Peach Blossom.

Chen Ji thought that if the "bandits" were fake, they were most likely Chen Xi's subordinates, so he just hid among the people who were accompanying him and waited for the team leader Xu Muxian to speak.

Xu Mu supported Si Xiu and courteously approached the bandits in front of him: "My dear friends, we come from a remote village. Although we are going to pick up a bride, we don't have much property with us. We only have a few boxes of betrothal gifts for the bride's family. We are willing to leave them all and beg you to let us pass."

After saying that, Xu Mu hurriedly waved to the people carrying luggage behind him, and they quickly put the suitcases on the ground.

After hearing this, the leading bandits walked over to a few suitcases, opened the lids of the boxes with their swords, and looked inside. They saw that the so-called betrothal gifts were nothing more than a few inexpensive antiques, calligraphy and paintings, silk fabrics and other items.

"So many people, and they only carry such worthless stuff?" The bandits were very dissatisfied.

Xu Mu smiled and explained: "We are really from poor families and have nothing."

"Stop talking nonsense. How could the royal family be paupers? Either keep your money or your life!" said a bandit, and drew his sword towards the groom Si Xiu.

Si Xiu was so scared that he screamed and collapsed on Xu Mu.

Xu Mu had no choice but to say, "If you don't believe me, feel free to search me."

Another bandit said to the bandit who had drawn his sword, "Why bother talking to him? Even if you don't have any money, just kidnap him and ask his father or his father-in-law to redeem him. How can you not have money?"

The other bandits all thought it was a good idea, so they all came to kidnap people.

The people in the wedding procession all hid daggers in their sleeves, but because they had not received orders, they dared not act rashly.

Chen Ji saw that these bandits only wanted to kidnap people and had no intention of killing them. He was confused for a moment, but he felt that they should not reveal their strength before the other party showed their true face, so he did not order his people to use force.

Xu Mu had to help Si Xiu get off the horse, and the bandits took the two horses away.

Xu Mu smiled and said to the bandits: "My fellow heroes, if you want money, just kidnap me and my son. The others have to go back and report the news, right? Otherwise, who will deliver the money? Besides, if you kidnap so many of us at once, I'm afraid your village will not be able to accommodate us."

The bandits discussed with each other: "That's true. If the money is not delivered quickly, wouldn't we have to use our own food to feed all these people?"

Xu Mu smiled and said, "That's right, the young master and I will go with you, please let the others go."

The bandit leader asked, "Only two of you?"

Xu Mu nodded and smiled.

The bandit leader looked at Xu Mu and Si Xiu again and said, "Hearing what you said, I feel that the groom might be an imposter, and the real prince is among the entourage."

Xu Mu was stunned.

The bandit leader smiled sinisterly and ordered the other bandits: "The women and the elders in the entourage can be released to report the news, and the rest can be sent back."

When Chen Ji heard this, he quickly gave a wink to Fang Qing, the maid beside him. He looked at Fang Qing and saw her write the word "Yong" on the palm of her hand, then waved her hand.

Fang Qing nodded slightly. She understood what Chen Ji meant. He wanted her to inform everyone not to look for King Yongchang after she was released by the bandits.

Soon, the relatively younger men in the wedding procession were all tied up by the bandits, including Si Xiu, Xu Mu, Chen Ji and others, whose wrists were tied with the same hemp rope.

"You have seven days to send fifty thousand taels of silver, otherwise your prince will die in the mountains."

The bandits left a message to the people they released, and then evacuated with all the kidnapped people, horses, and luggage.

Fang Qing followed Chen Ji's order and took the remaining people who were not kidnapped into the city to seek refuge with the Wang family.

When it was getting dark, Fang Qing and others arrived at the gate of Situ Mansion and asked the doorman to inform Wang Jing that they wanted to see him.

As there were too many visitors, the gatekeeper only invited Fang Qing in to meet the three young masters of the Wang family. Fang Qing then told the three brothers of the Wang family about the robbery of the wedding procession.

