Everyone thought it made a lot of sense after hearing this.
"Dr. Jiang really thinks things through!"
"Yes, let's do it this way. Let's all protect His Highness well so that he can return to the capital smoothly! If anyone leaks His Highness's whereabouts... Humph, I, Lao Xu, will be the first to not let them off!"
"Me too!"
Everyone looked at each other, exchanging knowing glances.
"Dr. Jiang, you can rest assured to escort His Highness the Crown Prince away. Don't worry about us. We will surely listen to His Highness the Prince of Ning. We'll get treated if we're ill and never cause trouble for His Highness the Prince of Ning. You must also protect His Highness the Crown Prince well!" a woman said.
Jiang Mian nodded firmly. "I will."
Suddenly, a group of people rushed out from the crowd. It was Zhao Hu and his thugs.
"Dr. Jiang!"
Zhao Hu looked fierce. He used to bully people in the town with his gambling house, but after this incident, he seemed to have been reborn. There was a bit more righteousness and determination in his expression.
However, at this moment, his eyes were slightly red and there were tears in them, looking rather aggrieved.
"Dr. Jiang, why didn't you tell us in advance that you were taking the Crown Prince away? Since we recognized His Highness the Crown Prince as our leader, we've been his people. Wherever His Highness the Crown Prince goes, we'll go too!"
"It's a long and dangerous journey to the capital. Although our martial arts skills are not great, we can at least protect you. Let us go to the capital with you!"
"Yes, yes!" the other thugs echoed.
Jiang Mian was taken aback. She didn't know how to deal with Zhao Hu and his men. Xiao Jingcheng was unconscious at the moment and couldn't speak. How could she ask for his opinion?
She subconsciously glanced at the yellow dog beside her. The yellow dog jumped off the rock and rushed in front of Zhao Hu, baring its teeth and barking.
Zhao Hu was startled by the yellow dog and subconsciously took two steps back.
Then, the other dogs like Sang Biao also surrounded them, looking fierce, baring their teeth, and forcing Zhao Hu and his men back into the crowd.
Jiang Mian came back to her senses from this scene. She said, "Since we want to conceal the identity of the Crown Prince, the fewer people the better. If you follow us, won't it tell others that there's an important person in the carriage?"
"Don't worry. My uncle knows martial arts. His skills are on par with His Highness the Crown Prince. He will protect His Highness the Crown Prince."
Hearing this, Zhao Hu looked at the young man standing beside the carriage in surprise. He looked gentle and his appearance was no less than Xiao Jingcheng's.
This pretty boy actually knew martial arts? His Highness the Crown Prince's skills were already so amazing, and this guy could be on par with him? He didn't look like it...
Mo Zhizhang crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows slightly.
He didn't care about the skeptical looks and scrutiny from others. He just couldn't let go of what Jiang Mian had just said.
When did he say that he would be responsible for protecting Xiao Jingcheng?
His niece was really good at assigning tasks to others.
Xiao Jingcheng, hidden inside the big yellow dog, also turned his head and bared his teeth at Mo Zhizhang.
He could protect himself. He didn't need this guy surnamed Mo to protect him.
"As for you..." Jiang Mian tried to guess Xiao Jingcheng's intention of using them and made a promise on behalf of Xiao Jingcheng. "Dongli Town is in a mess now and we need manpower. His Highness the Prince of Ning is still here. It's the same if you follow His Highness the Prince of Ning."
"His Highness the Crown Prince is a man of his word. Since he has used you, he won't forget your merits. When he wakes up one day, he will surely fulfill his promise."
Zhao Hu gritted his teeth and then said, "Okay, we'll listen to Lady Jiang."
To avoid further delay, Jiang Mian bowed to everyone and said, "Everyone, it's getting late. It takes most of the day to walk from here to Dongli Town. It's time for us to set off. Let's say goodbye here. If there's a chance in the future, we will surely meet again."
Xiao Wuchen also took the opportunity to continue, "Everyone, let's continue on our way. When we get back to the town, we still have to clean up the silt and the houses. If we delay any longer, it will be dark."
Everyone knew that it was time to part. They had no choice but to follow Xiao Wuchen and the others away.
Jiang Mian secretly let out a sigh of relief. She returned to the carriage and said to Mo Zhizhang, Li Zhao and the others, "Father, Uncle, let's set off too."
Li Zhao nodded, helped Jiang Zhiqing into the carriage, and Jiang Mian got in too. Mo Zhizhang flipped onto a horse, while Taoist Yuanzheng got on the carriage with Xiao Jingcheng's body and took the reins.
He whipped the horse, and the horse started to move, carrying the people in the carriage away.
The roads diverged. Two different groups of people walked further and further in opposite directions.
In the forest, Xiao Jingcheng controlled the body of the yellow dog and squatted on a high platform. There were many dogs gathered densely below.
[General, let us go with you too!] Sang Biao barked anxiously at Xiao Jingcheng.
The other dogs also barked, [General, take us with you!]
He lowered his eyes and looked down at the dogs, making a growling sound from his throat.
[No. If you follow me, the commotion will be too big and it will surely attract attention.]
Hearing this, the dogs knew that they couldn't follow him. Their ears and tails drooped listlessly.
[This time, you all did a great job protecting the villagers of Dongli Town. Next, you still have to continue guarding Dongli Town. This is the task I've assigned to you. You must obey.]
Xiao Jingcheng promised solemnly.
[I will surely come back, so none of you can slack off.]
Sang Biao was a bit dejected at first, but after hearing this, it perked up again. It barked at Xiao Jingcheng, showing its loyalty.
[We'll do everything according to the General's order. Loyalty!]
The other dogs echoed, [Loyalty! Loyalty!]
Xiao Jingcheng secretly nodded, then controlled his body, jumped off the high platform, and chased after the departing carriage.
The yellow dog was lithe and had powerful limbs. Its eyes were full of energy.
It caught up with the carriage in a few bounds. Jiang Mian heard the sound, lifted the curtain and looked at it, smiling, "Big Yellow, come up quickly."
The yellow dog leaped like a leopard and landed steadily on the carriage, pouncing into Jiang Mian's arms.
Noticing that there were no other dogs following it, she stroked the yellow dog's head and smiled, "Did you just go to say goodbye to your companions? Are you reluctant to part with them?"
She murmured, "Actually, I'm also very reluctant to part with Dongli Town. Most of the villagers here are simple and kind. Only a few are evil. They're very friendly most of the time. Fortunately, fortunately, everyone survived this time..."
"And it's all thanks to Xiao Jingcheng." She stroked the yellow dog's head, her eyebrows relaxed as she showed a smile.
"I should be nicer to him from now on."
The yellow dog's tail wagged crazily. Its wet tongue licked her palm, feeling extremely happy.
It's about time!