A critical moment
Su Musong hurried to find Xun Molin, but was told that Xun Molin was out on patrol and would not be back for a few days. It was impossible to investigate the captain's household registration record. After thinking about it, Su Musong felt that in order to be on the safe side, it would be best for Xiao Luochen to return to Qingzhu Village as soon as possible.
However, Xizhou is now under lockdown, and no one can leave the city without Xun Molin's order.
"Then break out!"
Over the years, Su Musong has become mature and prudent in the business world, but when it comes to Xiao Luochen's safety, his reckless nature in his youth is inevitably revealed.
"Xizhou is under lockdown, and people are already in turmoil. As someone close to Mo Lin, if I were to break through and leave the city, what do you think the people in the city would think?"
After all, Xiao Luochen had been to the gates of hell several times, so he was more calm and composed than Su Musong when facing the current situation.
At this time, Ning Zhen said coldly
"Then kill the captain."
Su Musong and Xiao Luochen looked at Ning Zhen at the same time, who had a fierce look in his eyes. They both knew that he was not just talking.
Although Su Musong felt that something was wrong, he kept silent when he thought that the captain was indeed a threat to Xiao Luochen, and he tacitly agreed with Ning Zhen's idea. However, a trace of disappointment flashed in Xiao Luochen's eyes.
"Xiao Zhen, all these years of teaching you have been in vain, right? Are you going to kill innocent people just for a suspicion that can't be proven?"
Faced with Xiao Luochen's question, Ning Zhen panicked for a moment, then recovered his usual expression and answered
"I will kill anyone who threatens you."
"I just said he looked familiar. Why did you assume he was a threat to me?"
Although Xiao Luochen had never told Ning Zhen about his life experience, Ning Zhen, who was smart, had guessed over the years that Xiao Luochen had a special identity that could not be exposed to others.
"You know it in your heart, why do you need me to explain it?"
Xiao Luochen was speechless for a moment. Ning Zhen's worries were not unreasonable, but this was not a reason to kill.
"Xiao Zhen, I know you're worried about me, but that captain didn't do anything to harm me. If we take his life just because we think he looks familiar, then what's the difference between us and those horse bandits we dealt with before? Even if he reported me, it's not his fault. In his eyes, I'm a wanted criminal, and reporting and arresting wanted criminals is his duty, regardless of good or evil. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
After a long time, Ning Zhen nodded solemnly, agreeing with Xiao Luochen's statement, but Xiao Luochen was not relieved. He knew that according to Ning Zhen's temperament, he would most likely kill the captain, so he could only let Ning Zhen stay by his side.
What Xiao Luochen said to Ning Zhen had already shown his attitude towards the matter. Su Musong knew that there was nothing he could do about the captain, so the only way left was to leave the city.
Su Musong found Mu Yao and asked her to send a courier to deliver a letter to Xun Molin, asking for a warrant to leave the city. Although this would delay for a few days, it was the only feasible way at the moment.
It was three days later that the warrant to leave the city reached Su Musong.
Xiao Luochen bid farewell to the Duke of Anguo and his wife at the Marshal's Mansion. Although he had a warrant to leave the city, it was a special period of city lockdown after all. If a group of people said goodbye at the city gate, it would be too conspicuous, so only Su Musong was left to see him off.
"You go back to Qingzhu Village first. When the situation in Xizhou stabilizes, Mo Lin will send Jingxi Hou's coffin back to the capital for burial. Then we will go back together."
"Well, I'll go back and sort it out to see if I've missed anything."
Xiao Luochen naturally knew what going back meant. He and Su Musong had been discussing this for some time. With the evidence they had, it wouldn't be difficult to bring down the Right Prime Minister. However, the evidence that the Wang family had instructed the Right Prime Minister to collude with Qingning to frame the Xiao family was ambiguous and lacked conclusive evidence. Even if the Right Prime Minister was brought down, the Wang family wouldn't be touched, and the Xiao family's charge of treason wouldn't necessarily be cleared.
"I'll leave Xiaozhen here to help. Please keep an eye on him for me."
Xiao Luochen was always worried about Ning Zhen. He was resolute and decisive in killing, but he always lacked a bit of compassion. He always valued Xiao Luochen's safety more than his own life. Xiao Luochen was worried that after he left, Ning Zhen would still go to kill the captain. After all, he always believed that it is better to kill a thousand people by mistake than to let one go.
Su Musong held Xiao Luochen in his arms, whispering in his ears, unwilling to let go. Now that he was gone, they didn't know how long they would be separated.
The guard at the city gate looked at his nose with his eyes and his heart with his nose, standing like a stone statue, but he couldn't help but glance at the two of them out of the corner of his eyes.
No matter how reluctant you are, you will eventually have to part ways.
Xiao Luochen showed Xun Molin's warrant and the city gate guard let him pass. Everything seemed to be going well, but in the end he was unable to leave the city gate.
