As they neared the prefectural city, the number of soldiers along the riverbanks increased.
They carried long spears, milling about the river in groups of three or five.
Whether it was a small fishing boat or a merchant vessel carrying goods, any that were spotted by the soldiers had to stop for inspection...
"Hey, don't you have any sense of justice?" a boatman, clad in tattered clothes, shoved a soldier. "I'm here to sell eggs in the city, why are you detaining my boat!"
"We suspect you're a human trafficker and have hidden children on board!" the soldier retorted.
"Ha, that's rich. Come on, take a look. Can this old hen lay eggs? Can children hatch from these eggs? You people just bully ordinary folk all day, have you no shame..."
"Who are you calling shameless?"
"I'm calling you shameless, spit, spit, spit!"
With that, the boatman was sent flying into the river by the soldier...
Xiao Jinheng was furious at the soldiers' actions and wanted to jump ashore to scold them, but he was pulled back by the man.
"What are you doing? What's it to you? Are you looking for trouble?" the man said, picking at him while eating plums.
He didn't know Xiao Jinheng's identity, only thinking he was an illegitimate son from a wealthy family...
Xiao Jinheng clenched his small fists. "If all soldiers were like him, wouldn't the entire Daliang Kingdom fall into chaos?"
"Oh, look at you, acting all high and mighty. Are you the Crown Prince or something? Talking about the entire Daliang Kingdom, you should find your own little village first!"
Sigh, are all children these days so patriotic and concerned about the people?
When he was Xiao Jinheng's age, he was still squatting by the river, building mud castles...
"Hey, you, stop the boat immediately!" a burly soldier approached, his expression somewhat shocked.
A human trafficker and two children.
Isn't that them?
The Prefect's words were indeed correct; the human trafficker had brought the children to the prefectural city...
He was the first to discover them and could expect a reward upon his return.
Xiao Jinheng and Xiao Xitian didn't know anything about human traffickers. They only thought the soldiers were conducting routine checks.
Unexpectedly, when the man docked the boat, a large group of soldiers swarmed over, surrounding the man and the two children like a watertight net...
"Hmph, damn human traffickers, we finally caught you!"
"I hate scum like you who abduct children more than anything. You're going to have your legs broken today!"
"What are you waiting for? Someone, grab this human trafficker and whip him a few times first!"
The man: "..."
What are you babbling about?
Who is a human trafficker?
He had important matters to attend to and could not afford further delays. The moment all the soldiers charged forward, the man's toes touched the ground, and with a 'swish,' he leaped into the air...
"Two little ones, we'll meet again. Also, officers, their home is in Dashui Village, please take good care of them!"
The man waved to the two little buns and, using his agility, quickly disappeared into the vast expanse of buildings.
Everything happened too quickly. By the time the soldiers reacted, the man had long since vanished...
"Quick, quick, chase him, what are you standing around for!" a soldier leader shouted.
The remaining soldiers rushed into the prefectural city.
Xiao Jinheng sighed, what a pity, he hadn't figured out the man's identity yet.
Xiao Xitian was a little sad. Had big brother left just like that?
Would they ever see him again?
They had slowly developed feelings for each other during their journey together...
Although the man was usually jovial, it was evident that he carried very important tasks and responsibilities on his shoulders.
Regardless, he wished him good luck!
"Are you two from Dashui Village?" the soldier leader asked, approaching them.
Xiao Jinheng nodded. "I want to see Prefect Qin, and bring me paper and a brush. I need to write a letter!"
The leader listened and then carefully observed them.
The Prefect had already instructed that if these two children were found, they must not be neglected or treated rudely...
They had to be taken good care of.
"However, the Prefect is not in the prefectural city at the moment. Why don't you wait for him at the prefectural office!" the leader suggested.
Xiao Xitian asked curiously, "Where did Prefect Uncle go?"
The leader sighed. "He went upstream along the great river to look for you..."
"Huh?"
The two little buns were suddenly startled and exchanged glances.
Could the group of people who rode horses over be Prefect Qin?
No wonder Xiao Xitian found his voice so familiar.
Alas, what a perfect miss!
"There's no need to go to the prefectural office. Take us to the Prefect's residence. I have something to say to Madam Qin..." Xiao Jinheng said seriously.
The leader was puzzled. What was their background?
This little girl kept calling him Prefect Uncle, and the little boy kept mentioning Madam Qin.
Could they be a princess and a prince in distress?
But they didn't quite look like it.
The leader said, "Oh," and pointed not far away. "There's a carriage prepared here. Please, young sirs..."
"Thank you!"
Xiao Jinheng cupped his hands in thanks and suddenly remembered something. "Right, that man isn't a human trafficker. You can call your people back!"
The leader blinked.
Had they been brainwashed?
That man wore a mask and carried a sword. He had 'abducted' them all the way to Shuo'an City. How could he not be a human trafficker?
"I will inform the Prefect..." the leader said, lifting the carriage curtain.
Just as the two little buns were boarding the carriage, two travelers on horseback approached from a distance.
This was the only way to enter the prefectural city.
Because of the suspension bridge over the moat, many soldiers and civilians had gathered at the city gate.
The two travelers, one riding a chestnut horse and the other a sturdy white horse, were Yun Erman and Sister Hua, who had come from the county town...
"Oh my, what's going on in the prefectural city? Why are there so many soldiers?" Yun Erman asked curiously.
Sister Hua was also surprised. "Perhaps they're catching bandits. Do you know the way to the Prefect's residence?"
Yun Erman glanced at her without saying anything...
On this journey, Sister Hua had taken meticulous care of him.
When he was hungry, she roasted steamed buns; when he was thirsty, she boiled water for tea. This treatment was like that of a prince, which felt wonderful.
Yun Erman had never experienced what it was like to be a husband after being with Liu Cuirong for so many years.
Whether it was light work or heavy work, she made him do it all, like a donkey.
But look at Sister Hua, she was so gentle and virtuous, knowing how to be considerate, able to manage both the household and the kitchen. If it came down to actual work, Yun Erman might not even be able to handle her...
"What are you looking at?" Sister Hua asked.
Yun Erman looked closely at the carriage. A gust of wind had just blown, and the curtain had moved.
In a daze, he thought he saw his sister.