Jin Feng and the Ninth Princess stayed in the small grove for more than half an hour before coming out.
After they emerged, both of their expressions had become completely calm.
Noticing that the two were now behaving even more intimately than before, Qin’er let out a long sigh of relief.
The time she had spent living in West River Bay made her genuinely fond of the place. From the bottom of her heart, she did not want to see Jin Feng and the Ninth Princess become enemies.
“Monkey, send a few sharp brothers to keep a strict watch on Cai Liuyang. On my side, I will have Little Jade send people to assist you!”
Jin Feng instructed, “If he tries to leave the city, find a quiet spot outside the city walls and tie him up!”
“Tie him up?”
Monkey was stunned. “Sir, we’re not killing him?”
“Killing Cai Liuyang right now would make Xie Xiguang and that bunch of bastards in Xichuan run away. Let him live a few more days.”
Jin Feng said, “Wait until the princess and I go to Xichuan, capture that group of scum, and kill them all together!”
“That makes sense!”
Monkey nodded slightly. “Sir, rest assured. I will definitely have people watch Cai Liuyang closely.”
“And don’t let Xie Xiguang in Guangyuan escape either!”
Jin Feng reminded him.
“Sir, don’t worry. If he gets away, I, Monkey, will cut my own head off and give it to you!”
Monkey said confidently.
“Da Zhuang, tell the brothers whose families are in the village to go back home together. Those whose homes are elsewhere can head straight home now!”
Jin Feng turned to look at Da Zhuang.
“Straight home?”
Da Zhuang’s eyes widened. “Sir, are you disbanding the escort agency?”
After saying that, he turned and glared angrily at the Ninth Princess.
The old saying was right: a beautiful woman brings disaster. It really was true!
The sir had been fine before, planning to take them to kill the county magistrate. Yet after going into the small grove with the Ninth Princess, he suddenly wanted the escorts to go home. It must have been the princess who bewitched him!
“What are you glaring at?”
Jin Feng kicked Da Zhuang irritably. “The brothers have followed me across Xichuan and down to the East Sea. Now that we’re back, of course they should spend proper time with their families!”
“Oh, so that’s how it is!”
Da Zhuang finally relaxed when he heard this and grinned foolishly. “I’ll go notify the brothers right away.”
“Don’t forget to tell them they must return to camp before chen hour tomorrow!”
Jin Feng reminded him again.
“Understood!”
Da Zhuang agreed, turned to run off, but was stopped by the Ninth Princess. “Tell them that no one is allowed to reveal even half a word about today’s events. Otherwise, do not blame this palace for showing no mercy!”
“If anyone dares to blab, I, Da Zhuang, will cut out his tongue before Your Highness even needs to act!”
Although Da Zhuang was simple-minded, he was not stupid. He immediately understood what the Ninth Princess meant.
Although Jin Feng had not yet taken action, the intent to rebel was still a capital crime.
If anyone leaked the information, the consequences would still be extremely serious.
The escorts who had followed Jin Feng through so many dangers had all been carefully selected by Little Jade and Zhang Liang. Under normal circumstances, none of them would talk recklessly.
Still, to be safe, Da Zhuang solemnly repeated the warning several times, making sure every escort heard it clearly before allowing the group to disperse.
Most of the escorts had moved their families to the old soldier dormitories in West River Bay, but a small number still lived elsewhere.
Since they had not been home for a very long time, the news of a holiday made the escorts extremely excited. They all mounted their warhorses and left one after another.
Only the escort who had earlier wanted to leave stood there looking completely confused.
I kowtowed until my head bled, and now we’re not killing the county magistrate anymore?
So my kowtowing was for nothing?
And my tears were shed for nothing?
“Old Li, what are you standing there for?”
A fellow villager tugged at him. “You’re not still thinking of leaving the agency, are you?”
“Who said I want to leave the agency?”
“Then why did you run over and kowtow to the sir just now?”
