Chapter 131: Storm at the City Gate

At this moment, in Prince Li's residence.

Yun Shui hurried to the study's doorway, just as he was about to knock, Yun Bai stopped him.

Yun Bai is the Dark Guard leader; his rank in the residence is second only to Mo Junyan.

"Prince is currently discussing matters with the Duke of the Nation; without the Prince's summons, no one may enter."

"Urgent matters require authority; I have an important report," Yun Shui whispered, "it concerns Miss Chi."

Hearing the three words "Miss Chi," Yun Bai instinctively furrowed his brow.

Since the Prince's return, Yun Shui and Yun Tian have repeatedly mentioned Miss Chi, even showing reverent looks whenever they speak of her.

She is just a woman; if the Prince truly likes her, how could he not bring her back to the residence?

Moreover, the Prince is destined for great deeds; how could he delay discussions with the Duke of the Nation over a mere woman?

"No one, regardless of who they are, may enter," Yun Bai glanced at Yun Shui. "Yun Shui, I advise you to use your head, lest you later be sold and still count silver for others."

Sold by someone?

By whom?

"I'm not babbling. The Prince once ordered that any matter concerning Miss Chi is top priority!" With that, Yun Shui pushed past Yun Bai, ready to rush inside.

Yun Bai's gaze hardened; he swung his hand to pin Yun Shui aside. "You ignore my words, so clearly you have made no progress lately."

At that moment, the study door opened and the Duke of the Nation stepped out; seeing this, Yun Shui shook off Yun Bai's grip and hurried into the study.

Yun Bai thought for a moment, then followed; he wanted to see how important Miss Chi truly was to the Prince, and also to give Yun Shui a clear sense of reality.

"Prince, Miss Chi has already arrived in Jingcheng."

"What?" Mo Junyan looked up abruptly. "So quickly?"

"Yun Shan just sent word that she has now reached the city gate."

Mo Junyan glanced at Yun Shui, who hurriedly moved behind him, pushing a wheelchair outward.

Yun Bai saw this and rushed forward: "Prince, you still need to go to the military camp later."

"Another day."

"You also have…"

"All matters can be postponed to another day," Mo Junyan said, urging Yun Shui to speed up. Yun Shui, already a martial practitioner, quickened his steps, yet was still pressed by Mo Junyan.

Yun Bai felt a weight in his heart, his eyes flashing faintly.

At the city gate, the guard stopped the carriage: "No entry allowed lately; return to where you came from."

Due to the refugees, Jingcheng's gates were temporarily closed; the city could only be exited, not entered.

Yun Shan, hearing this, squeezed between the horse's belly with his legs, approached the guard and produced a token: "The Prince's distinguished guest."

Yun Shan wore a mask, so the guard did not recognize him, but he recognized the token. The guard stepped back a few paces, bowed toward Yun Shan and the carriage, and said, "My apologies; since they are the Prince's people, no inspection is needed. Please enter the city."

The gate slowly opened, and many refugees at the entrance showed yearning eyes; the bustling splendor of Jingcheng acted like a powerful catalyst, constantly tantalizing their nerves.

At that moment, several refugees shouted loudly: "Staying here is a death! If we can break through, we gain another chance at life!"

"Exactly! Another chance at life!"

Hundreds of eyes fixed on the slowly opening gate, their steps moving toward it.

Seated in the carriage, Chi Nan Yi keenly sensed footsteps behind her.

She lifted the carriage curtain and looked back.

Seeing the refugees' gazes, she couldn't help a slight frown.

These looks were hardly those of refugees.

"Wait," Chi Nan Yi said to the guard, "is there a side gate that can accommodate a single person?"

"There is."

"Miss, what's wrong?" Yun Shan asked puzzled, "Is there any problem?"

Chi Nan Yi glanced at the refugees and whispered, "Leave the carriage; we can enter through the side gate."

Yun Shan didn't know why she wanted this, but as soon as she finished speaking, Yun Bai had already begun unloading the luggage.

That Ji Bai! Yun Shan gritted his teeth, why does everything always jump ahead of him?

He dismounted, began packing his gear, and when he was nearly done, Yun Bai had already opened the carriage door, supporting Chi Nan Yi as she stepped out.

Yun Shan: "..."

Damn, he beat me to it again!

At that moment, Meng Qinghe, who was handing out porridge, also noticed the commotion at the city gate; many refugees stared fixedly toward it. Instinctively, Meng Qinghe looked toward the gate and saw a woman wearing a headwrap, dressed in blue robes, with a pure white fox coat draped over her.

When Meng Qinghe's gaze fell on the coat, she couldn't help feeling jealous.

She has such fine fur material, which I don't even have; what is this woman's status?

Others cannot enter the city; why can she?

She watched the woman stepping down from the carriage, a strange sense of familiarity enveloping her heart.

Why does this person's silhouette seem familiar from somewhere before?

Meng Qinghe looked at the guards beside her; both wore half masks, making it impossible to discern her identity.

"Miss," Cai Pin approached her, "Miss, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing," Meng Qinghe whispered, "Has Ru Xin returned?"

"No."

It's been so long; if Ru Xin had succeeded, she should have returned by now. Could she have met with an accident?

It shouldn't be! Ru Xin's martial skill is impressive; in her past life she could protect herself in the palace. This time she was only sent to deal with the worthless Chi Nan Yi, who has no strength, so how could she fail?

Perhaps Ru Xin is already on her way back, merely delayed by something.

Thinking of this, her lingering anxiety gradually eased.

Yes, it must be like that.

At that moment, a refugee's hand accidentally brushed her sleeve, and Meng Qinghe instinctively screamed, "Are you blind? How dare you touch Miss's clothes! Do you know this garment is worth a thousand gold, even if we sold you all we still couldn't afford the loss!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," a woman holding a little girl knelt on the ground, pleading desperately, "Miss, my daughter didn't mean it; she just wanted the porridge in front of you."

"Still dare to argue!"

Even though the porridge stall was far away, Meng Qinghe's scream still reached Chi Nan Yi's ears.

Chi Nan Yi turned to look at the kneeling mother and daughter; today was cold, and the refugees wore only tattered, old clothes, some even exposing skin, each turning purple with cold, while those refugees that Chi Nan Yi found problematic at least had cotton‑lined garments to shield their bodies, so they wouldn't freeze to death.

Right now, the woman kneeling before Meng Qinghe wore only a single shirt, and the child in her arms shivered all over from the cold.

When Chi Nan Yi saw the mother and daughter's faces clearly, she was stunned for a moment— they were actually them!