Chapter 43

The more Zhao Yougong showed no fear, the more Yao Cheng felt terrified. At this moment, Zhao Yougong was too frightening. He was not stupid at all; he had simply been playing with everyone in the capital in the palm of his hand. His Majesty probably never imagined it would be like this. The nephew he often mocked turned out to be smarter than anyone else.

Holding Mu Wanqing, Yao Cheng kept retreating. His only thought now was to escape, to get away as soon as possible. He didn't want to stay in this place for a moment longer. Behind him was a dense forest of elm trees. As long as he escaped into it, the heavily injured Zhao Yougong wouldn't be able to catch him.

He was about to step into the elm forest when Yao Cheng suddenly showed a fierce look, pushing Mu Wanqing away and leaping toward a large elm tree. While in mid-air, Yao Cheng still turned around and shot two flying knives at Mu Wanqing's back.

He wanted to see if Zhao Yougong would save Mu Wanqing or kill him. Yao Cheng thought well, believing that Zhao Yougong would definitely choose to save Mu Wanqing.

In fact, Zhao Yougong did just as Yao Cheng thought. Seeing the two flying knives, he ignored the wound on his shoulder, darted forward, and extended his right arm to pull Mu Wanqing over.

Without a moment's hesitation, Zhao Yougong looked up at the fleeing Yao Cheng and suddenly shouted, "Want to run? Since you came, stay here!"

With a flip of his right hand, a powerful force shot out. In mid-air, Yao Cheng groaned in pain and fell to the ground with a thud. Yao Cheng lay on the ground, convulsing, with two shiny silver flying knives embedded in his back.

He was foolish, really foolish. Knowing that Zhao Yougong could use the Dragon Seizing Skill, he still threw the flying knives. The knives originally meant for Mu Wanqing ended up in his own body. Was this a case of being outsmarted by one's own cleverness?

Approaching, Zhao Yougong coldly raised his sword, "Yao Cheng, it's you who forced me..."

"Ha ha... Ha ha... Zhao Yougong, I admit, you are deeply hidden... deeply hidden..."

"Thank you for the compliment!" With a cold laugh, he swung his sword and slit Yao Cheng's throat.

Everything happened too suddenly. The fight looked extremely dangerous, but it only took about half an incense stick's time. Zhao Yougong was not happy at all. He still needed to find the lookout outside. If the lookout escaped back to the capital, all his years of endurance would be for nothing.

"Wan'er, lend me the Black Rose!"

Mu Wanqing had many questions to ask, but now was not the time. She didn't say much, just whistled, and the Black Rose quickly appeared. Without hesitation, Zhao Yougong, enduring the pain in his buttocks, mounted the horse.

He had to find the one who got away, he had to. If he lost, he would be truly unwilling.

The hooves of the Black Rose were like the wind, and soon they reached a small path. This path led directly to Maoshan Town to the north, which had a post station. A figure was galloping, the horse's hooves flying. He was panting heavily, still not knowing how he managed to escape.

Indeed, this person was He Yong. He had seen everything that happened. Knowing this, he was filled with fear. Was that person really the Prince of Yongning? Too frightening, could someone be so patient?

The Black Rose moved quickly, and after a quarter of an hour, Zhao Yougong saw the figure galloping hard. It was him, no doubt.

He must not let him escape to Maoshan Town. If he shouted in the post station, Zhao Yougong's secrets would no longer be secrets.

The Black Rose moved even faster, the distance between the two horses getting shorter. Just as he was about to catch up, the person in front let out a惨叫 and fell off the horse.

Rushing over, Zhao Yougong found the person already silent, a red silk dart embedded in his chest, his eyes wide open, seemingly very unwilling to die.

Seeing He Yong dead, Zhao Yougong finally showed a bit of a smile. As for who killed He Yong, who else but Du Gong? Hmph, this guy finally decided to help. In fact, Zhao Yougong had a lot of complaints about Du Gong. He didn't help until he scared him.

Lifting He Yong's body onto the horse, Zhao Yougong quickly returned to the foot of the mountain.

By the carriage, Mu Wanqing was meditating. Hearing the hooves, she opened her beautiful eyes, tears glistening, and said, "You evil bandit, you deceived me so much!"

Stumbling off the horse, Zhao Yougong spread his legs and knelt before Mu Wanqing. It wasn't that he wanted to kneel, but the wound on his buttocks was too severe.

"Wan'er, you understand. If not for this, I would have been killed by others long ago."

Mu Wanqing was just joking, she wouldn't really blame him. Seeing the blood on Zhao Yougong's buttocks, she felt a pang of pain and examined the wound, "Lie still, you've lost a lot of blood!"

Examining the wound, the more she looked, the more she felt heartache. The wound had been there for some time, and the fabric of his pants had stuck to it. When she removed the fabric, some of the skin came off. Zhao Yougong's right buttock was now a bloody mess. Yao Cheng must have kicked him many times.

Applying medicine and rebandaging, Mu Wanqing pursed her lips and said nothing.

