The next day, at the gate of Jing City.

Shuo Ling was in a long gown with buttons down the front, which was embroidered with cloud patterns with black threads on the front and the sleeves. His black hair was tied with a silver crown decorated with white jade. He stood straight and was tall, which made him look scary and more distant than before.

Shuo Ling leaped on the horse and shouted to the escort team behind, "We're off!"

"Wait for me!"

A voice came from behind them and they looked back.

A woman in tight black clothes with a red collar was approaching on horseback. Her hair was highly tied, fluttering in the air. She whipped on the horse's back and looked bright and brave.

The woman came up to Shuo Ling and let out a shout, "Ho..."

The horse stopped. It was Yang Zijin.

Shuo Ling asked her coldly, "What are you doing here?"

"Can't you see it? I'm going with you to Jiandu, of course!" Yang Zijin raised her eyebrows.

Shuo Ling slightly frowned. He said, "Don't mess around. Go home."

"I'm afraid I can't do as you wish." Yang Zijin curled her lips.

Shuo Ling didn't understand, "Why?"

"See for yourself." She threw the imperial edict in her package to Shuo Ling, clamped the horse slightly with her knees, and went forward.

Shuo Ling took the edict and unfolded it. His eyes turned sharp as he saw the content, "Chushi Youtian, you are too impatient."

He made such a farfetched excuse to drive Yang Zijin out!

He had to explain it to Yang Zijin.

There would be no peace along the way.

Thinking of this, Shuo Ling spoke aloud to the soldiers behind, "Set off!"

The soldiers began to move.

Shuo Ling clamped the belly of the horse to catch up with Yang Zijin.

He pulled the reins to slow down when he caught Yang Zijin.

"Don't get out of my sight and tell me wherever you go." He said.

"Will you come with me, even to the toilet?" Yang Zijin teased him.

As soon as the words were spoken, Yang Zijin saw Shuo Ling staring at her coldly, so she hurriedly added, "Everything is at your command, My Lord!"

Then they rode the horses side by side on the way to Jiandu.

In the Blossoming Peach.

Pei Moning came for Yang Zijin.

He saw Jiang Wei in the yard, so he went over, "Where is Her Highness?"

"Her Highness wen to Jiandu as His Majesty's command." Jiang Wei looked at Pei Moning.

Pei Moning was shocked, "What? You said she went to Jiandu?"

"Yes." Jiang Wei nodded.

Pei Moning asked immediately, "When did she go?"

"This early morning." Jiang Wei replied.

Pei Moning asked with confusion, "Why didn't you go with her?"

"Her Highness wouldn't let me go." Jiang Wei went aside after leaving this word to him.

Pei Moning slightly frowned. His sister was too hurried.

Yesterday when he was making arrangements for the victims' lives, he heard that some people in Jiandu had been infected with the plague. It was dangerous for her to go there.

What was more, it was distant from here to Jiandu. She went by herself and offish Marquis Shuo... Thinking of this, Pei Moning went to the martial club. He had to protect Yang Zijin.

He reached his room in the martial club and started packing.

Runyu passed by his room and saw Pei Moning moving around in the room, so he walked in.

"Where are you going?" Runyu asked as he saw him packing up.

Pei Moning looked up, "Oh, it's brother Runyu. I was about to look for you, but you came just in time."

"For me?" Runyu slightly frowned.

"Yes. I'm going out for some time. Then you will take them to Binzhou for the competition." Pei Moning said as he packed up.

Runyu was puzzled, "What happened?"

"Her Highness was sent to Jiandu by His Majesty this morning. I'm worried about her, so I want to go with her." Pei Moning tied a knot on the package.

Runyu said, "You have been training them all these days. The competition is just around the corner. Although I am in the world, the troubles have been away from me for long, and I don't want to get involved in it. I will never go to the competition in Binzhou."

"Brother Runyu, please help me with this!" Pei Moning looked at Runyu sincerely.

Runyu smiled, "I didn't refuse you. I can go to protect Her Highness as you wish."

"I know you are my real brother!" Pei Moning pushed Runyu with a smile and put down the package on the shoulder.

Why hadn't he thought of this solution to both sides? And he wouldn't be worried again if Ghost Immortal protected Yang Zijin.

Runyu smiled, "I hope to receive your good news after returning from Jiandu."

"Rest assured, brother Runyu. I'll do my best!" Pei Moning swore.

