Chapter 673: Joyful Reunion

Si Pangzi's analysis was spot on, but the scholar beside him obviously didn't have his level of concern. "Your Highness still has the mood to analyze these? We're stuck in the northern border by the cold snap; staying another day adds another bit of exposure risk. Besides, back home they still don't know how worried they'd be; if the madam finds out you're here..."

Bai Li Hu waved his hand to interrupt, "They can't confirm we went north; they'll only search south." He had always been very pleased with the smoke grenades he released before fleeing.

That's... who would have thought you'd be so bold!

The Great King's lavishly built Youzhou City lets the rich live comfortably, with everything they want; but without money and hit by the cold snap, it's just boring.

The common folk lack sable cloaks and fox-fur shoes, and street traffic has dwindled. The penniless Si Pangzi also grew bored, hearing that the liveliest spot in town now is outside the south city gate, where many poor people have gathered and the porridge stalls are bustling. He bundled himself up like a ball and went out, ostensibly to learn from San Pangzi's experience, after all he had previously admitted that San Pangzi handled the Fengde affair quite admirably.

It was also a coincidence that the Great King personally went to the hardest-hit area; the unprecedented low-temperature blizzard outside left Ning Guo and Chang Chun unable to sit still in the palace. They quickly gathered some cotton clothes in the city, with Ning Guo personally delivering them to the city gate, intending to give them to poorly clothed children and elders.

Ning Guo personally went to the city gate to distribute to those she deemed in need. Inspired by her, the aristocratic ladies of the city also followed suit, opening their purses to support the Elder Princess's charitable work; regardless of motive, the goods were real, and Ning Guo accepted them all without hesitation.

That day she was personally overseeing her cotton-cloth stall, watching palace maids hand out cotton clothes to the children in line. Turning around, she saw two burly men escorting a tightly bundled child standing at the city gate, looking out to watch the bustle.

It wasn't that Bai Li Hu was being showy; the guards felt the wind at the city gate was strong and weren't giving him a windbreak.

Though his attire gave no hint of his status, it was undoubtedly fine from head to toe. Ning Guo had received too many young lords and ladies offering to embellish her stall these past days; seeing someone so well-dressed show up at the gate, she couldn't help but take a second look—had he come empty-handed?!

Bai Li Hu sensed someone looking at him, instinctively turned his head, and the siblings exchanged a glance, with Bai Li Hu's face changing first.

When he left the palace, Bai Li Zhao was already grown; his features hadn't changed much, just a bit longer, and he recognized him at once.

The siblings just locked eyes like that.

Ning Guo only felt the child looked familiar; he should have seen him before. As she was still recalling, the child saw her face and his expression changed dramatically.

Huh?

No way!

She realized something, her face also changed, she waved a hand behind her and pointed at Bai Li Hu: "Someone, seize him!"

The Elder Princess leaving the palace, the Great King certainly valued the guard detail; today Zhao Bao also arranged a sizable contingent of guards to follow, all of them Owl Cavalry. A major disaster could easily turn into a major revolt; older people are especially cautious, so this is just the moment to put them to use.

Bai Li Hu's personal guards were surely top-notch experts as well; those hidden in the dark all revealed themselves, planning a desperate fight to suppress the opponent and escape the city directly—this is perfect right at the gate, isn't it.

In the blink of an eye, the two groups of experts became a tangled melee at the city gate.

The Great King rushed back, dusty and weary, and what he saw was exactly this big scene.

The Great King scratched his head on the spot, "Oh no..."