Everything was because of her. If she hadn't kidnapped the evil bandit, would all these things have happened? The evil bandit wouldn't have had to expose himself.

"Evil bandit, are you blaming me in your heart?"

Hmm? Turning his face slightly, Zhao Yougong gently shook his head, "What silly talk. At first, I did blame you. Do you know how long I planned for the flower queen contest? But later, seeing how you protected me, I only felt fondness, no blame at all!"

Pausing, Zhao Yougong said with a slightly bitter smile, "Wan'er, do you know, in that capital, I worried every day and night. The current emperor wants to remove that thorn in his heart so much. You see me as a prince, but I am nothing. Among all those people, only Ying Ruo truly cared for me. Who else thought of me?"

Mu Wanqing could hear the sadness in Zhao Yougong's heart. Perhaps to maintain the appearance of a rogue, he even hurt the woman named Ying Ruo. Touching the man's face, Mu Wanqing said softly, "Evil bandit, don't be afraid, I will protect you. If that dog emperor dares to touch you, I will kill him!"

Zhao Yougong looked deeply, his eyes misty, at this innocent woman. He cherished her, so he nodded fiercely, "Yes, with Wan'er, I fear nothing!"

"Hehe..." Mu Wanqing smiled, her smile so gentle, and he was captivated.

Zhao Yougong was grateful to meet Mu Wanqing, this woman who loved and hated clearly. When she loved, she loved deeply; when she hated, she hated deeply.

Although he was injured, Mu Wanqing was much better off than Zhao Yougong. Hanging five bodies on the elm trees, she even set up a wooden sign, but the words on it were quite strange.

Whoever dares to snatch my meat ticket from me, I will kill one, I will kill a pair.

The domineering words matched Mu Wanqing's personality. Zhao Yougong understood that Mu Wanqing was taking all the blame to let Zhao Yougong continue to be the heartless little prince, so no one would suspect or investigate.

Taking the blame, Zhao Yougong would be safe, but what about Mu Wanqing? She would have to flee, hiding from the Six Ministries' pursuit.

"Wan'er, do you regret it?"

"Regret? Why should I regret it?" Turning her head, Mu Wanqing lifted Zhao Yougong's chin, somewhat fiercely, "Evil bandit, you are my meat ticket, no one can snatch you!"

"This... What if someone tries to snatch you?"

"Whoever it is, I will stab them with my sword..."

"..." Zhao Yougong was speechless. Killing someone like Mu Chun or Mu Xue was one thing, but he couldn't kill Ying Ruo.

Seeing Zhao Yougong's silence, Mu Wanqing guessed his thoughts, "Evil bandit, don't have those lecherous thoughts. If you dare to look for someone, I will dare to kill..."

"Wan'er, my head hurts, let me sleep a bit!"

Zhao Yougong squinted his eyes and stretched his arms into the carriage, determined not to respond. Ah, meeting Mu Wanqing, truly painful yet joyful.

***

Two days later, a carriage stopped at the foot of Huishan, and at the same time, the county office in Wuxi received a letter.

County Magistrate Huang Yunzhou didn't take it seriously at first, but after reading the letter, he was so frightened that his hands trembled, and he shouted, "Someone, quickly prepare a horse for me... No... Prepare money... Prepare money..."

Everyone in the county office was stunned. What was wrong with County Magistrate Huang, asking for money in broad daylight? County Lieutenant Hong Tetai, fearing something might happen to Huang Yunzhou, ran in with his sword, seeing Huang Yunzhou's pale face, he quickly asked, "County Magistrate Huang, what's wrong? Why do you need money?"

"Ah, it's County Lieutenant Hong. You look for yourself!" Huang Yunzhou didn't say more, just handed the letter to Hong Tetai.

Unfolding the letter, Hong Tetai's eyes widened after just two lines.

Want the Prince of Yongning? Bring 5,000 strings of cash to Huishan, or prepare to collect the body!

Hong Tetai cursed, what a vicious kidnapper, but what could he do? The money had to be paid, or watch the Prince of Yongning die? If the Prince of Yongning died, all the officials in Wuxi would suffer.

Before noon, Huang Yunzhou and Hong Tetai personally led a group to Huishan, of course, carrying a stack of banknotes.

As agreed, Mu Wanqing received 5,000 strings of cash and then fled. Huang Yunzhou and Hong Tetai, fearing the kidnapper would not keep his word, had people search the entire mountain. Soon, they found a carriage.

"Hey, damn it, is there anyone alive? Come and save me!"

A voice of cursing came from the carriage, and Huang Yunzhou breathed a sigh of relief. If he could curse, it meant he was still alive.

Huang Yunzhou directed the people to carry Zhao Yougong to the county office. On the way, Zhao Yougong didn't stop cursing, as if afraid that others wouldn't know he had arrived in Wuxi.

He wanted to make a big fuss, to let the whole world know he had arrived in Wuxi. If they wanted to kill him, let them come. But would Emperor Zhezong dare to kill him in front of everyone?

Killing was easy, but it was hard to silence the public.

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