Li Chengru said, “I remember that we have discussed about this before. There should be a war in the north. Prime Minister Xun was just brave enough to offer advice, but he didn’t expect such a consequence. He shouldn’t have died. But now he was already dead, then we should protect his grandson.”
Li Chengyi smiled in agreement.
Li Chengru continued, “I will go investigate right now and try to find the kid before the general.”
……
Jin Xiaoyu found that coming to Baoning City was the worst idea.
Not long after they entered the city, a lot of soldiers and officers poured into the city.
Their portraits were even pasted along the street.
Thankfully, after she and Little Xun dressed up, they look different with the portraits. However, it was impossible for them to leave the city. The only thing they could do was to hide.
Fortunately, whatever Jin Xiaoyu dressed Little Xun into, he would not resist at all.
At this moment, they could not live in the inn, neither could they get out of the city. They could only hide from place to place. At night, they stayed at some dark corners, shivering from the cold.
Jin Xiaoyu often complained to herself at night. How come a beautiful and charming boss suddenly fell to the point of sleeping on the streets? It must be a long story.
However, when sometimes the two of them huddle together on the cold streets to warm up, she would look at Little Xun’s face — his lips turned pale because of the cold weather but he didn’t complain a word. Seeing this, she hugged him tighter.
It was so damn strange. She used to be rich and never had any worry about food and clothing, but she always felt that her heart was empty. She had never experienced the so-called fickleness of human nature and the warm and cool feelings between people, and she felt that living was meaningless.
Now that she had met Little Xun and started to live a life of wander, she actually felt that a part of her heart was filled up.
Maybe she was just an easy person, she thought. Sometimes, she would give up everything she had for a little tenderness and warmth in turn.
As she was thinking about it, she heard the sound of the soldiers from not too far away.
Jin Xiaoyu scolded, “God damn!”
She woke Little Xun up again. “Alright, now it’s time for hide-and-seek again. Let’s find somewhere else to hide.”
They sneaked out quietly, intending to escape from the eyes of the soldiers.
However, the night was too still and silent. When they were getting out, Little Xun accidentally touched a wooden board and the wooden board fell followed by a noise.
“There’s someone here!”
“Quick, go find it!”
It made Jin Xiaoyu’s toes curl.
If they were found, they would have no choice but to fight. Listening to the sound of the footsteps, there were least twenty people. If they fought hard, they might attract even more people.
But at this point, they had to fight, or get caught.
Since there was a blind alley behind her, she could use Light Kungfu to escape if she was alone. But with Little Xun, she was not sure of it. Besides, Baoning City was not large enough. It was unlike the capital city, where you could fly around the rooftop.
Just as she was about to set her posture, someone suddenly rushed to the front.
Jin Xiaoyu thought that he was one of the soldiers here to arrest her. But after he rushed to the front, he covered her mouth and gestured for her to stay quiet.
In the hazy night, Jin Xiaoyu saw a handsome face, as if she had seen it somewhere before.
“Follow me!” Li Chengru said.
He picked up Little Xun and let Jin Xiaoyu follow him.
The three of them climbed to the other side of the wall. Soon, someone asked, “Who, who is there?!”
Then Feng Sheng’s voice was heard. “It’s me, the Seventh King’s bodyguard. Tonight, I’m in charge of the inspection on this street. I’m taking a pee here!”
Those officers and soldiers were fooled and left.
Meanwhile, Li Chengru led Jin Xiaoyu into the night from another street.
……
Li Chengru brought them to a deep and remote house and said, “Alright, you can stay here for now. It’s very safe here and no one will find you. I will bring you out of the city later.”
Jin Xiaoyu looked at Li Chengru. “I’ve seen you before. You’ve stayed in my inn before.”
“Keen insight.”
“I still remember that you were with a young lady.” Jin Xiaoyu said.
That little girl later became her rival in love, which she had never imagined.
So, this little young gentleman in front of her are rivals of love with Xiao Baoshan? She could tell that this gentleman was very concerned about the young lady. The two of them were quite close at that time.
Li Chengru said, “Not only do you have a keen insight but also a good memory.”
“The main reason is that you’re too handsome. There’s no way for anyone to forget. Oh right, why did you help me tonight?” Jin Xiaoyu asked.
“I just want to for no reason.”
“Who are you?” Jin Xiaoyu asked again.
“You don’t have to know this. In short, you just have to believe that I sincerely want to help you,” Li Chengru looked at Little Xun again and said, “You are actually a brave young man, right?”
Little Xun looked at Li Chengru, not at all timid but didn’t say a word.
He now knew he had to be on guard against others. Jin Xiaoyu told him that he shoudln’t believe in anyone except for her.
Li Chengru smiled. “I know you are a brave yound man and your grandfather is an upright official. You are just in trouble for now, but with me around, you will be safe.”
