Xiao Jingcheng was truly exhausted. He slept soundly throughout the night without waking up. When he opened his eyes again, another day had passed.
Jiang Mian and Jiang Zhiqing were pacing back and forth in the room, packing their luggage. From their conversation, Xiao Jingcheng learned that they would set off and leave Guangdu County in half an hour.
It seemed that Mo Zhizhang and Li Zhao hadn't reached an agreement. Li Zhao wasn't ready to marry Mrs. Jiang in Guangdu County for the time being.
Xiao Jingcheng stayed quietly in the room for a while. When Jiang Mian and Jiang Zhiqing slung their bags over their shoulders and called him, he controlled the yellow dog's body and followed them out of the door.
Jiang Zhiqing met Li Zhao, and the two of them carried their luggage and went downstairs.
Meanwhile, Mo Zhizhang and Jiang Mian went to the room of Taoist Yuanzheng. As usual, they were going to transfer Xiao Jingcheng to the carriage.
Taoist Yuanzheng had already opened the door and was waiting. As soon as Xiao Jingcheng stepped into the room, he immediately looked up at the couch to check the result of his efforts from the previous day. His eyes widened in surprise.
Since he had used a secret technique to return to his body and woke up once, the purple aura that had originally surrounded his body had become extremely thin. But after this night, the purple aura had obviously become twice as dense!
This recovery speed was truly astonishing. It seemed that all his and Dahuang's efforts from the previous day hadn't been in vain. The faith of the dog could also add to his purple aura!
Mo Zhizhang carried Xiao Jingcheng on his back as usual, and Jiang Mian and Taoist Yuanzheng escorted them on either side as they left.
Jiang Mian took the money bag and went to the counter to settle the bill. She noticed that the guests having meals in the lobby were discussing something angrily. She quietly pricked up her ears to eavesdrop.
Xiao Jingcheng had sharp hearing. As soon as he came downstairs, all the sounds around him had gathered in his ears. Now, the topic people were discussing surprised him.
"Have you heard? This flood in Cangzhou was not a natural disaster at all, but a man - made one!"
"Of course I know. I heard that because King Mu seized the throne, and Heaven thought he wasn't a wise ruler, so it sent down this disaster as a warning!"
"You're wrong. I heard from the villagers who escaped from Dongli Town that the Jinning Canal was blown up by the former Crown Prince!"
"And do you know why the Crown Prince... the former Crown Prince was chased and disappeared?"
"It was all at the order of that dog - emperor. He doted on his concubine and neglected his wife. After his younger brother seized the throne, he abandoned his wife and ran south with his concubine to proclaim himself emperor. Oh my, he's really shameless!"
"I also heard that after Emperor Guiyuan captured the capital, the queen was worried about being humiliated and... and committed suicide in the Cold Palace!"
Xiao Jingcheng's body trembled violently. He stood there stunned, looking in the direction of the voice in disbelief.
"Ah? The queen committed suicide! This... this is really sinful!"
How could it be? How could it be? How could Mother...
A surge of panic welled up in Xiao Jingcheng's heart. He immediately rushed downstairs and pounced on the person who had been secretly discussing the former queen.
"Woof, woof woof!"
Everyone had been chatting about the recent rumors in the town. The sudden pounce of the yellow dog startled them, and they immediately let out screams!
"Where did this dog come from? Waiter, waiter! Quickly drive this stinky dog away!"
"Goodness! How did you guard the door? How could you let this dog in! If it hurts someone, can you bear the responsibility?"
Jiang Mian was also startled by this incident. She had faintly heard people discussing things about Emperor Nansheng and was listening with great interest. Who would have thought that Dahuang would cause trouble.
She quickly ran forward, grabbed the barking dog, and said with an apologetic smile, "Sorry, sorry. I didn't watch my dog well. I'm here to apologize to everyone."
Xiao Jingcheng stared intently at that person.
[Tell me clearly. What exactly happened to Mother!]
But in the eyes of others, the sudden madness of the dog was really terrifying.
Right, he had to return to his own body. Only when he was back in his own body could he ask the question!
He silently recited the incantation in his heart, but his body had been carried out of the inn by Mo Zhizhang and placed in the carriage. It wasn't nearby. No matter how many times he recited it, all he could see was still from the dog's perspective.
Jiang Mian didn't dare to delay any longer. She left the accommodation fee, grabbed the yellow dog, and rushed out of the door in a hurry.
The yellow dog struggled several times to jump down, but was firmly held down by her.
After getting into the carriage and putting a rope around the yellow dog's neck, Jiang Mian angrily slapped the yellow dog's buttocks hard.
"Dahuang! You're being disobedient again!"
When the rope was put around its neck, Xiao Jingcheng stopped barking wildly like before. Instead, he drooped his head listlessly and curled his body up in the corner.
His mother had first been framed by Concubine Feng and Xiao Yixuan. His father had suspected her loyalty and, disregarding their years of marital affection, had abolished her position as queen and sent her to the Cold Palace.
After that, she had been abandoned by his father and left in the palace to face the rebels.
Although he didn't yet know why his uncle had suddenly seized the throne, based on his years of interaction with his uncle, he thought his uncle shouldn't have troubled his mother. But his mother still...
He hated so much!
He really hated so much!
He hated his father for being heartless, hated Xiao Yixuan for being ruthless, and hated -
He hated himself. Why had he agreed to the errand of the southern tour back then? If he hadn't, then - then -
He wouldn't have lost his mother.
Seeing two trails of tears streaming from the yellow dog's eyes, Jiang Mian was first surprised, and then her heart was filled with guilt.
"Da, Dahuang, I'm wrong. I shouldn't have hit you. I must have hurt you just now, right?"
Jiang Mian bent down and stroked the yellow dog's head.
"Sorry, Dahuang. I'm apologizing to you."
But the yellow dog just closed its eyes and shed tears silently, making no sound at all, and curled its body up tightly.
The yellow dog's strange behavior wasn't enough to stop everyone from leaving. After getting ready, Taoist Yuanzheng and Mo Zhizhang whipped the horses and drove the carriage away.
There were still guards at the city gate. Now, with Taoist Yuanzheng's yellow talisman, everyone wasn't as nervous as when they entered the city. However, just as the carriage was about to reach the city gate, there was suddenly a commotion up ahead.
A fast - running horse galloped into the city. A soldier in armor with a flag on his back shouted loudly along the way.
"His Majesty the Emperor and the former Crown Prince are arriving in Guangdu County! All idle people in the city should quickly make way! All officials in Guangdu County, come out to receive the imperial entourage immediately!"
What?!
Jiang Mian was greatly shocked and clenched her fists tightly.
They had actually run into Emperor Nansheng and Xiao Yixuan at this moment!
With this shout, there was an immediate commotion on both sides of the street. The crowd pushed and jostled to move to the sides. Mo Zhizhang and Taoist Yuanzheng also had to pull on the reins tightly to control the carriage and move to a spacious and safe place.
More and more soldiers in armor entered the city and stood on both sides of the road with their long spears in hand.
Before long, Xiao Yixuan rode a tall black horse and led an extremely luxurious carriage into the city slowly.
The people of Guangdu County knelt on the ground. Worried about exposing their identities, Mo Zhizhang, Li Zhao and the others also crouched down slightly to avoid the limelight.
But inside the carriage, the yellow dog, which had been curled up and crying just now, suddenly stood up. It bared its teeth at the troops slowly entering the city ahead and let out a fierce growl.