Upon receiving the news, without Mu Changxi needing to speak, all the people from Shenzhou rushed towards Ping An Zhuang.
Mu Cangxi, as he had said, nodded to Ma Niu behind him, "Bring him out and hand him over to me for disposal."
"This..."
Ma Niu still seemed hesitant, taking a step back and glancing at Mu Hansu.
"What, does my word no longer hold sway?"
Mu Changxi turned his head, his icy gaze fixed on Ma Niu, "Do you think you still need to listen to him now, letting him decide his own life or death?"
Song Chaoyu also stepped forward, giving Ma Niu a cold smile, "You don't really think the Prince is being polite to you because he fears you, do you?"
Ma Niu's heart jolted, and he quickly took a step back, "This subordinate dares not!"
Before he could say anything further, someone stepped forward and dragged Mu Hansu directly out of the prison cell.
Mu Changxi turned back without mercy, "Drag Ma Niu away and interrogate him thoroughly about his relationship with Mu Hansu. We must find out who allowed these Nan Zhou tribute shrimp into the imperial prison! Once that person is found, bring them to me immediately. If anyone else betrays the country like Ma Niu, they will be killed without mercy!"
No one expected Mu Changxi to "turn his face as quickly as he turned his back"!
Ma Niu knelt on the ground, only now realizing the need to beg for mercy, "Your Highness, spare my life, I beg Your Highness to spare my life!"
However, it was too late. He was immediately dragged away.
Mu Changxi also signaled Chun Jun to escort Mu Hansu back to the Prince's mansion, then extended his hand to Song Chaoyu, "Let's go, shall we head to Ping An Zhuang?"
Song Chaoyu nodded, looking up with a smile, "If our trip goes smoothly, can we go see the children?"
Mu Changxi sighed, "This trip... I fear it may not be smooth."
On their faces, like the weather above their heads, a gloomy cloud seemed to have settled.
—
As the carriage left the capital, thunder rumbled overhead again.
Mu Changxi held Song Chaoyu's hand, "It's getting colder in the capital these past two days. I wonder how Prince Wen is doing down that well."
If it was raining in the capital, it was even more so in the estates.
If the well was dry, it would be fine. But if there was water in the capital, or if the water flowed into the well—
Song Chaoyu dared not even think about it!
Ping An Zhuang was located next to the estate where she and Han Xi had once lived. In her childhood, Song Chaoyu often went to Ping An Zhuang to play with Han Xi. However, she hadn't been there for many years, and now Song Chaoyu truly missed Ping An Zhuang.
It was a pity that such longing could not overcome her worry for Prince Wen.
He should have been a free spirit in this world. He never cared about political affairs and was kind to everyone in the capital.
If he were to die in this struggle, Song Chaoyu felt that even dismembering Mu Hansu a thousand times over would not be enough!
When Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi arrived at Ping An Zhuang with such gloomy hearts, they encountered another thorny problem.
Ping An Zhuang had been sealed off, and no outsiders were allowed to enter!
In fact, although Ping An Zhuang was located on the outskirts of the capital, it did not belong to the fiefdom of any prince or noble.
This was because Ping An Zhuang was home to the exceptionally rare Seven Star Begonia, and thus Ping An Zhuang was directly under the jurisdiction of the palace on a daily basis.
What was even worse was that the army guarding Ping An Zhuang was not under the command of the Crown Prince, but the Imperial Guards by the Emperor's side.
Seeing their carriage approaching Ping An Zhuang at this moment, the Imperial Guards had archers shoot arrows, blocking their path—
The carriage stopped as expected.
Mu Changxi lifted the curtain, "What is it?"
Little Rui Zi stepped forward, "Your Highness, the commander of the Imperial Guards, Hu Yonghao, is blocking our way."
Mu Changxi then alighted from the carriage with Song Chaoyu and indeed saw Hu Yonghao standing before their carriage, holding a long saber.
Mu Changxi's brow furrowed, "General Hu, please allow us passage."
"No."
Hu Yonghao refused with absolute certainty, his gaze involuntarily falling on Mu Changxi's legs. "This subordinate has seen Prince Chang. It is not that this subordinate intends to deliberately block Prince Chang's path, but rather that some bandits have appeared outside the estate these days, seemingly wanting to steal the Seven Star Begonia saplings. Therefore, the security around the estate has been tightened more than usual, and no one is allowed to enter Ping An Zhuang without the Emperor's command."
Although the Seven Star Begonia was merely an ornamental begonia, its medicinal value was also extremely high.
Moreover, the Seven Star Begonia was only planted in Ping An Zhuang around the capital in all regions. Wild Seven Star Begonias were extremely rare, so some lawless individuals naturally set their sights on Ping An Zhuang.
Over the years, there must have been many people who tried to steal Seven Star Begonias to sell.
But it was the first time Song Chaoyu had encountered such strict guards as now.
Hu Yonghao's words made Mu Changxi's expression somewhat displeased, "Even I cannot enter? You should know that Prince Wen has been missing for a long time. I received news today that Prince Wen might be in this Ping An Zhuang. With the rain about to fall, if Prince Wen encounters trouble in Ping An Zhuang, can you bear the responsibility?"
"I apologize, this subordinate obeys the Emperor's orders and cannot let Your Highness enter."
Hu Yonghao appeared righteous and upright, "If Prince Wen is truly in Ping An Zhuang, this subordinate can send people to search. But Your Highness cannot enter, and that is that. If Your Highness were to punish this subordinate because of this, then this subordinate has nothing to say!"
Song Chaoyu felt that Hu Yonghao was a bit stubborn, but not a bad person.
She glanced at Mu Changxi, and it was clear that Mu Changxi thought the same.
Mu Changxi frowned slightly, then signaled Hu Yonghao to send his men into Ping An Zhuang to search for Prince Wen, "I heard Prince Wen is in a well. I hope you can find him before it rains."
After speaking, Mu Changxi narrowed his eyes, "I want Prince Wen alive. With the major affairs in the capital just settled, Prince Wen is already a thorn in the side of the traitor Mu Hansu. Can you, Hu Yonghao, guarantee me a safe and sound Prince Wen?"
Upon hearing this, Hu Yonghao understood that he was in a dilemma.
He could guarantee that he was not Mu Hansu's man, but he could not guarantee that there were no Mu Hansu's men within his ranks.
Being able to send Prince Wen into Ping An Zhuang without anyone noticing proved that Hu Yonghao's Imperial Guards were likely not "clean" either!
If Hu Yonghao insisted on his way and caused Prince Wen's death, how would he explain it to Mu Changxi?!
"Wait!"
Seeing his subordinates about to enter Ping An Zhuang, Hu Yonghao still called them back, then looked at Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu with a deep gaze, "This subordinate will personally accompany Prince Chang and Princess Chang into the estate. All of you will guard the entrance, and do not let a single fly get inside!"
"Yes!"
The Imperial Guards stopped in their tracks, and Mu Changxi cast a look of admiration at Hu Yonghao, "If all the commanders in our Great Yue Dynasty were like you, how could there be any rebellion?"