Chapter 288: Farewell

Xiao Wu, covered in dust from the secret passage inside the horse stable, brushed the straw from his body as he walked out. "Esteemed guest, how is it just you?"

Chen Ji didn't answer but asked back, "Where did you go?"

Xiao Wu's eyes darted uncertainly. "I, I went down to see if there were any Jing Chao thieves still hiding in the secret passage."

Chen Ji knew he wasn't telling the truth, but only said calmly, "I brought the innkeeper's body back. You all bury him properly."

Xiao Wu was startled and immediately cupped his fist, saying, "Esteemed guest's benevolence and righteousness are noted. From now on, the innkeeper of this Longmen Inn is me. If you come to Gansu again and have any instructions, Xiao Wu will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Chen Ji's heart stirred. He keenly realized that the matter of changing innkeepers at Longmen Inn was absolutely not something Xiao Wu could decide on his own, and perhaps not even Hu San Ye could!

He glanced at Xiao Wu and said casually, "No need to be polite. I knew the innkeeper once, so it's not good to see him being dragged away by people on a cart! By the way, did San Ye entrust you to bring me any message?"

Xiao Wu shook his head. "No, San Ye didn't give any instructions!"

Chen Ji casually said, "And the East Owner?"

Xiao Wu subconsciously said, "The East Owner also didn't..."

Speaking to here, Xiao Wu suddenly closed his mouth, alerted!

Chen Ji finally confirmed that Xiao Wu had just slipped out of the city through the secret passage to go and see the mysterious East Owner behind Longmen Inn!

The other side was also in Gansu.

Chen Ji was about to probe further when he heard the sound of footsteps coming from outside the inn!

He turned his head to look and saw that it was the Crown Prince leading the crowd back to the inn. Along with the Chen family members, Zhang Xia and others were also in the group. Zao Zao had returned to Zhang Xia's side at some point, with Hei Yun still lying on his head!

His gaze shifted again, and he saw Liang Shi standing behind Chen Li Qin with a gloomy expression. When she saw Chen Ji looking over, she immediately turned her head away!

Wang Gui was dragging a simple cart behind her. On the cart was Chen Wen Xiao wrapped in straw mats!

Qi Jian Zhe saw Chen Ji and quickly waved his hand. "Master."

Xiao Man glared at him. "Shameless, does my young master acknowledge you as a disciple?"

Having said that, she held the palm leaf wrapped horse meat and ran to Chen Ji's front, whispering, "Young master, eat something. This is the horse meat I saved for you..."

Chen Ji grunted. He didn't take the horse meat but looked at the Crown Prince!

The Crown Prince actually cupped his hand towards him and said in a gentle voice, "Now that the dust has settled, I finally have the opportunity to thank my wise brother Chen Ji. If it weren't for you this time, this isolated one would have already died several times!"

Chen Ji silently sized up the Crown Prince. There was no anger on the face of this Crown Prince who had been treated as an abandoned son, as if nothing had happened. He was still that gentle, jade-like gentleman!

Only, his self-address had changed from "I" to "isolated one"!

Chen Ji returned the bow. "Your Highness needs not be overly polite. This humble official was merely fulfilling his duty... What are Your Highness's plans now?"

The Crown Prince looked at Li Xuan. "What does Sir Li think?"

Li Xuan, standing beside him, cupped his hand and said, "Your Highness, the Si Li Jian disregarded the life of the Crown Prince of a country. We must impeach them when we return to the capital and demand an explanation from them for Your Highness!"

The Crown Prince looked at him and then smiled. "Is it not possible to exchange the life of this isolated one for all the elites of the Tian Ce Army? Sir Li, after we go back, you must not mention this matter again. If someone asks, only mention the matter of Sir Li beheading the general and achieving merit."

Li Xuan's face stiffened and he quickly lowered his head. "This humble official's ability to achieve merit is also because of Your Highness's guidance!"

The Crown Prince smiled and didn't continue speaking!

Chen Li Qin took a step forward and said, "Your Highness, our urgent matter is to leave Gansu as soon as possible while it is still early, to avoid any further complications! If we walk quickly, we can reach Tianshui County tomorrow night!"

However, as soon as he said this, Li Xuan, Qi Jian Zhe, and all the Yu Lin Army actually looked at Chen Ji together!

Even the Crown Prince also asked in a gentle voice, "What does the Right Si Wei think?"

Chen Li Qin wanted to speak but hesitated!

Chen Ji lowered his head and pondered for a moment. "Sir Chen's words are reasonable. There might still be some Jing Chao spies hiding among the people. It is a good thing for Your Highness to leave Gansu early! Furthermore, Gansu is waiting to be rebuilt. Arriving at Tianshui County will also be better for settling down!"

The Crown Prince nodded. He didn't ask Chen Li Qin again, nor did he ask Li Xuan and Qi Jian Zhe again, and immediately decided, "Then we will set out immediately as the Right Si Wei said!"

Having said that, he turned and walked out, without the slightest hesitation!

Liang Shi in the distance watched as her husband had no dignity as the East Palace's master, and was silent for a while!

When she looked at Chen Ji and Xiao Man again, her eyes were full of hatred!

Wang Gui was beside her, saying gloomily, "Madam, if you want to avenge the second young master, you absolutely cannot sit back and watch Chen Ji gain power! If you let him gain power, the second young master might really have died in vain!"

