Chapter 350 It really is His Highness the Crown Prince!
Lan Yun climbed in through the window and reported at lightning speed.
"Young master, young lady, something terrible has happened! The Black Wind Stronghold sent a five-man squad down the mountain to search for those bandits. After discovering the bodies at the entrance of Water Temple Village, they were enraged and tried to storm into the village to take revenge, but were stopped by the tree. I have killed four of them on the spot, but the last one escaped."
Lan Yun said guiltily, "That man must have gone back to Black Wind Stronghold to report the news. He was riding a horse. Judging from the time, it took me about the same amount of time to get here using my light-footed skills as it took him to ride back to Black Wind Stronghold. By now, the people of Black Wind Stronghold should already know about the deaths of those bandits."
"My lord, I have failed in my duty, allowing one person to escape. Please punish me!"
"How could this be your fault, Sister Lanyun? Even if that person didn't escape and died by your sword, Black Wind Stronghold will still send a second group of people when they haven't returned yet. This news will be known sooner or later."
Xie Yun smiled with satisfaction at Sheng Sheng and nodded: "Sheng Sheng is right. Since someone has already returned to Black Wind Village to report the news... Lan Yun, take Zhu Yue and Zhui Feng and rush back to Shui Miao Village immediately. If Black Wind Village sends more people to Shui Miao Village, you guys must stop them before we arrive."
"Yes, young master!"
Lan Yun jumped out of the window again and disappeared in no time.
"Brother, should we go to Shuimiao Village together first, or go to the prefectural government office to find the prefect?"
"Guess what?" Xie Yun chuckled. "Delaying the handling of this matter will only result in Shuimiao Village being retaliated against by Black Wind Village. We can think of this, and the people in the prefectural government certainly can too."
"Brother, do you mean there's something wrong with the people in the prefectural government? Maybe they're deliberately ignoring the villagers of Shuimiao Village?" The clever little voice quickly understood Xie Yunyang's meaning. "So, we need to go to the prefectural government now and find that prefect!"
“Yes, our Shengsheng is really smart.” Xie Yun praised her affectionately. “However, apart from the prefect, the assistant prefect in the government office is the most problematic one.”
When the villagers of Shuimiao Village went to the government office, only the Assistant Magistrate was there.
When the prefect is absent, the assistant prefect is equivalent to the prefect.
Therefore, regardless of whether it was authorized by the prefect or not, the assistant prefect was the one who could not shirk his responsibility.
"Taying, go to the prefectural government office and invite that assistant prefect to the prefectural government office." Xie Yunyang pulled Shengsheng out the door. "Shengsheng, let's go buy a gift first, and then go find that Prefect Tang—to celebrate the birthday of the prefect's young master."
"Um!"
...
Two quarters of an hour later, inside the prefectural government office.
In the backyard courtyard, singing and dancing filled the air. Prefect Tang and his wife were surrounding a little boy, happily coaxing him to watch the performance in front of them.
"Son, look, isn't this dance good?"
"Son, today is your fifth birthday. I will give you whatever you want!"
The harmonious scene continued until the steward of the prefectural government came in, whispered something in Prefect Tang's ear, and Prefect Tang was instantly terrified.
"What!?"
Prefect Tang was shocked. "You're not mistaken, it really is that token?"
"It's absolutely true, sir! You and your wife should hurry out to greet them! That young master said he won't enter the manor until you personally greet him!"
The prefect's wife looked bewildered. "My lord, what's going on? Why are you so panicked?"
"Forget all that nonsense, let's hurry up and go pick them up!"
Prefect Tang grabbed his wife and hurriedly rushed towards the door, leaving behind the clueless young master of the prefect's mansion, without even having time to say a word to his son.
You should know that this young master of the prefectural government was his only precious son, whom he usually doted on, but at this moment he didn't even glance at him.
The little boy looked left and right, but the person who had been circling around him just moments before had vanished. The little boy burst into tears.
However, no matter how loudly he cried, the prefect and his wife had no time to pay attention to him; only the maids around them rushed to comfort him in a panic.
Tang, the prefect, pulled his wife along as they jogged, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads. They didn't even have time to straighten their hats, which were askew.
It wasn't until he rushed to the gate of the prefectural government office and saw the backs of one gentle and dignified figure and the other proud and lively one that he was startled and, while adjusting his hat, went to greet them in astonishment.
Heavens above, earth below, what wind blew such a great man here? How come he didn't hear a thing?
Prefect Tang held his breath, swallowed hard, and stepped forward cautiously to ask, "May I ask who you are...?"
Xie Yun turned around upon hearing the voice, a slight upturn at the corners of her lips, smiling gently and appearing warm and approachable.
But Prefect Tang clearly saw the alienation and interrogation in his eyes.
After seeing the person's face clearly, even though Prefect Tang had not yet personally verified the token representing his identity, he was already pretty sure of who it was.
Many years ago, when he went to the capital to report on his duties, he met the young Crown Prince once, whose facial features were not much different from the person in front of him.
This...this...this...this really is His Highness the Crown Prince!
Xie Yun glanced at him indifferently and smiled as she spoke, "Prefect?"
Sheng Sheng peeked out from behind Xie Yunyang, half out of curiosity and half out of observation.
Tang Zhizhou's knees buckled under the gaze of those two pairs of eyes, and he almost knelt down.
The prefect's wife, unaware of the identities of the two men before her, was so startled by his reaction that she nearly lost her composure. She glanced at him with considerable curiosity and couldn't help but whisper, "Sir, what's wrong with you? Who are these two?"
"Shut up, hurry up and pay your respects to the Empress Dowager..." Prefect Tang paused, secretly glancing at Xie Yun, and quickly changed his words, "Ahem, this is not the place to talk. Why don't you two come with me into the residence for a detailed discussion?"
"OK."
Xie Yun smiled faintly, "The situation is urgent, so I urge the Prefect to act quickly."
After saying that, Xie Yun picked up Shengsheng and led the way, quickly walking inside.
"Yes, yes!" Prefect Tang hurriedly responded, and said sternly to the steward, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and lead the way for these two!"
"Oh, oh, oh!" The butler quickly jogged after him.
Tang Zhizhou wiped the sweat from his forehead, his rapidly beating heart reminding him that none of this was a dream.
One second he was celebrating his son's birthday, and the next second he was talking to His Highness the Crown Prince!
Before he could finish his exclamation, Prefect Tang was about to pull his wife inside with the others when she stopped him, asking, "My lord, who are these people? Why are you being so humble in front of them? They look so young, and there's even a little girl who's only a few years old... Could they be the son and daughter of some important person you can't afford to offend?"
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