"Follow them?" Wei Shuxuan's eyes lit up. "Are we going to follow the wooden cart that we failed to track yesterday?"
"Yes. They received a message saying that someone from Sima Tianhai's side will use a cart to transport sacks out this afternoon. Some say this is the last time. If we miss this chance, we won't know where these sacks will go."
"Zian, what do you think is in those sacks?" Wei Shuxuan asked Ge Zian curiously.
"How could I know? If I knew, I wouldn't have asked you to come with me."
"We're just making a guess." Wei Shuxuan urged Ge Zian to take a guess.
"Probably something like food."
Hearing Ge Zian's answer, Wei Shuxuan thought he was too naive. "Zian, you're so naive. Do you think sacks can only hold food and forage? They can hold other things too. You're such a fool."
"Then what do you think it is?" Hearing Wei Shuxuan say this, Ge Zian was rather curious about her idea.
"I think it's..." Wei Shuxuan gave a mischievous smile. "Please allow me to keep you in suspense for a while. Hurry up, or those people will run away."
Based on the intelligence they got, Ge Zian and Wei Shuxuan used their light - foot skills and quickly rushed towards the destination. The route for the transportation was still the same forage passage they took last time. Because Ge Zian and Wei Shuxuan didn't have enough time last time, they failed to follow the cart. This time, they had made full preparations, so it was no problem for them to follow.
They lay in the grass, staring at the sandy road outside. There was no one on the road at the moment. Wei Shuxuan, lying in the grass, felt that mosquitoes were always buzzing around her. She lowered her voice and whispered to Ge Zian beside her, "Zian, when will they come?"
Ge Zian looked up at the sky. "It should be about time. Just be patient and wait a while."
Wei Shuxuan pouted. Since Ge Zian said so, she had no choice but to wait obediently.
After a while, Wei Shuxuan heard the sound of wheels rolling over gravel in the distance. She quickly poked her head out a bit and saw the two guards from last time, still followed by the two men pushing the cart.
"It's them, Zian!"
"I know. Keep your voice down. Wait until they pass, then we'll follow them."
As the sound of the wheels faded away, Ge Zian made a gesture to Wei Shuxuan. She nodded, and they started to chase after them using their light - foot skills, keeping a certain distance from each other.
After following for some time, Wei Shuxuan was a bit tired and wanted to take a rest. She looked at Ge Zian, who shook his head. He mouthed that this was a crucial moment and they couldn't rest.
Wei Shuxuan had learned lip - reading before, so she knew what he was saying. She didn't want to rest either, but she really wasn't used to using light - foot skills. Maybe she wasn't using the right method, which was why she got tired so quickly. After following for another stretch of the journey, they finally saw the men stop to rest.
Their figures hidden in the trees, Wei Shuxuan quickly sat down to take a break. But she saw Ge Zian pricking up his ears as if listening to what those men were saying, so she also wanted to listen.
"Hey, should we give them some water?" one of the guards asked the other.
"No. We didn't give them water before."
"The previous ones were different. This one is very important, and it's much more powerful than the previous ones. If we don't give it water, we don't know what will happen."
"I see... But won't it be exposed if we let it out here?"
"Come on. We've transported things together several times. Don't you know yet?" That guard seemed rather frustrated. "This road is the special passage for transporting forage between the Yulong Kingdom and the Qiangfeng Kingdom. Generally, no commoners will take this road."
"Alright, then should we still let it out?" the other guard asked cautiously.
"Forget it. Better be safe. Are you done resting? If so, let's go!"
"Wait for me!"
Watching as the guard took out a bun, gobbled it up in a few bites, drank some water, and then set off, Wei Shuxuan also felt like eating a bun. She regretted not stuffing a few buns in her clothes during breakfast, so that she could eat one now.
The conversation between the two guards just now aroused the curiosity of Wei Shuxuan and Ge Zian. Something that needed water? Something very powerful? And something that couldn't be exposed? What was in those sacks was becoming more and more suspicious.
In the imperial study of the imperial palace in the Yulong Kingdom.
"I wonder if this explanation of mine satisfies you, Prince Eleven and all the ministers?" Xin Zizhao looked at Xin Yeheng standing in front of him, a faint arc curving his lips, half - smiling.
"Of course. Your Majesty is the ruler of the country. Whatever Your Majesty wants to do, I and all the ministers can't stop. Then, please Your Majesty coax the Empress back to the palace as soon as possible. Otherwise, I won't be able to control those ministers either."
"Thank you for the reminder."
"You're welcome. It's my duty. I still have something to do, so I'll take my leave first."
"Then I won't see you off."
There was a strong undercurrent in their conversation.
As soon as Xin Yeheng came out of the imperial study, he told the little eunuch beside him, "Go and spread the news that the Empress is suspected to be pregnant. She had an argument with His Majesty and left the palace in a fit of anger to recuperate in her natal family."
"Yes, Prince Eleven."
All he could do was to buy some time for Xin Zizhao and Wei Shuxuan.
On the other hand, the road that Wei Shuxuan and Ge Zian were on was a straight one without many twists and turns. Ge Zian knew that this road could lead to the military camp of the Qiangfeng Kingdom. But judging from the fork in the road they chose, it seemed that they weren't going to the military camp but to the Yulong Kingdom. If that was the case, they had to check what was in the sacks quickly.
The cool wind rustled the leaves. Ge Zian, listening to the wind, suddenly remembered that he had some sleeping incense on him. He picked up a leaf to test the wind direction. The wind was blowing downwards! So he took out the sleeping incense and lit it, asking Wei Shuxuan to cover her mouth and nose. The wind blew the white smoke downwards, and then they heard the sound of those people falling to the ground one by one.
To be on the safe side, Ge Zian threw the sleeping incense to where those people were. After the incense had burned out, he and Wei Shuxuan went down to check the sacks.
"They're all unconscious."
"Let's go."
Looking at the sacks, they reached out and opened them.