Before departing, Xu Yuan found Mu Changxi, expressing his desire to remain in Ping'an County.
The refugee camp in Ping'an County had already taken shape. He had become a wanted criminal precisely for these disaster victims. He also wished to stay by their side and do more for them.
However, after a moment of consideration, Mu Changxi rejected his request, asking him to stay with them.
Seeing Xu Yuan looking dejected, Song Chaoyu smiled and comforted him, "You have seen the situation in Haizhou now. Let alone you following us, even if you are by our side, we cannot guarantee your complete safety. If you insist on staying alone in Ping'an County, aren't you just asking to be a target, to be captured and killed?"
Although Xu Yuan knew this, he seemed unfazed and stubbornly replied, "Do you think I'm afraid of them?"
Song Chaoyu felt a little helpless, finding Xu Yuan reckless. She rubbed her forehead, "The Prince and I both know you are not afraid of them. It seems they are afraid of you, which is why they treat you this way! But have you ever considered this? If you die, how many people would be willing to do anything for the disaster victims as you are?"
She looked up at Mu Changxi, who was busy outside, and sighed, "There are very few people sincerely helping the Prince. You are someone who can be of great use. Why must you throw away your life just to oppose them? If you lose your life, countless disaster victims will also lose theirs. If you can understand this, you should know what to do."
It was the first time someone had spoken to Xu Yuan from this perspective, which made him pause. After a moment, he raised his head more earnestly and clasped his hands in greeting to Song Chaoyu, "It was my oversight. I did not consider this. Thank you, Princess, for your guidance. I will be cautious in my actions from now on and will never act so rashly again."
He was, indeed, teachable.
Song Chaoyu nodded, believing no one understood better than her that preserving one's life was of utmost importance. "It's good that you understand. Go and attend to your duties. Perhaps you were born to suffer, which is why Heaven has given you so many trials. But it is fortunate that you, capable as you are, are by the Prince's side, helping us a great deal."
With that, Song Chaoyu also turned and went about her own business.
Xu Yuan remained standing there, gazing for a long time at Song Chaoyu's retreating figure before sighing, "His Highness the Prince is truly blessed to have such a virtuous Princess as his wife!"
---
Upon hearing that Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu were leaving Ping'an County, most of the disaster victims were reluctant to see them go. They might not have experienced other calamities, but this one made them truly understand that Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu were people genuinely working for their benefit.
Therefore, Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi planned to leave quietly. However, they did not expect that even though they departed before dawn, they still "disturbed" the disaster victims of Ping'an County. They spontaneously formed a procession to escort them towards Haizhou City.
The Shui Jing family, despite losing Shui Yue, still felt grateful to Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi.
Xu Yuan naturally followed Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu, as they were heading to Haizhou City, where Xu Yuan would be of great use in the future.
As for Lord Gu—
He was, of course, traveling to Haizhou City with Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu. However, he was not traveling comfortably in a carriage to the capital, but was directly shoved into a cage.
Mu Changxi reported to the Emperor that the Prefect of Haizhou City had violated the law by attempting to embezzle disaster relief funds. Since the Emperor had granted Mu Changxi the authority, he naturally trusted him and gave him the power to deal with Lord Gu as he saw fit. Moreover, with the excellent management of the refugee camp in Ping'an County, the Emperor in the capital had heard of it and trusted Mu Changxi even more.
Song Chaoyu heard the imperial decree that the Emperor had praised Mu Changxi in court before all the civil and military officials. He stated that although Mu Changxi had been in the Southern Kingdom for many years, he was a capable and talented individual. He also lamented that Mu Changxi's legs were inconvenient, otherwise, he could have entrusted important state affairs to him.
As a result, all the officials in the court naturally dared not underestimate Mu Changxi. Mu Changxi's actions in Haizhou City also became much more convenient.
Lord Gu, confined in the cage and traveling towards Haizhou City, could only feel helpless despite his deep resentment. He watched as one imperial decree after another came down, all praising and supporting Mu Changxi.
Along the way, Mu Changxi showed no favor to Lord Gu. When other officials from Haizhou City or disaster victims inquired about Lord Gu's offense, Mu Changxi had people inform them truthfully.
Thus, before they even arrived at Haizhou City, everyone in Haizhou City knew that Lord Gu had dared to embezzle disaster relief funds and had angered Prince Chang!
Suddenly, even in Haizhou City, people began to feel a sense of unease. Lord Gu's wife, upon hearing this, was desperately seeking help throughout Haizhou City, hoping to save Lord Gu. Unfortunately, Lord Gu's mansion had already been sealed, and even with her frantic efforts, it was of no use.
Mu Changxi was not delayed on the journey, but he did not travel quickly. Allowing more people to see Lord Gu in the cage naturally led to much pointing and whispering. At first, Lord Gu tried to cover his face with his clothes, seemingly unwilling to be seen. It was not until they were nearing Haizhou City that he realized it made no difference whether he hid or not. Everyone already knew that he, the Prefect of Haizhou City, had done something he shouldn't have, and he had become "famous throughout the land." So, he simply sat in the cage and stopped "struggling."
They arrived outside Haizhou City in the early afternoon. Mu Changxi saw that a tea stall had opened ahead and said, "We've been traveling all morning and are quite thirsty. Let's go have some tea and rest for a bit."
Although they were about to reach Haizhou City, his suggestion of stopping for tea made Song Chaoyu realize that he was doing it deliberately! Deliberately making sure everyone knew that Lord Gu had become a prisoner before entering Haizhou City. Firstly, to deter the officials in Haizhou City who were led by Lord Gu. Secondly, to reassure the people of Haizhou City not to fear Lord Gu. This would make their actions within the city more convenient.