Early the next morning, Xiao Heng's team had already set out.
There was a large crowd when they came, but when they really had to leave, more than half of the people were gone.
Among them, some Jinyiwei sacrificed their lives to protect Xiao Heng, and some Jinwuwei went to the battlefield and never came back. The remaining survivors were temporarily unable to leave and had to wait until someone came to take over. Therefore, Xiao Heng's guards were reduced by nearly half.
For this reason, Liao Jingxu was very uneasy and insisted on allocating some manpower to Xiao Heng to protect him all the way to Beijing.
But Xiao Heng rejected them all. Yunnan really needed manpower the most right now. He had so many guards, and there were government offices along the way. The scene when he came was completely different from the scene when he returned. If there were anyone who was so blind as to dare to take action, they would never return. The guards he had were now equipped with the batch of muskets that had just been delivered by Dali Prefecture.
They know this, and so do their opponents.
Seeing that he was determined not to give in, Liao Jingxu had no choice but to give up. He fixed his eyes on the child beside Xiao Heng and said softly, "I know His Highness will not want our things. We originally prepared some earthen ceremonies, but finally gave up. But we have some things to give to Wenfeng."
Because the child could only say these two words, Xiao Heng suspected that his name was Wenfeng. Although he didn't know the specific words, he just called him that for the time being, and everyone called him Wenfeng.
Hearing that it was something for him, Xiao Heng didn't bother to be polite with Liao Jingxu, but just said to Wen Feng: "Thank you, sir."
Wen Feng listened to Xiao Heng's words very much. As soon as Xiao Heng said that, he bowed to Liao Jingxu and said very seriously: "Thank you, sir."
Liao Jingxu immediately supported him, looked at him with emotion, exhaled a long breath, and gently touched Wenfeng's head: "Good boy, you are a lucky person. Listen to your brother. I will come to see you when I return to Beijing in a while."
Wenfeng had no idea what Liao Jingxu meant by these words, and he happily pulled his hair and twirled around.
Mrs. Liao saw this from behind, and she sighed deeply and said to Su Yao, "He is such a good-looking child, but... what a pity."
Su Yao didn't feel it was a pity. If Wen Feng hadn't met Xiao Heng, it would have been a real pity. He might not have been able to live for many more days.
But now that he has met Xiao Heng, he may not know what this means, but Xiao Heng really loves him, and many people will treat him differently because of Xiao Heng. Of course, this is actually irrelevant to Wen Feng, and he will not understand the difference here.
However, Su Yao also hoped that he would never understand.
Perhaps it is a kind of happiness to be able to live a happy life like this, to eat when you are hungry and to sleep when you are tired.
She shook her head and said nothing more, just smiled and said goodbye to Mrs. Liao.
Mrs. Liao shook her hand and said only two words: "Take care!"
Su Rong and Tang Yuan were both going to escort Xiao Heng back. Tang Yuan rode horses with Xiao Heng, and he brought his men to follow Su Yao's carriage. Before leaving, he always felt that someone was looking at him. He couldn't help but look back, and saw Ji Yunting standing in the octagonal pavilion.
He couldn't help but be stunned.
Ji Yunting certainly knew that this young man was actually very good. Both his temperament and appearance were top-notch. It was just a pity that they were not destined to be together.
As he thought about this, he couldn't help but stare at the carriage for a moment.
But it was only for a moment, and he immediately lowered his eyes and continued walking forward as if nothing had happened.
There is no hope. It is useless to say it. If I really tell Su Yao, it will only make her upset. It is better to pretend that I don't know. Ji Yunting will have a new life in the future and will soon forget it.
Su Yao in the carriage didn't know all this, she just felt a little melancholy.
This melancholy was not for anything else, it was purely for Niu Niu. Mrs. Yuan decided to stay in Yunnan, so Yuan Kang and Niu Niu naturally had to stay as well. Su Yao had been with them for more than a year and had already developed a deep affection for them. She felt a little uncomfortable with the sudden separation.
However, as the caravan arrived at Dali Prefecture a few days later, her discomfort gradually eased. After entering Dali Prefecture and seeing Madam Mu Si, she first asked about the weaving mill.
Madam Mu Si was much more energetic than when the accident happened. Even her eyes were bright. She smiled and assured Su Yao: "Everyone is fine. Xiao Shitou and the others are fine too. Don't worry, County Lady."
Su Yao and the others came here originally to meet Master Liu, so they just stopped at the Mu Mansion for a while. Xiao Heng changed his clothes and came out to meet Su Yao and Su Rong. The three of them went to the Carpenters' Office in a small group.
The Craftsman's Office is now completely different from before. Several streets outside are now full of shops and people. The carriage went around several streets and arrived at the main entrance of the Craftsman's Office. Su Yao lowered the curtain and said with some surprise: "It seems to be much more lively than before."
Su Rong was very clear about this: "The weaving mill has been established. With those rare silk weaving skills, the jacquard tribute satin produced here is very colorful. Many merchants come here to buy it. Because of this, many people are brought here. Dali Prefecture is now much more prosperous than before."
As he was speaking, the White Leopard inside had already come out. He came out personally and saluted Xiao Heng with a smile.
Xiao Heng gently excused him, and after a few small talk, he got straight to the point: "Is Master Liu here?"
"He's here." Bai Bao also knew why they came, and lowered his voice and said, "Since he finished the last batch of muskets, he has rarely gone out. He usually stays in his own room, and rarely comes out except for eating. He just went to the warehouse at noon today."
He invited Xiao Heng and the others in, and took Xiao Heng and Su Yao and walked straight to the courtyard where the incident happened. When he reached the gate of the courtyard, he stopped again: "Then I won't delay your highness's business."
Some words are indeed not suitable for others to hear. Xiao Heng didn't say anything, but just nodded.
Su Yao had been silent the whole time, and was about to follow Su Rong into the yard, but suddenly he heard a strange noise and couldn't help but frowned.
Su Rong and Xiao Heng also heard it at the same time. They looked at each other, and without caring about anything else, they immediately pushed open the gate and rushed into the yard.
Just at this moment, Su Yao looked up and saw a figure suddenly leaping from a tree beside the courtyard wall to the wall, and then the figure disappeared.
Su Rong shouted someone almost at the same time and chased after that person.