The road to Xi'an County was extremely difficult and dangerous. Ma Youyi was surprised to find that officials everywhere had posted their portraits, even at small inns! This was so tragic... He really couldn't figure out why the Wei family valued this bride so much.
After three consecutive days of driving, even the horses would collapse to the ground from exhaustion. However, they did not dare to enter the city because they were wanted by the surrounding officials. He had no choice but to stay in an abandoned temple in the suburbs.
Although it is an abandoned temple, it can still be ventilated and protected from rain. However, it is blocked from the sun for several days, and the room has a cold and damp smell. Spider silk is hung all over the Buddha statues and wall beams, which further highlights the sense of decadence.
Wang Jingui was very foresight and had prepared a stove and coal before leaving, which came in handy now! Several adults worked together to unload the supplies from the carriage, scratched the light with flint, and lit the iron furnace. The whole temple became warm instantly. Zhang Junsheng held Xiaoxin in his arms and sat by the stove to warm his hands.
"Did you see that? My hands are bigger than yours!" Zhang Junsheng was very proud.
Xiaoxin leaned against his chest and looked at Zhang Junsheng's chin strangely. Her petite body stuck to his body like a rice cake. Xiaoxin felt particularly warm and at ease at this moment.
Ma Youyi brought the horse in: "After all, it is still panting, so it can be warmer if it is brought in. We should look for hay or something." Sister Lan rummaged through the entire temple and finally found some hay. The horses were so hungry that they gnawed desperately at the sight of fodder.
The rustling night breeze pushed open the wooden door. Everyone was shivering from the cold, and their upper and lower teeth couldn't help but chatter. Sister Lan moved a huge stone to block the door, and finally things got better. Xiaoxin couldn't feel the cold, her face even turned red from the heat, and she fell asleep very peacefully.
Zhang Junsheng looked at Xiaoxin's sweet sleeping face and couldn't help but reach out to touch her head. Her head felt soft and had a vague milky fragrance. Ha...it's just cute! Zhang Junsheng thought to himself. However, he couldn't resist it in the end. How great it would be if it was his sister!
Wang Jingui brought some millet and a little water, used these to make a bowl of porridge, and handed it to Jiang Qingyue.
Jiang Qingyue waved her hand and refused: "I don't need it, you should drink it."
"What are you talking about, miss? It's so cold now. It's better to drink some warm porridge to replenish your body."
Jiang Qingyue had no choice but to take the porridge and swallow it slowly. Just this one mouthful made her whole body feel warm and relaxed. Then he handed it to everyone. Everyone gathered around the stove and drank warm porridge. The cold outside was like a different world.
"Hiss—" Zhang Junsheng burned his tongue and quickly stretched it out to exhale. This funny appearance made everyone laugh, and Jiang Qingyue also joked: "Silly guy, your tongue will be burned by now!" Zhang Junsheng was angry and annoyed, so he simply pouted his mouth: "I won't drink anymore!" The horse shook his head. The tail, shaking its body, moved around them.
Suddenly, a waxy voice came out, with a sleepy tone: "Mother... mother..."
Zhang Junsheng realized that it was Xiaoxin who was talking in her sleep. He was extremely curious and put his ear to his ear, wanting to know what this sister was talking about.
"Uncle Nihao's beard is so long...hehe..."
After hearing this, several adults raised their heads in unison. They questioned the girl's identity: "Ni Hao? Isn't that the name of the imperial general? What is the identity of this child?"
"Uh..." Zhang Junsheng didn't want to say, but awkwardly pointed his lower lip with his finger: "Identity? Probably... maybe... or... maybe..."
Ma Youyi thought about it, and it was definitely not just because of Jiang Qingyue that they were wanted. Otherwise, how could it cause such a sensation that King Zheng personally sent someone to arrest them. His intuition told him that this girl was not simple.
"Junsheng, you have to tell the truth, this girl...can't be a princess, right?"
Zhang Junsheng looked at their serious faces and realized something was wrong, so he had to confess truthfully: "Yes... she is Prince Zheng's daughter..."
"I knew it!" Ma Youyi stood up angrily: "Good boy, no wonder all the governments in the world are looking for us. It turns out that you kidnapped the princess..."
"I don't have Zed... I can only take him away because he has my little baby!"
"Huh?" Everyone's jaws dropped in shock. Look at me, look at you. For a moment, they didn't know how to answer.
Jiang Qingyue asked: "How can you say such a thing?"
