Zhong Muyu calmed down, her face showing an unprecedented calm.
Chi Xuanzhu asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"
Zhong Muyu did not answer him: "Don't worry, I value my life very much and won't die so easily. I hope you won't tell the others in the restaurant about this. I will tell them that I have urgent business to attend to back in Qingshui Village. As for the restaurant, I will have to trouble you again."
Chi Xuanzhu was still uneasy: "Are you really going to do this?"
"real."
Zhong Muyu gave a smile, though it looked very forced.
Having said all that, Chi Xuanzhu had no choice but to agree to Zhong Muyu's request.
The next morning, Zhong Muyu did not leave her room. When she came out, she had changed into a simple and neat outfit and her hair was styled into a simple ponytail.
Zaochun asked, "Is Your Highness going back to Qingshui Village again? Shall I accompany you this time?"
"No need, I'm just going back to check on my plants. I should be back soon. The restaurant is very busy, and we can't do without you here."
Zhong Muyu said casually.
"Very well then. While Your Highness is away, I will take good care of the restaurant for you. Please rest assured, Your Highness!"
Zhong Muyu patted her shoulder with satisfaction, and when she walked to the door, she saw Chi Xuanzhu waiting there.
"careful."
Chi Xuanzhu spoke in a low voice, then stuffed something into Zhong Muyu's palm.
Zhong Muyu looked down and saw that it was a small bamboo whistle.
"Why are you giving me this?"
"Amulets can also be used to call for help."
Zhong Muyu said, "Thank you for your kindness."
Even though you might not need it.
After leaving the restaurant, Zhong Muyu hired an ordinary mule cart and headed out of the city.
The car owner was a kind-looking farmer who made a living by coming to the city to buy things and occasionally giving rides. When he heard that Zhong Muyu was going to Luohupo, he looked incredulous.
"Hey girl, you look like a girl from a good family, why are you going to that kind of awful place?"
"Oh? What's wrong with that place?"
"You can tell just by the name; even tigers wouldn't survive there. The terrain is strange, and bandits often roam the area. Once you go in, it's not easy to get out."
“I see. Don’t worry, I don’t want to go deep into the area. I have relatives living in the surrounding villages, and I’m going to visit them.”
The middle-aged driver perked up immediately: "The surrounding villages? Which one? Shangbei Village? Xiahe Village? I live over there too, Xiahe Village. Tell me, and I'll take you straight to your doorstep, saving you the trouble of walking so far."
"Hahaha! No need, no need. I'll just walk by myself to familiarize myself with the route and take a walk."
The driver's simplicity and enthusiasm are truly irresistible.
However, the coachman did provide some useful information: there were bandits lurking in Luohu Slope. Could it be that those people were colluding with the bandits?
She had made thorough preparations, but if there were too many people, she wouldn't be able to handle it.
Just as Zhong Muyu was deep in thought, several more people boarded the mule cart one after another. They were all from the villages below who had come to buy things. Sitting among them, Zhong Muyu seemed very out of place.
The women chattered amongst themselves, discussing all sorts of gossip. Zhong Muyu sat to the side, responding politely yet distantly. As the people on the bus got off one by one, Zhong Muyu finally arrived at her destination.
Zhong Muyu glanced at her watch; the time was just right.
The driver said with concern, "Young lady, hurry to your relative's house. This place is not like the city; it can be dangerous at night!"
"Thank you for your kindness, I will be careful."
After paying, Zhong Muyu silently walked into the woods.
At first, there was a narrow path worn by people, but as she went deeper, the path gradually disappeared. Fortunately, she saw a number of people in front of her, who seemed to be waiting for her.
"The Princess Consort of Ling really came alone. What a spirit!"
The man standing in the center turned around, his face wearing a familiar metal mask.
There were at least ten people standing around her. For a woman like her, this was quite a large-scale operation.
Zhong Muyu asked, "Didn't you tell me to come alone? Where is Lu Ziyuan?"
"Princess, don't worry. As long as you behave yourself, he won't die. Take him away."
Two men grabbed Zhong Muyu's arms, and Zhong Muyu's heart pounded: "What are you going to do?"
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you."
As soon as he finished speaking, a bag was put directly over Zhong Muyu's head.
Everything was pitch black, and Zhong Muyu could only follow them, stumbling along the way until they reached a house, where she was thrown inside.
Zhong Muyu couldn't wait to take off the bag on her head. The sudden bright light made her squint, but then she saw that she was locked in a dilapidated house.
"What are you doing? Where is Lu Ziyuan?"
The masked man said, "Your Highness, rest assured, with you here, how could Lu Ziyuan not come?"
"He's alright? You're lying to me?"
“How can this be called a scam? You are free not to come. The decision is yours.”
"Despicable! Shameless!"
Upon realizing she had been deceived, Zhong Muyu angrily kicked the wooden door twice.
"Just rest quietly, Princess Consort of Ling."
As the footsteps outside faded into the distance, Zhong Muyu slumped onto the straw bed, preparing to think of a way to get out.
The house was very dilapidated, drafty from all sides, and the only window was a hastily nailed piece of wood. The window was very high; even someone as tall as her could only reach the windowsill.
Zhong Muyu dragged the simple wooden bed over, stood on it, and took out a pair of binoculars to look outside.
This appears to be a bandit stronghold, but it looks extremely dilapidated, as if it was hastily repaired and put into use. The guards look ordinary and are probably bandits, while the men following the masked man are clearly trained martial artists.
Even with the strongest weapon, she might not be able to escape unscathed given this situation.
Sitting on the bed, Zhong Muyu decided to wait until dark before taking action.
A short while later, a large plate was pushed in from under the door.
When Zhong Muyu looked inside, she saw two steamed buns and, seemingly to take care of her, a side of green vegetables.
Zhong Muyu poked at it with her chopsticks. She dared not eat their food; who knew if it was poisoned?
So she threw the plate away in protest.
"Fine, don't eat then. It's good that you're too hungry to have any energy."
The guard outside muttered something and took the plate away.
LOL, would Zhong Muyu really let herself starve to death?
The footsteps outside the door faded into the distance, the sky darkened, and a bright moon rose into the sky.
By the moonlight, Zhong Muyu could barely see her surroundings. She noticed that there were far fewer people outside, so she quietly took out a small saw from her sleeve and began sawing the wood on the window.
The pieces of wood were quickly sawed off, and Zhong Muyu struggled to climb out and jump down from the window.
There was no one here, but there were guards at the gate. Zhong Muyu planned to feel her way along the wall to see if there was a dog hole she could crawl through.
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