"No need."
"No need."
Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu spoke almost at the same time.
They exchanged a smile, and Mu Changxi nodded to Song Chaoyu, "What do you think?"
Song Chaoyu looked at the city gate, then took a step back, "I think we'll just stay outside the city today. And tomorrow morning, we won't enter the city either."
"Ah?"
Xiao Ruizizi was extremely confused, "Staying outside the city... we'll probably have to camp!"
Song Chaoyu glanced at Mu Changxi, "Camping is camping. We'll camp outside Pingzhou City the whole time. We originally planned to stay in Pingzhou City for two days, and we won't enter the city for these two days. After two days, if the Prefect of Pingzhou City still doesn't come to see us, then we'll deal with him!"
"He wouldn't dare."
Mu Changxi's thoughts were exactly the same as Song Chaoyu's.
His tone was also certain, "That's right. I came to Pingzhou on official business. If he wants to give me a show of force, I'll accept it. But he should know how to behave in the future! Let's go, let's go camp outside."
Saying that, he reached out and took Song Chaoyu's hand, "It's just a pity for A'yu, to suffer with me."
Song Chaoyu chuckled, "What kind of suffering is this? Life nowadays... is much better than when we were at the manor!"
It was the first time she had proactively mentioned her life at the manor in front of everyone, without any hesitation about her identity as an illegitimate daughter.
Mu Changxi understood that her words were only for him to hear.
Others would never understand them, never understand what they had gone through together at the manor.
—
On the city wall of Pingzhou, watching Mu Changxi actually leave with his entourage, the guard captain who was supposed to give them a show of force was stunned, "They... just left? Weren't they supposed to enter the city? Quickly, quickly report to Lord Zhang!"
The city tower was in chaos for a moment.
Outside the city, by the side of the official road outside Pingzhou City, they set up camp.
They had many people, and enough tents. Moreover, the weather was neither hot nor cold, and at night, they didn't even need to light a fire. The tents only needed a charcoal basin to be warm enough. So, for Song Chaoyu, the conditions were not considered harsh.
Xiang Rui, who had entered the palace at the age of five, had never seen such a scene!
Instead, she, who called herself a "maidservant," found everything inconvenient and unpleasant.
And because she was a maidservant, she could only share a tent with Qiu Qing and Tiao Hong. The space was a bit small, but she couldn't do anything about it, and even regretted coming on this trip with Mu Changxi.
After the tents were set up, Song Chaoyu had some simple food prepared, and that was how they got through the night.
Although they were out, they should not have slept well, but unexpectedly, Song Chaoyu fell asleep peacefully in Mu Changxi's arms, and had no dreams.
Naturally, they had to get up early. Qiu Qing and Tiao Hong were already setting up the stove and cooking.
Although they were out, their meals were not bad.
However, when Song Chaoyu finished dressing and came out of the tent, she did not see Xiang Rui.
She asked Tiao Hong and learned that Xiang Rui had been tossing and turning all night, sighing, as if she couldn't sleep, and only stopped making noise near dawn.
So, naturally, she couldn't get up now. Song Chaoyu also told people not to disturb Xiang Rui.
They got up in the morning, brewed chicken shred congee, and prepared some side dishes and steamed buns.
She remembered that when they were at the manor, they mostly ate plain congee and side dishes, not the rich flavor of chicken shred congee like this.
"Oh my, my Prince, why are you camping here?"
Just as they sat down at the table that had been set up to eat, they heard Lord Zhang's voice from nearby.
However, before Lord Zhang could approach Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi, he was stopped by Ping Jiang with his sword, "Who is it?!"
Song Chaoyu also looked over, seeing that this Prefect Zhang of Pingzhou City was about forty-something years old, short and round-faced, with a bulging belly from eating.
In her previous life, this Lord Zhang was a great general under Mu Hansu. Because Pingzhou was rich in resources, it was Mu Hansu's "money bag." Therefore, although Lord Zhang was only a small prefect, he was highly valued by Mu Hansu. Naturally, he also received a lot of benefits from Mu Hansu.
At this moment, he stood before Ping Jiang with a fawning bow, but his eyes were looking at Mu Changxi, "Your Highness Prince Chang, why are you still staying outside the city? I heard about what happened last night. It's all the fault of those scoundrel guards at the city gate. I will deal with them properly! Please, Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort, come into the city with me? Staying out here, what does it look like?"
The gate of Pingzhou City was already open, and there were sporadic merchant and horse caravans passing by on the official road outside.
Seeing that Prince Chang had set up camp outside the city, they naturally pointed and commented. By noon, there would probably be even more people.
At that time, Song Chaoyu also wanted to know where this Lord Zhang's dignity would be placed?
Mu Changxi signaled Ping Jiang to let go and let Lord Zhang come over.
He did not speak, and there was no emotion in his eyes, which made Lord Zhang unable to guess the temperament of this Prince Chang, so he could only look helplessly at Song Chaoyu.
Others might not understand, but Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi had been together at the manor for so long that they now had a tacit understanding.
She smiled and looked at Lord Zhang, "Lord Zhang, I'd like to ask, why is there a curfew in Pingzhou City?"
Lord Zhang had always heard that the Consort of Prince Chang was of illegitimate birth and could not be brought to the grand hall.
But seeing her completely unafraid now, it made Lord Zhang sweat on his forehead, knowing that he had to save face.
So Lord Zhang quickly said, "Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort, you may not know, but Pingzhou City is surrounded by mountains on two sides. Recently, due to the disaster in Haizhou, there have been many refugees. Some refugees have gone up the mountains to become bandits. For the safety of the city's residents, a curfew order had to be implemented!"
"Lord Zhang has done well."
Song Chaoyu did not mention that they were not allowed to enter the city yesterday, but instead continued to say to Lord Zhang, "Since that is the case, then the guards at the city gate should naturally be rewarded for their cautious work. Why should they be punished?"
"Yes, Your Highness Consort is right."
Lord Zhang did not understand their intentions and repeatedly urged, "Then... Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort, please come into the city with me?"
Song Chaoyu glanced at Mu Changxi again, then shook her head at Lord Zhang, "No need. We are quite comfortable camping here. Anyway, we won't be staying for more than two days even if we go into the city. If Lord Zhang has any problems in these two days, you can come here to find us."