"In a tree?"
A group of people looked up at the same time. Shen Qingwan felt a chill on the back of her neck. She held Fu Yuheng's hand tightly and her heartbeat quickened.
"Don't be afraid, they can't see us. Just hold your breath, don't look at their faces, observe with your peripheral vision, and you'll be fine."
Qingwan nodded, and now she didn't even dare to look at him. She squinted her eyelashes and pretended to be a sloth.
Can't see us Can't see us...
She muttered to herself, but the leading sergeant really didn't take it seriously.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Don't you know that our brothers have been exhausted all day? Why do we have to climb a tree to find them? In my opinion, these people can't stand the hardship of living in the deep mountains and forests. Who knows, they are probably staying in an inn to avoid disaster. Go and tell the host to ask their people to step up the search of the inn during the day tomorrow. It will be a contribution on our part."
"Yes, Boss."
The subordinate gave an extremely vulgar answer, asking how a group of people came here and how they could go back.
Fu Yuheng waited until they left before he carried Qingwan down the tree. After all, General Shen's health had not yet recovered, and he was quite exhausted from all the goings and comings.
"Dad, are you okay?"
Shen Qingwan said worriedly.
"I'm fine. Go and serve the emperor. He is a precious man and cannot afford to make any mistakes. I am a worthless old man and I have lived long enough. I am fine."
Qingwan felt sad when she heard this, and Fu Yuheng also felt uncomfortable.
These people, whether standing or sitting, looked extremely embarrassed, all wanted to follow him to achieve great things.
Fu Yuheng suddenly had an idea. He had to lead them from darkness to light.
"Don't be depressed, be more energetic. I'm going to investigate nearby. Ye Feng, you stay here to protect everyone."
"Master, this is absolutely impossible. If anyone has to go, I will go. How can I trouble you to go?"
"Why not? I am no longer the Fu Yuheng of the past. I have never done many things myself, so how can I know the hardships of a great cause? No need to say more. I will be back soon. You guys can rest here first. If anything goes wrong, we can meet at the ruined temple ahead. It is quite hidden there, so don't panic."
After looking at Shen Qingwan, he strode away.
Qingwan knew that she couldn't persuade him, so she decided not to waste her breath.
He helped Shen Tianao into the cave to rest.
This place has just been checked, so nothing should happen.
"Dad, I'll go get you some water to make some soup. You sit down and rest for a while. It's too humid today, and you have an old illness. If you don't recover well, you'll get sick again. Be careful."
Shen Tianao wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't open his mouth.
Ye Feng was stopped from pleading by Qing Wan.
"You are the only one who is capable of protecting my father. General Chang has to stand guard and scout for the enemy. You have a heavy responsibility. Don't let me down. I will be back soon. Lianyun will follow. We have human skin masks, so we will be fine."
She just wanted to be alone, nothing else.
"Well, Madam, please go and come back soon. I am worried."
"good."
After the two sides handed over the tasks, Qingwan took the basket, the hatchet, and the water bag, and led Lianyun towards the water source.
"Miss, are you worried about His Majesty?"
Lianyun has served Qingwan for many years. If she can't see through her thoughts, she will have served as a maid in vain.
Qing Wan did not hide it from her: "Yes, a little, but I am more worried about my future life."
It is hard to say when the Emperor of Okong will be able to get here. The old people have been tortured and the new people cannot bear the heavy responsibility. It is not as easy as it should be in theory to turn things around. Once the situation turns against him, it will be his own son. Even if Qingwan does not fully understand what Fu Yuheng is thinking, she knows it almost exactly.
The sunset at dusk always makes people melancholy.
Facing the clear river, Qingwan couldn't help laughing when she saw her haggard face during the day.
"I'm really old. It's easy to get old in the palace, and it's easy to get old on the run. I just don't know what it will be like when I become an old woman."
"Miss, how can you say that about yourself? You are only in your early twenties and look quite decent. Unlike Lianyun, who is three or five years older than you, she looks like your elder."
"Go away, little girl, you always take advantage of me. Who is your junior? Hurry up and fill up the water. After we chop the wood, we have to go back to make a fire and cook."
Lianyun smiled and quickly got the things done.
When we returned to the cave, Fu Yuheng had also returned, and he didn't look anything wrong.
"Your Majesty, you have worked hard all day. Take a rest first. There is a new haystack over there. Go and take a nap. I will call you when the meal is ready."
Fu Yuheng agreed gently and sat on it with his knees bent. He was really tired.
At this time, on the outskirts of the woods, Huo Langqi and his men approached silently.
"Your Majesty, this is the last forest near the city that may be hiding people. If we don't find anything here, we will have to search further afield."
"It doesn't matter. I think there will be a different outcome here. Duohe, come with me. Let's go by our feelings."
The subordinates were silent for a while, but they had to carry out the king's orders, so without giving it too much thought, they began their day's journey.
Three days passed like this, and just as the two parties were about to meet, there was new movement in the palace.
In the past few days, the Queen has been commanding Ouduo's subordinates like dogs without dignity, and her control over the prince has become more severe.
It is natural that children at such a young age will be dissatisfied when they are forced to grow up to be men with the same conventional thinking as adults.
"Mother, why don't you let me review the memorials? Those were presented to me by the corporal. If you don't let me practice, how can I really do it?"
The queen did not show it on her face, but in her heart she was overly critical of the prince.
She thought of the difficult years she had gone through in raising him, and how much suffering she had endured in order to make him emperor. However, in the end, he was still an ignorant half-grown child, and was placed above one man and below ten thousand others.
The queen concealed the emotions in her eyes, bent down and spoke to the prince as kindly as possible.
"My son, this is all for your own good. You are too young and easily deceived by outsiders. I will help you deal with all the affairs of the country. The time for you to take over will come soon. Are you still afraid that I will harm you?"
Fu Mochen thought about it seriously and accused the Queen of her crimes in the past few days.
"Since becoming the Queen Mother, you have lost your love for me. You always lecture me more than you are affectionate, and command me more than you explain. I don't understand why it has become like this. You would never treat me like this in the past."
The queen was impatient, but she had to please Fu Mochen.
She still needs this little thing to cover herself up.
"You think too much. Mother is just concerned about you. She has been too busy with government affairs these days, so it is inevitable that she has no free time.