Chapter 27: You think you can take me away just by bringing these two people?

A quarter of an hour later, Yan Ning and Yan Ze returned together.

Xiao Chengtian was in a standoff with a man wearing green official robes, the atmosphere tense and ready to snap.

As soon as Yan Ning entered the door, she asked, "What is going on here?"

Xiao Chengtian had not expected them to return.

County Magistrate Lin frowned: "Didn't you say they weren't here?"

Xiao Chengtian prevaricated: "They truly weren't here just a moment ago; they only just returned. What of it? Is there a problem?"

County Magistrate Lin:...

Yan Ning looked toward him: "Are you the County Magistrate of Shawan County?"

County Magistrate Lin kept a cold face, "That is indeed this official."

Yan Ning was amused, "You actually traveled thousands of miles to find us. If you don't care about the commoners of Shawan County, why waste time on such matters?"

County Magistrate Lin kept a cold face, "I will naturally help them, but right now, you are already more than a month late. Are you still planning to stay at the Nanyang Wang Mansion?"

Yan Ning said with a beaming smile: "You think you can take me away just by bringing these two people?"

No sooner had the words fallen than Zhuo Heng's blade was already pressed against County Magistrate Lin's neck; his neck even touched the edge of the blade!

County Magistrate Lin rebuked angrily: "You, are you trying to murder an Imperial Official?"

Yan Ning stepped forward, "Magistrate Lin, you should head back first. We will play here for a few more days before going to Shawan County."

Even with a blade pressed against his neck, County Magistrate Lin said with a flushed face: "You ignore the Emperor's orders. When I return to Shawan County, I will certainly report your conduct to His Majesty."

Then, the two bailiffs beside him were also subdued.

Yan Ning said with a beaming smile: "Magistrate Lin, I will count to three, giving you one chance."

County Magistrate Lin rebuked angrily: "Do you know that murdering an Imperial Official will result in being beheaded in public?"

Yan Ning blinked, "I know."

"However, Lingnan is treacherous, filled with dense forests and miasma everywhere. If an official who runs around aimlessly dies, wouldn't that be perfectly normal?"

Yan Ning said with a grin: "I am starting to count."

"Three—"

"Two—"

Before she could say one, County Magistrate Lin finally said: "We will leave first."

Yan Ning let Zhuo Heng and the others release the three men.

Yan Ning also took a step back: "We will go to Shawan County in three days."

County Magistrate Lin nearly lost his footing, and only after a long while did he say: "Do not be late in three days."

Xiao Chengtian only felt that Yan Ning was decisive when encountering matters, and quite ruthless at that. With such a woman, could Huaijin live a good life in the future?

Both he and the Princess Consort were somewhat worried.

Only Xiao Huaijin looked at Yan Ning with an expression of adoration.

Seeing Xiao Huaijin's expression, the couple Xiao Chengtian and his wife were even more worried.

Looking at the couple Yan Ze and his wife, they did not feel there was anything wrong with what Yan Ning did at all. Yan Ze even said to County Magistrate Lin: "Wouldn't it have been fine to just do this earlier? You had to have a blade pressed to your neck before you would stop."

County Magistrate Lin gritted his teeth; once they went into exile, he would definitely make their family of three do hard labor.

Xiao Chengtian asked tentatively: "If they didn't agree, would you really have killed them?"

Yan Ning thought for a moment, "That wouldn't happen. It was just to scare them. If they hadn't been willing to stop after three counts, I would have tied them up and locked them in the storeroom, then let them out when I wanted to leave."

Xiao Chengtian felt a sense of relief in his heart. Thank goodness, the future daughter-in-law was not heartless and cruel.

Yan Ning's family stayed at the Wangfu for another three days. Once Yan Ning had finished collecting all the medicine she had others prepare, they prepared to head to Lingnan.

When leaving, Yan Ning took two chests of silk and satin, as well as a chest of jewelry. The Princess Consort only wanted the silk and satin and did not want the jewelry, but Yan Ning insisted on stuffing it into her hands.

