Xuanfeng made a gesture, and Xuanshuang immediately followed behind the bandit leader, while he himself turned and walked towards Xie Zhun's carriage.
A moment later, Xuanfeng returned, led out a horse, and handed it to the bandit leader.
He then asked if the other party needed any guards to accompany them, but the other party refused, so he let the other party leave.
Zheng Ye approached and asked Xuanfeng how the conversation between His Highness and the other party went.
Judging from the bandit leader's words, a cooperation has been reached, but the form of it is still unknown.
Xie Zhun, Xuanfeng's personal bodyguard, naturally knew how to speak tactfully and what could be revealed to outsiders.
"After the prince guessed the bandits' identities, they no longer concealed their true intentions, saying that General Shen Tuo had threatened them with their families, demanding they assassinate the prince and his entourage..."
"His Highness promised to forgive their past transgressions and protect their wives, children, and elderly parents, on the condition that they repent and act loyally in the future..."
Whether someone is loyal or not cannot be determined by a few words of statement.
In chaotic times, people try to survive by assessing the situation and making judgments.
At this moment, if the bandit leader does not agree, even if Xie Zhun releases them, Shen Tuo's men will not spare them.
Even if Xie Zhun doesn't release them, their families might not have a good end, and their remaining subordinates might be forever at Shen Tuo's mercy.
Xie Zhun's past reputation, the prestige of the Duke of Huguo and his two generals, and the lessons the bandits learned in this battle were enough to explain to them...
Following Xie Zhun is currently the most correct path.
As for whether they will remain loyal in the future, or how long they will stay with the team...
It depends on whether Xie Zhun can provide a stable life for his family.
Their departure from Shen Tuo's group proved that what they sought was different from that of Shen Tuo and his ilk.
The fact that they are now taking risks for the safety of their families shows that they have placed their family's safety and their inner principles above their career advancement.
Xie Zhun believes that as long as he can protect their families, he will have the loyalty of this team.
Correspondingly, Xie Zhun also gave his own attitude.
No one was sent to follow them.
All of this was seen by the bandits who were tied up on the ground.
"Your Excellency, dinner is ready!"
The servant in charge of cooking ran to Eunuch Xu's side to report.
Eunuch Xu personally took a small bowl and scooped out some of the stewed food from the pot, then tested it for poison with the medicine powder given to him by Ning Xi'er.
Only after confirming that there were no problems did the guards watch over the servants as they scooped out the portions one by one.
Their own group, plus the bandits, totaled nearly four hundred people.
Bowls were poured out and spread all over the floor.
Except for the injured, who were delivered by servants, the masters were personally served their goods; others took what they needed themselves.
When the guards carried Xie Zhun and the Duke of Huguo's meals into the carriage, Ning Xi'er immediately summoned Xuan Dian and had him follow them.
If Ning Xi'er still couldn't understand that Xie Zhun had specifically arranged for Xuan Dian to be on either side of her, given that Xuan Dian would always appear at top speed to protect her, then she would be incredibly foolish.
As to whether it was surveillance or protection, Ning Xi'er preferred to believe it was the latter.
Eunuch Xu was very thoughtful. Before serving his own wounded soldiers, he had his guards serve the wounded soldiers among the bandits first.
The guards hadn't gone over yet...
Ning Xi'er gave Zheng Ye a look, then glanced at the bowl in the guard's hand...
Zheng Ye immediately understood and stopped the guards.
Not far away, several of the servants responsible for scooping food from the large pot began to back away...
Thinking no one had noticed, but Eunuch Xu was quick-witted and, without waiting for Ning Xi'er to remind him, immediately ordered his men to tie the person up.
Zheng Ye also had the medicine powder that Ning Xi'er had given him last time tucked in his pocket.
I took a spoon and tried it in each bowl.
Before he could even try another bowl, his face darkened further.
The room was completely silent. Zheng Ye had just finished half of the test when a loud noise suddenly came from next to the stew pot!
The guards responsible for serving the food threw down their bowls and fled in all directions...
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