Chapter 900: How Could Anyone Recognize It?

Everyone saw him and all bowed: "Your Highness."

Tuan Tuan asked, "Third Elder Brother, when are we leaving?"

Xiao Ze glanced at Luo Zhenjiang, thought for a moment, and said, "The day after tomorrow, early morning."

"Come!"

A soldier stepped forward: "What orders does Your Highness have?"

Xiao Ze said, "Tomorrow you set out for Jingcheng, report to His Majesty that we will stay in Jiangzhou for several days."

"Approximately… after twenty‑five days we'll reach Jingcheng."

"Yes!" the soldier took the order and left.

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Shall we go to Jiangzhou first?"

Xiao Ze looked at her and smiled, "Yes, now everything is settled, there's no hurry to return to Jingcheng."

"We'll go to Jiangzhou first, send Luo, the gang leader, back, then you can spend a few days with your Luo sister, and after that return to Jingcheng."

"Great!" Tuan Tuan hugged Luo Zhenjiang's neck and kissed his big face, "Uncle Luo, may I escort you home?"

"Sure!" Luo Zhenjiang, both startled and delighted, looked at Xiao Ze and said, "Thank you, Your Highness. I'll fire up a huge pot of fish right away; we'll have a feast tonight!"

"No vinegar in the fish," he said, glancing at the Xiao Tuanzi in his arms, "not a drop of vinegar!"

Tuan Tuan pursed her lips, tucked her little face into his neck hollow, and said, "Uncle Luo, you're so naughty!"

"What isn't being added?" Xiao Ze asked, not understanding, "Vinegar?"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi, hearing Tuan Tuan's mispronunciation of "never impose additional taxes" as "never pour vinegar", laughed and echoed the mix‑up back and forth.

Everyone burst into laughter.

The next morning.

The dock was filled with people seeing them off, and provincial officials wore brand‑new official robes.

Cai Tong and Ma Li An stood together with Lin Jiang, while Lin Xi held Ah Dai's hand behind Lin Jiang.

Xiao Ze said his farewells to the officials one by one.

Tuan Tuan poked her small body out of Luo Zhenjiang's arms and shouted to Lin Xi, "Auntie! Make more tasty food for Ah Dai!"

Lin Xi laughed with reddened eyes, "Don't worry!"

Ah Dai walked up to Luo Zhenjiang, handed him a small rope‑tied earthen jar, and said, "This is the sugar‑cane juice my mother made early this morning for Tuan Tuan to drink on the road."

"Thank you, Ah Dai!" Tuan Tuan waved her little hand, "Next time I come, will you take me to see those big sugarcane stalks?"

Ah Dai's eyes reddened, and she nodded, "Sure! I'll definitely take you!"

Ma Li An stepped forward, extended a rough palm, and gently touched Tuan Tuan's little hand.

Tuan Tuan drew a quick sketch on her face and said, "The dance you performed with that was so beautiful! I want to see it again next time!"

Cai Tong laughed and rendered it out loud; Ma Li An looked at her little face and slowly nodded.

Lin Jiang walked up to Xiao Ze and knelt down properly.

Xiao Ze hurried to lean down and help, but Lin Jiang insisted on staying down.

"Your Highness," he lifted his head, eyes slightly reddened, "Your words about a clear conscience, I will never forget them in my life."

Xiao Ze pulled him up from the ground, then looked at Cai Tong and Ma Li An, "The provincial duties are now yours; you must ensure the people live well and no longer suffer."

The three of them nodded heavily.

Everyone filed onto the boat, and Feng Zhou waved from the shore, shouting, "Safe travels, Alliance Leader!"

"Got it!" Tuan Tuan also waved her little arms, "Come back early!"

The warship drifted slowly away from the shore.

Tuan Tuan lowered her head and looked at the small earthen jar Luo Zhenjiang was carrying, "Uncle Luo, next time you come here, will you stay with me?"

Luo Zhenjiang pressed her against his chest and replied, "Mm."

