Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi did not do these things to have anyone repay their kindness.
There was no time to delay. After confirming the remaining situation, even though it was late, they did not linger in Qinzhou City. Instead, they left the city gates directly and rushed towards the capital!
The very next day after they left Qinzhou City, news came from the post station.
The gates of Qinzhou City were closed again, and an army from the south had taken control of Qinzhou City!
The soldiers wore uniforms that seemed to belong to the Xiao Family Army, stationed on the southern border with the barbarians.
Because the Xiao Family Army was the "Divine Army of the Southern Border" personally appointed by the Emperor, and they had only taken control of Qinzhou City without any other actions within the city, no one in Qinzhou City resisted.
However, Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi knew that the situation was likely not good.
—
As expected, before they even reached the next prefecture city, they received new information from the palace!
This news was not so "gentle."
The message stated that all four city gates of the capital had been suddenly closed!
The Capital Imperial Guards, who were guarding the capital, had fully taken over the city, and the situation within the capital was currently unknown.
With all these events combined, and given the current circumstances, Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi knew that what they had most feared had likely happened!
"What should we do?"
They had not yet reached the capital, but rumors were already spreading all around.
Mu Changxi stared ahead and stopped his steps: "We have to detour to Linzhou City."
Song Chaoyu knew that Linzhou City was the Crown Prince's territory.
If the capital was now controlled by Mu Hansu's people, then only the Crown Prince's people could save the capital.
As for the Emperor...
Song Chaoyu realized she didn't care about the Emperor's safety at all.
What she worried about were their little monkey and little peach, their grandmother, her aunt, and the noble consort...
As if sensing Song Chaoyu's worry, Mu Changxi reached out and held her hand: "Don't worry, the little ones will be fine. There are still many people in the capital who will protect them."
Song Chaoyu nodded, then looked in the direction of Linzhou City: "Then we can't delay any longer."
She wished she could see the two little ones at home the very next moment, and see that everyone she worried about was safe.
But she understood that everything had to be done slowly.
So they headed towards Linzhou. Perhaps because it was the Crown Prince's territory, there was no sense of tension like in the Qinzhou area.
Apart from the common people discussing the situation in the capital, there seemed to be no difference from usual.
Until they arrived at the city gates of Linzhou, the inspection at the gates seemed to be more stringent than before.
And Mu Changxi finally looked at Song Chaoyu and made that decision: "Ayu, I need to sit in the wheelchair."
Yes.
Mu Hansu already knew they were not in the capital. At this time, he would surely be looking for them everywhere.
If they were to fight back and know what was happening in the capital, Mu Changxi had to resume his identity as "Prince Chang" and not meet people as Han Xi anymore.
At least for now, the fact that Mu Changxi's legs were healed must not be known to Mu Hansu's men.
However...
They were currently accompanied by Cong Fei, Tan Yue, and Tan Xing, so they would definitely not be able to keep it a secret from them.
Regarding this, Mu Changxi seemed to take it in stride: "We no longer have time to think about so much. Since Mu Hansu has made his move, we don't have much time left. Ayu, let's give it our all."
Song Chaoyu knew that no matter what Mu Changxi did, she would be by his side.
Moreover, with so many people they cared about in the capital, she would never back down.
They stopped at a small post station outside Linzhou City. Originally, they had split into two groups with Xiao Ruizhi, but Mu Changxi still sent a pigeon, asking Xiao Ruizhi to bring his wheelchair to the outskirts of Linzhou City as soon as possible.
Tan Yue and Tan Xing did not know why they were stopping here until Mu Changxi sat back in the wheelchair—
Tan Xing still hadn't reacted, but Tan Yue immediately understood and stared at Mu Changxi in disbelief: "You... you actually are..."
"There's no need to say it."
Mu Changxi waved his hand and then smiled at Tan Yue: "Only this identity can save us and accomplish what we want to accomplish now."
Tan Yue immediately understood and, with Tan Xing, knelt before Mu Changxi: "Please rest assured, we will definitely not tell anyone your secret!"
In fact, Song Chaoyu still felt a little uneasy.
Tan Xing was fine, but she was worried about Tan Yue. After all... Tan Yue was someone from Zhu Xuri, Mu Hansu's subordinate.
But at this moment, perhaps trusting her intuition and Mu Changxi's intuition was the most important thing.
—
After Mu Changxi sat in the wooden wheelchair, they headed towards Linzhou City.
Linzhou City was not a large prefecture city. The guards at the gate saw Mu Changxi's wooden wheelchair and stopped them: "Who are you?"
Clearly, the guards of Linzhou City were very sharp.
Mu Changxi did not say much, only: "Take me to see your City Governor."
The City Governor of Linzhou City, "Gao Xinrui," was promoted by the Crown Prince himself. It could be said that without the Crown Prince, Gao Xinrui would have nothing.
Moreover, about seven years ago, when Gao Xinrui was still in the capital, the Crown Prince had saved his life.
Therefore, he would not betray the Crown Prince to anyone.
When Mu Changxi and his party were brought to the City Governor's mansion by the guards, Gao Xinrui had already put down all his work and was waiting for them in the main hall of the mansion.
Gao Xinrui had been assigned to Linzhou three years ago, so he had not met Mu Changxi.
But he had seen portraits of Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu.
So the first time he saw Mu Changxi, he could be sure he hadn't mistaken him.
Gao Xinrui immediately knelt before Mu Changxi: "This humble subject greets Prince Chang and Princess Consort Chang."
"Please rise quickly. It's like this now, let's not stand on ceremony!"
Mu Changxi helped Gao Xinrui up, his eyes grave: "Do you know the situation in the capital?"
Gao Xinrui nodded quickly: "This subordinate was just worrying. I lost contact with the capital yesterday, and I don't know what to do now. It's truly wonderful to see Prince Chang!"
Gao Xinrui invited them into his mansion and got straight to the point: "The day before yesterday, this subordinate received a secret letter from the Crown Prince stating that Prince Mu Jun had been acting strangely recently and might be planning to force the abdicate. He asked me to pay close attention to the actions in Qinzhou, and if there were any unusual developments, to find you. Now, heaven has opened its eyes and allowed you to personally come to Linzhou City!"
Forced abdication!
It was indeed the worst possibility!
Mu Changxi's brow furrowed: "Are you sure it's a forced abdication? You lost contact with the capital yesterday?"
Gao Xinrui also had a worried look in his eyes: "This subordinate will now show you the Crown Prince's secret letter!"