Chapter 309: Chapter 284 It’s Going to Change Again..._2
Over there, dozens of horses were already prepared, and behind them, heavy luggage was loaded, clearly indicating that after she left here, they would also depart.
A person whispered, "Are all these people leaving?"
The small captain focused on the front, did not speak, and the person beside him quietly said, "No one has been around here for a while. It won’t be long before they, the people from a village, will be left here alone. I just don’t know where they’re headed next."
"Where to? Probably to Taiyuan to find their master."
"That Great General’s wife is heading south, and no one is following her?"
"Didn’t she previously send a team of nearly a hundred people south?"
These people were murmuring, and just as they were talking, people at the intersection had explained everything clearly. Shang Ruyi was helped into the carriage, and then it started off with a few guards she brought along, wobbling on the road. The rest watched the carriage disappear into the wind and snow before returning to the village.
Once everything calmed down, everyone in the woods immediately gathered together.
The small captain said, "You two, take the shortcut and rush back to the Eastern Capital to report to the higher-ups that Young Madam Yu Wen has returned to the city."
The named individuals curiously asked, "Aren’t we returning too? Why take the shortcut?"
The small captain, eyes sharp as a hawk, glanced at the end of the road in the snowstorm and then at the moving shadows in the village, said solemnly, "This road is inherently hard to travel, and now with such a big snowstorm, it’ll take them at least a full day and night. To prevent His Majesty from worrying, we must report back early."
As he said this, he subconsciously added, "Avoid any mishaps."
Those two, although reluctant, dared not speak further. After receiving the order, they led their horses away from the barren woods, setting off on another path.
Remaining individuals looked at the small captain and asked, "What do we do now—"
The small captain took a deep breath and said, "Let’s go, we’ll follow behind them back to the city to avoid any accidents along the way."
Everyone nodded, untied their horses, and set off on the road.
And just after they left, a troop from the village plunged into the raging wind and snow, heading north.
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Just as the small captain mentioned, this road was not easy, and with the storm, it truly did not stop for a day and a night. Riding in such weather practically felt like enduring punishment.
They couldn’t even voice complaints, finally, by the second day at 5:45 AM, a vast, darker shadow appeared ahead in the pitch-black night.
They had returned to the Eastern Capital City!
The small captain couldn’t help but take a long breath of relief.
At this point, there was no need to keep a distance from the Yuwen Mansion carriage. They sped up, watching the carriage enter the city gates where snowflakes danced erratically. They quickly followed, and upon entering, saw the two individuals they had sent back waiting at the gate.
The group reined in their horses and the small captain leaned down to look at them, "Have you reported everything?"
The two saluted him respectfully, "Yes."
"What did His Majesty say?"
"His Majesty instructed us to keep monitoring the Yuwen Mansion. Today, the main team departs at 9 AM, and we must ensure their people are ready to gather at the South City Gate."
"Depart at 9 AM?"
Upon hearing this, the small captain couldn’t help but take a deep breath. Departing at 9 AM, and Young Madam Yu Wen returned to the Eastern Capital City after 5 AM, leaving barely two hours in between. Luckily, nothing went wrong on the road, otherwise today’s mission would have been difficult to accomplish.
He nodded, "Understood, you may go now."
Those two saluted again, turned around, and left. Meanwhile, the small captain turned to his followers, "Everyone, brace yourselves a bit longer and keep an eye on the Yuwen Mansion."
By now, everyone was exhausted, but they dared not defy the emperor’s orders and could only continue to ride in the direction the carriage was headed. Probably because today was the day His Majesty the Emperor’s southern tour was departing, the entire Eastern Capital City had not slept through the night. Before dawn, lights were already lit everywhere, casting alternating brightness and darkness on the path ahead of them, creating an illusion of being in a maze that fueled suspicion.
After riding for another half-hour, the carriage finally arrived at the Yuwen Mansion.
People here had been waiting since early morning, with two large lanterns at the entrance emitting an orange-red glow, illuminating the swirling snowflakes, resembling countless sparks flickering in the air, reflecting a flickering uncertainty in the eyes of the people at the door.
As the carriage stopped at the entrance, they hurried up to greet it.
Those who had followed on horseback, standing at the end of the long street, finally heaved a sigh of relief at this moment.
Everything, at last, was settled.
Having worked so hard these past few days, they had completed their merit, and now needed to hurry back to join the Imperial Guard unit because in less than an hour, the Emperor’s southern tour procession would set off.
But just as they were about to turn back, the small captain suddenly said, "Wait a minute!"
The group hurriedly stopped.
Everyone looked at him, only to see that his eyes were fixed on the Yuwen Mansion entrance, as if anxiously searching for something, and someone couldn’t help but ask, "Elder brother, haven’t they already returned home? We should go."
"No, no..."
The small captain murmured as his eyes suddenly reddened, he immediately spurred his horse forward.
The others, unsure of what was happening, could only follow suit. In an instant, he had rushed to the gate of the Yuwen Mansion. Those guards accompanying the carriage saw someone suddenly charging forward and quickly moved to stop him, "What do you think you’re doing?"
The small captain paid them no mind, galloping directly to the carriage and swiftly lifted the curtain!
Inside, it was empty!