The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 617 - 606: Return Home

Chapter 617: Chapter 606: Return Home

Wei Chen said, "Who cares about the carriage now, escape is the priority."

Daji also said, "Forget about the carriage, Silang, you first check our current position, then we find a way back."

Zhou Silang could only agree, and after wandering for a while, they finally found a street corner. Zhou Silang ran against the crowd to check the streets outside and found the people there in chaos as well. More and more were squeezing into the alley. He peered outside, glanced at a few shops he remembered, and roughly determined their location.

Then he went back and led the group hiding in the alley in the right direction.

Zhou Silang was unfamiliar with the roads, and some alleyways were dead ends. They had no choice but to take the main street for a while before they slipped into smaller streets to disperse.

On the way, everyone they met was rushing home to save their own lives.

It took them about two hours to take a detour back to Kangxue Street. By then, it was past lunchtime, everyone famished, so upon returning to the small courtyard, they were so tired they didn’t want to move.

Manbao, pale as a sheet, plopped down on a stool, looking even worse than the elder Mr. Zhuang.

Zhou Lijun looked at her worriedly, "Girl, did you get a stitch in your side from running?"

Manbao nodded, "I ran too fast earlier."

Zhou Silang immediately went to the kitchen to pour her a bowl of hot water, "Should we call a doctor?"

Since childhood, the youngest sister had not been in good health, though it seemed she had recovered over the past two years, her chubby appearance deceiving. Who would have thought that she would turn so pale from just a bit of hastened running.

Manbao pondered for a moment and shook her head, "No need, I was just pulled along too quickly and ran too fast, I just didn’t catch my breath properly."

She carefully assessed herself, not feeling any ailment in her body.

In fact, the others were also quite out of breath.

They all rested together, and the cook, with a puzzled look, served them tea and pastries, quietly asking Zhou Silang, "What happened?"

Zhou Silang had an endless stream of words to say, but at the question, he started and immediately perked up, whispering, "Guess what happened on the main street just now."

"What happened?"

"Someone attempted to assassinate the Prince!"

The cook’s eyes widened in disbelief, "Goodness gracious, isn’t that just courting death?"

Zhou Silang nodded in strong agreement.

Mr. Zhuang took a sip of tea, his brows furrowed tightly, "These next few days, none of you are to go out. Shanbao, when you go to school the day after tomorrow, leave early and return early, and be careful on the road."

Bai Shanbao complied, asking curiously, "Teacher, were those assassins out for revenge due to the flood in Yizhou three years ago?"

Mr. Zhuang was silent for a moment before shaking his head, "I don’t know."

Wei Chen said, "It’s been almost three years; if they wanted to assassinate, they would have done it by now. I think it’s just an excuse. The person behind this is definitely not a flood victim. Besides, what flood victim knows martial arts and assassination techniques?"

Manbao said, "That’s not necessarily true. When the dam at Jianwei broke, the flood rushed down, and there were quite a few prominent families downstream that were wiped out in an instant. Ordinary poor folks might not have the means, but is it impossible for those families’ descendants to have the ability?"

Bai Erlang nodded repeatedly, "And it could have been a hitman sent by another Prince."

"Impossible!" Bai Shan, Manbao, and Wei Chen said in unison, all giving Bai Erlang a sideways glance.

Bai Erlang, unconvinced, asked, "Why couldn’t it be?"

Wei Chen: "Which Prince has nothing better to do than to go after the Prince of Yizhou? He’s just the Emperor’s brother, not his son."

Manbao nodded vigorously, "Exactly, exactly. If they are Princes, then they are one family. If it’s not for a claim to the throne, who would have nothing better to do than to assassinate another Prince?"

Mr. Zhuang did not stop their discussion, but he did not join in either, only reminding them, "If you want to discuss this, only do it at home. Once you step out of this door, watch your words and be careful not to say anything you shouldn’t."

Everyone agreed together.

For the first time in her life, Manbao had seen a Prince and an assassin, thrilled beyond belief, which even seemed to improve her complexion.

When the cook had the lunch ready and brought it out, Manbao ate a full bowl of rice, and her spirits were completely revived.

So, they went to the study to continue discussing the various possibilities about the assassin.

Mr. Zhuang didn’t mind them and returned to his room, his thoughts unknown.

Not until evening, after Wei Chen had dinner here and left, did the remaining people gather in a room for quiet conversation.

Of course, it only involved the three Senior Sisters and Brothers, as well as Daji.

The three whispered among themselves, with Daji standing arms crossed by the door listening in, "Do you still remember that ledger?"

"Of course, I remember," said Manbao. "It’s precisely because I remember that I urged them to flee immediately."

Bai Shanbao questioned, "Do you think they really are victims from the flood in Yizhou three years ago?"

The Prince of Yizhou was asking the same question.

The assassins had not managed to kill him, but that didn’t mean he came out unscathed. A cut on his arm and the loss of several guards were the least worries. The most important concern was the blow to his prestige and reputation from an assassination attempt in broad daylight.

As for the assassins, two had escaped, and the rest were either killed by his men or had committed suicide; not one live mouth was left.

Angry, the Prince of Yizhou demanded, "Are they really victims? Which victims are so capable that they could attempt to assassinate me?"

County Magistrate Tang stood among the officials, head down, thinking that the sky could fall and there would be taller people to bear it, certain it wouldn’t concern him.

Just as he was thinking this, the Prince of Yizhou suddenly called his name, "County Magistrate Tang..."

County Magistrate Tang: ...

He silently stepped forward a few paces and bowed in the hall.

Physicians from the Prince of Yizhou’s residence were treating his arm, and seeing County Magistrate Tang reminded the Prince that Tang had protected him and led him out of the encirclement. His expression softened slightly but was still tinged with anger, "The guards reported that the assassins last hid in Huayang County. What do you have to say?"

Bowing, County Magistrate Tang replied, "Your Highness, just one street away from the main street lies the jurisdiction of Huayang County. Thus, if the assassins fled, there’s a ninety percent chance they ended up in Huayang County..."

The Prince of Yizhou slammed the table, "With so many assassins lying in wait in Huayang County, how did you not notice anything?"

County Magistrate Tang was speechless for a moment before he said, "Your Highness, the exorcists and spirit mediums who came to purge the epidemic were brought in by the Prince of Yizhou’s residence. They were never registered at Huayang County’s city gates. Of course, this is my dereliction of duty. I will certainly punish the county sheriffs severely when I return."

Governor Ming twitched the corner of his eyes and discreetly glared at him, a warning to restrain himself.

The Prince’s expression stiffened, but his anger rose rapidly. Seeing his ears turn red with fury, Envoy Zhang hurriedly reprimanded County Magistrate Tang, "Get down there and check immediately. First, clarify the origins of the assassins. Also, capture the two that escaped. Close the city gates, and don’t allow anyone to leave."

Knowing that opposition would be futile, County Magistrate Tang obediently bowed and complied. Governor Ming immediately stepped forward, requested a task, and then retreated.