Chapter 7: A Clever Plan

Zhong Min's attentiveness and roundabout strategy once again made Xiao Mingzheng frown slightly. The woman in front of him was indeed experienced and thoughtful. His original intention of just trying it out suddenly became more serious.

"If you have any ideas, just tell me. I will decide whether to adopt them or not." As he spoke, he jumped off his horse nimbly. The black cloak behind him swayed, making him look more like a king.

Seeing this, Luo Jiaxing and General Cheng also dismounted. Luo Jiaxing's face was filled with hope, and even General Cheng no longer had the same dismissive eye for Zhong Min as before. At this moment, the prince's safety was paramount. Even a child, let alone a woman, would be considered a meritorious official if they could offer a good idea to ensure the prince's safe return to camp.

Zhong Min knew the time was right. She nodded slightly and said solemnly, "This servant's method is very simple. Your Highness can lead a few light cavalrymen directly over there. If nothing unexpected happens, we will be able to return to the camp safely..."

"What kind of solution is this? Aren't you, a servant, deliberately causing trouble?" General Cheng was impatient. Upon hearing that Zhong Min's solution was so unreliable, he stamped his foot and started cursing, "Letting the prince take risks alone is worse than this general's. What are you thinking?"

"General Cheng, don't be anxious. Let her finish her words first." Although Luo Jiaxing was a little disappointed, he didn't believe that Zhong Min was only capable of this. He looked at Zhong Min anxiously, as if hoping she wouldn't let him down.

Seeing this, Zhong Min thought that Luo Jiaxing was quite cute. She smiled at him and then looked at Xiao Mingzheng. She found that this man was indeed the most patient. He looked at her calmly and waited for what to say next.

She neither argued with General Cheng nor paid any attention to Luo Jiaxing. She went straight to Xiao Mingzheng and explained, "The terrain of the valley ahead is an ideal place for an ambush. Therefore, the ambushers knew that the prince would be aware of the danger of an ambush. If the prince sent a small group of cavalry to explore the way ahead, the ambushers would not alert the scouts in order not to alert the enemy. This way, they could paralyze the scouts and send back false information, mistakenly believing that there was no ambush. When the prince led the others into the ambush circle as normal, they would then strike. When thousands of arrows were unleashed, the prince would be unable to escape even with wings."

"You mean, let me blend in with this fake scouting party, and once I'm out of the ambush, I can just ride away!" Xiao Mingzheng immediately understood Zhong Min's true intention, and his mind suddenly became clear: "This way, not only can I return to camp safely, but I can also avoid unnecessary casualties among my soldiers."

"Your Highness is quite right. The ambush was aimed at you. Taking your life would be the best. If that is not possible, then preventing you from returning to camp before nightfall becomes the most important task."

Li You nodded affirmatively and continued, "Once they know the mission has failed and the prince has returned safely, the ambushers will surely not waste their efforts. This way, the prince can return to camp on time, and the others can wait until the ambushers have left before passing safely."

"This plan is very clever. We can pass through their noses without any soldiers. I think it's worth a try!" Luo Jiaxing was suddenly very excited and hurriedly lobbied King Mu. As he spoke, he couldn't help but look at Zhong Min again, thinking that this maid really did not disappoint him.

"Your Highness, please think twice. I believe the maid's identity is unknown. What if she deliberately wants to lure Your Highness into an ambush? This is too risky. Your Highness, please find another way." Although General Cheng thought this method was a good one, he was worried about Zhong Min.

A simple maidservant could have such thoughts, and she never revealed them in the slightest, hiding them so well. It's hard to say if she doesn't have some special identity or purpose. There are so many people trying to plot against Prince Mu right now, so we have to be on guard.

After hearing General Cheng's words, Luo Jiaxing instinctively wanted to refute him, but he didn't know what to say. Although General Cheng's words were somewhat mean-spirited, Zhong Min's identity was indeed full of doubts. Although the method was good, if General Cheng's words really came true, wouldn't that be like sending the prince to his death?

Therefore, he couldn't say anything more at this time. After all, it was related to the safety of the prince. He really couldn't make any guarantee for a maid whom he didn't even know. Not to mention guaranteeing for the maid, even he himself couldn't be 100% sure.

"General Cheng's concerns are quite reasonable." Zhong Min glanced at the others, his expression calm, "Zhong Min has already made it clear. I'm only responsible for coming up with ideas. Whether or not you adopt them is none of my business."

After saying that, she spread her hands out of habit again, and then gathered her not-too-thick clothes. She was really freezing after staying outside for so long in such a cold day.

"That's easy to say. In my opinion, even if you, a maidservant, didn't intend to poison the prince, you didn't have any good intentions. At the very least, you're a coward. I'm afraid you're worried that if you go in with him, you'll be ambushed and shot to death by arrows. That's why you came up with this idea to let the prince take the risk alone. You'd better stay and don't have to take the risk!" General Cheng is usually not very smart, but this time he reacted very quickly and even thought of this possibility.

Zhong Min was at a loss for words when she heard this. She cursed General Cheng inwardly, calling him a fool, then said with a wry smile, "General, your imagination is too rich. If the prince were to make even the slightest mistake, regardless of whether it was my fault or whether I entered the ambush, my life would be ended just because you wanted to."

General Cheng laughed heartily upon hearing this, and said to Zhong Min with a certain amount of pride, "You still have some self-awareness. With me, Cheng Fei, here, no matter how many evil intentions you have, it will be useless."

Seeing this, Zhong Min didn't bother to argue with the man. She had no intention of staying here. If Zheng Ruyu found out, she was afraid that as soon as Prince Mu left, that vicious woman would kill her. She could still argue with the most powerful man, but with a woman like that, there was no point in trying to reason with her.

Xiao Mingzheng listened to the conversation between General Cheng and Zhong Min, and took in every nuance of her expression. Seeing Zhong Min's nonchalant expression and odd gestures again, he suddenly realized a subtle yet very real detail: from beginning to end, Zhong Min had shown no trace of the caution and humility expected of a servant.

After a moment, Xiao Mingzheng no longer hesitated. No matter what, the method Zhong Min mentioned was the most reliable and worth a try. He raised the whip in his hand and suddenly asked Zhong Min, "Can you ride a horse?"