Xiao Yujue took care of all the affairs in the northwest region and took Mu Jingrui back to the court with him.
Shangguan Wan Ning reluctantly bid farewell to Imperial Physician Qin and embarked on the road back to Beijing.
This time Xiao Yujue went to Beijing to provide disaster relief. Although he received great help from Zhang Yide, he still squandered all his family wealth.
The people were grateful and sent each other across the street. His Royal Highness's reputation for benevolence, justice and generosity was increasingly recognized and praised.
Everything is developing in a good direction, which makes Shangguan Wan Ning feel relieved a lot.
The journey back to Beijing went very smoothly. In order to please Xiao Yujue, officials along the way kept hosting banquets, which in turn delayed a lot of travel.
"Miss, please have a cup of tea." Lu Tong handed the brewed tea to Shangguan Wan Ning, "I have already gone to inquire about it just now. I can get to the next inn to rest before sunset."
Shangguan Wan Ning nodded lightly. She lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked out. She would be back in the capital in a few days. After arriving at the next inn, the soldiers and horses led by Mu Jingrui would be stationed on the spot.
According to the rules of the imperial court, only the head coach and a few important generals in the army can return to the capital for a triumphant return.
This also means that the number of people escorting Xiao Yujue will decrease sharply.
When it was time to light the lamp, Shangguan Wanning was sitting in her room having dinner when she heard someone knocking on the door.
Lutong opened the door and saw Mu Jingrui standing in front of the door.
She looked back at Shangguan Wan Ning, covered her mouth and chuckled. "Miss, I will go to the kitchen and bring you a cup of soup."
After saying that, he bowed, bowed and left.
"Have you eaten? Do you want to eat together?"
Mu Jingrui sat down opposite Shangguan Wanning and shook his head slightly. "I came here because there is something I want to tell you."
When Shangguan Wan Ning saw how serious Mu Jingrui looked, she put down the bowls and chopsticks in her hands.
Mu Jingrui was silent for a while, actually making sure that no one was eavesdropping outside the door.
He leaned towards Shangguan Wan Ning, lowered his voice and said: "Tonight, I will escort His Royal Highness the Prince to leave the inn and return to Beijing overnight. But... I can't take you with me at the same time. I will keep mine.
The left and right vanguards protect your safety."
This decision made Mu Jingrui struggle with it for a long time. He held Shangguan Wan Ning's hand reluctantly.
"Or, you can find an excuse to stay at the inn, and I will come back to pick you up after I safely escort the prince to the capital."
Shangguan Wan Ning can completely understand why Mu Jingrui and Xiao Yujue made such a decision.
"Don't worry and go about your business. This place is very close to the capital. My father, my grandfather, and a few uncles are here to protect me. No one dares to take any chances on me."
Mu Jingrui reached out and patted Shangguan Wan Ning's head, and said with a smile: "Then please take care of Miss Shangguan from now on."
Shangguan Wan Ning picked up a piece of pastry and stuffed it into Mu Jingrui's mouth. "Of course you want me to take care of you, but first you have to save your own life."
She stared at Mu Jingrui, with a hint of sadness in her heart. "Jingrui, see you in the capital."
"Okay. See you in the capital."
Late at night, Mu Jingrui took only ten carefully selected guards and accompanied Xiao Yujue to leave the inn overnight.
The group stayed day and night, constantly changing their route back to Beijing, leaving no trace behind.
"Your Highness, after passing this mountain, we are within the jurisdiction of the capital. When the time comes, we will go directly to the official road and there will not be much danger."
Xiao Yujue nodded and got off the horse.
It was already late at night, and the woods were lonely, with only the slight chirping of insects one after another. The cold moonlight shone down, making the reflections of the branches mottled and intertwined.
"Everyone has worked hard. Let's take a rest here. When I return to the capital, I will definitely be rich in rewards."
As soon as Xiao Yujue finished speaking, noisy but orderly footsteps suddenly came from all directions.
Mu Jingrui's face darkened, and he held the long sword in his hand, protecting Xiao Yujue behind him.
Soon, dozens of torches were lit, illuminating the surrounding area.
Mu Jingrui looked around and found that they were surrounded by archers. Beyond the archers was a masked killer holding a steel knife.
Looking at their appearance, the heavens are plump and the temples are slightly bulging. They are all masters of internal martial arts.
Just pick one up and you can be on your own.
It may not be easy to deal with these people.
"Your Highness, if you find an opportunity, leave first. No matter what happens, don't look back."
"No," Xiao Yujue also drew out her long sword and stood back to back with Mu Jingrui. "Since there is no way to escape, then I will live and die with you."
Xiao Yujue's eyes lost their former gentleness and elegance, and a strong murderous aura emanated from his pupils.
He raised his wrist slightly, and in an instant, thousands of arrows were fired, and countless sharp arrows shot towards them like raindrops.
The ten guards selected by Mu Jingrui immediately formed a formation and surrounded Xiao Yujue within a safe range.
While Mu Jingrui shot down the sharp arrow, he rushed towards the archer and used his own strength to create a gap.
Four of the ten guards were sacrificed, and the remaining one was left to escort Xiao Yujue through the gap, while Mu Jingrui cut off the rear.
Not long after they walked out, a group of masked men in black chased them.
Just as Mu Jingrui had expected, these men in black were highly skilled in martial arts, and each of them was comparable to the elite masters in the palace.
Faced with the siege of a group of masters, Xiao Yujue and several guards gradually felt powerless.
"Your Highness, leave quickly!"
The guard blocked Xiao Yujue's knife, grabbed Xiao Yujue's belt, and used his last strength to throw him onto the horse's back.
Xiao Yujue ran as fast as he could. He knew that the guards who protected him and cut off his rear, including Mu Jingrui, were in danger.
He was hesitant to turn around, when suddenly the horse let out a fierce roar, its front hoofs were cut off by a special steel wire, and it knelt straight down.
Xiao Yujue was caught off guard. He was thrown out and landed heavily on the ground. His internal organs seemed to have been shattered. Stars appeared in his eyes and he couldn't stand up for a long time.
It wasn't until a cold sword was placed on his neck that his thoughts finally returned to his mind.
"It's really sad and deplorable that the noble prince of a country has fallen to this level."
Xiao Yujue raised his eyes and saw a pair of piercing eyes. He clenched his fists and secretly gathered his true energy in his palms.
"You don't have to think about resisting anymore. Even if you are intact, you are no match for me. Your death is destined to be tonight. Bury you in this wilderness, maybe someone will find you in a few hundred years.
Of corpses.”
Xiao Yujue looked at the masked man with pain, and said: "You are just taking people's money to help them eliminate disasters. No matter how much your employer gives you, I will pay ten times as long as I can return to the capital alive."
The masked man looked at Xiao Yujue coldly and slowly raised his hand.