Wang Jing heard this and asked, "If it was extortion, why didn't Miss Fang tell the Prince of Yongchang about it, but came to tell me?"

Fang Qing told the truth: "Before we parted, my master hinted that I should not go to King Yongchang, but the bandits want a ransom, and we have no other choice but to come to you for help."

Wang Jing roughly sorted out the ins and outs of the matter. He felt that most of the bandits were from the Meng family or Chen Xi. Chen Ji should have guessed this, so he did not let these people go to find Prince Yongchang, in order to prevent some of the bandits from following them and finding Prince Yongchang's stationed place.

"I understand this, but fifty thousand taels of silver is not a small amount. Let me think of a way. I will ask Miss Fang and the people of Yongchang to stay in the guest room for a day or two."

Wang Jing immediately called a servant and asked him to take Fang Qing and others to the guest room.

Only the three Wang brothers and Zhou Yunniang were left in the house.

Wang Ao stood at the window and looked out. Seeing Fang Qing walking away, he turned around and asked Wang Jing: "Second brother, you are not really going to raise 50,000 taels to redeem your son-in-law, are you? Our family does not have that much money, unless you go and borrow from the princess!"

Wang Jing ignored Wang Ao.

Wang Dun asked: "What exactly are you planning, brother?"

Wang Jing was silent for a while, then smiled coldly: "Do you really think he is my son-in-law?"

Wang Dun and Wang Ao looked at each other. Wang Dun seemed to understand Wang Jing's intention: "You never planned to marry Yu'er to him?"

"You know very well that this marriage is just a plot. Moreover..." Wang Jing paused and lowered his voice: "Qiong Ju returned from Yongchang last night and confirmed that our father is no longer in Yongchang. We don't have to obey the King of Yongchang in everything."

Wang Dun nodded: "But the prince is marrying according to the imperial order, and everyone in the city knows about it. Besides, now that so many people have come to our family for help, we can't just ignore it."

Wang Jing said: "He is our son-in-law, but he is also the cousin of the current emperor. Such a domineering bandit appeared in Jiankang. Shouldn't we report it to the two Empress Dowagers? Why should we waste our efforts ourselves?"

Although Wang Dun approved of Wang Jing's idea, he also felt that it was not appropriate: "I always feel that the bandits were most likely arranged by the Grand Marshal under the orders of the Empress Dowager. If we report this to the emperor, it may just give them an opportunity to "send troops to suppress the bandits". If the "bandits" execute the hostages, Jiankang will go to war."

Wang Jing shook his head and chuckled, "Not necessarily. If they wanted to kill the prince, they could have killed him during the robbery. Why bother to capture him and go around in circles? Don't they know that if the prince died, it would give Prince Yongchang an excuse to attack the capital? They kidnapped the prince just to lure Prince Yongchang out, or to find out the details of Yongchang's troops."

Wang Ao looked at Wang Dun, then at Wang Jing. He was confused by what they were saying. "What do you mean? How could the bandits be the Empress Dowager's men? What does kidnapping the prince have to do with finding out the troops in Yongchang?"

Wang Dun glanced at Wang Ao and was too lazy to explain. He continued to say to Wang Jing: "No matter what, it won't be long before these two sides will quarrel. If it's not open, it will be hidden. Our family is caught in the middle and is bound to be attacked from all sides."

"So, before we report this to the palace, those of us without official titles can leave the capital first, one by one." At this point, Wang Jing called Wang Ao and said, "Third brother, don't you want to travel among the people and practice medicine? Leave tomorrow and go to the State of Wei to join our cousin Wang Xuan."

"Ah? Tomorrow?" Wang Ao felt even more confused.

Wang Jing nodded and emphasized again: "Yes, tomorrow. I will ask Qiongju to accompany you. He is very good at martial arts and can fight a hundred people alone. He can protect your safety."

Wang Dun thought again, "Why don't we ask Geng'er to go with my third brother? He can be my third brother's medical apprentice. He is my only son and the only grandson of my father and mother. He cannot be trapped here with us."

