Jian Ning immediately called Erniu and Sanniu, then walked up and took one of them by the hand, pretending to take them to see the ornaments displayed at the door of the shop on the right. She also deliberately nodded her chin from time to time and talked to Ding Youtian, as if she was very interested in the dazzling array of ornaments.
When she noticed that gaze again, she turned her head sharply and saw a corner of a gorgeous dress flying quickly across the street. If she hadn't been afraid of being tricked into leaving the tiger behind, she really wanted to chase after it.
This was bizarre. They had just arrived in Yanzhou County and were unfamiliar with the area. Who could they possibly have an enemy with? How could they be targeted right away? And the target seemed to be a woman.
Strange, who could it be?
Jian Ning thought for a moment and thought of Brother Shrimp and Sister Yu, whose bodies she had thrown into the deep mountains and dense forests. The two were already dead, and they were not top masters in the martial arts world. Naturally, it was impossible for them to practice any soul-moving technique like Feng Qingzi, and they had no bodies for them to revive.
The Min siblings are still in prison and will be executed in two months. They have no chance to stir up trouble again, so the only possibility left is Prince Yong!
Only King Yong has the intention to get rid of them!
The streets of Yanzhou County were not paved with blue bricks like those in other counties. Everywhere you looked, there was earth, but it was flattened. Wheel tracks of varying depths could be seen everywhere. The streets were filled with people performing tricks and making a living. Jian Ning secretly became more cautious, keeping his eyes on Erniu and Sanniu at all times.
Baimei had been with her for so long that even the slightest of her movements would catch its attention. Suddenly, it flew from Guoguo onto her shoulder. Jane Ning miraculously sensed its ears pricked up, its eyes alert. She couldn't help but raise her arm and stroke its head as a token of encouragement and praise.
Guoguo was not inferior to Baimei at all. It turned its head to look at Baimei, then ran in front of Jian Ning and the others, leading the way proudly. Tong Bajin, who was originally half a shoulder behind Ding Youtian, also slowed down his pace without a sound, fell behind them, and followed them at a leisurely pace.
"Wow, Mom, Dad, look there!" Sanniu was attracted by a dark-faced man playing with a stick in front of her on the left. Erniu also laughed after seeing him: "Oh, he has no hair. Mom, is that uncle Tang Monk?" Sanniu retorted, "No, Tang Monk can only recite the tight-hoop curse and can't play with a stick."
Erniu was unconvinced. "Mom just didn't tell me. He's Sun Wukong's master. If Sun Wukong can wield a staff, he must be able to do it, right, isn't that right, Mom?" Erniu looked up at Jian Ning. "Mom is our master. She knows everything we know. We haven't learned what she knows yet. That's why Sun Wukong can't recite the Tightening Curse. His master hasn't taught him yet, right, Mom?"
"That's right and that's not right." Ding Youtian said with a smile before Jian Ning could speak. "But our Erniu is Sanmei's older sister after all, so she already knows how to think things through. Not bad, Daddy will give her a verbal praise."
As he spoke, he rubbed the little bun on Erniu's head and took her other hand.
Erniu, like Baimei, loved to puff herself up. She was feeling quite proud now, shaking Jian Ning and Ding Youtian's hands and kicking her feet high. Sanniu, while pulling Jian Ning towards the black-faced man's stall, asked, "Mom, is what Second Sister said right?"
Jane Ning had been paying attention to the people and movements around her. She heard what they said but didn't think about it. Now the enemy was in the dark and they were in the light, so she had no time to think about anything else, so she said "hmm" vaguely.
Erniu was even more proud now. She kicked her two little feet until they were all red. She turned left and right, looking so proud. Even her fox Jinbao's body was almost twisted into a knot.
Sanniu tried to break away from Jian Ning and get into the crowd to watch the big man perform with a stick. Jian Ning pulled her back and stopped her, saying, "Just watch from here. Mom will hold you for a while." Jian Ning picked up Sanniu, and Ding Youtian followed suit by picking up Erniu. Just then, the man finished a set of stick exercises and stopped. He held the stick and clasped his fists, saying loudly, "Thank you all for your support. My name is Li Daniu, also known as Erlangzi, because I am the second oldest. I am not a monk who has returned to secular life. I just became a monk because I had leprosy. I hope you will enjoy some food. Please forgive me for the inconvenience!"
After Erlangzi finished speaking, he put down his stick and picked up a small flat bamboo basket from the ground. When he bent down to pick up the basket, all the onlookers ran away. Suddenly, there was no one in front of Jian Ning and the others. He stretched out the bamboo basket in his hand, and Sanniu only then saw the hard scabs all over his head, some of which were blood scabs.
"Mom, this uncle is so pitiful, can you treat him?" Sanniu hugged Jian Ning's neck and shook her. Jian Ning had been paying close attention to Erlangzi, and while being wary of him, she said, "I can treat the wound on your head. If you are still here at this time tomorrow, I will send you the medicine."
Erlangzi was stunned when he heard Sanniu's words at first. After hearing Jian Ning say this again, he quickly looked at her and Ding Youtian who was holding Erniu beside him. In order not to attract attention, Jian Ning and Ding Youtian all wore clothes made of ordinary fabrics. Even so, their appearance and temperament showed that they were not ordinary people.
The fool immediately put down the bamboo basket, clasped his fists, and said, "If you can cure my leprosy and give me a good meal, I will gladly submit to your command and will follow you till death, never regretting it!"
After saying this, he was about to kneel on one knee, but Jian Ning quickly stopped him and stepped back, saying, "No need! I'm a female doctor, and treating illnesses is my duty. You earn money easily, and I don't need you to spend money. I'll come here to give you some medicine at this time tomorrow."
Jian Ning gave Ding Youtian a look as he spoke, signaling them to leave. The two of them started to walk away. Tong Bajin took out a handful of copper coins from his pocket and stuffed them into Erlangzi's hand. He then raised his arm and patted him on the shoulder, "This is a reward from my master and mistress."
Tong Bajin did this for no other reason than that he himself had once reluctantly sold his beloved Jifeng due to illness, and he knew the plight of a hero who could not afford to lose a penny. This fool had leprosy on his head, and the onlookers were so afraid of getting sick that they were too busy running to spare a few coins. It was not easy to go hungry.
"Sir?" Erlangzi clenched the copper coin in his hand and looked up at Ding Youtian and Jian Ning. His eyes were ambiguous and thoughtful. He picked up the iron rod and followed them from a distance.
"Madam." Ding Youtian knew that with Jian Ning's personality, she wouldn't be so reluctant to give even a few cents. She must have other reasons for not giving. "But do you see anything wrong?"
"Let's talk about it when we get back."
Back at the inn, Jian Ning told Erniu and Sanniu not to leave the room, and certainly not to leave her sight. Then she told Ding Youtian that someone was following them.
Just as Jian Ning thought, Ding Youtian also immediately thought of Prince Yong. After he was appointed to be exiled to Danyang County, the prince had asked Huo Jincheng to inform him that Prince Rui of Yanzhou County was a member of Prince Yong's party just like Prince Zhao. The difference was that Prince Rui's mother was more favored than Prince Zhao's mother, and his family also had considerable power.
Prince Rui was apparently attached to Prince Yong, but in fact he also harbored the intention of seizing the throne. Ding Youtian did not tell Jian Ning about these things in order to prevent her from worrying about it. He did not want them to be targeted as soon as they entered the north.
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