In the blink of an eye, the scene that had just been filled with shock instantly fell into a bizarre state of normalcy.
Huo Chengche carried the little boy back and gave him a command, "Follow me."
The boy's voice was cool and indifferent, yet it carried an undeniable strength.
So, still in shock, Tong Youlin and the yamen runners followed in a daze.
When they came to their senses, they suddenly felt that the person next to them was a little taller, and when they turned their heads to look...
"Mother, snake!"
A few gusts of wind suddenly swept past Huo Chengche and Xuandi, who were walking ahead.
"Hehehe~ The uncles are so happy, they even have a race on the way down the mountain!" Accompanied by a burst of adorable, cheerful laughter, the little baby's sweet and childlike voice echoed through the mountains.
Xuan Di glanced at the person who had run far away in a flash, raised an eyebrow, and laughed gleefully, "Wow, those legs are amazing! It seems that the capital city is indeed a place of outstanding people and talents. Even a small government office like the Jingzhao Prefecture is full of hidden talents and brilliant minds!"
Upon hearing this, Huo Chengche glanced coldly at Xuan Di. How could he not tell that Xuan Di was mocking the cowardice of the people of the capital?
He snorted coldly, "They're just making a fuss over nothing. In the future, let Liang Sheng take these strong pythons and spend more time with the yamen runners, and they'll naturally get used to it."
"Oh, then I must congratulate Lord Liang. He'll soon have another new recruit under his command. Just two days ago, Lord Liang was worried about the lack of manpower in the Jingzhao Prefecture, and now His Highness the Crown Prince has immediately sent him two batches of 'manpower.' It's clear how much His Highness favors Lord Liang."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Di imagined Liang Sheng's soon-to-be gloomy face and became even more overjoyed.
Huo Chengche was too lazy to continue arguing with him when he heard the little dumpling's soft, sweet voice.
"Huh? Uncles, why did you stop? The village is just ahead. Are you waiting for us?" The little boy tilted his head and looked at the uncles who were squatting behind the bushes in front of him, asking curiously.
Huo Chengche approached, looked towards the village ahead, frowned, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Immediately, another yamen runner got up and ran over to report, "Your Highness, the brothers just stopped us, saying they think there's something wrong in the village."
"Oh? Why?"
When Tong Youlin heard them coming, he quickly came over to explain, "It's like this, it's almost lunchtime, and everyone should be starting to cook, but Your Highness, look, not a single wisp of smoke has risen from the chimneys in this village."
Huo Chengche checked the time; it was almost lunchtime. Looking around the village, he saw that there wasn't a single wisp of smoke rising from the chimneys.
"Has this ever happened before?" Huo Chengche asked Tong Youlin while turning back to instruct, "Gu Ran, take some men to investigate and find out what's going on."
"yes."
Tong Youlin scratched his head, thought about it carefully, and looked completely bewildered. "No way, if they didn't start cooking at mealtimes in the past, it could only be those corrupt officials..."
He was about to blurt out "those damned officials," but remembering Huo Chengche's status, he quickly chuckled sheepishly and changed his words, pausing before continuing:
"Sigh, before, when the government officials came to suppress the village, the women and children would hide in the cellars, which is why they wouldn't light the stoves at mealtimes. But now that the government officials aren't coming anymore, why wouldn't they cook at mealtimes? It shouldn't be like this..."
No sooner had Tong Youlin finished speaking than Gu Ran returned with a blank expression.
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