"Why are there so many people suddenly?" Du Tieshan clutched Xiao Xitian's hand, her expression a little frightened.
Xiao Xitian was also bewildered. Peeking through a gap in the carriage curtain, she saw that the guards' attire and demeanor were not like those of ordinary people. She thought she had seen them in the imperial palace...
Several Imperial Guards drew their sabers, raising their vigilance, preventing anyone from getting close.
"Hahaha, Miss Yun, what a coincidence that we meet here!~"
A hearty laugh entered the carriage, carrying a man's unique charm and arrogance.
Xiao Xitian: "..."
Who is this person?
"Sweetie, you stay in the carriage and don't move. Your sister-in-law will go take a look!~" Du Tieshan said.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xitian shook her head repeatedly, "Sister-in-law Shan, this person seems to know me!"
With that, she lifted the curtain and gazed intently. A man clad in a white fox fur cloak, wearing a golden mask, sat astride a fine horse, his lips curved as he sized up Xiao Xitian...
"Miss Yun's reputation in the Heyang Commandery area is well-known. Seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary!" The man chuckled again. "At such a young age, you've achieved so much. I presume the Emperor highly values you, doesn't he?"
Xiao Xitian: "???"
How did he know her identity?
Had she been followed since leaving the imperial palace?
"Who are you?" Xiao Xitian asked curiously.
If he didn't introduce himself, there was no way to continue this conversation...
The man snorted, "You don't need to know who I am. I've come this time just to inquire about someone!~"
Du Tieshan listened, craned her neck to look at the man, feeling very uneasy. She tugged at Xiao Xitian's sleeve and whispered, "Sweetie, this person's origins are unknown. You shouldn't talk to him!"
Xiao Xitian didn't want to talk to him either, but the current situation wasn't something she could choose...
"Sister-in-law Shan, if we don't get rid of him, this person won't leave!~" Xiao Xitian said helplessly.
After speaking, she turned to the man, "Who do you want to inquire about?"
The man, wearing golden silk gloves, gently stroked the horse's mane and said with a half-smile, "Does Miss Yun know someone named Xiao Jinheng?"
Xiao Xitian: "???"
Good heavens, could that brat's identity have been exposed?
This person asking for Xiao Jinheng right off the bat was probably not a good omen...
The little prince had lived in Dashui Village for so many years. Even if he said nothing, Xiao Xitian knew he had unspeakable difficulties.
As for his identity and hiding place, Xiao Xitian absolutely could not reveal it.
"I don't know anyone named Xiao Jinheng!~" Xiao Xitian furrowed her small nose.
"Is that so?" The man narrowed his eyes, then flicked his whip. The horse took two steps forward. "If I remember correctly, Miss Yun has just come from the imperial palace, haven't you? You, a commoner, can freely enter and exit the palace and even meet the current Emperor. This shows your status is very unusual..."
As he spoke, he suddenly curved his lips and stroked the sword at his waist. "Without a recommender or a reliable connection, let alone you, even officials of the seventh or eighth rank wouldn't easily meet the Emperor. How did you manage it?"
Xiao Xitian's heart skipped a beat at his words.
It seemed her trip to the imperial palace had been completely monitored...
But who exactly was this person in front of her?
And why was he inquiring about Xiao Jinheng?
"Hey, are you done asking?" Du Tieshan raised her voice, glaring at the man. "If you're done, hurry up and leave. We're in a hurry to get going!~"
In this cold weather, who wanted to chat in the snow...
The man let out a cold laugh, suddenly dismounted, bent down, made a snowball, and played with it in his hand. "I have no ill intentions. I just want to be friends with Miss Yun. If you go further, you'll reach Heyang County. If it's convenient for Miss Yun, I'd like to treat you to a meal!~"
Xiao Xitian: "..."
This person was truly troublesome.
She just wanted to get back to Dashui Village quickly and reunite with her family. How could she have the leisure to eat in the county town?
"No, thank you, I'm not hungry!~" Xiao Xitian frowned tightly.
The man chuckled, "Miss Yun refuses so readily. It's fine, we have plenty of time. We'll meet again...~"
"No, no, no, it's better if we don't meet!~" Xiao Xitian blinked her big eyes, her face full of disdain. "You go your way on the bright road, and I'll cross my single-plank bridge. I don't like making friends with strangers!"
What a joke, who wanted to be friends with him? So inexplicable.
The man shrugged, "As you wish. We'll meet again soon anyway...~"
Xiao Xitian: "..."
Speechless.
If they kept talking, Xiao Xitian really wanted to rush out of the carriage and strangle this person.
Presumptuous, arrogant, and speaking in such a sarcastic tone.
The carriage slowly drove away, the wheels crunching on the accumulated snow.
In a short while, the carriage disappeared into the vast snowy plains...
A subordinate beside the man approached and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness Ming, you're just letting them go?"
Prince Ming was the second prince, Xiao Jinfeng. When he learned that Xiao Xitian had entered the palace, he had sent people to monitor her day and night.
Initially, he was also very curious. Why would the Emperor send his Imperial Guards to escort a small farm girl back to her village?
And Xiao Jinheng had been missing for so many years, could he be connected to this little farm girl...
After Xiao Xitian and Du Tieshan left the palace, he followed with a team of guards and arrived in the Heyang Commandery area.
Xiao Jinfeng smiled faintly, "If I don't let them go, do you plan to tie that little farm girl back to the imperial palace?"
These useless people, they really didn't think before they spoke...
He had carefully observed Xiao Xitian just now and found the young girl quite cute.
"But, but if we can't find the Crown Prince, the Consort will blame you when we return!~" the subordinate said, looking distressed.
Xiao Jinfeng's birth mother was Consort Xian, a formidable woman.
To achieve her goals, she could do anything...
Xiao Jinfeng heard this and raised his hand to rub his temples. "No one can predict the future. When we reach Heyang County later, go buy some gifts. I have an urgent need for them!~"
Subordinate: "..."
Your Highness Ming, at this critical juncture, why are you still buying that stuff.
It's better to hurry back to the palace and apologize to the Consort.
"Your, Your Highness, are you planning?"
Xiao Jinfeng let out a sigh and mounted his horse. "I plan to go to Dashui Village to meet that old Yun family!~"
Subordinate: "???"
He's gone mad...