Chapter 101 The Mountain Man Has His Own Clever Plan

"Sister, what do you think we should do? The enemy has a large number of people, and our people cannot eliminate the foreseeable dangers in advance. I'm afraid the casualties will be very serious this time. In this way, the situation of protecting the prince in the future will become more severe." Xie Feng frowned, obviously very worried.

A head-on fight? Zhong Min shook her head. They didn't have the resources in the capital to mobilize to fight them head-on, and even if they did, it wouldn't be worth it. After all, this was just one of the many. While the mantis stalks Zen, there are many others waiting behind.

She warned Xie Feng, "Brother, we must not fight unless it is absolutely necessary. Don't you remember that we are security personnel? The most important thing is to protect, not to attack. Achieving the goal of protecting the prince is the most important thing, and this so-called protection is also a long-term one, not a temporary one."

"Then what should we do? Otherwise, I will go to Jingzhao Yi now and ask them to send people to escort the prince immediately?" Xie Feng thought about it, but he could only think of the officials in the capital.

Upon hearing this, Zhong Min shook his head again. "Let's not even talk about whether distant water can quench a nearby fire. The most important thing is that this water is probably not willing to put out this fire. If I hadn't anticipated it, even if the ambushers weren't sent by the court, the court would have turned a blind eye if they knew about it. Furthermore, mobilizing such a large force wouldn't only mean we wouldn't have any evidence to prove the prince was in danger, but we'd also give others with ulterior motives to slander and attack him."

"Then what should we do? Otherwise, let the prince stay in the prime minister's residence today." Xie Feng really couldn't think of any other way. After thinking about it, he simply decided to wait and see. After all, the prime minister's residence is so big, if the prince wants to stay, would Ning Zhiyuan dare to refuse?

Seeing Xie Feng at his wit's end, Zhong Min couldn't help but laugh. She patted Xie Feng on the shoulder and motioned this burly man who was much taller than him to squat down a little.

"I have a plan." Zhong Minsui whispered in Xie Feng's ear as he approached, "Don't alert those in ambush yet. Let's split up into two groups. Let the outer guards go and look for them first..."

After hearing Zhong Min's plan, Xie Feng couldn't help but laugh. If Zhong Min hadn't quickly signaled him to be quiet, he would have almost burst out in praise.

"Don't worry, I'll go and arrange it according to your method right now. I guarantee there will be no problems." He quickly lowered his voice and said, "I'll come back and tell you when I'm done."

After saying that, Xie Feng turned around and left quietly. Zhong Min looked around and saw that no one was paying attention, so he went back and stood next to Xiao Mingzheng again.

During the banquet, it was normal for the servants to leave for a short while. After all, everyone has urgent needs, so Zhong Min's temporary disappearance and subsequent reappearance did not attract too much attention or suspicion from others.

After standing still for a moment, Xiao Mingzheng said it was getting late, apparently wanting to leave. Seeing this, Zhong Min quickly stepped forward and whispered something in Xiao Mingzheng's ear. Xiao Mingzheng nodded slightly, asking no further questions and showing no unusual expression.

"Prime Minister Ning, my maidservant just now dared to ask me to play one more piece for you. It just so happens that I'm a little reluctant to hear you play again. I don't know when I'll be able to hear you play again. Could you please play one more piece for the perfect ending to tonight's dinner?"

Xiao Mingzheng spoke calmly to Ning Zhiyuan. Zhong Min had just told him that the situation had changed and asked him to stay for a while before leaving. Although he was not clear about the specific situation, he believed that Zhong Min must have a reason, so he changed his words temporarily and asked Ning Zhiyuan to play the piano to delay some time.

When Ning Zhiyuan heard this, he immediately agreed happily. No matter whether he really wanted to hear it or just pretended to hear it, and no matter who wanted to hear it, since King Mu had spoken, he naturally had no reason to refuse.

He stood up again and ordered someone to bring the guqin. This time, Ning Zhiyuan sat cross-legged on the ground very casually. He smiled at Zhong Min and said comfortably, "Min'er wants to listen to it again. I'm so happy. The next song is played for Min'er. I hope Min'er will like it even more."

Zhong Min never expected Ning Zhiyuan to be so direct. He actually said such ambiguous words to her, a maid, in front of Xiao Mingzheng as if no one was around. She felt very awkward for a moment and couldn't help but quickly glanced at Xiao Mingzheng.

"Min'er, listen carefully. I'm about to start." Ning Zhiyuan reminded the distracted Zhong Min with a smile, and then he plucked the piano with his bare hands. The smooth and beautiful piano music flowed out from between his fingers again, echoing in every corner of the prime minister's residence.

After hearing the piano music, Xiao Mingzheng couldn't help but be slightly startled, but he quickly returned to normal. Ning Zhiyuan was obviously playing very attentively, and his eyes were always on Zhong Min, and he didn't pay much attention to other people.

