CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 76: THE FIFTH PRINCESS’S PEOPLE WANT TO USE QI NANFENG TO TARGET HIM

Ruan Mian smiled, unconcerned.

"Sir, I only learned about these things by chance. It’s because I trust you are an honest and fair official who stands up for the innocent, that I went to great lengths to pass this information to you."

"It’s just that I didn’t expect you would encounter such a calamity. But no matter what, I hold no malice towards you, please don’t overthink it."

After speaking, she remembered something and earnestly thanked him a few times, "Throughout the journey, you’ve helped me out of danger multiple times, for which I’m very grateful."

"I know you mean no harm to me, I’m just curious..."

"Sir!!"

Before Xie Huai’an could finish speaking, Vice Minister Dong’s anxious voice was already heard from outside.

Ruan Mian stood up to open the door, and after taking the basin of hot water, she saw Vice Minister Dong rushing to Xie Huai’an.

The once high-ranking, noble and elegant Prime Minister, now fallen to such a state.

Vice Minister Dong blamed himself immensely, "Sir, it was my failure to escort you safely."

Xie Huai’an beckoned him to stand up, "How is it at the post station?"

"Thanks to Miss Ruan’s help, I’ve already set the post station on fire, so they probably can’t do anything to us. But Sir... we should leave here quickly. Otherwise, once they find out we’re not in the post station, it will definitely cause more trouble."

"Once we leave Ru Ning, with the vast sky and endless roads, they won’t be able to do anything to you."

At this point, Ruan Mian also voiced her confusion.

"What on earth has happened?"

She had only heard that the people of the Fifth Princess wanted to use Qi Nanfeng to harm him.

Vice Minister Dong then told her the truth, "Sir was impeached due to certain issues and angered the emperor, leading to his demotion to Wuheng Longchang. On the way, there were villains scheming against us. Once discovered, we arranged for a stand-in to stay at the post station in Sir’s place, and as expected, it worked..."

Now Ruan Mian understood, it was a case of a doppelgänger being used to preempt the post station’s plan to silently poison them.

The real Xie Huai’an and the young man bypassed the post station.

The person going to handle the formalities was taken by Vice Minister Dong, pretending that he had arrived.

As she pondered, the young man added, "Even so, Sir and I were discovered. They probably thought we were Sir’s servants since they wanted to silence us, and Sir... Sir was injured because of me."

His eyes were red, and he bit his lips tightly, filled with guilt.

It was a pitiful sight to behold.

Xie Huai’an waved it off, using this chance to introduce Ruan Mian, "Miss Ruan, do you remember Yun Xiu? Back then, you saved him from the Beast Fighting Arena and had him deliver information to the inn for me."

"Now he’s been with me for some time and has even taken Vice Minister Dong as his master."

As he finished, Yun Xiu solemnly saluted Ruan Mian, "Thank you, Miss Ruan, for saving my life!"

Ruan Mian quickly helped him up, saying they’re all friends now, no need to be so formal.

"Mr. Xie, your injury isn’t too severe. I’ve left some medicine; please let Vice Minister Dong change your bandage daily, and just rest well."

"It’s getting late now, and as Vice Minister Dong said, you should leave quickly before more trouble arises, as your injury can’t take much aggravation."

Behind the broken house was a river already thawed, and following it downstream could quickly evade the villains’ attention.

Once you leave Ru Ning, there’s a vast prairie, making it hard to track you.

The boat she seized from the post station was about to come in handy!

She called Vice Minister Dong, "I just saw there’s still a boat behind us, which can take you and Sir downstream swiftly, follow me."

She urged them on while quickening her pace, arriving at the riverside a step ahead and quickly took out the post station boat from her space.

However, Xie Huai’an instructed Yun Xiu to go with Ruan Mian, "He may be young, but he is agile and can protect you in critical moments."

"It’s not far from Wuheng now; we will meet again when we get there."

Not allowing Ruan Mian to decline, Yun Xiu had already moved by her side, looking at her with hope and delight.

So different from when he was caged, about to become fodder for the beasts, looking miserable.

Though he was dressed in rags, his sharp face was filled with a solemn aura, a clear pupil of Vice Minister Dong’s, bearing his teacher’s demeanor.

Watching the post station boat disappear, Ruan Mian retracted her gaze and spoke to Yun Xiu.

"Your name is Yun Xiu?" The young man immediately nodded, "The sir gave me the name, and he teaches me to read every day, often keeping me by his side."

"Mr. Xie is a good man. When you go back with me later, pretend to be an orphan with nowhere to go that I picked up. If others ask about you, you need not answer, just stay with me."

Yun Xiu nodded firmly, "Miss Ruan, rest assured, the sir already instructed me."

"He instructed you already?"

Could he have planned for Yun Xiu to follow her all along?

This Xie Huai’an, he really is unpredictable.

...

Meanwhile, the fire at the post station had mostly died down, and everyone was exhausted, oblivious to the cold wind outside.

They even found themselves hot and tired from running around to put out the fire.

They sat on the ground, unaware even when Ruan Mian returned.

It was only when the government officer called them up, "Rest quickly, we’ll prepare to leave at dawn!"

With the post station burned like this, staying longer might mean more work or even an investigation.

The handover documents were signed; leaving quickly was the best strategy, and the officers wanted no more trouble.

So they quickly took the roll call, telling everyone in a rough voice, "We’ll depart in an hour."

The previously chaotic scene left no time to heed surrounding matters until they prepared to set off when they suddenly noticed two additional people in their group.

One was Li Mao, whom everybody thought had already died at the bottom of the cliff, and the other was Yun Xiu, brought back by Ruan Mian.

Li Mao’s appearance greatly shocked everyone at the Uncle’s Mansion.

Especially Mrs. Yao, whose face instantly turned pale!

She couldn’t understand how he could still be alive after she pushed him down the cliff!

Li Mao looked at Mrs. Yao with eyes full of rage, wishing he could tear her to pieces on the spot.

But with the government officers present, he had to suppress his anger for now.

Initially, he wanted to escape, but the Xuanjia Army rescuing him had no concern for him, only agreeing to deliver him to Ru Ning.

He had no identity, money, or household registration, and couldn’t survive in Ru Ning City.

At least in Wuheng, he still had trusted followers. Now with his birth mother gone, he’s the head of the Li Family. Once reaching Wuheng and reuniting with his confidants, life would surely improve!

That’s why he sought out the group again.

However, he didn’t expect to be caught in a big fire at the post station and had to toil for hours for nothing, with nowhere to vent his anger.

Just then, seeing Ruan Mian inexplicably bring back an orphan, he was dissatisfied, pointing at Yun Xiu to scold.