Chapter 297 Reunion
Li Mingshu seemed to understand but not quite, but she believed that Lin Changning could protect her and her daughter.
He simply smiled at Lin Changning and said, "Xiao Liu, you can make the arrangements. I trust you."
Lin Changning sighed, pondering what kind of mission Mr. Gao Huan had, since the princess had already been rescued, yet he still wanted to stay in the capital.
Although she was injured along the way, all three of them were unharmed. However, Mr. Gao Huai is now missing. Logically, the people in the palace should be tracking them, but the people they encountered along the way were only about twenty, and they didn't seem to be from the palace.
What mission could make the palace guards give up the pursuit of the princess? When they arrived, Mr. Gao Huan never mentioned that he had other missions. Now, plans can't keep up with changes. Although the princess and the others escaped, the fate of the others is unknown.
Lin Changning couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he tried. He frowned for a long time, then gave up and opened the box. He took out some pastries and gave them to Li Mingshu and Yue'er: "Have some to tide you over. We'll only be here for one more day before we set off again."
Li Mingshu took the pastries and handed them to her daughter. Seeing that Yue'er was enjoying them, she also started eating some.
Lin Changning sat at the table, propping his head up with his hand, preparing to take a nap.
These past two days have been both mentally and physically exhausting, but thankfully the injury to my shoulder has healed considerably.
Lin Changning couldn't help but think about what he had dreamed about that night, and how his wounds had mostly healed after the dream.
Unconsciously, I touched the space between my eyebrows and suddenly realized that it was a little hot. I frowned and touched it again, confirming that it was indeed a little hot, which I found a bit strange.
Suddenly, a series of crackling sounds came from outside the door, as if someone was smashing something. Lin Changning stood up abruptly, unfastened his sword from his waist, and looked warily at the entrance to the secret room.
The door to the secret room creaked open, and Lin Changning quickly drew his sword and rushed to the door. The shopkeeper, carrying a bloodied figure on his shoulder, hurriedly ran in.
Lin Changning breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it was the shopkeeper, but then he saw the blood-soaked man on the shopkeeper's shoulder and hurriedly stepped forward to take him away.
"Wang He?? How did he get into this state?"
The shopkeeper released the person on his shoulder and said to Lin Changning seriously, "Sir, it's too late. Two groups of people are fighting outside. I took advantage of the chaos to bring the person in. The soldiers will be here soon. You should take him and the princess and leave quickly. The carriage has already been brought to the backyard."
Lin Changning frowned and placed Wang He on a stool: "This injury is too serious. Do you have any medicine? Let's apply some medicine for him before we leave, otherwise he might not be able to make it on the way."
The shopkeeper nodded and put down a small bundle: "The silver notes, loose silver, and medicine are all inside. There's no time to lose, we need to leave now. We can apply the medicine in the carriage later."
Lin Changning, carrying Wang He, looked up at Li Mingshu, who was still somewhat shaken: "We can't stay here any longer, sister. Take some snacks and let's go quickly."
In her panic, Li Mingshu quickly picked up Yue'er, pulled the blanket from the bed to stuff the food inside, and prepared to follow Lin Changning.
At this moment, Wang He, who had fallen into a coma, slowly opened his eyes and coughed twice: "Commander! Last will and testament! Cough cough, you go first, don't take me as a burden."
Lin Changning frowned upon hearing Wang He's weak words. Wang He struggled to pull a wooden box from his pocket and stuffed it into Lin Changning's arms: "Mr. Gao and the others died from poisoning. Before they died, they entrusted the things to me. The people who injured me are from the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion. They are currently fighting with an unknown force. Before he died, Mr. Gao insisted that we take the things back to Taiyuan."
Lin Changning, frowning as he gripped the box, ignored Wang He's struggles and prepared to carry her out. Wang He, seemingly afraid of hindering Lin Changning, kept twisting her body, trying to break free from his control.
Lin Changning cursed under her breath and knocked Wang He unconscious with a chop to the neck. This was her soldier, and as long as he wasn't dead, she had no reason to abandon him.
After carrying the unconscious Wang He on his back, Lin Changning followed the shopkeeper through the secret passage to the backyard. A short while later, the shopkeeper opened another hidden door. Lin Changning followed him out and found that it was actually the stable in the backyard. The hidden door was completely covered by grain and fodder.
The innkeeper climbed onto the carriage and harnessed the horses: "Sir, hurry up! I've already sent the waiter to make arrangements at the city gate, so there shouldn't be any problems."
Lin Changning nodded, and after watching Li Mingshu carry Yue'er upstairs, he also carried Wang He upstairs.
The innkeeper sat on the carriage, ready to send Lin Changning and his group out. He had been in the area for decades and had taken care of all the necessary people, from the soldiers at the gate to the local officials. Sending someone out was no problem for him.
Lin Changning, sitting in the carriage, quickly undressed Wang He and checked his injuries. He saw four or five knife wounds on Wang He's back, and an arrow piercing his heart about two inches away.
It seemed that the injury had been going on for two or three days. Lin Changning frowned, took out the medicine and bandages prepared by the shopkeeper from his bundle, sprinkled them on the wound, and slowly stopped the bleeding before quickly bandaging Wang He.
The wound was almost completely bandaged, and the shopkeeper stopped at the city gate.
All that could be heard was a young soldier greeting the shopkeeper.
"Where is Manager Zhou going?"
The shopkeeper sat outside the carriage, smiling as he spoke to someone: "Master Ding has reserved a table here for a pufferfish feast. I heard that someone caught some pufferfish by the river these past few days, so he's making a trip to buy some."
The soldier outside waved and said, "Alright, take your time on your journey."
After the innkeeper responded, the carriage slowly drove out of the city again. It seemed that it had traveled several miles before the innkeeper stopped the carriage in the woods beside the official road.
"Sir, this is all I can take you this far. I have prepared all the necessary travel permits and other items in the hidden compartments of the carriage. I need to hurry back now, otherwise it will be difficult to explain when the soldiers arrive."
Lin Changning poked his head out from inside and took over the shopkeeper's position. He sat in the carriage and nodded to the shopkeeper: "Thank you, shopkeeper."
The shopkeeper cupped his hands in greeting to Lin Changning: "After passing three more cities, you will be met at Panchuan. I wish you and the princess a safe journey!"
Lin Changning looked at the shopkeeper and nodded slightly, then gently tugged at the reins: "Giddy up!"
Lin Changning drove the carriage quickly toward the next town. Li Mingshu and Yue'er, who were inside the carriage, looked at Wang He lying in the carriage with some concern.
Lin Changning lifted the curtain and looked inside. She glanced at Li Mingshu and, thinking she had frightened Yue'er and her, explained, "She just fainted, she's not dead."
Li Mingshu looked up: "How are your injuries? Why don't you teach me how to drive? I'll take your place."
Lin Changning shook her head: "My injuries have mostly healed, sister. Don't worry, take Yue'er and rest in the car for a while. We probably won't reach the next county until tonight."
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