An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

The wheels rolled over the gravel, and during the bumps his lips brushed against the silver hairpin in her hair, making a very light friction sound.

Thirty steps away, in the shadows of the trees, one of the secret guards suddenly pressed down on the willow-leaf dart at his waist. Another grabbed his wrist and shook his head.

The moonlight filtered through the new leaves, casting mottled shadows on their faces. The ten secret guards lurking in different directions were like dormant beasts, their muscles tense as they stared at every shake of the carriage.

"Is there an ambush?" July whispered, his eyes scanning every shadow along the road. September was silently climbing high up in the pine trees to scout.

The leader of the secret guards at the front has already drawn his hidden arrow and is actively preparing for any possible emergencies.

Xu Zize suddenly helped her to pull the reins. When the carriage stopped suddenly, Jing Chunxi fell backwards into his arms. He still held her hand with his left hand, but held Yingying's waist with his right hand.

"Xi'er, are you okay?" His voice was filled with laughter, but his breathing was ragged. The moonlight traced the girl's tense neck, where a layer of tiny pimples appeared.

The secret guards held their breath. Some had already drawn their hidden arrows, but saw their master suddenly lower his head, as if making some kind of gesture.

Everyone froze in place as they watched the two men sit up straight again.

Xu Zize said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Be careful to pull in the reins in advance when turning..."

Jing Chunxi's heartbeat was like a drum. Xu Zize's voice, teaching, drifted in and out, mingling with the scent of wild roses carried by the night breeze. As his fingers guided her to pull the left rein, the veins on the back of his hand left a burning sensation in her palm.

As the carriage turned around the mountain pass, moonlight suddenly poured down, illuminating the shadows cast by his drooping eyelashes, which made Jing Chunxi's heart beat fast.

At that moment, her original inner persistence suddenly showed signs of collapse.

"What are the masters doing?" July asked September in lip language. The latter was staring at a crooked tree fifty steps away - a half-black shadow flashed behind the tree.

But the next second, a breeze came out from behind the tree, and the two of them exhaled silently.

Due to nervousness, Jing Chunxi drove without any control.

The carriage suddenly veered off the road, its right wheel running over a protruding tree root. Xu Zize immediately put his arm around Jing Chunxi's waist and pulled her into his arms, his other hand yanking on the reins.

The horse neighed and the man stood up. The moment the carriage tilted violently, he turned around and leaned his back against the wall of the carriage, holding her firmly against his chest.

Eleven dark shadows suddenly emerged from the woods at the same time.

Qingfeng swung out a flying claw hook, and the leader of the secret guards aimed the sleeve arrow at the frightened horse's hind legs.

But at the critical moment, he saw Xu Zize steadily controlling the carriage and gently straightening Jing Chunxi again.

"Go on." Xu Zize's voice was a little hoarse. He still maintained a protective posture, the front of his dark brocade robe wrinkled by her grip. She hurriedly let go, but her fingertips accidentally brushed across the scar on his collarbone—the scar from the assassination in Tanxiang.

The guards watched their own prince suddenly grab the young lady's wrist, then slowly release it, and they hurriedly turned their heads. Under the moonlight, their breaths mingled, and a startled nightingale fluttered past the treetops.

"Let's go back." Xu Zize finally said with a sigh, "Xi'er is not suitable for driving." When he took the reins, his fingertips lingered on her palm for a moment.

On the way back, Jing Chunxi leaned against the carriage and dozed off, but one could still hear his heartbeat in his chest, which was much faster than when he was teaching.

The secret guards were divided into three groups to take turns to cover the carriage's return.

July rubbed his sore neck and saw September make a gesture to him - the prince's ears turned red.

Everyone tacitly retreated into the shadows further away, listening to the creaking of the carriage as it rolled over the bluestone road, carrying two equally beating hearts, heading towards the restaurant with lanterns hanging at the door.

...

Entering Qiantang County, there wasn't a single refugee to be seen on the road, and even the beggars had vanished without a trace. The road approaching the city was, on the contrary, a scene of peace and tranquility.

The official road, paved with bluestone, was smooth and wide, with willow trees swaying beside it and the occasional chirping of birds in the branches. There were few pedestrians on the road, and the few who did were neatly dressed vendors hurrying by with bamboo baskets slung over their shoulders.

At the fork in the road closest to the city gate, there was actually a wealthy family giving out porridge: two large iron pots were placed on a makeshift stove, emitting steam, but the surroundings were very tidy and clean, even the firewood was neatly stacked.

Several maids in neat clothes were using long-handled wooden spoons to scoop thick porridge into the bowls of two passers-by. Not to mention waiting in line for the porridge, there were not many pedestrians. Jing Chunxi sighed: This appearance is really well done.

On both sides of the porridge distribution point stood two rows of twelve servants in plain casual clothes. They had bulges on their waists, obviously hiding weapons, and their eyes were vigilantly scanning the passers-by.

Because they were worried that all six children would be in one car and would have difficulty explaining themselves if they were stopped, they were divided into two cars before entering Qiantang County.

The carriage of Jing Chunxi's carriage was covered with thick cotton mats. Ah He, Ah Dou and Xiao Yu squeezed together with Jing Chunxi and Tang Shuang; Xiao Man rode a chestnut horse to guard the carriage, Shi Tou sat on the shaft holding the reins, and it was the guard who originally drove the carriage who sat in the carriage with Shuisheng, Dongzi and Chuyi.

The two cars are about ten feet apart, allowing them to take care of each other without appearing too close.

"Miss, what we said is true. It was not like this when we left. It was really tragic. Many people died, and many people escaped." Ah He, who had put on new clothes that fit her and had full meals and meat every day, had been recuperating for more than ten days. His face, which had originally lost its color, suddenly turned pale.

Seeing this scene, she was a little anxious. She grabbed Jing Chunxi's hand and tried to explain herself, fearing that the young lady would think they were lying in exchange for wealth. Tears were about to flow. Her almond-shaped eyes were filled with panic and her lips trembled slightly.

"Sister, sister," her sudden fear and shivering scared Adou, who was already very close to his sister and simply climbed up and held on tightly to Ahe's clothes.

He also shrank back, but his eyes were fixed on Jing Chunxi, as if he was worried that she would do something bad to them.

Xiaoyu also shrank into Tangshuang's arms, and the three children huddled together like frightened little animals.

"Sister knows you won't lie. Don't be afraid. You're scaring your younger brothers and sisters." Jing Chunxi stroked Ahe's hand, and her warm palm gently wrapped around the girl's cold fingers. She also looked at Adou and Xiaoyu with a soothing look.

Her voice was as gentle as a spring breeze. "The peace outside is just an appearance. Perhaps it's because of our arrival that the government is putting it on display for us." She lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and gestured for them to look at the servants standing in the dark. "Look at those people. They don't look like they're really giving out porridge. The bottoms of the pots aren't even burnt black."

After entering Qiantang County, they had already been stopped twice. The first time was at the ferry, where several officers pretended to check their luggage; the second time was at a checkpoint on the official road, where the leading constable stared at their pass for a long time.

I don't know what kind of pass Xu Zize gave me, but there were more than 50 people in their group. Although they were divided into three separate groups and were several miles apart from each other, it was impossible not to attract attention.

Fortunately, they were coming from Lingnan, so although the inspection was strict and attracted attention, it did not make the government suspect their motives.