Mu Jingrui looked down at the magistrate, with pleading and sorrow in his red eyes.
He completely understood the magistrate's mood at this time. But...
"Master Magistrate, I have ordered my men to transport the food out of the city. I came here just to tell you."
After Mu Jingrui finished speaking, he turned around and walked away. Behind him came the magistrate's roar and curses.
"Mu Jingrui, what you did is a capital crime. Since you are unkind, don't blame me for being unjust...I will report it to the court right away..."
The magistrate's scoldings were drowned by the cold wind, and Mu Jingrui walked out of the county office and got on his horse.
His men came up to hold the horse rope for him, their eyes full of worry.
"General Mu, are you really...it will be a big deal for the court to pursue you? Are you really not afraid of death?"
Mu Jingrui looked at the vast expanse of white ahead, and a clear face and clear eyes appeared in his mind.
Where was Shangguan Wan Ning at this time? She should have woken up, right? After many years, will she still remember that once...
Mu Jingrui sighed silently and said: "When the Crown Prince comes, tell His Highness for me to find a good home for my sister..."
This time, Mu Jingrui was determined to die.
He rode his horse to the outside of the city and felt heartbroken when he saw the victims even stuffing ice and snow into their mouths to satisfy their hunger.
News that Mu Jingrui had forcibly opened the official warehouse to release grain soon spread, and more victims rushed towards the county seat.
They are all in ragged clothes and have dull eyes. In their world, the only important thing left now is to fill their stomachs.
On the afternoon of the third day, a group of officers and soldiers hurried over and surrounded Mu Jingrui who was distributing food outside the city.
One of the guards holding a token angrily yelled: "Mu Jingrui opened a warehouse without authorization and ignored the laws of the court. The Lord Zhizhou has already informed the Ministry of Punishment. Now, Mu Jingrui is arrested. If he resists, he will be killed."
Mu Jingrui had long been prepared for this moment to come, but he didn't expect it to come so quickly.
Fortunately, almost all the food has been distributed. The victims who have received the food can survive for at least seven or eight days.
From now on, if Xiao Yujue doesn't arrive...he can't do anything.
Mu Jingrui slowly moved forward, and with a flick of his wrist, all the people who came to arrest him were ready.
I saw him raising his sword... He let go of his hand and the sword fell to the snow.
He never thought of resisting.
"I'm going with you." Mu Jingrui said calmly, "I am the one who forcibly opened the official warehouse to put food in, and it has nothing to do with anyone else."
"Mu Jingrui, are you going to resist all crimes? Are you still trying to be a hero? You are dead this time. Someone, tie me up and take you away."
Mu Jingrui allowed the officers and soldiers to put the shackles on him.
Just as he was about to leave with the officers and soldiers, the people standing on both sides to receive food knelt down one after another.
"General Mu, you are our savior, but you yourself...we can't repay your great kindness."
"Yes, General Mu, I will repay you by being a bull and a horse in my next life."
Mu Jingrui looked calm, said nothing, and followed the officers and soldiers away.
He was escorted to the state capital overnight.
Sitting in the prison car, Mu Jingrui recalled the scene when the Mu family was raided.
At that time, he was forced to have no choice. Even with Shangguan Yue's secret help, he and his sister suffered a lot; this time, it was his own choice, and he hoped that his sister would not be implicated.
Mu Jingrui was taken to prison, but what greeted him was not the jailer's cynicism or severe torture.
He was locked in a single cell. It could be seen that the cell had just been tidied up. There was a brand new quilt on the bed in the corner. There was also clean hot water on the table.
Mu Jingrui couldn't help but frowned.
This kind of standard does not seem to be the treatment that death row prisoners should enjoy.
Could it be...
Xiao Yujue has arrived?
Just as Mu Jingrui was thinking about it, the jailer opened the cell door and walked in, holding a tray in his hand. The food on the tray was four meat buns, two plates of side dishes, a plate of pork and a bottle of wine.
"General Mu, please use it with caution."
"Wait a minute." Mu Jingrui stopped the jailer and asked, "Who ordered you to bring these things?"
"This..." The jailer lowered his head and smiled without saying a word.
"Say." Mu Jingrui's voice suddenly turned cold, and the jailer shivered in fright.
"it's me."
A crisp voice came, and Mu Jingrui was startled.
The jailer took the opportunity to escape.
Mu Jingrui turned around and saw Shangguan Wan Ning standing outside the cell. His heart tightened, and he quickly stepped forward and scolded in a low voice: "Didn't I tell you to go back? This is not the place you should be."
"If I don't come, you won't even be able to have a full meal from today on."
Shangguan Wan Ning was also very angry. She picked up her skirt and rushed in. She stretched out her finger and stabbed Mu Jingrui's chest hard.
"Mu Jingrui, you have grown up, haven't you? You dared to tap my acupuncture points when I was not prepared and force me to go home. Who do you think you are? Why do you make decisions for me? Have you ever thought about it now?
The road is so chaotic, if something happens to me..."
Shangguan Wan Ning became more and more sad as she spoke, but the strength in her hands became weaker and weaker.
Looking at her red eyes, Mu Jingrui felt heartbroken.
He could no longer control his feelings, so he held Shangguan Wanning's arm and pulled her into his arms.
Shangguan struggled hard for a few times but couldn't break free, and gradually gave up resistance, leaning on Mu Jingrui's chest and gradually calmed down.
After a long time, Mu Jingrui pulled Shangguan Wan Ning out of his arms, covered her cheek with his broad and warm palms, and chuckled softly.
"I'm very curious about how you persuaded my men not to send you back to Beijing, but to divert you to the state capital instead."
"What's so difficult about this?" Shangguan Wanning pulled Mu Jingrui's sleeve and wiped her tears and nose, "If I made a noise and wanted to go back, they would definitely not be willing. So, I pretended to be unwell and said I was worried.
I asked the country doctors for treatment. They had no choice but to send me to the state capital."
"I know that after you forcefully open the granary, the county magistrate will definitely report it to the people in the state capital to arrest you. So, I might as well wait for you here. I will clear things up for you in advance."
Mu Jingrui sighed deeply. "Ning'er, actually... you really shouldn't look back."
"Whether I should or not, I have turned back. In short, I will not go back to the capital at this time."
In addition to worrying about Mu Jingrui, Shangguan Wanning is also waiting for Xiao Yujue's arrival.
She knew in her heart that the real disaster was yet to come; and the real backup was also yet to come.
"I have written a letter and told my father about the situation. I think he will plead for you in front of the emperor. As long as the opening of the warehouse to release grain does not cause serious consequences, you should be fine. As for..."
The corners of Shangguan Wan Ning's eyes raised, and she gave a sly smile. "You can stay in jail for the next few days, as punishment for tapping my acupuncture points."