"You brat, you really don't want to live with your dad?"
Yun Sanman inwardly grumbled. Although he was reluctant to see his son leave, Jingde going to the prefectural city to study and live would surely broaden his horizons...
He couldn't keep the child confined to his side forever.
"If you want to go, then go!" Yun Sanman ruffled Jingde's hair.
Chen Xiaoran's face lit up like a flower upon hearing this. She leaned towards Gao Jingde and grinned, "Now that I'm in the prefectural city, I'll finally have someone to play with..."
Jingde was not only good-tempered but also very considerate.
It seemed his father was right to bring him to the prefectural city.
Madam Gu pulled Gao Jingde over and asked in a low voice, "Jingde, you won't be able to come home often once you're in the prefectural city. You need to think carefully..."
"Don't worry, Grandma!" Gao Jingde pursed his lips and smiled, "Even though the prefectural city is far from home, I'll visit you and Grandpa when I have time!"
With the matter settled, Yun Sanman had nothing more to say.
Niu Caixia went to the inner room to pack Jingde's luggage and brought along plenty of snacks for the two children to eat on the road...
Scholar Jiang sat under the eaves, enjoying the cool breeze. Upon hearing that Jingde was leaving, he came over, fanning himself, and advised, "Ah, Jingde is such a fine child, good at his studies and clever. Wouldn't it be wonderful if he stayed!"
He had taught Jingde for a while and knew the boy was intelligent and eager to learn, well-read and polite. It was truly a pity for him to leave...
Yun Sanman sighed softly, "The child has grown up; he can't be kept here anymore!"
Scholar Jiang looked helpless and muttered, "They invited me to be a teacher, and now all the children at home have left. I've become a lone commander..."
"How can you say that?" Yun Sanman couldn't help but chuckle, "There are still so many little ones in the village coming to study. Everyone in the village has witnessed Mr. Jiang's scholarship!"
Scholar Jiang's mouth twitched, and he didn't reply.
The Emperor had sent him to Dashui Village specifically to teach the Crown Prince and the little Princess. Now, he had become a village teacher...
Alas, he was a Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy; how had he fallen to this state?
Since the Emperor did not allow him to return to the capital, he could only continue to stay in Dashui Village and be a humble teacher.
Prefect Chen, his face flushed from drinking and the hot weather making him wear too many clothes, was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open after the wine...
Just as he was about to go to the guest room for a nap, Yun Daman rushed over, "Prefect Chen, what should we do about Fang'er and Miss Murong being captured? There's not a single clue right now. Where am I supposed to find them..."
He had just become the county magistrate and was immediately faced with this predicament.
Moreover, the missing people were his sister-in-law and his son's friend.
Prefect Chen let out a belch, "Burp, Daman, if you're really stuck, get the higher-ups to help you. Don't try to carry everything yourself, burp..."
"The higher-ups?" Yun Daman blinked in surprise.
Prefect Chen clicked his tongue and leaned closer to Daman, "I mean the Crown Prince. Hurry up and write him a letter, ask His Highness to send people to help you inquire. You can't handle this alone..."
"But, but His Highness is far away in the capital, and I heard he has important matters to attend to. It wouldn't be good to disturb him so casually?" Yun Daman looked troubled.
Prefect Chen curved his lips, "What do you mean disturb? His Highness is so close to the little Princess. Asking him for a favor is just a matter of a word. Don't be shy..."
After speaking, Prefect Chen swayed unsteadily towards the guest room, collapsed onto the kang, and began to snore.
"What did Prefect Chen say?" Yun Sanman walked over and asked.
If he couldn't find them, he would ask Young Master Xiao to have Erlongzi help them search...
Yun Daman sighed, "In the end, we still have to trouble Young Master Xiao. Alas, there's no other way. Let's write the letter!"
The brothers went to the study, picked up their brushes, and wrote a letter to Xiao Jinheng, which was then sent to the post station.
The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Gao Jingde boarded Prefect Chen's carriage. After bidding farewell to his family, he set off for the prefectural city...
With this departure, he might not return home for half a year. Even the usually strong Yun Sanman wept like a tearful person.
"Now the house is quiet, with only Xiao Bao left as a child!" Old Man Yun stood at the village entrance, murmuring to himself.
Madam Gu gave him a reproachful glance, "You old man, when there were many children, you complained they were noisy. Now that there are fewer, you feel lonely. How can I satisfy you?"
"I never said they were noisy!" Old Man Yun turned and walked home, "When there are many children, the house has a lively atmosphere. Even though they chatter all day, my heart is filled with joy..."
As he spoke, Old Man Yun looked at Madam Gu, "By the way, Jinhe is also going back to the Imperial College to study, right? He's been idle for a month. Has his coursework fallen behind?"
"Jinhe departs tomorrow. He'll be traveling for nearly ten days on the road..."
Madam Gu shifted the basket in her hands from her left to her right, "As for his coursework, you don't need to worry. Mr. Jiang is helping him review!"
Old Man Yun mumbled a couple of times, then went to buy two pieces of tofu from Fu Daqiang and returned home to make tofu soup.
Meanwhile, in an inn in the county town.
Murong Taotao stood by the window with his hands behind his back. His delicate little face was ice-cold, and his entire being exuded an aura of unapproachability...
A moment later, the door was gently pushed open, and Eunuch Ruan walked in.
"How is it? Any news?" Murong Taotao turned his head and asked.
Eunuch Ruan shook his head, "No... no news!"
They had searched everywhere they could, and the secret guards had been dispatched, yet they hadn't even seen a shadow of Murong Qing.
"Hmph, it seems the Emperor has transferred them. That dog emperor, playing dirty tricks on me!" Murong Taotao gritted his teeth.
He truly regretted all the bad things he had done for Emperor Ming in the past...
If he had known that he was a person who would go to any lengths for profit, Murong Taotao would never have stayed in Yan Country to serve him.
Eunuch Ruan shrunk his neck, "National... National Preceptor, this servant, this servant..."
"Don't call me National Preceptor!" Murong Taotao frowned, his voice stern, "I am no longer that dog emperor's National Preceptor."
He even felt that his past experience as Emperor Ming's National Preceptor was a lifelong disgrace.
"Then, then Young Master Murong, this servant wants to report something to you..." Eunuch Ruan said timidly.
"Speak!"
"Young Master Murong, His Majesty has already left Heyang County. If I'm not mistaken, he should have returned to Yan Country!"
Murong Taotao: "???"
It seemed his guess was correct. His sister must have been transferred by that dog emperor...
Emperor Ming intended to use Murong Qing as bait to lure Murong Taotao back to Yan Country.
"Prepare the carriage immediately!" Murong Taotao's face was as dark as ink.
"To, to where?"
Murong Taotao walked out without looking back, "To Yan Country!"