Chapter 388 Your Majesty, Prince Rui has returned to Lin'an
At the gates of Lin'an, as soon as the gates opened, people lined up to enter the city.
Everyone was queuing in an orderly fashion when suddenly several horse-drawn carriages, disregarding the long queue behind them, came to the front, squeezed to the door, and cut in line right in front of the soldiers checking people at the door.
"Whose carriage is this? How dare they cut in line? Everyone is queuing up, why are they cutting in line?"
The three carriages were small, dilapidated, and old, with wheels covered in yellow mud; they were clearly not belonging to high-ranking officials or nobles.
The people behind shouted, "Why are you cutting in line? Go to the back and line up!"
"Exactly, everyone else is queuing, but you're not. Why should you be pushed to the front as soon as you arrive?"
The soldiers checking people at the city gate pointed at the coachmen and shouted angrily, "You all go to the back and line up!"
The coachman retorted, "Do you know who's sitting in the carriage?"
"No matter who you are, it's first come, first served. No entry without queuing."
"The person sitting in the carriage is the current emperor's second elder brother, Zhao Rui."
"The Second Prince? How is that possible?"
"Wasn't the Second Prince captured and enslaved along with the Emperor? He couldn't possibly be here. It must be an imposter. How dare you impersonate the Second Prince? You're asking for trouble!"
The others nodded in agreement.
Everyone knows that the Emperor, the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and others have been captured by the enemy and enslaved.
The curtain of the middle carriage was lifted, revealing a head.
Zhao Rui's cold gaze swept over the soldier, "Open your dog eyes and see clearly who I am?"
The soldier was intimidated by his imposing presence and instinctively shook his head, saying, "No, I don't know him."
Zhao Rui sneered, "You're just a lowly soldier, of course you don't recognize me. Hurry up and inform your superiors to come out and greet me. Immediately take me to the palace to see my third brother."
"Are you really the Second Prince?"
Liu'er also said, "If it's not real, then it must be fake. Why would I impersonate royalty? Impersonating royalty is a capital offense, and I could be exposed at any time, unless I am the real person."
The soldiers were worried that he might actually be the second prince, and that offending such a powerful figure would be disrespectful. So they quickly sent someone to report to him.
They had never seen Zhao Rui before, so they continued to report to the Ministry of War. When the news reached the Ministry of War, they finally found someone who had seen Zhao Rui.
Minister of War Cai Liang entered the palace to report this matter to Zhao Xuan.
No sooner had I entered the palace than another palace servant came to report.
“There is a man who claims to be Prince Rui waiting outside the palace, requesting an audience with the Emperor, and he also has this token.”
Zhao Xuan recognized the token in the guard's hand as the Xuan Tie Panlong Token of Prince Rui at a glance.
It's him, it really is him.
Did the letter fail to get through, or did Xiao Xuance's side make a mistake?
Damn it! They actually let him come back alive.
Zhao Rui was already waiting at the palace gate.
Zhao Xuan's cold, murderous eyes swept over Cai Liang below, "What's going on here?"
"Your Majesty, this old minister was unaware of the matter. As soon as I received the news, I immediately went to the palace to report to you."
How many people did he bring back?
There were three carriages, with Prince Rui and his family of three, along with seven or eight ministers, sitting in them.
"What's the situation outside? How many people know about this?"
Regardless of whether the other party is real or not, before the news leaks out, let's accuse him of impersonating Prince Rui and eliminate him completely.
"Many people were curious whether he was really the second prince and was watching in front of the palace gate."
Zhao Xuan cursed Zhao Rui in his heart, calling him cunning and treacherous, for he had actually foreseen that he would get rid of him.
"Minister Cai, what do you think I should do now?"
"This old minister believes that since they have just returned from the enemy camp, their identities are questionable. For the sake of the Emperor's safety, we should not allow them to enter the palace for an audience. We should arrange accommodation for them, send someone to test them, and then discuss the matter further."
If Zhao Xuan summons the person to the palace now, he will confirm the person's identity, making it difficult to eliminate them later.
“Minister Cai is right. Let’s temporarily settle them in that old courtyard at the foot of Nanmi Mountain in Gushan.”
Zhao Xuan was filled with doubt.
Why didn't Xiao Xuance kill the man as ordered? If he failed, why didn't he send a message to Xiao Xuance so that he could prepare in advance, instead of catching him off guard?
Could it be that Zhao Rui and Xiao Xuance are secretly colluding?
impossible!
Zhao Rui colluded with foreign enemies and caused the death of the Prince of Zhenbei.
It is impossible for Xiao Xuance and Zhao Rui to collude.
There must be someone secretly protecting Zhao Rui, or he has people in the north.
If the Great Zhou still has his men, Zhao Rui cannot be allowed to live!
Three days later, the grain convoy prepared to depart.
Madam Yang carefully instructed her youngest son, "Xiao Wu, this mission to escort grain supplies is of great importance."
Her tone was soft, yet every word was gentle yet powerful: "As the ancients said, 'Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me.' Even the words of a commoner have their reasons. Think thrice before you act, and never be rash or act arbitrarily, understand?"
Xiao Xuanwu bowed respectfully to her, saying, "Yes! Your son will remember your teachings, Mother."
Yang helped her son up, her eyes slightly red. "Good, that's good. This is your first time traveling alone, so please be careful."
She took the bundle from the maid and tied it to her son, then slowly tied the water bag to his saddle.
Yun Zhaoxue gave him life-saving spiritual spring water, a crossbow, and some antidotes and deadly poisons. "Xiao Wu, take care. Keep a close eye on your life-saving weapons and medicines. Your third sister-in-law is waiting for your safe return. If you encounter any trouble or difficulties that you can't solve, write back or send a message to your third brother."
Jun'er stepped forward and bowed, "Fifth Uncle, please take care and have a safe journey. We'll be waiting for you to come home."
He is eleven years old this year and precocious, already like a little adult.
"Xian'er also wishes Fifth Uncle a safe journey. Fifth Uncle, here's some candy for you to eat while you're on your way." Xian'er held out five candies to him.
Her teeth developed cavities from eating too much sugar, so her mother wouldn't let her eat more, limiting her to one sugar a day at most, which she saved up.
"Okay, we'll buy Xian'er candy when Fifth Uncle comes back."
"Ming'er, wait for Fifth Uncle to come back, then we'll go horseback riding."
"Well, when we come back, Ming'er might be able to mount the horse himself."
Everyone said goodbye to Xiao Xuanwu one by one.
Xiao Xuanwu mounted his horse, and Da Bao and Er Bao, who were being held by Lv Zhi and Hong Zao, suddenly spoke.
"Goodbye, Fifth Uncle..."
"Waiting for you to come back..."
Xiao Xuanwu turned and waved to his family members at the door, smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll be back in two months."
After speaking, he spurred his horse and rode away. The morning mist drifted over the bluestone alley, and his black cloak fluttered in the wind.
Only the sound of horses' hooves echoed in the family's ears, each hoofbeat fading into the distance.
Xiao Mingzhu helped Yang Shi up, "Mother, let's go back. With Third Brother in the north, my brother will definitely be safe and sound."
"I want to offer some incense to Yuanshan and ask him to bless Xiaowu so that he can return safely."
"Mother, I'll stay with you."
My mother must be very sad about my fifth brother's departure. I took a day off today to be with her.
Yun Zhaoxue said, "We're both free today, let's go together."
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