The first time in history

Qian Mingduo opened his eyes dazedly. He couldn't tell what time it was in the cellar. Several crystal lamps on the wall had gone out, making the cellar even darker.

Lu Ran lay on his side, snoring softly. His delicate, fair skin glowed softly in the dim yellow candlelight, as if it were carved from ivory.

The candle at the end of the bed was still bright, Qian Mingduo sat up and stared at Lu Ran's exquisite jade feet. He leaned over and kissed her jade feet gently.

"Your Highness!" Lu Ran raised his head, "No."

"Are you awake?" Qian Mingduo kissed Lu Ran's feet again, "I don't even know what time it is now."

Just as Qian Mingduo finished speaking, the sound of footsteps was heard from the tunnel.

"It's Xiu'er!" Lu Ran said shyly. "Your Highness, what should I do?"

"If you want to wear it, wear it. If you don't want to wear it, don't wear it!"

Lu Ran quickly picked up the clothes.

"Your Highness!" Xiu'er said a few meters away from the tunnel entrance.

"Is that Xiu'er?" Lu Ran said softly, "What's the matter?" After tidying up his clothes, "Come in!"

Xiu'er carried the food box and said, "I'm here to bring food to His Highness and my sister."

"What time is it now?" Qian Mingduo sat up and asked.

"It's the morning hour." Xiu'er placed some food on the low table.

Lu Ran took the chopsticks from Xiu'er's hand and asked, "Is there any news outside?"

"Boss Guo has news that it is now rumored that the death of His Royal Highness the Second Prince is related to His Royal Highness the Third Prince. And." Xiu'er took out a note from her waist, "Someone just left it in front of our house door, and the gatekeeper didn't see who left it there."

Lu Ran walked to the candlelight and said, "Your Highness, I drew a boat."

Qian Mingduo came over and took a look. "This is the boat of the owner of Mo Yi Tower.

"Could it be that she wants to see His Highness?" Lu Ran asked.

Qian Mingduo nodded, "But Zi'er is not here, I can't change my appearance! If I go out like this, won't I be caught?"

"Let me try." Lu Ran took out the small box that Zi'er used for disguise. "You've seen Zi'er disguise herself several times. Your Highness, how about letting Ran'er try?"

When a purple-faced man stood in front of Xiu'er, she couldn't help but cover her mouth, "Sister Ran'er, you are so amazing. You can tell it's His Highness."

"Don't you look anything like me?" Qian Mingduo smiled.

Xiu'er nodded, "Except for your highness's extraordinary temperament, you can't tell from his appearance."

"When did Xiu'er become so good at flattering people?" Lu Ran said, holding Xiu'er's hand.

"I'm not complimenting you. Your Highness has always had a unique temperament." Xiu'er blushed and said, "Although your appearance has changed, your temperament cannot be changed."

Qian Mingduo smiled and said, "Xiu'er, come with me. Do you know where to wait for me?"

"In the small woods south of the city." Xiu'er said, "Then I will go prepare the carriage and wait for Your Highness there."

Lu Ran warned: "Be careful and don't be careless."

It was still the same big ship, and still the same small boat. Qian Mingduo boarded the big ship and saw that the deck was empty. He opened the soft curtain of the cabin and saw Liu Jingxue lying on the stepping stone, smiling quietly.

"Sister, why did you summon Ruichen?" Qian Mingduo took off his shoes and got on the bed.

"Why does Your Highness want to take off your shoes?" Liu Jingxue asked calmly.

"How can you get on the kang without taking off your shoes?"

"After I tell you this news, I guess your highness will be putting on shoes soon."

Qian Mingduo looked at Liu Jingxue in surprise, "What news?"

Liu Jingxue sat up and said, "There have been unusual incidents along the route that the emperor must take to return to the capital these days, and many unidentified people have been found gathering there.

“Where will it be gathered?”

"Chenjiayu, 25 miles north of the capital." Liu Jingxue took out a map and pointed to a place on it. "It's here."

Qian Mingduo looked at the map carefully, "This is the only way for my father to return to Beijing! How many people are gathering here."

"The news I just received before your Highness came down is that there are 500 people, and there are at least 500 people. According to the emperor's schedule, they will arrive at Chenjiayu tomorrow."

"When tomorrow?" Qian Mingduo said with a frown.

"It should be around 3 p.m."

Qian Mingduo's eyes moved slowly on the map. "More than 20 miles northeast of Chenjiayu is the garrison of the Ruishi Camp. This is the closest camp to Chenjiayu, but..."

"But it is said that in order to mobilize the Ruishi Battalion, you need ***'s military token." Liu Jingxue said: "Your Highness, do you still trust *** now? Do you still believe that the Ruishi Battalion can protect you?"

Liu Jingxue smiled and said, "Perhaps the people who gathered in Chenjiayu are from the Ruishi Camp. Your Highness, do you think this is possible?"

"Then we must report this to our father immediately..." Qian Mingduo glanced at Liu Jingxue, "The person who planned this operation will definitely ambush us on the way north to cut off our connection with our father."

Liu Jingxue nodded. "Even if we know someone is going to set up an ambush in Chenjiayu, we can't report it to the emperor now. There is a long and narrow mountain road in Huapiling, ten miles north of the city. If we set up an ambush here, anyone who passes on the message will be shot here. I have tried it."

"There is only one way." Qian Mingduo put on his shoes. "Just let the general in charge of the defense of the capital lead the troops north to welcome the emperor."

"Your Highness, are you going to take this risk? Are you going to go to the general in person?"

Qian Mingduo walked to the cabin door and said with a sidelong glance: "What else?"

"Your Highness is now a criminal. If you go to the Gyeonggi General's Mansion like this, you will be walking into a tiger's mouth. Don't let the Gyeonggi General take this opportunity to arrest Your Highness?"

Qian Mingduo smiled and said, "Just arrest him. As long as he is willing to lead his troops north, I am nothing."

"The general of the capital would not dare to mobilize the army without the emperor's order. Why would Your Highness take the risk and do useless work?" Liu Jingxue sighed.

"Besides, does Your Highness trust General Jingji?" Liu Jingxue blinked, "Why not bring more people to break through? As long as we pass Huapi Ridge, we may be able to see the emperor."

Qian Mingduo turned around and said, "There are only a dozen guards in my mansion. Do you think you can get through Huapi Ridge?"

"Your Highness, please look." Liu Jingxue pointed to the shore.

A row of people in black uniforms stood neatly on the shore, their horses riding majestically. "These are all the people I can mobilize. All the people from Moyi Tower near the capital are here."

"Thank you, sister!" Qian Mingduo turned around and was about to leave.

"Your Highness, please wait a moment." Liu Jingxue walked out of the cabin barefoot and clapped her hands. Four women in black suddenly appeared, "You go with Your Highness, and you must protect Your Highness."

Qian Mingduo held Liu Jingxue's hand and said, "You need someone by your side, too!"

Liu Jingxue shook her head, walked to the side of the boat, and said to the people on the boat, "Please ask Master Guan Wu to go with His Highness."

Qian Mingduo put his arms around Liu Jingxue's waist, kissed her gently on the forehead, then turned around and jumped off the boat.

After landing, a man in black led several horses. Qian Mingduo ordered Xiu'er to return to the mansion and take all the guards in the mansion to Chenjiayu.

Qian Mingduo mounted his horse and looked at Liu Jingxue who was still standing on the side of the ship from a distance. He nodded to her silently and led the seventy or eighty people to gallop northward.