"Isn't that what Sister Jiang said? If you kiss, you will have a baby..."
Oh my god...is this kid just born a little stupid? Ma Youyi pressed his temples, trying his best not to faint from anger. Jiang Qingyue also couldn't laugh or cry: "I am joking with you and I take it seriously. You kid is really serious!"
Ma Youyi wanted to get angry, but looking at Zhang Junsheng's innocent look, he held it back: "In this case, we will send the princess into the city tomorrow and then leave quietly. This should avoid some sight... "
"No!" Zhang Junsheng hugged Xiaoxin tightly in his arms: "I want my sister!"
"She's not your biological sister!"
Xiaoxin was also frightened awake by them, her watery eyes flashed in front of the firelight, and she hugged Zhang Junsheng's warm body tighter.
However, Zhang Junsheng couldn't compete with them. While Jiang Qingyue told him the truth, she also told them that the next step would be even more difficult.
"Even so, do you still want your sister to suffer with you?"
Zhang Junsheng said nothing. He knew that he might not be able to protect his sister, and besides, he still had to find his parents. So, he compromised. But he didn't explain to Xiaoxin that he wanted to spend one last night with his sister. Xiaoxin quickly fell asleep again, and Zhang Junsheng sat like this, patting her back gently and watching the wisps of flames dancing in the iron furnace.
At least, without the baby, Zhang Junsheng finally felt at ease.
The next morning, when Sister Lan removed the stone and pushed open the temple door, everyone was frightened - rows of neat military guards were in front of their door. When they saw Sister Lan coming out, they held fierce swords. On her neck, until she couldn't resist.
"No one is allowed to move!" This group of people acted vigorously, and they were captured without even reacting. Zhang Xiaoxin was hugged by a man in official uniform while she was still sleeping. Zhang Junsheng tried his best to resist, but the officers and soldiers still held him down and tied his hands and feet with hemp ropes.
The official snorted and smiled: "You guys are so brave that you dared to steal His Highness Prince Zheng's daughter. But it's your fate. When you reach our realm of Sui'an, even if you have wings, it will be difficult to fly." Come on, take them with you!"
The officers and soldiers kicked down the stove and tied everyone except Xiaoxin to their horses to follow. Xiaoxin was sleeping deeply and didn't notice it at all. The official thoughtfully took off his official uniform and put it on the princess.
"Master Duan, what should I do with that little boy?"
The official glanced sideways at Zhang Junsheng: "Regardless of whether he was abducted or not, take him back to prison first and hand him over to His Highness Prince Zheng for disposal!"
The official's name is Duan Chongwen, who is the chief magistrate of Pi'an County. Since receiving the news of the princess's disappearance, he has actively cooperated with the Longyun Department to investigate people inside and outside the country. They have been squatting in the suburbs for several days. The hardships these days have not been in vain, I finally found the princess in my jurisdiction, and being promoted to a noble title is no longer a dream! Now he only hopes to find the young master, so that he can immediately become a popular person around King Zheng.
"Fortunately, the portrait is very consistent, otherwise it would be a big sin to get it wrong!" Duan Chongwen put the princess into the sedan and drove the carriage back to the city himself. At this time, he was very proud, and the joy could not be suppressed on his face.
In this way, Zhang Junsheng and others were captured in a dramatic manner, and were thrown into prison to listen and regret. The guards had a very bad attitude. When they saw that they could not get any money, they would often beat, kick, and verbally abuse him.
On this day, Zhang Junsheng gradually developed a high fever because he could not adapt to the environment in the prison. Ma Youyi and the others were extremely anxious: "Please, sir, if you don't have any medicine, please give me a quilt, or even a pot of hot water..."
"I'll feed you three meals a day until you're unconscious!" The jailer hit you with a big stick. Ma Youyi held his head and ran around hiding. Wang Jingui dared not speak out in anger.
At this time, the prison door was gently pushed open. The jailer who was venting his anger saw the man and hurriedly approached him with a smile on his face: "Young Master, why do you have time to come here today?"
"Of course I want to see the people who kidnapped the princess," the young man said in one breath.
"Ouch! What are you looking at these rotten people for?"
"There's nothing I can do. Dad wants me to keep an eye on them, but I can't kill them..." The young man bypassed him and walked up to Zhang Junsheng and the others, looking at the people in prison very curiously.
