we leave, firstly, we'll be beheaded for deserting from the authorities, and secondly, without our help, it won't be easy for you, your sister-in-law, and your nephew to leave Jinling."

Changjun chimed in, "Who isn't afraid of death?"

He was afraid too, but more than death, he hoped that the people he cared about would live well.

"You guys are going to drive me crazy!"

Qingsong was furious. That brat of a brother, he never listens to a word!

If he were a child, he would have kicked him long ago...

Looking at him now, he's got a big belly from eating so much, while those two boys are tall and slender. If they really started fighting, he'd be at a disadvantage!

"Brother Qingsong, don't worry, we'll be fine~"

"Hmph, it'll be too late to say all this if something happens to you."

Qingsong put his hands in his pockets, speaking and looking like an elder.

Ah, if Mother or my older brother were here, they could definitely keep those two brats in check!

"Second brother, hurry back and leave Jinling with the men before the Imperial Guards can react and close the city gates."

Qingyun seemed to realize something, and his expression became very serious.

Qingsong spat, but ultimately couldn't resist his younger brothers' insistence and had to agree.

Before leaving, he took out a stack of silver notes from his pocket, divided them between the two men, and said to each of them:

"Keep it, for your own safety."

"Understood, Second Brother."

"Thank you, Brother Qingsong."

Neither of them refused, wanting to put the other at ease, and secondly, perhaps these banknotes would come in handy in the future!

......

City gate—

The Qingsong family disguised themselves and successfully evaded the soldiers' inspection, leaving Jinling.

The servants and maids were gradually released as well.

Master and servants met at a food stall outside the city, then boarded a carriage and began their journey without stopping.

Along the way, many fast horses galloped wildly towards Jinling, stirring up clouds of dust.

Fangfang held her son in her arms, not daring to speak.

Wang Niannian and Wang Yueyue were the same; the two sisters hugged the hand warmer and sat quietly in the carriage.

They belatedly realized that things were about to change in Jinling!

The brother-in-law received advance notice and immediately picked up the two sisters to leave Jinling together!

The maids and servants had worked at the Wu residence for several years and trusted their master completely.

The gatekeeper was quite old, but he was a smooth talker. He gathered information along the way and did a lot of work, which reduced a lot of trouble on the return journey.

The women were all dressed in drab and disheveled clothes, but this didn't cause any trouble.

Three days after leaving Jinling, the gatekeeper learned that there had been a mutiny in Jinling and the city gates had been closed two days earlier!

People along the way fled with their families after hearing the news.

Fortunately, Qingsong and his group only had two ordinary carriages, so they didn't attract attention.

The servants all held machetes, their presence intimidating, deterring anyone from daring to provoke them.

Even so, everyone was indeed exhausted from the long journey.

Fortunately, after three days and nights of travel, we finally arrived at Yunshui County, my mother's territory!

"Who comes to Yunshui County? What brings you here?"

The officer guarding the city was meticulously registering the information when suddenly he realized the newcomer looked familiar; it seemed to be—

"Second Master Wu? Is that you?"

"Who are you?"

Qingsong was still digging out his travel permit when he suddenly heard this address and looked up blankly.

“The princess gave me a portrait of you, saying that if you come, you can just let it in.”

The officer exclaimed excitedly, "We've been waiting for several days, and finally we've met Second Master!"

"Is my mother in Yunshui County?"

A smile spread across Qingsong's face. "Mother is the best."

"The princess returned to the prefecture last night,"

The officer nodded, then asked in a low voice:

"Second Master, has something happened in Jinling?"

"Yes, His Majesty has passed away, and a mutiny has occurred in Jinling. I received the news in advance and brought my family back."

After looking around, Qingsong quietly exchanged information with the officer.

"Princess, you are indeed a prophet! Second Master, please come in. The entire prefecture is under martial law. Leave the rest to me."

The officer understood, and felt immense respect for the princess.

The princess said that once the Second Master's family arrives, martial law will be imposed throughout the county; only entry is permitted, no exit!

Thank you.

Qingsong clasped his hands in a respectful bow, knowing this was not the time for idle chatter, and took his leave, leading his group into Yunshui County...