The governor led dozens of yamen runners to stop Xiao Luochen who was about to leave.
"What do you mean, Governor?"
Seeing the governor blocking his way, Su Musong panicked for a moment, but then he regained his composure and stepped forward to negotiate.
Su Musong and Xiao Luochen were almost inseparable. The governor naturally knew that the two of them were probably close friends. The superiors only told him to arrest Xiao Luochen. He did not want to offend the Anguo Mansion unless it was necessary.
"I have been ordered to apprehend the criminal. Master Su, it is best for you to stay away from this."
"Is there some misunderstanding here? Where did this imperial prisoner come from?"
"Then he's considered a suspect. As to whether he's truly a fugitive, the Sikou Mansion will make its own judgment. The Prime Minister has ordered the arrest of this man, so regardless of whether he's a fugitive or an innocent citizen, I have no choice but to follow orders. Otherwise, I'll be the one sitting in the prison cart."
The governor waved his hand, and the officers came forward and tied up Xiao Luochen with iron chains.
Under such circumstances, Su Musong did not care about anything else. He drew his sword from his waist and pressed it against the governor's chest.
"Let him go."
"Musong, don't mess around."
Xiao Luochen knew clearly that Su Musong was capable of doing anything at the moment. If he hurt the governor in an impulse, the consequences would be serious.
Su Musong, who always obeyed orders, did not listen to Xiao Luochen this time.
"I said, let him go."
Su Musong's eyes flashed with coldness as he looked at the governor, which made people feel a chill down their spines. The governor of an important border town naturally knew that this was a murderous intention, but if he let go the person the prime minister had ordered to be arrested, then he would face a fate worse than death.
"Master Su, you are of noble status. Why do you have to embarrass a small official like me? Even if I let him go, do you think he can leave Xizhou City?"
The governor was right. Since the order to arrest Xiao Luochen had reached the governor, the news must have been received in the capital. Xiao Luochen's identity was exposed, and that group of people must be wiped out.
Although he understood the truth, it was not easy for Su Musong to watch Xiao Luochen being locked up.
Su Musong was reluctant to withdraw his sword. The officers surrounded him and the governor, their spears pointed at each other, neither willing to retreat. The two sides remained in a stalemate. For a moment, the city gate general was unsure what to do. He couldn't afford to offend either side, so he could only watch the situation unfold from the sidelines, trying to prevent Su Musong from injuring the governor while also protecting him from the officers.
The sound of horse hooves came from afar. A cavalry group galloped towards the city gate. The dust they raised enveloped the iron armor and bronze helmets, and pedestrians avoided them.
"You dare to use force at the city gate? You don't want your head anymore!"
Hearing this powerful shout, the general at the city gate breathed a sigh of relief. Now that this person had arrived, he could rest assured.
The dust gradually cleared, and everyone present could see clearly that the person coming was Mu Yao.
"So it's the Governor. I didn't see it clearly just now. I apologize for the offense."
Mu Yao was polite in his words, but he did not dismount. Everyone understood that Mu Yao had come for this matter, and it was impossible for him not to know that the governor was here, but it was not yet time to break off relations, so he had to put in some superficial efforts.
"Madam, the Crown Prince..."
"Does the Governor think that Mu Yao's Zhirui Battalion is not up to par?"
After Mu Yao and Su Mufeng broke off their engagement, she married Xun Molin. Later, due to an epidemic in Xizhou, she volunteered to lead the Zhirui Battalion to assist Xun Molin in patrolling Xizhou City. Although she truly loved Xun Molin and usually enjoyed being addressed as the Crown Prince's wife, once she donned her military uniform, she became the General of Liguan and the Commander of the Zhirui Battalion.
Seeing Mu Yao's unhappy expression, the governor understood and changed his address.
"General Mu."
"What advice do you have, Governor?"
"I'm here on the Prime Minister's orders to apprehend the suspect, but I'm having some trouble..."
Before the governor could finish his words, Mu Yao interrupted him.
"I understand. The Governor hopes that I can lend a hand."
Mu Yao gave orders to the personal guards behind him, and the officers who had surrounded Su Musong were surrounded by nearly a hundred armored soldiers, and the tied Xiao Luochen was also in the hands of Mu Yao's personal guards.
Seeing this, Su Musong put away the sword in his hand. The governor knew that Mu Yao was here to rob people, but he was helpless at this time. After all, Mu Yao brought elite soldiers from the Zhirui Battalion who were able to fight ten enemies with one.
"Supporting a Qin criminal is equivalent to committing the same crime. General, shouldn't you reconsider this?"
"What are you saying, Governor? I'm here to help you capture the criminal. How can I say I'm protecting him? What's your intention in slandering me like this, Governor?"
Mu Yao raised her eyebrows and glanced at the governor, then ignored him. Taking Xiao Luochen away was the most important thing at the moment.
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