Jian Ning and Huo Jincheng left the inn when Xiong Er came there. They deliberately chose to eat in the lobby downstairs every day, just because the lobby was crowded and it was easy to hear gossip.
Sure enough, I really heard it.
Some people at the next table were talking about how the housekeeper of the Grand Prince's mansion had bought a few more sheep in the afternoon, and that there must be distinguished guests coming to the mansion. Someone inside sighed that if one day they could also eat a whole roasted lamb, they would die with peace of mind.
Huo Jincheng had heard something about the collusion between the Great Prince of Yue Kingdom and the gangsters from the Central Plains. He quickly exchanged glances with Jian Ning, then called the waiter, threw down some small change, and left the inn with Jian Ning.
On the way, they got separated from Xiong Er who came with great enthusiasm to report the news. When they arrived at the Grand Prince's Mansion while the sunset had not yet faded, the two of them circled around the mansion, discussing how to sneak into the mansion and find out what was going on.
It is known to all in Yan Dynasty that Prince Yong covets the throne and has rebellious intentions. As a member of Prince Yong's party, Ma Lao is a criminal wanted by Emperor Yongkang's imperial decree. At present, Yue Kingdom and Yan Dynasty still have friendly neighborly relations. If it is confirmed that the prince of Yue Kingdom has taken in the fugitive criminal of Yan Dynasty, this will undermine the friendly neighborly relations between the two countries.
The palace was heavily guarded. After a quick walk, the two of them felt it was difficult to strike. Jian Ning thought for a moment and said, "If Ma Lao really has surrendered to the Great Prince, he'll have to treat her to good food and wine to win her over. Why don't we go up the mountain tonight and get some wild game, then come sell it outside his palace tomorrow. What do you think?"
"Do you carry the secret water of wild animals with you as well?" Huo Jincheng had lived in Dingxian Village for a long time, so he naturally knew that she had the secret water.
"Your big house is too magical. Since you can hide in it, it must be something real. Can you let me take a look?"
What he meant was that he wanted Jane Ning to take him in to have a look and see for himself.
"Only my husband and I can enter. No one else can."
Jane Ning said she was powerless.
Huo Jincheng's eyes darkened. "I was just saying it casually. There's no need to go through so much trouble." He looked up at the twilight. "After dark, I'll sneak in and take a look."
"Don't. If you go in, I'd rather go in. But the Moon Country wizards are extremely treacherous. We'd better not act rashly. If we alert them, they'll be on guard and who knows how much time we'll waste."
Thinking of the city-wide search in the past few days, Huo Jincheng fell silent for a moment. He was about to agree to Jian Ning's suggestion to go up the mountain to trap wild animals when a man dressed in Yue Nation clothing and a conical hat passed by them. He paused for a moment and whispered, "Follow me."
"It's Dali." Jian Ning recognized it as Xu Dali's voice and followed him.
Xu Dali brought them to a row of low civilian houses, pushed open the half-open bamboo door and slipped inside.
Jian Ning and Huo Jincheng followed them in and saw a simple stove in the corner of the courtyard. A young woman in plain clothes was wielding a spatula to stir-fry vegetables. Jian Ning thought the woman looked familiar, but before she could ask, she saw them come in, turned around and called out "Daddy", then dropped the spatula and rushed over, bowing to Jian Ning.
"I greet Princess An Ning." She lowered her voice, glanced at Huo Jincheng next to Jian Ning, and turned sideways to bow to him.
"This is Miss Song who testified for me in court last year." Xu Dali also lowered his voice.
Old Man Song also came out of the bamboo house and was about to get the spatula to continue cooking. When he heard Xu Dali mention the incident of testifying in court in the past, he looked at Jian Ning and Huo Jincheng with his cloudy eyes and recognized Jian Ning at a glance.
He hurriedly put the pot on the stove and stumbled a few steps to catch up. Jian Ning had already remembered them, "But Miss Qinglian?" She called out to Old Man Song who was approaching, "How did you and your daughter end up in Yue Country? You are from Yue Country?"
Old Man Song was about to kneel before Jian Ning, but Xu Dali held him back and said, "No need to be so polite. I'm going in to talk to Madam and Master Huo. Please keep an eye on the outside and don't let anyone in."
"Hey hey." Old Man Song nodded rapidly, looking at Jian Ning with eyes full of gratitude, because Jian Ning had cured his injuries in Yancheng that year and also given him a lot of medicine.
"Daddy and I will be watching outside, you just rest assured." Qinglian said and bowed to Jian Ning and Huo Jincheng.
"Madam, please follow me." Xu Dali ushered them into the bamboo house. "Zhu Da and I stumbled upon a piece of news in Jishui: several people from the Yan Dynasty have arrived in Yue Country. I asked around, and according to the description, one of them is very likely Ma Lao, who caused trouble in Danyang. Shouldn't she be detained in the capital's Tianlao? I was worried about Brother Ding Yang, so I went to the neighboring county with Zhu Da, and unexpectedly ran into Brother Ding Yang halfway."
"He has already left. Go on. But after following Ma Lao all the way here, did she seek refuge with the Great Prince of Yue Kingdom?" Jian Ning asked.
"Yes. She entered the palace with four quacks."
Jian Ning and Huo Jincheng looked at each other and asked him, "Have you seen Manager Chen?"
"I haven't seen him." Xu Dali's face darkened. After a moment's hesitation, he continued, "I'm afraid that Shopkeeper Chen is in grave danger. I hadn't originally planned to follow Ma Lao and the others. Zhu Da and I followed the route indicated by Brother Ding Yang to find Shopkeeper Chen. We inquired all the way to Qujing. We had some news about him at first, but when we got there, the news stopped. Zhu Da and I searched everywhere for news about him, and ended up running into Ma Lao and the others. I sent Zhu Da back to inform the adults, and I followed Ma Lao and the others to Shangjing."
"Why are Madam and Mr. Huo here too?"
After hearing what he said, Jian Ning had a bad feeling. When she was fighting with Ma Lao and others in the yard of Xu Dali's house, many people in Danyang were hiding in the houses of Xu's house. Afterwards, everyone knew that the teenage Ma Lao was actually an old woman. They were all amazed. This matter was known to everyone in Danyang.
Shopkeeper Chen had naturally heard about it since he had stayed in Danyang. If he was worried that Ma Lao and others would surrender to the enemy and betray the country, and secretly follow them or get close to them, he would most likely be killed by them if he was not careful!
"We're here for Grandma Ma," Huo Jincheng said. "She's a wanted criminal of the imperial court. Now that it's been confirmed that she's surrendered to the great prince, I'll immediately return to the capital to report to the emperor and then send an envoy to claim the prisoner."
"No need." Jian Ning looked at him and said, "Have you forgotten Xiong Er? He is a fierce general under the current emperor of Yue Kingdom. I think it would be better to ask him to inform the Yue Emperor Pei Xiyuan that I once saved his life. If he is willing to meet us, then I will ask him directly in my capacity as the Princess of Yanchao and explain our Emperor Yanchao's attitude on this matter. We will see what he says then."
Huo Jincheng thought for a moment and nodded. "Okay, she's surrendered to the prince anyway, so she can't escape here. Why don't we wait another day or two until Brother Tong and the others arrive? Then we'll go into the palace with you. How about that?"
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