Then Runyu went out of his room and got on a horse, galloping to the gate. He would catch them in a short time.

...

"It's too hot. My Lord, there is a wood ahead. Let's go there to take a rest." Yang Zijin wiped the sweat on her forehead. They had been going for a long time and it was getting hotter.

Shuo Ling looked up to the sun and then Yang Zijin's sweaty face. He stopped after a short hesitation and turned around to the people behind, "There's a wood ahead. We'll take a rest there."

Hearing Shuo Ling's agreement, Yang Zijin clamped the horse's belly and ran to the wood.

She jumped off the horse and tied it aside when she entered the wood, and then rested against a tree.

Shuo Ling also got down from the horse. He walked over to give Yang Zijin water.

Yang Zijin took the water bag and gulped.

After drinking, she wiped her mouth with a sleeve and returned the water bag to Shuo Ling, "Thanks!"

Shuo Ling sat down next to her. "How do you feel?"

"Hot, and, nothing else." Yang Zijin pouted. Shuo Ling smiled at Yang Zijin and asked, "Are you hungry?"

"I do feel a little hungry since you asked me." Yang Zijin touched her belly.

Shuo Ling looked at the direction of soldiers and called, "Xiao Mu, food!"

"Yes, My Lord!" Someone answered and walked over.

Yang Zijin raised her head. Xiao Mu was strong and less good-looking than Mo Li, but he looked more mature than Mo Li.

Xiao Mu handed a big flatbread to Shuo Ling, "My Lord, there's still some distance from the next town. I estimate that we can reach the next town by dusk. Please condescend to have this, My Lord, Your Highness."

"Tell them that we will set off after the rest and enter the town before dusk." Shuo Ling took the flatbread and said.

Shuo Ling divided the flatbread in two and gave half of it to Yang Zijin.

Yang Zijin took it and gulped.

Shuo Ling watched the way she ate with affection.

Yang Zijin also found Shuo Ling gazing at her, so she behaved more gently when eating.

To ease the atmosphere, Yang Zijin looked at the soldiers and asked, "Why Mo Li didn't come?"

"Mo Li is in Jiandu now. He went to relieve the victims." Shuo Ling bit on the flatbread.

Being surprised, Yang Zijin sprung up and asked, looking at Shuo Ling, "What? You have already known that?"

"Yes." Shuo Ling nodded.

Yang Zijin went on asking, "You've already known that... Why did you hide it from His Majesty then?"

"His Majesty is a doubting Thomas. The local officials have hidden the truth. If he asked me how I got to know, what should I say? After all, the flood in Jiandu couldn't be hidden and His Majesty will know it sooner or later." Shuo Ling replied coldly to Yang Zijin as he saw her intense reaction.

Yang Zijin got his answer and asked, "And the unrest at the gate?"

"I knew there were victims at the gate and I planned to arrange their livings after the marriage. I never thought that someone would harm them!" Shuo Ling's eyes were cold.

Yang Zijin sat back beside Shuo Ling, "Do you think the Lan Family did this?"

"The Lan Family won't shoot themselves in the foot by making trouble big. It doesn't do them any good." Shuo Ling analyzed.

Yang Zijin knitted her brows, "Then in your opinion, who did it?"

"I've sent people to look into the matter. I'll tell you if they dig out something." Shuo Ling stood up and promised.

He said to Yang Zijin, "Get on the horse."

They went on the journey to Jiandu again.

...

In Prime Minister Lan's room.

"Father, I've given them orders. What should we do next?" Lan Ruojing said.

Prime Minister Lan paced to the window and said, "Find out the identities of the fake soldiers at the gate! Draw the portraits of the two dead and ask people to look for them. You must find out those wrongdoers!"

"Yes, I will find them out!" Lan Ruojing left the room.

In the doorway, he said to his servant Si, "You and others go to search the street! If you find these people, you don't have to show mercy. Just ask them who is the chief plotter by force!"

"Yes, Young Master!" Si left.

The day was getting darker. Shuo Ling asked Xiao Mu, "Order the team to speed up and get to the town before nightfall!"

"Yes, My Lord!" Xiao Mu turned around to transmit this order.

Before they could go far, Shuo Ling saw that the road was blocked by a fallen tree.

He pulled the reins to stop the horse.

"What's wrong?" Yang Zijin asked.