Along the way, the three had caught quite a few prey, including more than a dozen rabbits and seven or eight pheasants.
Wang Dashan and Li Ergou placed the tied-up rabbits into the baskets on their backs. They then found some vines, twisted them into ropes, tied the feet of each chicken together, strung them on a long wooden stick, and then carried them back to the gathering place in the valley, one on each end.
Although the heavy game had left deep marks on their backs, the two of them were all smiles the whole time, showing no signs of pain or fatigue.
On the way, Wang Dashan and Li Ergou kept expressing their gratitude and flattery towards Mu Jin, calling Mu Jin the "Guanyin Bodhisattva" who came to save them, and saying that everyone was thanks to Mu Jin's blessings.
Mu Jin smiled and didn't say much. She wasn't a busybody or a philanthropist. It's just that when people are in trouble, they always try their best to find a way. Her current situation was more in line with mutual benefit and assistance, where no one owed anyone anything.
As evening approached, they returned to the valley. Everyone was excited to see the live animals the three had hunted and clamored to go with them the next day.
That night, everyone killed three chickens, three rabbits, and roasted some fish for a good meal. The remaining animals were kept in enclosures by the women.
During the meal, Mu Jin learned that the men's fishing nets had yielded over a hundred fish that day. After excluding the ones they ate, there were still a hundred left, ranging from five or six pounds for the smaller ones to about ten pounds for the larger ones. All of them had their scales scraped off, their bellies cut open, their intestines and gills removed, and then they were salted and dried for preservation.
Meanwhile, the maids were scattering rice and vegetable seeds on the wet ground nearby, and everyone busied themselves in an orderly manner.
...
In the garden of Prince Yun's mansion, Guangfu was watching a message carried by a carrier pigeon. The message read, "The bowl has been smashed, and the two chopsticks have been broken."
Guangfu stroked his beard and smiled with satisfaction, which meant that Mu Jin and the two servants had been dealt with.
"Butler, is there something to be happy about?" Shen Qianqian's voice came from behind Guangfu.
Guangfu turned around and bowed to Shen Qianqian, saying, "Yes, Miss, this is wonderful news! You will soon be the Princess Consort of Yun."
Shen Qianqian blushed and said, "Butler, what are you saying? If the Princess Consort's people hear this and it reaches her ears, she won't let me off the hook. Besides, my cousin's marriage was bestowed by the Emperor. I can never be my cousin's principal wife in this lifetime." She finished speaking with a wronged expression.
Guangfu stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "If the original princess is no longer here, then there is no need for the emperor's consent. Your Highness should marry a new principal wife. Just wait and see. You are only 16 years old now, so there is no need to rush. Wait another year and take your time."
Although Guangfu didn't say anything when he saw Shen Qianqian, he couldn't hide the joy on his face.
He couldn't help but sigh, "You've grown up so much in the blink of an eye. Before I took you away from the Shen family, I promised you that I would protect you for the rest of your life. Whatever you want, I will do my best to give it to you."
Shen Qianqian responded to Guangfu with a seemingly innocent smile, as if she understood but not quite: "Butler Guangfu is so kind, Qianqian thanks you."
Inside the study of Yunjing Garden, a guard held a letter from the border: "Your Highness, this is a letter from the General to the Princess."
Su Yuntian took the letter and read it; it was just some casual conversation.
"Take her to Hanshan Village and have her write a letter saying she's safe. Then have someone deliver it to the border. Keep a close eye on her and make sure she writes it carefully!"
The guard took the letter: "Yes, Your Highness. I will deliver it to the Princess immediately."
Ten days later, the guard returned and reported to Su Yuntian: "Your Highness, the Princess Consort has gone missing!"
Su Yuntian looked at the guard who came to report, his face full of questions.
“I deserve to die. When I arrived at Hanshan Village, I did not find the Princess. According to the servants who stayed behind, the Princess went to Hanshan Village, but she went alone, and her clothes were damaged. The Princess only stayed in Hanshan Village for one night, and the next day she left Hanshan Village with 17 people, saying that she wanted to find a more suitable place to live.”
Su Yuntian's face showed displeasure, and he was on the verge of anger: "Say it again! Where did she go?"
The guard, feeling uneasy, replied, "Your Highness, the slaves who stayed in Hanshan Village said they didn't know exactly where the Princess had gone. She only said that the place was suitable for living, and it was three days' journey from Hanshan Village. I didn't know the direction, so I couldn't stay and search for her. I came back to report."
"Bring Guangfu here!" Su Yuntian roared.
Upon hearing that Su Yuntian wanted to see him, Guangfu hurriedly went to the study in Yunjingyuan.
As soon as Guangfu entered the study, he asked, "Your Highness, you wanted to see me?"
"Why did Mu Jin go to Hanshan Village alone and then leave with others without you reporting it?"
"What?" Guangfu was also taken aback, thinking to himself, "Wasn't Mu Jin supposed to have fallen off a cliff and died? How come she's back in Hanshan Village?"
That's what he was thinking, but Guangfu immediately realized something was wrong and knelt down: "Your Highness, this servant didn't know anything about it either. This servant had two strong servants escort her there that day. I haven't received any letters these past few days, and I thought the princess was having a tantrum and was traveling in fits and starts, so it was normal that the letters were sent back a little late. I deserve to die, I deserve to die."
As he spoke, Guangfu slapped himself in the face!
"Enough! Send people to search immediately, make sure they find her. Once they find her, send her back to Hanshan Village and have someone keep a close watch on her so she'll learn her lesson! Without my permission, she's running around with a bunch of slaves. Who gave her the guts!"
Su Yuntian couldn't believe that Mu Jin would do such a thing, because she knew Mu Jin too well. She was spoiled and domineering. She simply didn't have the ability to lead 17 slaves to make a living.
Su Yuntian had considered punishing Mu Jin. Mu Jin had been pampered since childhood and had never experienced hardship. She was too arrogant. He would take advantage of this incident to send her to Hanshan Village to curb her arrogance.
Once Mu Jin realizes his mistake and takes her back, he can then naturally take Shen Qianqian as his concubine. Considering this lesson, Mu Jin will probably not dare to bully Shen Qianqian again.
While the Yunwang Mansion was shrouded in Su Yuntian's anger, Mu Jin was living a carefree life in the valley.
And so, a year has passed, and whether intentionally or unintentionally, the people of the Yun Prince's Mansion have still not found Mu Jin.
Mu Jin was doing fairly well in the valley. Although she couldn't find a way out, the valley wasn't too unbearable.
From the original owner's memories, her cheap general father doted on her. If he discovered she was missing, he would eventually find her here. Therefore, she patiently waited.
Today, Mu Jin climbed up a tree trunk that was more than ten meters high and lay half-reclined. When she came here, she was too lazy to comb her heavy hair. She always tied her long hair up high and wore a men's round-necked narrow-sleeved shirt and robe.
She was wearing clothes made from the silk spun by wild silkworms that the women caught in the valley.
Then, according to Mu Jin's requirements, a narrow-sleeved shirt, long straight trousers, and a horse-faced ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) were cut to fit her traversing mountains and valleys. Wearing this outfit, Mu Jin looked like a dashing and elegant young man.
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