Xiao Chengtian was somewhat uneasy. He brought his mansion guards and said to Yan Ze: "We will escort you there."

Yan Ze was somewhat embarrassed, "There is no need; we can go ourselves."

Xiao Chengtian, however, said: "It will be better if I take you. Lingnan is full of mountains and forests everywhere. Only by bringing more people and taking the paths I am familiar with can we be absolutely safe."

Hearing that Xiao Chengtian knew the way, Yan Ning's eyes lit up instantly.

They were still carrying quite a few chests, and the items inside were all of great value. Unfortunately, the guards and Lan Xin and the others had all seen these chests, so it was not convenient to store them in the space.

They could only carry them by carriage.

Having someone to lead the way would be much more convenient.

Xiao Chengtian was not only going to lead the way, but the Wangfu had also prepared quite a few things for them.

They brought pills made by the Wangfu that could treat miasma, as well as some rare medicinal herbs, all of which were handed over to Qian Ruofang to ensure they would not be unable to buy medicine in Lingnan.

Yan Ning liked listening to music, so Xiao Chengtian prepared two maidservants who sang well to go with her.

Ji Lan liked playing mahjong and embroidery, so Xiao Chengtian prepared an embroiderer and three maidservants who knew how to play mahjong for them to take along.

Yan Ze did not have anything he particularly liked, so Xiao Chengtian brought fine wine.

Yan Ning had not expected Xiao Chengtian to be so thorough in every detail. Seeing his posture, it was as if he wished he could move the entire Wangfu over for her.

This time going to Lingnan, Xiao Chengtian was also following along. Xiao Huaijin even gave the Jade Pendant he had worn for many years to Yan Ning; he was now wearing the Jade Pendant Yan Ning had given him.

Yan Ning accepted the Jade Pendant, only feeling that Xiao Huaijin was silly and cute.

There were many people with them. Yan Ning brought ten guards, and Xiao Chengtian brought two hundred mansion guards. When he returned, he would give one hundred of the mansion guards to Yan Ze and take one hundred back with him.

As the carriage traveled along, they heard movement not far away.

Upon going over to look, there were actually several thieves about to lay hands on a young girl.

Yan Ning hurriedly shouted: "Stop! Zhuo Heng, quickly stop them!"

Yan Ning was absolutely furious to see this scene. Three men were trying to strip the clothes off a young girl, and beside the girl was a middle-aged man covered in wounds.

Only upon walking closer did they discover there was also a woman on the ground, her life or death unknown.

There were over twenty mountain bandits, but Zhuo Heng only brought nine men with him; Zhuo Heng charged to the very front to fight three at once, and before long, his arm was slashed by a blade, but those three villains were all dead as well.

Seeing that Zhuo Heng still wanted to fight, Yan Ning hurriedly said, "Zhuo Heng, come back quickly!"

Zhuo Heng hesitated for a moment, then finally went back.

The Prince of Nanyang also had his own manor guards go over to help, and those twenty-plus men had absolutely no power to parry.

Yan Ze and Yan Ning got out of the carriage to look, and Yan Ze was shocked; isn't this the Zhenbei General Xie Luyan?

Yan Ze was somewhat puzzled: "General Xie, have you also been exiled to Lingnan?"

Xie Luyan: "That is so."

Yan Ze was shocked: "Has His Majesty gone mad? First the Grand Tutor, and then you."

A general brave and skilled in battle, a Grand Tutor of high virtue and prestige with wealth filling five carts, had actually been exiled just like that!

General Xie hurriedly looked at his wife and daughter; his wife had only one breath left.

Yan Ze hurriedly said, "Miss Qian, come quickly and help look at her injuries."

Qian Ruofang sprinkled medicinal powder on her, then helped her to the carriage to rest.

At this moment, General Xie knelt before Yan Ze: "Your Highness, you saved my wife and daughter; I am willing to follow you to the death, even if you want to rebel, I will follow along!"

Yan Ning & Yan Ze & Ji Lan: That is really unnecessary.