The party disembarked in Jiangzhou and again took residence at the Qiaotou Gang headquarters.

Luo Hongli, upon seeing Tuan Tuan, was overjoyed, refused to go anywhere else, and every day devised ways to cook delicious food for her.

Luo Zhenjiang clutched Tuan Tuan and would not let go for a moment.

Five days later, everyone boarded the carriage, left Jiangzhou, and headed toward Jingcheng.

The carriage rumbled onward, and Jingcheng's city gates came into clear view.

Xiao Ze lifted the carriage curtain for a glance, turned to Xiao Yuanhang and said, "Prince, I don't wish to make a fuss; we'll slip into the city quietly and each return to our own residence."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded.

Xiao Ze instructed, "The guards stay here; after we go in, you may leave."

"Yes!" the guards replied in unison, halting their horses.

The carriage leisurely entered Jingcheng, with Xiao Er, Lu Qi, and Xiao Ningchen riding horses behind.

Not far along, a few men in a roadside teahouse widened their eyes and stared intently at the carriage.

A moment later, they rushed out of the teahouse, shouting, "The Seventh Prince is in the carriage!"

"That is the Seventh Prince's carriage!"

"The Seventh Prince has returned!"

The shouts rose together like boiling water poured into hot oil.

The whole street erupted instantly.

The old man selling fried cakes ran out of his stall, tiptoeing to peer toward the carriage.

A few half‑grown kids sprinted after the carriage, shouting, "Seventh Prince! It's the Seventh Prince!"

The storyteller in the teahouse set down his lectern, and the tea patrons swarmed to the street.

Diners in the restaurant dropped their chopsticks and rushed downstairs; many even lost their shoes in the scramble.

Women picked up their children and pushed forward.

The crowd surged from all directions, pushing and shoving, all gathering beside the carriage.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance, both looking surprised—what's going on?

Xiao Ningchen frowned and ordered the driver: "Go slower, don't bump into anyone."

Yes!

The noisy clamor woke Tuan Tuan, who was sleeping in Xiao Ningxun's arms.

Xiao Tuanzi rubbed his eyes: "So noisy! What's happening outside?"

From outside the carriage came the children's song, clapping their hands:

"Taiwan Island, the red-haired flee, Seventh Prince, with clever schemes."

"The imperial court spent no troops or cannons; for five years, tax exemption made the people laugh!"

"The four words "no extra taxes" are etched in the hearts of the Taiwanese people."

"Who achieved this merit? Needless to say, it was Prince Jing!"

Each time the children finished a round, the people's cheers grew louder.

More people joined in singing; the shouts rose and fell like overlapping waves, each wave higher than the last.

Tuan Tuan listened with relish: "Third Elder Brother, they're singing about you!"

She reached out her little hand, about to lift the carriage curtain to peek outside.

Xiao Ningxun swiftly grabbed her hand and pulled it back: "Be good, wait until your Third Elder Brother returns to the mansion before you look."

"Oh." Tuan Tuan replied obediently.

Those inside the carriage glanced at each other.

Xiao Ze's eyes flickered, Xiao Yuanhang's face darkened, and Xiao Ningyuan furrowed his brows.

Xiao Ningxun whispered: "Your Highness, this situation is not right; you must be on guard."

Xiao Ze nodded: "I'll return to the mansion first; you all go on."

The carriage struggled forward amid the throng and finally stopped at the gate of Prince Jing's Mansion.

Although the people dared not advance, they surrounded the Prince's Mansion inside and out, three layers deep, leaving no gap.

Xiao Ze lifted the curtain and stepped down; the guards at the door hurriedly opened the gate.

He strode inside: "Close the door!"

Yes!

The carriage continued onward, heading toward Ning Prince's Mansion.

Only then did Xiao Ningxun lift the carriage window curtain and glance back.

The people still guarded the perimeter of Xiao Ze's residence, refusing to leave, and faint cheers drifted over.

Xiao Ningyuan looked puzzled: "There are no markings on the carriage; how could anyone recognize it?"