Chapter 603 Returning to Beijing
Huaiyin County
On the official road, the imperial envoy's team stopped at a roadside tea stall to rest.
What was different from the previous time was that this time, Prince Beichen accompanied them back to the capital, and several officials from Jiangzhou were also escorting behind them.
"Are you tired?"
Beside the carriage, Di Ran looked at Ji Yunxie beside him, his eyes and brows gentle, warm and concerned.
"Fortunately."
Ji Yunxie finished drinking the water and handed the kettle to her. He glanced around, not knowing where he was.
"Ayue, how long will it take to get to the capital?"
Di Ran handed the kettle to Mo Yan and responded, "It's still early. We haven't left Huaiyin County yet. Do you see the mountain ahead?"
"Chongzhou is just over that mountain."
Looking in the direction that Emperor Ran pointed, there was a high mountain in the distance. The peaks stood tall and the mountains were green. It looked quite spectacular from a distance, but also hiddenly dangerous.
"What mountain is that, Yue? Have you ever been here?"
Ji Yunxie asked curiously.
Emperor Ran said: "That mountain is called Chongshan, named after the fact that it is adjacent to Chongzhou. To the north is Chongzhou, and to the east is Qingzhou."
"What about westward?"
"To the west is Shuzhou, but it's still a long way to go. To the south is Huaiyin County."
Huaiyin County is located in the south of Chongshan and is under the jurisdiction of Jiangzhou. Although it is a small county, it is prosperous and bustling because it is connected to several other states.
"So that's it."
After resting in the tea stall, the group soon set off again.
Since I had walked through the mountains once before without any problems, I wasn’t worried about getting lost.
Only because they were escorting criminals this time and Prince Rui, Prince Beichen and others were of high status, no one dared to take it lightly.
But even so, accidents are still inevitable.
When passing the entrance of the gorge, Di Ran ordered the team to stop.
"My lord, what's wrong?"
Bai Qi, who was riding on a horse next to the carriage, asked.
Di Ran narrowed his dark eyes: "Don't you think it's too quiet?"
Ji Huashang, who was in another carriage, also noticed something was wrong and ordered the team to be on alert.
On the Gorge
Dozens of people were lying on the ground, surrounded by huge rocks.
After a long time without anyone reporting, the man in the lead realized something was wrong.
"Go and see what's going on." Soon, his men came hurriedly to report.
"Oh no, the target didn't fall into the trap, so he changed his route."
"Damn it!"
The leading man's face suddenly darkened: "Did someone leak the news?!"
The man's gaze fell on several of his trusted subordinates. His sinister and fierce eyes were filled with murderous intent, which frightened his subordinates.
"Go, tell the second brother to get ready."
"Yes!"
The plan that had been prepared for so long was disrupted, and the man's face looked so gloomy and ugly. Fortunately, he had prepared another plan. If the first step failed, there was still the second step.
Deep in the dense forest, leaves are piled under the grass, and there is no other sound in the forest except the birds singing.
The team was stopped shortly after entering the dense forest.
"Your Majesty?"
Di Ran narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the three copper coins on the small table, his eyelashes drooped slightly, and a cold voice rang out.
"Take the path to the right."
Mo Yan conveyed Di Ran's words to King Rui.
Ji Huashang frowned slightly after hearing this, her face thoughtful, and she quickly said, "According to King Beichen's wishes, change the route."
Queen Beichen is not a person who acts without purpose. She must have her reasons for doing this, and she also vaguely sensed that something was wrong.
She knew the journey back to Beijing would not be peaceful, but she didn't expect it to arrive so soon.
Thinking of the sisters in the capital who wished her dead, Ji Huashang's eyes turned cold.
The 'bandit' who waited for a long time but still didn't fall into the trap: "..."
Why haven't you come here yet?
Not fooled?
That's impossible. They were lying in ambush so secretly.
The assassins couldn't figure out where to be exposed and saw that their plan had failed, so they had to reveal their whereabouts.
Just as the imperial envoy's team was about to retreat, a group of "bandits" jumped out from the bushes and started killing with knives.
"There are assassins!"
"Protect the prince!!"
For a moment, the team fell into chaos. There were many "bandits", all of whom were well-trained and not like ordinary bandits at all.
(End of this chapter)
