Chapter 857: I'm Worried

Cai Tong, without a sideways glance, led the group out of the business hall, swung onto his horse and said, "Everyone, please follow me."

His tone was courteous, his expression neutral, not a single superfluous word, as if he had never met these people before.

The group understood and each swung onto their horses.

Xiao Ningxun exchanged a glance with Xiao Ze.

He acts cautiously; no wonder he has served here the longest.

Xiao Ningyuan chuckled, clasped his hands and said, "Thank you for your effort, Officer Cai Tong."

Cai Tong gave a slight nod, gently squeezed the horse's belly, and urged the horses out of Relanzhecheng, descending the slope at a steady pace.

After the slope, they headed east, and the road gradually flattened.

Vast sugarcane fields stretched along both sides of the road, the stalks so dense they formed green walls taller than a person by a head.

Occasionally, a few farmers could be seen bent over working deep within the fields.

Beyond the fields, mud‑walled houses with thatched roofs appeared, packed tightly together.

After a few steps into an alley, Cai Tong halted his horse in front of an inn and said, "Everyone, we've arrived."

The group looked up.

It was a two‑story wooden building, its outer walls a dull off‑white, and an old plaque over the door bore the words "Yong'an Inn."

The group dismounted following Cai Tong and entered.

The front hall was empty, with no guests.

Only a middle‑aged man was at the counter, writing in a ledger.

He stood up at the sound, saw Cai Tong, clasped his hands and said, "Mr. Cai."

Cai Tong raised his hand and pointed, "Shopkeeper Ye, these are esteemed guests of Mr. Mei Er; you must not neglect them and must give them proper hospitality."

"All their needs here are accounted for under Mr. Mei Er's name."

Shopkeeper Ye forced a smile, bowed slightly toward the group, and said, "Rest assured, Mr. Cai, I will certainly treat you distinguished guests well."

He called out, "Lead the horses at the door into the stable and look after them carefully!"

"Coming!"

"Mr. Cai, no need to be formal," Xiao Ningyuan took out a few silver ingots from his coat and placed them on the counter, "Shopkeeper Ye, we are many; keep this silver for now, and we will add more if needed."

Shopkeeper Ye glanced at the ingots, then looked up at Cai Tong.

Cai Tong stepped forward, took the silver, and handed it to Xiao Ningyuan with both hands, "Boss Xiao, absolutely not."

Xiao Ningyuan replied, "Paying the bill for lodging is a matter of course; Mr. Mei Er need not spend."

Cai Tong maintained a businesslike demeanor, "These guests were personally assigned to me by Mr. Mei Er; how could I let you pay yourself?"

Xiao Ze asked softly, "Officer Cai Tong, do you need to inform Mr. Mei Er about this first?"

Upon hearing that, Cai Tong understood and felt a slight warmth in his heart.

The Seventh Prince was worried that acting on his own would be hard to explain later.

It's only lodging and meals; how much could it cost?

Rarely does a prince show such consideration; truly benevolent.

His expression unchanged, "This is standard practice. When merchants come here, all food and lodging are covered by the business hall."

Xiao Ze nodded at the words, and Xiao Ningyuan took the silver.

Shopkeeper Ye raised his hand slightly, "Please follow me."

The group followed him out of the front hall, and a courtyard appeared before them.

The courtyard was square, the sky framed by the eaves above, and at each corner sat a clay jar containing a few lazy koi swimming at the bottom.

In the center stood a stone well, with a half‑worn wooden bucket beside it.

On the second floor, Shopkeeper Ye opened the innermost room and said, "Esteemed guests, this is the largest guestroom in our modest inn, and the adjoining rooms have also been tidied."

"Please make yourselves at home; if you need anything, just call out."

After speaking, he stepped back out and gently closed the door.

Cai Tong turned, knelt properly before Xiao Ze, and said, "Your Highness, Seventh Prince."

Xiao Ze cupped his arms, helped him to his feet, and said, "Mr. Cai, rise quickly! This place is dangerous; no need for formalities, sit and speak."

Xiao Er walked to the window, opened it a crack, and glanced at the street outside.

Lu Qi retreated to the doorway, pressed his ear to the crack for a moment, and nodded at Xiao Er.

The group understood, no one followed, and they all took their seats.

Tuan Tuan leapt from her chair and rushed to the window, "Uncle Luo!"

Seeing Xiao Tuanzi scrambling up the windowsill, Xiao Er hurriedly scooped her up, sighed with satisfaction, having finally held the young lady again.

Before he could steady her, a pair of large hands reached out and took Xiao Tuanzi from his arms, "What do you want to see? The windowsill is too low. Come, ride on Uncle Luo's shoulder!"

Xiao Er's arms remained outstretched in the holding pose, his smile frozen, his whole body like a statue, stunned.

Lu Qi looked at him and couldn't help laughing, "With Leader Luo here, who could take him?"

Luo Zhenjiang steadily hoisted Xiao Tuanzi onto his shoulder, one large hand supporting her legs, the other flinging the window wide open, "Look, there are two old women picking vegetables over there."

"Hmm, hmm!" Tuan Tuan curiously looked around, "Uncle Luo, there are a few little boys playing ball over there!"

"Really? Where?" Luo Zhenjiang beamed, "Indeed! Want to play with them?"

Tuan Tuan glanced back at everyone in the room, shook her head, "We'll go after the brothers finish talking."

Luo Zhenjiang shifted to the side of the window, patted her leg, "Very good."

Cai Tong watched them, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

He withdrew his gaze, turned to the group, his expression solemn, "The news of your arrival just reached Relanzhecheng today; Kui Yi immediately slammed the table."

"He ordered the cargo ship to be seized; it was Mei Er who blocked it."

Later, Mei Er only then went to the port to see you.

Xiao Ningyuan raised his brows slightly, and Xiao Ze slowly nodded: "Understood."

"It's fine, we had already thought of that," Xiao Ningxun smiled slightly, "Mei Er knows in her heart that the cargo of just this ship is far from enough."

"If it were seized, although it could solve the urgent need, but later we couldn't rely on it."

Cai Tong nodded: "Not bad, back then he and Kui Yi said exactly that."

"Shopkeeper Ye is my longtime friend, trustworthy; if you have any matters while I'm away, you can have him handle them."

"Okay, thank you." Xiao Ningxun clasped his hands, "I didn't expect Mei Er to actually have you accompany us, which saves us a lot of trouble."

Cai Tong laughed heartily: "Yes! He really helped a lot, I was just worried!"

Upon hearing that, everyone laughed.

Cai Tong asked: "What do you all plan to do next?"