Chapter 153 You think I'm really confused?
Looking at the two, one big and one small, Luo Qing realized that despite their young age, they possessed a more powerful aura than he did.
What do you want me to do?
"Let us both out, and I'll find out what Prefect Yuan is up to."
For some reason, he actually believed what this little brat told him.
After a moment of silence, Luo Qing finally nodded.
"Alright, I can let you two go, but on one condition: if you're caught, I won't confess."
Any deal we make will only be said that you escaped, and I'll only give you half a day.
If Prefect Yuan still does not summon you by noon tomorrow, I will require him to affix his official seal. If you have not returned by then,
I will treat you as fugitives, but if things go well, I will treat both your families well on the way to Lingnan.”
This really showed Yun Zhao just how shameless a person could be.
They got all the benefits.
But what can be done about it?
They were, after all, exiled prisoners, and there was no benefit in confronting the officials head-on.
Wei Jingchen agreed without even thinking.
Yun Zhao would not agree to leave alone, but with Wei Jingchen accompanying her, she felt much more at ease.
That night.
Xu Qingyi changed her daughter's clothes and then held her in her arms.
He kept whispering to her to be careful.
When the third watchman's drum sounded outside, Xu Yinan leaned closer and whispered, "Sister, it's time to go out."
They agreed with Luo Qing that they would deliver wine to the guards at the post station around midnight.
Yun Zhao and Wei Jingchen planned to take advantage of this opportunity to sneak out of the post station.
Xu Qingyi then reluctantly let go of her daughter.
Seeing her mother's uneasy look, Yun Zhao comforted her, "Don't worry, Mother, Zhao Zhao will be back soon~ And with Brother Jing Chen here, Mother, don't worry!"
Seeing her daughter's sensible appearance, Xu Qingyi gently stroked her little face.
From the day her daughter returned with the tiger, she understood that her daughter was different from others.
As a mother, she couldn't keep her daughter by her side and hold her back.
Xu Qingyi turned her face away, wiped away her tears, and pretended to be calm.
"Okay, Mother, don't worry. Go quickly, don't keep Brother Jingchen waiting too long!"
Yun Zhao tiptoed and kissed Xu Qingyi on the cheek.
"Zhaozhao will be back soon!"
Then, she lowered her head and touched her younger brother's face with her own before turning away.
Wei Jingchen waited for her in the shadows by the corner of the wall. He only came out from the shadows when he saw her coming.
"Brother Jingchen~ Let's go quickly!"
The inn was located in a remote area, and there was a wasteland right outside the back door.
If they hadn't lured the gatekeeper away, they would have been discovered after only a few steps.
"Walk!"
Wei Jingchen picked him up and left.
Yun Zhao sighed, "This is the time to bring flowers along!"
"Then you won't be able to enter the city."
Wei Jingchen smiled.
It was thanks to Wei Jingchen holding her that she was able to survive; otherwise, with her small frame...
Just walking from the inn to the city center would surely exhaust her!
Although the city gates were under martial law, life continued as usual for the people inside the city.
Xuyangzhou is located in the Jiangnan region, and its curfew is not as strict as that in the capital.
At midnight, the western part of the city was preparing to close its market.
As Wei Jingchen and Yun Zhao emerged from the post station, they encountered people who had finished eating and drinking and were preparing to return home.
The two quickly blended in, and no one noticed that there were two extra children.
The prefectural government office was located in a quiet area amidst the bustling city, a place where people of high status had always gathered.
Wei Jingchen and Yun Zhao crouched in the shadows of the street, observing the direction the carriage had gone.
After the surroundings returned to calm, Wei Jingchen led Yun Zhao towards the direction the carriage had left in.
Just as he expected, following the direction they left in, he actually found the Yuan residence!
Standing in the alley in front of the Yuan residence, Yun Zhao asked, "Brother Jingchen, should we find a dog hole?"
Wei Jingchen: ...
Make him crawl through the dog hole?
impossible!
"I'll take you inside, you wait here for a moment."
After saying that, he put Yun Zhao down and leaped onto a large tree next to the courtyard wall.
There were more guards in the courtyard than he had imagined. He observed for a moment before returning to Yun Zhao's side.
"Walk."
Taking advantage of the absence of the patrolling guards, he led Yun Zhao over the wall and into the village.
After scaling the wall, Wei Jingchen led Yun Zhao straight to the brightly lit main hall.
Inside the main hall.
"My lord, it is said that Yang Jingyan is Luo Zicheng's beloved disciple, and is an upright and incorruptible man."
"It cannot be bribed with money. If this matter were to reach the capital, it would likely alarm the emperor."
Sitting at the head of the main hall was Xu, the prefect of Yangzhou, Yuan Shuchang.
Yuan Shuchang paused for a moment, then stopped tapping the chair beside him.
"Is there any way to get rid of him?"
"Now that he's in An County, and the refugee unrest in the vicinity has been quelled, there's probably no reason for him to cause trouble."
My lord, he is, after all, Luo Zicheng's beloved disciple. Luo Zicheng has countless students. If Yang Jingyan dies...
That might attract other people's attention, and then things could get even worse. Perhaps...
As he spoke, one of his men made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Once Young Master Yuan dies, the trail will be gone."
Yuan Shuchang glanced at him, which startled him into silence.
"Do you really think I'm so foolish as to save someone just for the sake of the Yuan family bloodline?"
"Your subordinate wouldn't dare!"
"Although the account books were retrieved, he has always been a cautious person. You've managed to get him out..."
He just told you where the ledgers were, but don't you think he might have a backup plan?
Yuan Shuchang valued him so highly because of his treacherous and ruthless nature.
He's even more ruthless than his father.
However, this also became the most dangerous situation after the matter was exposed.
"Sir, the room has been burned down, what could he possibly be hiding?"
"Have someone keep a close eye on Yang Jingyan. If there's any movement from over there..."
Send someone to report immediately; do not alarm the lord unless absolutely necessary.
After saying that, Yuan Shuchang stood up, paced back and forth a couple of times, still feeling uneasy.
"What's the news from the post station about their entry into the city today?"
"Rest assured, sir, I have already sent men to guard the front and back gates. Those elderly, weak, women, and children will not be able to leave!"
Yuan Shuchang nodded in satisfaction after hearing this.
"I'm going to check on Yuan Shijie. Have someone keep a close eye on him. Also, is the money to be sent to the master this month ready?"
"Everything is ready, sir. Rest assured, we will definitely not miss the Lord's birthday banquet!"
Just as Yuan Shuchang was about to leave, Wei Jingchen immediately took Yun Zhao and flew up into the tree.
Only after the candles in the main hall were extinguished did Wei Jingchen bring Yun Zhao down.
Yuan Shuchang was going to find Yuan Shijie; he was determined to say something more.
As Yuan Shuchang's figure was about to disappear into the courtyard, Yun Zhao became anxious and reached out to tug at his sleeve.
"Brother Jingchen, aren't we going with them?"
Wei Jingchen snapped out of his daze and looked down at her.
Do you know which nobleman will be celebrating his birthday soon?
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