“What… what are you doing?” Xiao Jinfeng’s eyes widened, and he took two steps back, warning Er Longzi, “I’m telling you, if you dare to defy me, I won’t let you off!~”
Er Longzi was stunned for a moment, then said with a helpless expression, “Your Highness, your subordinate is doing this for your own good!”
“How is it for my good?” Xiao Jinfeng retorted angrily.
Er Longzi walked to the desk, poured Xiao Jinfeng a cup of tea, and then patiently explained, “Your Highness, there are three paths before you. First, as per the Empress’s orders, arrest the Crown Prince and escort him back to the capital as soon as possible. Whether he lives or dies is left to fate…”
“Second, defy the Empress’s orders and go against her. Kill anyone who stands in your way, and ensure that no one who comes to Dashui Village leaves alive. The consequences of doing this, even if I don’t say it, Your Highness should understand. By protecting the Crown Prince and opposing the Empress, you are going against Consort Xian’s entire family and her hidden forces. Even though you are her biological son, at that point, the Empress might not tolerate your recklessness…”
Xiao Jinfeng’s head was spinning, and he felt extremely agitated.
“What is the third path?” Xiao Jinfeng slumped onto the chair, his voice hoarse.
Er Longzi glanced out the window and saw the Crown Prince also looking their way with his hands behind his back. Er Longzi’s back suddenly felt a chill, and he quickly went forward to draw the curtains…
“Your Highness, this third path is something you could consider, but it requires sacrificing some people!~” Er Longzi said mysteriously.
Xiao Jinfeng rubbed his temples. “Tell me!”
He hadn’t expected this dullard to be so clever today, which made Xiao Jinfeng a little unaccustomed to it.
Er Longzi smiled and said, “Your Highness, don’t you like Miss Huaihua? Now, before Shen Ducai and his men arrive at Dashui Village, you can elope with Miss Huaihua and find a paradise to live a life where you envy neither mandarin ducks nor immortals…”
“Moreover, the money you’ve saved privately is enough for the two of you to live a life of leisure and happiness for a lifetime. Consort Xian, with no sight of her and no trace of her body, will eventually let go of these matters. What do you think?”
Xiao Jinfeng: “……”
This idea was not great.
Although he really wanted to elope with Jin Huaihua and live in seclusion, he could not be someone who abandoned righteousness for beauty.
“When you say sacrificing some people, you mean the entire Old Yun family and the Crown Prince, right?” Xiao Jinfeng cast a cold glance at Er Longzi and asked in a deep voice.
Er Longzi nodded slightly. “That’s right. You know the Empress’s methods. If she can’t find you, she will definitely target the Old Yun family. None of them will survive then…”
“Shut up!~” Hearing this, Xiao Jinfeng smashed the teacup in his hand onto the ground. He then stood up abruptly, grabbed Er Longzi by the collar, and said, “As long as I am here, she will not lay a hand on anyone from the Yun family, unless she steps over my dead body!”
Er Longzi’s eyes widened, and his mouth twitched uncontrollably. “Your… Your Highness, are you crazy? You’ve changed so much that even your subordinate doesn’t recognize you!~”
For a person to change so much in such a short period, it showed how strange the Old Yun family was.
Xiao Jinfeng stared at Er Longzi for a moment before slowly releasing him, then sneered, “That’s because you never truly understood me before. Er Longzi, I order you to immediately gather all the hidden guards. No matter what method you use, you must not let that dog Shen Ducai reach Dashui Village. If there is any mistake, I will hold you accountable!~”
Er Longzi: “……”
“Are you deaf? Hurry up and go!~” Xiao Jinfeng roared.
Er Longzi said "Oh" and turned to leave.
His Highness’s actions were a blatant defiance of the Empress. Er Longzi could already imagine the scene of his Highness being bound and taken to the capital, to be whipped by the Empress…
Moreover, His Highness only brought a few hidden guards with him on this trip to Dashui Village. How could they possibly stop Shen Ducai and his men?
In the courtyard, Xiao Jinheng saw Er Longzi emerge from the guest room, bow to him, and then leave in a huff. Xiao Jinheng narrowed his eyes and returned to the west wing…
“Commander Kong, I think something is not right!~” Xiao Jinheng sat at the desk, his handsome face clouded with gloom.
Kong Xingzhuo asked in surprise, “Your Highness, what is it?”
“I vaguely overheard Ming Wang talking to Er Longzi just now. They seemed to be discussing that Consort Xian has already sent people to Dashui Village to kill me…” Xiao Jinheng replied.
“Wh-what?” Kong Xingzhuo’s face paled with alarm, as if facing a formidable enemy. “Your Highness, is this true?”
Consort Xian’s boldness was growing with each passing day. To dare send people to assassinate the Crown Prince, disregarding imperial authority, all for her own selfish gain, was she possessed by a demon…
“It’s highly likely true!~” Xiao Jinheng nodded slightly.
“Your Highness, if that is the case, your subordinate will immediately send a carrier pigeon to request the Emperor to send troops for support. If you truly fall into Consort Xian’s hands, you will likely face certain death and be beyond salvation…” Kong Xingzhuo said with great anxiety.
If the Crown Prince died in Dashui Village like this, he would have no face to return and confess to His Majesty and the Empress. He might as well find a rope and hang himself.
Xiao Jinheng said indifferently, “Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. I’m afraid there isn’t enough time. For now, let everyone in the Yun family temporarily leave Dashui Village and seek shelter. It won’t be too late to return after Consort Xian’s people have left…”
Although his life was precious, the Yun family should not die in vain.
“Oh dear, Your Highness, you know that besides Dashui Village, where else can they go? Even hiding in the county town is not safe! Moreover, what reason do you have to ask them to leave?” Kong Xingzhuo looked troubled.
They couldn’t possibly say that Consort Xian wanted to kill Xiao Jinheng to make her son the Crown Prince, and also massacre the entire Yun family…
That would surely scare them to death.
Xiao Jinheng fell into thought upon hearing this.
After a long while, he looked up and smiled at Kong Xingzhuo, “I heard that Brother Jiang Tun is setting off back to the capital tomorrow morning. Why don’t we have him take the Yun family with him? The reason would be to let them taste authentic roast duck in the capital!~”
Kong Xingzhuo: “……”
Your Highness, your reason is too much of a duck’s expense, no, it’s too unreliable.
Would people drag their entire families along just to go to the capital for a meal of roast duck?
It didn’t seem very realistic, no matter how you thought about it.
“Your subordinate, your subordinate feels it is not appropriate!~” Kong Xingzhuo murmured.
“Hmm? What is not appropriate?” Xiao Jinheng frowned.
Just as Kong Xingzhuo was about to answer, the study door was suddenly pushed open…