Li Chengru then said to Jin Xiaoyu, “Now in the Baoning city, only this place is safe. I am the only person you can trust. Remember not to walk around. After the soldiers leave, I will send you to a safe place.”
Jin Xiaoyu smiled. “I’m sure you won’t sell us for the reward of ten million silver. You don’t need this money. We trust you!”
Li Chengrun bid her farewell. “It’s already very late. I won’t bother you. Sleep well and there’s food in the kitchen. If you’re hungry, you can make some food yourself. If the officers and soldiers come to search the room, you can hide in the secret chamber.”
……
After Li Chengru left, Jin Xiaoyu thoroughly observed the place. These were all local style buildings and the furnishings in the room were all Zhongyuan’s style.
The room was very warm. There was a charcoal furnace, a bed and a quilt, much better than sleeping outside under the wind.
Jin Xiaoyu didn’t completely trust Li Chengru, but right now, she really needed a room to lay down and sleep well. Otherwise, she would be pined away.
She said to Little Xun, “Little Xun, go wash your face and have a good sleep. I’ll make breakfast tomorrow morning.”
Little Xun nodded obediently, showing great expectation.
The two of them washed their faces and laid on the bed exhaustedly. Little Xun slept on opposite ends with Jin Xiaoyu and soon fell asleep.
……
Sixth King’s Residence.
Li Chengru and Li Chengyi said that they had found Little Xun and had already settled them properly.
The house they were hiding in used to be built by a family of refugees. After the war ended, the refugees went back to Zhongyuan and left the house empty. Li Chengru changed the place into a small courtyard and originally planned to give it to Feng Sheng as a present and find a wife for Feng Sheng. Unexpectedly, he didn’t find a wife but found out that this place could be used for hiding.
“Is Seventh Prince sure that the child is Prime Minister Xun’s grandson?” Li Chengyi asked.
Li Chengru said with certainty, “Yes, I’m sure, because I’ve met the boss lady of Longmen Inn before. If what the general had said was true, that the kid was rescued by the boss lady, then it must be him.”
Li Chengyi showed a hint of relief, which soon turned into worries.
“Prime Minister Xun’s family suffered such a tragedy that they were all killed. There is only a single hope left. Now that he is still alive and has fled here, we must ensure his safety. However, nothing could be kept secret forever. We cannot take them in for a long time. After this tempest, we will still have to send him away. Seventh Prince, what do you think?”
Li Chengru agreed with certainty, “We can’t always hide him in the room, this is not good for him. However, neither can we just keep him by outside. Indeed, there is no such thing as a secret, not to mention that we are closely watched over by the Third Brother. If he finds out the secret, then the past of Prime Minister Xun would be our future. How about this….”
Li Chengru thought of Ye Xiaoxian, then Xiao Baoshan. He said, “A few days later, we will send him to the Tianshan tribe. Xiao Baoshan, Wang Wen and Wang Wu are there to protect him. Also, that place is large but only has a small population, so Little Xun can enjoy himself in horseback riding if he’s there.”
Li Chengyi agreed immediately, “That’s right. The Tianshan tribe suits them the most. Then let’s do this. We will send Little Xun there. As for the lady with him…”
“It’s up to her. If she doesn’t have a place to go, she can also go to the tribe. The two of them can disguise as siblings, just say that they are distant relatives of Xiao Baoshan.”
……
The soldiers had been in Baoning City for over ten days, but couldn’t find Jin Xiaoyu and Little Xun.
Originally, they planned to search in various tribes, but when they heard that each tribe was very far away and covers a large area, plus the places are either extremely cold or freezing, they gave in. It would take them forever to do this.
Their money had long been used up. They wanted to ask Li Chengyi for money, but Li Chengyi asked them back, “Look at Baoning City, does it look rich?”
The general had no choice but to withdraw from the city.
Meanwhile, Li Chengru secretly arranged Feng Sheng to send Jin Xiaoyu and Little Xun to the Tianshan tribe.
……
Jin Xiaoyu lived comfortably in Feng Sheng’s house. There were food and bed, so she could cook herself. Little Xun would also help her prepare the food. As she cooked, he would tend the kitchen fire. Although he was clumsy, since he used to be spoiled and sheltered by a rich family, at least he offered help.
Jin Xiaoyu wasn’t tired neither. The two of them enjoyed the food they cooked.
Just that they were not allowed to go out and felt a little depressed, as they had nothing to do after dinner.
All that Jin Xiaoyu knew was how to cook a few dishes. She didn’t know much about sewing. Neither did she like reading and writing, so in the free time all she did was to teach Little Xun martial arts.
The house was not big but there was a small yard, in which there weren’t many flowers and plants, so they could practice martial arts.
Although Little Xun was obedient and diligent in practicing martial arts, Jin Xiaoyu didn’t have the patience to teach. Every day, she would only let Little Xun practice some basic skills, such as grinding the horse stance for the entire morning.
She desparately wanted to go out.
