Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite-Chapter 443: Traveling in Wind and Snow

"Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. This humble one represents the entire Dong Family in expressing our endless gratitude."

"Rest assured, Madam, I will relay your words faithfully."

Afterward, Qin An added.

"Madam, the Emperor also said that there are many state affairs today, so you should entertain the Second Madam and dine first. There’s no need to wait for him."

Lin Wanyi nodded, probably understanding that if the Emperor were present, Second Madam Yun might not eat to her satisfaction.

Thus, he simply decided not to appear.

Anyway, after dinner, Second Madam Yun would leave the palace.

The Emperor could accompany them later.

"Mr. Qin has had a hard trip, Xiao Luzi."

"At your service."

"Take Mr. Qin to get some warm food, and then escort him out."

"At your command."

Qin An smiled at these words, feeling the reward truly came to his heart.

Since his younger brother followed the Second Prince to the Prince’s Residence, his opportunities to meet him had been few.

So, now having a little time to chat was a good thing.

Thus, he respectfully withdrew.

On the way to the small kitchen, the two began to talk.

"How is your service with the Second Prince?"

"Master, rest assured, it is good. The Second Prince takes care of me, see, even this cotton coat has been lined with finer down by Nanny Du, it’s very warm."

"That’s good, that’s good. Remember to be diligent in your service. The Imperial Consort and Second Prince are kind-hearted, they won’t mistreat you, understand?"

"Hehe, understood."

Although the master and apprentice didn’t say much, their words were filled with warmth.

Seeing his younger brother living so comfortably, Qin An’s heart was full of solace.

He felt more loyal to Lin Wanyi.

Not for anything else, just for giving his brother a peaceful place, he would be grateful for a lifetime.

Naturally, Qin An also knew that the Second Prince would eventually establish his residence outside the palace.

And then go to Yunzhou.

Therefore, there would not be many more opportunities for the brothers to meet.

But compared to living in perpetual anxiety in the palace, Qin An would rather let his brother follow the Second Prince, far from this place of trouble.

He had suffered enough in this life.

In the next life, he should be born into a simple family.

Live a peaceful life.

They walked and talked.

After the snowstorm stopped, it meant spring would come again.

The palace was tranquil and peaceful, but outside, the wind and snow rushed fiercely.

Shengjing City and Ganzhou are thousands of miles apart.

If traveling slowly, it could take three to four months.

And to enter Ganzhou, one must cross the territory of Sui Province.

Sui Province.

Thirty miles outside the city, there is a rapid river called Sansha Bay.

This is a secret route to Ganzhou.

Few people know about it.

Amid several ravines in Sansha Bay, there were densely packed people.

Leading them were Feng Qi and Jiang Huanqing.

Since they left Shengjing City last year, they’ve been wandering continuously in the heart of the Central Plains.

Outsiders knew they were ordered to relocate the people of the Northwest into the Central Plains.

But only they knew the true purpose of this journey.

It was to uncover all the secret routes from Shengjing City back to Ganzhou.

The purpose wasn’t anything else but to intercept and kill the Marquis of Northwest on his hasty retreat back to Ganzhou.

Otherwise, if he truly returned to Ganzhou,

it would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains.

Not only would the Northwest revolt, but the flames of war might also spread to the Central Plains.

The Emperor and the Fourth Prince could not allow such a situation to occur.

So they planned in advance.

Those three thousand soldiers were all well-trained.

More than half of them were from the Dark Guard Camp, skilled in reconnaissance and investigation.

The Marquis of Northwest used to laugh at the Little Emperor’s whimsical plans.

Thinking three thousand men could never dissolve the Liu Family’s longstanding control of the Northwest.

Never realizing, these three thousand men he looked down upon were prepared to capture him.

And now, he was less than a dozen miles from being captured.

The wind in the Northwest was much harsher than Shengjing City’s.

Thus, those who had been lurking here for several days had chapped red faces.

The wind brought a numbing pain.

One person moved like the wind, quickly advancing, and then stopped in a low area.

Softly speaking.

"General, the scout reports that the Marquis of Northwest is indeed heading this way."

Upon hearing this, Feng Qi couldn’t help but cast a look of appreciation at Jiang Huanqing.

"You’ve got skill, kid!"

Jiang Huanqing’s lips curled, but there was not a trace of arrogance.

After receiving the secret report from Shengjing City, they began to consolidate their forces and set traps.

Originally, three locations were selected.

But when the order was given, Jiang Huanqing, against all objections, concentrated 80% of the forces here.

The remaining 20% set smoke screens elsewhere.

With relentless pursuers behind and a deliberately arranged "dead end" ahead.

The exhausted Marquis of Northwest had no time to think too much.

He still believed this land belonged to him.

This domain was where he called the shots.

Thus, step by step, he fell into the trap carefully laid by Feng Qi and Jiang Huanqing.

"The Emperor has given a death order to capture the Marquis of Northwest and report back! So, no room for error! Understand?"

"Yes!"

Every eye of those in hiding was filled with determination.

Three thousand against fifty, if they still let the Marquis of Northwest escape.

Forget the Emperor wanting their heads, they themselves wouldn’t dare remain in the world!

"Alright, prepare."

"Yes!"

Thousands of eyes in the shadows were fixed on the bamboo grove not far away.

And the calm waters, the boundless plain.

Seemed like accomplices that would bury the Marquis of Northwest.

In the bamboo grove, the group led by the Marquis of Northwest sped swiftly on horseback.

Even though every face was full of fatigue.

No one dared to stop their horse.

Hard as it was, they finally shook off the pursuers from Pingzhou.

But in truth, they were already a spent force.

If they couldn’t reach Ganzhou in time, they feared they would indeed be slaughtered by the chasing troops.

The reason for not taking the main road was entirely because this route greatly reduced the distance back to Ganzhou.

Moreover, very few knew about it.

They could evade those soldiers chasing them.

A lifetime never so humiliated, the Marquis of Northwest, already travel-worn and weary, had been on the road for half a month.

Mostly on horseback, with brief stops only for one or two hours occasionally, which was already a luxury.

When they fled from Shengjing City, they only managed to take along the attendants from the residence.

Merely four hundred people, now, after all the haste.

Those who died of exhaustion, who fell behind, and who sacrificed themselves to block pursuers.

Had already diminished by more than half.

Now, there were fewer than fifty still trailing behind.

But each could take on ten men alone.

Entering the bamboo grove, everyone’s nerves were on edge.