Wang Gui said in a low voice, "Madam, accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger. The ministers in the court change one after another. Who can guarantee that one day the Crown Prince will not suspect Chen Ji? Moreover, there is more than just the Crown Prince among the princes in the court, there is still Prince Fu..."

Liang Shi's eyes were gloomy. She slanted a glance at Wang Gui. "Shut up, is this something you can casually discuss?"

Wang Gui lowered his head. "This humble person is just speaking casually. I believe Madam has her own plans!"

Besides this, there is still one matter that needs to be handled as soon as possible!

Liang Shi said in a cold voice, "Don't beat around the bush!"

At this time, Zhang Xia led Zao Zao to Chen Ji's side and whispered in a low voice!

Wang Gui looked at Chen Ji, then at Zhang Xia. "Madam, look at these two people!"

Liang Shi said calmly, "What about these two people?"

Wang Gui took a deep breath. "Madam, these two people seem polite and their behavior follows all the courtesies, but Chen Ji has saved Miss Zhang Er more than once or twice. At Longmen Inn, they even shared a room... If you let him get help from the Zhang family, I'm afraid it will be like a tiger with wings. We must break them first!"

Liang Shi said calmly, "How to break?"

Wang Gui said in a low voice, "Chen Ji has already reached the age of marriage. In the past, it was delayed because he was an apprentice in a medical hall and his marriage was not settled. Now he is a positive sixth-rank official, exactly at the time to start a family! Madam, as his direct mother, even from an ethical perspective, you should find a marriage for him!"

Liang Shi said indifferently, "He is probably not willing to comply!"

Wang Gui lowered his eyes. "Parents' orders and matchmakers' words. Where is the reason for a bastard son to decide his own marriage? Even if this matter is taken to court, it should be decided by you. If he doesn't comply, then he is unfilial! The Master is also not like Master Zhang Zhuo, I don't think he will obstruct!"

Liang Shi fell into contemplation!

Wang Gui continued, "There are many official noble young ladies waiting to be married in the wealthy families of the capital. Madam, if you can find a marriage for this bastard son with a direct daughter of a prominent family, no one will pick your fault, and they will only think that you, this direct mother, deeply understand righteousness!"

Liang Shi's eyes moved slightly. "Do you already have someone in mind?"

Wang Gui said confidently, "Yes, you will definitely be satisfied!"

At this time, the Crown Prince and others had already left the inn. Liang Shi moved to follow, and Wang Gui dragged the cart behind her!

Before leaving the city, they saw that the border army infantry had already cleared out the bricks and stones from the collapsed city gate tower, opening a small path!

Outside the city, they had piled up high firewood and were burning the corpses in the city on the spot to prevent a plague!

Passing by the burning field, Liang Shi silently gazed at the big fire for a long time, then said to Wang Gui, "Push Wen Xiao in!"

Wang Gui's face changed. "Madam, are you not going to bring the second young master back to the city?"

Liang Shi's expression flickered in the firelight. Waves of heat from the big fire rushed over, making her cheeks swell. "If we bring him back to the capital, and someone asks how he died, how should I answer?"

Wang Gui was startled. "But the Crown Prince also knows the truth..."

Liang Shi let out a cold laugh. "The Crown Prince was captured on the front line. How will he actively mention this matter to people? He wishes that everyone would forget about the matter in Gansu. Whoever dares to speak out will die!"

Wang Gui still hesitated, unwilling to push Chen Wen Xiao into the fire.

Liang Shi saw that he wasn't moving and immediately pushed the cart herself, gritting her teeth and pushing the cart into the big fire, letting the tongues of fire sweep over and swallow everything!

On the dirt road outside Gansu city, everyone walked on foot!

The Yu Lin Army armored soldiers were very tired, but no one complained, not even Qi Jian Zhe said a single word!

At this time, the sound of horse hooves came from behind the crowd!

Li Xuan turned his head to look and saw that it was Zhou You leading several dozen riders, filing out through the gap in the city gate ruins and catching up with them!

Li Xuan's hand pressed the hilt of his waist sword and he said in a condensed voice, "What, General Zhou wants to leave us here?"

As he spoke, the Yu Lin Army armored soldiers together drew their swords from their scabbards, their expressions cold, not saying a word!

Someone licked their dry lips, ready to kill at any time!

Zhou You sat on his horse and circled the Yu Lin Army, then laughed. "When the Yu Lin Army arrived, they wore silver armor and were imposing. I, Zhou You, never put you all in my eyes! Now the Yu Lin Army is covered in dust, and I, Zhou You, have a few more points of respect instead!"

Having said that, he jumped down from his horse, led the reins to a nearby place, and handed the reins to Li Xuan's hand. "The road is long, having a horse will make it easier to walk. We will meet again!"

Li Xuan and all the Yu Lin Army were startled!

They watched as the border army armored soldiers dismounted together and handed the reins to each of them. "We will meet again."

The Yu Lin Army didn't know how to respond for a while, only stiffly received the reins and also subconsciously said, "We will meet again!"

It turned out that the other side had specially come over just to send horses!

The border army armored soldiers left their horses, turned around, and strode back into the desolate and majestic Gansu city, like a group of prisoners who had voluntarily been exiled!

Li Xuan flipped onto his horse, turned his head, and reluctantly looked back for a long time, before then turning his horse to leave!

"We will meet again!"