Wang Jing nodded.

When Zhou Yunniang heard this, she hurriedly asked Wang Dun: "Where is Huan'er? And where is my Huan'er?"

Wang Dun replied, "We can't have too many people go together, otherwise it will attract attention. I asked my third brother and Geng'er to go first, in order to preserve our family's lineage. Besides, Empress Dowager Zhou had previously intended to choose Huan'er as the queen. Although this matter has not been approved by the Grand Empress Dowager, Huan'er cannot leave the capital easily."

When Zhou Yunniang heard this, she immediately became furious. Without saying a word, she stood up and left the house.

Wang Ao stood at the window and looked out. Seeing Zhou Yunniang walking away, he sneered, "Why are you so angry? Isn't it because Yu'er is engaged to Prince Yongchang that she can't leave? It turns out that children with mothers are loved by others!"

Wang Dun glanced at Wang Ao and said nothing.

Although Wang Jing couldn't see clearly, he knew what was going on, so he reprimanded Wang Ao: "I told you to take Geng'er away, so just go. Don't complain about this and that all day long. How can a family care about so many things?"

"Even if I leave... I have to find Tao Ye first. I have to ask her if she is willing..." Wang Ao lowered his head and didn't dare to continue.

Wang Jing didn't seem to care and replied naturally: "Then go find her and ask her. She is in Meixiangxie."

"Ah? Second brother has found her?" Wang Ao was shocked. Since his mother passed away, he had never been to those places of entertainment and didn't know where Tao Ye was.

Wang Jing did not directly respond to Wang Ao's question, but continued to order: "You have until today to finish asking all the questions you need to ask. Tomorrow morning, you must take Geng'er away."

Wang Ao did not refute. He just wanted to find Tao Ye as soon as possible.

After the meeting with his brothers, he couldn't wait to go to the Mei Xiang She, which was still full of guests and as lively as usual.

He asked the people there, and sure enough, everyone knew Tao Ye. They said that she had just sung for half a day and went upstairs to rest.

Wang Ao gave the reward, ran upstairs, and went to Tao Ye's door, where he saw Tao Ye tuning the pipa.

"Sister Taoye!"

Tao Ye looked up and was delighted to see that it was Wang Ao: "Third brother?"

Wang Ao walked into the house, stood in front of Tao Ye, and mustered up his courage: "I...I have some questions to ask you."

Seeing Wang Ao so nervous, Tao Ye couldn't help but laugh: "You little brat, what's the problem?"

"I...I..." The words came to his lips, but Wang Ao couldn't say them.

"What's wrong with you?" Tao Ye looked at Wang Ao curiously.

Wang Ao paused and said in a serious tone, "We haven't seen each other for so long. I shouldn't say this right when we meet, but...but I'm leaving for a faraway place tomorrow. I don't know how long it will take me to come back. I must say what I need to say before I leave."

Tao Ye became even more curious: "Going to a far place tomorrow? Why?"

"Because the son of Prince Yongchang was kidnapped by bandits."

"Huh?" Tao Ye was a little puzzled. She was of course surprised that the son of Prince Yongchang was kidnapped, but she really couldn't figure out what this had to do with Wang Ao's long journey.

Wang Ao said seriously, "I know you don't understand. In fact, I don't understand either, but I don't want to stay at home anymore. I want to go to a place where no one recognizes me and be a traveling doctor. Do you... do you want to come with me?"

"Go with you?" Tao Ye couldn't help laughing again: "Are you kidding?"

"I'm not kidding..." Wang Ao's face turned red with anxiety. He even looked a little angry: "A few years ago you thought I was too young, but now I'm not young anymore. Can you stop treating me like a child?"

Tao Ye looked helpless and barely suppressed a smile: "Okay, okay, if I don't treat you as a child, that won't work! We are not suitable."

Wang Ao pouted and stared at Tao Ye, asking with a hint of resentment, "Are you still waiting for my second brother?"