Chapter 18: Weren't They Exiled?

Regional Inspector Lu even said to let them stay in Xiadong City for a few more days, to let them have a good rest.

Yan Ning felt a bit strange; how could this person's attitude be...

It was an indescribable feeling.

Under normal circumstances, one would either tacitly pretend not to recognize them, or feel they were defying an imperial decree and urge them to hurry along into exile.

But Regional Inspector Lu's attitude was very subtle.

Regional Inspector Lu said with a smile: "There is a dragon boat race in a few days, won't you stay and watch? If you wish to participate yourselves, I can also arrange for people to accompany you."

Yan Ning blinked, and when she looked at Regional Inspector Lu, she only thought, could this old man have been possessed?

Besides, there was no need to curry favor with them now; they had already been exiled!

However, Yan Ning accepted the treatment well; if the man was happy to play host, let him play host, so as to avoid being on tenterhooks while playing around in the city.

After the family of three finished their meal, Regional Inspector Lu even asked: "Is the food here to your liking? Are you staying at the inn tonight? If you feel uncomfortable, you may come to my residence."

Yan Ning politely declined: "We had better just stay at the inn; there are so many of us."

Regional Inspector Lu did not insist, and said: "If His Highness has any need of this humble official, please do not hesitate to speak."

On the way back to the inn, Yan Ning held Yan Ze's hand in one hand and Ji Lan's in the other, walking back to the inn in a slow and leisurely manner.

Yan Ning couldn't help but complain: "This Regional Inspector Lu is actually quite a decent person, how is he so kind?"

"But no matter what Regional Inspector Lu says, at least we have no profit to be gained; we shall take it one step at a time regarding his motives."

Yan Ning had stayed in Xiadong City for two days, and today was the day to watch the dragon boat race; Regional Inspector Lu had booked them the most convenient private room for watching the race early on, and he even brought wine.

He not only brought top-quality Rice Flower Fragrance, but also a jar of Fruit Wine, contained in a light blue porcelain jar, with a very low alcohol content; even at Yan Ning's age, she could drink it.

Yan Ze cupped his hands: "It has been a trouble for you, Lord Lu, these past few days."

Regional Inspector Lu waved his hands: "No trouble, no trouble, it is what I ought to do."

As Regional Inspector Lu spoke, he was calculating in his heart. From the time Yan Ze's family arrived until now, the total silver Regional Inspector Lu had spent was only fifty taels; he heard that last time when they were in Yangzhou, Du Liang had suffered a massive loss, and the things he bought were worth nearly fifty thousand taels of silver.

Looking at the present, he had only spent less than fifty taels of silver.

It was a matter of saving money by selling a smile; thinking of this, the smile on Regional Inspector Lu's face became a few degrees more sincere.

Yan Ning did not know the little schemes in his heart.

At this moment, a youth who had just stepped off a dragon boat downstairs waved at Regional Inspector Lu: "Uncle Lu, did you see my race just now? I took first place!"

Regional Inspector Lu waved back, "I saw it."

In truth, he had not seen it; he was thinking about how much less money he had lost.

The youth soon came up, looking very familiar with Lu Yuanshan, "Uncle Lu, why are you here too?"

Lu Yuanshan introduced: "This is Yang Weizhao, the son of the Prefect of Xiadong City."

Yan Ze nodded.

Yang Weizhao asked again: "Uncle Lu, who are they?"

Lu Yuanshan avoided the important and dwelt on the trivial: "They are friends I have invited."

Logically speaking, Lu Yuanshan was preparing to host Yan Ning's family, and Yang Weizhao should have left quickly after exchanging greetings, but who knew that Yang Weizhao's steps would falter, his gaze landing on Yan Ze's face.

Yang Weizhao's eyes widened, "Uncle Lu, he is the First Prince, he is on his way to exile, how, how can you host them?"

Lu Yuanshan's eyelids twitched.

It was over.

The preparations made earlier were all for nothing, and he might still suffer a massive loss, but where was he to scrape together those tens of thousands of taels of silver?

Lu Yuanshan frowned and scolded: "You go out first."

Yang Weizhao took another two looks, but could only leave first.

After the person left, Lu Yuanshan said somewhat apologetically: "The young are full of vigor, I hope His Highness will not take it to heart."

Yan Ze nodded with a smile: "How could I? This wine is good."

Lu Yuanshan also forgot the little interlude from just now, and smilingly filled the cups for both of them again: "Come, let us continue drinking."

Yan Ze's tolerance for alcohol was average, but his demeanor while drinking was excellent; when drunk, he would just sit in place without moving, and no one noticed he was drunk.

Lu Yuanshan wanted to keep pouring, but Yan Ning hurriedly stopped him: "My father is drunk."

Lu Yuanshan took a look, and indeed, he was drunk.

Yan Ze was supported back to the inn by Yan Ning and Ji Lan together.

After asking Xiao Shi for some hangover soup, the group also prepared to pack up their things, preparing to pack up and leave Xiadong City tomorrow.

Who knew that not long after they returned, a group of people arrived outside, currently in a standoff with their guards.

Yan Ze was still drunk at this moment, so Yan Ning immediately went out and scolded: "What do you want to do?!"

Yang Weizhao let out a cold snort, "You have been exiled, yet you actually fled to my Xiadong City; what exactly are you trying to do?!"

Yan Ning did not waste words with him either, and said directly to Zhuo Heng: "Go."

Upon hearing these words, just as the guards of both sides were deadlocked, he directly took down Yang Weizhao.

Seeing the hostage in hand, Yan Ning immediately became arrogant: "Where did this petty thief come from, daring to assassinate me? Do you know what our status is?"

Yang Weizhao wanted to speak, but was directly stuffed with a cloth in his mouth by Zhuo Heng.

His brain had crashed; weren't they exiled?

How could they still have guards with them?!

Yan Ning continued: "Take down all the other thieves as well!"

The guards on Yan Ning's side were all carefully selected, and taking down Yang Weizhao's men was simply effortless.

With such a big commotion inside the inn, many people poked their heads out, and seeing the flashing blades outside, they quickly retracted their heads.

The Manager hurriedly came up, but it was already too late.

Yan Ning tied them up, not even letting them say a word of defense.

The Manager did not know what to do for a moment; to apologize, he could only prepare a free table of food for Yan Ning and her group, as they had, after all, encountered thieves at his inn.

In just the span of an hour, the Prefect Yang knew what good deed his son had done.

The Prefect Yang also knew that Yan Ning and her family had come to Xiadong City, but with the precedent of the Prefect of Yangzhou, he did not dare to offend them too much and simply acted as if he had never seen them.

Who would have thought his son would actually bring a troop of men over to make arrests.

This unfilial son!

When the Prefect Yang arrived, he was somewhat cautious, his round, chubby body looking particularly comical.

Yan Ning kept a cold face and simply did not speak.

The Prefect Yang thought to himself that even after being exiled they were still causing so much trouble; running into them was truly his worst luck in eight lifetimes.

But on the surface, he remained very amiable: "It is my fault for not raising my son well; it is all a misunderstanding. Princess, Your Highness, you are a person of great magnanimity..."

Yan Ning interrupted: "No, I am a petty person who seeks revenge for the slightest grievance."

The smile on the Prefect Yang's face froze instantly.

Yan Ning was not necessarily intent on hounding them, "He barged in with a group of sword-wielding guards, and my father, mother, and I were all frightened."

"So..."

"Pay the ransom."