Chapter 22: Finding Someone to Escort Us to Lingnan

Xu Xingzhi felt inexplicably guilty, "I, I am taking the Grand Tutor to be questioned. After all, he is in exile; to think he can actually sit in a carriage and even dare to come into Jinfu City, it is simply audacious!"

Yan Ning was dressed too lavishly; not to mention the pearls and emeralds covering her head, even this skirt was extremely ostentatious. Xu Xingzhi did not believe for a second that their family had been sent here in exile.

Recalling the rumors about Yan Ning, Xu Xingzhi felt his momentum inexplicably waning.

Yan Ning asked, "What, can't one sit in a carriage while in exile? We also traveled the whole way here by carriage. Do you wish to defy the Empress Dowager's decree?"

Xu Xingzhi was now breaking out in a cold sweat; even if he were given a hundred guts, he would not dare to defy an imperial decree from the Empress Dowager.

Xu Xingzhi hurriedly said, "A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding... I only wanted to come and question Lord Chen; I didn't expect to disturb you all."

Yan Ning looked him up and down.

Only after a good while did she say, "What is your status, that you want to question Lord Chen?"

Xu Xingzhi choked.

It seemed there really was no reason to take Chen Yuan back for questioning, and besides, Chen Yuan had been brought here by Yan Ning.

If he held on and refused to let go, there was no telling how Yan Ning would torment him; if he let them go directly, the opportunity he had waited so long for would be ruined.

Yan Ning seized the loophole and continued, "This matter is none of your business. We aren't staying for long, just here in the city temporarily to rest for one night. You still want to take people away? Even if His Majesty were here, he wouldn't do something so heartless. After all, Grandfather Chen is the Grand Tutor; is this how you treat a pillar of the nation?"

Yan Ning's accusations, one after another, bent Xu Xingzhi's back.

"I... I didn't mean that. This official will leave now and not disturb you all any further."

Xu Xingzhi prepared to leave in a dejected manner, but Yan Ning did not give him the chance, "Wait a moment, what's the rush to leave?"

Xu Xingzhi turned around and squeezed out a difficult smile, "Does Your Highness have any other instructions? As long as it is something this official can do, I will certainly handle it for you."

Yan Ning counted on her fingers, "You disturbed our rest; is this matter just going to be brushed aside so lightly?"

Xu Xingzhi only felt his heart bleeding; why did he have to run over here for no reason?

Xu Xingzhi said with difficulty, "This official will go prepare some local gifts to offer; please do not be angry, Your Highness. How about we treat you all to Zui Chun Lou this evening?"

Yan Ning agreed, "Then you go get busy first."

Xu Xingzhi said he was preparing local gifts, but the several large chests he eventually moved over were all silk and satin, along with some Jade and jewelry, and there was even a box filled with silver; it looked like he had spent a great deal of effort.

Besides this, Xu Xingzhi also specially gifted them people—two embroiderers who could make clothes and do embroidery, as they would likely not find suitable embroiderers once they reached Lingnan.

Xu Xingzhi bowed and saluted, "Princess, are you pleased with these?"

Yan Ning estimated the value; it was probably over ten thousand taels. Yan Ning was satisfied.

Yan Ning: "Acceptable."

Xu Xingzhi let out a sigh of relief.

After a good while, he asked, "Then may I invite you all to Zui Chun Lou to taste the specialty dishes of our Jinfu City?"

Since the other party was so warmly hosting, Yan Ning naturally agreed and even brought Chen Yuan along.

Xu Xingzhi, who originally did not get along with Chen Yuan, now had to hold his nose and toast them. It was fortunate that he managed his expressions well, otherwise he would have exploded on the spot.

Yan Ning was not sure how the meal went for Xu Xingzhi, but her family ate to their heart's content, and even Chen Yuan drank several cups of wine.

As for Xu Xingzhi...

His heart was bleeding, terrified that he hadn't given enough gifts.

After Li Zhai learned of what Xu Xingzhi had done, he did not know when Yan Ning and the others would leave, so he waited at the entrance.

Yan Ning was puzzled, "Lord Li, why are you here?"

Li Zhai then said, "I came to give a reminder. There are bandits nearby; you must be careful. A group of ten people carrying so much jewelry, I fear..."

Yan Ning dared not think about it; if she were robbed, how much would she lose?

But they were still a distance away from the Nanyang Wang Mansion, and the probability of encountering bandits on the road was still quite high.

Yan Ning thought about it for a whole night and finally decided to take a detour to Yu City.

Li Shun was very obedient and, without a word, rode his horse toward Yu City.

Ji Lan, however, did not understand, "Why are we going to Yu City?"

Yan Ning said with a beaming smile, "Of course, it's to find someone to escort us to Lingnan."

Yan Ze immediately sat up, "Are you talking about finding Prince An? But Prince An usually doesn't meddle in other people's business, his fief is remote, and he doesn't like interacting with people. How could he possibly escort us to the Nanyang Wang Mansion?"

Yan Ning: "Let's try it. What if it works? Anyway, we aren't in a hurry."

Yan Ze felt that made sense.

Early the next morning, they set off at full speed and only arrived at Yu City in the afternoon.

Yan Ning and her group had too grand a display; ten guards on horseback guarding the four carriages in front as they stopped at the inn—there were quite a few people, and the commotion they made was also quite large.

Although Prince An did not like to meddle in affairs, they were, after all, his own kin.

Yan Ning was preparing to go to a restaurant for dinner when Prince An hurried over, "A-Ze, Ningning, why didn't you say anything when you arrived?"

Yan Ze said with a smile, "Imperial Uncle, we are in exile; it is not appropriate to make a big show of it."

Prince An:...

They had arrived with this entire caravan; was that not already making a big show of it?

Yan Ning's family was invited to the Prince An's mansion, while the others stayed at the inn to avoid causing trouble.

Prince An was not as Yan Ze had described, someone who didn't care about anything; at the very least, he took care of their dinner and kept putting food on her plate.

Yan Ning said with a beaming smile, "Great-Uncle, your chef's skills are truly excellent. It's been so long since I've eaten such delicious food."

Prince An had only sons and had long wanted a daughter. Seeing Yan Ning's soft voice, he couldn't help but tug on her little hair bun.

"If you like it, just take this chef with you when you leave."

Yan Ning's eyes shone brightly as she looked at Prince An, "Great-Uncle, you are so kind! You are the best, best, best Great-Uncle!"

Yan Ning showered him with one compliment after another, leaving Prince An feeling dizzy with delight.

In the evening, Prince An had the performers in his mansion called over to sing, and Yan Ning listened with great interest.

Seeing Prince An look over, she wore a smile on her face again, "Great-Uncle, the sister playing the zither in your mansion is so beautiful, and the music she plays is so lovely."

Prince An waved his hand grandly: "You choose two to take with you; they can help pass the time on the road."

Yan Ning:...

That is really unnecessary.

Yan Ning hurriedly said: "It is better to let these beautiful sisters stay at the Wangfu. Our journey to Lingnan is perilous, and I have heard there are roving bandits; let us not let the sisters suffer."

Prince An was taken aback, "What, there are roving bandits?"

Yan Ning scratched her head: "I do not know either, I heard it from Lord Li, so we took a detour and changed our route; there should be no problem."

Prince An was left dizzy by Yan Ning's flattery, and having had a little wine, he took it all upon himself: "Do not fear, Great-Uncle will take three hundred Wangfu soldiers to escort you to Lingnan."