As if he had grasped a life-saving straw, Ma Youyi frantically pressed close to the iron railing: "Please do me a favor, young master, please save this child... His high fever is very serious, and he will die if he continues like this!"
"Really? Let me go in and take a look..." The young man signaled the jailer to come over, took the key, and unlocked the big lock. The jailer was so frightened that he quickly stopped him: "Master, these guys are ruthless and wolf-like, you can't trust them gullibly!"
The young man pushed his hand away: "You can't pretend to be sick!" As he said that, he stretched out his legs and stepped in. He touched Zhang Junsheng's forehead and compared it with his own. It turned out that he had a serious fever!
"Bring the wine quickly!" the young man shouted to the jailer.
The jailer motioned to the brothers on the side to get it, but he held the cell door tightly, fearing that they would take this opportunity to escape.
After getting the wine, the young man unbuttoned Zhang Junsheng's clothes, revealing his pale and reddish chest. He poured the wine on him very skillfully and rubbed it back and forth with his hands. Zhang Junsheng's body is extremely sensitive, and even in a high fever state, his body is weakly resisting.
"This should relieve some of the fire. I'll go to the pharmacy to grab some medicine in a moment!" The young man wiped the sweat from his forehead and sat on the ground.
Ma Youyi was very grateful: "Thank you very much, Master. I have nothing to repay. Please tell me the name of the Master, so that I can repay you someday."
The young man answered very readily: "My name is Duan Zhili! "Zuo Zhuan" says: 'You can move with each passing moment and not burden future generations, which can be said to be a wise man.' This is the name given by my father!"
"What a good name!" Ma Youyi praised.
Duan Zhili looked at Zhang Junsheng who was suffering from a high fever, put the wine aside, and told him to continue applying it if he didn't want to quit, while he went to the pharmacy on the street to get medicine.
Duan Zhili has been taking care of them very carefully these days, and even brought quilts, food, etc. when no one was paying attention. The jailer was very dissatisfied: "My lord said, you can't give these people a good look, otherwise King Zheng will blame you!"
"I can't help it. I just can't bear to see children suffer, even though I'm only fifteen years old..." Duan Zhili chuckled. He was just curious about this young man.
Soon, Yu Jitao personally led the carriages and horses to greet the princess, and Duan Chongwen prepared a banquet to cordially entertain the guests from afar.
"Master Military Advisor is truly a talented person with extraordinary bearing!"
"Sir, you're overly praised! You're overly praised!"
The two of them greeted each other politely and drank together. Duan Chongwen was very diligent and dedicated. Knowing that the military advisor liked calligraphy and painting, Duan Chongwen did not hesitate to spend his family property to purchase it in advance, and waited until this day to pay his respects.
"Isn't this the original work of Mr. Zhuge?" Yu Jitao was very happy and couldn't put it down when he looked at the calligraphy.
"This is also my humble opinion. You know how precious Mr. Zhuge's original works are, even if they are fakes, they would never dare to honor the military advisor!" Duan Chongwen was so happy when he saw that he liked it.
Yu Jitao nodded: "Sir, I have a kind intention, and I have to obey it. I have no choice but to be respectful and obey my orders!"
Ni Hao, who was accompanying him, broke in: "Commander, have you forgotten the business? Although the princess has been found, where is the young master? Call the boy out quickly and let me take a look! I recognize his appearance!"
Yu Jitao nodded and expressed that he wanted to see the boy in prison: "General Ni is eager to get rid of his crimes. I hope you don't blame me!"
"What the military advisor said, even if the general is not in a hurry, I should have thought of this. My mistake!" Duan Chongwen didn't care at all, that boy could not be a young master at all.
Duan Zhili went to the prison in person and brought over Zhang Junsheng, whose condition had improved. The three of them looked over and were surprised. Ni Haohuan's eyes flashed, and he crazily stepped forward to examine the boy's face.
"Child? Your name is Zhang Junsheng, right?" Ni Hao's deep voice came out.
"Um...Uncle, I think I've seen you before?"
"You were born in the grassland! We met after returning to China!"
"Huh? How did uncle know that I was born in the grassland?"
"Do you know who your parents are?"
Seeing that Zhang Junsheng was a little unable to respond, Yu Jitao stepped forward and comforted him and said, "Child, you have to think slowly, what are your parents' names?"
"My mother's name...is Yao Qiu...why are you asking these questions?"
The two of them were shocked and turned pale. They quickly stood up and saluted respectfully: "Young Master is in such a state of desolation that we deserve to die!"