“I was grateful to the sir. Can’t I kowtow to him if I want to?”
“Fine, fine, whatever makes you happy!”
His companion nodded while holding back laughter.
“If you want to laugh, just laugh. Don’t hold it in until you choke!”
The Li-surnamed escort said grumpily.
After his companion finished laughing, he leaned in and asked quietly, “You’re close with Monkey. Did you ask him just now why the sir suddenly decided not to kill the county magistrate?”
“Do I even need to ask?”
His companion glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then whispered, “The Ninth Princess is here now. The sir can kill the county magistrate without needing to rebel. So why would he still rebel?”
“That makes sense…”
The Li-surnamed escort nodded as realisation dawned.
“Old Li, don’t blame the sir. I could see he was not joking earlier. He really intended to kill the county magistrate. It’s just that now he has a better way…”
“Do I need you to tell me that? Killing a county magistrate is a beheading offence. The sir did not drag us straight into it. Instead, he gave us the chance to leave. You can’t find an employer like that even if you search with lanterns. How could I blame him?”
The Li-surnamed escort said, “I’m just angry that such a good man as the sir was forced to the point of rebellion. This world is truly rotten!”
“Enough, stop complaining. Isn’t the Ninth Princess here now?” His companion reminded him. “And today’s matter, when you get home, you absolutely cannot talk about it carelessly. Otherwise, it will bring great disaster to the sir!”
“I’m not an idiot. I know what should be said and what shouldn’t!”
The Li-surnamed escort waved his hand. “Don’t worry.”
On the open ground, Jin Feng and the Ninth Princess also mounted their horses and led the escorts who had not left back towards the official road.
Halfway there, they spotted a cavalry unit coming from the opposite direction.
From far away, seeing the black escort agency flag above the cavalry, Jin Feng thought it was the bandit-suppression team from the village.
But when the group drew closer, he realised the leader was Guan Xiaorou and Tang Dongdong.
Guan Xiaorou was still wearing black armour, her back straight and tall, looking valiant and heroic.
“Sir, it looks like Madam Xiaorou misses you terribly. She came all this way to welcome you.”
Da Liu teased with a smile.
“Have you been spending too much time with Monkey? Now you’ve learned how to court death, have you?”
Jin Feng glanced sideways at Da Liu. “If your skin is itching, go find a tree to scratch it on. Don’t come teasing me!”
“Ahem, I was wrong!”
Da Liu thought of the miserable state Monkey had been left in by Tang Xiaobei and immediately shivered, repeatedly admitting his mistake.
“I’ll deal with you later!”
Jin Feng snorted coldly, spurred his horse forward a few steps, and rode to the very front.
On the opposite side, Guan Xiaorou had already dismounted and was waiting by the roadside.
As Jin Feng drew nearer, Guan Xiaorou’s eyes grew redder and redder.
Ever since the bandit troubles broke out in Jinchuan, Guan Xiaorou had barely eaten or slept, terrified that something would go wrong and ruin the foundation Jin Feng had worked so hard to build.
Finally, she had held on.
She had held on until Jin Feng returned.
Watching Jin Feng dismount, Guan Xiaorou fought back the urge to rush into his arms and cry loudly. With red eyes, she said, “Husband, you’re back!”
“Yes, I’m back!”
Jin Feng was not good with words either. He gave a simple reply, then reached out and pulled Guan Xiaorou into his embrace.
Guan Xiaorou had always been slender, but this time she looked even thinner than before.
Her face was noticeably paler too.
Without needing to ask, Jin Feng knew how much pressure she had faced recently.
In the past, with Guan Xiaorou’s personality, she would never have allowed public displays of affection like this.
But this time she did not resist. She let Jin Feng hold her.
Pressing her face against Jin Feng’s chest, Guan Xiaorou finally felt steady and secure inside.
“Husband, let’s go to Iron Jar Mountain to see the sisters who died in battle…”