After listening for a moment, Xiao Mingzheng glanced sideways at Zhong Min calmly. He saw that although she looked like she was listening attentively, her eyes didn't show any significant emotional changes, which made him feel relieved for a moment. If he guessed correctly, this woman probably didn't know what song Ning Zhiyuan was playing at the moment.

Just as the piano music was about to end, Zhong Min finally saw Xie Feng's figure quietly flashing in the distance. Seeing him nod at her, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and a smile unconsciously emerged with the last sound of Ning Zhiyuan's piano.

"Min'er, do you still like it?" Ning Zhiyuan asked someone to take the piano away, stood up and asked Zhong Min with an extremely tender expression.

"I like it, of course I like it, thank you for your help, Your Majesty." Zhong Min was already fully focused on the external defense plan at this time, and without thinking too much, he just responded casually and got away with it.

Then, she said to Xiao Mingzheng who was standing beside her, "Your Highness, it's getting late. It's almost time to go back and rest."

After hearing Zhong Min's words, Xiao Mingzheng understood that everything was ready, so he nodded, stood up and said goodbye to Ning Zhiyuan.

Ning Zhiyuan naturally did not stay any longer. He just asked the servant to get a bottle of ointment prepared in advance. Without avoiding Xiao Mingzheng, he personally handed it to Zhong Min. Although he did not say anything explicitly, it seemed that the ointment was also for applying to the bruises on Zhong Min's neck.

For a moment, Zhong Min didn't know whether she should answer the call or not. She couldn't help but look at Xiao Mingzheng. After all, he was her master at this time. Whether she answered the call or not naturally depended on her master's words. As a servant, she had no autonomy.

"Since it is the Prime Minister's intention, you can just accept it." Xiao Mingzheng said lightly, then walked away first.

Seeing this, Zhong Min didn't hesitate much. After thanking Ning Zhiyuan, he took the ointment from his hand, bowed and retreated, and then caught up with Xiao Mingzheng.

Soon, Ning Zhiyuan sent Xiao Mingzheng to the gate and respectfully escorted Xiao Mingzheng to the carriage. After the carriage slowly drove away, he smiled interestingly and then turned around to return home.

The carriage drove on the empty street for a while and then stopped. Then a gray sedan was carried out from the alley on the side and stopped silently beside the carriage.

"Your Highness, there are a large number of archers setting an ambush on the way back. For safety, please get off the car and take the sedan chair." Zhong Min said as he lifted the curtain and signaled Xiao Mingzheng to get off.

After Xiao Mingzheng got off, she also jumped out of the carriage briskly. Then she said to Xie Feng, who was waiting beside the sedan chair, "Brother, you and the other brothers escort the prince back by a small road. I will take the original group and continue in the carriage to confuse them and buy you some time."

Xiao Mingzheng had half of his body already entered the sedan, but when he heard Zhong Min's words, he immediately stepped out.

"You come with me!" He said to Zhong Min with certainty without hesitation, "It doesn't matter whether there's anyone in the carriage or not."

Zhong Min shook his head. "No, I'll be careful. Besides, it's just a sedan chair, and those people are well prepared. If I go with you, it will be easy for them to recognize our purpose, and then it will be bad news."

"That's fine. You can ride in the sedan chair with me." Xiao Mingzheng grabbed Zhong Min and pushed her into the sedan chair without hesitation. Before Zhong Min could object, Xiao Mingzheng forcibly pulled her into the sedan chair and made her sit down.

Seeing this, Xie Feng immediately took the sedan chair bearers and attendants who were dressed as outer security personnel, lifted the sedan chair and quickly went into the alley on the side and disappeared. A moment later, another team of people slowly followed the empty carriage and walked back along the original route.

At this moment, Xie Feng was secretly delighted. From the very beginning, he hadn't wanted Zhong Min to lead the team on the ambush route. After all, that would involve real weapons, and what if something went wrong? Originally, he wanted to exchange with Zhong Min, but now that the prince had dragged Zhong Min into the sedan chair without explanation, he naturally wanted to. After all, he also had his own selfish motives. How could he let such a good girl take such risks for nothing?

The already limited space inside the sedan became even more cramped with two people inside. This was the first time Zhong Min had ever been so close to Xiao Mingzheng. The swaying sedan constantly caused their bodies, which already had very little space between them, to touch each other. The air was filled with Xiao Mingzheng's distinct masculine scent, which made her feel so oppressive that even breathing seemed to become difficult.

I don't know if it was because the road was difficult to walk on in the dark night, or because the people carrying the sedan chair outside were walking too fast, but suddenly the sedan chair shook violently. Zhong Min couldn't help but lean back, and he immediately lost his balance and was about to hit the back of the sedan chair behind him.

"Be careful!" Seeing this, Xiao Mingzheng subconsciously stretched out his hand and hugged Zhong Min who was leaning backwards.

PS: Thanks to Qiu Limu for the reward.