Zhang Junsheng was frightened. He didn't know what the two were doing, but he still guessed: "Do you know my parents?"
Ni Hao smiled happily and held the little Zhang Junsheng in his arms: "Your father is Mengzi, Zhang Qingmeng!"
"Ah...?" For a moment, he froze up and opened his mouth but couldn't say anything. Zhang Qingmeng? Isn't that the name of King Zheng? Is it his father? ? Incredible...so incredible...
When Duan Chongwen saw that something was wrong, he was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground: "It's a death sentence for a lower official! It's a capital crime for a lower official! I beg you to spare your life!" Only then did Ni Hao and the others realize that Duan Chongwen simply didn't regard him as a human being during these days. If Duan Zhili hadn't been taking care of him, this little life would have passed away long ago.
"Bullshit!" Ni Hao was so angry that he raised his fist and was about to hit him. Yu Jitao stopped him in a hurry: "No matter what, his son saved his life. For this reason, their father and son will be saved." Great contribution!”
Zhang Junsheng still didn't understand the current situation. He asked repeatedly: "You said...my father is Prince Zheng?"
"That's right! It's Zhang Qingmeng, who is the most powerful man in the world today!" Yu Jitao burst into tears. He was so excited! He quickly ordered someone to send a letter back to the capital, and ordered Duan Chongwen to host another banquet.
Only then did Zhang Junsheng understand his identity, and memories from the past gradually emerged in his mind. In his impression, his father was a stern yet gentle man, and his impressions of his father were pieced together bit by bit.
"Uncle Ma saved me!" Zhang Junsheng explained everything he had experienced during this period. Yu Jitao quickly asked people to release Ma Youyi and others from prison to enjoy the feast together.
Ma Youyi looked at Zhang Junsheng on the seat, and was a little confused about the situation. Zhang Junsheng said with a smile: "Uncle Ma! Thank you, I found my parents!"
"Really?"
"They said that my father is Prince Zheng!"
Ma Youyi felt as if his whole body had been struck by lightning, and he collapsed to the ground in fear. He never imagined that the child he saved was actually Prince Zheng's son! I thought it was just an ordinary street kid, oh my god...
Jiang Qingyue was also shocked, and she became a little scared when she thought about how rude she had been to the young master. She was so respectful that she didn't even dare to breathe out. Sister Lan remained speechless and stood aside coldly.
"Thank you for the rescue, brave man. Please come back to the capital with us and accept the reward from the king!" Yu Jitao shook off the osmanthus folding fan and said with a smile. The more Ni Hao looked at this child, the more he liked him: "You know? When we met, you were only half as tall as my legs! Now you have grown so strong, time flies so fast!"
"Uncle, what kind of person is my father? I can't remember clearly. What should I say so as not to make him angry?"
"Although Mengzi looks like she is rejecting others, she is actually quite protective of her children! You are his son, so you can say whatever you want!" Nihao rubbed his head and laughed.
In this way, Yu Jitao and Ni Hao not only recaptured the princess, but also luckily found the young master. They took Ma Youyi and his party and Duan Chongwen and his son back to Beijing to resume their lives. First, we returned to Nanjin County and met with the princess.
Yao Qiu sat in the room, his eyes red from crying. He was overjoyed when he learned the news that the princess was back. As soon as Xiaoxin saw her mother, she threw herself into his arms.
But Zhang Junsheng was lying at the door, a little embarrassed to go in.
Yao Qiu looked at him with a happy expression on his face: "Jiang'er? Come in quickly!"
"Jiang'er..." Zhang Junsheng remembered his nickname. Apart from his master, only his parents knew it. He also wanted to cry and shout "Mom", but he was still a little shy, so he just leaned over with a blushing face. But Yao Qiu held him in her arms very gently.
Xiaoxin was very happy: "Good brother, good brother, you are really my biological brother!"
Yao Qiu kneaded Zhang Jun's face as tender and smooth as egg white, feeling a burst of motherly love in her heart. She repeatedly asked about her welfare and caressed her back and forth. Zhang Junsheng's attitude is very coy. He is not used to acting coquettishly in his mother's arms.
"You haven't met your father yet, have you? Let's get up and go home tomorrow!"
Zhang Junsheng nodded and lay meekly in her arms, letting his mother play with his hair. He was both excited and nervous about meeting his father, and his little heart was still beating endlessly.
