"Madam, is there anything you need me to do?" A-Ping immediately rode over on horseback.

Jiang Qinyu handed him two talismans and said with a smile, "These are peace talismans I got before. Just stick them on your chest. You and Qin Shen each get one."

"Huh?" Aping was a little confused. Did Madam still believe in these things?

However, since it was given by his wife, he naturally couldn't refuse.

Seeing that A-Ping accepted the gift and solemnly placed it inside her coat, Jiang Qinyu lowered the car curtain.

Qin Shen, who was driving the carriage ahead, naturally heard Jiang Qinyu's words. When he received the talisman from A Ping, he asked curiously, "Is Madam always this kind to you?"

“Of course,” A-Ping said without hesitation, raising his head. “Following Madam, we will gain things you can’t even imagine.”

Putting aside everything else, how scarce were they for food and drink before? But ever since they followed Jiang Qinyu, they've basically had meat to eat every day.

Besides these, the work they did was different from before, and they saw things they had never seen before.

He preferred to follow his wife rather than the general.

Qin Shen didn't quite believe it, but he still took the talisman and stuck it on his chest.

Both of them were martial artists, and were naturally more perceptive than ordinary people. In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, they locked eyes.

Qin Shen's eyes seemed to say: Are you sure the lady gave you a peace charm?

Aping blinked in surprise: I don't know if it's true or not, but this talisman paper can definitely heat up!

Normally, they would have to expend a lot of internal energy to resist the cold while traveling in such frigid weather, but after applying this talisman, they didn't need to use internal energy at all!

So, the lady wasn't actually giving them any talismans for protection, but rather she didn't want them to get cold while traveling.

Jiang Qinyu, who was in the carriage, didn't care what they thought. She was already fast asleep, with one child in each arm and leaning against the thick cushion.

...

Xiao Rui and Lu Wanqing rushed back to Yukang Prefecture without stopping at all. It only took them a day and a night, and three horses died in the process.

When Lu Wanqing got out of the car, her face was frighteningly pale.

When Xiao Rui saw her expression, he finally realized that he had run too fast. A hint of apology flashed in his eyes as he said, "Cousin, go back and rest first!"

He needed to have someone send Lu Wanqing some nourishing food to replenish her blood and qi, lest she develop any hidden ailments.

This was the first time Lu Wanqing had received such blatant concern from Xiao Rui. Her previous fatigue vanished instantly, and she smiled, saying, "Cousin, go ahead and attend to your business. I'll come find you when you have some free time."

Xiao Rui forced a smile, watched her leave, and then walked to the courtyard of Lu Sheng, the prefect of Yukang.

Lu Sheng is over sixty years old this year, but thanks to his good maintenance, he looks radiant and could easily pass for fifty.

His son, Lu Qingsheng, looked much thinner and more like a scholar. However, Lu Qingsheng, who was in his early forties, had grown a short beard, which made him look more dignified.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Lu Sheng and Lu Qingsheng stepped forward and bowed as soon as they saw Xiao Rui.

Xiao Rui quickly helped the two up, one in each arm, and sighed, "I've said it many times, my uncle and cousin don't need to act like this when they see me. We're all family."

Lu Sheng and Lu Qingsheng merely twitched their lips and didn't respond to the conversation.

"We received an urgent letter from His Highness earlier, saying that he had important matters to discuss with my father and me. May I ask what it is?" After everyone was seated, Lu Sheng asked directly.

Xiao Rui, who had just sat down, suddenly stood up again, cupped his hands towards the two men, and said, "I am very grateful to my uncle and cousin for taking me in these past few days. I, Xiao Rui, would like to express my gratitude to you both!"

He immediately performed the full bow of gratitude befitting a junior.

This gesture was a bit too much for Lu Sheng and Lu Qingsheng, so they quickly got up to avoid it.

"What is Your Highness doing?"

"Absolutely not, Your Highness!"

No matter how much they refused, Xiao Rui finished the grand ceremony, then stood up straight, looked at them firmly, and said, "I'm going back to Qinzhou."

"What?" Lu Sheng was shocked upon hearing this, staring wide-eyed at Xiao Rui. "Your Highness, what is this...?"

His heart suddenly started pounding. Was a long-held suspicion about to be confirmed?

Lu Qingsheng clenched his fists tightly, his eyes shining as he looked at him, "Your Highness, are you really sure?"

Previously, the father and son had never dared to get too close to Xiao Rui, which was essentially a way of protecting themselves.

They didn't want to offend the imperial court too much, nor did they want to offend Xiao Rui.

After all, although they had never experienced the royal family's scandals before, they had read about them quite a bit in history books.

If they offend the court for Xiao Rui's sake, only for Xiao Rui to become close to the emperor and his son in the end, wouldn't they have been unjustly treated as villains?

If they help the court suppress Xiao Rui, they can't guarantee that Xiao Rui won't have the ability to seize power in the future once they know some of his trump cards.

That's why they dared not treat Xiao Rui lightly or harshly; they could only test him with the only bloodline in their family.

It seems that Xiao Rui has come to his senses now.

In fact, they had long understood that the current court and the emperor would eventually run into trouble, so for so many years they had been holed up in Yukang Prefecture, trying every possible way to save their family's lives.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Rui actually managed to settle down and rebel against the imperial court.

Others may not know, but they do: Xiao Rui's biggest trump card is not in Yukang Prefecture, nor anywhere else, but in Qinzhou.

Xiao Rui's maternal grandfather started his business in Qinzhou. Later, the Lu family became the richest family in Dayue. They quickly found a way to retire gracefully and hid most of their wealth in Qinzhou.

Of course, the Lu family isn't stupid; they won't just leave behind wealth and not people. In Qinzhou, there's not only a large fortune waiting for Xiao Rui to inherit, but also a group of people who can be used in various aspects.

That's why Lu Sheng and his son Lu Qingsheng were so excited when Xiao Rui said he wanted to go back to Qinzhou.

"Yes." Xiao Rui nodded, without explaining the reason, only saying, "After I leave, I would like to ask my uncle and cousin to do a good job for Yongshan County and General Lu Yanzheng. I have had many collaborations with him and his wife, all of which are beneficial to important matters in the future."

Lu Sheng immediately cupped his hands and said, "This humble official has remembered it."

Xiao Rui nodded and added, "Also, if they want to touch anything in Yunshan, you don't need to worry about it. I have already agreed to give the entire Yunshan to the border army."

"Huh? This..." Lu Qingsheng was a little confused and quickly looked at his father.

Lu Sheng frowned and thought for a moment, then quickly nodded and said, "It's only right. The border troops have protected the entire Yukang Prefecture for many years. A single Yunshan Mountain is nothing."

Seeing that they agreed, Xiao Rui had nothing more to say and quickly took his leave.

Lu Sheng and Lu Qingsheng talked for a long time in the study, and then Lu Qingsheng went to Lu Wanqing's courtyard.

"I heard you weren't feeling well as soon as you got back?" Lu Qingsheng came to Lu Wanqing's bedside to visit her.